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Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night Three Review 5.23.16

May 24, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
7.3
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Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night Three Review 5.23.16  

Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night Three Review 5.23.16


OFFICIAL RESULTS
Block A Match: Matt Sydal defeated BUSHI @ 9:20 via pin [**¾]
Block A Match: Kyle O’Reilly defeated Gedo @ 11:24 via submission [***½]
Block A Match: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated David Finlay @ 9:18 via submission [***]
Block A Match: Rocky Romero defeated KUSHIDA @ 15:03 via pin [***½]


Much like last year, I will be focusing only on the tournament matches.

Matt Sydal defeated BUSHI: BUSHI didn’t seem to give a single fuck about having this match early on, chilling in the corners and just being BUSHI. When they got to action, they worked a quick back and forth with Sydal’s stuff looking so clean and crisp. BUSHI cut him off, sign the shirt to choke out Sydal. BUSHI then choked him out in the ropes and took the heat. BUSHI was just a dick here, raking the eyes and grounding Sydal. After a few minutes of BUSHI in control, Sydal hit a desperation spin kick and then a series of leg kicks to mount the comeback. The air raid crash got Sydal a near fall. BUSHI would counter the standing moonsault attempt, and then connect with the missile dropkick, sending Sydal to the floor. BUSHI’s suicide dive drove Sydal into the front row, and he then rolled back into the ring. Sydal beat the count, and they worked a nice back and forth stretch with BUSHI hitting the lung blower and then charging knee. BUSHI looked out have things back under control, bout Sydal hit a RANA off the ropes and the shooting star press to put him away. That was a really fun and solid outing, with BUSHI getting a lot before losing. Sydal moves to 1-1, while BUSHI is now 0-2.

Kyle O’Reilly defeated Gedo: They went to the ground almost right away, with O’Reilly controlling with ease until snaky Gedo managed to pull the trunks to get an advantage. Some really smooth work from both guys, clean transitions and O’Reilly working for the arm bar early. Gedo took a powder, contemplating what Jerry Lawler in 1982 Memphis would do before returning. The answer was to stall, before tricking O’Reilly to the ropes so he could attack. Gedo then used the bell hammer to work over O’Reilly, hiding it behind his back and they worked on the floor and the ref repeatedly failed to get the weapon from him. When they returned to the ring, Gedo took the heat and undid a buckle pad, slamming O’Reilly to it a few times; he’s such a great asshole. Gedo is the veteran, who knows O’Reilly made the finals last year and also just beat the champion KUSHIDA. He knows that he has to use all of the tricks at his disposal, and is doing so here. O’Reilly eventually avoided a charge, and used his striking game to fight back and then went right back to attacking the arm. O’Reilly tied to use a series of suplexes, but started to favor his neck, selling the affects of the hammer and buckle shots. Gedo hit a slick counter to the jawbreaker lariat into a flatliner for a near fall. Gedo then went to the crossface, again targeting the neck and tried to keep O’Reilly center ring, but he got the ropes. O’Reilly connected with a series of strikes, and then got the near fall off of a brain buster, He quickly went to the arm bar, and Gedo tapped. That was a fun and slick little match, with Gedo digging deep into the bag of tricks, but O’Reilly overcoming at the end of the match. O’Reilly moves to 2-0, while Gedo is now 1-1.

Ryusuke Taguchi defeated David Finlay: Unlike night one, Finlay did not attack as if he got shot out of a cannon, he instead tried to grapple with Taguchi, which did not work well for him early. After some back and forth, Taguchi sent Finlay to the floor and hit the flying ass attack off of the apron. Taguchi allowed Finlay to get back in on his own time, but quickly took it to he mat. They traded forearms, with Taguchi keeping control and he then started to out grapple Finlay, twisting him up like a pretzel at one point. Taguchi then targeted the knee for a bit, tying Finlay up in the ropes to wear him down. Finlay managed to counter a charge, and then hit a dropkick off of the second rope. Finlay was hobbled a bit as he tried to make his comeback, and then just abandoned it and hit running uppercuts and one off the ropes for a near fall. Taguchi cut him off with the flying ass attack, hit a few more and then did his wacky poses, which led to Finlay hitting a running uppercut and locking in the stretch muffler. Taguchi got the ropes, and there was no real drama there, it all happened too quickly. Taguchi fought for the ankle lock, but Finlay quickly got the ropes. They worked in some nice counters, with Taguchi countering the fisherman’s buster and then both countering out of pinning combinations. Taguchi again went for the ankle lock, good counter by Finlay, but Taguchi rolled back into the hold and Finlay had to tap. It felt a bit bland early on, an the selling could have been better down the stretch, but they worked their way into a good match, with the final few minutes being a lot of fun. Taguchi goes to 2-0 with the victory, while young Finlay predictably goes 0-2.

Rocky Romero defeated KUSHIDA: After some fun grappling to begin, KUSHIDA looked to pick up the pace and Romero did his Spider-Man in the ropes gimmick. This confused KUSHIDA, who tried to knock him out of the ropes, but ended up on the floor. Romero then posted KUSHIDA to take the heat. Romero then worked to ground KUSHIDA, but didn’t really focus on the arm, which was a bit annoying. KUSHIDA put together a good comeback, decapitating Romero with a lariat and then hit a moonsault for a nice near fall. They laid into each other with forearms for a bit, with both guys firing up at different points, and KUSHIDA then finally attacked the arm of Romero. Romero then sent him to the floor for a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Romero hit his series of corner clotheslines and was back in control. KUSHIDA countered sliced bread and hit one of his own for a good near fall. He went back to the arm, and got the hover board lock. They did a series of counters and Romero got a small package for a near fall. The charging knee got another near fall for KUSHIDA. He then set KUSHIDA on the ropes and hit a dropkick for another good near fall as they are escalating the action well here. Another charging knee and the champion falls. That was another good and enjoyable match, I felt that they could have done more with the arm work as it felt like busy work, but the ending stretch was good and they worked in a lot of well-done near falls. Rocky Romero wins and goes to 2-0, while our IWGP Jr. Champion KUSHIDA is off to a rough start at 0-2.

BLOCK A STANDINGS:
– Kyle O’Reilly (2-0) – 4 points
– Rocky Romero (2-0) – 4 points
– Ryusuke Taguchi (2-0) – 4 points
– Matt Sydal (1-1) – 2 points
– Gedo (1-1) – 2 points
– BUSHI (0-2) – 0 points
– KUSHIDA (0-2) – 0 points
– David Finlay (0-2) – 0 points

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

 photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.3
The final score: review Good
The 411
Another good night of matches overall, nothing must see, but an easy group of matches to watch.
legend