Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night Two Review 5.22.16

Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night Two Review 5.22.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Block B Match: Ricochet defeated Tiger Mask @ 9:53 via submission[**½]
– Block B Match: Jushin Liger defeated Bobby Fish @ 11:30 via pin [**¾]
– Block B Match: Barreta vs. Volador Jr @ 12:04 via pin [***]
– Block B Match: Chase Owens defeated Will Ospreay @ 9:58 via pin [***½]

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

Block B Match: Tiger Mask vs. Ricochet: Tiger Mask looked to outwrestle Ricochet early, but Ricochet was able to use his speed and wild athletic ability to turn things his way. Tiger mask then cut off Ricochet with a tilt a whirl back breaker, and took the heat. Tiger Mask looked to keep the highflying Ricochet grounded, working the back with various holds and suplexes. Ricochet would give Tiger Mask some of his won medicine, hitting the back breaker and then connecting with a bicycle kick. The running shooting star press then got a near fall. After some back and forth, Tiger Mask caught Ricochet as he jumped into the ring, and got the arm bar. Ricochet would make the ropes, and eventually went for the phoenix splash, but Tiger Mask rolled out of the way and they both then worked up top and Tiger Mask hit a super butterfly suplex and then a tiger bomb for a near fall. Ricochet managed to counter an attack, and hit a neck breaker. Tiger Mask countered the benadryller into an ankle lock, but Ricochet rolled it into a modified Manjigatame for the win. This was rock solid, but flat overall.

Block B Match: Jushin Liger vs. Bobby Fish: They went to the mat almost right away, working some chain wrestling to kick things off. After getting back to the feet, and some shit talk, Fish scored with the knee bar. Liger would make the ropes, and when he took a powder to the floor, Fish DEMANDED the ref count because he did not care how he won. Fish tried to dominate with strikes, but Liger put a stop to that and started to work the arm. Liger got a bit too frisky, and missed the knee drop off the second rope, allowing Fish to take the heat and work the leg. We got a rock solid heat segment from Fish, with him using some underhanded tactics to land cheap shots on Liger. Liger made his comeback, running palm strike and Liger bomb for a near fall, and not selling the leg one bit. Limp a bit or something man. Fish countered the RANA from the top, and now Liger sold the leg. Fish finally picked the pacing up, and then landed a series of nee strikes and a suplex for a near fall. Fish then locked in the heel hook; Liger teased tapping but made the ropes. The crowd reacted well to his near tap and struggle. Fish then tried to score with the Fishhook; Liger grabbed the ropes to counter and then set down still holding the ropes to pick up the win. By hook or by crook, Beast God Thunder Liger wins. This had a better flow than the opener, and I liked some of what they tried to do, but the ending felt very anticlimactic.

Block B Match: Volador Jr. vs. Baretta: Volador had the advantage in the early portion, frustrating Barreta. They ended up working to the floor, where Barreta took the advantage, but the action spilled out of camera view at times (this is a single camera show). They did a countout tease on Volador, and when he returned Barreta kept the advantage. He did some basic stuff to ground Volador, who eventually had enough of that shit and went lucha on him with cool counters, a head scissors and a dive to the floor. They did another countout tease, this time on both, leading to a high cross by Volador for the near fall. Barreta looked for the running nee, but ate a superkick and back stabber for the near fall. Barreta was able to counter the moonault, and then destroyed Volador with the running knee for a nice near fall, Volador’s sell of the knee was great. After trading strikes, Volador hit a springboard moonsault to the floor. They did another double countout tease, which I felt wasn’t needed. We got back and forth strikes, some fun counters into pinning combos and they were working well together. This led to a battle on the top rope, where Volador got a near fall off of a super RANA. Barreta then caught Volador rushing in and scored with the dudebuster for the win. That was a good match overall, and a nice change from the previous two as the pacing was better and overall they delivered a more exciting match.

Block B Match: Will Ospreay vs. Chase Owens: Owens is a late replacement, due to the Young Bucks having to pull out due to injuries. Ospreay has impressed everywhere, and most expect him to have a breakout tournament. They worked a nice opening stretch, good reversals and working at a nice quick pace. Owens took control after a quick trip to the floor, hit the double axe handle and took the heat. Owens did some nice work herein control, not out of this world, but clean and basic work to ground the highflier. Ospreay finally fired up with some forearm smashes, and then hit the back handspring into an enziguri. The springboard forearm smash would follow for the near fall. After sending Owens to the floor, Ospreay hit a Sasuke special and tossed Owens back in and hit a standing, corkscrew moonsault for the near fall. Ospreay teased the rainmaker with the pose, but Owens countered and teased the package piledriver. Ospreay took control back and looked to finish him off, but Owens connected with the superkick as Ospreay hit a springboard and then hit the double knees for a good near fall. Owens then hit the package piledriver to score the win. That was easily the best match of the four today, Owens looked good as did Ospreay. No real complaints, although I am surprised by the Owens victory.

BLOCK B STANDINGS:
– Ricochet (1-0) – 2 points
– Jushin Liger (1-0) – 2 points
– Barreta (1-0) – 2 points
– Chase Owens (1-0) – 2 points
– Tiger Mask (0-1) – 0 points
– Bobby Fish (0-1) – 0 points
– Volador Jr (0-1) – 0 points
– Will Ospreay (0-1) – 0 points

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was a good and solid set of matches, but nothing you have to see. If crunched for time, catch Ospreay vs. Owens.