Csonka Ranks The 2017 NJPW BOTSJ Matches

– Welcome back to column time with Larry. I thought that I would go back, and rank the NJPW BOTSJ matches from worst to first, creating a play list or sorts if you don’t have an insane amount of hours to invest into the entire thing. Enjoy, share your personal rankings if you wish and have a good time. I hope that you enjoy, and feel free to share your favorites from the tournament. The only rules are “have a take, be respectful of other’s opinions and don’t be a dick.” We all have opinions, we’re going to disagree, just be cool about it.

– 57. From Night Two: Taichi defeated TAKA Michinoku @ 9:58 via pin [DUD]

– 56. From Night Seven: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tiger Mask IV @ 8:40 via pin [*]

– 55. From Night Eight: Taichi defeated Marty Scurll @ 9:25 via pin [*]

– 54. From Night Four: Taichi defeated Dragon Lee @ 9:05 via pin [*½]
– 53. From Night Six: Himoru Takahashi defeated Taichi @ 9:04 via pin [*½]

– 52. From Night Ten: Taichi defeated Will Ospreay @ 10:08 via pin [**]
– 51. From Night One: Ricochet defeated Taichi @ 9:00 via pin [**]
– 50. From Night Six: Marty Scurll defeated TAKA Michinoku @ 8:52 via submission [**]

– 49. From Night Eleven: BUSHI defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 9:27 via pin [**½]
– 48. From Night Three: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Volador Jr. @ 9:58 via pin [**½]
– 47. From Night Nine: ACH defeated El Desperado @ 9:56 via pin [**½]
– 46. From Night One: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 11:45 via pin [**½]
– 45. From Night Twelve: Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Taichi @ 10:50 via pin [**½]

– 44. From Night Thirteen: BUSHI defeated Tiger Mask @ 12:10 via pin [**¾]
– 43. From Night Seven: BUSHI defeated Ryusuke Taguchi @ 9:25 via pin [**¾]
– 42. From Night Seven: Volador defeated Desperado @ 8:00 via pin [**¾]
– 41. From Night Four: Will Ospreay defeated TAKA Michinoku @ 8:45 via pin [**¾]
– 40. From Night One: Volador Jr. defeated Tiger Mask IV @ 9:55 via pin [**¾]

~THE GOOD~

– 39. From Night Twelve: TAKA Michinoku defeated Dragon Lee @ 9:25 via pin [***]
– 38. From Night Nine: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Tiger Mask IV @ 9:29 via submission [***]
– 37. From Night Three: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated ACH @ 10:26 via pin [***]
– 36. From Night Five: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Volador Jr. @ 9:41 via pin [***]
– 35. From Night Thirteen: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Desperado @ 10:13 via countout [***]
– 34. From Night Six: Will Ospreay defeated Jushin Liger @ 10:10 via pin [***]
– 33. From Night Three: El Desperado defeated BUSHI @ 9:47 via pin [***]
– 32. From Night Eight: Ricochet defeated Jushin Liger @ 9:04 via pin [***]
– 31. From Night Eight: Hiromu Takahashi defeated TAKA Michinoku @ 9:25 via pin [***]
– 30. From Night Four: Marty Scurll defeated Jushin Liger @ 12:16 via submission [***]
– 29. From Night Ten: Ricochet defeated TAKA Michinoku @ 7:42 via pin [***]
– 28. From Night One: TAKA Michinoku defeated Jushin Thunder Liger @ 8:00 via pin [***]

– 27. From Night Eleven: Tiger Mask defeated Desperado @ 9:55 via pin [***¼]
– 26. From Night Nine: BUSHI defeated Volador Jr @ 10:53 via pin [***¼]
– 25. From Night Thirteen: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated ACH @ 14:25 via pin [***¼]

~THE VERY GOOD~

– 24. From Night Seven: ACH defeated KUSHIDA @ 14:45 via pin [***½]
– 23. From Night One: El Desperado defeated KUSHIDA @ 16:00 via pin [***½]
– 22. From Night Two: Dragon Lee defeated Marty Scurll @ 13:12 via pin [***½]
– 21. From Night One: ACH defeated BUSHI @ 10:55 via pin [***½]
– 20. From Night Six: Dragon Lee defeated Ricochet @ 13:07 via pin [***½]
– 19. From Night Eight: Will Ospreay defeated Dragon Lee @ 10:05 via pin [***½]
– 18. From Night Four: Ricochet defeated Hiromu Takahashi @ 12:15 via pin [***½]
– 17. From Night Three: Tiger Mask IV defeated KUSHIDA @ 10:41 via pin [***½]
– 16. From Night Eleven: Volador Jr. defeated ACH @ 12:04 via pin [***½]
– 15. From Night Ten: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Marty Scurll @ 13:07 via pin [***½]
– 14. From Night Twelve: Will Ospreay defeated Hiromu Takahashi @ 16:30 via pin [***½]
– 13. From Night Ten: Dragon Lee defeated Jushin Liger @ 7:54 via pin [***½]

~THE ALMOST GREAT~

– 12. From Night Five: El Desperado defeated Ryusuke Taguchi @ 13:20 via pin [***¾] – Very good match here, they played the right amount of Taguchi’s hijacks against Desperado’s heel shtick. They kept a strong pace through out, and the finish was creative, not simply the usual distraction bullshit. There are two guys who can go when they want to do so.

– 11. From Night Nine: KUSHIDA defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 13:17 via pin [***¾] – This was a very good match, with the Suzuki-gun shenanigans playing a positive role in the drama; KUSHIDA was behind the 8-ball, desperately seeking redemption, and had to win here. Like a true hero, he survived all of the villain’s nefarious deeds, and overcame in the end. They did a great job of making KUSHIDA look like a conquering hero, but they also did a great job of making you think that he was about to be fucked by Suzuki-gun.

– 10. From Night Two: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Jushin Thunder Liger @ 8:14 via pin [***¾] – Great little sprint 8-minute sprint here, with a hot crowd and Liger throwing everything at Takahashi before falling to the champion. I loved this, and feel we need more of this in wrestling. Not everything has to be overly long with a chinlock filled heat segment just for the sake of doing it.

– 9. From Night One: Marty Scurll defeated Will Ospreay @ 12:30 via submission [***¾] – This was a very good match (bordering on great), with the guys opting to work a “play the hits” style match, which made sense since the goal was to make sure Scurll got over in his first appearance. The work was really good and clean, as was the layout; Scurll was already over with the New Japan crown and looked good in victory.

~WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE~

8. From Night Five: Tiger Mask IV defeated ACH @ 11:45 via pin [****]: They lock up to begin and work to a stalemate. ACH looks to fire up on Tiger Mask, and does hitting a dropkick and sending him to the floor. ACH follows but runs into a superkick. Back in they go and Tiger Mask lays in the kicks to ACH in the corner. The back breaker follows. Tiger Mask follows that up with kicks to the back. ACH finally starts to fight back, hitting a trip and a running double stomp. He sends Tiger Mask to the floor, and hits a plancha and then three suicide dives to fire up the crowd. STOP HURTING DAD ACH! This leads to the countout tease, but ACH breaks the count. Back in we go, and ACH hits the slingshot cutter for 2. Tiger Mask fights off the German, and goes on the attack to the back again. ACH fights back with a dropkick; heads up top but Tiger Mask cuts him off, hitting a superplex. Tiger Mask then hits the tiger bomb for 2. Tiger Mask then works the back kicks again, but ACH fires up and they trade strikes and kicks. ACH then cuts off Tiger Mask with the lariat. He looks for the fisherman’s buster, but his back gives out. He then opts for the spin kick, but Tiger mask counters the suplex and gets the crucifix for the win. This was a GREAT match, with good pacing & sense of urgency, a smart layout and the work of the back playing into the finish perfectly. This was really great stuff from these two, who were obviously there to wok hard.

The staredown. Who will win this year's #njbosj? pic.twitter.com/G9PaV2BEGY

— UnderhookDDT (@UnderhookDDT) June 1, 2017

7. From Night Thirteen: KUSHIDA defeated Volador Jr @ 16:01 via pin [****]: They worked a nice, fast paced back and forth on the mat to begin. Great start here as they work into another series of passes and counters, leading to a stand off. KUSHIDA finally hits a head scissors, but Volador cuts off the suicide dive. Volador then hits a RANA, sending KUSHIDA to the floor and following with a tope. They tease the double countout, but back in the ring KUSHIDA attacks the arm, hits a springboard dropkick, and then a tope as Volador had bailed to the floor. Back in and KUSHIDA hits a moonsault, covering for 2. Volador fights back, hitting a superkick and backstabber, which got 2. They trade kicks, Volador looks to springboard in but KUSHIDA snatches him out of the air and locks in the arm bar. He escapes, they work to the apron and Volador sends KUSHIDA to the floor and hits an asai moonsault to the floor. Back in and they work up top, SUPER RANA by KUSHIDA, but that only gets 2 as Volador survives. They work up top once again, SUPER RANA by Volador now, and this time KUSHIDA survives. They trade strikes from their knees, and then work to their feet. KUSHIDA then lays in kicks, but Volador cuts him off with a reverse RANA, covering for 2.Volador looks for the back handspring, but KUSHIDA catches him in an arm bar. They then trade several near falls, KUSHIDA it’s a head scissors, and then locks in the hover board lock. Volador tries to escape, but KUSHIDA rolls into God’s last gift and picks up the win. This was a great match, they not only had the advantage of being the main event in a match that would decide the block, but it was that circumstance that allowed them to work a balls to the wall, throw everything they had at the wall style main event. It not only worked from an entertainment standpoint, but also made sense because it made it feel as if these two were doing everything in their power to win.

6. From Night One: Dragon Lee defeated Hiromu Takahashi @ 18:40 via pin [****]: They chopped the hell out of each other to begin, they then traded strikes and worked in to a series of counters, with Lee hitting a RANA and then another off the apron to send Takahashi to the floor. Lee followed with a great dive, wiping out Takahashi. Back in and Lee works a Boston crab after Takahashi blocks the cradle DDT. Lee then lays the boots to Takahashi, hits a corner dropkick and covers for 2. Takahashi finally fights back, hitting an overhead toss into the buckles to slow Lee’s attack. The clothesline and dropkick followed, and the cover got 2. Takahashi then rips at Lee’s mask, but Lee fights back with a knee strike and running kick. They chase each other, work back into the ring and Lee sets Takahashi up top and misses the double stomp. Lee back up, and Takahashi then misses the double stomp; they trade German suplexes, destroying each other and both men are down. They trade forearm strikes, and then chops again. Lee hits a big knee strike, heads up top but Takahashi cuts that off. Takahashi up top with Lee, but Lee cuts off the wheelbarrow driver and hits a double stomp for the near fall. Takahashi then counters the dump powerbomb with a guillotine, and pulls Lee to the mat. Lee makes the ropes, Takahashi then it’s the side slam for a near fall. The corner DVD follows, Takahashi then rips at his mask again, and Lee counters the time bomb with a crucifix. Lee then cradles Takahashi for 2, they trade pinning combos and Takahashi hits a superkick and another. Lee escapes the corner DVD, and Takahashi hits the destroyer for a near fall. Takahashi then hits the corner DVD, Lee sloppily counters the time bomb, a rare misstep for these two. They trade strikes, Lee counters the destroyer, hits the corner DVD and then hits the phoenix-plex for the win. Certainly not at the level of their February classic, this was a great main event. They took less risks, which was fine because this was night one, but the bit of sloppiness near the end hurt it, but still the best match on this particular show.

#NJPW #njbosj @KingRicochet pic.twitter.com/cMKaG5hFlt

— LARIATOOOO!!! (@MrLARIATO) May 31, 2017

5. From Night Twelve: Marty Scurll defeated Ricochet @ 14:05 via submission [****]: Scurll attacked right away, beating Ricochet down in the corner. Ricochet quickly fought back, sending Scurll to the floor and hitting a suicide dive and a tope. Back in they go, Ricochet heads up top and flies into the ring, only for Scurll to snag him out of the air and lock in the chicken wing. Ricochet starts to fire back and pick up the pace, but he eats a superkick as he goes for a back handspring. Scurll sends him to the floor, hits the apron superkick and then rolls him in, covering for 2. Scurll then works a Romero special, follows with kicks and they then trade chops. Scurll avoids the 619, almost gets the chicken wing, but Ricochet escapes and then hits the 619 followed by a springboard uppercut. That was a really great sequence. Scurll fights off the benadryller, but gets stunned off the ropes; Ricochet follows with a neck breaker and running shooting star press for 2. Ricochet then superkicks out the knee, he then hits a big lariat and the last shot for a good near fall. Scurll calls for the chicken wing, Ricochet attacks, but Scurll counters the benadryller. They work into a great back and forth, with Ricochet tuning him inside out with a leaping enziguri. Ricochet is fired up now, but Scurll cuts him off and looks for the finger break. Ricochet avoids, Scurll rolls into he chicken wing but Ricochet counters out hitting the dead lift northern lights suplex. Ricochet up top now, but the shooting star press eats knees; Scurll then hits a stuff piledriver, followed by a regular piledriver for a great near fall. Scurll then does the finger break spot, but Ricochet blocks the superkick. Scurll then counters a slam into the chicken wing, Ricochet powers to his feet and looks for the O’Connor roll, but Scurll again catches him in the chicken wing. Ricochet taps! This was absolutely great, they worked it very evenly and gave Scurll enough hope spots to make him competitive, but the feeling was still that Ricochet would overcome and take the win. They did some absolutely tremendous counter work here, and had me believing Scurll would win, but then right before he actually did, I bit and was waiting on Ricochet to counter into the benadryller to win. Instead. Scurll picks up the huge win and plays spoiler.

4. From Night Five: KUSHIDA defeated BUSHI @ 16:15 via pin [****½]: The longtime rivals and former tops of the division face off, with both in desperate need of a victory. BUSHI offers a handshake, but then shoves the ref into KUSHIDA and attacks. He then cuts off the back handspring kick, and then takes KUSHIDA to the floor and beats him down. Drop toeholds BUSHI into a chair, sets him on it and then follows with a running dropkick. They work to the apron, where BUSHI spikes KUSHIDA with a DDT. Back in the ring and they trade strikes, BUSHI drapes KUSHIDA over the ropes and follows with a dropkick for 2. The neck breaker follows for another 2 count. BUSHI then works the STF, keeping KUSHIDA grounded. KUSHIDA makes the ropes, but as he makes it to his feet eats a missile dropkick. KUSHIDA cuts off BUSHI with a flatliner to the buckles and sends BUSHI to the floor and follows with a tope. Back in they go, KUSHIDA misses the kick, but counters the code breaker into the hover board lock. He transitions into a triangle choke and then an arm bar, but BUSHI rolls him up to escape. KUSHIDA follows with a DDT, but BUSHI then rakes the eyes. V now rakes the eyes in return as he’s getting desperate. BUSHI counters the back handspring with the back stabber and both men are down. BUSHI follows with a suicide dive. He calls for MX, but KUSHIDA avoids him and gets a backslide for 2. They trade kicks and into a double down. They now trade strikes from their knees, work to their feet and trade more forearm strikes. They then slap the shit out of each other. BUSHI hits the destroyer, but KUSHIDA survives. BUSHI follows with the MX, but KUSHIDA kicks out! BUSHI back up top, but this time KUSHIDA counters and catches him with the code breaker on the way down. KUSHIDA locks in the hover board lock, BUSHI fights but KUSHIDA pulls him back center ring but BUSHI continues to fight, but KUSHIDA rolls into God’s last gift and finally gets on the board. EXCELLENT main event, one of the best of the tournament so far. I think that they played very well off of their past encounters, but more importantly off of the desperation of the KUSHIDA character, who realized that he had to dig deep and change things up in order to get a win.

特別な時間でした

A post shared by KUSHIDA (@kushida_ts) on May 29, 2017 at 7:28am PDT

3. From Night Eleven: KUSHIDA defeated Ryusuke Taguchi @ 23:00 via pin [****½]: We’re friends early, shaking hands and working clean breaks. Taguchi looks to ground KUSHIDA, they work back and forth on the ground and work into a stand off. They continue to work on the mat, but neither man can gain an advantage. They worked some really nice exchanges on the mat, and it’s refreshing to see Taguchi work outside of his wacky comfort zone. They pick up the pace, do some passes, and then both go for an ass attack and then both try for a dropkick and end up in a stand off. Taguchi smiles, gives KUSHIDA knux and then attacks, sanding him to the floor. Taguchi tries the flying ass attack off the apron, but KUSHIDA catches him in an arm bar on the floor. A desperate KUSHIDA picks up his aggression, slamming Taguchi’s arm off of the announcer’s table. Back in the ring and KUSHIDA focuses on the arm right away. KUSHIDA then rolls into a wacky hammerlock/koji clutch sort of deal, continuing his assault on the arm. KUSHIDA now works a hanging kimura, but Taguchi transitions out and into rolling suplexes. KUSHIDA then starts to favor his knee, and Taguchi attacks it right away, tying it up in the ropes. Back in the ring, Taguchi grounds KUSHIDA, completely focusing on the knee. KUSHIDA fights and makes the ropes for a break. He then fires up with chops, but Taguchi answers back with forearms and then gets the ankle lock, but KUSHIDA lunges for the ropes out of desperation to get the break. KUSHIDA then counters an ass attack, catching Taguchi and rolling through, hitting Taguchi’s dodon. They trade forearm strikes, but Taguchi rolls through a sunset flip attempt, hitting a basement dropkick. Taguchi fires up, hitting some running ass attacks, goes for on off the ropes, but KUSHIDA catches him again in an arm bar. Taguchi escapes, and they trade submissions, and KUSHIDA then locks in a figure four. Taguchi makes the ropes. KUSHIDA follows with leg kicks, and then attacks the arm with a dropkick. KUSHIDA stomps away at Taguchi, and they both fire up and trade strikes. KUSHIDA fires back with kicks, but Taguchi dropkicks KUSHIDA’s knee, hits the enziguri and ten fires up with big rights to cut off KUSHIDA. Taguchi then runs into a flatliner to the buckles, and KUSHIDA looks for God’s last gift, but Taguchi counters out and locks in the hover board lock. KUSHIDA makes the ropes for the escape. Taguchi then continues to borrow from KUSHIDA’s playbook, attacking the arm, but KUSHIDA counters with dragon screw leg whip. PK to the arm, but Taguchi then counters into dodon and covers for a great near fall. BUM A YE by Taguchi, KUSHIDA kicks out but Taguchi gets the ankle lock and has KUSHIDA trapped center ring. KUSHIDA struggles, crawls but Taguchi pulls him back, looking for dodon but gets the roll up for 2. KUSHIDA locks in the hove board lock, Taguchi rolls and fights, but KUSHIDA has him trapped center ring. KUSHIDA then rolls into God’s last gift and picks up the hard fought win! This was an absolutely great main event, worked with great aggression and purpose, as both men knew that they needed the win. I loved Taguchi breaking form formula, turning in his (at least one) traditional great BOTSJ performance, while KUSHIDA was a very desperate man, not only willing to get a bit dirty, but also play into Taguchi’s playbook. I also love, when done right, when guys start showing their desperation by stealing each other’s moves, which played very well here. This was one of the top matches of the tournament so far, and a must see match.

#NJPW #njbosj @WillOspreay @KingRicochet pic.twitter.com/Q51FPi7vaz

— LARIATOOOO!!! (@MrLARIATO) May 18, 2017

2. From Night Two: Will Ospreay defeated Ricochet @ 27:34 via pin [****¾]: Aggressive lock up as they battle for control, they break and Ricochet takes it to the mat and works the arm. Ospreay counters out, they pick up the pace and do a series of side headlock takeovers, and then work into a stand off. They then work into a series of counters, with some flippity doos mixed in and then into the double superhero pose. They trade forearm strikes, and then do a double down off of a double kick spot. It’s all even early as neither man can gain an advantage. Chops are exchanged, and then more forearms by Ospreay. Ricochet lights him up with chops, and then a pop up back breaker. Ricochet then lays the boots to Ospreay, and then hits a side slam out of the submission attempt. Ricochet continues to lay in chops, and then works a wacky inverted stretch muffler, and then grounds Ospreay with an abdominal stretch. Ricochet then cuts off the back handspring attempt with a dropkick. Ospreay lands elbow strikes, but Ricochet the hits the northern lights. Ospreay then hits the back handspring kick. Ospreay connects with the enziguri and then the slingshot senton and hesitation dropkick to take control. Kicks to the chest follow for Ospreay, but Ricochet hits the 619 and running shooting star press for 2. Ospreay escapes the benadryller, and hits a tornado DDT for 2. Ricochet counters the OsCutter by shoving Ospreay to the floor. Ospreay then pulls Ricochet to the floor and follows with the Sasuke special. Back in and Ospreay hits the springboard forearm, running shooting star press and then the corkscrew moonsault for 2. They work into a series of counters, as Ospreay counters the suplex with a stunner. Ricochet then about kills Ospreay with a sitout tombstone (galleria) for a great near fall. Ricochet up top now, Ospreay cuts him off and they trade strikes as Ospreay follows him up. SUPER RANA countered as Ricochet lands on his feet. Ospreay then lands on his feet as Ricochet tries a top rope reverse RANA. They pick up the pacing big time, Ricochet finally connects with a German and both men are down. They struggle to their feet, Ricochet with chops, but Ospreay fires up with forearm strikes. Both guys are spent, but continue to trade strikes. Ospreay goes rapid-fire, but Ricochet absolutely kills him with a lariat. Ospreay to the floor, Ricochet to the floor and they keep countering each other and battle on the apron. Knee strike by Ricochet, the northern lights and then suplex follow all on the apron. They roll to the floor and we get the count out tease. Ricochet beats the count, as does Ospreay at the final moment. Back in and Ricochet hits the spin kick and OsCutter for the near fall and general fuck you to Ospreay. Ricochet seems completely annoyed now, heads up top and misses the shooting star press, lands on his feet and rolls through but Ospreay block the benadryller, and then HE hits his version for a near fall, and a fuck you very much. Ospreay up top, but Ricochet crotches him. Ospreay hits an enziguri and the trapped superkick, and then flies in with a DRAGON RANA. Ospreay follows with a series of kicks, hits the OsCutter and puts Ricochet away! This was an amazing main event, and not only played well off of their encounters from last year, but also told an excellent story that both men were on the same level, knew each other very well and knew that they not only had to dig deeper than ever before, but even had to steal from each other in order to take the win. They had a very good layout, starting slow and continually picking up the pacing, and escalating both the action and the drama putting on an absolutely awesome display that the crowd loved and was hot for the entire time.

W-T-FFFFFFF!! #NJPW #njbosj @WillOspreay pic.twitter.com/b7XZdg13CT

— LARIATOOOO!!! (@MrLARIATO) June 3, 2017

1. BOTSJ Final: KUSHIDA defeated Will Ospreay @ 28:47 via pin [*****]: And here we are at the finals, two former rivals and BOTSJ winners facing off. They work a slow beginning, with KUSHIDA opting to take things to the mat. Ospreay works some good counters, and they battle for dominant position, and then work into a stand off. Ospreay busted his mouth up a bit, spitting up some blood. They pick up the pace and work through a great series of passes and counters, once again ending in a stand off. Ospreay calls v a little bitch and dares him to hit him, and then calls him a fucking cunt; Will’s got a potty mouth. This pisses off KUSHIDA, who hits a rolling kick, sending Ospreay to the floor and then hits a senton off the top and to the floor, wiping out Ospreay. Back in and KUSHIDA attacks the arm, and then the knee of Ospreay. KUSHIDA does a nice job of mixing up the striking attack, working the knee and arm. He then locks in a figure four, grounding Ospreay. Ospreay escapes, and hits a desperation back handspring kick. Ospreay lands body kicks, and then the corner dropkick, covering for 2. Ospreay follows with uppercuts, and then locks in the octopus hold. KUSHIDA struggles and barely makes the ropes. We get a striking exchange, but Ospreay cuts off KUSHIDA with kicks. Ospreay up top, KUSHIDA hits a jumping enziguri and follows him up, but as Ospreay looks for the trapped superkick, KUSHIDA hits a divorce court off the ropes. KUSHIDA then lays in kicks to the arm, follows with the PK and then a rolling forearm. Ospreay hits a step up enziguri, and KUSHIDA rolls to the floor and Ospreay hits a no hands Fosbury flop! KUSHIDA struggles to roll KUSHIDA back in, hits the springboard forearm but KUSHIDA avoids the tornado kick. KUSHIDA looks to fire up but Ospreay hits the Spanish fly for the double down. The running shooting star press hits, but KUSHIDA counters the corkscrew senton with the knees. The bridging snapdragon suplex by KUSHIDA gets 2. Back breaker by KUSHIDA, he then stomps on Ospreay’s arm and heads up top but Ospreay pops up and dropkicks KUSHIDA to the apron. Ospreay pulls KUSHIDA up top, KUSHIDA tries to attack the arm but he knocked onto the rope, and as he’s draped over the ropes, Ospreay hits a shooting star press and then FUCKING SPIKES KUSHIDA WITH A REVERSE RANA on the apron! Sweet Mary mother of God. KUSHIDA barely beats the count, Ospreay then hits the Essex destroyer for a great near fall! then catches the OsCutter into a flying arm bar! Ospreay fights for all he’s worth, KUSHIDA transitions into a triangle and lays in elbow strikes. Ospreay powers up and hits a buckle bomb! KUSHIDA off the ropes, jumps into the OsCutter but KUSHIDA kicks out for another great near fall. Ospreay hits the tornado kick, but KUSHIDA avoids the OsCutter and hits a back handspring cutter of his own! KUSHIDA rolls for the hover board lock, Ospreay counters out and they trade rapid-fire kicks and they go all Frye/Takiyama! My God they are beating the hell out of each other! KUSHIDA paces around, looking frustrated and then lays in a series of nasty stomps BECAUSE KUSHIDA GIVES NO FUCKS, and then goes back to the hover board lock. KUSHIDA really cranks on the hold, Ospreay keeps fighting, but KUSHIDA rolls, but Ospreay counters god’s last gift into the stun dog millionaire! IMPLODING 450 by Ospreay, WHAT THE FUCK KUSHIDA IS ALIVE! Ospreay hits the trapped corner superkick like 10 times! These guys are trying to kill each other. Ospreay takes KUSHIDA up top, but KUSHIDA hits God’s last gift off the ropes and then rolls into another and FINALLY puts Ospreay away. Simply amazing, you couldn’t have asked for a better finals match. They worked with a tremendous sense of urgency, playing off of their past meetings, and most importantly you could feel that they were doing everything in their power to win the match. Ospreay was fighting for redemption, because he’s failed previously at beating KUSHIDA, but despite going completely murder death kill on him, KUSHIDA survived. KUSHIDA was the fallen ace, fighting for redemption and not only looking to win his title back & to become the ace again, and not only looking to overcome the embarrassment of losing to Takahashi in two-minutes, but to prove to himself that he was still worthy. This was amazing, told a great story and was everything I wanted from the match.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

My Complete 2017 BOTSJ Coverage
* Csonka’s Top 5 Omissions From The 2017 BOTSJ.
* Csonka’s Top 5 Potential BOTSJ Winners.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 1) Review 5.17.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 2) Review 5.18.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 3) Review 5.20.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 4)Review 5.21.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 5) Review 5.22.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 6) Review 5.23.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 7) Review 5.25.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 8) Review 5.26.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 9) Review 5.27.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 10) Review 5.28.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 11) Review 5.29.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 12) Review 5.31.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 13) Review 6.01.17.
* Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Finals Review 6.03.17.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”