wrestling / TV Reports

Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 3) Review 5.20.17

May 20, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
7
The 411 Rating
Community Grade
12345678910
Your Grade
Loading...
Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 3) Review 5.20.17  

Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 3) Review

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated ACH @ 10:26 via pin [***]
– Tiger Mask IV defeated KUSHIDA @ 10:41 via pin [***½]
– El Desperado defeated BUSHI @ 9:47 via pin [***]
– Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Volador Jr. @ 9:58 via pin [**½]


* 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.

ACH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru: We’re in the small Matsusaka Gymnasium today. Kanemaru doesn’t fuck around here, attacking ACH and beating on him in the corners. ACH picked up the pace, and quickly fought back and took him to the apron. Kanemaru turns the tables, dumps him to the floor and then beats him down and posts him. ACH plays to the crowd really well and you can tell he’s excited to be working the tournament. Kanemaru keeps the attack going on the floor, not giving ACH a chance to recover. We get the countout tease, but ACH makes it back in. Kanemaru works the camel clutch, keeping ACH grounded. Nice aggressive work by Kanemaru, who is more fun to watch with out all of the Suzuki-gun shenanigans. He then dropkicks ACH to the floor, and we get another countout tease. ACH breaks the count, but Kanemaru lights him up with uppercuts. But ACH then dropkicks his knee and hits another dropkick, sending Kanemaru to the floor. ACH then hits the suicide dive, sends Kanemaru back in and covers for 2. ACH looks for a German, Kanemaru fights it off at first but ACH hits it for the near fall. ACH up top, misses the double stomp and his knee gives out and Kanemaru attacks it right away, but ACH hits the lariat for the near fall. ACH argues with the ref and walks into a superkick and then a tornado DDT. Kanemaru counters the suplex and low blows ACH and hits the reverse DDT for 2. Kanemaru up to and hits the diving DDT for the win. Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated ACH @ 10:26 via pin [***] Good back and forth match, with both guys playing to the small venue really well.

Tiger Mask IV vs. KUSHIDA: they shake hands, and we’re friends to begin. Tiger Mask attacks the arm to begin, but KUSHIDA takes him down and looks to out grapple him. KUSHIDA gets a cradle for 1 and they separate. Tiger Mask lays n forearm strikes, but KUSHIDA hits the hip toss into the dropkick and follows with a standing moonsault for 2. KUSHIDA takes control, working the arm in the ropes and then ground Tiger Mask, focusing on the arm. Tiger Mask escapes and rolls to the floor. He takes his time, looking to recover, and then comes back into the ring. KUSHIDA lays in hard body kicks, and then follows with kicks to the arm. He then works an Indian death lock, keeping Tiger Mask grounded, and then transitions into a Muta lock, Tiger Mask makes the ropes and escapes. They trade kicks and Tiger Mask then hit the back breaker. Kicks follow, KUSHIDA looks for a springboard but eats a kick and then comes back with the back handspring elbow. Up top and the moonsault eats knees, and Tiger Mask covers for 2. Tiger Mask up top, but KUSHIDA cuts him off and follows him up. They battle for position, chops by KUSHIDA and then a head butt by Tiger Mask sends him to the mat; the high cross follows, but KUSHIDA rolls into the hover board lock. Tiger Mask manages to fight away, but KUSHIDA locks it back in only for Tiger Mask to make the ropes. KUSHIDA is frustrated here, gees after the arm again and then kicks away at it. Tiger Mask fires up and hits the tombstone and both men are down. KUSHIDA fights back with kicks, but Tiger Mask cuts him off with the dropkick and Tiger Driver for the near fall. Tiger Mask hit the bridging tiger suplex to finish KUSHIDA off. Tiger Mask IV defeated KUSHIDA @ 10:41 via pin [***½] This was a very good match, with the resilient veteran taking out the frustrated former champion, who is in a funk right now after being owned by Takahashi. I really hope that they don’t do the come from behind deal with KUSHIDA, because that would feel like too much of a repeat from last year’s Ospreay win. With KUSHIDA winning the ROH TV title, it may be better to send him away for a bit to rejuvenate him and come back fresh and looking for revenge against Takahashi.

El Desperado vs. BUSHI: BUSHI attacks at the bell with a dropkick and lays the boots to Desperado. The missile dropkick follows and then he chokes him out with his shirt. BUSHI sends Desperado to the floor, goes for a suicide dive but eats a wicked chair shot to the face. Desperado then flings him into the front row of chairs and beats the shit out of him. BUSHI beats the count, but Desperado attacks as soon as he rolls in. Desperado sets BUSHI up top and tries to take his mask off not very sporting of him. The ref breaks it up, but Desperado lays into BUSHI with a running uppercut for 2. To the corner and Desperado works the knee, tying him up in the ropes and then dropkicking the knee; he then works an Indian death lock to continue his focus on the knee. BUSHI makes the ropes, and then sends Desperado to the floor. BUSHI hits the slingshot RANA to the floor and both men are down. BUSHI limps his way back into the ring, and Desperado follows and then rakes the eyes, but BUSHI hits the DDT. BUSHI follows with a running knee strike, and then runs into a spinebuster. Desperado cuts him off, working the stretch muffler, but BUSHI makes the ropes. They trade strikes, but Desperado kicks him in the knee but BUSHI hits a backslide for2 and then hits the code breaker. The destroyer follows for a good near fall. BUSHI slowly heads to the ropes but Desperado shoves the ref into the ropes for a distraction, pulls off BUSHI’s mask and cradles him for the win. El Desperado defeated BUSHI @ 9:47 via pin [***] This was another good match, with BUSHI playing default face and getting to bust out some of his more fun moves. Desperado was a great asshole here, and used that ability to overcome and pick up his second win.

Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Volador Jr.: They shake hands, and here we go. Volador doesn’t quite know what to make of Taguchi here. They lock up, break into some back and forth and Taguchi uses his ass to take control. Volador picks up the pace, confuses Taguchi and they stand off. Taguchi then does his confused rope running spot, gets tired and Volador hits a la magistral cradle for 2. Taguchi sends Volador to the floor and follows with a tope. Back in and Taguchi takes control with ass attacks. He then grounds Volador, working the arm and then the leg. Volador makes the ropes for the break. Taguchi right back to the leg, but Volador is again able to make the ropes and escape. Volador then picks up the pace, hits a RANA sending Taguchi to the floor. The suicide dive follows. They work back into the ring; Volador hits a high cross and roll through RANA for a near fall. The superkick follows, and Taguchi counters a sunset flip by jumping up and smashing his ass onto Volador’s chest. Tagichi follows with the running ass attacks and enziguri. He then hits a flying ass attack off the top rope for 2. Tagichi looks for another, but Volador cuts him off with a dropkick. Volador sets him up top and hits a RANA for 2. Taguchi battles back with an ankle lock. But Volador hits the enziguri and a roll up for 2. Superkick by Volador gets 2. Volador up top now, but the moonsault eats feet. The Taguchi ass attack gets 2; Taguchi then hits the dodon to pick up the win, his second of the tournament. Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Volador Jr. @ 9:58 via pin [**½] This was a rock solid match, but felt a bit too lackadaisical and repetitive for my liking.

BLOCK A STANDINGS
– Dragon Lee: (2-0) 4pts.
– Will Ospreay: (1-1) 2pts.
– Taichi: (1-1) 2pts.
– Ricochet: (1-1) 2pts.
– Marty Scurll: (1-1) 2pts.
– TAKA Michinoku: (1-1) 2pts.
– Hiromu Takahashi: (1-1) 0pts.
– Jushin Liger: (0-2) 0pts.

BLOCK A STANDINGS
– Desperado: (2-0) 4pts.
– Ryusuke Taguchi: (2-0) 4pts.
– Volador Jr: (1-1) 2pts.
– ACH: (1-1) 2pts.
– Tiger Mask: (1-1) 2pts.
– Yoshinobu Kanemaru: (1-1) 2pts.
– BUSHI: (0-2) 0pts.
– KUSHIDA: (0-2) 0pts.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
At just under an hour, the night three matches are fun and enjoyable. This was a good night of action overall.
legend