Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 9) Review 5.27.17

Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ (Night 9) Review 5.27.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– ACH defeated El Desperado @ 9:56 via pin [**½]
– BUSHI defeated Volador Jr @ 10:53 via pin [***¼]
– Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Tiger Mask IV @ 9:29 via submission [***]
– KUSHIDA defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 13:17 via pin [***¾]

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* 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.

– These are block B matches today, no commentary, single camera shoot.

ACH vs. El Desperado: Desperado tosses his shirt at ACH, but fails on his sneak attack attempt. ACH is one step ahead of Desperado’s shenanigans early, and they battle to the apron. But when ACH tries to come back in the ring, Desperado kicks the ropes into his balls. This leads to the crowd brawl, and Desperado using a chair on ACH. Desperado breaks the count and waits on ACH, attacking the knee as soon as he rolls in. Desperado even pulls down the kneepad and unwraps the knee tape so that he can do maximum damage. He follows with the Flair style knee breaker, ACH tries to fire up, and does so (and also starts running around with no regard for the knee work), sending Desperado to the floor and hitting a slingshot plancha. Back in, ACH up top but missiles the double stomp and crumbles to the mat, but then just hits a dropkick like its nothing. He then does the old grab at the knee and pretends to sell now that his movez are done spot. Desperado takes ACH down, working an inverted figure four, but ACH makes the ropes. ACH escapes, and gets a small package for 2. ACH tries to shake off the knee, but Desperado shoves the ref in his way and then dropkicks the knee and locks in the stretch muffler. ACH struggles and makes the ropes. ACH counters a powerbomb, but crumble to the mat due to his knee. He then hits a lariat and Michinoku driver for the win. ACH defeated El Desperado @ 9:56 via pin [**½] Average match overall, they had some nice ideas, but the complete lack of selling at times from ACH really took away from things. Both men re now 3-2.

Volador Jr. vs. BUSHI: Nice fast paced start, with some fun counters. BUSHI wants a handshake now, Volador grabs his hand and they work into more back and forth counters, but BUSHI then tossed Volador to the floor and hitting a slingshot RANA. BUSHI breaks the count, and waits on Volador, who is limping now. BUSHI then chokes him out with his shirt, and then hits a missile dropkick and the BUSH-a-roonie. The STF follows from BUSHI, looking content to keep Volador grounded. Volador made the ropes, but is clutching at his knee. Nope, he’s fine, starts running and hits a head scissors and a big tope. Back in they go, Volador then hits a springboard missile dropkick for 2; the wheelbarrow slam follows for another 2. He then sets BUSHI n the ropes, and hits a springboard leg drop for another near fall. BUSHI fights back, hitting a sunset flip for 2. The corner knees follow, but Volador quickly cuts him off and sets him up top. They battle on the top, and BUSHI hits a big RANA and both men are down. They now trade strikes center ring, and then BUSHI hits a spin kick, but Volador stops his momentum with a backstabber. Volador up top, BUSHI avoids the moonsault and they battle up top again, with BUSHI hitting the Spanish fly for a good near fall; BUSHI then hits MX and Volador is done. BUSHI defeated Volador Jr @ 10:53 via pin [***¼] When putting together a match, you have to make the right choices, and they didn’t do that here. The early leg work meant absolutely nothing, as Volador blew it off and then started to run full speed and hit dives. They made the work into nothing but time filler/busy work; it never paid off and I absolutely ate that, especially since it’s the second match on a row it happened. If you’re going to do the work, make it mean something and have it pay off. It’s not even a lapse in selling, this was just “fuck it, I’m doing my moves.” Shit like this is way worse to me than “too many flips and superkicks.” They took a match that should have been great, and made it merely good. Cut put the useless leg work, and this is a completely different and much better match. Both men are now 2-3.

Tiger Mask IV vs. Ryusuke Taguchi: Taguchi gives the ref some knux, and then Tiger Mask; we’re all friends! We get a basic back and forth to begin, with both looking to take it to the mat, and working to a stalemate. Taguchi then does some random front rolls, and Tiger Mask is not impressed. They trade arm drags and work into another stand off. We get a criss-cross spot, with Tiger Mask eventually stopping and allowing Taguchi to tire himself out. Tiger Mask then got a backslide for 2, and took the fight to the ground, working the arm. Taguchi makes the ropes, but Tiger Mask keeps attacking the arm. Taguchi makes it to his feet, escapes and picks up the pace. He then follows with an ass attack off the ropes, and then follows with repeated ass attacks while Tiger Mask is hung up in the ropes. Taguchi then misses the bum-a-ye, but locks in the ankle lock, but Tiger Mask quickly gets the ropes and follows with a crucifix for 2. He goes after the arm looking for an arm bar, but Taguchi makes the ropes. Tiger Mask hits the tiger bomb, covering for two and then transitioning into the arm bar. Taguchi struggles, and barely makes the ropes. They trade cradle attempts, Taguchi hits the dodon and applies the ankle lock. Tiger Mask fights, almost escapes, but has to tap. Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Tiger Mask IV @ 9:29 via submission [***] Good match here, nice back and forth with both men looking to set up their finishing submissions, but never able to really lock in and dominate with limb work. It was smooth, clean and smartly built to the finish. Taguchi moves to 3-2, while Tiger Mask falls to 2-3.

KUSHIDA vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru: TAKA is out with Kanemaru. I know you’ll be shocked, but Kanemaru attacked before the bell. KUSHIDA went for the back handspring elbow, but Kanemaru cut that off, catching him with a German an then taking him to the apron for an inverted DDT. And now back to our regularly scheduled Suzuki-gun floor brawl. Kanemaru takes the ref, allowing TAKA to work over KUSHIDA. Kanemaru then posts KUSHIDA, and then takes a page out of the BUSHI playbook, choking out KUSHIDA with his shirt. Kanemaru then counters the cartwheel into a dropkick with a dropkick of his own. Kanemaru traps KUSHIDA in the tree of WHOA and follows with the hesitation dropkick. Kanemaru then beats down KUSHIDA on the apron, sending him to the floor for a countout tease. Back in, and Kanemaru works the head scissors, continuing his slow beat down on KUSHIDA. The DDT follows for 2. KUSHIDA finally fires up, hitting a huge kick to the head and then a flatliner into the buckles. He then kicks away at the arm, sends Kanemaru to the floor and follows with a tope. Back in and KUSHIDA misses a PK, but hits the back handspring elbow and top rope moonsault for a near fall. The PK to the arm follows and then the hover board lock, but the ref got bumped and TAKA made the save. KUSHIDA took him out, and here comes fucking Taichi to hit KUSHIDA with a bottle of tequila. Kanemaru up top, hits deep impact and KUSHIDA kicks out at 2. KUSHIDA then manages to fight off a suplex, and hits one of his own. They trade strikes center ring, some great uppercuts but Kanemaru but Taichi then trips up KUSHIDA, but accidentally blows mist in Kanemaru’s face. Kanemaru turns KUSHIDA inside out with a lariat, Kanemaru gets the tequila, takes a drink and heads up top, but KUSHIDA counters deem impact and hits the air raid crash. KUSHIDA then locks in the hover board lock, but Kanemaru rolls, only for KUSHIDA to hit God’s last gift and pick up the win. 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 is 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 also a great job of making you think that he was about to be fucked by Suzuki-gun. KUSHIDA moves to 2-3, while Kanemaru drops to 2-3.

BLOCK A STANDINGS
– Will Ospreay: (4-1) 8pts.
– Taichi: (3-2) 6pts.
– Marty Scurll: (3-2) 6pts.
– Dragon Lee: (3-2) 6pts.
– Ricochet: (3-2) 6pts.
– Hiromu Takahashi: (3-2) 6pts.
– TAKA Michinoku: (1-4) 2pts.
– Jushin Liger: (0-5) 0pts.

BLOCK B STANDINGS
– ACH: (3-2) 6pts.
– Desperado: (3-2) 6pts.
– Yoshinobu Kanemaru: (3-2) 6pts.
– Ryusuke Taguchi: (3-2) 6pts.
– Tiger Mask: (2-3) 4pts.
– BUSHI: (2-3) 2pts.
– Volador Jr: (2-3) 2pts.
– KUSHIDA: (2-3) 2pts.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.2

The final score: review Good

The 411

Night nine was a good and fun show, with nothing bad other than some dodgey selling early on; block B now has four men locked up at 6-points a piece.