Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night One Review 5.18.18

Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night One Review 5.18.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Chris Sabin & Ren Narita defeated Shota Umino & KUSHIDA @ 9:40 via pin [***]
– YOSHI-HASHI & Sho defeated Tomoyuki Oka & Dragon Lee @ 11:45 via submission [***]
– Desperado & Minoru Suzuki defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Toa Henare @ 8:17 via pin [**½]
– EVIL & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Chase Owens & Mary Scurll @ 9:21 via submission [**½]
– Block A Match: Tiger Mask defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 10:30 via pin [**¾]
– Block A Match: ACH defeated Flip Gordon @ 15:27 via pin [****]
– Block A Match: Yoh defeated BUSHI @ 15:20 via pin [***]
– Block A Match: Taiji Ishimori defeated Will Ospreay @ 13:47 via pin [****]

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Shota Umino & KUSHIDA vs. Chris Sabin & Ren Narita: Sabin & KUSHIDA to begin. Liger is on commentary; it feels so weird to have a Super Juniors without him. We get some basic back and forth with KUSHIDA looking to ground things. Sabin quickly cradles him for 2. Narita tags in and takes KUSHIDA down. He works a side choke until KUSHIDA escapes, and takes control, working his ground game. Umino tags in and works over Narita with big time chops. He now works a cravat, and takes Narita down. The neck breaker follows for 2. KUSHIDA tags back in and continues the heat on Narita. He lays in chops, but Narita cuts him off with a dropkick and tags in Sabin. He works over KUSHIDA, hitting corner attacks and then a missile dropkick. KUSHIDA fights off cradle shock and hits the cartwheel dropkick. He then takes out Narita and starts firing away with kicks on Sabin. The PELE follows and KUSHIDA begs for the tag. Umino in and lays in chops to Sabin. The missile dropkick follows for 2. Umino locks on the crab, Sabin fights and it breaks down with Narita making the save and getting tossed. Sabin cuts off Umino and fires away with kicks. He takes out KUSHIDA and the cradle shock finishes Umino. Chris Sabin & Ren Narita defeated Shota Umino & KUSHIDA @ 9:40 via pin [***] This was a good back and forth opener, with an invested crowd and Sabin smartly picking up the win to reintroduce him to the audience.

YOSHI-HASHI & Sho vs. Tomoyuki Oka & Dragon Lee: Lee comes into the BOTSJ banged up with a right quad injury. Lee and Sho start us off, and work into a spirited grappling exchange. They work into some fast paced back and forth and end in a stand off. Oka & HASHI tag in and Oka attacks right away, overpowering HASHI. He follows with knee strikes and the fight spills to the floor. Sho & Lee follow and HASHI and Oka work back into the ring, and trade chops. Sho tags back in and lays in chops on Oka. The knee to the gut follows and Sho then knocks Oka to the floor. HASHI tags back in and lays in clubbing strikes and chops on Oka. Oka fires up, but is immediately cut off. Sho hits the dropkick and locks on a crab. Oka fights and makes the ropes. He then fights off a German and hits a belly to belly. Hot tag to Lee, who hits a dropkick and lays in strikes. He then goes John Wooooooo and covers for 2. Sho fires back as they trade strikes center ring, lighting each other up. Lee hits a kick and German, Sho rebounds with a big lariat, turning Lee inside out. Wholesale changes to Oka & HASHI, Oka runs wild and hits a spinebuster for 2. The STF follows; HASHI fights but Oka transitions to a camel clutch. HASHI finally makes the ropes. HASHI cuts him off with a superkick for 2. It breaks down, and Sho Germans Lee. They work into some back and forth and Lee hits a RANA. HASHI cuts him off and then works over Oka. The neck breaker follows for 2. HASHI locks on the butterfly lock and Oka has to tap. YOSHI-HASHI & Sho defeated Tomoyuki Oka & Dragon Lee @ 11:45 via submission [***] This was a decidedly less energetic match as opposed to the opener. Thankfully an invested crowd, strong second half, and fun closing stretch helped to turn thins into a good match. The Lee vs. Sho interactions were really good, and served as a nice preview for tomorrow.

Desperado & Minoru Suzuki vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Toa Henare: In a shocking turn of events, Suzuki-gun attacked before the bell. Desperado works over Taguchi and looks for the stretch muffler, but Taguchi makes the ropes. He then connects with an ass attack and two more until Suzuki cuts him off on the floor. Suzuki now beats on Henare in the crowd, using chairs. Desperado does the same on Henare. Suzuki also attacks a young lion. Desperado then tosses Taguchi into the first few rows of chairs. Taguchi barely beats the count, and gets tossed so that Suzuki can beat on him. Back in and Desperado covers for 2. Suzuki tags in and lays in knee strikes. Taguchi tries to fight back, but Suzuki just laughs at him; he’s just terrifying. Suzuki now locks on a figure four until Taguchi makes the ropes. Desperado back in but Taguchi fires back and hits an ass attack. Henare gets the tag and runs wild on Desperado. He hits the top rope shoulder block for 2. Desperado cuts him off and tags in Suzuki, but Henare hits the Samoan drop. He and Taguchi double-team Suzuki, and Henare hits a spinebuster for 2. Taguchi tosses Desperado and follows with a plancha. Suzuki gets the sleeper and Gotch on Henare for the win. Desperado & Minoru Suzuki defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Toa Henare @ 8:17 [**½] This was a solid and even fun at times match, with the expected ending for poor Henare.

EVIL & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Chase Owens & Mary Scurll: Marty finds a Daryl in the crowd and kicks its ass. Marty & Takahashi to begin. They lock up and Marty works into some slick escapes and Takahashi doesn’t care, and then attacks. Marty lays in chops and looks for the chicken wing, they work into a series of counters, and Marty looks for the finger break, and they pose and mock each other. EVIL in and they double team Marty, and Takahashi covers for 2. EVIL follows with chops, and tags Takahashi back in. he teases the sunset bomb to he floor, but Owens makes the save. Everyone to the floor, as Owens slams EVIL into a wall. Marty takes time to shill his merch as he works over Takahashi. Owens grabs a Daryl from the crowd and they use it to attack Takahashi. Bullet Club continues to isolate Takahashi, working quick tags but Takahashi runs them together. He cuts off Marty and we get wholesale changes to EVIL & Owens. EVIL works him over and hits the senton for 2. Owens fires up and hits the jewel heist for 2. EVIL now fights off the package piledriver, and Takahashi makes the save. RANA on Marty and Owens accidentally takes out Marty. Superkick by Takahashi and EVIL lays him out, and then locks in the banshee muzzle and Owens taps. EVIL & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Chase Owens & Mary Scurll @ 9:21 via submission [**½] This was another fine and solid match. I liked EVIL bringing back the banshee muzzle, as a tour like this is a great place to start re-establishing that finish,

Tiger Mask vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru: Kanemaru attacks at the bell and takes the fight to the floor, a shocking development to be sure. He then posts Tiger and lays in kicks. Back in they go and Kanemaru lays the boots to him. Tiger fires up and cuts him off, and locks on a figure four. Kanemaru makes the ropes. Tiger keeps things grounded, working the legs of Kanemaru. Tiger now starts to slap the shit out of Kanemaru and dumps him to the floor. Kanemaru backing to cut off the suicide dive, and starts attacking the mask of Tiger. He shoves the ref away and almost has the mask off. Tiger regroups, but Kanemaru hits a DDT on the floor. Kanemaru continues to control, hitting a funning kick to the face of Tiger. Back in and Kanemaru chokes out Tiger, working the count and keeping control. Tiger looks to fire up but Kanemaru cuts him off. Tiger hits a desperation head kick, and the tiger driver follows for 2. Tiger takes him up top and the butterfly superplex follows for 2. He transitions to the arm bar, Kanemaru fights, and barely makes the ropes. Kanemaru fights off a tiger suplex, and gets a low blow and cradle for 2. To the floor and Kanemaru hits a slam and then slams a lion onto Tiger. Kanemaru then tosses a lion from the ring onto Tiger. Tiger barely beats the count. Kanemaru sets Tiger up top and hits the superplex, but Tiger cradles him on the landing and picks up the win. Tiger Mask defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 10:30 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good match, with Tiger Mask surviving all of Kanemaru’s dirty tricks and in the end being smarter and picking up his first win.

ACH vs. Flip Gordon: ACH, wearing the AAW title, is already taped up like its day 10. They have a hot crowd to start off. They lockup and ACH looks to ground things. Gordon fights to his feet and looks to work the arm, but ACH quickly counters out. ACH tries repeated takedown, but Gordon keeps kipping up. The crowd loves Gordon. ACH cuts him off, laying in chops and covering for 2. ACH has lost his shoulder tape, but grounds Gordon. Gordon fires back, but ACH hits a snap German for 2. ACH sends Gordon to the floor, follows and lays in more chops. ACH then accidentally chops the post and that allows Gordon to take him backing and hit a missile dropkick. The springboard sling blade follows for 2. Gordon heads up top, ACH follows and Gordon hits kinder surprise and then follows with a double jump dive. Back in and Gordon gets tripped up and ACH hits the sliding kick. Gordon to the floor, as ACH is favoring his shoulder. He follows and lays in chops on Gordon. They brawl up into the entranceway, and then deep into the crowd. Gordon climbs up into the top level and wipes out ACH with a high cross. They head back to the ring, Gordon faster as ACH is struggling. ACH makes it back in and Gordon hits a springboard splash for 2. Gordon hits Samoan pop and a running shooting star press for 2. Gordon up top and ACH cuts him off with an enziguri and covers for 2. They trade strikes now, Gordon fires up as ACH lights him up. Gordon then hits a springboard spear for a good near fall. He then does the deal with a falcon arrow for 2. Gordon lays in a superkick and heads up top but the spiral tap misses. ACH tries to fire himself up and hits a dead lift German. The running knee strike and package DDT gets the win. ACH defeated Flip Gordon @ 15:27 via pin [****] This was a good pairing for Flip’s first night, as ACH has worked in NJPW and Japan as a whole more than him. Flip is a fun, but incomplete performer, and I think this run in the BOTSJ will really help him grow a more well rounded wrestler. This was a great match with a much different feel than most Korakuen matches, with ACH picking up a hard earned win, fighting through injury, while Flip made the absolute most of his first match of the tournament. Easily the best thing on the show so far.

BUSHI vs. Yoh: This is the first time these two have faced off since Yoh’s young lion days; BUSHI dominated him in those matches. BUSHI attacks at the bell and just kicks Yoh’s ass. Yoh fights back, fires up and hits a big tope to change the momentum. Yoh has control back, sending BUSHI back to the floor. BUSHI cuts him of, going to the old shirt choke. BUSHI then fucking spikes him with an apron DDT. Back in and BUSHI covers for 2. He keeps Yoh grounded for a bit and they then trade chops. BUSHI starts to light him up with vicious chops, and then grounds him with a head scissors. Yoh fights for and makes the ropes. BUSHI now hangs Yoh in the ropes and the dropkick follows. BUSHI locks on the STF, continuing to control. Yoh makes the ropes, and starts to fire back on BUSHI, hitting a neck breaker for the double down. He follows with forearm strikes and then follows with a wrecking ball dropkick. BUSHI dumps him to the floor and hits a suicide dive. Back in and BUSHI his the double knees. Yoh cuts him off and hits a jumping knee strike. BUSHI crotches him on the ropes, and lays in chops. The RANA follows and BUSHI covers for 2. BUSHI looks to finish him off, hitting the fisherman’s neck breaker for 2. BUSHI to the ropes, but Yoh counters MX with a superkick. They trade strikes from their knees and then on the feet. They trade kicks, and Yoh fires up with a superkick. BUSHI cuts him off, and hits a destroyer for a great near fall. BUSHI sets, but Yoh counters the code breaker into a cradle for the win! Yoh defeated BUSHI @ 15:20 via pin [***] This was a good back and forth match and a huge singles win for Yoh on night one as he looks to establish himself apart from 3K. But like a lot of BUSHI matches, it felt all over the place at times.

Will Ospreay vs. Taiji Ishimori: Ospreay is the champion, so a win by Ishimori would all but guarantee a title match. Ospreay runs wild at the bell, hitting John Woooooo and dropkicks, taking Ishimori to the floor. He follows and they brawl. Ospreay leaps into the crowd and flies back at Ishimori with a senton dive to wipe him out. Back in and Ospreay lays in chops and kicks. Ishimori battles back and hits a seated senton. He then starts attacking the neck with elbow strikes and then lays the boots to Ospreay. Ishimori is working with some great swagger here, dumping Ospreay to the floor. He posts Ospreay and then rolls him back in, covering for 2. Ishimori keeps attacking the neck and hits a sliding German. Ishimori now works a cravat, keeping focus on the neck. They trade strikes, and Ospreay hits the back handspring kick. The enziguri follows as does a 619. The springboard forearm and running shooting star press gets 2. Ospreay lays in hard kicks, but Ishimori cuts him off, and transitions into a crossface; Ospreay makes the ropes. Ishimori takes Ospreay up top, but Ospreay slips out and they battle over a tombstone, and Ishimori hits the bloody cross for 2. Back to the crossface for Ishimori, but Ospreay counters out into a German and both men are down. They trade strikes from their knees, and then the feet. Ospreay drops the elbow pad and fires away. The back elbow and reverse side suplex follows for 2. Ospreay drapes Ishimori over the ropes and hits him with a shooting star press for 2. Ospreay is frustrated now, and hits the Robinson special. Ishimori counters storm breaker into a reverse RANA, but runs into a Spanish fly! Ospreay fires away with kicks, and the oscutter is countered into the bloody cross for the win. Taiji Ishimori defeated Will Ospreay @ 13:47 via pin [****] This was a great match to close out night one. Ishimori comes in as an instant title contender, and embraced his heel role well, working with great aggression and swagger. Ospreay was great as usual, and they had a great first match without giving everything away. Great stuff from both guys here.

BLOCK A:
* Tiger Mask: (1-0) 2pts.
* ACH: (1-0) 2pts.
* YOH: (1-0) 2pts.
* Taiji Ishimori: (1-0) 2pts.
* Will Ospreay: (0-1) 0pts.
* BUSHI: (0-1) 0pts.
* Flip Gordon: (0-1) 0pts.
* Kanemaru: (0-1) 0pts.

BLOCK B:
* Chris Sabin: (-) pts.
* KUSHIDA: (-) pts.
* SHO: (-) pts.
* Desperado: (-) pts.
* Hiromu Takahashi: (-) pts.
* Marty Scurll: (-) pts.
* Dragon Lee: (-) pts.
* Taguchi: (-) pts.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

7.2

The final score: review Good

The 411

Night one of the 2018 NJPW BOTSJ was a good and strong opening night, with a strong set of tournament matches, two of which were great. Hopefully, this is a sign of great things to come.