wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night Six Review 5.27.16
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Csonka’s NJPW BOTSJ Night One Review 5.27.16
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Block B Match: Tiger Mask defeated Chase Owens @ 6:45 via pin [**]
– Block B Match: Bobby Fish defeated Barretta @ 11:01 via submission [***½]
– Block B Match: Volador Jr defeated Jushin Liger @ 9:02 via pin [***½]
– Block B Match: Will Ospreay defeated Ricochet @ 16:47 via pin [****½]
– Much like last year, I will be focusing only on the tournament matches.
Block B Match: Tiger Mask vs. Chase Owens: Owens is a dick, so he attacked Tiger Mask as he made his entrance and the beat down was underway. Owens also had Takahashi with his again, and he did the Cody Hall spot of carrying Tiger Mask to the back to tease a countout. This of course failed, and Tiger Mask returned to the ring. Owens worked a solid, but really bland head segment overall and Tiger Mask made his comeback. Takahashi pulled out the ref when Tiger Mask looked to score a submission victory, and I was read for Owens to pick up the shenanigan filled victory. Tiger Mask then countered out of the package piledriver and scored the win. It was bland and had too much bullshit for me overall, but I wouldn’t call it bad. Both men go to 1-2 in the standings.
Block B Match: Bobby Fish vs. Beretta: Both guys have been having a good tournament, and with their experience working together in tags I knew we’d get a good outing here, and we did. Beretta’s offense can feel odd at times, but it works for him and he seemingly can make it work with anyone. Fish was constantly trying to cut him off by attacking the knee, and was extremely diligent about that work. They did some work on the floor, had a great intensity about things and escalated the action during the homestretch very well. Fish finally connected with a dropkick to the knee, the brain buster, and finally locked in the heel hook and Beretta had to tap. Fish is the seasoned veteran that just works and delivers, and Beretta continues to be very good. So many have slept on his post WWE work, and that’s a shame. Fish finally gets on the board at 1-2, while Barreta continues to impress, but drops to 2-1.
Block B Match: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Volador Jr: Liger is always solid to very good during the tournament, he works hard but it’s funny to see what gets him really motivated match wise. Last year he got fired up or his match with Komatsu, and he appeared to have that same fire here to face Volador. They worked some very fun back and forth, with Liger busting out the big dive to the floor and generally looking fired up and the crowd was into things. The vibe was great here, it was definitely more of a sprint than a regular rematch, and that is ok because different styles are good and this was good. I love seeing Liger excited and motivated like this. The end saw then battle up top, and Volador score the win with the Spanish fly. Very good stuff here, old man Liger rules. Both men move to 2-1
Block B Match: Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay: So many thoughts heading into this match, concern due to Ospreay’s injury issues, could they deliver like they did in Evolve, just a lot of thoughts rolling through the old noodle. They worked in and out of the ring, and very quickly I knew this wasn’t going to be a regular “wrestling” match. This was an athletic exhibition with pro wrestling mixed in; it felt like watching Dragon Gate in the mid-2000s when it felt new and state of the art or like watching Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid. I love good selling, if you take the time to work a body part and then abandon it later, that’s stupid. Here, they weren’t working that sort of match, and it wasn’t like they didn’t sell, but this was a match that did not call for traditional selling. They weren’t working holds or breaking the other man down, this was the King of Flight (Ricochet) looking to keep up and prove that he’s still king as he battles the crowned Prince (Ospreay) who wants the crown. They worked at a wild pace, and not only were the moves they did wild, they were clean and actually were able to keep amping up the energy as the match went on. And the crowd responded, the crowd loved this and were even doing America style chants for these guys. This was the exact match that it needed to be, and I loved it from start to finish.
FUCKING HELL, LADS!! This is crazy #NJPW #njbosj @WillOspreay @KingRicochet pic.twitter.com/Yrj7NZ3WIt
— LARIATOOOOO!!! (@SenorLARIATO) May 27, 2016
This sequence tho. #njbosj pic.twitter.com/fJvwyVVEm9
— DTAM (@DeathToAllMarks) May 27, 2016
This was close to and almost on par with their Evolve 59 outing, which was also out standing. There have been a lot of good matches in the tournament so far, but this is one of the best with ease and really brought that element of flight and reckless abandon I had been searching for. I absolutely loved this match, and when all is said and done, it will be one of the top matches of the whole thing. Will Ospreay is only 23, he still has parts of his game he needs to improve (who doesn’t), but for 23 he is outstanding. Ricochet may have lost here, but dude is still the fucking king.
BLOCK B STANDINGS:
– Ricochet (2-1) – 4 points
– Jushin Liger (2-1) – 4 points
– Barreta (2-1) – 4 points
– Volador Jr (2-1) – 4 points
– Chase Owens (1-2) – 2 points
– Bobby Fish (1-2) – 2 points
– Will Ospreay (1-2) – 2 points
– Tiger Mask (1-2) – 2 points
* End scene.
* Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
