Best of the Super Juniors 29 | Night 1 | Block A | Sunday, May 15th, 2022 | BELL 17:00 JST | Aichi | Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall.
New Japan’s Best of the Super Juniors is back with its 29th installment and we have five great tournament matches with YOH facing off against Taiji Ishimori in the main event.
Tiger Mask, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Master Wato, and Robbie Eagles Vs Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa, Yuto Nakashima, and Wheeler Yuta
Time: 10m 16s
Winner via Recientemente: Master Wato
Shingo Takagi and BUSHI [L.I.J] Vs Dick Togo and El Phantasmo [Bullet Club]
Time: 9m 15s
Winner via a Pumping Bomber: Shingo Takagi [L.I.J]
Jado, El Linderman, and Titan Vs Taka Michinoku, DOUKI, and El Desperado [Suzuki-Gun]
Time: 9m 13s
Winner via a Double Stomp: Titan
Clark Connors [LA Dojo] Vs Ace Austin [IMPACT]
While Clark Connors is representing the LA Dojo, Ace Austin is here to show Japan and the world why IMPACT and the X Division is one of the best weekly shows on the planet. Austin is the first representative from IMPACT Wrestling to compete in the BOSJ since 2008 and this is also his first time in Japan.
This is a great opening match with both men spending time feeling one another out before the action heats up. Austin got to show off his submission game, which was a perfect way for him to produce his Ace Card from up his sleeve and papercut the fingers of Connors.
Time: 9m 51s
Winner via The Fold: Ace Austin [IMPACT]
Rating: ***.25
Yoshinobu Kanemaru [Suzuki-Gun] Vs Alex Zayne [GCW]
The Sauce Vs The Man On The Sauce should be a really fun hard-hitting match, and if that’s what you’re looking for then you won’t be disappointed. Zayne was in WWE for a cup of coffee but since returning to New Japan Strong and GCW he hasn’t been able to get any wins, other than against ACH, in 2022. Hopefully tonight he can change his fortunes and defeat the more experienced man from Suzuki-Gun, Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Time: 11m 31s
Winner via a Cinnamon Twist: Alex Zayne [GCW]
Rating ***
Francesco Akira [United Empire] Vs SHO [Bullet Club/House of Torture]
Hard-hitting and fierce this is a lowkey barn burner of a match in the middle of the first night of the Best Of The Super Juniors. Francesco Akira is a new face in the United Empire and also to the New Japan audience. Akira has torn it up all over Japan and admittedly I’ve never seen his work, but I will be seeking out more of his matches after this fantastic bout against SHO.
Starting off slow before building and building to a fantastic crescendo these two gelled well. Despite the match being heel vs heel, which does happen during tournaments, it was still an incredible match. SHO turned up the heel tactics to 100 while Akira’s flashy and beautiful high-flying moves made the crowd cheer him on. A great debut for Francesco Akira who looks set to be a huge star in the company.
Time: 11m 49s
Winner via a Fireball: Francesco Akira [United Empire]
Rating: ***.75
Ryusuke Taguchi [NJPW Main Unit/Taguchi Japan] Vs Hiromu Takahashi [L.I.J]
These two were given the semi-main event slot of the night and both men came into it deciding to do comedy. It’s bold, it’s brave, and completely on-brand for the pair. The pair of them chase each other around the ring, try and get the other one counted out and some absolute hilarity ensues after Taguchi declared “No Butt Stuff” but instantly went for the hip attack.
Not everything in New Japan has to be serious but these two are also two of the best Junior Heavyweights in the promotion. It was scrappy and fun and definitely, a must-watch.
Time: 10m 42s
Winner via an Unnamed Hiromu Roll: Hiromu Takahashi [L.I.J.]
Rating: ***
Best Of The Super Juniors Main Event | YOH [CHAOS] Vs Taiji Ishimori [Bullet Club]
This match started off very slow, the whole story of this match was of YOH being unable to get himself going since his feud with SHO. Ishimori had previously talked about how he is there on every tour and it feels like YOH’s heart isn’t in it, that he doesn’t want to be there and should probably just go home.
YOH has lost his spark and it feels like this tournament is his make-or-break moment. In all honestly this match isn’t great until its final moments and it’s down to Ishimori who really brings the heat and fire, but that does get YOH rilled up. But it wasn’t enough to win the match.
Time: 16m 15s
Winner via a Bone Lock: Taiji Ishimori [Bullet Club]
Rating: ***.25
Best Of The Super Juniors, Block A Standings
| Ace Austin [IMPACT] | 2 |
| Alex Zayne [GCW] | 2 |
| Francesco Akira [United Empire] | 2 |
| Hiromu Takahashi [L.I.J] | 2 |
| Taiji Ishimori [Bullet Club] | 2 |
| Clark Connors [LA Dojo] | 0 |
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru [Suzuki-Gun] | 0 |
| SHO [Bullet Club/House of Torture] | 0 |
| Ryusuke Taguchi [NJPW Main Unit/Taguchi Japan] | 0 |
| YOH [CHAOS] | 0 |