We’ve got a couple of matches to sweep up before we can put this Super Jr Tag League to bed, so let’s get to it! We don’t want this place getting messy, do we? These came from Shizuoka and Aichi.
Roppongi 3K (SHO and YOH) (4-2) defeated Tiger Mask and Yuya Uemura (0-6)
If you’re looking at it from a Young Lion perspective, Best of the Super Juniors was Ren Narita’s tournament. Then, the G1 saw Shota Umino get a spotlight, and the Young Lion Cup was a chance for the LA Dojo cubs to shine. Junior Tag League, though? It’s been all about Yuya Uemura.
And this match was no different. It was Uemura who worked the bulk of it, doing a good job of selling his leg after Roppongi 3K attacked it and getting the fans shouting their appreciation when he got the Boston Crab on YOH. His timing on these moments is perfect, as he nails the exact second to drag YOH back to the centre or to lean back and put more pressure on the move. That’s the kind of shit you can’t teach, and it comes from experience as you learn to read the crowd and react to their noise.
What’s great about him is that people seem to think he’s going to win. We all know that there isn’t a chance in hell he does, but the way he wrestles bolsters your faith, making you desperate for him to defy the odds. He never does, but the journey is a shitload of fun.
Verdict: Three And Three Quarter Stars
TJP and Clark Connors (1-6) defeated Tiger Mask and Yuya Uemura (0-7)
With both Young Lion teams having failed to pick up a point, their tournaments’ culminated in a match against each other. Uemura and Connors have both had good showings, but it has been the Japanese wrestler who has captured people’s imaginations, so this was Clark’s chance to put him back in his box.
It wasn’t only the rookies who were in the mood, though, as Tiger Mask was in grumpy kitty mode. He unleashed with some kicks on TJP and spent more time in the ring than has been the norm in these matches. Those interactions with Perkins were great throughout, as Tiger does like to remind everyone that he can still go when he’s in the mood.
Of course, the focus was always going to be on the cubs, and they both showed off some nifty moves as Uemura reversed a pop-up with a cool Dropkick and Connors hit an almost Pounce style Shoulder Block sending Yuya flying across the ring. They’re both brimming with potential, and while there was a slight botch when Uemura didn’t come down on TJP’s feet properly towards the end, it shouldn’t take away from impressive another strong outing from both men.
Verdict: Three And A Quarter Stars
Overall Show
It was two matches from two different shows, I don’t think there is much need to chip in with anything extra down here.
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