Hiromu you beautiful mad bastard. Credit: NJPW
Gosh, you always forget how long these tournaments are until you’re halfway through them, realise you’ve fallen five shows behind and need to write reviews of them all. Okay, that might not be a universal experience, but it’s been a long old road to get here. More importantly, though, it’s been a fun one, and the juniors have delivered some outstanding matches. Now it’s time to find out if the final can cap it all off nicely.
There was a lot of this. Credit: NJPW
Here’s a treat that we don’t often get from New Japan. An entire card of singles matches. By combining the final days of both blocks, NJPW has put together a super show. Can it live up to the potential that it has on paper?
KUSHIDA looks like he’s dreading that one. Credit: NJPW
Our final single-camera show of the tour. I’m sure we’ll all be devastated to see them go. In saying that, KUSHIDA vs Dragon Lee and Hiromu Takahashi vs SHO isn’t a horrible way to say goodbye.
‘This is my best angle.’ Credit: NJPW
Most of you now know who has won this tournament. So what you want to do is go back and read about a show headlined by Kanemaru vs YOH, don’t you? I knew it!
He just wanted to sit on his knee. Credit: NJPW
As you read this, Super Juniors is drawing to a close. However, I’ve reviewed most of these damn shows, so I’m going to battle onto the end. Let’s hope you’re all interested in lukewarm takes.
Not a packed show, is it? Credit: NJPW
Heads up, there’s a chance I was in a bad mood when I watched this show because I did not enjoy it at all. There’s also a chance it was crap. I guess you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Serious Taguchi is in the house. Credit: NJPW
There are a lot of quietly great match-ups on this card. Despy vs Scurll? Taguchi vs Takahashi? Dragon Lee vs Sabin? KUSHIDA vs SHO? Fuck, that’s all them. They’re all good! Let’s get on with it.
Even the pin looks bad for Will’s neck. Credit: NJPW
The hardest thing about covering New Japan’s long tournaments is coming up with new intros every day. Does that count as an intro? I’m going to say it does.
The best. Credit: NJPW
I’m not going to waste your time. We’ve got a Takahashi vs Dragon Lee match to talk about.
Sneaky foot. Credit: NJPW
Night five of Super Juniors is a mixed bag. No-one is getting pumped about Bushi vs Tiger Mask, while Ishimori vs Flip could go either way. The most intriguing contest going in was Will Ospreay vs YOH, which will mark YOH’s first ever main event. It’s a chance for the youngster to build on the promise of his opening performances and prove he’s the real deal as a singles wrestler.
