BOTSJ night 7

[shoe]

Honma/Finlay vs Komatsu/Tanaka

 

This was a super high energy tag. Their was that one ugly with Finlay,. Other than that this was a lot of fun. Honma is the jack of all trades. He's able to work with maineventers and get people behind him believing he's on the verge of winning. Here because part where he's slotted on the card. more because of talent he's able to get the crowd into believing he's about to get pinned by one of the Young Lions. Both Young Lions are ready. Komatsu more than Tanaka. Question is when is the right time. 3 3/4*

 

White/TM vs Cavenario/Owens

 

Some comedy early with Cavenario. Loved the near tag by White that was disrupted by Owens .I'm really liking the Southern tag feel to it in the early going. With the comedy and schtick it feels like a MX/Fantastics spot show match. The finishing run was pretty hot.Owens looked great with Cavenario. 3 1/4*

 

Okada/RPG Vice vs Takahashi/Hall/N. Jackson

 

The Bullet club gets heat on Romero. Overall a fun little tag. 2 3/4*

 

Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazushi Sakuraba, Yoshi Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan and Katsuyori Shibata

 

I'm pretty done with Makabe and Ishii as a pairing. Makabe FIP work was pretty mediocre. Overall I can't get excited for these matches. 2 1/2*

 

Liger vs Gedo

 

I saw this matchup 1st in 94. 20+ years later they still bring it albeit differently. Liger has the advantage on the mat early. Gedo turns the tides and starts to work Liger's leg. The work on the leg is basic, but easy to follow. I liked some of the call backs to their history like Gedo's counter of the La Magistral. They pick the pace up at the finish. A good meat and potatoes match. 2 1/2*

 

O'Reilly vs Taguchi

 

Taguchi pulls a banana out of his trunks to start. This has been some back and forth for a bit. Taguchi hits a big Tope' Con Hilo . Taguchi uses his butt based offense. O'Reilly uses his assortment of strikes to mount a comeback. Taguchi is doing everything he can to stop it. The double Terry Funk sell was over the top. The ankle lock submission was pretty tight. 3*

 

Kushida vs Fish

 

I love both of these guys. I'm loving Fish's leg work. Kushida is tremendous selling it. Fish misses a top rope splash. Kushida goes after the arm. Not a huge fan of Kushida using springboard moves after the leg work. Could live with it if we got post move selling. It's official Kushida has shitcanned all the leg work. Now Fish is back on the leg and Kushida is selling it. Fish with a super Falcons Arrow from the top into a leg lock submission that sees Kushida get the rope. What a fucking sequence. Kushida gets the arm with another awesome sequence. Man if Kushida sold the early leg work as he did the 2nd phase I easily would have gone 4 1/4*. He didn't so I give it 3 3/4* and the best match of the tourney so far. A great match with all the warts and all.

 

 

Overall a thumbs up show. Kushida looking like the MVP of the BOTSJ so far in my eyes.

 

Current Standings:

Block A:

Kyle O’Reilly (6)

Ryusuke Taguchi (6)

Babaro Cavernario (4)

Gedo (4)

Beretta (4)

Chase Owens (4)

Jushin Thunder Liger (4)

Yohei Komatsu (0)

Block B:

Kushida (8)

Mascara Dorada (6)

Tiger Mask IV (6)

Nick Jackson (6)

Rocky Romero (6)

Bobby Fish (4)

Alex Shelley (2) (Out of tournament due to injury)

David Finlay (0)