[2018-05-27-NJPW-Best of the Super Juniors] Hiromu Takahashi vs Ryusuke Taguchi

[ShittyLittleBoots]

This was so good. Though it was also a yet another potential ****+ amazing match that didn't reach it's full potential because the single-cam setting just didn't capture the full emotion & overall feel of it. Even with that unfortunate camera angle situation, it's definitely still one of my favorite matches of the tourney - flowed so good & Taguchi was on absolute FIRE. Love that man. ***3/4

[nivvad]

At this point, Taguchi seems to be the only one that can match Hiromu's lunacy. Taguchi was the star of this match as he made Hiromu wrestle his match. At every corner that Hiromu thought he could gain the momentum, there was Taguchi to counter him with his not serious yet unique style. Eventually though Hiromu finally found the sweet spot to lock in his rare Triangle choke submission for the win, ****.

[Boss Rock]

I wish we got the more serious, focused Taguchi for more than one or two matches a year, but that's a discussion for a different day. There was some decent comedy at the beginning but Taguchi eventually got down to business trying to match Hiromu's frantic pace. Loved moments such as Taguchi trying to pick the ankle early as well as stopping short when Hiromu went for the overhead toss into the corner, causing him to hit his head on the mat. The finishing stretch had an absolutely insane amount of reversals but rather than feeling over-rehearsed, it came off much more as a desperate attempt at survival. Both men knew they would be in a really bad spot if they lost again, so they managed to avoid certain defeat for a little while longer than normal. Hiromu winning again by triangle choke makes me think it will play a part in him making and/or winning the finals.

 

****