Csonka’s New Japan Pro Wrestling BOTSJ Night Eight Review

Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.

New Japan Pro Wrestling BOTSJ Night Eight 5.31.15

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– BOSJ Block A Match: Chase Owens defeated Gedo via pin [**]
– BOSJ Block A Match: Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Beretta via pin [***½]
– BOSJ Block B Match: KUSHIDA defeated Tiger Mask IV via submission [**½]

* Note: This is one of the many shows that New Japan World is not airing live, but instead are making matches available the next day via VOD. On the next day airings they are only making the tournament matches available, so that is all that will be reviewed here. I will try to keep up with all of the tournament matches, but these reviews will be a bit more short form at times since we’re not dealing with a complete show. Thanks for joining me…

Chase Owens defeated Gedo: After teasing up with some wins early, Gedo has been slotted back into the position most thought he would be in. They worked a solid and basic match, there was nothing wrong with it and after eight minutes or so they hit the homestretch and Owens hit the package piledriver for the win. It was ok technically, but lacked any sizzle and I have already forgotten about the match. Also, Owens is largely fine but the fact that is wanted 46 year old Gedo to kick his ass and win here because he’s way more interesting.

Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Beretta: This was easily the best match on the show, and one of the top matches of the tournament. Overall we haven’t had a lot of ***½ and up matches, so it’s not a murder’s row deal, but this was a lot of fun and well worked. Old man Liger was here to work, and Beretta seemed absolutely stoked to be facing Liger one on one in a tournament match. The veteran Liger just does all of the little things, Beretta had such an amazing energy here and they worked into a great end with a lot of near falls that popped the crowd and I certainly bough a few of them. Liger countered a cradle to score the win. This was well done, and gave Beretta a lot and also allowed him to lose without being made to look bad.

KUSHIDA defeated Tiger Mask: This was a fine, but forgettable match as the run of boredom from Tiger Mask continues. I don’t know, I just think that when you are having lack luster matches with guys like KUSHIDA, you’re doing it wrong. The thing is that KUSHIDA was a pick by many to win his block and the tournament, so in order to make people care you have to do some creative tuff in the matches to make us think he’d lose. Tiger Mask just did the same old shit here, KUSHIDA was great and locked in the hoverboard lock to score the submission victory. It wasn’t bad, it was just there, like Tiger Mask himself.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

* A reminder, Alex Shelley is officially out of the tournament after suffering ligament damage and a fracture in his left foot. His remaining opponents will receive forfeit victories. Here are the updated standings (with Shelley’s forfeits already added in)…

BLOCK A
* Ryusuke Taguchi (3-1) – 6 points
* Kyle O’Reilly (3-1) – 6 points
* Jushin Thunder Liger (3-2) – 6 points
* Chase Owens (3-2) – 6 points
* Bárbaro Cavernario (2-2) – 4 points
* Gedo (2-3) – 4 points
* Beretta (2-3) – 4 points
* Yohei Komatsu (0-4) – 0 points

BLOCK B
* KUSHIDA (5-1) – 10 points
* Máscara Dorada (3-1) – 6 points
* Nick Jackson (3-2) – 6 points
* Tiger Mask IV (3-3) – 6 points
* Bobby Fish (2-2) – 4 points
* Rocky Romero (2-2) – 4 points
* David Finlay (0-4) 0 points
* Alex Shelley (1-6) – Now Out Of Tournament

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”