Csonka’s New Japan Pro Wrestling BOTSJ Night Seven 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 Seven 5.30.15

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Gedo via pin [**¾]
– Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Kyle O’Reilly via ankle lock submission [***¼]
– KUSHIDA defeated Bobby Fish via hoverboard lock submission [***¾]

* 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…

* EXTRA NOTE: Even though the show aired live, I am only doing the BOTSJ matches. I’ll likely continue this until the final two events of the tour because it makes things easier for me.

Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Gedo: Both men dialed it down, and worked a slowed and more conservative match. Part of me thinks that they knew they could trust each other and used this as a breather in the tournament. The action picked up and they had a relaxed, but methodical pace, good back and forth action; but also a very different match than 90% or so of the tournament matches, so I did appreciate that. At the end of the day it felt very well thought out, like a chess match between two veterans, which is exactly what it was. Liger pulled out the win in what ended up being an enjoyable match.

Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Kyle O’Reilly: This was one of the better Taguchi matches in a while because it didn’t feel like everything he did said “LOOK AT MY ASS BASED OFFENSE!” O’Reilly has been having a really good tournament, and I would have to credit him here for actually making me care about and really enjoy a Taguchi match. O’Reilly controlled the early portion and really set the tone for what ended up being a good match. They got the crowd into it, had some nice near falls and ended at the right time as O’Reilly tapped to the ankle lock. There was an odd spot where they had to stop and restart BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EARHQUAKE in Japan, but they no sold and went on like nothing was wrong. To be serious, it was 600 miles from Tokyo, but it could be felt at the venue. Anyway I would have preferred O’Reilly to win personally, because I generally hate when they do what they are doing now and have the big logjams in the standings, but I enjoyed the match. O’Reilly is having a really strong tournament overall

KUSHIDA defeated Bobby Fish: KUSHIDA and Bobby Fish got the main event spot and did a damn fine job with it, putting on one of the best matches of the tournament this far. I like KUSHIDA more than Fish as a singles, but felt that they clicked here and had a good plan. Fish tried to work the leg of KUSHIDA early, but KUSHIDA was able to stop that noise and they just had a great back and forth match, with clean work and making the crowd care about what they did. They worked them into a frenzy and Fish got an awesome near fall by scoring with a Michinoku driver off the top rope. But KUSHIDA LIVED, and then after some counters, countered Fish and picked up the with the hoverboard lock.

* 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 (2-2) – 4 points
* Gedo (2-2) – 4 points
* Bárbaro Cavernario (2-2) – 4 points
* Beretta (2-2) – 4 points
* Chase Owens (2-2) – 4 points
* Yohei Komatsu (0-4) – 0 points

BLOCK B
* KUSHIDA (4-1) – 8 points
* Máscara Dorada (3-1) – 6 points
* Tiger Mask IV (3-2) – 6 points
* Nick Jackson (3-2) – 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!”