Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
5/12/23 Results from Best of the Super Juniors 2023 From Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Japan
The crowd is loud in Korakuen Hall.
1 - Clark Conners aka "100 Proof", with Gedo vs. Kevin Knight
Conners is the newest member of Bullet Club.
Knight attacked Conners at the bell. Conners goes to the floor. Knight hit a plancha and they battled on the floor. Conners throws Knight into the crowd and runs him into the ringpost. Conners focused on Knight's lower back with strikes and throwing him into turnbuckles. Conners slowed the pace down. Knight rallied and hit dropkick. Knight with a Frankensteiner off the top rope. Knight with splash. Two count. Conners avoids a Spike DDT, but Knight plants him with a Sky High. Two count. Conners catches Knight off the ropes with a powerslam. Knight counters with spring board splash. Knight goes for another DDT but Conners hits a spear. Conners hits a version of a DDT/suplex, which Gedo called No Chaser.
Conners pins Knight.
Clark Conners earns 2 points.
Kevin Knight has 0 points.
After the match, Conners beats down Knight with a chair.
Solid way to establish Conners as a vicious heel with Bullet Club. Kevin Kelly mentioned that Gedo wants "killers" in Bullet Club. With David Finlay beating down Tama Tonga and now Conners destroying Knight, this may be the new direction for Bullet Club. With Conners pinning Knight, Bullet Club could have earned a shot at the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship.
2 - Taiji Ishimori vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
Taguchi surprised Ishimori at the bell with dropkicks. Ishimori goes to the floor and Taguchi hammers him with punch and dropkicks. Back in the ring, Taguchi goes for the ankle lock. Taguchi was serious and wrestling like a grappler. Ishimori went for a Bone Lock but Taguchi reversed out into an ankle lock. Ishimori goes for the ropes. Taguchi lets go and goes for a Dodon. Ishimori reverses and tries for a Bloody Sunday, but Taguchi escapes. Ishimori hits La Mistica and applies the Bone Lock.
Taguchi taps out.
Taiji Ishimori earns 2 points.
Ryusuke Taguchi has 0 points.
3 - Dan Maloney vs. BUSHI
Both men tried to play mind games at first. BUSHI hits a dropkick to the gut, sending Maloney to the floor. BUSHI bounced off the ropes for a follow up but Maloney quickly jumped back in the ring and hit his own dropkick. Maloney rips off BUSHI's shirt and throws wicked chops. Maloney slows the pace and tries to pummel BUSHI. Lots of taunting of the crowd by Maloney. BUSHI fights back with dropkicks and quick moves to stun Maloney. BUSHI dropkicks the left leg then follows with a Back Cracker. BUSHI goes for a DDT on the ring apron, but Maloney hits an enzuigiri. BUSHI falls to the floor. Maloney with running dropkick. He throws BUSHI in the ring for a two count. BUSHI hits a rewind kick. BUSHI goes for a Code Breaker but Maloney block it and hits a Fisherman Buster. Two count. Maloney hits a Gore, then follows with the Drilla Killa.
Maloney pins BUSHI
Dan Maloney earns 2 points
BUSHI has 0 points.
It was Maloney's first match in New Japan and it was fine. He has the attitude which fits United Empire. BUSHI was a good opponent who could take the bumps for the newcomer. Taguchi and Ishimori had smooth match because the knew each other well. Maloney will learn to adapt to other New Japan wrestlers. As the tournament goes on, Maloney will find that rhythm in his matches.
4 - DOUKI vs. KUSHIDA
Both men started grappling at the start. Crowd is cheering for DOUKI. KUSHIDA went after the right arm. He trapped DOUKI's arm in a submission and DOUKI get the rope break. DOUKI tried to use his speed, but KUSHIDA took him down with hammerlock submission, going after the arm again. DOUKI gets to the ropes. Crowd boos KUSHIDA for not letting go of the hold. KUSHIDA with a dropkick to the arm. Big chant for DOUKI. KUSHIDA kept attacking the arm. KUSHIDA traps DOUKI in a reverse surfboard. DOUKI reverses into his own surfboard. KUSHIDA reverses back. Pace picks up and they exchange many nearfalls. KUSHIDA hits a Pele Kick, then follows with a stiff kick to the arm. KUSHIDA goes for the Hoverboard Lock, but they exchange reversals. DOUKI rolls KUSHIDA into a Sky Lift cradle.
DOUKI pins KUSHIDA
DOUKI earns 2 points.
KUSHIDA has 0 points.
Big win for DOUKI. KUSHIDA was being 'heelish", and he helped to enhance DOUKI as a Junior on the rise. The crowd was totally behind DOUKI and they popped huge at the win. No losers in the match since KUSHIDA still has the Jr. Tag Belt, and DOUKI gets elevated.
5 - Francesco Akira vs. Master Wato
They start with some aerial moves. Akira hits a dropkick sending Wato to the floor. Akira hits a tope suicida. They battle back to the ring and Akira applies an arm submission, similar to Wato's Vendaval. Akira lets go and starts with strikes. They exchange a bunch of reversals. Both men know each other well. Akira hits a superkick and a running knee to the face. Wato kicks out at two. Akira goes for a Fireball, but Wato avoid it. Akira hits a double stomp and goes for Speedfired. Wato reverses and hits Ricentemente.
Wato pins Akira.
Master Wato earns 2 points.
Francesco Akira has 0 points.
6 - SHO vs. Lio Rush
Rush is attacked by EVIL on his way to the ring. EVIL lays him out and throws Rush in the ring. The crowd is so angry right now. SHO announces to the crowd that he will be wrestling fair now. He hits a lariat on Rush. SHO with a Power Breaker. Two count. SHO hits a Cross Arm Piledriver. Rush kicks out at two. SHO goes for Shock Arrow but Rush backdrops him. EVIL jumps on the ring apron with a chair to get the referee distraction. SHO gets his wrench. SHO tries to hit Rush who ducks. SHO charges. Lio pulls the referee out of the way and SHO collides with EVIL and the chair. Rush hits a tope suicida on EVIL. Rush with a tope suicida on SHO. SHO throws the referee into a charging Rush. Both take a bump. SHO hits a spear on Rush. EVIL goes in the ring and holds Rush while SHO gets the wrench. Rush kicks SHO in the face who drops the wrench. Rush with a low blow on EVIL. Rush grabs the wrench and hits EVIL. Rush hits SHO with the wrench. Rush hits the Final Hour.
Rush pins SHO.
Lio Rush earns 2 points.
SHO has 0 points.
7- Robbie Eagle vs. YOH
Eagles was playing to the crowd while YOH rolled him up for a close two count. They exchanged reversals to stalemate. Both men know each other well as they were trained in CHAOS. Eagles goes after YOH's leg with submissions. YOH attacks back with strikes. Eagles with a chop block on the leg and a sliding lariat to the back of the head. Eagles with a double knee strike. Eagles goes for a 450 but YOH escapes. He hammers Eagles with forearms. Eagles with Spinebuster. YOH kicks out and Eagles locks in the Ron Miller Special. YOH gets to the ropes. They exchange reversals. YOH hits a Falcon Arrow. Two count. They exchange strikes. They exchange reversals. Too much to recap here. Eagles connects with a Shining Wizard.
Eagles pins YOH.
Robbie Eagles earns 2 points.
YOH has 0 points.
8 - TJP vs. Titan
Good chain wrestling to start. Their timing was a bit off which was surprising, but they got it together. TJP atttacked Titan's arm with snap stretch. TJP went after the mask, trying to untie the strings which got a bunch of jeers from the crowd. Pace picked up and they fought to the floor. Titan hit a moonsault off the top rope. They battle back to the ring and Titan hit a combination of strikes. TItan goes for a DDT but TJP hangs him on the top rope. TJP comes off the top turnbuckle with a Mamba Splash and Titan smashes to the floor. TJP throws Titan in the ring and comes off the top rope with a springboard DDT. TJP covers but only a two count. TJP goes for another Mamba Splash but Titan takes out his legs on the top turnbuckle. TJP grabbed at the mask but Titan with a Pele Kick and TJP falls off the top turnbuckle to the apron. Titan hits a double stomp. Titan tried another double stomp but TJP escaped and trapped Titan in the Pinoy Stretch. Titan gets the rope break. Titan his a superkick. TJP with a rolling cradle for a two count. Titan hits a Tornado DDT. Titan trapped TJP in
TJP taps out.
Titan earns 2 points.
TJP has 0 points.
9 - Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. El Desperado
As Desperado comes to the ring, his former Suzuki-Gun partner, Kanemaru, opens the ropes for him. Once in the ring, Kanemaru attacks him from behind. They battle to the floor. They hammer each other on the floor. Back in the ring, they slow it down with Desperado attacking Kanemaru with a headlock. Kanemaru goes after Desperado's leg, stomping on the knee. Kanemaru applies a submission to the leg and Desperado gets the rope break. Kanemaru drags him to the middle and applies the figure four leglock. Desperado gets to the ropes again. They fall outside the ring and Kanemaru smashes his leg on the floor. Back in the ring, Desperado dropkicks Kanemaru's leg as he goes through the ropes. Desperado rolls Kanemaru on the mat into a leg stretch submission, then he transitioned to Numero Dos. Kanemaru gets to the ropes. Kanemaru hits a knee breaker and applies the figure four. Desperado drags himself to the ropes and pulls himself out of the ring. Back on the floor, Kanemaru throws Desperado into the ringpost. Desperado is almost counted out.
Kanemaru dropkicks the leg. They go for submissions and exchange reversals. Desperado hits a right punch to the face and hits Guitara de Angel. Two count. Desperado goes for Pinche Loco but Kanemaru reverses out and applies the figure four. Desperado tries to power out, but Kanemaru locks it in tighter. Desperado goes for the ropes but Kanemaru drags him to the middle of the ring.
Desperado taps out.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru earns 2 points.
El Desperado has 0 points
10 - Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mike Bailey
Bailey shook hands with everyone. When he shook Hiromu's hand, Hiromu picked up for a Dynamit Plunger but Bailey escaped. They moved with such speed and hit each other with strikes. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick to Bailey on the floor. They battled into the crowd. Hiromu ran from one end of Korakuen to hit Bailey with a dropkick. The referee almost counted out both men. Back in the ring, both men moved with such speed. Bailey hit Hiromu with wicked kicks. Hiromu tried to throw Bailey with an over the head belly to belly suplex, but Bailey landed on his face instead of his back. Bailey recovered and tried to hit a double knee on Hiromu, but Hiromu moved and Bailey hit the ring apron. Hiromu came over the rope with a sunset bomb to floor.
Hiromu throws Bailey in the ring and hits a Dynamite Plunger. Two count. Hiromu goes for a Time Bomb but Bailey reverses out into a roll up pin. Two count. Bailey hit a Spanish Fly. Two count. Bailey hit a double spinning round house kick in the corner. Bailey went to the top rope and hit The Ultimate Weapon on Hiromu's back. Ouch!
Bailey pins Hiromu.
Mike Bailey earns 2 points.
Hiromu Takahashi has 0 points.
Good match. For many of the the first timers in New Japan, including there were some shaky moments, but still an entertaining event. Hiromu and Bailey were awesome. Mike Johnson has put over Mike Bailey on the We Dont Need No Stinking Name Show and I will agree. Bailey looks much better than when he wrestled multiple times at Wrestlemania weekend last year. He was impressive against the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion and he could be in line for a title shot, even if he does not win the BOSJ 30.
Stay tuned for more of the Best of the Super Junior 30.
Thank you for reading.
James Kurokawa
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
