New Japan Pro Wrestling
Best of the Super Juniors – Night Five
May 27, 2015
Aomori, Aomori – Martial Arts Hall
Watch:Â NJPWWorld.com
Yohei Komatsu (0-2, 0 points) vs Kyle O’Reilly (2-0, 4 points): Komatsu is jumping off of the screen on these shows, and this is really exemplified on the single cam/no commentary shows where you can get a strong feel for crowd connection. Dave Meltzer kinda sorta not really compared Komatsu to KENTA recently (it was more of a size comparison than anything else), and now I can’t get that comp out of my head. Komatsu really does have some uncanny similarities to a young KENTA in both frame and style of work. He showed his usual good fire here, and even went toe to toe with O’Reilly on the mat, but (wisely) they worked it in such a way that KOR always had the slight upper hand. From there it was hope spots, which is an area Komatsu excels, until a fighting spirit sequence following a stiff KOR running knee to the dome. That usually signals the beginning of the end, and it was, because after goading O’Reilly into a second knee and catching the leg, which produced a nice pop, Komatsu soon found himself staring at the lights. This was well paced, well worked, and a damn good match. I’ve said many times that Komatsu is already better than at least 25% of the New Japan roster, but that’s unfair. He’s easily in the top third at this point, and maybe even higher. He’s really, really good. ***1/2
Tiger Mask (3-0, 6 points) vs Mascara Dorada (1-1, 2 points): If we’re talking kayfabe, Tiger Mask has been a standout of the tour, with a 3-0 start that had him in first place in the B block coming into this match. One more win would guarantee a winning record, and with David Finlay still in front of him, a win would also mean sure fire contention on the final day, because he’d likely be going 5-2 at worst. All of this sounds like either a terrible nightmare or some sort of cruel redux of the previous decade when TMIV dominated the junior scene. One of his three wins was a forfeit over Alex Shelley, a match he was surely originally booked to lose, so with re-booking required, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to get that loss back against Finlay, who is likely going winless anyway. We’ll see. Thankfully, the Tiger Mask Finals Nightmare Aught Decade Redux Train was derailed a bit here with a loss to Dorada. The match itself was nothing special, aside from some match saving flying (including a beautiful rope walk high cross body to the floor) by Dorada, and a decent closing stretch. TM was technically fine, which is not always a given as his work tends to be sloppy at times, but he was his usual dry self and added nothing to the match. I’ve always contended that he’s at his best when working as a grumpy heel, which he occasionally shows flashes of (particularly in NOAH when teaming with Liger), but if you’re waiting for a Tiger Mask heel turn, don’t hold your breath or you will die. **1/2
Jushin Thunder Liger (1-1, 2 points) vs Chase Owens (0-2, 0 points): LIGER/OWENS III. Snark aside, these two had a nifty little match in their second go ’round, so I was mildly optimistic about this one, especially considering card placement. Owens has been his usual shaky-bordering-on-bad-but-managing-to-keep-it-together-just-enough self so far (and to be fair, he’s usually really good on the indie/NWA circuit), since he had worked with Liger a few times coming into this, I figured he’d be in his best position possible to deliver that he’d have all tour. My instincts were right, as this ended up being the best performance of Owens’ entire New Japan run, and we finally saw the cocky, confident Crown Jewel that NWA fans see in the States. The key spot was a modified Indian Deathlock (Pro tip – whenever a wrestling reviewer uses the word “modified” in front of a hold or move, it means he or she has no fucking clue what the move really was or what to call it. I’m no moves guru, so anything wacky involving legs is a “modified Indian Deathlock”) by Owens with Liger fighting like death to make the ropes, while the crowd nervously bought into it as a potential finish. Liger eventually escaped, and even hit his palm thrust, but moments later Owens used a Blockbuster and a package piledriver to pull off the upset as the crowd gasped. Liger is out working men half his age these days, and Owens was very strong here. Make sure you don’t blow this match off. Quality. ***1/4
Final Thoughts
Another strong night. Skip nothing, not even the average Tiger Mask/Mascara Dorada match, because it would be a shame to miss the great Dorada high cross body to the floor. Fun tournament so far, with the exception of a dry Day 2.
Voices of Wrestling – Best of the Super Juniors Pick’Em Standings (after Day 5)
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Name | Total | 22-May | 23-May | 25-May | 26-May | 27-May | 29-May | 30-May | 31-May | 2-Jun | 3-Jun | 4-Jun | 5-Jun | Bonuses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jordi | 59 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 18 |
Edgar Morales | 58 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
Kelly Harrass | 58 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
Max Bachhuber | 58 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
Brian Brennan | 57 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
Darren Lyne | 57 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 16 |
A. S. | 56 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
Lawson Leong | 56 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
Paco Silva MartÃnez | 56 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
Rob Reid | 56 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
Christopher Griger | 55 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
Claudio Escudero | 55 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
Derek Drago | 55 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
Francis Lane | 55 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
Mitch Cowan | 55 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
Dan Mullooly | 54 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
Lee West | 54 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
Alex Giardini | 53 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
Allen Vick Jr | 53 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
Gabriel Perez | 53 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
Jared Welch | 53 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
Joseph Remy | 53 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
Kenny Ortiz | 53 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
Kevin Hare | 53 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Mark Berlowitz | 53 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
Michael Zavala | 53 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
Oliver Court | 53 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
Sean Sedor | 53 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
Tommy Livingstone | 53 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
Andrew Bates | 52 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
dannym99ATskyDOTcom | 52 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
Jody Plante | 52 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Matt Trebby | 52 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
Morten Hansen | 52 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
Richard St.Hilaire | 52 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
Theo Wilson | 52 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
Brady Livingston | 51 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 18 |
Danny Kuchler | 51 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
Kent Sinkler | 51 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
Mitch Parcells | 51 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 16 |
thecubsfan | 51 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 8 |
Christopher Duarte | 50 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
David Mora | 50 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
Karl Clancey | 50 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 13 |
Niall H | 50 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
Rich Kraetsch | 50 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
Anthony Albicocco | 49 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
Jake Daniel | 49 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Jake R. | 49 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
Matt Magnum | 49 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
Matt McEwen | 49 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
Mike Spears | 49 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
Abrasive Obelisk | 48 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
Adrian Gaskin | 48 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
Alan Counihan | 48 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
Andrew Rich | 48 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
Azri Aqil | 48 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Bastian Sauer | 48 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Ewen MacDonald | 48 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
Jason Sitek | 48 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
Kyle Conzett | 48 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
Nick Mogel | 48 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
Richard Jaeger | 48 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
Antonio Edwards | 47 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
Gonçalo Monteiro | 47 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
Marcus Origer | 47 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
Matt Rolder | 47 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Paul Cooke | 47 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
Paul Völsch | 47 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
Adam Gaetan | 46 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
Case Lowe | 46 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
Dylan Harris | 46 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
Frederick Cholowski | 46 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
joel zewski | 46 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
Brian Kline | 45 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
Bryan Rose | 45 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
Chris Dalgleish | 45 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
Daniel Mackinnon | 45 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
Darrell Chess | 45 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
Kevin Wilson | 45 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
Miles Messmer | 45 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
Santiago Tomasi | 45 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
Brandon Gordon | 44 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
Greg Johnson | 44 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
Rob McCaron | 44 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
VÃctor Pérez | 44 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
Anthony Perillo | 43 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
Andy Doran | 42 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Cal Hodges | 42 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
Mike McDonald | 42 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
T.J. Hawke | 42 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
the mosayat | 42 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
William Young | 42 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
Aidan Daly | 41 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
Edward Mills | 41 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
Filip Pejic | 41 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
John Cunningham | 41 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
KENTA kicks heads | 41 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
Lee Thomas | 41 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Phil Williams | 41 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
Trent Williams | 41 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
David Naismith | 40 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
Joe Gagne | 40 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
Brendan Creecy | 39 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
corvax | 38 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
dominic sweeney | 38 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Keith Campbell | 38 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
Sarah | 38 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Alexander Panos | 37 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 11 |
Berry Meijer | 37 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
Caitlin Lipinski | 37 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
Joseph Roche | 37 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
Lawrence OBrien | 37 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
William Housell Jr. | 37 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Dakota Schmidt | 36 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
David Woodley | 36 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
Garrett Kidney | 36 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
Alan Maggle | 35 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Allan Blackstock | 35 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
David Neil Rapp | 34 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
Gabe Throne | 34 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Amal Ahmadzai | 33 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Mike Langford | 30 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Matt Zierer | 29 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Kyle Blevins | 27 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Chris Harrington | 26 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Sean Flynn | 26 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Robert O. | 23 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |