New Japan Pro Wrestling
Best of the Super Juniors – Night Eight
May 31, 2015
Numazu, Shizuoka – Kiramesse Numazu
NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors rolls on to Night Eight at Kiramesse Numazu, in front of just over 1100 people, as all three matches feature NJPW veterans going up against the young guns of the NJPW juniors division. The big match of the night was KUSHIDA vs Tiger Mask. A win by KUSHIDA would catapult him to the top of the standings in Block B, while a Tiger win would even him up with KUSHIDA on top. With only a match to go with David Finlay, Tiger would have been sitting pretty in that scenario.
Gedo vs Chase Owens (Block A): Well, this match flew by. At only eight minutes, that isn’t a shock. I’m not into Chase Owens at all, but if you are, I applaud you. Every time I see a Chase match, which encompasses only NJPW matches, he just looks so familiar. Not to any one person in particular, but to a generic wrestler. I used to think that, as many did, about Bobby Fish. Does Chase have the potential to break out like Fish has years later, or will Chase always be a somewhat obscure NWA wrestler until he decides to give up wrestling. Or is this question ridiculous, seeing as how the guy in in NJPW after all. Not only is he in NJPW, but he’s winning matches, including this one. After a blockbuster and a package piledriver, Chase pinned Gedo to run up his score to 6 points. **
Jushin Thunder Liger vs Beretta (Block A): Beretta was super colorful here, and I don’t just mean his wardrobe selection. I was way more into this match than I would have been if someone like Owens or Finlay had the exact same match, because Beretta’s expressions were fantastic. Liger was motivated to have a battle, too, and it helped out. This, for an eight minute match, was highly enjoyable and it felt like a big deal. Liger got the win with a sitout pinfall, countering a Beretta pinning attempt. It was a heated match, with many a nearfall that the crowd was into. Not knowing the result before watching, I bought some of the nearfalls myself. ***1/4
Tiger Mask vs KUSHIDA (Block B): Knowing the point situation, and the overwhelming opinion that KUSHIDA was going to win the tournament overall, it was tough to find suspense in the match. KUSHIDA just had to win this one. WWE fans would be used to the style that was employed, also, as Tiger Mask worked over KUSHIDA’s leg for the majority of the match before KUSHIDA found a way to gain the victory. In what amounted to a last ditch effort for a win after being worn down so much, KUSHIDA found a way to lock in the kimura on Tiger for the submission win. The win gives KUSHIDA 10 points, making him a virtual lock to win Block B. He has one match to go in the tournament, as he’ll take on Rocky Romero on June 3 (Wednesday night wars!) If Romero won it, that would mean he’d have to lose to David Finlay for KUSHIDA to win the block. I don’t see that happening. In the immortal words of many, many people… We shall see. **1/2
Tiger Mask’s next BoSJ match isn’t happening until June 5 at Korakuen, the final night of the group stage. After starting with 6 points in his first three matches, Tiger followed up with three straight losses to remain at 6 points. With only Finlay to go, Tiger will likely end up with 8 points. That won’t be good enough to win, so Tiger is mathematically eliminated.
We’re over half way through the Best of the Super Juniors 22, so how about we update the scoreboard, shall we? Most wrestlers still have a few matches left, but as noted above, Tiger Mask and KUSHIDA are down to their final game. As predicted, Block A remains anyone’s for the taking as we head into the final week of the tournament.
Voices of Wrestling – Best of the Super Juniors Pick’Em Standings (Night 8)
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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 Martínez | 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 |
| Víctor 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 |
