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Best of the Super Jr. night 8 (May 22) Preview
B Block in action in Osaka
After Gunma saw A Block do battle Tuesday, B Block take their turn in Osaka on May 22. Five block matches see the sixth bouts for the block, and a growing struggle for control.
Watch live in English on NJPW World!
Main event: B Block- El Desperado (3-2) vs YOH (2-3)
Singles record: 2-1 YOH
Our main event sees El Desperado taking on YOH, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion taking on one half of the tag title holders. Four summers ago, YOH's first career challenge for the IWGP Junior singles title came against El Desperado, and a bitter defeat at the hands of Despe came after stinging criticism from the masked man as well. It was true that at the time, YOH faced a difficult transition in his career away from his successful Roppongi 3K career, but a defeat in Osaka Jo Hall did help YOH start to turn the corner. Two wins over Desperado in Best of the Super Jr. action have since followed, and YOH can give Despe partial credit for finding his artistic voice in the ring, unique as that may be.
Now in 2025, both are champions, but YOH is three losses down and cannot afford a fourth. Will he be able to get to six tonight, or could Desperado close the gap or perhaps join Nick Wayne at the top of the table?
8th Match: B Block- Nick Wayne (4-1) vs Taiji Ishimori (2-3)
While Taiji Ishimori's Sunday win over Robbie Eagles has ensured that he's just about still in the mix, he cannot afford another loss if he wants to advance out of B Block. That goes double when it comes against Nick Wayne, whose highly impressive debut showing has conrtinued with a win over Ryusuke Taguchi Sunday that puts him right at the top of the block. Should Wayne defeat Ishimori tonight, he would be at ten points while the Bone Soldier would stay at four, meaning that whatever Ishimori did in the matches to follow, the best he could possibly hope for would to tie with Wayne, who would advance by dint of his victory over the War Dog.
That means this is an effective must win scenario for Ishimori, but while the Bone Soldier's back is against the wall, he may be encouraged by the fact that Wayne is running full tilt and headfirst into that same barrier. Determined to get his four victories thus far, Wayne has paid a physical price, and knees, arm, neck and back are all hurting tonight. Ishimori has more than one target to pick from in Osaka, but can he wear one of those targets to submission?
7th match: B Block- Titan (3-2) vs Robbie Eagles (2-3)
Singles record- 1-0 Titan
After defeats in his last two against SHO and Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles had a difficult time of it over the weekend, and needs to fire back in a big way in Osaka. Opposite him tonight though is a man he was unable to beat one on one in their last encounter in Titan. Just one win off the pace, El Inmortal will be determined to make his second final on June 1, and this time to seize the BOSJ trophy. Eagles though can ill afford another loss, and looks to meet a tie at six points with three matches left to wrestle.
6th Match: B Block- Kevin Knight (2-3) vs SHO (2-3)
Two men with their backs against the wall, Kevin Knight and SHO do battle in the second of the night's league matches. After a difficult start, Knight has won his last two, and to be in with a chance at controlling his destiny in the final stretch, he needs to keep winning. As pressure mounts for SHO as well, there are sure to be shenanigans at play. His last several matches have all involved outside interference in one form or the other, and as he feels the pinch, what will he do to ground the Jet?
5th Match: B Block- Ryusuke Taguchi (3-2) vs MAO (2-3)
From battling YOH in Hachioji Sunday to Ryusuke Taguchi tonight, it's been two home Miyagi prefecture derby matches in a row, and a clash of the strangest individuals of BOSJ each time. MAO got off to a highly impressive start in the tournament, but has run into a mid campaign slump he'll need to snap out of tonight if he's to stay in the mix. For Taguchi, some inspired performances have seen him expertly marry the excellent to the at times X-rated. Taguchi has defeated both Taiji Ishimori and YOH thus far- could he complete the set with MAO and be able to label himself the king of all Miyagi prefecture?
4th Match: Toru Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato vs KUSHIDA, Yuya Uemura & Katsuya Murashima
Before Master Wato and KUSHIDA square off Saturday night in what could be a critical A Block matchup, six man preview action will also see the return of Yuya Uemura. Uemura wrestles Hiroshi Tanahashi on the Ace's Final Road June 15 in Dominion, and it's a big preview here tonight.
3rd Match: Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
Tag team action sees a preview of Staurday's bout between Hiromu Takahashi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Regardless of Los Ingobernables De Japon no longer being a going concern, Hiromu Takahashi made it clear in Hachioji last weekend that he wants to keep teaming with yota Tsuji and Shingo Takagi going forward, and we see that come to some fruition as Tsuji provides much needed backup against HOUSE OF TORTURE.
2nd Match: United Empire (Jakob Austin Young & Francesco Akira) vs War Dogs (Robbie X & Gedo)
Another tag encounter pits Francesco Akira in a preview with Robbie X. It's an all junior affair, as Gedo and Jakob Austin Young will join the mix for this taste of things to come Saturday.
1st Match: Shoma Kato & Dragon Dia vs TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita)
We start the night with a taste of Kosei Fujita and Dragon Dia ahead of their next league match. Dia and Young Lion Shoma Kato is a team overflowing with positivity, but what happens when their 'can-do' attitudes meet the massive Hartley Jackson? It'll be a big test ahead of a big match to come Saturday.
After Gunma saw A Block do battle Tuesday, B Block take their turn in Osaka on May 22. Five block matches see the sixth bouts for the block, and a growing struggle for control.
Watch live in English on NJPW World!
Main event: B Block- El Desperado (3-2) vs YOH (2-3)
Singles record: 2-1 YOH
Our main event sees El Desperado taking on YOH, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion taking on one half of the tag title holders. Four summers ago, YOH's first career challenge for the IWGP Junior singles title came against El Desperado, and a bitter defeat at the hands of Despe came after stinging criticism from the masked man as well. It was true that at the time, YOH faced a difficult transition in his career away from his successful Roppongi 3K career, but a defeat in Osaka Jo Hall did help YOH start to turn the corner. Two wins over Desperado in Best of the Super Jr. action have since followed, and YOH can give Despe partial credit for finding his artistic voice in the ring, unique as that may be.
Now in 2025, both are champions, but YOH is three losses down and cannot afford a fourth. Will he be able to get to six tonight, or could Desperado close the gap or perhaps join Nick Wayne at the top of the table?
8th Match: B Block- Nick Wayne (4-1) vs Taiji Ishimori (2-3)
While Taiji Ishimori's Sunday win over Robbie Eagles has ensured that he's just about still in the mix, he cannot afford another loss if he wants to advance out of B Block. That goes double when it comes against Nick Wayne, whose highly impressive debut showing has conrtinued with a win over Ryusuke Taguchi Sunday that puts him right at the top of the block. Should Wayne defeat Ishimori tonight, he would be at ten points while the Bone Soldier would stay at four, meaning that whatever Ishimori did in the matches to follow, the best he could possibly hope for would to tie with Wayne, who would advance by dint of his victory over the War Dog.
That means this is an effective must win scenario for Ishimori, but while the Bone Soldier's back is against the wall, he may be encouraged by the fact that Wayne is running full tilt and headfirst into that same barrier. Determined to get his four victories thus far, Wayne has paid a physical price, and knees, arm, neck and back are all hurting tonight. Ishimori has more than one target to pick from in Osaka, but can he wear one of those targets to submission?
7th match: B Block- Titan (3-2) vs Robbie Eagles (2-3)
Singles record- 1-0 Titan
After defeats in his last two against SHO and Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles had a difficult time of it over the weekend, and needs to fire back in a big way in Osaka. Opposite him tonight though is a man he was unable to beat one on one in their last encounter in Titan. Just one win off the pace, El Inmortal will be determined to make his second final on June 1, and this time to seize the BOSJ trophy. Eagles though can ill afford another loss, and looks to meet a tie at six points with three matches left to wrestle.
6th Match: B Block- Kevin Knight (2-3) vs SHO (2-3)
Two men with their backs against the wall, Kevin Knight and SHO do battle in the second of the night's league matches. After a difficult start, Knight has won his last two, and to be in with a chance at controlling his destiny in the final stretch, he needs to keep winning. As pressure mounts for SHO as well, there are sure to be shenanigans at play. His last several matches have all involved outside interference in one form or the other, and as he feels the pinch, what will he do to ground the Jet?
5th Match: B Block- Ryusuke Taguchi (3-2) vs MAO (2-3)
From battling YOH in Hachioji Sunday to Ryusuke Taguchi tonight, it's been two home Miyagi prefecture derby matches in a row, and a clash of the strangest individuals of BOSJ each time. MAO got off to a highly impressive start in the tournament, but has run into a mid campaign slump he'll need to snap out of tonight if he's to stay in the mix. For Taguchi, some inspired performances have seen him expertly marry the excellent to the at times X-rated. Taguchi has defeated both Taiji Ishimori and YOH thus far- could he complete the set with MAO and be able to label himself the king of all Miyagi prefecture?
4th Match: Toru Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato vs KUSHIDA, Yuya Uemura & Katsuya Murashima
Before Master Wato and KUSHIDA square off Saturday night in what could be a critical A Block matchup, six man preview action will also see the return of Yuya Uemura. Uemura wrestles Hiroshi Tanahashi on the Ace's Final Road June 15 in Dominion, and it's a big preview here tonight.
3rd Match: Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
Tag team action sees a preview of Staurday's bout between Hiromu Takahashi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Regardless of Los Ingobernables De Japon no longer being a going concern, Hiromu Takahashi made it clear in Hachioji last weekend that he wants to keep teaming with yota Tsuji and Shingo Takagi going forward, and we see that come to some fruition as Tsuji provides much needed backup against HOUSE OF TORTURE.
2nd Match: United Empire (Jakob Austin Young & Francesco Akira) vs War Dogs (Robbie X & Gedo)
Another tag encounter pits Francesco Akira in a preview with Robbie X. It's an all junior affair, as Gedo and Jakob Austin Young will join the mix for this taste of things to come Saturday.
1st Match: Shoma Kato & Dragon Dia vs TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita)
We start the night with a taste of Kosei Fujita and Dragon Dia ahead of their next league match. Dia and Young Lion Shoma Kato is a team overflowing with positivity, but what happens when their 'can-do' attitudes meet the massive Hartley Jackson? It'll be a big test ahead of a big match to come Saturday.