5 Highlights From NJPW's Best Of The Super Juniors XXIII
1. Will Ospreay Vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (BOSJ Final - 7th June)
Taguchi was one of BOSJ XXIII’s great revelations. A multi-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight singles & Tag Team champion, he won this very tournament as recently as 2012, but has found himself relegated to inconsequential preliminary tag team matches and daft comedy spots in recent times.
That’s not to say the role doesn’t suit him. Taguchi’s “Funky Weapon” gimmick and !*$%-based offence (seriously…) are much less obnoxious in short bursts, but it’s easy to forget just how good this guy can be when he gets serious. This was his most enjoyable singles match in years, and a reminder of how deep the NJPW roster really is when guys like Taguchi, who had no business winning this tournament, bust-out quality contests like this.
These two fought like madmen. Taguchi, the hometown hero, emerged to a pop so loud it drowned-out the english announce team and started with a huge groundswell of support. But move-by-move, hold-by-hold, the crowd rallied behind Ospreay as he fought through Taguchi’s brutal leg assault and cocksure taunting.
Taguchi attacked the brutally and effectively, and Will’s selling was next level. Once criticised for his weak limb selling, Ospreay has become a master in this department. When a limb’s been singled-out, Ospreay completely flips his gameplan: in this case, he did everything he could to completely avoid using the damaged leg, and it was a joy to watch. Will Ospreay is still only 23, and it’s been a pleasure to see this growth from him in such a short time period.
Will took home the victory (and the tournament) with his Springboard Cutter and immediately grabbed a microphone to challenge KUSHIDA at Dominion. The champion graciously accepted, and if their match on 19th June is anything like their clash at April’s Invasion Attack PPV, we’re in for a treat.
A fitting end to the most exciting Best of the Super Juniors tournament in recent memory, and another MOTY candidate for young Will Ospreay. We are watching a once-in-a-generation talent develop before us, and if the rest of his year is as good as his first five months, he’ll be a shoo-in for your end of year awards.