5 Highlights From NJPW's Best Of The Super Juniors XXIII
New Japan delivered one of its best ever Juniors tournaments, but what were the highlights?
WWE’s long-awaited Cruiserweight Classic tournament is just a week away. Bringing together some of the world’s finest wrestlers the 32-man competition will feature not only WWE-affiliated talent in Rich Swann, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, but a host of independent workers including UK standout Zack Sabre Jr., Dragon Gate’s Akira Tozawa, and current EVOLVE Tag Team Champion Drew Gulak.
But the Classic isn’t 2016’s only hot Cruiserweight tournament: New Japan Pro Wrestling have just wrapped-up the 23rd incarnation of their storied Best of the Super Juniors tournament. British wunderkind Will Ospreay walked away with the trophy after a gruelling series of matches to establish himself a made man in NJPW. He joins an esteemed group of BOSJ winner including the likes of Jushin Thunder Liger and Prince Devitt, and will go on to challenge for KUSHIDA’s Junior Heavyweight Title at NJPW’s June 19th show, Dominion.
Throwing-out multiple four-star matches seemingly on a nightly basis, this was one of the most memorable BOSJ tournaments in years, and a hard act for the WWE to follow.
Here are five highlights from a 14 days of thrilling action.
5. KUSHIDA Vs. Kyle O’Reilly (Night One - 21st May)
Surprise, surprise: O’Reilly and the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion put on another Match of the Year candidate.
These two absolutely tore the house down in last year’s tournament final: a match that not only put O’Reilly on the map in NJPW, but elevated KUSHIDA as a true top tier star. This year’s clash was just as magnificent, and saw the tournament off to a great start on its opening night.
KUSHIDA and KOR have the type of chemistry that inspires “fight forever” chants, and leaves you salivating at the prospect of a potential rematch. Their technique, fire, and fighting spirit are simply unmatched in the JHW division. Starting with a slow, methodical pace, they worked through an extended series of grappling exchanges, slowly ramping-up the intensity with each hold, gradually working towards a thrilling conclusion.
O’Reilly, of course, brought some of his trademark stiff strikes to the table, while KUSHIDA’s spectacular armbar counter spot has to be seen to be believed. Both wrestlers worked their backsides off to close-out one of the most enjoyable shows of 2016 thus far, with KUSHIDA eventually tapping to a KOR armbar. Another must-see match between two absolute masters of their craft.