Best of the Super Jr. B Block update: May 28

Hiromu, Ishimori top B Block after eight matches

Numazu in Shizuoka saw the penultimate night of B Block Best of the Super Jr. action on May 28. With Robbie Eagles sitting out at ten points after Francesco Akira’s forfeiture, the remainder of the group was fighting to cement or maintain their foootholds heading into the block finals on May 31.

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The main event saw Drilla Moloney in a must win spot against Hiromu Takahashi. Moloney was quick to target the knee of Hiromu, weakened as it was against Robbie Eagles the prior weekend. Moloney tortured the knee with violent determination out on the floor and inside the ring. Hiromu had no real answer for Drilla, and even an instinctive shotgun dropkick hurt his own base. The match passed the ten minute mark with Moloney still in the driver’s seat, and every attempt at offense that Hiromu summoned was quickly cancelled.

Moloney landed a Gore and went for the Drilla Killa to finish, but was countered into a Yoshi Tonic; threatened, Moloney found the same knee bar that he had used to submit Francesco Akira and put him firmly on the shelf. Hiromu gutted out the hold and made the ropes; arm hurting, Moloney went for the Drilla Killa, but Takahashi landed on his feet and then got a Canadian Destroyer out of the corner for two.

Somehow, Hiromu was able to base, lift and drive Moloney down with Time Bomb 1.5 before grtting his teeth and landing the Hiromu chan Bomber, before cathing Moloney in D. To the amazed gasps of the crowd, Moloney stood and caught Hiromu with the Drilla Killa, but Takahashi made the ropes before the count of three, and with a sudden rollup, got the victory.

Taiji Ishimori and SHO wrestled with both men at ten points, and the match deciding who would lead the league into the final night. SHO tried to bait Ishimori early into a trap by saying he would give his foe the win so he could ‘leave Shizuoka as quickly as possible’, only to roll the Bone Soldier up. Ishimori was not best pleased as he went on offense and removed the turnbuckle pad. SHO would be the first to use the metal though as he put Ishimori’s face into the corner. Staying in full control, SHO sucked the life from his opponent and the Numazu crowd until a handspring kick bought some time.

Finding a target on the left arm and shoulder of SHO, Ishimori dealt some damage; as SHO started to build steam, Ishimori pulled the referee in the path of a spear, and drew a positive reaction from the crowd for a low blow. Just as he went for SHO’s own wrench though, Yujiro Takahashi appeared to serve up SHO for his traditional route to victory. A phony bell ringing, and a low blow scored as it seemed like we would have a sure fire Shock Arrow win, but a quick counter into Bloody Cross moved Ishimori to the top of the table and in control of his own destiny.

A battle at eight points, KUSHIDA and DOUKI traded holds on the ground to start, with KUSHIDA surprised at DOUKI’s submission prowess, but transitioning into a painful surfboard. KUSHIDA would be on top as he found his opening on the arm of DOUKI outside, and as his foe tried to mount a comeback, KUSHIDA’s painful kicks meant DOUKI didn’t have enough impact on his strikes or the grip on the Italian Stretch. He did have Doton No Jutsu, but KUSHIDA would go right back to the arm.

DOUKI, desperate, went for the Jorge Rivera Special, but was countered into the Hoverboard Lock. KUSHIDA shot down a Daybreak attempt, and intercepted DOUKI at the top rope as well, but DOUKI rallied with a DDT on the floor and then Daybreak straight into the DOUKI Chokey. KUSHIDA submitted and DOUKI moved to ten.

The first league match of the night saw Ninja Mack fighting to stay in the hunt against the winless Dragon Dia. Both men stunned with their athleticism early, but when Dia went for a dive he was met with an elbow from the floor by Mack. The Ninja continued to frustrate Dragon’s attempt to fly, but landed his own Spanish Fly on Dia before a Crossface at the five minute mark. Creating distance, Dia landed his tornillo an Asai Moonsault at last, but despite some ambitious offence, couldn’t stop Mack from picking up the win.

Taiji Ishimori and Hiromu Takahashi now lead the block with 12 points and are control of their own destiny. DOUKI can still advance from ten points if he were to beat Robbie Eagles, and if Ishimori wins Friday’s main event, because of his tie break over Hiromu. All other competitors are mathematically eliminated. Friday’s final league night sees Ninja Mack versus Drilla Moloney, KUSHIDA facing Dragon Dia, Robbie Eagles meeting DOUKI and Ishimori versus Hiromu.