NJPW Destruction in Kobe: Results, Grades, and Analysis
#njdest 神戸大会！第8試合はIWGP Jr.ヘビー級王座決定トーナメント1回戦、@KUSHIDA_0904 VS @BUSHI_njpw ！
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) September 23, 2018
序盤KUSHIDAの関節技に苦しめられたBUSHIだが得意のカナディアンデストロイヤーで形勢逆転！果たして決勝戦へ進むのはどちらだ⁉︎
視聴＆登録▷https://t.co/NxJKtVK94f#njdest #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/yulpRGDEve
BUSHI (Los Ingobernables de Japon) vs. KUSHIDA: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match
KUSHIDA started the match out fast, but BUSHI soon cut him off with some heelish offense on the outside of the ring, sending KUSHIDA into the guard rails a few times before bringing it back to the ring. BUSHI hit a dropkick off the middle rope to KUSHIDA, who was laying on the middle rope. BUSHI locked on a crossface on KUSHIDA, but KUSHIDA made it to the ropes. KUSHIDA hit a swinging neckbreaker on BUSHI, leaving both men on the mat.
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Both men started to exchange forearms and chops with BUSHI slapping KUSHIDA to end it. KUSHIDA kicked BUSHI in the arm, and went for his rolling clothesline, but BUSHI caught him with the MX! KUSHIDA rolled to the outside of the ring, and BUSHI hit a suicide dive, but KUSHIDA caught his arm and locked him in an armbar after eating the dive! That was awesome.
BUSHI and KUSHIDA made it back to the ring, and after running the ropes, BUSHI hit a Canadian Destroyer on KUSHIDA. BUSHI went for the MX off the middle ropes, but KUSHIDA caught him and put him in the Hoverboard Lock! BUSHI was rolled back to the middle of the ring, hitting the referee. BUSHI spit the poison mist into KUSHIDA’s eyes, but was unable to pin him. KUSHIDA countered and hit Back to the Future once, and a second time for the pinfall victory!
Result: KUSHIDA
Rating: **** (4 Stars out of 5)
This was an excellent junior match, where a lot expected BUSHI to win. However, there is a reason that KUSHIDA is the Ace of the Junior Division, and he showed it here with another outstanding performance. KUSHIDA is one of the very best in the world today. While it’s easy to criticize the decision that NJPW made here, I am willing to give Gedo the benefit of the doubt and wait to see how this plays out when a new champion is crowned at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling.