NJPW: Best of the Super Juniors Finals Highlights & Results

BOSJ Finals: Shingo Takagi vs Will Ospreay

For nearly a year, Shingo Takagi has been undefeated as the Junior Heavyweight powerhouse of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Undefeated is a loose term here – he’s been on teams that have lost matches, but he hasn’t been pinned or submitted in any of those losing efforts. Shingo became just the third man in history to run his entire block without a single loss.

Will Ospreay has been wavering between Junior Heavyweight and Heavyweight since last year. After becoming the NEVER Openweight Champion by defeating Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 13, Ospreay set out to prove that he could be the common bond between the two weight classes. Ospreay’s reign would last just over 90 days before dropping the title to Jeff Cobb at G1 Supercard freeing Ospreay up for Best of the Super Juniors.

While not a complete physical match, the similarities in ideology between Shingo and Ospreay are evident. Both could pass for Junior or Heavyweight wrestlers and their styles are adaptable to opponents larger and smaller than themselves. As such, we found ourselves at an impasse early on in this match.

In the opening moments, Shingo and Ospreay struggled for control with neither man being able to gain a quick advantage. After a standoff to the applause of the crowd, Ospreay found a small window to get one up on the domineering Shingo.

After a dive on the outside, Ospreay looked to capitalize with a springboard off of the railing only to be caught by Shingo and driven face-first into the apron with a faceplant. Shingo followed up with a DDT on the arena floor.

Looking to raise issues with Ospreay’s problematic neck, Shingo attempted a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. Ospreay was able to wiggle free, but it left him open on the arena floor for an absolutely insane dive from The Dragon. As strong and physically dominant as Shingo is, he may be twice as fast. He hit the ropes like a locomotive before crushing Ospreay on the outside.

Throughout the majority of the match, one thing was crystal clear: both Shingo and Ospreay had found their match. While both men had competitive bouts throughout the tournament, nobody in either block was able to match either competitor quite so closely. Until, and including, the very end of the match these two went tit for tat.

In one of his more incredible counters of the match, Ospreay was able to avoid Shingo’s Pumping Bomber lariat and spin it into a Liger Bomb for a near fall. Not to be outdone, Shingo countered Ospreay’s attempted Robinson Special into a wheelbarrow suplex directly into the corner.

Fighting back on the apron, Ospreay delivered a pinpoint Oscutter before heading back into the ring. In a moment that I’m still trying to figure out the science behind, Ospreay came crashing down on a bent-over Shingo’s back with a 630 shooting star senton! Mind. Blown. Ospreay followed with yet another SSP, but Shingo was resilient.

Oscutters.

Attempted Storm Breakers.

Last of the Dragon.

Pumping Bombers.

None of it was enough. Crossing the 30-minute mark, neither man showed signs of faltering. Finally, Ospreay pulled through with the magic. He countered Last of the Dragon into a poison rana before striking with the Hidden Blade. Not finished, he sprang to the top rope and leaped back for a Super Oscutter and wrapped up with the Storm Breaker for the win after an absolutely intense flurry.

Post-match, Ospreay thanked Shingo and the crowd before declaring that he would be moving to Japan to focus on New Japan Pro Wrestling. He claimed that he was part of the new generation of stars who needed to step up and lead the company into the future, citing those who have left like Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, KUSHIDA, and others.

On June 9, Will Ospreay will now challenge Dragon Lee for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title at Dominion and we’ll have coverage of the results!

Full Results:

• Dragon Lee, Titan, and Shota Umino defeated Bandido, Jonathan Gresham, and Ren Narita
• El Phantasmo, Robbie Eagles, and Taiji Ishimori defeated Roppongi 3K and Ryusuke Taguchi
• Tomohiro Ishii, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, Toru Yano, and YOSHI-HASHI defeated Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and DOUKI
• Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, EVIL, and BUSHI defeated Kota Ibushi, Togi Makabe, Toa Henare, and Tomoaki Honma
• Kazuchika Okada and Rocky Romero defeated Marty Scurll and Brody King
• Jay White defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
• IWGP US Title: Jon Moxley defeated Juice Robinson (c)
• Best of the Super Juniors Finals: Will Ospreay defeated Shingo Takagi