When New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced the line-up for their annual Best of the Super Jr. tournament, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the matches. With a single block format, the stakes were even higher.
There was an added pressure for the Junior Heavyweights as this tour was alongside the World Tag League. These wrestlers had something to prove by ensuring that their matches were at the same, if not a higher standard. For many, this was achieved by consistently sublime bouts from the participants throughout the tour.
Here is a look at the top matches from the 2020 Best of the Super Jr. 27 tournament.
9. Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi – November 15, 2020
The first night of the World Tag League and Best of the Super Jr. tournament ended with a match between Taiji Ishimori and Hiromu Takahashi. Both men have a long history with each other.
This match was another to add to that list of fantastic bouts. From the minute the bell rang, the pace was fast, dynamic. Hiromu was trying to get revenge on the man who took his title in Jingu. It was a speed that suited both men who are known for their athleticism and effortless speed when moving around the ring.
Yet, once the pace slowed down with an exchange of chops, this was Ishimori’s chance to shine. He was able to showcase his hybrid style that focuses a lot more on power and strength. There was an extremely nasty spot where Ishimori hit Hiromu with a piledriver on the ring apron. Yet, this just proved how important this match was. Neither man showed any regard for the health of themselves or their opponent.
In the end, despite being locked in the Yes Lock, Hiromu managed to find a renewed sense of energy. Throwing Ishimori around the ring to gain momentum, Hiromu hit a beautiful Time Bomb for the victory. It was a match that cemented the fact that Ishimori and Hiromu are two of the best in the world.
8. Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hiromu Takahashi – December 5, 2020
Going into this match, nobody knew what to expect from two men with different tournament experiences. Hiromu had been on a roll winning the majority of his matches. On the other hand, Taguchi was scraping wins when he could. This match showed that both men, despite what stage they are in their career, are standard-bearers for the division.
The match started with a bit of fun with them dancing around the ring and then endlessly running the ropes. We got to see some personality from two of the craziest members of the New Japan roster. Taguchi then got his Funky Weapon stuck in the ropes, playing some mind games on the Ticking Time Bomb.
However, with one slap from Hiromu, suddenly the fun ended. Big Match Taguchi suddenly came out. We saw a different side of the Coach. This was the real Master of the Drop Kick. Even when his pants fell, again, he shook it off. It was the start of some great wrestling. The submission skills of Taguchi went against the unpredictability of Hiromu.
As the clock went past the 25-minute mark, it was anyone’s game.
At one point, everyone thought it was over after Taguchi hit his patented Dodon. However, with adrenaline surging through his body, his attempt to imitate Hiromu’s Time Bomb backfired. Just as Hiromu hit the mat, he managed to turn around and roll up Taguchi for the win. It was a match cementing two very different wrestlers’ talent in the Junior division.
7. SHO vs. DOUKI – November 18, 2020
Despite being the ‘fall man’ many times since making his New Japan debut, his bout against SHO showed just how good DOUKI is as a wrestler. Throughout this tournament, he has shined. But, this match stood out the most.
DOUKI knew straight away that SHO would have the advantage and attacked before the bell rang. To start with, we saw him take the fight outside using the barricades and his steel pipe to get the momentum. It seemed as if the match was going to be over quickly. However, this all changed in a second when SHO started to gain some momentum using his power, size and strength advantage.
Once this happened, it became a match combining traditional Japanese Strong Style and Mexican Lucha Libre. Both men have more in common than expected as much of the match stayed on the mat. DOUKI was in control for the majority whether it was weakening SHO with the Italian Stretch 32 or Daybreak. In the end, SHO found a way to counter DOUKI’s Suplex de la Luna with his suplex followed by the Shock Arrow.
Despite a few attempts at cheating and not picking up the win, DOUKI showed just how good a wrestler he is. On the other hand, SHO reiterated his dominance in the division with another stand-out performance.
6. SHO vs. Hiromu Takahashi – December 2, 2020
Going into this match, many believed that it was a predictable result. Apart from a loss to El Desperado, Hiromu Takahashi had been on a role main eventing almost every show. On the other hand, SHO had also been picking up momentum but less spectacularly. This match was always going to have a big impact on who would make the final.
Despite many fans’ beliefs, SHO and Hiromu are much more similar than first expected. Both men prefer to think with their hearts rather than their brains. They are also not scared to show emotions. It was evident throughout as both men put everything on the line.
The match started at lightning speed with both men utilizing their speed and agility to try and get the advantage. It was the perfect mix of both SHO and Hiromu’s style combining high risk, heavy strikes and submission skills. As expected from Hiromu, there were moments of danger which included a powerbomb to SHO off the apron. This was especially dangerous as SHO’s neck was heavily taped up.
Yet, even with both men going 110%, neither seemed to lose energy and determination. Both men seemed to have the upper hand at different points of the match. It made it difficult to determine a winner. With the offence, SHO and Hiromu were both heavily damaged but determined to win the fight.
In the end, with a final Shock Arrow to Hiromu, SHO picked up his first singles main-event win in New Japan. It was a match that could have gone either way with both men on equal terms in heart, passion and skill. However, SHO deserved the win. It had been a long journey to get to this point in his career.
5. SHO vs. Taiji Ishimori – December 6, 2020
After the heart-breaking loss SHO suffered against Taiji Ishimori during last year’s tournament, it was an opportunity for retribution. It was a rematch between two men who can be called the perfect hybrid athletes. They combine not just speed and agility but also strength and power.
The match started very quickly with SHO and Ishimori darting across the ring trying to get the upper hand. Fans flinched as Ishimori hit SHO with a package pile driver on the ring apron and transitioned into the Yes Lock. It was a perfect strategy as it targeted SHO’s already injured neck. However, SHO’s heart helped him get back into the match with a target in mind: Ishimori’s left arm.
Within five minutes, there had already been enough action for a 15-minute match. It was a match with many layers with speed, submissions and strikes. One minute, they were flying across the ring, the next they were stood in the ring throwing strikes.
In the end, Ishimori hit his bloody cross just after the 12-minute mark. Despite SHO picking up another loss and losing a place in the tournament final, it was still a superb match. Fans were reminded just how good Ishimori is and how much SHO has grown the past year. It also showcased that not all matches have to go over 15 minutes to be full of action.
4. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado – November 18, 2020
After their stand-out match during the 2018 tournament, the bout between Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado was one that many fans were looking forward to. The two men are as different as they come in terms of styles and personalities. Yet, they have this unrivaled chemistry that blurs the lines between love and hate. It has always been evident in their matches.
The match itself started uncharacteristically slow, especially for Hiromu. It felt as if the two were going through a feeling-out process during their first singles match in over two years. During this time, you could see Desperado using mind games and their history to rile up Hiromu. It was a risky decision that quickened the speed drastically.
From this point, Hiromu almost became unhinged. He started flinging Desperado into the barricades and throwing slaps without any remorse. However, Desperado took it in his stride and focused on targeting Hiromu’s leg. As the two carried on this onslaught with chops and strikes, it seemed more like a fight than a wrestling match.
It became a battle of Hiromu’s heart and unpredictability versus Desperado’s more methodical and sadistic style.
In the end, Desperado resorted to some of his sneaky tactics using a chair to target Hiromu’s leg while the referee was down. With a final blow and a transition to Numero Dos, Hiromu verbally submitted. With this win, Desperado had a number on Hiromu and made the final even more intense.
3. Robbie Eagles vs. Hiromu Takahashi – November 29, 2020
After Robbie ruined Hiromu’s return to New Japan last year by beating him, this match started as a desire for retribution. You could see this from the start as both men started at 110mph without any care for safety.
Robbie had the early advantage targeting Hiromu’s leg that is so key to the Ticking Time Bomb’s offence. It was the first match of Hiromu’s where he was equally matched in speed and agility. Every time Hiromu tried to counter, Robbie found a way to keep the upper hand. It was only when Hiromu almost went unhinged, that he found a way back into the match. He even found the confidence to taunt Robbie by mimicking his chants.
From there, it was one of the best Jr matches fans have seen in a long time. It was a mixture of high-flying, submissions and a whole lot of heart. There was also danger as Robbie hit his Turbo Backpack on Hiromu on the apron. Fans could not believe their eyes. It almost led to a count-out victory for Robbie.
It was not until the final few minutes where Hiromu seemed to get any momentum. His leg had been heavily weakened and damaged by Eagles. It had made any basic Hiromu offence hard to execute. However, with a final surge of adrenaline which was almost stopped by Robbie’s ability to counter, Hiromu hit Time Bomb for the win.
Yet, even as Hiromu’s hand was raised in victory, nobody could deny the heart and skill that Robbie put into this match. Nobody expected that it would turn out to be a possible MOTY candidate. It not only reaffirmed Hiromu’s talent but proved that Eagles deserves to be in the main event of a New Japan.
2. SHO vs. Robbie Eagles – November 20, 2020
One of the best things about tournaments such as this is the possibility of inter-faction matches. It is something that can either bring the best or worst out of wrestlers. Luckily, the bout between SHO and Eagles was respectful and one of the best tournament matches.
As expected from two men well versed in submission skills, the match started slow and steady. Initially, SHO seemed to have the advantage between the two with his distinct size and strength. However, because both are very similar in styles, this did not last long. Both men focused on targeting a body part of their opponent to set up for their submissions.
Yet, the match was not all one pace. There were changes of speed throughout seeing whether it was Robbie flying out of the ring or both men firing shots. At one point, Robbie hit SHO with a Sliced Bread on the outside of the ring using the post for leverage. Between the two, Eagles went much more high-risk but SHO used his strength to counter it.
In the closing minutes of the match, you could see that the damage Eagles had done to SHO’s leg was paying off. Even as the Gold Standard of Roppongi 3k went for a Shock Arrow, Robbie managed to hit a 450 splash. It led into the Ron Miller Special for the win. It was an amazing match between two great athletes who both have great admiration for each other.
1. El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi – December 11, 2020
Fans thought that the block match between El Desperado and Hiromu was spectacular. However, it was nothing compared to their meeting in the tournament final. There was so much animosity between the two. The stakes were much more than just a spot at Wrestle Kingdom.
It was evident from the minute the bell rang. Both men went 110% from the very beginning combining a mixture of their preferred styles and paces. For the first ten minutes, El Desperado was firmly in control and continued targeting Hiromu’s leg. It was not until after this time when Hiromu got any momentum back. From here, everything was on a more level playing field battling for supremacy with chops, strikes and suplex’s galore.
However, the highlight of the match came when El Desperado knocked Red Shoes Unno out. As he went for a closed fist, Hiromu replied with an uncharacteristic punch. We then saw shades of two years ago as Hiromu ripped off 75% of Desperado’s mask. However, instead of carrying on as if nothing happened, Desperado went on to fully unmask himself to show his dedication.
It was the start of one of the most intense match endings fans have seen in a long time. With both men vulnerable, they threw everything and the kitchen sink into this piece of art. Yet, after what seemed like a match that would never end, Hiromu finally hit the Time Bomb II for the win over a man he knows so well.
It led Hiromu to his second tournament victory. However, more than anything, it was a sublime match which is a possible match of the year contender. It was a match between two men with an undeniable bond whose identities will always be intertwined. As Hiromu said in the ring, their rivalry is far from over. This duo will continue fighting for the rest of their careers and produce magical matches like this.
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