We’re still in Tokyo, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium #2 in Shibuya, for a show with 10 – TEN – Best of the Super Juniors tournament matches. That seems like too many, but who am I to say?

A Block: Titán [Unbound Co.] (4 points) vs. Daiki Nagai [Unbound Co.] (0 points)

Chris Charlton is solo on English commentary once again this evening. This intra-Unbound Co. matchup starts with the two doing the goofy Unbound team salute, then Nagai quickly hits a shotgun dropkick, a tope con hilo, a corner dropkick and a Boston Crab. However, Titán turns the tables with a low dropkick, a double stomp to the back, a springboard cross-body and a tope suicida. Titán gets two with a Falcon Arrow neckbreaker, then goes for Llave Inmortal, but Nagai rolls him up for two, then gets a jackknife pin for another two. Nagai gets two with a spinebuster and tries for the diving headbutt, but misses, and after a Dragon Screw, Titán locks in the bridging Scorpion Deathlock for the submission. Aside from a moment at the end where time stood still while Nagai called the finish, this was good, and Titán gave him a lot. Afterward, Titán gives Nagai his entrance mask and carries him to the back.

What’s next? Titán (6 points) is scheduled to wrestle Valiente Jr. on Wednesday when the tour returns to Korakuen Hall (see below for more on that), while Nagai (0 points) has Jun Kasai.

B Block: Yoshinobu Kanemaru [House of Torture] (0 points) vs. Jakob Austin Young (0 points) [United Empire]

Ooh, a heel battle. Young quickly gets his hanging neckbreaker in the ropes, then hits a low dropkick to the outside. Young gets two with a tornado DDT, but ref Yuya Sakamoto gets bumped, and Kanemaru hits a low dropkick to Young’s knee. However, Kanemaru gets tripped up by Zane Jay, who tries to give Kanemaru the Suntory Surprise but gets racked on the ropes, after which Kanemaru also hits Young low and then pins him with a headscissors takeover. After the match, Jay and Young fight over who gets to use the ice bag on their nuts.

What’s next? Kanemaru (2 points) has Robbie Eagles on Wednesday, while Young (0 points) has KUSHIDA.

A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi (4 points) vs. Valiente Jr. (2 points)

About 30 seconds into the match, Valiente appears to blow out his knee after a flip, so Sakamoto calls off the match. That’s a real shame. Tetsuya Matsumoto carries Valiente to the back while Taguchi dances to entertain the crowd after the downer of an ending.

What’s next? Taguchi (6 points) has Nick Wayne on Wednesday, while Valiente (2 points) is scheduled to have Titán, although that seems unlikely at this point.

B Block: KUSHIDA (2 points) vs. SHO [House of Torture] (4 points)

SHO challenges KUSHIDA to wrestle barefoot, but after what happened with Daisuke Sasaki yesterday, KUSHIDA is somewhat dubious, and rightly so. KUSHIDA gets one boot off again before SHO jumps him and goes after his knee. After a comedic chase around the ring that features SHO trying to hit the bare foot with the timekeeper’s gavel, KUSHIDA takes the advantage in the ring. He locks SHO in a crazy lucha submission, but lets go and goes after SHO’s boot. KUSHIDA hits a tope con hilo, which is a pretty crazy move for a guy with one boot on. KUSHIDA maintains control in the ring, but while he’s running the ropes, SHO pulls the ref in front of him for a distraction, then hits a spear. SHO gets two with a sitout Dominator, then goes for the Shock Arrow, but KUSHIDA counters with an Ali kick and goes for the Hoverboard Lock; however, SHO lifts him into a body-slam position and then swings his legs into ref Kenta Sato, knocking him out. SHO gets the wrench out from under the ring, but KUSHIDA avoids the shot and hits a straight punch. KUSHIDA takes off his sock and once again tries for the mandible claw, which SHO avoids; he then hits Back to the Future for a visual pinfall, but Sato is still out. SHO recovers, hits KUSHIDA low and rolls him up, but Sato is still out. They have a striking battle, then SHO applies a cross-armbreaker into the Snakebite (a gogoplata), but KUSHIDA uses the mandible claw to escape. KUSHIDA applies an ankle lock, but SHO’s boot comes off, and while the ref is taking it out of the ring, SHO hits KUSHIDA with the cookie sheet and re-applies the Snakebite (stuffing KUSHIDA’s sock in his mouth for good measure) for the tap-out. I wish they hadn’t done the boot thing with KUSHIDA two days in a row, because it makes him look like a bit of a dope, but at least he’s through the (serious) heel portion of his tournament. This was entertaining enough.

What’s next? SHO (6 points) has YOH on Wednesday, while KUSHIDA (2 points) has Young.

A Block: Nick Wayne (2 points) vs. Francesco Akira [United Empire] (0 points)

Wayne gets the best of their early exchange, but Akira bails and coaxes Wayne outside, and when Wayne takes him up on his offer, Akira rolls back in. While Wayne is getting back in, however, Jay distracts him and Akira hits a cheap shot. On the outside, Jay – who is still holding his nuts from 20 minutes earlier; he might want to get that checked – distracts Wayne again, and Akira shoves him into the ringpost to take the advantage. Back in the ring, Akira gets one with a standing moonsault, then gets two with a clothesline into the corner. Wayne fights back, and hits his stunner/reverse flipping DDT combo for two. After a short back-and-forth sequence, Akira gets two with a leg lariat. Akira throws Wayne into the corner, but when he goes for the Fireplex, Wayne counters into a snap Dragon Suplex. Wayne hits a tope con hilo onto Akira and Jay, then, back in the ring, gets two with a frog splash. Akira blocks Wayne’s World and tries again for the Fireplex, but Wayne counters with a stunner and goes for what appears to be a Lethal Injection/X Marks the Spot; Akira kicks him and finally gets the Fireplex for two. Akira goes for the Firebolt, but Wayne counters with a rollup for two. Wayne goes for Wayne’s World again, but Akira rolls him up and gets the pin with a handful of tights. This was very good.

What’s next? Akira (2 points) has Master Wato on Wednesday, while Wayne (2 points) has Taguchi.

B Block: Hyo (2 points) vs. Daisuke Sasaki (4 points)

Hyo gets off to a fast start with a leg lariat and a tope con hilo. Sasaki calls for a time out, but Hyo chases him around the ring. Sasaki distracts Hyo with his stuffed leopard (yes) and then tosses a chair at him to take the advantage. Sasaki hits a neckbreaker over the top rope, then gets Hyo into a number of pinning predicaments before applying the crossface, but Hyo makes the ropes. Back on their feet, they trade strikes, and Hyo hits a tijeras. Hyo hits a cutter into the ring, but misses Hunting and eats a thrust kick from Sasaki. Sasaki misses a clothesline, and Hyo gets him in the Tarantula, a la Tajiri. Hyo goes for a sunset flip, but Sasaki sits down on it and grabs the rope, though ref Marty Asami catches him. Sasaki hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a DDT, then gets two with a top-rope elbow drop. Sasaki applies the crossface, but Hyo again makes the ropes. Sasaki goes for a double-underhook move of some sort, but Hyo counters with a roll-up and then hits a double stomp. Hyo hits a stunner, but Sasaki stuffs the Samson Driver and gets two. After some completely unnecessary flips, Hyo hits a DDT and goes for Hunting again, but Sasaki catches it, turns it into the crossface and then transitions into Vendaval for the submission. This was also pretty good. Sasaki is on a nice run.

What’s next? Sasaki (6 points) has Taiji Ishimori on Wednesday, while Hyo (2 points) has El Desperado.

A Block: Master Wato (0 points) vs. Robbie X [Unbound Co.] (2 points)

Wato goes after X’s injured eye early, showing a bit more edge than he usually does. Wato controls with chops, but X fires back with elbows, then uses his mobility to get Wato to the floor and hits a big Asai moonsault, which gets two back in the ring. After a brief exchange, X goes for X Marks the Spot, but Wato counters with a mistimed leg lariat. Wato dropkicks X to the floor and hits a nice-looking tope con hilo. X dodges a springboard uppercut but falls victim to a Sling Blade, which gets two for Wato. X responds with a fireman’s carry driver into a standing shooting star Press for two. X goes to the top, but Wato cuts him off; they struggle on the top and X goes for a sunset flip power bomb, but Wato slips out. X hits a flip kick, but Wato responds with an enzuigiri and the Tsutenkaku German for two, followed by Recientemente for three. X seems a little out of sorts with his eye injury (and the three matches in four days, I’m sure), but this was okay.

What’s next? Wato (2 points) has Akira on Wednesday, while X (2 points) has Kosei Fujita.

B Block: YOH (2 points) vs. Taiji Ishimori [Unbound Co.] (2 points)

They start with a good scientific wrestling sequence. Ishimori hits a tijeras and then a plancha to take the advantage, then removes the turnbuckle pad while ref Marty Asami tends to YOH. They trade neckbreaker attempts, with Ishimori coming out on top. Ishimori hits an over-the-knee neckbreaker for two, then sends YOH’s shoulder into the exposed buckle. Ishimori applies an armbar, but YOH gets to the ropes. Ishimori continues to work on the shoulder, but YOH hits a pair of basement dropkicks and two dragon screws, targeting the knee that Desperado worked over in his match with Ishimori yesterday. YOH gets two with a bridging half-nelson suplex, then stomps on the knee. Ishimori, however, blocks a charge by YOH and then drives his shoulder into the ringpost. Ishimori gives YOH a shoulderbreaker, but it injures his knee, as well. YOH gets two after stuffing La Mistica in what looks like a bit of a blown spot, but they made the best of it. Ishimori hits the Divorce Court and then applies the Bone Lock, but YOH fights out and hits a Falcon Arrow instead. Ishimori blocks a superkick and hits Cipher UTAKI for two, but it again injures his knee as well. Both guys block each others’ finishers, but Ishimori eventually hits La Mistica into the Bone Lock, and after a long struggle, YOH escapes and counters the Bloody Cross with one of his own, followed by the Direct Drive for the pinfall. Minor blown spot aside, this was really good, as YOH can really go when he’s not doing comedy, and Ishimori has looked great in this tournament – he looks like he’s dropped a bit of mass, which is likely helping him with his agility.

What’s next: YOH (4 points) has SHO on Wednesday, while Ishimori (2 points) has Sasaki.

A Block: Kosei Fujita [TMDK] (4 points) vs. Jun Kasai (0 points)

This crowd is deeply into the Crazy Monkey, singing his theme music and everything. Fujita comes out with chairs and appears to want to get buck wild with Kasai, but ref Red Shoes protests, which gets him tossed to the mat by both guys. As you’d probably imagine, Kasai gets the best of this and hits Fujita with a chair shot, then gigs him on the floor. (They didn’t bother hiding it, choosing to use it to highlight Kasai’s sadism; Fujita has no experience with the blade, after all, so he might as well leave it to the master.) Kasai goes after his wound, then hits a backdrop and goes for a crucifix that doesn’t quite work out. Kasai continues to beat on Fujita, then gets two with a suplex. Fujita reverses an Irish Whip and hits a mid-kick, a chop and a springboard dropkick for two. Fujita goes for the Nemosu Special, but Kasai gets out by biting Fujita’s fingers. Kasai regains the advantage with strikes, then hits a reverse Tiger Driver. They trade strikes, and Kasai low-bridges Fujita, sending him to the apron, and then hits a flying clothesline from the second rope. Fujita catches a lariat attempt and tries for the Thrill Ride, but Kasai escapes and Fujita instead hits a German, which Kasai didn’t seem to be 100% ready for. Fujita gets a table out from under the ring and shoves Red Shoes down, but gets hoisted by his own petard when he tries for a power bomb through the table and Kasai stabs him in the head with a fork. Kasai goes to the top and splashes Fujita through the table, getting a huge ovation from the crowd; this gets two. Kasai gets out some hypodermic needles and stabs himself in the head with them (Charlton suspects they’re full of adrenaline), then hits Fujita with a lariat, but Fujita kicks out at one and fires up himself. Fujita hits a suplex and only gets one himself. Kasai gives Fujita the kiss of death, then hits a Tiger Driver for a near-fall. Kasai hits a top-rope splash, but Fujita kicks out at one again. Kasai puts up the X signal, possibly calling for New Jack (I’ve got some bad news for him there), and tries for a package piledriver, but Fujita fights out; then, Kasai tries for what appears to be a fisherman’s suplex, but Fujita resists that, as well, so Kasai turns it into an inside cradle for the pin. There seemed to be a tiny bit of miscommunication there at the end, but otherwise, this was a hell of a thing. In function, though certainly not form, this was very reminiscent of Fujita’s match with KUSHIDA in last year’s Best of the Super Juniors, where he insisted on grappling, got in over his head and got beat. Such is life for a Japanese Young Punk, I suppose.

What’s next: Kasai (2 points) has Nagai on Wednesday (good luck, young man), while Fujita (4 points) has Robbie X.

B Block: El Desperado (2 points) vs. Robbie Eagles [TMDK] (0 points)

Desperado offers a handshake before the bell, and Eagles accepts. They engage in a long mat wrestling sequence, which concludes with Eagles hitting a backdrop to take control. Eagles applies a figure-four armlock, then a stretch muffler and a heel hook, but Desperado makes the ropes in a fun little sequence. Eagles goes for a tijeras, but Desperado catches it and applies a half-crab. Desperado begins going after Eagles’ left leg to try and set up for Numero Dos. Eagles manages the tijeras and a mid-kick, then hits a tope to the outside. Eagles begins going after Desperado’s leg, but Desperado hits a spinebuster for two and then applies Numero Dos, but Eagles gets to the ropes. Eagles slips out of Guitarra del Angel, then hits Desperado with the double knees in the corner. Eagles goes to the top, but his knee gives out and Desperado joins him on the top rope; Desperado gets the best of the struggle and hits a superplex for two. Desperado hits Guitarra del Angel for two, but then misses a frog splash from the top. Eagles hits a springboard 450 to the knee and goes for the Ron Miller Special, but Desperado shoves him off. Desperado hits a pair of dragon screws and a spear. Desperado goes for Pinche Loco, but Eagles struggles out, so Desperado applies Numero Dos. Eagles attempts the Destroyer counter that Ishimori hit yesterday, but Desperado blocks that and tries to set up for the Deadeye; Eagles bashes the knee to escape, however, and hits a flipping reverse DDT and a hammerlock DDT for two, then hits the Hyperion kick for the pinfall. The start of this one was perhaps a bit too deliberate, but it turned into an excellent professional wrestling match. The two show mutual respect afterward and vow to do it again.

What’s next: Eagles (2 points) has Kanemaru on Wednesday, while Desperado (2 points) has Hyo.