On November 29th New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) presented Best of the Super Juniors 27 (BOSJ 27) from the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan in front of 696 fans. COVID-19 (Coronavirus, 2019) safety restrictions were responsible for the reduced crowd size, yet the crowd was enthusiastic throughout the event.
The headline series match of the event saw reigning two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and Bullet Club member “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori take on former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) member Bushi.
Ishimori came into the match after defeating CHAOS member “Sniper of the Skies” Robbie Eagles on November 25th, while Bushi was able to defeat former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and BOSJ 19 (2012) winner “Funky Weapon” Ryusuke Taguchi on the same night.
The match was key for Bushi, who was in the position to join the top of the BOSJ 27 table with a victory over Ishimori, while the champion wanted to continue as one of the pacesetters of the campaign with a win of his own.
Bushi brought a challenge, giving Ishimori everything he could handle, but wasn’t diverse enough on the mat to counter Ishimori’s Llave techniques. Ishimori would gain the submission fall at the 15 minutes and 26 seconds mark with his Bone Lock technique.
The victory took Ishimori to (5-1) [10 points] while Bushi fell to (3-3) [6 points]. Ishimori would go on to face Suzuki-Gun member El Desperado on December 2nd, while Bushi would face “Way to the Grand Master” Master Wato on the same night.
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion remained at the top of the table with former three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, BOSJ 25 (2018) winner, and LIJ member “Time Bomb” Hiromu Takahashi. Despite many feeling he was overlooked by NJPW matchmakers regarding match order, Ishimori has looked on form to this point of the tournament.
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