NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 29 Results: Francesco Akira [6] Defeats Yoshinobu Kanemaru [4], Taiji Ishimori [10] Defeats Clark Connors [6] (05/28)

Both Francesco Akira & Yoshinobu Kanemaru are on the bubble here tonight. At four points each, they’re all but out of the running – but a win here will keep one man alive. Kanemaru has two very nice tiebreakers over Hiromu Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori, which could come into play going forward – but Akira will need more than that to get to the finals.

Francesco Akira Overcomes A Calculated Attack From Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Kanemaru kicked this one off fast with a kick to the mid-section of Akira, before being sent to the apron for a triangle dropkick. Akira had designs of flying over the top rope, but took a basement dropkick as Kanemaru re-entered the ring. Kanemaru would nail a powerful kneebreaker, before applying a simple heel hook.

Akira would find the bottom rope to get free, but the damage might have been done. He managed a few strikes, before a kick to the knee would again send him to the mat. Kanemaru would bend the knee of Akira in the ropes, before wrapping it around the steel of the ringpost.

This calculated approach is what makes Kanemaru so dangerous, especially to a young talent like Akira. He’d apply another leg lock, and Akira would hopelessly try and kick his way free before nearly suffering another kneebreaker. Akira blocked into a Sunset Flip, before managing the Wheelbarrow switch into a double stomp.

Kanemaru would be dumped face first into the mat, before a roundhouse kick to the side of the head. Akira would take another dropkick to the knee, before Kanemaru locked in a vicious half crab. Kanemaru would not get the tap out, and would look for Deep Impact.

Akira would counter, and while he missed the FireBall double knee strike, SpeedFire would land. A second attempt at Fireball would grant Akira the victory, taking Kanemaru out of the running – with Akira’s tournament depending on an Ace Austin loss later tonight.

The Champ Refuses To Lose Another Match

Taiji Ishimori has dropped back to back matches, and is coming into his match tonight with Clark Connors in a very foul mood. Connors meanwhile is on a three match win streak, and could be keen on earning a title shot by defeating the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion here tonight. The path to the finals will not be easy for Connors even should he win here – but it’s a good start.

Ishimori would start the match by hitting the ropes, and promptly being run down by a shoulder tackle. Connors would hit a massive hip toss across the ring, and Ishimori would slip the outside. When Connors would follow, he’d meet the ring post shoulder first thanks to Ishimori.

Back in the ring, Ishimori stayed on that arm and s\houlder of Connors, working towards that Bone Lock. Connors would send Ishimori flying with the Jeep Flip, before sending him into the corner for the spear into the Belly to Belly Suplex combo. Another spear attempt would see Ishimori dodge, sending Connors into the ring post again before a shoulder breaker for a two count.

Connors would look for yet another spear, and Ishimori would nearly block into the Bone Lock. Ishimori was tossed with a deadlift German Suplex, before Connors nailed the spear – getting a near fall. Trophy Kill would be blocked, but a snap powerslam would plant Ishimori. Connors would be taken into the Bone Lock however, and trapped in the middle of the ring, tried to fight out but was forced to tap out.

Will Ishimori be able to make the finals? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.

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