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The month-long tournaments of the NJPW World Tag League 2020 and Best of Super Juniors 27 came to an end on this show. Ten men and ten teams took part in these two block leagues with plenty of great matches in both. Inside the Budokan Hall, the limited capacity crowd anticipated an exciting conclusion.
The NJPW Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals headlined the evening's event with 2018 winner Hiromu Takahashi facing one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, El Desperado. The semi main event would be the World Tag League 2020 Finals with last year's winner, David Finlay and Juice Robinson facing the Bullet Club's Guerillas of Destiny.
The rest of the card included tag team matches to help build toward January's two-night Wrestle Kingdom 15 events in the Tokyo Dome. Let's take a look what transpired at the NJPW World Tag League 2020 and Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals event.
Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori) vs. CHAOS (Toru Yano, Robbie Eagles & SHO) - NJPW WTL 2020 & BOSJ 27 Finals
The NJPW World Tag League 2020 and Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals kicked off with a six-man tag match between CHAOS and Bullet Club. SHO, Robbie Eagles and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori were all part of the Best of Super Juniors 27 tournament, while Yano, Fall and Owens were part of the World Tag League.
Bullet Club attacked before the bell to get the early advantage in this NJPW WTL 2020 and BOSJ 27 Finals opener. Bad Luck Fale beat down on Toru Yano until Yano got loose and went to remove the corner mat. Fale no sold Yano and beat him down. SHO took control using his speed and power. But Ishimori no sold a German Suplex and hit a handstand side kick.
Eagles and Owens tagged in, with Eagles getting control by using a combo of kicks in this NJPW WTL 2020 and BOSJ 27 Finals opening contest. Eagles missed the 450 splash to the legs, and Owens hit the Jewel Heist for a two count. Fale and Owens hit their double-team German Suplex and clothesline for the win in six minutes.
Post match, Yano tried to slam Fale, but Fale slammed him instead. Fale broke the KOPW 2020 trophy. This match was a passable opener to set up Fale versus Yano for the KOPW 2020 crown.
Results: Bullet Club defeated CHAOS via pinfall
Star Rating: **
The Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, & Great-O-Khan) vs. Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Henare - NJPW WTL 2020 & BOSJ 27 Finals
The next match at NJPW WTL 2020 and BOSJ 27 Finals would be a preview of Wrestle Kingdom 15. On January 4th, Kazuchika Okada will meet Will Ospreay in the Tokyo Dome. This match marked be the first time that The Empire were all together for a six-man tag team match for NJPW.
This NJPW WTL 2020 and BOSJ 27 match started off with Ospreay and Okada trading strikes. This exchange ended with Okada hitting a big boot and tagging in Tanahashi. Ospreay cut them off and tagged in Great-O-Khan. "The Ace" hit low dropkicks to attack Khan's knee. He tagged in Henare to hit double-teams on Khan, ending with a double Boston Crab.
Henare tagged back in Tanahashi, but Khan cut him off and applied a leg lock. He then tagged in Cobb, who beat down NJPW's Ace. All three members focused on Tanahashi here. Ospreay tagged in for a three-on one-assault. Tanahashi eventually tagged in Okada to give the fans a preview this upcoming match.
"The Rainmaker" came in with a house of fire and attacked the members of Empire on the apron. Ospreay cut off Okada with a kick-clothesline combo. Ospreay tagged in Cobb, but Okada cut off Cobb and tagged in Henare. We got a hoss battle between Henare and Cobb, ending with Jeff hitting a stalling belly-to-belly suplex.
Henare hit a series of strikes and followed with a Samoan drop for a near fall. Henare and Tanahashi hit a Sling Blade-leg sweep combination for another two count. Henare looked for a lariat, but O-Khan cut him off. Khan then put a leg lock on Tanahashi, while Cobb hit the Tour of Islands on Henare for the three count and win in eleven minutes.
This was a good match here. After this NJPW WTL 2020 and BOSJ 27 Finals match, O-Khan continued to attack the leg of Tanahashi until Okada came in for the save. Okada then went face to face with Ospreay, but Cobb attacked from behind. The Empire then held down Tanahashi, and Great-O-Khan attacked The Ace's knee with a steel chair. The Empire stood tall and made a statement.
Results: The Empire defeated Okada, Tanahashi & Henare via pinfall
Star Ratings: ***1/4
EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi vs. SANADA & Shingo Takagi - NJPW WTL 2020 & BOSJ 27 Finals
Our third match at NJPW World Tag League 2020 and Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals was a battle of former Los Ingobernables de Japon partners. SANADA and EVIL are former World Tag League winners, and they met in the G1 Climax 30 B Block Finals.
Bullet Club attacked at the bell here and took LIJ to the floor. EVIL laid out SANADA on the outside, which led to the officials checking on his condition. EVIL and Yujiro brought Shingo to the ring and focused in on the NEVER Openweight Champion of NJPW. Shingo fought off the Bullet Club, which included Dick Togo as well.
SANADA finally came in and went straight after EVIL, showing a level of emotion fans aren't used to seeing from "The Cold Skull." He took EVIL to the floor and beat him down on the outside. In the ring, Takagi hit a sliding lariat and followed it with Last of the Dragon for the three count and the win in five minutes.
This bout was more of an angle than a match. After this NJPW WTL 2020 and BOSJ 27 Finals contest, SANADA continued his assault on EVIL, laying in strikes for the full mount. He even attacked Young Lions who tried to stop him. SANADA then pushed Takagi away to go after EVIL with the two men fighting up the entranceway and to the backstage area.
With Shingo in the ring celebrating, Jeff Cobb then came down and looked to officially challenge Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Championship. Cobb hit Tour of the Islands on the champion and told Shingo "this (title) is mine". This set up the title match for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15.
Results: SANADA & Shingo Takagi defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi via pinfall
Star Rating: **1/4
NJPW announced that they would return to Budokan Hall for their Anniversary Show on March 4th, 2021.
***Intermission followed***
Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI - NJPW WTL 2020 & BOSJ 27 Finals
NJPW World Tag League 2020 and Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals action continued with a preview of the Wrestle Kingdom 15 Night 1 main event between IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito and Kota Ibushi. Both BUSHI and Master Wato were apart of the Best of Super Juniors 27.
Naito and Ibushi started this NJPW WTL 2020 and BOSJ 27 bout off with a strike exchange. The champion raked the eyes to gain an advantage. BUSHI and Wato were then tagged in. BUSHI got the advantage before he tagged Naito back in. The champion locked in a head-and-arm scissors before Wato made it to the ropes.
Wato fought off both BUSHI and Naito. He hit a spinning neckbreaker on Naito and a dragon screw on BUSHI. Wato tagged in Ibushi, who came in with mid-kicks for Naito. He hit a standing moonsault for a two. Naito regained control with a sliding dropkick. Naito then hit Combination Cabron in the corner. Ibushi connected with a kick to the ribs of Naito, but the champion followed with a tornado DDT.
Naito then tagged in BUSHI, who hit a swinging neckbreaker on Ibushi. Wato came in for the save and took out Naito on the outside with a twisting plancha. In the ring, Ibushi hit BUSHI with a V Trigger. He followed up with the Kamigoye for the win in 10 minutes here at NJPW World Tag League 2020 and Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals.
Post match, Naito and Ibushi did the LIJ eye signal to each other in a bit of mind games ahead of NJPW WrestleKingdom 15. This was a solid tag team match to help build towards the big show in the Tokyo Dome.
Results: Kota Ibushi & Master Wato defeated Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI via pinfall
Star Rating: ***1/4
David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. Guerillas of Destiny in the World Tag League 2020 Finals - NJPW WTL 2020 & BOSJ 27 Finals
Our next match was the World Tag League 2020 Finals. The 2019 winners, FinJuice came in here at 6-3 with 12 points. Guerillas of Destiny are former six-time IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, but they have never won the World Tag League despite making it to four tournament finals. FinJuice beat GOD at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 and in this tournament.
Tanga Loa and David Finlay started this things off in this NJPW World Tag League 2020 Finals with Loa using his strength to his advantage. Robinson and Tonga tagged in and Jado tried to trip Robinson. But the referee caught him and threw him out from the ringside area with the Young Lions removing him. Tanga Loa came in and started to dominate Finlay.
Finlay tried for the hot tag, but Tanga pulled Juice off the apron. Loa brought Finlay to their corner. Finlay got free and tagged in Robinson, who hit a crossbody for a two count. Finlay tagged in for some double-team work, ending with a backbreaker into an elbow drop for two. Tama hit the Tama twist on Finlay, and everyone was down in this NJPW World Tag League Finals.
GOD hit a diving headbutt then frog splash in consecutive fashion for a near fall in this NJPW World Tag League Finals. All four men traded big moves, ending with Juice hitting the Left Hand of God on Tanga. Robinson then hit a cannonball, followed by the Juice combo. He missed the Left Hand of God, but nailed the right hand instead.
Jado came back down to distract the ref, so Tanga came in with a kendo stick shot to the back. Tama then applied the Scorpion Death Lock, while Tanga put the Jado crossface on Finlay. Juice made it to the ropes though to continue this NJPW World Tag League Finals. GOD then hit Magic Killer for a near fall. Juice reversed ithe Super Powerbomb into an Avalanche Frankensteiner.
FinJuice then hit the Hart Attack on Tama for a near fall. They then hit the Power and Glory superplex into the top rope splash for another two count. Finlay then called for the Doomsday Device, but Tanga pushed Finlay from the top.
He then distracted the ref, so Jado could come in with the kendo stick. Robinson caught it, but KENTA came in with the New Japan Cup USA briefcase and nailed Robinson. GOD then followed with the Super Powerbomb for the pin to win their first NJPW World Tag League in just over 22 minutes.
Post match, Guerillas of Destiny took photos with the trophies. GOD now move on to NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 to face Dangerous Tekkers for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles. This was a great encounter that exceeded expectations.
Results: G.O.D. defeated FinJuice via pinfall
Star Rating: ****
Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado in the Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals - NJPW WTL 2020 & BOSJ 27 Finals
Our main event was the NJPW Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals. Hiromu Takahashi won the tournament in 2018, but he lost to El Desperado of Suzuki-Gun on BOSJ 27 Night 2. These two have feuded since both were Young Lions back in 2010.
We got a tentative start to this NJPW BOSJ 27 Finals with a lockup and headlock exchanged. The two men exchanged chops and slaps before Desperado went for Numero Dos, which is how he made Takahashi submit on Night 2. Desperado started to focus in on the leg of Tanahashi, but he snapped off a hurricarana to regain control.
Back in the ring, Desperado hit a kneebreaker and went for Numero Dos again, but Takahashi reversed it. Desperado ran at Takahashi in the corner, but the latter reversed into a belly-to-belly into the corner. Takahashi hit consecutive thrust kicks, then followed with a death valley driver into the corner and another DVD in the center of the ring.
Desperado reversed Time Bomb into Numero Dos, but Takahashi made it to the ropes in this NJPW BOSJ 27 Finals. He avoided a dive and looked for the sunset flip powerbomb to the floor, but Desperado held on to the ropes with Takahashi hitting the floor hard. Desperado then used a chair on the knee of Takahashi to wear him down.
Back in the ring, Desperado hit his signature for the two count. He then followed with Numero Dos. Takahashi fought to the ropes, but Desperado rolled through and locked both hands. Desperado tried cranking it higher, but Hiromu turned it into a destroyer in a spectacular reversal. He looked for Time Bomb, but Desperado shoved him into the referee and hit a low blow.
Desperado looked for a right hand, but Takahashi hit one of his own. He then ripped off the top of Desperado's mask. Desperado removed the rest of it in a shocking move, showing what he's willing to do to win the NJPW Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals. The two men exchanged strikes with Desperado getting the advantage. He looked for Pinche Loco, but Takahashi reversed into a headbutt.
Takahashi hit his suplex flatliner and looked for Time Bomb 2. Desperado reversed into a rollup for a close near fall. The two men hit stereo lariats. Desperado looked to reverse a lariat into Pinche Loco, but Takahashi reversed into a death valley driver into the exposed corner. Takahashi followed with the Time Bomb for another close near fall. Ultimately, he hit the Time Bomb 2 for the pin and won the NJPW Best of Super Juniors 27 Finals in just over 30 minutes.
That was a phenomenal NJPW strong style main event filled with tremendous exchanges, dramatic submissions, blood, chairs, an unmasking and so much emotion. These two men left everything in the ring in a truly fantastic match that might have been the best of El Desperado's career.
Post match, Takahashi challenged the winner of the Super J Cup 2020 to face him on Night 1 of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15.
Results: Hiromu Takahashi defeated El Desperado via pinfall
Star Rating: *****
