Top Nine NJPW Best Of The Super Jr. 2020 Matches

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.

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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.

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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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• new japan pro wrestling
• best of super jr
• Hiromu Takahashi
• NJPW

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