The B Block of NJPW Best Of Super Juniors tournament has been shaken up as injury and visa issues have prevented two big stars from taking part in the annual tournament.
Both El Desperado and Flip Gordon have had to withdraw as Desperado suffered a broken jaw during a match with Jun Kasai at TakaTaichi Mania and Flip Gordon was unable to get the correct visa for working in Japan.
Flip Gordon has been replaced by Young Lion Ren Narita. Narita has fought many of the entrants in this tournament during tag matches in the New Japan Cup tour. He issued a statement on njpw1972.com.
That statement can be read here:
“During the New Japan Cup, I had the chance to wrestle juniors like Shingo Takagi and BUSHI in tags, and I wanted to challenge them in singles matches someday. For all the times I’ve been beaten up, the Super Juniors would be a chance to turn the tables and go all out; that’s why I’ve asked again and again to be put in.
These league matches mean a huge amount to my career, and of course, I want to be the first Young Lion to ever win BoSJ. I don’t want anyone to make excuses about me being a Young Lion in here, nobody treating me any different. I’m in it to win it- that’s all.”
El Desperado has been replaced by a “hired gun” for Suzuki Gun, the Japanese luchador by the name of DOUKI. He was recently featured at TakaTaichi Mania and brought into the stable by fellow member and current NEVER Openweight Champion, Taichi.
Taichi also made a statement on behalf of DOUKI:
“This isn’t just a case of me choosing a pinch hitter because Despe’s hurt. Sooner or later, this was gonna happen. Ten years ago, I came across DOUKI and taught him everything he knows from scratch. Now, a decade later, I’ve called him back to Japan. He was only just at TakaTaichi Mania the other day.
Now you’d better believe me when I tell you, this guy is the real deal. Three days before the tournament starts and he’s all ready to go- I know how to pick ‘em and I know how to train ‘em. Super Junior? DOUKI is going to turn the whole thing upside down.”
The Best of the Super Juniors tournament will start on May 13th on njpwworld.com. Block B of the tournament is now made of Robbie Eagles, Ren Narita, DOUKI, Bandido, El Phantasmo, Will Ospreay, BUSHI, Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH and Rocky Romero.
(All images courtesy of njpw1972.com)