NJPW ON AXS TV 2/17 The Best Of The Super Juniors XXIII Championship Match & More!
Michael Elgin & Satoshi Kojima vs Kenny Omega and Bad Luck Fale
Kojima and Fale start it off with Kojima trying to drop Fale, but he only gets him down to a knee before Fale drops him. Elgin gets tagged in and drops Fale with a shoulder drop, catching Kenny who comes off the top rope then hits a delayed brainbuster onto him. Elgin hits Fale with a series of forearms then runs the ropes, but Kenny pulls his foot and drops him, Fale following up with a splash for a quick 2 count that Kojima breaks up. They then brawl around ringside before Fale stands on Elgin when he comes in after dropping Kenny with a Yakuza kick. Fale distracts the referee as Kenny chokes Elgin with a shirt then Fale tags in Kenny who stomps on Elgin then sends him into the corner and chokes him. Kenny then hits a Green Bay plunge then tags Fale in who goes to scoop slam Elgin, but he counters then Fale runs into Kenny on the apron. Elgin hits an enzuigiri and tags in Kojima who does his rapid fire chops in the corner before Kenny accidentally hits Fale with a trash can lid, Kojima chopping him next. Kojima counters the Grenade with a Koji Cutter then Elgin clotheslines Kenny in the corner repeatedly. They exchange strikes then Elgin hits Kenny with a discus forearm for a near fall.
Kenny sends Elgin to the outside after countering a lariat then Kenny dives over the top rope before grabbing a ladder which he brings into the ring. Elgin gets back in the ring and they fight on the ladder before Elgin hits an avalanche brainbuster off of the ladder for a close near fall that Fale breaks up. Matt Jackson comes out and distracts the referee while Kenny attacks Elgin with a ladder before Elgin powerbombs Kenny through the ladder then hits a sit-out powerbomb for the pin and the win.
Winner: Michael Elgin & Satoshi Kojima via pinfall
Will Ospreay vs Ryusuke Taguchi Best of the Super Juniors XXIII Championship Match
They shake hands before the match, locking up for a series of clean breaks, then Will plays to the crowd before the two exchange various holds. Taguchi hits Ospreay with a huricanrrana then a hips attack that sends him out of the ring before Taguchi mocks Will and plays to the crowd. They get back in and do a series of flips before Will dropkicks Taguchi out of the ring and mocks Taguchi, the crowd erupting. Once Taguchi is back in Will drops him with a running knee then chops him in the corner before putting on a variation of an octopus stretch, but Taguchi gets to the ropes. Taguchi makes his comeback, picking the ankle of Ospreay and dropkicking him out of the ring before going out to the floor and slamming his ankle into it repeatedly, Taguchi stalking Ospreay who can barely walk. They get back in the ring, Taguchi right back on the injured ankle, stomping it in the corner before hitting Ospreay with a series of hip attacks in the corner rather than punches. Ospreay hits a handspring roundhouse kick then a forearm off of the top rope, following up with a standing corkscrew moonsault for a near fall as we go to commercial.
We come back to Ospreay in control, the two countering back suplexes until Taguchi hits a blue thunder bomb. Taguchi hits Will with a series of hip attacks then an enzuigiri before hitting a springboard hip attack that sends Will out of the ring. Taguchi then dives over the top rope and takes Will out on the floor, Will getting back in at the count of 19. Taguchi hits The Three Amigos then a reverse exploder suplex, finishing up with a Boma Ye in honor of the departed Shinsuke Nakamura for a near fall. Ospreay gets a near fall off of a roll up then they exchange kicks with Taguchi winning the exchange. Ospreay sends Taguchi out of the ring with a lariat then hits a standing corkscrew moonsault to the outside. Will puts Taguchi back in the ring and goes for a 450 splash, but Taguchi counters. Will then hits a corkscrew kick, but Taguchi locks in an ankle lock when Will goes for the OsCutter. Taguchi then hits Dodon for a near fall, immediately putting Will in another ankle lock. Will almost gets out then Taguchi grapevines the leg, before Will powers out and hits a standing Spanish fly. Taguchi catches Will on the top rope then Will slides out the back with a Cheeky Nandos, finishing with an inverted 450 for a very close near fall. Will then follows up with the OsCutter for the pin and the win.
Winner: Will Ospreay via pinfall
