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Best of Super Juniors 27 Winner vs. Super J Cup 2020 Winner Special Singles Match: Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1)
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Don Kinashi opened the main show for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 as a special ring announcer and brought out NJPW legend Riki Choshu. He came out with his grandson. They declared the show has started and kicked it to the opening video package.
The opening match on the main show of Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 was Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo. Hiromu won the Best of Super Juniors 27 tournament, while Phantasmo won the 2020 Super J Cup. The winner of this match will face Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on Day 2.
Rocky Romero kicked off the main show for Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 with "it's January 4th and you know what that means." Kevin Kelly then said the show is dedicated to Brodie Lee. Phantasmo wore Edge-inspired trunks, while Hiromu came out in a fabulous ring jacket. ELP went to the floor at the bell and threw down the BOSJ trophy. Hiromu then hit a running dropkick off the apron on Phantasmo and followed with a diving senton off the top rope to the floor.
With ELP on the apron in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 encounter, Hiromu went for the sunset flip powerbomb, but Phantasmo flipped out. He then springboarded off Hiromu's back into the ring and hit the sunset flip powerbomb to the floor. ELP followed with a rope walk moonsault to the outside on Hiromu. He then worked over Takahashi in the ring, attacking his foot. ELP then attacked the hand of Hiromu with some joint manipulation.
Phantasmo did his rope walk, while bending the fingers of Hiromu in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 opener. However, Hiromu bit his fingers and followed with a wheelbarrow cradle driver off the top rope. He then hit a Dynamite Plunger for a near-fall. They traded slaps, but that hurt Hiromu's injured hand. Hiromu hit a thrust kick and followed with a suplex flatliner for two.
ELP reversed Time Bomb 2 into a rollup for two in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 opening match. Phantasmo then hit a driver for another two. Hiromu hit a thrust kick out of the corner and tried to follow up on the top, but ELP hit a low blow with the referee down and followed with a super Frankensteiner. ELP then hit a top rope splash for a near-fall.
Hiromu reversed CR2 into a cradle, but ELP rolled out and hit Styles Clash for a two count. Phantasmo hit the V Trigger and went for One Winged Angel, but Hiromu rolled out and hit a Death Valley Driver into the corner. ELP then reversed out of Time Bomb 2 with a cradle, for two.
Phantasmo went for CR2, but Hiromu reversed into a hurricanrana with a cradle for the pin and win in nearly 18 minutes. Takahashi moves on to face Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship tomorrow on Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2. This was a very good opener.
Results: Hiromu Takahashi defeats El Phantasmo via pinfall
Star Rating: ***3/4
