New Japan Pro Wrestling continued their G1 Climax tournament on Saturday. Since the show began at 5:30am EDT, here’s a spoiler-free match listing for the non-nite-owl New Japan fans. Each match has been given a Need To Watch Rating of 0.0-10.0. The show is available at NJPWWorld.com
FIRST MATCH: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI & SHO) vs. Michael Elgin & Ren Narita
If you’ve seen one opening tag match, you’ve seen this one.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)
SECOND MATCH: Bullet Club OGs (Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI & EVIL)
Bullet Club OGs and LIJ have been having a simmering feud for years now and this match was a fun footnote in that storied rivalry.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.0)
THIRD MATCH: Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki) vs. CHAOS (Jay White & YOH)
The story of Jay White’s corruption of YOH has been a highlight of the G1 Undercard tag matches. This chapter isn’t quite substantive but definitely fun.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
FOURTH MATCH: Bullet Club Elite (Hangman Page & Chase Owens) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & David Finlay
This match is fine.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)
FIFTH MATCH: Togi Makabe & Toa Henare vs. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Gedo)
Okada is starting to find his feet again. Makabe and Henare are always a highlight tag team. Gedo is also there.
Need To Watch Rating: (3.0)
SIXTH MATCH: B Block Match: Toru Yano (0 pts) vs. Kota Ibushi (4 pts)
Every Toru Yano match has been more inventive than the last. This is closer to the traditional Yano matches of the past, as opposed to the more recent “fair play” matches. Ibushi continues to be in unique form for this year’s G1.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.9)
SEVENTH MATCH: B Block Match: SANADA (2 pts) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (2 pts)
A rematch from this year’s New Japan Cup. SANADA is a gifted mat wrestler, and gets to showcase some of his hidden talents against Sabre. Definitely superior to the pair’s last match. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
EIGHTH MATCH: B Block Match: Juice Robinson (0 pts) vs. Tetsuya Naito (2 pts)
Naito and Robinson have a rematch to their IC Title match from last year. While not superior to Robinson’s New Japan Cup match with Tanahashi, this is definitely a career making match for Juice. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
NINTH MATCH: B Block Match: Kenny Omega (4 pts) vs. Tama Tonga (4 pts)
A good match with a rough finish. The Bullet Club Civil War rages on, as two undefeated gaijins collide.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.9)
MAIN EVENT: B Block Match: Tomohiro Ishii (2 pts) vs. Hirooki Goto (2 pts)
Ishii and Goto rightfully get the main event slot. This is a stiff, brutal brawl that more than lives up to any ridiculous standard that the G1 has set. Both men are fighting for relevance in the current New Japan landscape and this match is sure to get them that needed attention. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.1)
