New Japan Pro Wrestling continued their G1 Climax tournament on Sunday. Since the show began at 3:30am 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: Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. Toa Henare & Shota Umino
Divisive as they are, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa are elevating everything they’re a part of. While it’s been a frustrating watch, it’s rare to see people so legitimately angry at an NJPW wrestler that isn’t currently involved in litigation.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.5)
SECOND MATCH: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOH) def. CHAOS (Toru Yano & Gedo)
CHAOS vs. CHAOS is ALWAYS fun. Period.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
THIRD MATCH: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & SHO) def. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)
CHAOS vs. Suzuki-gun is ALWAYS fun. Period.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
FOURTH MATCH: Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Bullet Club Elite (Kenny Omega & Chase Owens)
It’s very hard to admit this. Robinson & Finlay should be tag champions. The heavyweight tag scene is very different now, and I think they could rule it admirably. This is a fun match.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.9)
FIFTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Kota Ibushi
It’s refreshing to see a G1 undercard tag that doesn’t focus on the G1. The whole story of this match was Yujiro and Naito, and their days as the tag team No Limit. A deeply personal rivalry, a wound reopened. This is a gripping undercard tag match.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.0)
SIXTH MATCH: A Block Match: Michael Elgin (4 pts) vs. YOSHI-HASHI (0 pts)
A really solid open to a really solid night of really solid match ups. Like always, your investment in these wrestlers matter. Elgin is not exactly popular among female fans. Yoshi-Hashi is…as exciting as Yoshi-Hashi gets. This is very, very good. It’s just a very high bar this year, and these two are…niche talents.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.0)
SEVENTH MATCH: A Block Match: EVIL (4 pts) vs. Bad Luck Fale (2 pts)
EVIL is a great match for a Redwood Tree like Bad Luck Fale. How do you feel about Tongan interference? That’s kinda the center of this match.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.5)
EIGHTH MATCH: A Block Match: Jay White (6 pts) vs. Minoru Suzuki (2 pts)
Jay White is an arrogant punk. Minoru Suzuki has given no f*cks in 30 years. These two try to straight up murder each other. It’s beautiful. It’s violent. It’s The G1 BABY!!!
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
NINTH MATCH: A Block Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (4 pts) vs. Hangman Page (2 pts)
Stop reading this and go watch this match. Then comeback and read the last rating. But go watch this match.
Need To Watch Rating: (11.0)
MAIN EVENT: A Block Match: Togi Makabe (4 pts) vs. Kazuchika Okada (2 pts)
The Rainmaker is starting to peak his head out a little more. Togi Makabe is an ageless killing machine. The result is a stiff, brutal G1 Climax Classic.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
