Star Ratings For NJPW Kizuna Road (6/17)
Show is available at NJPWWorld.com.
FIRST MATCH: Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
These two Young Lions are going to be having absolute bangers for their entire careers. ***1/4
SECOND MATCH: Yuji Nagata & Shota Umino vs. Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare
This match was just kind of there. Shota Umino continues to shine, and Henare continues to be…Henare. **3/4
THIRD MATCH: Hiroyoshi Tenzan Return Match: Kota Ibushi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi)
Fun, hectic 10-man tag match. Tenzan’s ankles make my own hurt. ***
FOURTH MATCH: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Mikey Nicholls & Ren Narita vs. Bullet Club (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Jay White & Taiji Ishimori)
Bullet Club takes on NJPW’s Main Unit in a shenanigan-laced eight-man tag. ***1/2
FIFTH MATCH: NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Championship Match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) vs. Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens)
Bullet Club in 2019 is the best incarnation since the originals. Taguchi, Yano & Makabe are such a fun tandem, that might actually be able to give the 6-man tag belts a semblance of an identity. ***3/4
MAIN EVENT: Elimination Match: Kazuchika Okada, Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Sho & Yoh vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr., Lance Archer, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
NJPW elimination matches are what Survivor Series wishes it was. The over-the-top-rope rule adds an extra hair of drama. ****
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