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FIRST MATCH: Juice Robinson, Toa Henare & Yota Tsuji vs. Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura
Solid opener. The rivalry between Uemura and Tsuji is a true highlight of NJPW’s undercar, and this is no exception. ***
SECOND MATCH: Jeff Cobb & Ren Narita vs. Jon Moxley & Shota Umino
Jon Moxley destroying Young Lions is the stuff dreams are made of. His partnership with Shota Umino is going to do nothing but good things for Umino’s young career. Cobb continues to fit the NJPW ring like a glove. ***1/4
THIRD MATCH: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens)
Jay White takes himself very seriously, so watching him with Toru Yano is a delight. ***
FOURTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
LIJ vs. Suzuki-gun is never bad. LIJ vs. Suzuki-gun is always good. Especially when Taichi is the focus, instead of Minoru. Naito & Taichi previewed an epic tournament match in this fun tag contest. ***1/2
FIFTH MATCH: Lance Archer (2 pts) vs. Bad Luck Fale (2 pts)
This is an absolute war. Fale’s best G1 match in years. Archer continues to prove that he was being held back in the tag division. Plunder, destruction and chokeslams, everything you want from a monster battle like this. ***3/4
SIXTH MATCH: SANADA (2 pts) vs. Will Ospreay (0 pts)
These men have fantastic chemistry. There’s a part of me that wants to give it five stars because it will forever be known as the match that killed the Paradise Lock, but I’m trying to take this seriously. Really solid bout, but more excited for the rematch, than I am to ever watch it again. ***3/4
SEVENTH MATCH: Kazuchika Okada (2 pts) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (0 pts)
I can’t believe I’m saying this about both of these wrestlers, but they really rushed this match. The frantic pace is definitely a highlight, but definitely could’ve benefitted from a breathe or two. Still, neither man is capable of having a “bad” match, it just wasn’t up to the lofty standards they’d set for themselves. ***3/4
EIGHTH MATCH: Kota Ibushi (0 pts) vs. EVIL (0 pts)
Ibushi and EVIL are two wrestlers that could absolutely carry NJPW into the future, so its nice to see them get the most traditional G1 match of the night. This is the punch, kick, elbow, repeat, that the G1 Climax is built on, and both guys do it expertly. ****
MAIN EVENT: KENTA (2 pts) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (0 pts)
A match that would’ve undoubtedly been better 10 years ago, but still has some shine left on it. KENTA is still finding his footing in NJPW, but this is the closest he’s looked to his old self. Tanahashi has been far gentler with his body since returning from surgery. Despite everything working against it, its still a legitimate main event from two of the best of their era. ****1/4
