Star Ratings For G1 Climax 29 Night 4
Show is available on NJPWWorld.com.
FIRST MATCH: Kota Ibushi & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Shota Umino & Yota Tsuji.
A quick match, thrown together after Will Ospreay was pulled due to injury. Still a fun way to start the show nonetheless. **3/4
SECOND MATCH: Tomoaki Honma, Toa Henare & Ren Narita vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI)
The interactions between EVIL & SANADA have been fascinating. EVIL is desperate to get out of SANADA’s shadow, and has become volatile because of it. ***
THIRD MATCH: Hiroshi Tanahashi, KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks vs. Suzuki-gun (Lance Archer, Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
Tanahashi and KENTA are currently fighting for pole position in the NJPW hierarchy. KENTA has the experience to back up his priggish nature, but Tanahashi is not one to be outdone in the pettiness department. ***
FOURTH MATCH: CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale)
Okada and Bad Luck Fale have a simple, successful dynamic. **3/4
FIFTH MATCH: Toru Yano (2 pts) vs. Shingo Takagi (0 pts)
Toru Yano’s matches are nothing, if not creative. Takagi isn’t allowed to have this kind of match often, so its a refreshing treat to see him deal with a personality like Yano. ***1/4
SIXTH MATCH: Juice Robinson (2 pts) vs. Hirooki Goto (2 pts)
It is impossible for these two to have a bad match. Juice is out to prove just how serious he can be, while Goto is on a quest to regain his footing in a shifting landscape. ***1/2
SEVENTH MATCH: Jeff Cobb (0 pts) vs. Jon Moxley (2 pts)
Moxley’s most creative match in NJPW. While not the epic plunder of his match against Juice Robinson, Cobb brings out a more methodical side of Moxley. If Moxley trying to out wrestle an honest-to-god Olympian doesn’t make you chuckle, nothing will and I weep for your soul. ***3/4
EIGHTH MATCH: Tomohiro Ishii (2 pts) vs. Jay White (0 pts)
It’s entirely possible that Jay White actually cares about Gedo. Ishii represents an actual threat to Gedo’s safety, and White doesn’t take it lightly. This is definitely a much more confident run for Jay White, who is definitely outclassing his hesitant 2018 run through the G1. ***3/4
MAIN EVENT: Tetsuya Naito (0 pts) vs. Taichi (0 pts)
Taichi is having a career-defining year in 2019. His offense is a potent mix of Takashi Iizuka’s comedy and Toshiaki Kawada’s vicious strikes and suplexes. When that gets mixed with Tetsuya Naito’s rubbery charisma and slippery offense, the results are pretty damn fun. ****1/2
