New Japan Pro Wrestling continued their G1 Climax tournament on Monday. Since the show began at 5am 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. Shota Umino & Toa Henare
This was far more fun than any first match of the tournament, so far. Tama took sheer glee in beating down on Shota Umino, while Toa Henare is starting to really come into his own. Not essential, but a good time.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
SECOND MATCH: Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku & Zack Sabre Jr.) vs. CHAOS (Jado & Toru Yano)
Good match, but nothing to write home about. Jado is back. Welcome back, Jado.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)
THIRD MATCH: David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Kota Ibushi
Another decent, inoffensive, inessential tag match.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)
FOURTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) vs. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & SHO)
A good match, made better by SANADA and SHO’s excellent chemistry against each other. Naito and Ishii gave a decent preview of their 7/19 match. SHO is flirting with the heavyweight division, and this match proves that its not as crazy as it sounds.
Need To Watch Rating: (3.5)
FIFTH MATCH: CHAOS (YOH & Hirooki Goto) vs. Bullet Club Elite (Kenny Omega & Chase Owens)
A decent, short tag match. Nothing to write home about. Goto is looking to make Kenny pay for his anti-Japanese comments.
Need To Watch Rating: (2.0)
SIXTH MATCH: A Block Match: Michael Elgin (2 pts) vs. Hangman Page (2 pts)
Block competition got out of the gate strong with this match. Hangman Page had the crowd in the palm of his hand for the entire bout. Elgin did plenty of Jr. Heavyweight moves, including taking a page out of Will Ospreay’s book. Definitely recommended viewing.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.0)
SEVENTH MATCH: A Block Match: YOSHI-HASHI (0 pts) vs. EVIL (0 pts)
Your investment in this match is dependent on how much you like YOSHI-HASHI. I’m a big YOSHI-HASHI fan, so the match was captivating. Both men fought at a stiff, desperate pace. Recommended for fans of the wrestlers, but casual fans might tune out.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.9)
EIGHTH MATCH: A Block Match: Togi Makabe (2 pts) vs. Minoru Suzuki (0 pts)
Two old men beat the piss out of each other. What’s not to like?
Need To Watch Rating: (9.1)
NINTH MATCH: A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada (0 pts) vs. Bad Luck Fale (0 pts)
A great match that helped define the post-championship Okada. Okada’s reckless abandon was a nice foil for Fale’s slow and steady pacing. While not on the level of their Wrestling Dontaku match from 2017, it’s definitely a good match with some decent drama.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.9)
MAIN EVENT: A Block Match: Jay White (2 pts) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (2 pts)
Far superior to their Wrestle Kingdom 12 match, White and Tanahashi are in completely different places in this match. White has come into his own, and is now claiming leadership of CHAOS. Tanahashi is a broken veteran, held together by masking tape. Both men were desperate to take out the other and it makes for a thrilling bout. While not necessarily an instant classic, it feels like an important match, with implications into 2019 and beyond.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.9)
