New Japan Pro Wrestling continued their G1 Climax tournament on Friday. Since the show began at 5:30am 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: Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku) vs. Toa Henare & Shota Umino
Super basic tag match. Nothing to see here.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)
SECOND MATCH: Kota Ibushi & Yujiro Takahashi vs. CHAOS (Toru Yano & Gedo)
Ibushi and Takahashi have a fun chemistry, and they have the right opponents to make for a fun time.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.9)
THIRD MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
Another inoffensive but inessential tag match.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.1)
FOURTH MATCH: Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. Bullet Club Elite (Kenny Omega & Chase Owens)
A gripping preview of tomorrow’s Omega/Tama match. Bullet Club civil war plays out over this quick, dramatic tag match.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.0)
FIFTH MATCH: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & SHO) vs. CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOH)
An essential match for fans of Roppongi 3K. SHO & YOH wrestling each other, with Rocky on commentary is a painful thing to watch. Add the hard hitting antics of Ishii and Goto and it makes for a brutal, tragic affair.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.0)
SIXTH MATCH: A Block Match: Michael Elgin (4 pts) vs. Jay White (4 pts)
A match that felt like something out of a comic book. The Joker vs. The Hulk. White’s G1 has been homerun after homerun, and Elgin is not exactly sleeping through this tournament. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
SEVENTH MATCH: A Block Match: YOSHI-HASHI (0 pts) vs. Minoru Suzuki (0 pts)
YOSHI-HASHI is a divisive figure. If you like YOSHI-HASHI, this match is a 10. If you like Suzuki, this match is a 10. Both men are desperate and homicidal, looking for their first two points. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
EIGHTH MATCH: A Block Match: Togi Makabe (4 pts) vs. EVIL (2 pts)
This is a stellar brawl. Makabe and EVIL are cut from the same cloth and it makes for entertaining combat.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.0)
NINTH MATCH: A Block Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (2 pts) vs. Bad Luck Fale (2 pts)
Tanahashi and Fale have a classic David vs. Goliath story. Bullet Club’s shenanigans have been very hit or miss, but it doesn’t completely tarnish a great semi-main event.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.9)
MAIN EVENT: A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada (0 pts) vs. Hangman Page (2 pts)
Hangman Page can officially hang with Kazuchika Okada. This is the closest Okada has looked to himself, and the fight that Page puts up is monumental. Page has been having a banner debut in the G1, and this match is yet another that proves his made man status. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.1)
