Jul 15, 2018 This has been a really good show Last few minutes of Goto and Sanada were fantastic Edit Ibushi and Zack was f---ing amazing Alright, so it gets to the point in these crazy New Japan/NXT matches this year where I'm just gone and the entire thing is a blur afterwards. Totally in awe right now. Chase/Hangman vs Elgin/Shota - 3.75 Ishii/Yano - 3.75 Tonga/Juice - 3.5 Goto/Sanada - 4 Ibushi/ZSJ - 4.75 Omega/Naito - 5 I don't rate matches above 5 but if I did this would get the +. Mostly safe, in ring action at an insane pace with one of the best final stretches you'll ever see.
Jul 15, 2018 Night 1 Yoshi hashi vs togi makabe 2.75 - 3 I enjoyed yoshi's aggressive demeanor but I dont care for either of these guys at all. Both guys just seem to be there with no real intent or threat to the title Fale vs hangman 3.5 I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would and am mostly looking to see hangman in his matches. Interesting part to me about Fale's involvement will be the bullet club narrative being pushed farther Elgin vs evil 4 Hard hitting match and I hope Elgin gets treated better this year than he did last year. I enjoyed the pace of this match and how evil kept Elgin in a position to not hit any of his moves until the end Tanahashi vs Suzuki 3.75 I'd probably have this a little higher if the ending wouldnt have seem so rushed Okada vs jay white 4.5 This was fantastic other than a brief portion that was kinda slow. I've really enjoyed watching jay come into his own and hes continuously getting better. Imo when he beat omega I wasnt sold on the victory one bit but fast forward a handful of matches and he just obliterated okada in a believable fashion. Loving this guys heel run and also speaks to the level of performer that is okada. He made jay look like a monster
Jul 15, 2018 Caught up on some of the big matches from the first two nights. Omega and Naito delivered again, incredible @tomroe93 @Pinhead I never got to comment on this but personally, I wasn't blown away by the Omega/Cody match at the US show. It was really good solid match no doubt, and had big story implications but to me it just seemed like a WWE style main event with some higher risks obviously. I'm a huge Cody supporter but imo he just can't rise to the level of his opponent. I'd go 4.25 for both their matches. You expect a lot more from a IWGP heavyweight title match w/ Kenny omega in it.
Jul 15, 2018 I feel pretty much the same way about cody and omega, overly long matches that try to do too much, plus you hit the nail on the head about cody. Hes a phenomenal performer who isn't quite there yet in ring wise
Jul 15, 2018 Night 2 Ishii vs Yano 3.75 - 4 I've been waiting for some proof that yano is more than a comedy act and here it was. I enjoyed his change of character and hope to see more of it in this tournament. I also hope ishii overcomes his midcard status and rises to the championship level one day Tama Tonga vs Juice 2.75 - 3 I really want to like tama but something about the way he wrestles bores me. Hes just really underwhelming to me as a performer. Another problem with these matches is the rules, juice ges dq'd if he uses his cast but chairs are legal? Gtfoh Goto vs sanada 4.25 Loved the majority of this match. I have similar sentiments toward goto as I do ishii. Sanada is going to be a beast whenever he finds his way out of the shadow of evil and naito Zsj vs ibushi 4.75 I think the only thing stopping this match from being perfect is Zacks almost always wrestling a technical submission match, I wish he'd change it up just a little. I love his matches and think hes definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with. Ibushi is phenomenal. Omega vs naito 5 If these guys aren't the best in the world I dont know who is.
Jul 15, 2018 That's what I was going to say as well. I want to see him overcome okada and beat kenny at the dome
Jul 16, 2018 I'd k--- for WWE main events to be this good. Like I said in my summary, I think Cody not being a real threat hurts how the match comes off a lot. Nobody believes he's winning so when Omega is murdering him there's not much to latch onto. Cody did a good job at keeping pace work-wise and they told a fantastic story in ring. Much better with Japanese commentary as well. Not sure we're going to see much growth from Cody in ring. In recent interviews with Dave and E&C he said he much prefers a conservative style of wrestling and he sometimes clashes with the Bucks on what they want for All In, their matches. This guy's favorite match is Rock/Hogan so that tells you all you need to know, really. For that style of wrestler, Cody is at the top level for me right now. edit Calling Elgin/Hangman for match of the night, lets go. Why is Okada attacking camera men with balloons Suzuki/Makabe - 3.5 Hangman/Elgin - 4.25 Fale/Okada - 3.75 Switchblade/ Tanahashi - 4.25 Another awesome Jay promo
Jul 16, 2018 Out of curiosity who are your least favorites/do you feel doesnt belong in this tournament and who would take their place?
Jul 16, 2018 July 16 (Hokkaido, A Block) -- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White 4.25 Loving Jay's evolution of his heel character and Tanahashi selling is amazing Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale 3.25 Very underwhelming Togi Makabe vs. Minoru Suzuki 3.75 I like this match quite a bit considering I dont really care for either guy. I'd probably rate it a little bit higher on a second viewing YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL 3.25 I didnt dislike the match I just cant get behind yoshi hashi. Hes on par with David finlay as my most disliked wrestler. Also, I dont believe he poses as much a threat to evil as was portrayed in the match Michael Elgin vs. Hangman Page 4.25 Fantastic match. I'm loving elgin's focus this year and his lack of show boating. I feels hes really stepped his game up from the last g1 and I'm loving page's coming out party as well. Favorite match of night 3 was probably elgin/page
Jul 16, 2018 I wish the juniors could be involved. Hiromu or Ospreay would have been sick. Someone like Marifuji again from a different promotion is always cool too. My least favorites are probably Yano/Makabe/Yoshi-hashi. They luck their way into good matches occasionally, but they don't bring much themselves. Elgin one of the best in the world so always happy to see him. Incredible shape right now. Edit Jericho & Bucks vs Omega/Cody/Scurll on Jericho's cruise.
Jul 18, 2018 Idk what it is but there’s just something about him that makes me cringe. Apparently he was signed to NXT at one point.
