The 27th edition of the G1 Climax was an incredible series of professional wrestling matches.
I thought the 26th edition had incredible matches too, but a lot ran together – this had a more unique feel to it. Nagata and Kojima had “can he keep up?” stories, Minoru Suzuki and Kota Ibushi added some spice, Naito has really found himself. Okada continues to rule. Omega seemed on a mission. Yano brought the variety.
I wish AXS didn’t focus so much on Tanahashi and Naito – they rule but did we really need to see Naito vs. Goto over a Kojima match? Naito vs. Makabe over a Nagata match? C’mon.
Here are my thoughts on each AXS show. See my thoughts on some of the other G1 matches that didn’t make AXS HERE.
NJPW ON AXS (8/18/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 1 (7/17/17)
Big fan of Good Ol’ JR explaining the G1 Climax rules.
Clips of Yuji Nagata vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Togi Makabe vs. Bad Luck Fale, and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hirooki Goto are shown.
1. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
This was great, it felt really different from the usual New Japan formula and was a great showcase/introduction for Zack the Heavyweight. There’s a lot of interesting matwork early with Tanahashi trying to keep up. Bulk of the match was Tanahashi going after Zack’s leg while Zack went after Tanahashi’s injured shoulder with all kinds of cool weird stuff, and all that work paid off later with both guys looking completely spent. I’m a big fan of how Zack targets something like a shark and does enough stuff that you’re buying the limb is legitimately wrecked. Both guys sold their asses off too – liked how Zack would sell his leg by just sitting down in pain after an offensive move. The High Fly Flow counter into the armlock was awesome and the crowd was WILD for the finish, all in on Tanahashi overcoming the Sabre onslaught. ***3/4
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi
I thought this was very exciting and impressive but I didn’t love it. Both these guys come across as total stars, but I wish they relied more on being stars versus always upping the ante – the match is batshit crazy, no doubt, but the batshit crazy rang a little hollow at times. Naito goes after Ibushi’s historically fucked neck with all kinds of fun stuff, while Ibushi sells his ass off and peppers in some gorgeous dropkicks, rana’s, moonsaults. There’s just so much MADNESS here – a massive Ibushi lariat, huge reverse frankensteiner, Ibushi just lawn darting Naito into the turnbuckle, Ibushi deadlifting German suplexing Naito to the inside from the apron. There’s a close-up shot here of both guys struggling in the corner that’s so awesome, Ibushi all exhausted and Naito clearly the same but trying to grin through it. Ibushi fires off an incredible pele to Naito off the top rope that has the delivery of a shotgun. They hit a piledriver off the top rope here that’s one part insane and one part WTF guys. The slow-mo replay shows off the incredible precision in that it does not legitimately kill Tetsuya Naito. The crowd is buzzing for everything here and just FLIPPING OUT towards the end, as it escalates from crazy cool to absolutely nuts. Amazing, amazing near falls with a second Destino finally finishing it. Wild stuff, well worth watching, and a tremendous start to the G1. ****
NJPW ON AXS (8/25/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 2 (7/20/17)
Tama Tonga vs. Michael Elgin and Kazuchika Okada vs. Toru Yano were the other matches here, shown on AXS in clips.
1. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. Juice Robinson
JIP. Just the last 5 minutes here, and it’s a bunch of real hot near falls, so job well done boys. Loved Kojima’s counter of Juice’s Unprettier: just a lariat to the back of the head. Nice face-first bump by Juice too. Shocker of a finish. N/A
2. G1 Climax – Block B: SANADA vs. EVIL
Good match, even if SANADA continues to have the absolute worst dragon sleeper. Had the partner vs. partner thing going – they brawled around and used a chair or two, while SANADA continued to show off the most impressive hops in wrestling. SANADA does a cutter off the top to the floor that has the crowd go NUTS. EVIL throws an incredible lariat towards the end that SANADA takes a wild bump for, and a pretty moonsault by SANADA ends it. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Minoru Suzuki vs. Kenny Omega
Very good match, with Omega in the role of underdog babyface and doing a damn good job of it. Suzuki goes after Omega’s leg for most of this, while Omega is pretty great – hits his V-Triggers like a professional, does a HUGE springboard dive into the crowd on Suzuki-gun, SPITS in Suzuki’s face, can’t hold a Dragon suplex hold later cause his leg is wrecked. There’s a portion in the middle where the ref gets bumped and Suzuki-gun and the Bullet Club run-in, leading to Bad Luck Fale no-selling a chairshot from Taichi which is totally awesome. Suzuki meanwhile is the man – does a fine job working over Omega’s leg, but it’s the little things… Omega throwing stiff boots to get out of a heel hold but Suzuki just absorbing them and continuing on, LAUGHING at Kenny towards the end which makes the comeuppance all the more beautiful. Even him being completely unable to take a reverse rana cleanly towards the end feels way more satisfying than him actually taking it. Kenny attempts the One-Winged Angel a couple times and finally nails it for the W. ***1/2
NJPW ON AXS (9/1/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night (7/21/17)
Hirooki Goto vs. Yuji Nagata and Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii were the other matches here, shown on AXS in clip form.
1. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
JIP. This is the last 5 minutes of what seemed like a good 15-minute match. Both guys are nailing each other with stiff strikes, all sweaty and shit. Ibushi hits a pele kick that Zack counters with a kneebar. Love Ibushi’s dead eyes after fighting through it. A HUUUUUGE Last Ride out of a triangle choke wins it. N/A
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
This hit all the right notes, Fale continues to lack the intensity and mobility to be a great monster but Tanahashi has the match you’d expect from this situation. Really liked some of the clever vet tricks Tanahashi pulled out here – an early cradle and “almost got you!” pose, a poke to the eye and stomp to the knee. Tana’s one-armed skin the cat is also pretty amazing. The finish is a countout and done really well, with Tanahashi hitting a Sling Blade on the apron leading and just avoiding a double countout. Also, do have to add: Josh Barnett references Vader at one point by calling him “Leon” and it makes me so sad. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI
YOSHI-HASHI is a lot like Hirooki Goto to me, just lacks a spark. This is a match that is building to a big Destino kickout but the lack of spark makes it not feel worth it. It’s a pretty good match – Naito is way over and a total cock, it’s a bit meandering for the first half (seems like that’s Naito’s thing, which may or may not be on purpose), and then it transitions into a Strike/Big Move NJ Finish that’s pretty good but has been done way better a lot of times. There’s some great moments – Naito dives head-first into a big YOSHI knee, and they get some big time drama out of a butterfly lock of all things towards the end. Good, just a lot holding it back. **3/4
The Naito promo work at Korakuen Hall here might have been the best part of the show.
NJPW ON AXS (9/8/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 4 (7/22/17)
The other matches on this show were Satoshi Kojima vs. Toru Yano and Juice Robinson vs. EVIL. Can’t say I’m bummed about missing them, but I need to see the Kojima and Nagata runs in full.
This was also the night of Daryl’s death!
1. G1 Climax – Block B: Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA
JIP. Only a few minutes – lots of counters and shifts in momentum, with Korakuen going wild for sleeper holds and piledrivers. Suzuki does his incredible under-the-legs sleeper hold here, so good. N/A
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Kenny Omega vs. Tama Tonga
This is like just barely good. Tama Tonga has a good presence about him and will do just fine in the wrestling business, I just don’t want to see him try and work epic matches. This is Kenny Omega trying to work his I’m a Great Fucking Wrestler shtick around a guy that isn’t that great of a wrestler. They do a pretty sweet rope-running and clothesline-ducking sequence here, Tonga cuts a promo, the Bullet Club gets involved, and the wrestling is completely fine. The Gun Stun countered with a snap Dragon suplex was delightful. **3/4
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. Michael Elgin
An absolutely wild god damn match. Kazuchika Okada truly is a magnificent pro wrestler, I mean jesus fucking christ. Michael Elgin is a big strong beast of a man, and this match is special because of Okada’s selling of him being that big strong beast of a man. A New Japan epic main event with some extra on top – fun stuff early, Elgin going completely balls out, Korakuen going wild, an incredible finish, and just a classic Okada “Can I beat this guy? Yeah, I can” performance.
Liked all the stuff around Elgin’s power early – shoulder tackles, armdrag block, Okada’s crossbody into the crowd spot being CAUGHT, leading to a bodyslam on the floor. Okada goes on offense for a bit, and to be honest it loses me for a fleeting few minutes – and then my GOD, do they just do the craziest damn 15-minute finishing sequence. Elgin was throwing some absolutely insane shots here – elbows, clothesline. The sit-out powerbomb counter of an Okada dive off the top was incredible (the slow-mo replay is so cool), crucifix powerbomb near fall was incredible. A superplex gets a classic OOOHHWWAAAA reaction. Josh Barnett has what is his one and only good call, just uttering “this is nuts.”
The finish is something else: Elgin gets Okada in a torture rack, but Okada escapes and just dives at Elgin with what’s basically a SNAP Rainmaker. He holds Elgin’s wrist and hits another Rainmaker, but is too tired to cover. Okada is just the best seller here, just in the middle of the fight of his life against this monster. He SCREAMS, tries another Rainmaker, Elgin ducks and backslides and hits a BACKFIST, Elgin tries a powerbomb, Okada escapes and hits another tombstone, and hits another Rainmaker that Elgin bumps on his head for for 3. This thing’s nuts. Amazing. ****1/2
NJPW ON AXS (9/15/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 11 (8/1/17)
YOSHI-HASHI vs. Bad Luck Fale and Togi Makable vs. Zack Sabre Jr. were the other matches here, shown on AXS in clips.
1. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Tomohiro Ishii
JIP. Ishii throws strikes, Nagata kicks out, Nagata sells exhaustion. The EMOTION, man! Nagata hits a brainbuster for a kickout, both guys are just throwing shots, the crowd’s going wild. An Ishii SUPLEX of all things finally puts Nagata away. This looked awesome. Of all the G1 that AXS did not air, the Nagata run is what I am most eager to check out. N/A
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hirooki Goto
Hirooki Goto hits hard like a star, counters like one, has facial expressions and the near fall timing of one. There’s just something I’m not buying at a high level. Perhaps he’ll be one I’ll appreciate over time – always there, always solid. For now, I weep, I weep for the wrestling that is technically high-end but wrestling I do not care for. Most of the match is Naito working over Goto’s neck after Goto falls just right on the damn thing on the apron after a clothesline off the top. It garners a little sympathy for Goto. A little. Finish had some massive near falls, and realistically they fit a lot of great stuff into under 15 minutes. It was really good, just didn’t make me feel anything. ***1/2
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
SOOOOOOOOOOO good. Love Guy in his Hometown Pro Wrestling. Love Guy in his Hometown Pro Wrestling done right. The stage is set before the bell – Tanahashi is crushing it, Ibushi is not, and Ibushi is now in a must-win situation in his hometown. Both guys add an equal amount of incredible here. Tanahashi plays heel and does some awesome stuff – milking Ibushi chants, breaking clean breaks, hitting a shoulderblock and doing the guitar pose. Ibushi meanwhile is just the best underdog – all passionate and likable and flippy, firing off a snap rana and a gorgeous moonsault to the outside. His EYES and exhaustion as he mounts his comeback is something special, man. They do an awesome elbow exchange towards the end – an elbow exchange in a New Japan match is like a chinlock in a 205 Live match, but THIS elbow exchange was extra spicy, with Ibushi refusing to back down and firing off a nasty kick at Tanahashi. Ibushi nails an INCREDIBLE bicycle kick to Tanahashi who’s on the top rope – the precision on that thing, just unreal. Tanahashi busts out a straight-up disgusting straitjacket German for 2, then a Sling Blade that Ibushi takes the WILDEST bump for for another 2. Ibushi manages a Last Ride powerbomb for an INSANE near fall and his look of disbelief should be taught in colleges across the world. He then simply CRUSHES a knee into Tanahashi’s face and actually wins. I said SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good. ****1/4
NJPW ON AXS (9/22/17) – G1 Climax Night 27 Night 14 (8/5/17)
Toru Yano vs. Tama Tonga and Michael Elgin vs. Minoru Suzuki were the other matches here, , shown on AXS in clips.
1. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. SANADA
JIP. This seemed fun… SANADA showing off his flips and Kojima just keeps on throwing stuff back at him. Crowd is HOT. A major lariat by Kojima, with a spectacular bump by SANADA, ends it. Nice.
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Kenny Omega vs. Juice Robinson
This is a fine match, not the best match, but a fine match – and an incredible last minute or so makes it well worth watching. Even Omega’s shit turnbuckle post figure-four is worth watching for the laughs. Juice was taking a heck of a beating – a couple nasty V-Triggers, a reverse rana right on his head. Loved his dead eyes as he went up for the One-Winged Angel after the V-Trigger. And his reaction to the finish is the BEST. The absolute best. Even the referee is freaked out. ***1/4
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
A good solid Big Kazuchika Okada match that eventually reached another level. Had the extra hook of EVIL needing a win to stay in finals contention and Okada being on a one-year winning streak. EVIL’s shtick meshed well with Okada’s – the Okada guardrail crossbody means EVIL throwing a chair at it, the Okada outside brawling means EVIL hitting one of his wild powerbomb variations on the floor. These two are New Japan guys through and through – wild physicality and counters, especially liked a smooth sequence in the middle here where Okada ducks a dropkick and follows with his own. A MASSIVE lariat and Dragon suplex by EVIL made me crave an EVIL vs. Brock Lesnar dream match. Last five minutes are a classic Okada Fights Through the Pain montage, but at some point you actually buy EVIL is pulling it off – and after a Rainmaker, a headbutt, a nasty German suplex… he finally DOES. ****
NJPW ON AXS (9/29/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 15 (8/6/17)
Yuji Nagata vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and Kota Ibushi vs. YOSHI-HASHI were the other matches, shown on AXS in clips.
1. G1 Climax – Block A: Hirooki Goto vs. Bad Luck Fale
JIP. This is one of my worst personal NJ pairings but it actually seemed pretty fun. Both guys are all sweaty and exhausted and Goto is fighting his ass off to take down the New Zealand beast.
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe
This was an alright match – physical, intense… it just didn’t hit me. Call it G1 Fever. Naito’s bump into his own ribs on the rail was amazing, at least, as was Makabe’s Spider German tease and delivery. **1/2
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Great chemistry here, the no-nonsense hard-hitting pitbull vs. the guitar-playing high-flyer. It made for an awesome match. The intensity is upped a billion points, with Tanahashi trying all he can to keep up with this aggressive nut across the ring from him. Body blows and headbutts just don’t work like they used to. The body of the match is both guys basically trying to break each other’s leg. Major near falls towards the end. Tanahashi hits a sudden Sling Blade out of desperation at one point and just craaaaawls to the corner, completely wrecked by this onslaught. He manages two HUGE High-Fly Flow’s for the win. ****
Tanahashi cuts a promo post-match with a young lion holding him up and it is spectacular. Then he lays down for the press conference, clamoring on the one match he has to win (vs. Naito) to be the center of attention in New Japan again. The DRAMA.
NJPW ON AXS (10/6/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 16 (8/8/17)
Satoshi Kojima vs. Tama Tonga, Juice Robinson vs. Toru Yano, and Kenny Omega vs. SANADA were the other matches, shown on AXS in clips. Look, the G1 is cool, but some stuff is definitely skippable.
1. G1 Climax – Block B: Michael Elgin vs. EVIL
I saw these two have a classic live in Chicago Ridge for Ring of Honor once, back when EVIL wasn’t having an identity crisis. They mesh well together… two big boys, hitting hard and doing that Strong Style thing. Elgin shows off his power early, then EVIL does the chairshot thing and goes to work. They nail power moves, big-ass lariats, an insane superplex. Counters upon counters for the finish, highlighted by a buckle bomb and WILD sit-out powerbomb. It’s nothing you haven’t seen before but it’s a blast. ***1/2
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
You take your Okada vs. Omega’s, I’m on team Okada vs. MiSu. The Okada formula works best when Okada gets to sell and his opponent brings the offense, and Minoru Suzuki brings the BEST offense. This match is all about the neck, and Suzuki’s willingness to hard sell that concept is magical. As Barnett says, “Okada’s gone on record as saying that he truly dislikes Minoru Suzuki… well I guess I couldn’t blame him, because every time they get in the ring, Suzuki tries to end his career.” Suzuki viciously works over Okada’s neck, at one point just throttling the back of his head into the guardrail. He just keeps grinding Okada down – a facelock, octopus hold, everything wrenched in extra tight. He keeps going for the Gotch-style piledriver too, but can’t quite hit it. Okada meanwhile looks like he’s going to have to retire after all this.
Sidenote: This takes place in Suzuki’s hometown.
Lots of cool moments here… Okada slams Suzuki and heads to the top, but Suzuki just crawls on his back to Okada and grabs him – CREEPY! Okada adds a Gotch-style modifier to his tombstone – COOL! And the finish is just all dramatic and cool as hell – Suzuki ducks a Rainmaker and pulls Okada over into a sleeper, Okada fights and fights and drips gobs of sweat, then just fires off a Rainmaker out of nowhere, before holding onto the wrist and hitting another. Suzuki slaps Okada’s hand away on a third attempt, then slaps the shit out of him as the crowd goes wild for Hometown Suzuki. Okada fires off his own slap and they just slap the shit out of each other – Okada’s stumbling around, amused at how tough this fucker is. They slap each other some more, Suzuki goes for kill with a sleeper, Okada fights away and fires off a Rainmaker with 30 seconds left, and can’t cover as this goes to a 30-minute draw. Epic. ****1/2
NJPW ON AXS (10/13/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 17 (8/11/17)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe vs. YOSHI-HASHI, and Hirooki Goto vs. Kota Ibushi were the other matches, but they get no clips. Who has the time?
1. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Bad Luck Fale
This is Yuji Nagata’s final G1 Climax match in his career and it is AMAZING. EVERYBODY in the crowd is holding up a Blue Justice sign, so this has a five-star ceiling. It’s a really fun match brought up a thousand notches by the Nagata hook. Most of the match is Nagata fighting underneath and it is so compelling. Nagata’s fire and repeated comebacks are so professional wrestling real, just a barrage fired up kicks and slaps on the monster. Fale applies a chinlock on the outside too, which is kinda amazing. They manage a couple big time near falls before a Last Ride from Fale sends Nagata home. Fale shows respect to Nagata after the match, a reference to Nagata’s early training of him. It was also in this match, on reflecting on Fale’s past, that it occurred to me just how massive Fale has become. Anyways – this is great. ***1/2
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
A total classic, all the wrestling is smooth and beautiful and the crowd is just INTO these two and everything’s brought way up because of it. Both guys try to out-dick each other early, then Naito goes after Tanahashi’s arm while Tanahashi goes after Naito’s leg. The crowd goes BATTY for a Texas Cloverleaf by Tanahashi towards the end after he wrecks Naito’s leg with a few nasty dragon screws. I love how Naito sells submissions – not classic babyface stuff, but like, “god dammit I have to actually show pain now.” Tanahashi hits a Sling Blade after a series of rope-running counters and it is SO good. The finish is tremendous – love when Tanahashi gets all intense as he goes for the kill. This is an epic New Japan match with a classic feel to it, these two know how to rassle. ****1/2
NJPW ON AXS (10/20/17) – G1 Climax 27 Night 18 (8/12/17)
Satoshi Kojima vs. EVIL, SANADA vs. Tama Tonga, and Minoru Suzuki vs. Toru Yano were the other matches, but they get no clips.
1. G1 Climax – Block B: Michael Elgin vs. Juice Robinson
Good little match with fun chemistry, big dude Elgin taking it to underdog Juice. Elgin’s powerbomb counter of Juice’s cannonball in the corner was very good. There are a lot of hard lariats to each guys’ chest here. It is good. ***
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega
This is frantic, urgent professional wrestling where everything looks like it hurts and and the spectacular keeps coming. They are 3/3 for incredible matches, but I’m not buying this best of all-time shit. They both go for the kill early, including a Rainmaker zoom-out only a few minutes in. Some of the stuff early looked a little fake, a little TOO cooperative, if you ask me. Omega brings the urgency, while Okada sells his ass off. Omega goes right after Okada’s neck (thanks, Minoru Suzuki, you son of a bitch), and I totally buy in. Omega just rips it apart… throws a damn chop to the back of it where sweat just flies off and you can almost hear the vertebrate cracking. Kenny tries to springboard from the apron but gets dropkicked to the outside, and Okada rolls out but gets hit with a reverse rana on the floor – OW. Okada gets checked on by the doc for a bit, which Omega follows up with a god damn dragon suplex on the apron. He hits a cross-legged neckbreaker immediately for a near fall, then throws a couple wild V-Triggers to the chin. Okada manages a tombstone to comeback, and they trade shots. The crowd is biting on everything as each guy goes for the kill and keeps countering. Okada fires off an amazing dropkick, then manages a Rainmaker but can’t pin Omega. He hits another Rainmaker but and just rests his head on the top turnbuckle, soaking in every moment that has brought him here. There’s tons of urgency and desperation for the finish, which closes when Omega finally beats Okada. Amazing match. ****1/4
NJPW ON AXS (10/27/17) – G1 Climax 27 Finals (8/13/17)
1. G1 Climax – Finals: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega
I was flipping out sleep-deprived at 4AM, I loved this thing. G1 Climax finals are easily one of the best things about modern day pro wrestling. Some might run together, but the Big Fight Feel these things generate is incredible, and when you have two guys as game as Kenny Omega and Tetsuya Naito you are headed somewhere special. This match is a star and character-driven first few minutes, even exchanges between two guys who actually feel like they should be completely even, and then the absolute most batshit insane finishing sequence. New Japan has gotten to a point with me where a CRAZY~! finish is usually expected in these big matches – when it’s good it’s good, but when it’s the same old stuff my reaction is usually tepid, even if the crowd is popping and the athleticism is impressive. But THIS finish, man. THIS finish is better than all the other finishes.
I leave you with my notes as I watched this at 4AM chatting with Captain Lou, because there’s really no better way to express my feelings about this match:
The gun to the face and Naito’s staredown. The CROWD. The NAITO chants. Naito ducking Kenny. Fast-paced sequences based around CHARACTER – duck, spit, eye pose, Tranquilo. Neckbreaker on the apron, then the floor by Naito. MASSIVE tope by Naito, Tozawa levels of amazing. The spike piledriver on the table that ended up being a spike piledriver to the CONCRETE. Kenny selling his head like death. Running backbreaker! Omega’s neck, Naito’s back. Crowd is HOT and behind Naito. Omega does the Finlay roll and neck sell, moonsault setup, and Naito counters with big springboard neckbreaker. He nails a PERFECT tope. Blistering fast work, counters, answers for everything. The frankensteiner counter, V-TRIGGER NEAR FALL. Powerbomb DDT counter!! Destino counter!!!! Just so much WOWWWW. A DDT INTO THE TURNBUCKLE POST WHAAAT!? WHAT!? OH MY GOD. RAPID-FIRE FRANKENSTEINER COUNTER OF POWERBOMB. Kenny’s face before the reverse frankensteiner. MR. I DON’T GIVE A FUCK BRINGS BACK THE STARDUST PRESS. V-TRIGGEEERRRSSSSS. NEAR FALLS!!!! HUUUUGE DESTINO BUMP for 2.99999!!! The ref’s look like, “Sorry folks, it’s not 3” – FUCK. DESTINO COUNTR WITH ONE-WINGED ANGEL … NO DEADLIFT GERMAN FOR 2.9999! V-TRIGGER!!!! OWA SETUP – NOO DESTINO!! Just throwing shots at each other all winded and desperate. Two V-Triggers, Omega runs for 3 and Naito hits a koppou kick, then a dragon suplex hold for almost 3. ANOTHER DESTINO cannot end it, JESUS! And a HEAD DROP DESTINO finally wraps it up.
This got right to the point and had more character stuff over the more hyped Omega/Okada matches. Everything was hit with 1000% insanity – strikes, dives, suplexes… it all got hit with the extra that these big matches call for. Also – the danger. Everything felt so dangerous in the best possible way. That crazy piledriver attempt by Naito on the table that ha both guys landing on concrete, the Naito counter of the top rope powerbomb at the last minute with a rana, the extra spicy V-Triggers, Omega’s insane bumps off each Destino. Incredible. This was awesome.
****3/4
