1. 3-Way Match – IWGP Tag Team Title: War Machine [c] vs. Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. K.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)
I saw this match two weeks ago and could not believe my eyes that New Japan Pro Wrestling would have the audacity to air a rematch. I went TO THE INTERNET~! to see what the deal was, and they seriously ran this god damn match three shows in a month and then a fourth one a month later. It’s straight-up unconscionable. As Joe Biden would say, this was just a bunch of STUFF. They kept it moving, some moves connect, some are awkward, nothing really stands out. Best part was Archer cutting off Hanson’s corner splash spot with a pounce. Oh and Archer has a sweet chokeslam. OK, moving on. **
2. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi [c] vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Zack Sabre Jr. walking to the ring in a glossy black leather jacket flanked by TAKA Michinoku is a great visual. Tanahashi’s haircut meanwhile is a bonafide travesty. Anyways, this is a really good match, maybe a hair under their G1 match but still quality grappling. These two have a great dynamic, with mean lanky Zack Sabre just wearing down the injured, aging ace Tanahashi with holds. It’s slow and deliberate, and I am glad New Japan can offer a big stage where something like this can be appreciated and get over. It also offers something different, which is sometimes desperately needed in New Japan main events. I’ll take big strikes and suplexes and near falls when they happen, but when a Zack Sabre or Minoru Suzuki is grinding down pretty boys it is wonderful.
The first 10 minutes or so of this are all straight-up holds – Zack keeps tying up Tanahashi’s arm while Tanahashi struggles to conquer the puzzle. Tana manages a shoulderblock and does the guitar strum because he’s SO PROUD, only for Zack to take him down in a cross armbreaker. Tanahashi meanwhile does prove he can go with Zack on holds at points, and any time this happens the mean lad is FURIOUS. Tanahashi goes after Zack’s leg a bit which totally works considering Zack has the longest legs in professional wrestling, and sells them by just sitting down and looking frustrated. All the hold-trading pays off big time towards the end as both guys end up feeling completely exhausted. There’s an ugly spot where a tired Tanahashi tries to drape Zack over the ropes but collapses and they both kind of fall, but then the crowd starts chanting for Tanahashi cause it shows how exhausted he is so I accept everything. The only real stinker here is the Minoru Suzuki interference, which felt especially pointless as it didn’t add any extra drama – Zack wrecking Tanahashi’s arm was enough. There’s a nice spot where Zack puts his knees up on a High Fly Flow and transitions into an arm submission, but holds his leg in pain. Tanahashi eventually puts him away with a few swinging neckbreakers and a High Fly Flow. I’m not going to say go out of your way to see this but it’s really good stuff. ***3/4
Kota Ibushi confronts Tanahashi post-match and that’s your next IWGP IC Title match – yeah baby.
