NJPW on AXS (5/11/18) – Sakura Genesis 2018 Part 1 (4/1/18)
1. Tetsuya Naito, EVIL & SANADA vs. Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (JIP)
This was a heck of a match. Suzuki vs. Naito was total wrestling magic, just perfect character chemistry, and each guy just constantly going after each other throughout the match was great stuff. Everybody else brought it too – crazy brawling, big moves, crowd popping for everything, Davey Boy’s deadlift northern lights suplex, SANADA’s hops. Give me Suzuki vs. Naito NOWWWWW. Extra points for Naito’s entrance gear too. ***1/2
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Will Ospreay [c] vs. Marty Scurll
Is it possible to respect the talent it takes to pull this match off but also not really like it at all? I sat here for the duration of this match thinking it was good and impressive but the fact that I never really felt anything outside of a strong aversion to Bill Ospreay’s over-selling/screaming made me think it wasn’t all that. They brought the smooth-ass 2018 chain wrestling, big dives, moves that take incredible timing and precision to deliver. And the crowd sure dug it. But did they REALLY dig it? Were hey moved? Was I moved? Was the intensity there? The emotion? Was there ever a point where I fully bought in? I don’t think so. Bill completely fucking himself up on that Spanish Fly to the floor was something though, huh? All in all, it felt kinda like watching a Transformers movie. Like – the work put into this, the manpower, the evolutionary advancements that led to this being in front of me on a screen – incredible. Amazing. At the end of the day though – eh, I don’t want to watch it again. ***
NJPW on AXS (5/11/18) – Sakura Genesis 2018 Part 2 (4/1/18)
1. 3-Way Match – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado [c] vs. Roppongi 3K vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
This is a match that delivered as advertised. There’s a lot of stuff detracting here on paper – another 3-Way Tag Match, Kanemaru and El Desperado being the most mediocre of IWGP Jr. Tag Champs, Hiromu continuing to be an afterthought – but it’s not like the talent isn’t here and everybody, Hiromu and SHO especially, brought the crazy. Hiromu is such a magic wrestling man, so fast so strong so charismatic. The Era of Kanemaru & Desperado inexplicably continues. ***1/4
2. Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. Cody & Hangman Page
I love how the story of Cody in New Japan is that he immediately went after the IWGP Title and failed, so now he’s just like: I’m gonna stay and fuck Kenny Omega’s life up.
These boys brought the basics and the character work and I dug the heck out of it. Golden Lovers are like the new age Rock & Roll Express – crowd is all about them, ultimate babyfaces, and man can Kota sell a beating. Cody sporting a crimson mask added to the fun. The double triangle moonsault and setup/delivery of the springboard dropkick Doomsday Device were tremendous. Legitimately shocking finish with the Cody win too. Nice. ***1/2
NJPW ON AXS (5/11/18) – Sakura Genesis 2018 Part 3 (4/1/18)
1. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Sometimes you’ve got to do a springboard dropkick or a powerbomb or a Spanish Fly off the apron, sometimes you’ve just got to fight out of a wristlock to prove that you are the superior greco-roman professional wrestler. This was a match where ZSJ was all, “I’m the best wrestler in the world” and Okada was all, “I CAN SUBMISSION TOO BRO.” And it was another great Okada title defense.
The ability of Okada to match up against whatever his opponent brings to the table while at the same time delivering an awesome main event style match is something special. ZSJ is just a blast to watch and he pulled out all his tricks here. Him just bending Okada’s leg to death and Okada trying to mount a comeback with a dropkick only to get caught in another leg submission was so awesome.
Okada’s exasperation in the middle of these matches is always great too – “How can I beat this man?” he asks to himself, emoting only with his eyes. Insane limb manipulation, sweet counters, incredible cradle near falls, and a dramatic-ass finish with ZSJ screaming and Okada just blasting him with Rainmakers. Another Epic Okada Defense. ****1/4
