Clips of Togi Makable vs. YOSHI-HASHI, EVIL vs. Michael Elgin, and Hangman Page vs. Bad Luck Fale are shown before the two big matches.
1. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki
I am a fan of modern day New Japan, but most of their big matches follow a formula that can get tiresome: feeling out process, guardrail spot, countout tease, and some limb work before they blow everybody’s minds with a hot finishing sequence. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Minoru Suzuki went: fuck that. This is a WRESTLING match. They cut the BS and Suzuki grabs Tanahashi’s knee 30 seconds in, and for the next 15 minutes or so they don’t leave the ring once.
There are not many places on Wrestling Earth where a crowd is chanting for a guy off of a heel hook 5 minutes into a match, and that is why we embrace the wonderful Japanese professional wrestling. Tanahashi is always fighting from behind and selling big, while Suzuki is a monster – loved the spot where he hit a PK and just deserted a pin attempt to drag Tanahashi back into the middle of the ring to try and tap him out.
The finish is brilliant in its simplicity – Tanahashi, who has been on defense for 99% of this match, manages an inverted dragon screw that looks and is sold like it legitimately breaks Suzuki’s leg. It’s enough to hit the High Fly Flow and WIN. So sudden, so beautiful. ****
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White
It’s CRISIS OKADA!!! This was wild, more than anything because it was the first glimpse at post-title Okada in a big match. It was weird seeing him without the AURA – it felt off but in a good way, like this just isn’t right but a story is being told at the same time. The match was fun, though dragged down by a need to go 25 minutes and an over-reliance on Jay White offense, which is hit or miss (usually miss).
White has got more of a spark to him and is embracing the dickishness – I liked the repeated guardrail slam spot and the choking with the vinyl ring apron. It’s still not, like, good or interesting… but it didn’t feel dire, so that’s progress.
There were fun highlights here too like Okada breaking a top rope headlock at 4 by just dropping Jay on his face, Jay taking his dojo training to heart with a gorgeous German suplex bridge, and Okada finally having enough of Jay’s shit and GRABBING HIM BY THE THROAT.
If the match finish was going to be a low blow, Jay really should’ve studied Shinsuke Nakamura, who if anything has perfected that as a finish in WWE.
Bits of greatness, bits of crap, overall good match. ***1/2
