1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Taiji Ishimori [c] vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
Ryusuke Taguchi’s green overalls get-up was just ridiculous, but it also set a tone. A tone that I adored, in a match that I adored. This wasn’t cute bullshit building to some quasi-intense crescendo, these guys were telling a STORY. Old junior ace and now undercard comedy guy Taguchi proved he could still go with Ishimori early, who did a DANCE in lieu of a dive to show he isn’t taking him all that seriously. Taguchi then attempted to nail a hip (ass) attack only for Ishimori to avoid them all and Taguchi get progressively more frustrated, which was honestly the most I have felt connected to the New Japan juniors division since Hiromu. They continued riding that story into an excellent finish. The fight for and kickout of Taguchi’s Dodon was tremendous, and Ishimori’s eventual win felt earned. Ishimori’s best match… since Hiromu. ****
2. Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale
Welcome to classic Kazuchika Okada having himself a main event wrestling match where he plays the underdog. I wish it wasn’t with the limited Fale and his band of black shirts, but Okada is still the greatest at this when he gets some time to play. The selling as he took heat, the fire on the comeback, the subtle kickout on the Grenade, the ability to take this kind of blank slate of a big guy into epic match territory… Okada is still the dude. ***3/4
