It’s the G1 Supercard in MADISON SQUARE GARDEN! From Bruno to Hogan, from Hart to Austin, from Cena to OKADA.
The MSG stage setup was massive and colorful, very impressive. The top New Japan guys, of course, got gigantic superstar reactions.
Judging by these three matches only, it was a heck of a show. Next week they air the ROH portion.
How bad can it be?
1. RPW British Heavyweight Title: Zack Sabre Jr. [c] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
This match just happened in the New Japan Cup and I liked it a lot, and this was more of the same – not that that’s a bad thing. They went around 15 minutes with quality but restrained rasslin, all about working into holds and countering holds until one man could not escape a hold. ZSJ kind of upped the dickishness and mannerisms for the MSG folk. Tanahashi struggling on a skin the cat and ZSJ taking advantage with an armbar was a great spot I thought. ***3/4
2. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Tetsuya Naito [c] vs. Kota Ibushi
Here’s another one that just happened, and it again was more of the same, these guys’ insane Greatest Hits in front of a crowd all about it. These two matched up is like some kind of Sabu vs. Sabu match with perfect timing and precision – it’s great, even if it is another match that hit all the notes of a great match but is beginning to run together with all the other great matches. Seeing it happen in this environment was so cool though. Also, Kota’s death stare to setup his comeback was a nice moment. Huge near falls, feel-good title win, yaaay. ****
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Jay White [c] vs. Kazuchika Okada
Oh my GOD, Kazuchika Okada is in the main event of Madison Square Garden. And it is against… Jay White. Switchblade Jay White. I noticed during White’s entrance that there was a small contingent of counter-counter-counter culture folks who actually stood up and clapped for Jay White and that just makes me sick. Regardless, this was Okada working a full-on Okada Main Event Championship Match with extra playing to the crowd and it was good shit. The Rainmaker kickout and his reaction was all-time great stuff, and they did some tremendous teases of White getting the buzzkill finish at the end, with some awesome frantic counters. White is just the most serviceable guy, but feeling serviceable in a big huge New Japan main event is kind of impressive. His time on offense wasn’t the best way to spend a night and he didn’t make for a very engaging opposition to the Okada Show, but he did look competitive and didn’t exactly detract. Now, Gedo, however – for a guy who is clearly himself this Memphophile he takes really really bad, telegraphed heel manager bumps. Anyways – great match. ****1/4
