1. G1 Climax – Block B: Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb
This was similar to the Ishii match, in that Shingo got some of the … best … stuff out of Cobb in this tourney. They kept it tight at 12 minutes, and though it continued to tell the G1’s meta tale of Cobb not quite able to keep up with anybody’s finishing sequence, the first five minutes or so were kind of amazing: an early dropkick and suplex by Cobb were both given time to breathe, then Shingo kicked his ass before he got caught with a deadlift backdrop that made Shingo go WHOAAAA which is really the best way to take Cobb’s stuff.
Some leg work by Shingo early gave the match a possible thread, but they dropped that kind of quick before it became a match that felt like a fireworks show, but a fireworks show where though there are many spectacular blasts seen in the sky, towards the end the blasts get smaller and smaller and you’re like “uhhh is this it” and then they don’t really tack on a good enough conclusion to make up for it. It was a hot match, but I ultimately just didn’t buy Cobb going toe-to-toe with and beating Shingo. A fun slugfest but a clear-as-day Shingo miracle. ***1/2
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Toru Yano vs. Jon Moxley
I cannot believe I got to watch Jon Moxley vs. Toru Yano today. Are you kidding me!? What kind of HAPPY WRESTLING LAND is this!? This, like most Yano matches in the G1, goes around five minutes but has allll the things you want when Yano wrestles Moxley: Yano offering Mox $10,000, Yano afraid of Mox’s punches, Yano getting a “BREAK! BREAK! BREAK!” chant going for a rope break.
Yano eventually ties Mox to Shota Umino and runs back in the ring, and the visual of Mox and Umino trying to walk together shoulder-to-shoulder to beat the count is a TREASURE. And they DON’T BEAT IT! YANO GIVES MOX HIS FIRST LOSS IN NEW JAPAN!!! Yano scurries to the back while Mox gets the spotlight back on him as he’s untied, shouting, “So many knots! This is unacceptable.” I’ve never missed The Shield less.
With this one match, the entire landscape of Block B is changed, with Mox now not the only guy with a shot at the finals. Love New Japan, love MATH. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Tetsuya Naito vs. Juice Robinson
The slow Naito disrobing is now at parody levels, as Juice does it before the bell to incredible effect, while Naito stares him down like he is the saddest form of human being he has ever seen before sneak attacking him. I wish this match had more of that. It did early on – Naito doing the “JUICE!” shtick, Juice doing the Naito pose like he’s the dumbest man in the world. But then they went full tilt, as they do, and call it G1 fatigue or call it mediocre wrestling this one didn’t hit for me. Lots of sweet impressive spots, great Naito facial expressions, but also lots of unnecessary kickouts and a pretty garbage stall on a Destino counter setup. I dig these two, but it just felt excessive. **3/4
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Taichi vs. Jay White
Sometimes I think the G1 Climax B Block is purposely using its’ semi-main events as cool-down matches, and then I realize that New Japan just thinks Jay White is a really really big star. This was another match that should’ve kept it to the hijinks and not try and make it all FOR THE G1!!! or whatever. I was filled with joy when they leaned into the heel vs. heel stuff early on – a STALL-OFF, Gedo yelling “HEY DICKHEAD!” at Taichi, a trading of eye rakes… Gedo threatening to punch Miho. It was like that kind of famous Shawn Michaels vs. The Model match except not quite that. But then, of course, they had to go 15 god damn minutes and do a bunch of kicks, suplexes, and near falls. Why couldn’t we just shave 5 minutes and keep this TIGHT, guys? Goto and Ishii are about to do all that other stuff anyways, and a lot better. **3/4
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii
You know the drill with these guys, and I say that with the upmost respect. Ishii is Ishii, and Goto can be a low-key chameleon of a wrestler who just so happens to be able to perfectly match up with what Ishii is. There weren’t any surprises here and there didn’t need to be. Goto tries to break clean when he backs Ishii into the ropes on their first lock-up, which results in a slap from Ishii, as if Goto had offended him playing by the stupid fucking rules. After that, it was off to the races, a fake battle of manliness with everything feeling strangely legitimate. Every stare Ishii gives off, every time he walks through an onslaught of elbows… it all just feels CORRECT. Plus he’s selling his hurt arm the whole time. Goto’s insane sunset flip bomb thing popped me, I’m not even sure if they hit it correctly but it fit with the nuttiness that was this match. Ishii kept kicking out of Goto’s stuff at the end until he didn’t. I had fun. ****
