1. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi & Yuya Uemura vs. TJP, Volador Jr., Titan & Clark Connors
Every Liger match now feels like something to cherish. This had some cool stuff from Volador Jr. and young lion Uemura, who’s fire-up was the best part of the match, but was otherwise a pretty quick quiet opener. LOL’d @ Uemura visually kicking out before the 3 even though the bell rang – the future IWGP Heavyweight Champion is NOT laying down for TJP. **3/4
2. Rocky Romero & Robbie Eagles vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
If ELP walked all the way across the top rope with Rocky in a fireman’s carry, I’d give in and be a fan. But he didn’t. If he wrestles on purpose like he’s difficult, I’d give in and be a fan. But he doesn’t. Still not a fan. Basic match. **1/2
3. EVIL, SANADA & Shingo Takagi vs. Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. & Lance Archer
You know what, I was kind of into EVIL taking a beating as his partners’ were laid out on the floor from the usual Suzuki-gun crowd brawl that started the match. I was VERY MUCH into Suzuki vs. Shingo, including Shingo ripping his arm bandage off to make sure there was zero material blocking his his elbow bone connecting directly with Suzuki’s face. SANADA pins ZSJ with a cradle because we’ve got a Tokyo Dome or two to get to. ***
4. Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi
I know it was Match #4 on Power Struggle but Okada vs. Ibushi did not exactly set anybody on fire, whether they were staring at each other intensely or exchanging wrestling moves. So that was a little disappointing. BUT, Tanahashi sold so hard for YOSHI that they actually got a hot near fall out of it and I absolutely respect that. **3/4
JERICHO! Challenges TANAHASHI!
5. Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
OK, uh: Is Naito bad?
He still goes balls out in singles matches, but it’s balls out to the point where balls out doesn’t really mean a lot anymore. All his top-tier G1 matches were smoked by guys doing similar impressive stuff but also telling story. The reverse rana across wrestling is overused, but he’s taking it to a new level. His finishers are all dead because everyone’s kicking out of them because his singles matches all have to be balls out, no matter who they’re against.
It’s like the gimmick of not caring has completely consumed him, where he’s so bored he’s started doing sketches calling out tropes of New Japan Main Events instead of actually good matches. Is that it? Is that the angle? Because if it is I’m in, but if it’s not I’m out.
I’ve never seen a Japanese crowd give so little to false finishes at the end of a presumably exciting match. There is some metaphor in here around Taichi doing the All Japan finishers, but I’m too bored to make it. **1/2
6. Super Jr. Tag League – Final: Roppongi 3K vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado
Are the YOH and SHO dual pattern pants new? Because I like ’em! Four stars for the pant design, and four stars for this match. Kanemaru and Desperado always show up for these big matches, and here they provided the most capable beatdown of SHO that had pretty consistent crowd heat (or at least murmuring) throughout before a big exciting fire-up and hot tag. The Power Breaker from SHO to Despy looked no fun for anyone involved and the finish felt a little sudden, but otherwise this pretty much ruled throughout. ****
7. NEVER Openweight Title: KENTA [c] vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Ah, just what we wanted from KENTA: an even longer stretch of offense. Why did they go 20 minutes?? **
8. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Will Ospreay [c] vs. BUSHI
This match kind of ruled – Will attacking BUSHI before the bell, the mist exchange spot, the big near falls, all kept in a tight 15-minute package. It’d seriously be the best BUSHI match ever, if it wasn’t for… ****1/4
Joy in wrestling is more rare for me than it probably should be considering I watch it all the time, but most wrestling – even the good stuff – is more comfort than joy at this point. Watching Hiromu Takahashi’s return though… that was joy.
It went like this: Ospreay’s subtle “he’s not here”, the appearance of TIME BOMB on the screen and HUGE screaming girl Beatles pop, the long video and wait with the possibility looming that he’s back but this is just a teaser, the cut to the insane video of the cartoon cat lighting the bomb leading to a COUNTDOWN, the APPEARANCE, the tear-off of the neck brace, the smile, THE BUMP INTO THE GUARDRAIL, the crazy bumps around the ring, a BACK BRIDGE as he called for a mic (“…mic please … MIC PLEASE!!”), Ospreay holding the mic for him as he challenged him, the LICK of the championship followed by Hiromu alpha’ing Will into a reluctant hug which was an incredible thing that I’m surprised no one’s done before.
Top tier pro wrestling return, with hindsight maybe one of my favorites ever. The Revolution starts with Hiromu.
9. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Jay White [c] vs. Hirooki Goto
I liked this – occasionally when the stakes don’t feel so high, the expectations aren’t so high and the match is better for it. It was inevitable but White is more comfortable in his role and the investment is paying dividends. I can’t say he’s some dynamic performer who’s matches I look forward to, but he’s not flopping like he felt he was for a long time and the pure HEAT he got after the match was kind of amazing. This went 27 minutes but felt like half the time of the KENTA/Ishii match, with White being a shit and a fun endless rope-running sequence and Goto just teeing off on White, enhancing the Strong Style credibility of Switchblade. The run-ins at the end by KENTA and KATSUYORI SHIBATA could’ve been eye-rollers but they were chaotic enough where they actually added to the match and also: KATSUYORI SHIBATA!!! He took offense! Jay wins, Naito enters, Ibushi enters, Okada enters – we got a tourney set. Life goes on. ***3/4
A good show with a solid undercard and three strong matches that became a great show once Hiromu revealed that he’s recovered from his broken freakin’ neck.
