1. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata & Gabriel Kidd vs. Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi & El Desperado
We’ve got some leg work on Hiroshi Tanahashi in Aisle 4, yes we do. Ibushi does a fun thing at the end where he dives to the floor and motions for young Kidd to go and beat Desperado, but Desperado quickly turns the tables and wins. **
2. Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & SHO vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
Another Los Ingobernables 6-man, another trailer for Shingo vs. SHO. It was OK but I’ve got nothing to say about it. **
Master Wato Debut
Well – ideally, your debut as a new character in New Japan goes well. This did not go well.
3. New Japan Cup – Semi Final: EVIL vs. SANADA
For a while, this was decent – I thought their match in the G1 last year was awesome, and the tag bros work well together even if they stubbornly have to fit in all their cute spots that don’t make sense here – the chair spot, the neckbreakers off of stuff, etc.
Then SANADA tried to do a Shiranui and fell right on top of his head.
Kind of took me out of it. SANADA ultimately seems fine, but they stubbornly went a full 20 even if I’m not sure they should have. Everything just seemed slightly off, with tables and chairs brought out to unsuccessfully up the ante. Then EVIL just won. A weird match and it’s better off we all just move on. **1/2
4. New Japan Cup – Semi Final: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiromu Takahashi
This wasn’t the greatest match I have ever seen but it was also everything I could have ever wanted out of this first time encounter, a match with a unique hook and approach that made the first big Okada vs. Hiromu match weird and special beyond the empty arena setting.
The match is seeped in subtext whether you’ve been watching forever or you’re watching for the first time – tall Okada in his big flowery robe enters and walks past the tinier but more colorful Hiromu, who looks up grinning as Okada stands on the turnbuckle before getting down and staring Hiromu in the eyes, towering above him while he does it.
Hiromu drops the pleasantries right away when he backs Okada into the ropes and breaks clean, then quickly runs at him with a clothesline that annoys Okada more than anything. Okada takes control and seems a little pissed as he works over Hiromu before Hiromu runs at him with a rough-looking clothesline and runs through a few of his signature spots. He is overcome with glee when he’s able to deliver his dropkick on the floor, then stares through the lights when Okada drops him on the guardrail.
A lot of the match is really just them throwing dropkicks. Okada hits two dropkicks, Hiromu responds with the same. Okada TAKES the sunset flip powerbomb to the floor, and Hiromu goes for the kill but Okada kicks out. Hiromu tries to stay on him, but Okada creates space with… a dropkick. As the battle becomes more heated, he’s able to get in another one too. It was like a passive aggressive wrestling match.
Hiromu keeps going. He throws a clothesline. Throws a Rainmaker. I don’t know the difference but he does. Okada hits a Rainmaker, then another, and then finishes Hiromu off with his new Cobra Clutch submission in the greatest, most defeating way. It felt like they left some things on the table, but put together a little masterpiece all the same. ****1/4
Happy Thoughts: Not much to see here besides that Okada vs. Hiromu match, which you should definitely see.
