1. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yuya Uemura & Yota Tsuji
As I reflect on this entire show, I am pretty sure this was my favorite match. There were no expectations, and I won’t even say they pleasantly surprised me. But it’s a fine little tag, TenKoji giving a match to the young lions that will forever be known as those who grew during the year of COVID. Uemura might nearly kill Kojima on a suplex, but hey – he’s getting there! **
2. Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi & Gabriel Kidd vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI & SHO
An absolute HODGE PODGE of wrestling personalities that didn’t really add up to anything more than a slightly lesser version of the usual New Japan undercard match. I’d like to put in a request for a Makabe vs. SHO singles match though, please. *1/2
3. SANADA & Shingo Takagi vs. El Desperado & DOUKI
One of my favorite things about wrestling is how Weird it can get, but Desperado and DOUKI just going back-and-forth opposite SANADA and Shingo Takagi is a little ridiculous. Desperado works Shingo’s leg to give their match a hook and I’m sure it will be great but I’m not there for it yet. *1/2
4. Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Gedo
The Yujiro push cracks me up, but this like nearly everything else didn’t really get me hyped for his singles match with Okada. Okada looming above Yujiro and staring him down is worth a star alone, but this was mostly Goto vs. Yujiro and there isn’t much to that. *3/4
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata & Master Wato vs. Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
They could’ve done this match during the New Japan Cup and it would’ve fit right in, as New Japan is boldly going forward with Tanahashi/Ibushi vs. Taichi/ZSJ and Nagata vs. Suzuki rematches as those guys’ next things. Lots of leg work on Tanahashi here, is what I’m trying to say. Suzuki grabbing Wato off the top rope in a front facelock was good stuff, and I’m into Kanemaru giving Wato his next test run. **
6. Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. EVIL, Dick Togo & Taiji Ishimori
The most interesting New Japan main event lineup in a while led to a pretty basic match, though Dick Togo sure was there just DOING HIS THING. Hiromu played games teasing a Bullet Club turn before the match, and then they just kind of settled in. Not sure what to make of Taiji Ishimori single-handedly taking care of all 3 Los Ingobernables guys in a row for EVIL either. Togo wasn’t in a lot, but him doing his headstand chinlock spot in Korakuen on Naito made all of this somehow worth it. **
Happy Thoughts: Just the undercard of a New Japan show. Main event wasn’t quite as cool as I was hoping either. At least everything went pretty short! 2/10
