There are some three-letter combinations that just make wrestling better: Heel Roman Reigns, Matches Under 30, and Baseball Stadium Atmosphere.
New Japan’s return to the Meiji Jingu Stadium made for the coolest wrestling atmosphere since COVID hit, both because they were outside in broad daylight that eventually became pitch black, but also because it was over 4,000 people in one place at one time watching wrestling.
1. Master Wato vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Based on the old school kung-fu movie premise of this feud along with the history of Kanemaru’s entire career, there was no way these two were not going to open up Summer Struggle in Jingu with the most amazingly ultra-basic pro wrestling match. They hit all the beats with a colorful superhero still figuring it out vs. the bland villain who already figured it out and now doesn’t want to even do what that was.
To his credit, Kanemaru going BIG on the ring gate legdrop was really where the show kicked off. Otherwise they rock and roll with no big surprises before Kanemaru just rolls Wato up and wins which was definitely a big surprise. **1/2
2. KOPW 2020 Title Tournament – Final: Kazuchika Okada vs. Toru Yano vs. SANADA vs. El Desperado
The KOPW Title is an experiment, but based on Round 1 and this match probably an unnecessary one. Toru Yano rolling up Kazuchika Okada in a 4-Way to win it is incredible, absolutely tremendous – but the journey there did not hit for one second. Sorry, Okada. I still like you. *1/2
3. NEVER Openweight Title: Shingo Takagi [c] vs. Minoru Suzuki
This ruled, a match between two absolute bully shitheads but darnit they are OUR bully shitheads! They also don’t run countries, they just wrestle and beat the shit out of each other. Yes – it RULED! There is so much attitude pre-bell, Suzuki amused by this young killer and Shingo ready to stamp out this old man.
They keep that vibe almost the entire 15 minutes, only losing it briefly when Shingo has to slow down and act like Suzuki isn’t just a FEW years past his physical prime (sorry folks). Despite any limitations they still beat the absolute shit out of each other and had a main event match, complete with a Suzuki dropkick to rival all the others except that one against Okada. Suzuki’s win was a total welcome surprise too – amazing. ****
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Hiromu Takahashi [c] vs. Taiji Ishimori
The BOSJ 2018 Finals was possibly the last great match Taiji Ishimori had, but here he is again in a rematch and it happens to also be great. Like last time these two just WENT, all running ropes and big bombs with zero rest periods in front of a very charmed big group of people. They kept a pace but also put over each guys’ desire to win whether they were seeing stars or not. Taiji not only winning but winning with a crossface surprised me even more than the last three matches – WHAT A SHOW!! ***3/4
5. IWGP Tag Team Title: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. [c] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi
There are not many wrestlers better at Selling the Leg than Hiroshi Tanahashi, but Taichi and Zack Sabre tapped out on finding new ways to work over that leg months ago. Thankfully for the baseball stadium they decided to drop the idea of a heat segment, any work over the good guys quickly punctuated with something cool like a plancha or standing Shooting Star Press. It felt like Ibushi and Tanahashi controlled the pace more than Suzuki-gun, Ibushi because he’s a freak and Tanahashi because he still wants to be. Extra points to Tanahashi for eating it on the High Fly Flow too. And then Taichi and Zack just won, again. ***1/2
6. IWGP Heavyweight Title & IWGP Intercontinental Title: EVIL [c] vs. Tetsuya Naito
This was the only match on the show given more time than it needed, the excitement of EVIL’s incredible King of Darkness entrance at night quickly leveled by a stretch of basic boring offense that was less heel work and more out-of-breath WWE hoss from 2005. The rest was sometimes OK and sometimes just not good.
EVIL has had plenty of quality matches but is firmly slotted as Bullet Club Bad Guy, relying on an Idea for heel heat rather than actual Work for it. Naito meanwhile is the coolest but has always had trouble filling in dead spots, so this ended up a meandering odyssey of these guys trying to find their hook against each other. There are occasional moments here that remind you these guys are capable of structuring a New Japan main event match, but then they blow a ref bump or reverse Destino and lose any sense of momentum.
This was a lot better than the boring turd that was the title switch and I’m glad Naito has the title back, but it is still a bummer to know that he is probably just good and not great. **3/4
Happy Thoughts: Six matches, two-and-a-half hours, sweet atmosphere, unexpected finishes, sensible match times, and zero filler – great show. I wish the main event delivered but still – great show. 9/10
