I hear a voice say, “Don’t be so blind”…
It’s telling me all these things…
That you would probably hide
Am I… your one and only desire?
Am I the reason you breathe?
Or am I the reason you cry?
Always
Always
Always…
1. Yuya Uemura vs. Gabriel Kidd
Gabriel Kidd decided to drop the pleasantries this evening and throw some elbows to the face, though he eventually submitted to an elevated crab hold. Maybe he should’ve been more pleasant. Just a thought! **
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Alright, Yujiro actually taking “control” of Shingo with a reverse DDT on the apron and working over him for a little while was just offensive. Read the room. A frustratingly competitive match that eventually came around because Shingo will Shingo. **
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Jay White vs. Jeff Cobb
Hey, it’s Jeff. He’s wrestling Jay. They had a match together. It was alright. Cool. **
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
What a weird and frustrating match that I kind of liked. Suzuki basically squashed Okada, who is either struggling through an injury in this G1 or a carny genius on the level of Brian Pillman. Maybe they’re telling a story, or maybe this is just the reality of an Okada who needs to take it easy opposite a Suzuki that is completely fine with that.
There are also plenty of great little moments here because on occasion these two are incredible, like when Okada sold both a cross armbreaker and sleeper so well that I bought the match just ending. After nearly 15 minutes of not being able to get anything going, Okada finally just catches Suzuki with a cradle and wins. Exhausted Okada and Suzuki huffing and puffing all over ringside afterwards really puts this over the top. ***1/2
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi
I will just begin by saying this match has the greatest Taichi pants rip-off spot ever, where Ishii responds as if he is no-selling a clothesline and stands up with a face of I’LL KILL YOU. So it already has a lot going on. Besides that though, Taichi just brings a different kind of energy to the G1 match – simultaneous vibes of “oh that PRICK” and “HOW is he so good?!” Opposite the G1 Climax MVP in no mood to deal with his shit, that energy ruled even more.
The finish was a trip, a counter-filled slugfest highlighted by Taichi’s OH SHIT face when Ishii no-sells the nastiest kick to the head then takes him down with an elbow. Ishii seems pissed he even has to put any more effort into ending the match, though he eventually gets there. A different, rewarding, and occasionally epic G1 match. ****1/4
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay
Okada/Suzuki and Ishii/Taichi were both different takes on the G1 formula while this was kind of more of the same, so while the moves were well-timed and had great snap it didn’t really draw me in. Ibushi has been more disappointing than Okada during this tournament and though these two have had great matches in the past, this felt more than ever like them proving they could go versus… just going. ***
Happy Thoughts: Ishii vs. Taichi is worth checking out, but just a mid-range show overall. 5/10
