Now when the sun come up
I’ll be there to say what up in the morning
brush my teeth find that clip I been lookin’ for since last night
I feel so caught up, in a bud
I floats around in my bedroom
turn around see myself in the mirror I guess I’m cool
And those happy thoughts in my head
I’m feeling like I’m Peter Pan
minus the tights and the fairy’s
Happy to see how far I’ve come to the same place
It began my dreams imaginations
Perfectly at peace so I move along a bit higher
I’ll be up up and away, up up and away
Cause they gon’ judge me anyway, so whatever
I’ll be up up and away, up up and away
Cause in the end they’ll judge me any, so whatever
1. Yuya Uemura vs. Gabriel Kidd
Yuya Uemura thinks focusing on Kidd’s arm might be the ticket, and when he uses Kidd’s damaged arm to force him into a Kannuki Suplex Hold for the win… well, by god, he is proven correct. **
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Jeff Cobb vs. Will Ospreay
These two against each other lays bare everything unlikable about them, an impressive bunch of dubious pro wrestling moves. I don’t know how, but it feels less real than all the other not real matches. Why would Will Ospreay do a Spanish Fly to Jeff Cobb? Why would Will Ospreay counter a powerslam into a Code Red (especially when they didn’t hit it!)? There are signature spots and then there’s just being silly. *1/2
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Speaking of not feeling real: Kota Ibushi escapes a war with Minoru Suzuki by the skin of his teeth two nights ago, and now he’s here going back-and-forth with the Tokyo Pimp. Heck of a Kamigoye sell. **
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi
Taichi wins this match, and that it DOES feel real shows how incredible these two are at the professional wrestling. It took a little to find its way but once it did they took it back to the Budokan. Shingo doing the Taichi Clutch was incredible, as was Taichi responding with his own Last of the Dragon. ***3/4
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Minoru Suzuki vs. Jay White
There was so much greatness here around Minoru Suzuki reacting to the absurdity that is Bullet Club Jay White, New Japan Main Eventer. Jay smacks him in the chest, Suzuki scowls. Jay brings in a chair, Suzuki laughs. Jay throws crappy kicks to the back, Suzuki looks up like HUH DUDE!? Suzuki’s approach to countering the Blade Runner – first a cross armbreaker, then just pulling Jay’s long stringy hair – was phenomenal, until Jay just won with the Blade Runner. Alas. Fun wrestling. ***1/2
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Working matches around Okada stubbornly trying to win with the Money Clip – and he does here – can have its consequences, and usually it’s just a forgettable match. Ishii brought the headbutts and they filmed Okada’s Rainmaker tease like a nature documentary, but despite the framework of a quality wrestling match this felt like just another entry in the series versus anything special like… well, either guys’ Shingo match. ***1/2
Happy Thoughts: It’s the home stretch and this was kind of a night off for everybody, though Shingo/Taichi ruled and the last two matches had their charms. 6/10
