Two stops in Osaka, two in Ota Ward — G1 Climax 31 hit Kobe World Memorial Hall for Night 5 followed by a two-night stop at Korakuen Hall. These thoughts cover one of those two nights because that’s just how timing works sometimes.
I gotta testify…
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 5 (9/26/21)
1. Master Wato vs. Kosei Fujita
Master Wato isn’t really a master at anything, is he? The audacity! Young Fujita showed some heart here kicking his way into a crab hold, but ultimately fell to one from Wato himself. Unremarkable!
2. Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
Shingo Takagi didn’t go as hard with Nagata as he probably would have with Tetsuya Naito, but here’s a sound and credible wrestling match. Yuji took a cue from Zack Sabre Jr. and honed in on Shingo’s (big strong) arm to stay competitive, and as Shingo rallied back with what is now familiar offense, the old man just kept bringing it — until he didn’t. There was a super exploder in there too. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Great-O-Khan vs. Yujiro Takahashi
O-Khan has had a rough start to his first G1 Climax, up against a who’s who of not good matches. Here he pays more dues by going 15 minutes with Yujiro and controlling maybe 20%. The man threw in some quirks like a Karelin lift and high-pitched scream but otherwise just played along with a competitive and boring Yujiro match. Not an impressive outing for either guy. **
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Tanga Loa
“I want the two points! You already got points!” screams Tanga Loa, exasperated at the state of whatever this was supposed to be. Yano brought out all the deceitful trickery disguised as harmless comedy — bag of handcuffs, t-shirt over head, turnbuckle pad — then life moved on. *
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. KENTA
KENTA lights up Ishii’s arm with kicks, Ishii messes up KENTA’s soul with chops. This was a good physical match worked in slow motion, less because of a veteran’s timing and more because of physical reality. They’re a pair of pros who peaked at different times and here they sell enough to make the match kind of work even if it’s just kind of. ***
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Ibushi and ZSJ just get each other. What Ibushi lacks in “complexity” or “logic” he makes up for in doing crazy awesome stuff, while ZSJ keeps the match grounded in a credibility by always messing up Ibushi’s arm. They work in so many cool exchanges while spanning a bunch of wrestling genres — sometimes it’s a Super Crazy/Tajiri, sometimes a Satoru Sayama/Jim Breaks.
The highlight was a spot where Ibushi managed to hit a powerslam then leapt to the middle rope for a follow-up, only to quickly get rocked with a dropkick to the leg from ZSJ. Another quality entry to the ZSJ/Ibushi series, though the world still waits for their runaway classic. Maybe they don’t need one. Just endless very good wrestling matches. Forever. ***1/2
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 5 (9/29/21)
1. G1 Climax – Block B: Taichi vs. EVIL
EVIL and Dick Togo kicked off an evening at Korkauen Hall by beating up Taichi and even threatening his girl. It was all kind of eye-roll inducing, though when Taichi and EVIL actually wrestled they brought a little heat. Taichi slaps his leg with the best of them and one of his lariats left EVIL practically dumbfounded, but ultimately he was done in by a simple Texas Cloverleaf. ***
2. G1 Climax – Block B: SANADA vs. Chase Owens
Pandemic environment aside, watching Chase Owens in the G1 feels like when Adam Page was in the G1 — cool for his development, but a drag to watch. If he finds his “deal” it’ll probably be elsewhere, so until then I’m watching a pretty average Japanese-style wrestling match. **1/2
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb
Goto has maintained such a credibility that I found myself practically jarred by Jeff Cobb just tossing him around like nothing. Mostly though I had fun. Goto throws a mean wheel kick and clothesline in the corner, then falls to a Tour of the Islands. ***
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tama Tonga
Tana plays along with Tama, then Tama takes his shirt off and beats up Tana. That was the match until Tana hit a high crossbody on Tama, missed a High Fly Flow on Tama, and got hit with the Stun Gun by Tama. Tana kicked out at two-and-a-half then rolled Tama up anyways. ***
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
Okada and YOSH in the main event of Korakuen Hall for 26 minutes is a really cool thing that happened, though it never really popped off past Very Good, even with YOSHI trying his heart out. He knocks Okada down, trips him to the floor, lights him up with chops. Also gets DDT’d on his head on the floor. He gets some near falls off the double knees, the Butterfly Lock, and a very cool cradle counter of the Rainmaker. Also bugs out his eyeballs for the Money Clip. It’s a fun match for the already converted, and really just that. ***1/2
Happy Thoughts: Each night peaked with its’ main event, which would be fine if the rest of each night didn’t feel so average. The wrestling is mostly fine, but there’s a reputation to keep. 2.5 / 5.0
