Act City, Hamamatsu
July 31st 2014
Approximately halfway between Tokyo and Osaka lies Hamamatsu, birthplace of the founder of Honda, they of the frequently product-recalled cars. New Japan had a great house in this very city earlier in the year for an Anniversary tour house show notable for nothing more than a singles victory for Captain New Japan. Last year's G1 also got under way in Hamamatsu, headlined by Prince Devitt cheating his way to victory against then-champion Kazuchika Okada.
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| Minoru Suzuki hits the saka otoshi on Yujiro Takakashi (credit: Yahoo!) |
A couple of rumours have been doing the rounds, possibly a work, on the health of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe. It'll be interesting to see how either bears up, especially Tanahashi given his headline match this evening against the very physically-demanding (but safe!) Tomohiro Ishii. This said, Tanahashi does get the following night off.
The remainder of the card is what I'd characterise as a mixed bag. There are three matches between stablemates, one between former tag team partners, the current champ facing another former G1 winner and a battle of big men available for our collective delectation. The tournament has been great so far and there's no reason to think this will be any different even though it is a lower price event preceding a major show.
Tiger Mask IV joins the regular team on commentary. Block B leader Tetsuya Naito and Block A whipping boy Tomoaki Honma have the night off ahead of a heavy load over the weekend.
A: Bad Luck Fale - Doc Gallows
The remainder of the card is what I'd characterise as a mixed bag. There are three matches between stablemates, one between former tag team partners, the current champ facing another former G1 winner and a battle of big men available for our collective delectation. The tournament has been great so far and there's no reason to think this will be any different even though it is a lower price event preceding a major show.
Tiger Mask IV joins the regular team on commentary. Block B leader Tetsuya Naito and Block A whipping boy Tomoaki Honma have the night off ahead of a heavy load over the weekend.
A: Bad Luck Fale - Doc Gallows
Previous beef: the pair are members of Bullet Club and have never been opponents.
The pace here was slow and it probably wasn't the wisest move to kick off with two big guy heels whose most impressive moves are power-based. Generally it lacked cohesion and all-in-all I preferred Gallows' match in Nigeria against Great Power Uti. Gallows picked up the surprise victory, though the Bullet Club boys make amends immediately afterward. *1/2
Gallows [4] d. Fale [6]
A: Davey Boy Smith Jr. - Yuji Nagata
Previous beef: though occasional opponents in multi-man bouts, the two have never met.
This match had a really simple structure to it but it was well-executed. Nagata attempts to bully using his technical prowess from the off, but Smith Jr. matches him on the mat. Going back to the drawing board, Nagata lines up one of his kicks and goes for Smith Jr., who simply looks nonplussed before unleashing a brutal kick of his own to Nagata's abdomen.
These miniatures of one man trying to gainsay the other and being cut off worked nicely stacked on top of one another and - for all their previous unfamiliarity in singles competition - the two gelled nicely. Smith Jr.'s sly judo counters work well with an opponent such as Nagata, who rouses the crowd with his Eye Roll Armbreaker. And though Smith Jr. prevents his veteran opponent from the Backdrop Hold once, he cannot elude its menace forever. **3/4
Nagata [4] d. Smith Jr. [4]
This match had a really simple structure to it but it was well-executed. Nagata attempts to bully using his technical prowess from the off, but Smith Jr. matches him on the mat. Going back to the drawing board, Nagata lines up one of his kicks and goes for Smith Jr., who simply looks nonplussed before unleashing a brutal kick of his own to Nagata's abdomen.
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| WE WANT HAND |
Nagata [4] d. Smith Jr. [4]
B: Togi Makabe - Yujiro Takahashi
Previous beef: Makabe and Takahashi feuded in early 2013. Makabe defeated Takahashi at Wrestling Dontaku 2013 in a rubber match: Takahashi inflicted a New Japan Cup first round upset, whilst Makabe won the initial encounter at New Beginning. In the G1 Climax, Takahashi spoiled Makabe's G1 dream by defeating him in the final Block match in 2011.
Another match with a fairly simple but nonetheless-effective structure. The first third sees Takahashi dominate Makabe's angered jaw, taunting the Unchained Gorilla until the act is ended by Makabe roaring back into life with a killer lariat. The second third is much the same, only with greater variation by the NEVER Champion and a more pronounced comeback by Makabe.
For somebody who roared into the G1 Climax press conference with his shirt half-undone, telling AJ Styles to 'fuck off' (in English) and a wild expression on his face suggestive of a night on the beers, Makabe plays the babyface in peril pretty darn well. Distracted by the pain in his jaw, Makabe practically invites Takahashi to end it with the Buckle Bomb and Miami Shine, sending both men to a 2-3 record. **3/4
Takahashi [4] d. Makabe [4]
Another match with a fairly simple but nonetheless-effective structure. The first third sees Takahashi dominate Makabe's angered jaw, taunting the Unchained Gorilla until the act is ended by Makabe roaring back into life with a killer lariat. The second third is much the same, only with greater variation by the NEVER Champion and a more pronounced comeback by Makabe.
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| Yujiro Takahashi (standing) v Togi Makabe: always been close |
Takahashi [4] d. Makabe [4]
A: Katsuyori Shibata - Satoshi Kojima
Previous beef: Kojima defeated Shibata in the 2013 Block stage and on a 2005 show promoted by Big Mouth Loud.
An interesting development early on as Shibata offers Kojima, about as babyface as you can get, the clean break after an early tangle. Kojima roars off the ropes and doesn't allow Shibata any room to get away, working very lightly heel against the man whose positive reactions are growing and growing.
It isn't hard to appreciate why. Shibata has modified his style in-ring to be a little more compatible with a wider range of opponent without compromising any of the bravura and craziness that makes Shibata's good matches most people's level best.
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| Katsuyori Shibata: are NJPW finally pulling the trigger? |
In a really satisfying match (that I'd have put a little higher on the bill to be honest) with a lot of great see-sawing action, Shibata scores his first victory over Kojima with the move now known as the G2PK: a Go 2 Sleep stuns Kojima onto his hind quarters as Shibata comes powering off the ropes to deliver a kick to the chest and a full stop to the match. ***3/4
Shibata [8] d. Kojima [4]
B: Hirooki Goto - Karl Anderson
Previous beef: former tag partners in Sword & Guns and winners of the 2012 G1 Tag League. Goto defeated Anderson during the 2011 Block stage as well as a singles match shortly before the tournament began. Goto also defeated Anderson in the 2009 New Japan Cup first round and on a 2008 tour event. Anderson has never returned the favour.
Anderson continues to insist an all Bullet Club final will be at the G1 Finals despite his position languishing at the foot of Block B, though wins for Takahashi and Gallows do at least offer feint hopes. Goto, who has slipped from 3-0 to 3-2, certainly wants to ensure that at least one member is excluded from the running with all finality.
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| Karl Anderson v Hirooki Goto: decided by sing-off |
Goto appears to have it won when he hits his excellent top-rope Sunset Flip Powerbomb, hooking Anderson in for the Shouten Kai, but Anderson wriggles free. Finishers are teased left and right in a sequence and finish akin to the end of Anderson-Okada: after several reversals and counters and blocks, Anderson hits a crushing Gun Stun to pick up the victory. ***1/2
Anderson [4] d. Goto [6]
B: Lance Archer - Minoru Suzuki
Previous beef: Archer and Suzuki are stablemates in Suzuki-gun and won the 2011 G1 Tag League as partners. They have never faced each other as singles competitors.
Archer gets the upper hand in this Suzuki-gun battle by destroying Suzuki with his excellent overhead choke/throw, but no one on earth short of owning a tank and a small militia can keep Minoru down for too long. He wrenches Archer's limbs this way and that, weaving his body parts in and out of the railings with the same kind glee a child would weave a ribbon in bicycle spokes.
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| Suzuki-gun logo |
Suzuki [6] d. Archer [4]
A: Shelton Benjamin - Shinsuke Nakamura
Previous beef: Nakamura successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship twice against Benjamin at the Dontaku and Destruction PPVs in 2013, with Benjamin defeating Nakamura between these two matches during the G1 Climax.
Benjamin chases the leg with which Nakamura usually dishes out his signature finisher and approximately 60% of his offence. Can I be honest here and say that I did watch this whole match and focused on it but forgot to write some notes to accompany the mark I put down? I basically recall Benjamin dominating for stretches and Nakamura sort of no-selling the leg a little bit and the match being fairly entertaining but ultimately not either man's best night.
Nakamura won with Boma Ye inside ten minutes, though Benjamin managed to kick out of one. I'll watch this again before the final and write a proper review but there's just so much to see between now and then as well as having a life to lead. ***
Nakamura [8] d. Benjamin [8]
B: AJ Styles - Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Previous beef: the pair have never been in the same ring together.
And the Styles getting over in Japan train continues as many suspected it would with yet another varied and successful performance in the G1 Climax. Gedo & Jado are now masters of this thing where everyone goes 'oh that looks like a bad decision' at the time and then 4 months later everyone says 'oh that is genius, a risk well-taken there'. Okada push, Bullet Club, Devitt as a heavyweight, this year's BOSJ and now choosing Styles to end Okada's run. Pretty much everyone had gotten used to Okada being a brilliant champ and many thought he still had a run in him. Now we're firmly embedded in the new reality and it feels good and confidently told.
Which segues me back to this fine match. Styles puts Tenzan over huge by stealing his Mongolian Chops but being unable to down his opponent. Tenzan spits on his hands and delivers one almighty chop and Styles hits the deck like he's been clubbed by Albert Belle. Commentary puts over Styles as a member and former champion of TNA in a classy show of respect considering the royal fucking over TNA did of New Japan.
The heat rises and stays up for this match which I'm sure everyone assumed would be a routine Styles win and indeed may have proved, but Tenzan continues on as an unlikely hero and inspiration for any guy who wasn't too mobile in their heyday and are a bit broken down further along the line. Tenzan prevents the Bloody Sunday, but is downed by the best Styles Clash that AJ has pulled off in Japan thus far. ***1/2
And the Styles getting over in Japan train continues as many suspected it would with yet another varied and successful performance in the G1 Climax. Gedo & Jado are now masters of this thing where everyone goes 'oh that looks like a bad decision' at the time and then 4 months later everyone says 'oh that is genius, a risk well-taken there'. Okada push, Bullet Club, Devitt as a heavyweight, this year's BOSJ and now choosing Styles to end Okada's run. Pretty much everyone had gotten used to Okada being a brilliant champ and many thought he still had a run in him. Now we're firmly embedded in the new reality and it feels good and confidently told.
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| AJ Styles: do NOT remember him this way |
The heat rises and stays up for this match which I'm sure everyone assumed would be a routine Styles win and indeed may have proved, but Tenzan continues on as an unlikely hero and inspiration for any guy who wasn't too mobile in their heyday and are a bit broken down further along the line. Tenzan prevents the Bloody Sunday, but is downed by the best Styles Clash that AJ has pulled off in Japan thus far. ***1/2
Styles [6] d. Tenzan [4]
B: Kazuchika Okada - Toru Yano
Previous beef: Okada and Yano are stablemates in CHAOS. Okada defeated Yano in the 2013 New Japan Cup semi-final. Oddly, they have rarely featured in the same match, possibly owing to the length of Yano's feud with Minoru Suzuki.
No real reference to their status as buddies with Yano opting to play heel, acting as if Okada and his hype man Gedo are the same as Karl Anderson or Hirooki Goto. It's possible that CHAOS is winding down after five great years, what with losing Takashi Iizuka and Yujiro Takahashi. Or it's just simply possible that CHAOS are such an oddball unit they don't even have to pretend to be friends.
The opening exchanges are a clever nod to the fact that Yano can actually wrestle 'properly' but effectively chooses not to, winning a technical exchange. Okada wins the next exchange and taunts Yano with the Rainmaker pose, but Yano, ever the prick to any balloon of pomposity, stares the former champ down the only way he knows how:
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| Buy 1000 copies, dammit! |
In a decent-to-good match where Yano gains the upper hand in his usual ways (exposing the turnbuckle, using the ref as a human shield), Okada kicks out of a low blow and roll-up and powers to victory with the Rainmaker lariat. The crowd stayed hot because Yano stays engaging in defeat whilst Okada retains the aura of a star with the delivery of even the simplest move. ***1/4
Okada [8] d. Yano [6]
A: Hiroshi Tanahashi - Tomohiro Ishii
Previous beef: Ishii's major announcement as a singles competitor was made by defeating Tanahashi at the Korakuen in the 2013 G1 Climax, leading to a rematch at Power Struggle won by Tanahashi. The pair also clashed in twice in 2006 and again in 2010, with Tanahashi taking the win in every instance.
There's no two ways about it: the Tanahashi and Ishii G1 encounter last year was, for me, one of the best wrestling matches I've seen and pulled me right into the NJPW fray. It had everything that I like in a wrestling match. I won't list those things but I urge you to seek it out and consider what it is about the match that makes it what it is and use that as the filter for all of my reviews.
With Tanahashi reportedly suffering injury at the last show and taking two defeats, a match against the always-physical Ishii is probably make-or-break for the Ace. In turn, the Stone Pitbull also lies at two defeats with matches against Nakamura and Shibata yet to come. A loss here surely makes his G1 charge as good as over.
The two throw the full kitchen sink at this one, referencing battles gone and introducing new moves to the party: Ishii sinks Tanahashi into an excellent-looking Sharpshooter, presumably kayfabe taught to him by his mentor Riki Choshu. Tanahashi sets up his High Fly Flow win with a move not used since his days in the midcard that I think is called the Twelve Six. Ishii also failed to hit the Ishii Driller, which was teased and evaded. I like these little King's Road touches to repeat matches, provided they don't become cumbersome and overly self-referential.
One gripe wouldn't be aimed at either man BUT: NJPW's hard camera was set a little lower than usual so much of the action was caught through ringside cameras that didn't display everything in the ring at its best. The match we did get was tremendous with terrific heat and action with Ishii getting to look GREAT in defeat and Tanahashi just continuing to cement his reputation as possibly the finest main eventer of this generation. You can't really argue with that.
It wasn't as good as last year, partly because of the presentation, but mostly because the result of last year's match was so cathartic. In taking that win, Ishii ensured his defeats down the line meant something to the victors, his own stock raised exponentially. Tanahashi celebrates for 10 minutes in-ring after the match as if he'd won the entire tournament. ****1/4
Tanahashi [8] d. Ishii [6]
A pretty good show after a slow opener. Tanahashi and Okada, both off tomorrow, have had identical results every day. INTRIGUE? Or TEASE? Stay tuned folks!
There's no two ways about it: the Tanahashi and Ishii G1 encounter last year was, for me, one of the best wrestling matches I've seen and pulled me right into the NJPW fray. It had everything that I like in a wrestling match. I won't list those things but I urge you to seek it out and consider what it is about the match that makes it what it is and use that as the filter for all of my reviews.
With Tanahashi reportedly suffering injury at the last show and taking two defeats, a match against the always-physical Ishii is probably make-or-break for the Ace. In turn, the Stone Pitbull also lies at two defeats with matches against Nakamura and Shibata yet to come. A loss here surely makes his G1 charge as good as over.
The two throw the full kitchen sink at this one, referencing battles gone and introducing new moves to the party: Ishii sinks Tanahashi into an excellent-looking Sharpshooter, presumably kayfabe taught to him by his mentor Riki Choshu. Tanahashi sets up his High Fly Flow win with a move not used since his days in the midcard that I think is called the Twelve Six. Ishii also failed to hit the Ishii Driller, which was teased and evaded. I like these little King's Road touches to repeat matches, provided they don't become cumbersome and overly self-referential.
One gripe wouldn't be aimed at either man BUT: NJPW's hard camera was set a little lower than usual so much of the action was caught through ringside cameras that didn't display everything in the ring at its best. The match we did get was tremendous with terrific heat and action with Ishii getting to look GREAT in defeat and Tanahashi just continuing to cement his reputation as possibly the finest main eventer of this generation. You can't really argue with that.
It wasn't as good as last year, partly because of the presentation, but mostly because the result of last year's match was so cathartic. In taking that win, Ishii ensured his defeats down the line meant something to the victors, his own stock raised exponentially. Tanahashi celebrates for 10 minutes in-ring after the match as if he'd won the entire tournament. ****1/4
Tanahashi [8] d. Ishii [6]
A pretty good show after a slow opener. Tanahashi and Okada, both off tomorrow, have had identical results every day. INTRIGUE? Or TEASE? Stay tuned folks!
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