Live Thoughts as New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 Special in San Francisco unfolds...
Bullet Club is Fine, according to Cody Rhodes.
Jim Ross and Josh Barnett welcome us to the show. Then, we get an opening video discussing the year anniversary of the first G1 Special in Long Beach. They run down the matches: Goto vs. Cobb for the NEVER Openweight Championship, The Young Bucks vs. EVIL and SANADA for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, Hiromu Takahashi vs. Dragon Lee for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship, Jay White vs. Juice Robinson for the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship, and Kenny Omega vs. Cody for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
1) CHAOS (Sho, Yo, Rocky Romero, Gedo, and YOSHI-HASHI) vs. BULLET CLUB (Guerrillas of Destiny, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, and KING HAKU!!!!)
- HAKU is wrestling, folks. It's already getting a good grade from me. He can botch ten moves in a row, and I will give this guy a good grade. I like my nose attached to my head.
- The arena is pretty dark in the audience, but it sounds like we have a good size crowd there.
- HAKU and YOSHI-HASHI start the match. Fun spot early in the match where the Guerrillas and Haku do a triple headbutt to YOSHI-HASHI.
- Fun spot where Loa was receiving the Romero running clotheslines. Loa smashes Romero against the opposite turnbuckle and Tonga runs in and hits an EXCELLENT Stinger Splash. Haku runs in and hits a jumping piledriver on Romero. That gets a 2 as the Guerrillas interrupt the count, arguing with the ref for not counting faster.
- Good match to start the show thus far. Basic way to get the crowd invested and warm in the show. Tonga gets the tag for the B.C. as does Gedo at one point. Mass chaos starts coming with wrestlers hitting moves on each other at rapid pace. Rocky dives on Loa on the outside. TONGAN DEATH GRIP by Haku on Gedo into a STUN GUN (RKO) by Tonga!!! 1-2-3!!
Winners: BULLET CLUB
Match Grade: B. It would have been a C, but I like my nose on my face. Plus seeing Haku wrestle again (especially with his sons) was awesome to see.
2) Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.
- The new remix of Suzuki's theme plays (like it did at Strong Style Evolved UK Night 1 at least).
- No AXS, Suzuki is not Zack Sabre Jr.
- The American ring announcer for NJPW is terrible. Just saying.
- KAZE NI NARE!!!!
- When you hear those pitbull barks for Ishii's music, you just know it's on.
- I hope Yano gets his arm twisted into a pretzel by Sabre. Lol.
- YES! We're getting Ishii and Suzuki to start us off. Woohoo!!!! Strong Style baby!!!
- And they're trading shots already!!!
- Suzuki tags out, sells a arm injury, and then immediately goes after Ishii on the outside.
- Yano and Sabre are going at it. And after a couple minutes, Suzuki and Ishii are going back at it AGAIN on the outside!!!! I love it!
-Suzuki and Sabre hook in several double submission holds on Yano while the referee is checking on Ishii.
- Yano tags Ishii in, and we're back to Suzuki vs. Ishii again this time in the ring!
- And they're trading forearms again!!!!! (Note to self: Watch their match at Strong Style Evolved UK already!!!)
- Ishii and Suzuki are going back at it on the outside once Sabre and Yano are tagged back in.
- Sabre blocks the low blow, but ISHII runs in to clothesline Sabre over. Yano rolls him up for the 3.
Winners: Yano and Ishii
Match Grade: B. I love these Ishii and Suzuki matches. They are so entertaining in their strong style action.
After the match, Suzuki tries to attack Ishii with a chair. Two Young Boys interfere and drag Suzuki to the ramp. Suzuki responds by nailing THEM with the chair.
3) Hiroshi Tanahashi and KUSHIDA vs. Marty Scurll and Hangman Page
- Interesting. Scurll is coming out to his old ROH music. He debuted new music at the latest ROH PPV.
- But here comes Tanahashi.... GO ACE! And KUSHIDA. Taguchi is coming out with both of them.
- Jim Ross just mentioned that Tanahashi will face Suzuki in the first round of their block of the G1. That's going to be amazing.
- Great counter wrestling between Scurll and KUSHDA to start off the match. They tag in Page and Tanahashi respectively.
- A little weird to see Page play the heel since he's a face in ROH, but when you are facing Tanahashi, you are going to be the heel 9 times out of 10.
- Nice spot where Scurll and Page both jump on the apron. Scurll kicks KUSHIDA in the face while Page nails a shooting star press to a standing KUSHIDA.
- Very good, fun match so far. The Ace is back in the match now.
- Scurll tries to lock in the Chicken Wing, but Tanahashi gets out of it and tags back KUSHIDA.
- Double Submissions on Page and Scurll. They get out. Page gets tagged in, NAILS the reverse Tombstone Piledriver (Last Rites, I think), and gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: Page and Scurll
Match Grade: C. Still a good match, but it was on the same level as the opener to me. (Again, consider the opener in reality a C even though I half jokingly made it a B out of fear of Haku. Lol.)
4) NEVER Openweight Championship
Jeff Cobb vs. Hirooki Goto (c)
- Cobb with a home-area advantage it seems here as far as crowd participation goes.
- Cobb executes a belly to belly suplex early on to Goto. Impressive since Goto isn't exactly a Jr. Heavyweight. Goto gets Cobb over the top rope to the outside and nails a flying dive onto Cobb on the outside.
- Goto with a couple submission attempts including a headlock, a head scissor, and a chinlock. Cobb gets Goto off him and nails a dropkick.
- Running forearm shot by Cobb followed by a spinning backdrop suplex for a 2. Cobb then nails a running Olympic Slam and misses a standing moonsault. Again, this guy is about a Bam Bam Bigelow size doing this stuff.
- Goto responds with a backdrop suplex of his own. Cobb nails an OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE (ala Dr. Death Steve Williams, running powerslam after hitting the turnbuckles) for a close 2.
- Cobb nails a HUGE clothesline followed by the standing moonsault for the closest of 2 counts.
- Goto locks in the sleeper, but Cobb gets him off by dropping to his knees and propelling Goto off.
- Goto nails a Yuji Garoshi (correct me if I'm wrong, standing drop neckbreaker over the knee) for a 2.
- Goto nails a GTR to get the 3.
Winner: Hirooki Goto
Match Grade: C+. Good match that didn't seem to hit a higher gear. Goto has had better matches lately. And I liked what I saw from Cobb. Hopefully, NJPW will do more with him going forward.
5) IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
The Young Bucks (c) vs. EVIL and SANADA
- Evil is without his scythe, which didn't make it through customs (jokes Josh Barnett).
- Fast paced, good back and forth to start the match. All 4 have gotten involved in the match, even with it being legally Sanada and Nick Jackson. Sanada gets his Paradise Lock spot in and tags Evil in.
- SANADA drags Matt Jackson off the apron before Nick can get the tag. But seconds later, Nick gets the tag in. Matt Jackson rarely gets the hot tag in their matches. So, this is definitely different than most Buck matches.
- Matt does a backflip stunner to the outside onto SANADA.
- Really involved sequence here with both teams executing dives. Evil went to dive but ran into the Bucks' superkicks. They turned around to get a springboard dropkick from Sanada from the top rope.
- Sanada takes a NASTY looking DDT on the apron. And by nasty, I mean he didn't fall correctly and it didn't look right.
- Nick nails a crazy springboard twisting plancha onto EVIL on the outside. Matt has the Sharpshooter on Sanada for a very long time, but Sanada gets the ropes.
- More Bang for Your Buck misses, and Sanada makes the tag.
- Evil is in, and he's overpowering the Bucks. He nails Darkness Falls on Matt for a close 2.
- Evil and Sanada nail the Magic Killer on Matt Jackson. Cover... and NICK breaks it up.
- Double Superkick by the Jacksons miss and NAIL the referee!!!!
- Chair is in the ring. EVIL tosses the chair back and forth with Nick Jackson and eventually eats a double superkick with the chair in his face.
- EVIL and SANADA nail a Meltzer Driver on MATT JACKSON on the chair! 1-2... NICK breaks it up!!!
- THIS IS AWESOME chants.
- 2nd Magic Killer from Evil and Sanada. 1-2, MATT KICKS OUT AGAIN!!!!!
- Seconds later, The Jacksons counter Evil and Sanada with superkicks.
- MELTZER DRIVER on EVIL. 1-2 and 3!!!!
Winners: The Young Bucks
Match Grade: B+. Very entertaining match by both teams. Both teams looked great. They were moving at such a pace at one point that I couldn't keep up writing the moves. Definitely a recommended match for anyone and everyone to check out.
NJPW in the U.S. Announcements
September 30- Fighting Spirit Unleashed in Long Beach
November 10th and 11th- Lion's Break (Lion's Gate)
15 Minute Intermission Starts Now
We're back!!!!
6) Tetsuya Naito and Bushi vs. Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay
- I'm loving Kenny Omega as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, but I still think Naito should have gotten the belt back at Wrestle Kingdom 12.
- OKADA has the new remix theme music (which I heard also at Strong Style Evolved UK Night 1) as well.
- Okada is motioning to the LIJ corner that he wants Naito to start the match.
- Tranquilo. Naito just had his fake dive into a rest pose compared to The People's Elbow as always getting a loud pop. That couldn't be a higher compliment.
- Ospreay is too good not to be featured on every NJPW major card. Being in there with Okada and Naito is being featured in my opinion.
- Basic opening to the tag match so far. Ospreay gets Naito's corner leg-trip into a jumping dropkick. Naito then spits in Okada's direction.
- Okada is back in and working with Naito. He nails a flapjack on Bushi into Naito in a fun spot.
- Cool sequence of reversals by Naito and Okada. Both men make the tag to their partners.
- BUSHIROONI!
- Ending came when Ospreay hits the Stormbreaker. 1-2-3.
Winner: Ospreay and Okada
Match Grade: C. They never got into a second gear in this match, but I don't think they were meant to be doing more than that. The crowd got to see all four men basically do a greatest hits of what they can do, and that's more than enough.
7) IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
Dragon Lee vs. Hiromu Takahashi (c)
(Oh this promises to be excellent. This may be one of those matches where I can't keep up with the action. My apologies in advance.)
- The title (Mr. Belto), the broken trophy, and DARYL Jr (!!!!) are with Hiromu as he struts to the ring!!!!
- He brings the trophy and Daryl Jr. to the announce position. And as soon as he gets to the apron, Hiromu eats a hurricanrana to the floor by Dragon Lee. Seconds later, Lee DIVES from the ring again into Hiromu. Then, Dragon Lee does Naito's turnbuckle dropkick, does the eye pose, and does the tranquilo pose. We're off to the races, folks.
- Hiromu DIVES onto Lee on the outside later in a "Holy crap" moment.
- Both men on the turnbuckle, trading punches, and headbutts. Hiromu is knocked to a vertical position off the turnbuckle and Dragon Lee nails a double stomp onto Hiromu, sending both crashing to the floor outside the ring!!!!
- Hiromu powerbombs Dragon Lee on the floor. Both get back in at 19 before the countout. (NJPW does 20-second countouts, for those of you wondering.)
- Both men are trading German Suplex after German Suplex after German Suplex. They start mixing in other moves, and they're both down! This is insane!!!!
- They are on their knees, trading chops. They're now standing, trading chops. Louder and louder, harder and harder, faster and faster and faster and faster!!!! They slow down, blocking knee strikes until Lee hits one. Lee runs towards Hiromu who flips him over to the turnbuckles. Ouch!
- Spanish Fly by Dragon Lee gets a 2.
- The D locked in by Hiromu (Triangle choke). Dragon Lee powerbombs Hiromu in that position, but Hiromu refuses to let go. Lee gets back up with Hiromu still on him and suplexes him over him, sending Hiromu head first into the mat.
- Lee nails a powerbomb out of a suplex, but he only gets a 2.
- Lee goes for a powerbomb, but Hiromu reverses it into a Canadian Destroyer! He only gets a 2.
- Hiromu nails the Time Bomb and gets the 3! WHAT A MATCH!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi
Match Grade: A-. Match of the night thus far. I've seen these two wrestle before. And they have great chemistry together. This is no different and may be my favorite match between the two. Definitely recommended viewing.
8) IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship
Juice Robinson vs. Switchblade Jay White (c)
- I'm rooting for Juice. What a story of a guy who was nothing in NXT, left to work in Japan, worked his way up as a Young Boy, and now is a legitimate star for the promotion. This could be big for his career if he gets the title.
- Special Rule: Juice cannot use his cast, or he will be DQed. I smell a Dusty finish.
- Both men trade punches to start the match. Robinson dives at White to send them both over the top and then executes a somersault onto White from the apron to the floor.
- Juice sends White THROUGH a barricade into the fans.
- White later dumps Juice with a back-suplex over the top rope to the floor.
- White throws Juice THROUGH a barricade into the fans right by J.R. and Josh.
- J.R. : What's the count now? 80?
- White does it again to Juice this time through the barricade he went through earlier! Wow!
- White goes to work in the ring on Juice's cast, pulling the fingers and stomping the hand itself. Hammerlock bodyslam with Juice landing on his injured hand. The crowd giving profane chants towards Switchblade. (In other words, Jay White is doing a great job tonight.)
- Jay White locks in a float over STF on Juice, who gets to the bottom rope.
- Jay White nailing Juice mockingly with jabs similar to what Juice usually does.
- White nails a flatliner and a German suplex later for a 2.
- White again works on the fingers and locks in a submission to further torture the injured hand of Juice.
- White nails a suplex into the barricade on Juice that knocks the announce table and J.R. over. White mocks J.R. and Barnett says "You done ____________ up now." He gives chase to White in the ring while staff around J.R. pull him up. They get Barnett back to the announce table. J.R. says "Of course I'm not doing well. This__________ is ridiculous." J.R. is reading the NJPW staff the riot act about not doing their jobs and stopping the carnage outside the ring.
- White injures his own hand trying to hit Juice's hand with a chair. Later, Juice nails a back suplex onto White on the apron, hitting head first.
- J.R.: "Who's going to pay for this monitor? Not me. I don't make that much money." Intentional or unintentional, this has added a lot to this match. Great entertainment so far.
- JUICE nails a Russian Leg Sweep on White off the middle ropes onto the outside.
- Both men barely make it in before 20. This is awesome.
- Juice nails the cannonball in the corner on White.
- Juice with a SUPERPLEX on White from the top rope for only a 2.
- Jay White nails a low blow on Juice while the referee is cowering in the corner. White runs into the corner, the referee is still cowering. JUICE nails him with the cast! Pulp Friction! 1, 2, KICKOUT by White!
- White later goes for the Switchblade, but Juice reverses it into a rollup. 1-2-3!!!! NEW CHAMPION!!!!!
Winner: Juice Robinson, NEW United States Champion
Match Grade: A-. Another great match here not so much in athleticism but in storytelling. This was a war with two men doing everything in the book to win. White himself not caring about any of the rules and any person in the way of his retaining the championship. This is a great win for Juice and a great match in the history of this young championship. Definitely check this match out.
9) IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Cody vs. Kenny Omega (c)
Burnard The Business Bear is in NJPW and with Cody along with Brandi and Cody's brown hair. Lol. I guess the blonde hair is gone. Cody is being carried to the ring in a sedan like a king. Haha. Cody sends everyone to the back except for Brandi. Kenny Omega comes out with The Bucks.
- Kenny and Cody take a couple minutes to just build the anticipation for the match, with Cody telling Kenny that he'll dictate the pace. Eventually they start going at it with some back and forth action.
- One point: Kenny throws Cody to the outside. He starts going for the Terminator dive but pauses once Cody puts his wife in front of himself. Later, Kenny goes to dive on Cody but ends up landing awkwardly on his leg causing him to hold his knee. Cody then does his own dive off the top rope onto Kenny. Outside, Kenny throws Cody onto a table. Then, Kenny springboards off the guard rail and double stomps Cody through the table!
- Kenny goes to dive on Cody through another table, but the Bucks plead with Kenny not to do it. Kenny goes for it, but Cody get up and trips up Kenny. Cody now is starting his offense.
- Kenny is still holding onto his knee which Cody is working on.
- Kenny gets Cody to the outside and then nails the Terminator Dive.
- Kenny is going for the V-Trigger. Cody ducks but gets thrown on the middle rope and eats the V-Trigger.
- Both men trade Snap Dragon Suplexes. Now, they're trading punches. Eventually, Cody locks in the Figure 4 Leg Lock. Kenny gets out of it. Cody is now getting a ladder and a chair. Cody gets the referee to toss the chair out, and while the ref is distracted, Cody bodyslams Kenny on the ladder.
- Cody then suplexes Kenny chest first into the ladder on the outside.
- Cody then throws Kenny into the guardrail from earlier tonight and the rail snaps onto a fan's knees on the outside. While Cody is setting up a ladder in the ring, you can see the Young Lions and other NJPW staff checking on the fan. Looks like no harm, no foul from what I can tell.
- Cody is attempting to dive off the ladder onto Kenny, but The Bucks protest that . Kenny is climbing the ladder. They are trading punches on the ladder in the ring while the table is outside. Kenny is telling the Bucks to get out of the way. INSTEAD, Cody suplexes Kenny off the top of the ladder into the ring!!! Wow.
- AXS is too busy showing the title to show the 2 count from that bump. It's that type of production error that has plagued this entire production tonight. Cody goes out of the ring and grabs the title. He's coming back to the ring. Kenny nails a reverse Frankensteiner. Cody throws Kenny into the ref. Kenny tosses the ref aside and eats a Disaster Kick from Cody.
- Cody grabs the championship and threatens to nail Kenny with it. He drops it.
- Cross Rhodes!!!! 1-2 near fall!!!
- Bucks take the ladder and pull it out of the ring.
- V-Trigger!!! 2nd One!
- V-Trigger again to the back of the head of Cody. Powerbomb. Another knee to the face. Knee to the face! Another knee! Another knee! Cody kicks out of a pin attempt.
- 30 minutes so far into the match.
- Cody is POWERBOMBED from the ring to the table on the outside. And the table doesn't even break! Ouch!
- Kenny rolls Cody into the ring. Brandi gets in to beg Kenny off. Cody tells Brandi to get out. Kenny goes for the V-Trigger, but Cody gets up and nails a clothesline.
- They're trading punches now. Knee to the face x2 by Kenny.
- Double Hook Piledriver by Kenny gets a 2.
- V Trigger!!!
- One-Winged Angel!!!! 1-2-3!!! Kenny retains!
Winner: Kenny Omega
Match Grade: A-. Another great match here tonight folks. This was much better than their Supercard of Honor match in Ring of Honor earlier. The spots in the match were dangerous and some didn't look like they went the way they should have. But great action and story told here.
- Kenny grabs Cody's hand and pulls him up after the match. Brandi and Cody are in the corner. Cody is looking at Kenny with the title. And Cody rolls out.
Kenny cuts a post-match promo about having great matches and having a great match in U.S. tonight. Kenny puts over Cody's effort and says he deserves a 2nd chance. Kenny thanks the crowd and says they pretty much have a full house. Good bye and Good Night.
Kenny and The Bucks meet the Tongans up on the ramp. Too Sweets all around. BUT THE TONGANS ATTACK THEM!!!!! Tama Tonga takes off his Bullet Club T-Shirt, joins his father and brother in the ring, and gang-attack The Elite!!! Here comes Hangman Page to fight off the Tongans, but he gets beat up for his trouble! Here comes Marty Scurll, but he gets Gun Stunned!! Tama Tonga: "YOU DID THIS" to Kenny. Here comes Chase Owens and Yujiro to check on the Bullet Club, but the Tongans beat them up!!!! Wow!!!! What is going on here?
Here comes Cody limping to the ring. The Tongans are handing him a chair. Cody turns on the Tongans, but he gets devoured!!!! Haku and the sons spike piledrive Kenny on a chair!!!
All three of the Tongans were wearing Firing Squad B.C. shirts. They are declaring themselves BULLET CLUB.
Cody swipes the chair away and extends his hand to Kenny. Kenny takes it. THEY HUG!!! The Bucks join in the hug as does everyone else in the ring. Wow! They all walk up the ramp together.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?!
J.R. calls this the longest rollout of a wrestling event he's ever seen. To be honest, I'm not complaining. This was much better than Strong Style Evolved in my opinion.
Event Rating: **** out of *****. Damn. This was a great show overall. So many great matches on here. You had The Bucks tearing it up with LIJ, a fun tag match with Ishii and Suzuki, an excellent Jr. Heavyweight Match, a great U.S. Championship match, and the dramatic finale of Team Kenny vs. Team Cody. Plus that ending gives us even more drama to look forward to as far as Bullet Club dissention is concerned. It wasn't the greatest event ever, but with this many matches that delivered or over-delivered, it can't be seen as anything but a success in my opinion.
Thank you all so much for checking this out. Comment on this or share it if you want. Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
Bullet Club is Fine, according to Cody Rhodes.
Jim Ross and Josh Barnett welcome us to the show. Then, we get an opening video discussing the year anniversary of the first G1 Special in Long Beach. They run down the matches: Goto vs. Cobb for the NEVER Openweight Championship, The Young Bucks vs. EVIL and SANADA for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, Hiromu Takahashi vs. Dragon Lee for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship, Jay White vs. Juice Robinson for the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship, and Kenny Omega vs. Cody for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
1) CHAOS (Sho, Yo, Rocky Romero, Gedo, and YOSHI-HASHI) vs. BULLET CLUB (Guerrillas of Destiny, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, and KING HAKU!!!!)
- HAKU is wrestling, folks. It's already getting a good grade from me. He can botch ten moves in a row, and I will give this guy a good grade. I like my nose attached to my head.
- The arena is pretty dark in the audience, but it sounds like we have a good size crowd there.
- HAKU and YOSHI-HASHI start the match. Fun spot early in the match where the Guerrillas and Haku do a triple headbutt to YOSHI-HASHI.
- Fun spot where Loa was receiving the Romero running clotheslines. Loa smashes Romero against the opposite turnbuckle and Tonga runs in and hits an EXCELLENT Stinger Splash. Haku runs in and hits a jumping piledriver on Romero. That gets a 2 as the Guerrillas interrupt the count, arguing with the ref for not counting faster.
- Good match to start the show thus far. Basic way to get the crowd invested and warm in the show. Tonga gets the tag for the B.C. as does Gedo at one point. Mass chaos starts coming with wrestlers hitting moves on each other at rapid pace. Rocky dives on Loa on the outside. TONGAN DEATH GRIP by Haku on Gedo into a STUN GUN (RKO) by Tonga!!! 1-2-3!!
Winners: BULLET CLUB
Match Grade: B. It would have been a C, but I like my nose on my face. Plus seeing Haku wrestle again (especially with his sons) was awesome to see.
2) Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.
- The new remix of Suzuki's theme plays (like it did at Strong Style Evolved UK Night 1 at least).
- No AXS, Suzuki is not Zack Sabre Jr.
- The American ring announcer for NJPW is terrible. Just saying.
- KAZE NI NARE!!!!
- When you hear those pitbull barks for Ishii's music, you just know it's on.
- I hope Yano gets his arm twisted into a pretzel by Sabre. Lol.
- YES! We're getting Ishii and Suzuki to start us off. Woohoo!!!! Strong Style baby!!!
- And they're trading shots already!!!
- Suzuki tags out, sells a arm injury, and then immediately goes after Ishii on the outside.
- Yano and Sabre are going at it. And after a couple minutes, Suzuki and Ishii are going back at it AGAIN on the outside!!!! I love it!
-Suzuki and Sabre hook in several double submission holds on Yano while the referee is checking on Ishii.
- Yano tags Ishii in, and we're back to Suzuki vs. Ishii again this time in the ring!
- And they're trading forearms again!!!!! (Note to self: Watch their match at Strong Style Evolved UK already!!!)
- Ishii and Suzuki are going back at it on the outside once Sabre and Yano are tagged back in.
- Sabre blocks the low blow, but ISHII runs in to clothesline Sabre over. Yano rolls him up for the 3.
Winners: Yano and Ishii
Match Grade: B. I love these Ishii and Suzuki matches. They are so entertaining in their strong style action.
After the match, Suzuki tries to attack Ishii with a chair. Two Young Boys interfere and drag Suzuki to the ramp. Suzuki responds by nailing THEM with the chair.
3) Hiroshi Tanahashi and KUSHIDA vs. Marty Scurll and Hangman Page
- Interesting. Scurll is coming out to his old ROH music. He debuted new music at the latest ROH PPV.
- But here comes Tanahashi.... GO ACE! And KUSHIDA. Taguchi is coming out with both of them.
- Jim Ross just mentioned that Tanahashi will face Suzuki in the first round of their block of the G1. That's going to be amazing.
- Great counter wrestling between Scurll and KUSHDA to start off the match. They tag in Page and Tanahashi respectively.
- A little weird to see Page play the heel since he's a face in ROH, but when you are facing Tanahashi, you are going to be the heel 9 times out of 10.
- Nice spot where Scurll and Page both jump on the apron. Scurll kicks KUSHIDA in the face while Page nails a shooting star press to a standing KUSHIDA.
- Very good, fun match so far. The Ace is back in the match now.
- Scurll tries to lock in the Chicken Wing, but Tanahashi gets out of it and tags back KUSHIDA.
- Double Submissions on Page and Scurll. They get out. Page gets tagged in, NAILS the reverse Tombstone Piledriver (Last Rites, I think), and gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: Page and Scurll
Match Grade: C. Still a good match, but it was on the same level as the opener to me. (Again, consider the opener in reality a C even though I half jokingly made it a B out of fear of Haku. Lol.)
4) NEVER Openweight Championship
Jeff Cobb vs. Hirooki Goto (c)
- Cobb with a home-area advantage it seems here as far as crowd participation goes.
- Cobb executes a belly to belly suplex early on to Goto. Impressive since Goto isn't exactly a Jr. Heavyweight. Goto gets Cobb over the top rope to the outside and nails a flying dive onto Cobb on the outside.
- Goto with a couple submission attempts including a headlock, a head scissor, and a chinlock. Cobb gets Goto off him and nails a dropkick.
- Running forearm shot by Cobb followed by a spinning backdrop suplex for a 2. Cobb then nails a running Olympic Slam and misses a standing moonsault. Again, this guy is about a Bam Bam Bigelow size doing this stuff.
- Goto responds with a backdrop suplex of his own. Cobb nails an OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE (ala Dr. Death Steve Williams, running powerslam after hitting the turnbuckles) for a close 2.
- Cobb nails a HUGE clothesline followed by the standing moonsault for the closest of 2 counts.
- Goto locks in the sleeper, but Cobb gets him off by dropping to his knees and propelling Goto off.
- Goto nails a Yuji Garoshi (correct me if I'm wrong, standing drop neckbreaker over the knee) for a 2.
- Goto nails a GTR to get the 3.
Winner: Hirooki Goto
Match Grade: C+. Good match that didn't seem to hit a higher gear. Goto has had better matches lately. And I liked what I saw from Cobb. Hopefully, NJPW will do more with him going forward.
5) IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
The Young Bucks (c) vs. EVIL and SANADA
- Evil is without his scythe, which didn't make it through customs (jokes Josh Barnett).
- Fast paced, good back and forth to start the match. All 4 have gotten involved in the match, even with it being legally Sanada and Nick Jackson. Sanada gets his Paradise Lock spot in and tags Evil in.
- SANADA drags Matt Jackson off the apron before Nick can get the tag. But seconds later, Nick gets the tag in. Matt Jackson rarely gets the hot tag in their matches. So, this is definitely different than most Buck matches.
- Matt does a backflip stunner to the outside onto SANADA.
- Really involved sequence here with both teams executing dives. Evil went to dive but ran into the Bucks' superkicks. They turned around to get a springboard dropkick from Sanada from the top rope.
- Sanada takes a NASTY looking DDT on the apron. And by nasty, I mean he didn't fall correctly and it didn't look right.
- Nick nails a crazy springboard twisting plancha onto EVIL on the outside. Matt has the Sharpshooter on Sanada for a very long time, but Sanada gets the ropes.
- More Bang for Your Buck misses, and Sanada makes the tag.
- Evil is in, and he's overpowering the Bucks. He nails Darkness Falls on Matt for a close 2.
- Evil and Sanada nail the Magic Killer on Matt Jackson. Cover... and NICK breaks it up.
- Double Superkick by the Jacksons miss and NAIL the referee!!!!
- Chair is in the ring. EVIL tosses the chair back and forth with Nick Jackson and eventually eats a double superkick with the chair in his face.
- EVIL and SANADA nail a Meltzer Driver on MATT JACKSON on the chair! 1-2... NICK breaks it up!!!
- THIS IS AWESOME chants.
- 2nd Magic Killer from Evil and Sanada. 1-2, MATT KICKS OUT AGAIN!!!!!
- Seconds later, The Jacksons counter Evil and Sanada with superkicks.
- MELTZER DRIVER on EVIL. 1-2 and 3!!!!
Winners: The Young Bucks
Match Grade: B+. Very entertaining match by both teams. Both teams looked great. They were moving at such a pace at one point that I couldn't keep up writing the moves. Definitely a recommended match for anyone and everyone to check out.
NJPW in the U.S. Announcements
September 30- Fighting Spirit Unleashed in Long Beach
November 10th and 11th- Lion's Break (Lion's Gate)
15 Minute Intermission Starts Now
We're back!!!!
6) Tetsuya Naito and Bushi vs. Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay
- I'm loving Kenny Omega as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, but I still think Naito should have gotten the belt back at Wrestle Kingdom 12.
- OKADA has the new remix theme music (which I heard also at Strong Style Evolved UK Night 1) as well.
- Okada is motioning to the LIJ corner that he wants Naito to start the match.
- Tranquilo. Naito just had his fake dive into a rest pose compared to The People's Elbow as always getting a loud pop. That couldn't be a higher compliment.
- Ospreay is too good not to be featured on every NJPW major card. Being in there with Okada and Naito is being featured in my opinion.
- Basic opening to the tag match so far. Ospreay gets Naito's corner leg-trip into a jumping dropkick. Naito then spits in Okada's direction.
- Okada is back in and working with Naito. He nails a flapjack on Bushi into Naito in a fun spot.
- Cool sequence of reversals by Naito and Okada. Both men make the tag to their partners.
- BUSHIROONI!
- Ending came when Ospreay hits the Stormbreaker. 1-2-3.
Winner: Ospreay and Okada
Match Grade: C. They never got into a second gear in this match, but I don't think they were meant to be doing more than that. The crowd got to see all four men basically do a greatest hits of what they can do, and that's more than enough.
7) IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
Dragon Lee vs. Hiromu Takahashi (c)
(Oh this promises to be excellent. This may be one of those matches where I can't keep up with the action. My apologies in advance.)
- The title (Mr. Belto), the broken trophy, and DARYL Jr (!!!!) are with Hiromu as he struts to the ring!!!!
- He brings the trophy and Daryl Jr. to the announce position. And as soon as he gets to the apron, Hiromu eats a hurricanrana to the floor by Dragon Lee. Seconds later, Lee DIVES from the ring again into Hiromu. Then, Dragon Lee does Naito's turnbuckle dropkick, does the eye pose, and does the tranquilo pose. We're off to the races, folks.
- Hiromu DIVES onto Lee on the outside later in a "Holy crap" moment.
- Both men on the turnbuckle, trading punches, and headbutts. Hiromu is knocked to a vertical position off the turnbuckle and Dragon Lee nails a double stomp onto Hiromu, sending both crashing to the floor outside the ring!!!!
- Hiromu powerbombs Dragon Lee on the floor. Both get back in at 19 before the countout. (NJPW does 20-second countouts, for those of you wondering.)
- Both men are trading German Suplex after German Suplex after German Suplex. They start mixing in other moves, and they're both down! This is insane!!!!
- They are on their knees, trading chops. They're now standing, trading chops. Louder and louder, harder and harder, faster and faster and faster and faster!!!! They slow down, blocking knee strikes until Lee hits one. Lee runs towards Hiromu who flips him over to the turnbuckles. Ouch!
- Spanish Fly by Dragon Lee gets a 2.
- The D locked in by Hiromu (Triangle choke). Dragon Lee powerbombs Hiromu in that position, but Hiromu refuses to let go. Lee gets back up with Hiromu still on him and suplexes him over him, sending Hiromu head first into the mat.
- Lee nails a powerbomb out of a suplex, but he only gets a 2.
- Lee goes for a powerbomb, but Hiromu reverses it into a Canadian Destroyer! He only gets a 2.
- Hiromu nails the Time Bomb and gets the 3! WHAT A MATCH!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi
Match Grade: A-. Match of the night thus far. I've seen these two wrestle before. And they have great chemistry together. This is no different and may be my favorite match between the two. Definitely recommended viewing.
8) IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship
Juice Robinson vs. Switchblade Jay White (c)
- I'm rooting for Juice. What a story of a guy who was nothing in NXT, left to work in Japan, worked his way up as a Young Boy, and now is a legitimate star for the promotion. This could be big for his career if he gets the title.
- Special Rule: Juice cannot use his cast, or he will be DQed. I smell a Dusty finish.
- Both men trade punches to start the match. Robinson dives at White to send them both over the top and then executes a somersault onto White from the apron to the floor.
- Juice sends White THROUGH a barricade into the fans.
- White later dumps Juice with a back-suplex over the top rope to the floor.
- White throws Juice THROUGH a barricade into the fans right by J.R. and Josh.
- J.R. : What's the count now? 80?
- White does it again to Juice this time through the barricade he went through earlier! Wow!
- White goes to work in the ring on Juice's cast, pulling the fingers and stomping the hand itself. Hammerlock bodyslam with Juice landing on his injured hand. The crowd giving profane chants towards Switchblade. (In other words, Jay White is doing a great job tonight.)
- Jay White locks in a float over STF on Juice, who gets to the bottom rope.
- Jay White nailing Juice mockingly with jabs similar to what Juice usually does.
- White nails a flatliner and a German suplex later for a 2.
- White again works on the fingers and locks in a submission to further torture the injured hand of Juice.
- White nails a suplex into the barricade on Juice that knocks the announce table and J.R. over. White mocks J.R. and Barnett says "You done ____________ up now." He gives chase to White in the ring while staff around J.R. pull him up. They get Barnett back to the announce table. J.R. says "Of course I'm not doing well. This__________ is ridiculous." J.R. is reading the NJPW staff the riot act about not doing their jobs and stopping the carnage outside the ring.
- White injures his own hand trying to hit Juice's hand with a chair. Later, Juice nails a back suplex onto White on the apron, hitting head first.
- J.R.: "Who's going to pay for this monitor? Not me. I don't make that much money." Intentional or unintentional, this has added a lot to this match. Great entertainment so far.
- JUICE nails a Russian Leg Sweep on White off the middle ropes onto the outside.
- Both men barely make it in before 20. This is awesome.
- Juice nails the cannonball in the corner on White.
- Juice with a SUPERPLEX on White from the top rope for only a 2.
- Jay White nails a low blow on Juice while the referee is cowering in the corner. White runs into the corner, the referee is still cowering. JUICE nails him with the cast! Pulp Friction! 1, 2, KICKOUT by White!
- White later goes for the Switchblade, but Juice reverses it into a rollup. 1-2-3!!!! NEW CHAMPION!!!!!
Winner: Juice Robinson, NEW United States Champion
Match Grade: A-. Another great match here not so much in athleticism but in storytelling. This was a war with two men doing everything in the book to win. White himself not caring about any of the rules and any person in the way of his retaining the championship. This is a great win for Juice and a great match in the history of this young championship. Definitely check this match out.
9) IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Cody vs. Kenny Omega (c)
Burnard The Business Bear is in NJPW and with Cody along with Brandi and Cody's brown hair. Lol. I guess the blonde hair is gone. Cody is being carried to the ring in a sedan like a king. Haha. Cody sends everyone to the back except for Brandi. Kenny Omega comes out with The Bucks.
- Kenny and Cody take a couple minutes to just build the anticipation for the match, with Cody telling Kenny that he'll dictate the pace. Eventually they start going at it with some back and forth action.
- One point: Kenny throws Cody to the outside. He starts going for the Terminator dive but pauses once Cody puts his wife in front of himself. Later, Kenny goes to dive on Cody but ends up landing awkwardly on his leg causing him to hold his knee. Cody then does his own dive off the top rope onto Kenny. Outside, Kenny throws Cody onto a table. Then, Kenny springboards off the guard rail and double stomps Cody through the table!
- Kenny goes to dive on Cody through another table, but the Bucks plead with Kenny not to do it. Kenny goes for it, but Cody get up and trips up Kenny. Cody now is starting his offense.
- Kenny is still holding onto his knee which Cody is working on.
- Kenny gets Cody to the outside and then nails the Terminator Dive.
- Kenny is going for the V-Trigger. Cody ducks but gets thrown on the middle rope and eats the V-Trigger.
- Both men trade Snap Dragon Suplexes. Now, they're trading punches. Eventually, Cody locks in the Figure 4 Leg Lock. Kenny gets out of it. Cody is now getting a ladder and a chair. Cody gets the referee to toss the chair out, and while the ref is distracted, Cody bodyslams Kenny on the ladder.
- Cody then suplexes Kenny chest first into the ladder on the outside.
- Cody then throws Kenny into the guardrail from earlier tonight and the rail snaps onto a fan's knees on the outside. While Cody is setting up a ladder in the ring, you can see the Young Lions and other NJPW staff checking on the fan. Looks like no harm, no foul from what I can tell.
- Cody is attempting to dive off the ladder onto Kenny, but The Bucks protest that . Kenny is climbing the ladder. They are trading punches on the ladder in the ring while the table is outside. Kenny is telling the Bucks to get out of the way. INSTEAD, Cody suplexes Kenny off the top of the ladder into the ring!!! Wow.
- AXS is too busy showing the title to show the 2 count from that bump. It's that type of production error that has plagued this entire production tonight. Cody goes out of the ring and grabs the title. He's coming back to the ring. Kenny nails a reverse Frankensteiner. Cody throws Kenny into the ref. Kenny tosses the ref aside and eats a Disaster Kick from Cody.
- Cody grabs the championship and threatens to nail Kenny with it. He drops it.
- Cross Rhodes!!!! 1-2 near fall!!!
- Bucks take the ladder and pull it out of the ring.
- V-Trigger!!! 2nd One!
- V-Trigger again to the back of the head of Cody. Powerbomb. Another knee to the face. Knee to the face! Another knee! Another knee! Cody kicks out of a pin attempt.
- 30 minutes so far into the match.
- Cody is POWERBOMBED from the ring to the table on the outside. And the table doesn't even break! Ouch!
- Kenny rolls Cody into the ring. Brandi gets in to beg Kenny off. Cody tells Brandi to get out. Kenny goes for the V-Trigger, but Cody gets up and nails a clothesline.
- They're trading punches now. Knee to the face x2 by Kenny.
- Double Hook Piledriver by Kenny gets a 2.
- V Trigger!!!
- One-Winged Angel!!!! 1-2-3!!! Kenny retains!
Winner: Kenny Omega
Match Grade: A-. Another great match here tonight folks. This was much better than their Supercard of Honor match in Ring of Honor earlier. The spots in the match were dangerous and some didn't look like they went the way they should have. But great action and story told here.
- Kenny grabs Cody's hand and pulls him up after the match. Brandi and Cody are in the corner. Cody is looking at Kenny with the title. And Cody rolls out.
Kenny cuts a post-match promo about having great matches and having a great match in U.S. tonight. Kenny puts over Cody's effort and says he deserves a 2nd chance. Kenny thanks the crowd and says they pretty much have a full house. Good bye and Good Night.
Kenny and The Bucks meet the Tongans up on the ramp. Too Sweets all around. BUT THE TONGANS ATTACK THEM!!!!! Tama Tonga takes off his Bullet Club T-Shirt, joins his father and brother in the ring, and gang-attack The Elite!!! Here comes Hangman Page to fight off the Tongans, but he gets beat up for his trouble! Here comes Marty Scurll, but he gets Gun Stunned!! Tama Tonga: "YOU DID THIS" to Kenny. Here comes Chase Owens and Yujiro to check on the Bullet Club, but the Tongans beat them up!!!! Wow!!!! What is going on here?
Here comes Cody limping to the ring. The Tongans are handing him a chair. Cody turns on the Tongans, but he gets devoured!!!! Haku and the sons spike piledrive Kenny on a chair!!!
All three of the Tongans were wearing Firing Squad B.C. shirts. They are declaring themselves BULLET CLUB.
Cody swipes the chair away and extends his hand to Kenny. Kenny takes it. THEY HUG!!! The Bucks join in the hug as does everyone else in the ring. Wow! They all walk up the ramp together.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?!
J.R. calls this the longest rollout of a wrestling event he's ever seen. To be honest, I'm not complaining. This was much better than Strong Style Evolved in my opinion.
Event Rating: **** out of *****. Damn. This was a great show overall. So many great matches on here. You had The Bucks tearing it up with LIJ, a fun tag match with Ishii and Suzuki, an excellent Jr. Heavyweight Match, a great U.S. Championship match, and the dramatic finale of Team Kenny vs. Team Cody. Plus that ending gives us even more drama to look forward to as far as Bullet Club dissention is concerned. It wasn't the greatest event ever, but with this many matches that delivered or over-delivered, it can't be seen as anything but a success in my opinion.
Thank you all so much for checking this out. Comment on this or share it if you want. Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
Comments
Post a Comment