DAY SEVEN – A BLOCK
– Zack Sabre Jr. v Bad Luck Fale – I’ll take a 6-minute count-out loss for Fale! – 2.75/5
– Hiroshi Tanahashi v Lance Archer – A really good match that felt more like an appetizer for the two than anything truly epic. But the story was great and Archer was once again solid as a rock. His expressions following the Tana roll-up victory were priceless. They worked a nice contest. – 3.5/5
– KENTA v EVIL – Everything you’d want from these two hard hitting pitbulls. Lots of stiff strikes, an assortment surprising flying knees and clotheslines and admirable transition mat work. Some of these recent GTS’ from KENTA have not looked good at all tho. Maybe not kneeing them in the face is to protect guys working the grind that is the G1? – 3.5/5
– Kota Ibushi v SANADA – They worked a much different match than from the past, but Ibushi & SANADA still went on to have a pleasurable showing. Not too many others have worked a smoother chain-wrestling game than this pair, mixing im a fair bit of athleticism without anything too death-defying (due to Ibushi’s knee). Along with Shingo — and hopefully Hiromi — this is the future of New Japan! – 3.75/5
– Kazuchika Okada v Will Ospreay – Had Ospreay won, this would’ve been one of the best matches ever. Seriously! You have the best wrestler of the past few years againsy the guy who may be the best in 2019. I have no other reason to explain it, smarks. – 4.75/5
Overall = 3.5-3.75/5 Bibles.
The best night of the G1 has a run for its money, as Day 7 winds up in the top 3. The addition of Ospreay and the vast improvement of Archer has made A Block skyrocket to such an impeccable roster of stalwarts (with only Fale holding it back, but at least not having as bad of a G1 as last year’s). Ospreay v Okada was sooo great. Ibushi and SANADA worked another hell of a match, too. Lots to love here!
DAY EIGHT – B BLOCK
– Juice Robinson v Toru Yano – This sucked, and wasn’t as fun or as creative as the many other passable Yano matches in this tournament. Meh. – 2/5
– Taichi v Hirooki Goto – As major underdogs, both Taichi and Goto have had good showings in the tournament. But together–nope. This was just a match. Lots of brawling outside, OK heat, and the usual buffoonery. We didn’t get the Taichi who stepped up his last two matches. Goto comes off better when he works with another bull. You don’t need to see this. – 2.25/5
– Jon Moxley v Shingo – Another great, hard-hitting affair involving Moxley. It’s hard to believe that this guy and Dean Ambrose are the same fuckin’ guy. This one lacked the major memorable high spots of the Ishii match from a few days ago, but certainly didn’t lack the drama. The stretch was big fun and, perhaps, surprising. Mox is getting the huge “Stan Hansen push” here in this G1 and has no signs of slowing. Naito awaits! – 4/5
– Jay White v Jeff Cobb – This could have been a huge win for Cobb, but White needed this to stay relevant. If they were allowed to actually have a match that didn’t rely on Gedo plaguing most of it, it could have been great. In the end, there’s a story here and an OK match. – 3/5
– Tetsuya Naito v Tomohiro Ishii – Absolutely spectacular. Not a bad match to wake up to, at all, and it saved maybe the worst night of the G1 this year yet. The brainbuster counter into a Michinoku Driver — that followed up a rolling, pancake style Destino — was so superb. Naito wound up hitting his second Destino for the win. Ishii is just so god damned good in these closing stretches, thouhgh, mixing in those timely big larats, sliding clotheslines and brainbuster attempts. He’s having an incredible tournament. – 4.25/5
Overall = 3/5 Bibles
Not the best night of the G1 by any means, but the two 4-star slugfests saved an otherwise average night. Go see them!
-Travis Moody