Author: Stuart Iversen

NJPW G1 Climax Final (12/8/18) Review

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Ace vs Golden Star. Credit: NJPW

Wow, here we are then. The G1 final. I’ve reviewed every single one of these buggers which I’m quite proud of. In the next few days I’m going to do a round-up of the tournament where I go through every wrestler and talk about how they did, but right now there is only one thing to focus on. The final. I’m not bothering with the undercard because, honestly, fuck the undercard. The only thing that matters is who takes that pretty shitty looking trophy home. Enough talk. Let’s finish this bad boy.

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NJPW G1 Climax Night Fifteen (5/8/18) Review

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A flying Rainmaker. Credit: NJPW

For all my whining at the start of the tournament about how long the G1 is, we’re now approaching the end, and it hasn’t once felt like a grind. We’ve had loads of great wrestling, some fun storylines and, well, The Firing Squad the less said about which, the better. I’ve even quite enjoyed the A Block, which a lot of people have been down on. Let’s see if that continues to be the case with night fifteen of the G1.

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NJPW G1 Climax Night Fourteen (4/8/18) Review

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I can’t imagine Naito enjoyed that. Credit: NJPW

We are in the business end of the G1, folks. New Japan is back in Osaka, and you can bet that the wrestlers are kicking off that mid-tour lethargy. B Block has been the holy grail of wrestling in the last few weeks, and this show looked set to be no different. Juice Robinson vs Zack Sabre Jr, Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega and Tetsuya Naito vs Kota Ibushi? Damn, sign me up.

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NJPW G1 Climax Night Thirteen (2/8/18) Review

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Even Murder Grandpas need a rest sometimes. Credit: NJPW

While G1’s B Block has seen most of the field eliminated, A Block went into night thirteen with half the wrestlers still active. Would that be the case at the end of the show? Well, no, of course not. Don’t be daft.

Ignoring all the maths, it’s time for Okada vs Suzuki, and you can guarantee that will be good because it always is. So, let’s stop blathering and get to it.

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NJPW G1 Climax Night Twelve (1/8/18) Review

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Defiant Kota. Credit: NJPW

We are deep into this tournament, and in many ways, these are the toughest days of the G1. The wrestlers are all banged up, and I can only imagine how hard it is to motivate yourself to go out and give 100%. It’s no surprise that we begin to see a few matches not quite hit the level they might have a couple of weeks ago. Still, this is B Block which is rammed with some of the greatest wrestlers on the planet. If they work at 80%, they’re still going to be pretty damn good.

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NJPW G1 Climax Day Eleven (30/7/18) Review

/ Stuart Iversen / 1 Comment

The Ace looks like he is having fun. Credit: NJPW

I feel I should pre-warn you all that I won’t be reviewing the main event of this show. If you have read any of my A Block write-ups, you’ll know that I don’t talk about Michael Elgin because he’s a piece of shit. Being in the main event doesn’t change that. That aside, this is, well, not a particularly sexy show. Still, we must occasionally suffer for our art. I’m sure someone will pull a good match out of their arse.

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NJPW G1 Climax Night Ten (28/7/18) Review

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Oh, shit. Credit: NJPW

It’s Ishii vs Ibushi day! This is one of the matches that I circled with my sparkly gold pen when the blocks were announced. They are perhaps my two favourite wrestlers and are a perfect in-ring fit. You could take out the rest of the card, only give me that, and I’d still be heading home satisfied. The fact there are a few other tasty treats on offer is merely a bonus.

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