We all knew that it would come down to this. There were questions about how they’d do it, but it was written in the stars. Okada vs. Omega III with the winner going to the final. Could they capture the magic of their first two matches with the constraints of a thirty-minute time-limit? Of course they fucking could, stupid.
And A Block comes to a close with the return of the English commentary team and a final day where everything came down to Tanahashi vs. Naito. The winner goes to the final, and in hindsight, that was always going to be the case. On the closing stretch it feels appropriate to go back to reviewing the undercard because you know, we haven’t watched enough wrestling in the last month. Let’s do this!
I both can’t want for this G1 to be over and hope it never ends. Having wonderful wrestling to watch every day has been brilliant, but, I used to have a lot more free time. In the days before this tournament, I was able to think about things that had nothing to do with New Japan! That’s now like a distant dream.
Two good boys kneeing each other in the head. Credit: NJPW
Night 14 of the G1 Climax and there is a touch of magic in the air. The upsets are coming and who are we to delay them? Let’s dish out those star ratings.
Day 10 and we are over half-way through G1 Climax 27. Considering I was out of things to say in introductions a few days to go, it’s perhaps unsurprising to hear that not much has changed. On with the stars!
After a day off (during which I was silly enough to watch Battlegrounds) the G1 is back with one of the more exciting cards being served up by B Block. Kojima vs. Elgin, Juice vs. Suzuki, Evil vs. Tonga, Okada vs. SANADA and let’s face it, Yano vs. Omega, what’s not to like?
The matches are coming thick and fast and keeping up with the G1 now feels as much like a challenge as a pleasure. Thankfully, it’s far from a chore as New Japan continue to deliver a sensational in-ring product. This is a catch-up as we round up days 3, 4 and 5 and it’s also going to be the moment where I tap out on the undercard. I did watch it, but it all blurs together and one tragic incident aside, I don’t have much to say. Anyway, on with the puro!
It’s beginning to look a lot like G1… Yup, it’s that time of the year, folks. If you are into the puro, wrestling is about to take over your life. Whether you’re planning on watching every second (no cheating, that includes the undercard) or dipping in and out when you hear Ishii has done something amazing or Okada went and did Okada stuff again, it’s hard not to be excited for what’s to come. If for some reason you weren’t, then I can’t imagine that apathy extended past night one. New Japan did what New Japan does and put on one hell of a show. Here is that, but in a lot more words.