Overall Night 2 of the G1 struggled to be on par with the first night. I personally enjoyed the first night a lot more with the variety of styles, tonight was almost either striking and technical or striking and power/grappling moves. We also had a very low rated match. I think the commentary team does deserve a lot of credit, filling in gaps of knowledge for multiple matches this show! (Effective Buff in Show Structure) The crowd was not as into the show either. Juice Robinson, Taichi, Toru Yano and Zack Sabre Jr. all got victories in their respective blocks tying with Night 1’s winners.
Night 2 of NJPW’s G1 Climax looks to continue the momentum from the solid first night of action. Toru Yano faces JONAH in JONAH’s G1 Debut for Block A. KENTA faces Zack Sabre Jr for Block C. Tomohiro Ishii Faces Taichi for Block B and the main event is Juice Robinson Vs Shingo Takagi for Block D.
GOOD Tomohiro Ishii Vs Taichi With Miho Abe – Block B Match: Tomohiro had control of Taichi in the beginning of the match, striking him down. Ishii apparently said Taichi’s first ring name and got a form of shock from the commentators and the crowd. Taichi had the speed advantage and was able to get control of Ishii in the match, striking him down. Ishii gets a nice almost high angled saito like suplex to take control shortly after, before getting a superplex on Taichi. They exchange in a sequence that had them both hit axe bombers (clotheslines) without knocking the other down but Taichi was able to get ishii down. Taichi gets a high stacked powerbomb for a close nearfall from Ishii. Taichi gets his own Saito on ishii for another nearfall. Taichi gets a rebound axe bomber and another Saito for a closer nearfall. Ishii fights back, getting a shoulder block and enziguri. He then crawls to Taichi, setting him up for the seated lariat. Taichi gets a stiff forearm/elbow shot before hitting his air raid crash called the Black Mephisto. Solid opening match that was both stiff and was hard hitting.
Results: Taichi by Pinfall via Black Mephisto
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
BELOW AVERAGE Toru Yano Vs JONAH with Bad Dude Tito – Block A Match: JONAH got to dominate the majority of the match. Yano got his antics of roll ups, removing the long turnbuckle pads. Best move of the match was Toru Yano actually getting a belly to belly suplex on the big JONAH. While brawling on the outside, Toru sent Tito into Jonah and low blowed them both before getting the count out victory. Nothing special but what was done was done clean. The crowd was into it including the Yano win.
Results: Toru Yano by Count Out via Double Low Blow to JONAH and Tito.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 1.75 Stars
GREAT Kenta Vs Zack Sabre Jr. – Block C Match: Kenta and Zack started off striking in the ring before going outside and using the steel barricade including Kenta getting a DDT on the floor. Commentary told the story of KENTA having Zack’s number in the G1 Tournaments of the past. Zack wears KENTA down with a heel hook / knee bar hanging from the ropes. Zack then uses the damage to continue his attack on KENTA in the ring, using a bow and arrow submission hold. KENTA instigates Zack into trading kicks to the back before Zack takes advantage by twisting KENTA’s neck when he was expecting a kick. KENTA tries to use his striking ability to take advantage but Zack continues to use his technical ability. Enjoyably when they are both down on the mat, they are trash talking to each other. A great back and forth sequence of strikes occurs right after the obvious trash talking part mentioned. Zack is able to counter the GTS, before countering a roll up into a sleeper. Zack transitions into an ankle look before it is broken up. KENTA gets a stiff knee strike for a near fall before KENTA hits a Danielson-esque knee. KENTA makes Zack kick out twice after the knee and a roundhouse kick, taunting the Brit. Zack catches him in a heel hook and knee bar but KENTA slaps Zack. Zack then grabs the hand of KENTA and does an arm trapped heel hook and knee bar combination for the victory. After the match the men have a stare down with Zack having a cocky smirk on his face since KENTA had the match won. Overall a really good strike filled and technical match that saw a unique way of taunting between the wrestlers. The crowd didn’t feel the hottest for the match but I am still learning how to judge a Joshi Crowd. That’s why it is 3.50 not 3.75.
Results: Zack Sabre Jr. by Submission via Arm Trapped Heel/Knee Bar.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
GOOD Shingo Takagi Vs Juice Robinson – Block D Match: Juice Robinson had attacked Shingo as Shingo was posing during the introduction. They go out of the ring and brawl with each other. Juice was able to take advantage of the match after rolling out of the ring to dodge a faint senton attempt from Shingo. Both men trade chops and jabs with each other before Shingo gets a fast saito suplex. Shingo really had the crowd behind him with the rhythmic jabs to Robinson. Shingo gets a nice brainbuster that was switched into a swinging neckbreaker. The rhythmic clapping came with almost every type of strike he used. Juice gets a nice shotgun dropkick and cannonball combo for a nearfall. Juice hits a nice superplex before trying to combo it. Shingo reverses the combo but Juice gets a full nelson bomb for a nearfall to take back control. Shingo and Juice exchange multiple counters before Shingo got a gory bomb. Shingo gets a wheelbarrow suplex and sliding clothesline for a nearfall. Juice counters made in Japan before Red Shoes gets hit. Shingo and Juice collide with clothesline to each other before Shingo hits another bomber. Shingo catches Juice and gets a rope draped GTR before hitting another axe bomber for a nearfall. Both men trade clotheslines and headbutts before Shingo uses his speed to strike to the advantage. Juice gets the pulp friction but isn’t able to cover Shingo in time to win, Shingo kicks out. Shingo and Juice continue to trade shots before Shingo goes for the death valley driver but Juice uses the ref to get out of it. Juice gets a second Pulp Friction for the victory. The finish fell flat to me with multiple things not looking smooth in this match.
Results: Juice Robinson by Pinfall via Pulp Friction
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Overall Night 2 of the G1 struggled to be on par with the first night. I personally enjoyed the first night a lot more with the variety of styles, tonight was almost either striking and technical or striking and power/grappling moves. We also had a very low rated match. I think the commentary team does deserve a lot of credit, filling in gaps of knowledge for multiple matches this show! (Effective Buff in Show Structure) The crowd was not as into the show either. Juice Robinson, Taichi, Toru Yano and Zack Sabre Jr. all got victories in their respective blocks tying with Night 1’s winners.
Matches: 0.50 /1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 0.50/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.25/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 2.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: (NJPW)
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
