My thoughts:
- I really liked the initial tag match. I'm a huge fan of spot fests and The Young Bucks, so it was really up my alley. I really like chaotic tag wrestling matches that lack predictability. WWE's tag style bores the shit out of me, even on NXT. I just don't like WWE tag style, so I really enjoy the tag style of TNA and NJPW as an alternative. The Young Bucks really shined this match, but so did the Red Dragons. Overall fun brain turn off match. JR was out of his element here, but he's best at calling matches that need room to breathe so he can sell just how impactful or meaningful the storyline is. This match had no storyline and psychology was thrown out the window. Great intro match and a good way to warm the crowd up.
Rating: *** 1/2
- The second tag match was just good ol' popcorn eating, beer drinkin', wrasslin fun. it felt very south USA in style. It was short and entertaining. Again, fulfilled its goals and requirements.
Rating: ***
- Another crowd pleaser to rev the crowd up.
Rating: ***
- Sakuraba v Suzuki I felt was the only disappointing match of the night. It didn't really cater to my tastes and I don't really remember much about it.
Rating: No rating
- Ishii v Makabe easily comes down as the most underrated match of the night. The MMA style really got JR going as soon as the bell rang. It was a highly physical match, that while lacking in grace, made up for the sheer brutality of it all, which is interesting because Makabe usually doesn't impress me. Ishii helped him look like a million bucks, but they both brought on a fantastic physical performance.
Rating: ****
- Taguchi v Omega was a great match. Omega will be a star when he ever decides to go across the ocean and that was not shown as true as it was at WK9. His mannerisms, his hair, outfit, his theme, the wild and sleaziness that the man exudes. He really knows how to create a sense of presence. He's a heel's heel, and my type of bad guy. Taguchi made the match even better with his mockery of Omega. Just a fun ass match.
Rating: ****
- Bullet Club v Meiyu Tag was a prime example of how fun and fresh NJPW's tag division is for me, personally. The combination of the teams as they truly use team work to win always makes for fantastic wrestling. '
Rating: ****
- AJ Styles v Naito. Wow. Styles did a hell of a job here. Style clash off the turn buckle?
Naito unfortunately didn't look so hot, but that didn't stop AJ making him look fantastic.'
Rating: ****
- Ibushi v Nakamura, my man Ibushi took himself to the next level. I've been a fan of Ibushi since my first NJPW match with him in the triple threat match against Low ki and Devitt years ago and to see him get this good in such a short amount of time is a sight to see. Nakamura came out with his traditional swag, and it was on. I found interesting how JR didn't like the idea "strong style" as it buries other wrestlers. He didn't use again the rest of the ppv. Both men brought a fucking amazing match. When Kota used a closed fist, I knew it was on. Everyone is talking about Nakamura, and he's great, but Kota Ibushi is going to be something else in a few years down the line.
Rating: *****
- Tanahashi v Okada. What's left that can be said about this feud? It's the best feud in wrestling currently and you know it's not over yet. I thought it was one of their best matches together and Okada crying after his loss was very emotional. Tanahashi mocking him and saying he'll never touch the IWGP belt made me mad at him, and I want Okada or Nakamura or hell, Styles to just kick his ass. I have something to look forward to!
Rating: *****
MOTN: Hard pick, but I'm going with Tanahashi v Okada. It felt more important and I think that having the first international broadcast of a NJPW event made it all the more important. JR and Striker really showed important this match was and just how damn coveted that title is. The crying sealed it further. That frog splash over the gate.
On commentary: You could tell JR was struggling to get into this groove at first, but it once he did it felt like he was transported back to his NWA days and could really enjoy himself. He threw several burns at WWE and seemed to feel an incredible sense of pride towards the business while watching. He helped make the big matches really feel real. He made them count. He made them feel important. It was fun listening to JR mark out and then catch himself and then readjust himself and remember he's commentating sometimes. I love Striker as a commentator. I like his work in Lucha Underground, and I think he's a natural compliment to the GFW and NJPW. He's a real wrestling fan and his passion oozes from his words. His color commentary and narration of the wrestlers and their histories and their feuds and their tendencies was helpful, even for me who is already a budding NJPW fan and can read Japanese. Beautiful duo. I really hope they both do this again.
On the PPV itself: I thought it was a wonderful blend of wrestling styles and celebration of the art form. We had high flying spot fests, we had mma grapple battles, we had fun beer guzzlin' guitar over the head beatin', we had some tag fun, and some solo fun, we had an emotional ride with the last two matches too. Each match had its own story self contained within the wrestling ring, just how it should be. While the show was pressing for time this year and should have been an extra hour for all the bells and whistles like usual, I still think that, for all intents and purposes, for the arguably the most important show in Japanese wrestling history, they brought their A game.
Rating: **** 1/2
