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Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax Day Five Review

July 26, 2015 | Posted by Larry Csonka
8.3
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax Day Five Review  

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NJPW G1 Climax Day Three 7.26.15

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Block A Match: Bad Luck Fale defeated Doc Gallows @ 8:43 via pin []
Block A Match: Toru Yano defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan @ 6:35 via pin [**½]
Block A Match: Katsuyori Shibata defeated Togi Makabe @ 9:30 via pin [****]
Block A Match: Kota Ibushi defeated AJ Styles @ 19:05 via pin [****½]
Block A Match: Tetsuya Naito defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi @ 24:15 via pin [****]


* Disclaimer I will be doing what I did with the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, I will just be reviewing the tournament matches from each day. They are what matters, and I don’t worry about burning out.

Bad Luck Fale defeated Doc Gallows: On night three, Bad Luck Fale defeated Togi Makabe to go 1-1 in the tournament, while Gallows lost to Kota Ibushi to remain winless. While these guys have been two of the worst so far in the tournament, I can’t call this match bad. This was a basic hoss match, slow offense, very slow and no real cool power spots to separate it from any other basic/low level big dude match you’ll see in 2015. They tried to heat it up with a brawl and went to the floor, but it just didn’t do anything for me. Fale then won with a really bad version of the grenade; you may ask why Gallows was protected from a border toss? Booking wise I have no clue, if Fale is winning he needs to be Bad Luck Falling bitches. My best guess is that both guys have been so rough in the tournament that they were afraid that Gallows would get hurt. It could have been worse, but it certainly wasn’t good.

Toru Yano defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan: Toru Yano came into this match winless, but oddly entertaining in his own way. Tenzan had a rough night one, but found some of that G1 magic with Tanahashi in night three; but he only has one win so far. I wouldn’t call this good exactly, but it had its moments. Yano worked over Tenzan most of the time and used his usual bag of tricks to try and steal the win. And then Tenzan fought back and hit this head butt off the top on Yano and both were busted open badly, I mean there were people uncomfortable with how much they bled. The combination of Zombie Tenzan’s comebacks and the blood, combined with Yano’s antics made this a completely fine, and at times fun match.

Katsuyori Shibata defeated Togi Makabe: Shibata is coming into the match 1-1 in the tournament, but both matches have been great. Makabe is also 1-1, but hasn’t had the quality matches that Shibata has. There is something about two guys trying to kick the shit out of each other (yeah, this is wrestling but they were stiffing the hell out of each other) that just works. These guys are really good at it, and made the most of their time. Shibata is making me love life with his intensity, his style and his consistency in his performances so far. They worked to their strengths, they didn’t go long, they didn’t try to go out outside of their lane; they said this is what we do best and that is what we will do and it just worked. Makabe survived the onslaught, fired back with lariats but just couldn’t overcome as he ate the penalty kick for the finish. This was so much fun.

Kota Ibushi defeated AJ Styles: Styles is 2-0 heading into the match and delivering well in his matches, while Ibushi is 1-1, with one solid and one MOTY caliber match. Both men have delivered some high quality already and I was really looking forward to this, and it did not disappoint. They did a lot of stuff here I liked, Ibushi being younger and slower, almost as if AJ was looking at himself from years ago, while AJ was the older and smarter worker who can still do some amazing things. AJ also did well with the heel stuff, not over the top with it, but just enough that it got heat and it got people into Ibushi more I felt. The base of the match was well done, filled with the signature spots and work that made sense and built appropriately to the finishing stretch where they opened the flood gates for big move counters and teases. Ibushi escaped a clash, survived bloody Sunday and then connected with the Phoenix splash to pick up a big, big win. I loved this, it was one of the best matches of the tournament thus far, and Ibushi has been having a great tournament so far. This was everything I had hoped for.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi: Naito is 1-1 heading into the match, while Tanahashi is 2-0 and has been completely awesome. This was another great match, and while not quite as good as the previous match, was a good main event. Naito was great here, really working the new heel persona. From the entrance, to his work and the post match attack of Tanahashi, it all worked. Tanahashi continues working like it was three years ago, selling well and just working big time matches as if it was no effort. Again, it was worth the downgrade for him so that he could recover, because his G1 efforts have been excellent. Naito targeted the neck during the match, winning with a reverse DDT. The finish felt a bit weak and anticlimactic, but played into the work so I didn’t hate it. This was a strong way to end the show.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.3
The final score: review Very Good
The 411
Night five was easily the best night overall of tournament matches, with the top three matches all being worth your time. Ibushi and Styles is a low-end match of the year candidate, and a huge win for Ibushi. Shibata and Tanahashi continue to be great, and the tournament feels as if it is picking up some steam. Until Tuesday.
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