New Japan Pro Wrestling presented their third North American event on Saturday. G1 Special In San Francisco aired LIVE on AXS TV at 8pm EDT. As not everyone gets AXS TV, here is a spoiler-free match listing. Each match is given a Need To Watch Rating of 0.0-10.0. The show will be available on NJPWWorld.com
FIRST MATCH: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Gedo, SHO, YOH & Rocky Romero) vs. Bullet Club (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Haku)
As any good opening match should, this set a frantic pace for the show, and delivered a little bit of foreshadowing to the rest of the show. Haku provides the matches dizzying highs and also its sloppy lows. A fun way to open the show.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.0)
SECOND MATCH: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki)
Sabre and Yano have a rivalry that currently eclipses Ishii and Suzuki’s seeming murder suicide pact. This match is blistering fun. Definitely recommended viewing.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.0)
THIRD MATCH: Taguchi Japan (Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA) vs. Bullet Club (Marty Scurll & Hangman Page)
More fun tag action. KUSHIDA and Scurll continue to have wonderful chemistry. Page and Tanahashi didn’t really give enough of a preview ahead of their G1 Climax showdown to judge how they’ll be together. Taguchi is there as well, and a delight.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.9)
FOURTH MATCH: NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Jeff Cobb
Two words: HOSS. FIGHT. Definitely a match that must be seen to be believed.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.1)
FIFTH MATCH: IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) (c) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & SANADA)
A Dominion rematch that definitely added a fresh twist to the rivalry. This is the most skippable of the title matches, but still a barnburner.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.9)
SIXTH MATCH: CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI)
Naito and Okada. Ospreay and BUSHI. Four of NJPW’s most reliable talents in a match that serves to show why even the exhibition matches in NJPW have more drama than most promotion’s main events. Recommended viewing, but life is also short.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.1)
SEVENTH MATCH: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Dragon Lee
These two cannot have a bad match together. These two men are trying to kill each other. Watch them now while you still can. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
EIGHTH MATCH: IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Match: Jay White (c) vs. Juice Robinson
Jay White and Juice Robinson are probably the biggest success story to come out of the NJPW Dojo in the LIONS GATE era. They elevate themselves and the IWGP United States Championship to new levels with this instant classic match. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
MAIN EVENT: IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Cody
Omega and Cody write a new chapter with some familiar beats. Definitely the wildest match of the show. It is an honest miracle that both men are still alive. This match is terrifying and beautiful. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
