NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING
G1 CLIMAX 28 – NIGHT 18
AUGUST 11, 2018
BUDOKAN HALL

Watch: NJPW World

It is Saturday, and with that brings the second of three consecutive Budokan Hall shows for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Headlined by a match that took place six years ago in the same building, a match that got Kota Ibushi banned from performing in the Budokan, tonight’s show is sure to make history. The three competitors still alive are Tetsuya Naito, Kenny Omega, and Kota Ibushi. I won’t run down the scenarios since surely you’ve seen them run down multitudes of times elsewhere, but one could make a case for any of those three men moving on to face A block winner Hiroshi Tanahashi in about eighteen hours time.

The undercard had little to say for itself tonight, but it was fun nonetheless. David Finlay won the C block that he’s been hyping up the entire tournament, pinning Shota Umino. EVIL & Minoru Suzuki went at it a lot, making it seem a feud may be in the future between the two. Tomoaki Honma also wrestled again, and had an emotional moment after the match by breaking down in tears after Makabe pinned Gedo. Very emotional.

UNDERCARD RESULTS:

  • David Finlay & Michael Elgin def. Shota Umino & Henare
  • Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale def. Chase Owens & Hangman Page
  • Marty Scurll & The Young Bucks def. Roppongi 3K & Jay White
  • EVIL & BUSHI def. El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki
  • Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Gedo, YOSHI-HASHI & Kazuchika Okada

G1 CLIMAX 28 – B BLOCK
TORU YANO (6) DEF. TAMA TONGA (6) – DQ

If Tanga Loa or Bad Luck Fale interfere in this match, they will be suspended for three months and fined. Considering this match means literally nothing, it would be smart for them to sit out. Fortunately for us, they did decide to come out, flanked by a cavalcade of referees and president Harold Meij. The match itself was no good by itself, with both men doing their trademark spots. Tama Tonga did a horrible looking choke, the aforementioned interference happened, Tama hit the Gun Stun on referee Kenta Sato, and this was over. Good riddance. I am ecstatic that I won’t have to watch a Tama Tonga singles match again anytime soon.

The main takeaway from this match was NJPW President Harold Meij, along with chairman Naoki Sugabayashi, coming out with the referees to stop the BC OG’s from interfering. Authority figures in wrestling are an overwrought trope, and it would be a massive disappointment if New Japan were to begin using them as well. Hopefully this was a one-off incident to display the “importance” of the angle. *

G1 CLIMAX 28 – B BLOCK
JUICE ROBINSON (6) DEF. HIROOKI GOTO (6)

At the offset of this match, Rocky Romero made an excellent point that both of these men are competitors who struggle to win the big one. Before winning his IWGP US title, Juice had many unsuccessful title attempts for both the NEVER and Intercontinental belts, with two of his NEVER challenges coming against Hirooki Goto. Juice got closer each time, but he couldn’t put get the job done when in the end.

He got the job done tonight. Juice looked like a big deal in this match, successfully dueling with Hirooki Goto at every step. If Goto chopped, Juice chopped back. If Goto went for a GTR, Juice tried for a Pulp Friction. These two had an excellent closing stretch, featuring multiple reversals, with Juice finally hitting Pulp Friction on Goto and picking up the big win. This was really great for both in-ring and storyline reasons, and well worth a watch. ****

In between the two matches, an announcement was made that the BC OG’s have been escorted out of the building,to keep them from interfering in the main event. Considering the magnitude of Omega vs. Ibushi, certainly everyone would hope that it wouldn’t be spoiled by Tongan bullshit.

G1 CLIMAX 28 – B BLOCK
TOMOHIRO ISHII (10) DEF. SANADA (8)

Despite having nothing to fight for but pride, these two went out and absolutely murdered each other, creating an absolute war of a match. Every G1, Tomohiro Ishii reminds us that he is one of the greatest wrestlers in the world, with this year being no exception. There were moments in this match where I legitimately thought both men were hurt, and considering the lumps both have taken in the tournament, my thoughts may have been right. One of this matches’ many amazing spots were the callbacks to SANADA’s mentor Keiji Mutoh, featuring SANADA missing a moonsault being followed up with a Tomohiro Ishii shining wizard! This match had everything I love in my wrestling: stiff lariats, finisher stealing, a hot closing stretch, and most importantly, a win by Tomohiro Ishii. Absolutely incredible stuff, a fitting cap to Ishii’s outstanding G1 campaign. ****1/2

 

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G1 CLIMAX 28 – B BLOCK
ZACK SABRE JR. (12) DEF. TETSUYA NAITO (12)

In a rematch from March’s New Japan Cup, Zack Sabre Jr. showed once again that he has Tetsuya Naito’s number. These two are perfect foils for one another, with Zack’s vicious offense combining perfectly with Naito’s out of this world selling. These two are so good that whenever they do a move or a counter sequence, you can’t help but just sit back and be amazed.

You can’t walk away from this match without being amazed, for many reasons beyond the match itself. The match was great, featuring the best of what both men had to offer. Naito once again got cocky in the big moment and went for the second Destino, and Sabre capitalized by hitting a devastating Zack Driver to put an end to the hopes and dreams of Los Ingobernables fans worldwide. In order to win, Tetsuya Naito needs to let bygones be bygones and let the Stardust Genius go. The Genius still exists within him, as he spiked Sabre with Gloria halfway into the match. But he once again let his past overcome him, wanting to put on a show, and it cost him. Zack Sabre Jr. is a made man in New Japan, and Tetsuya Naito will have to go back to the drawing board once again. Gripping, incredible stuff. ****3/4

G1 CLIMAX 28 – B BLOCK
KOTA IBUSHI (12) DEF. KENNY OMEGA (12)

On August 18th, 2012 in Budokan Hall, Kota Ibushi pinned Kenny Omega in the main event. On August 11th, 2018 in Budokan Hall, Kota Ibushi did the same. Kenny Omega has beaten nearly everybody in his storied career, but the one man he cannot beat when it counts is Kota Ibushi. In the build-up to the finals of last year’s G1, Kota Ibushi expressed his desire to face his former lover in the finals, while also fearing that they might kill each other. Cut to a year later, and the lovers have reunited, and they are to wrestle each other in a match to decide who will advance to the finals of the G1.

Ibushi’s fears were warranted, as although the two showed a little restraint (perhaps a Wrestle Kingdom main event is in mind?), these two absolutely destroyed each other in a 23 minute display of brutality. This match wouldn’t be out of place on one of those TV shows where the wife kills their husband, except in this case, they’d be simultaneously killing each other. These two had no qualms in leaving all emotions outside the ring to try and prove to each other just who the better man was. One of this match’s many wicked spots came when Omega thought Ibushi was going for a standing moonsault, only for Ibushi to double knee Omega in a vicious move that very believably could have cracked Omega’s sternum.

Another aspect of this match that was perfect was Ibushi’s selling of the V-Trigger. Ibushi made Omega’s signature move look like it was death itself, which added a visual aspect of this match that greatly enhanced it. Omega even kicked out of the Kamigoye in a desperation effort late in the match, only for Ibushi to hit the Kamigoye after a Tiger Driver off the top rope to increase his record against his lover to 3-0.

This was a breathtaking display, pro wrestling at its absolute finest. This is the match that combines it all: psychology, emotion, brutality, and most importantly, cool shit. It left me wanting more, but in a good way, as these two clearly have many more chapters in their story to tell. I had to sit for nearly an hour after this match to let my thoughts truly sink in, to let the masterpiece I had just witnessed truly wash over me. Now, I am left with no doubt whatsoever: this was pro wrestling at it’s absolute peak, and the absolute masterpiece of a match. *****

FINAL THOUGHTS

What an incredible night of action in a sold-out Budokan Hall to cap off what has been an all-time block in G1 history. Ignoring the Tongan bullshit, which thankfully didn’t rear its head, this show was fantastic, with a main event delivering to the expectations we all had for it, while leaving us wanting more. Much will be said about New Japan’s inability to tell a long-term story in regards to Tetsuya Naito, but when you see the story Omega and Ibushi have created, all those concerns are washed out the window for me. After all, there’s a difference between bad booking and not getting what you want. What a show.

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