Not sure if anyone here uses XWT but they have a G-1 Climax pack that was uploaded today that is the entire final day of the G-1 from 2007-2016. If anything, I recommend getting the 2011 version (and 2016 but I think ppl here have seen that) for the shocker that was Naito beating Tanahashi in the semis (semis and finals were on the same day back then) and the finals of Nakamura vs. Naito. This was also the year before the briefcase became a thing.
Last edited by .isolated; 07-17-2017 at 01:04 AM.
Reason: Posts: 12,345 :d
If you know Tanahashi's legit injury status (torn-up bicep/tricep, I believe), if the tap revolved around that, it's totally OK in my book. Haven't seen the match yet.
I didn't mind the result, though. With an injury like Tanahashi's, a technical wizard should be able to isolate the arm and get a submission. And it's not like Tanahashi should be winning the tournament anyway.
I'm not a big critic of finisher kickouts in general (they've been going on in big Japanese matches dating to the 90s AJPW epics), but yeah, the Naito kickout from the Ibushi second-rope piledriver is over-the-top ridiculous.
Turned off the last half hour of Raw and decided to check out Ibushi/Naito. Both these guys are good (like, really good), but towards the end of the match, it just seemed like a contest to see who could land on their neck the most.
2nd rope piledriver, 2nd rope German suplex, reverse hurricanrana from the top rope, first destino...These things should really be finishing matches.
Will check out some of the other matches today hopefully.
Watched Omega/Suzuki. Suzuki is a boss, and if I were in charge I'd absolutely think about strapping him with one of the big belts at some point (I don't know what his contract situation is/if he works for other promotions etc.) ... match was solid other than Suzuki not being able to take a reverse hurricanrana correctly, and I can forgive that. Thought Suzuki came out of this match looking better than Omega, and I thought the same thing (and then some) about the Okada/Suzuki match early in the year. I guess I'm a Suzuki fanboy.
Okada/Elgin is a must-watch, easily (IMO) Okada's best non-Omega effort of the year.
Spoiler:
It totally got me on a false finish after Elgin's lariats/crucifix powerbomb combo.
Mainly because I was rooting for Elgin, but hey, still pretty great.
Add Ibushi-Ishii to the must-see list. God, the G1 is awesome.
Spoiler:
Ibushi totally deserved the win, too. He really showed a toughness and striking side here that I hadn't seen before (yeah, I know he has a kickboxing background). I'll still be surprised if he advances to the final (still think that's Naito, especially considering he already has the head-to-head win), but I could see it happening. ... And I just read that Fale beat Naito, which I didn't expect. Interesting. The A block is really intriguing with Naito, Tanahashi, Ibushi, Goto, Sabre (meh) and Fale (more meh) all being 2-1.
Last edited by antidan444; 07-23-2017 at 10:25 PM.
Have not been able to watch additional matches while on vacation, but I figured they'd go Elgin over Omega. Sure seems like they may be setting up to have Tanahashi/Naito and Okada/Omega as the matches that decide the final, as was most likely. I gotta think a Naito/Omega finals rematch is in the cards, but maybe they go Tanahashi/Omega. Can't see Okada in the final. Please dear God don't put ZSJ in the final. Ibushi, Ishii and Goto still have a shot but seems unlikely.
Can someone familiar with NJPW fill me in on what the hell Toru Yano is? That "match" with Kenny Omega was ****ing terrible. Is it supposed to be funny?
Catching up on my G1 viewing. Omega and Elgin are just magic together.
Wow, Elgin used a Burning Hammer. Didn't see that coming. A couple backdrop drivers too. Actually in a lot of ways this felt like a late-1990s AJPW main event (Kings Road style).