FIRST MATCH: Yuya Uemura vs. Ren Narita
A solid match, but not quite the show stealer that Young Lion matches have been on this tour. Uemura still hasn’t quite found his groove like fellow rookie Yota Tsuji, and Narita uses that to his advantage. Fun but inessential match.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)
SECOND MATCH: Shota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka & Yuji Nagata vs. Taguchi Japan (Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Jushin “Thunder” Liger)
A very fun match that saw Oka and Umino take center stage. Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Liger did a good job of testing the Young Lions, poking and prodding them for weaknesses. Like the first match, fun but inessential.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)
THIRD MATCH: Roppongi 3K (Sho, Yoh & Rocky Romero) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & Takashi Iizuka)
The best of these matches. Roppongi 3K’s rivalry with Suzuki-gun has been frustrating, but definitely got the proper blow-off. Definitely recommended for anyone that was soured by previous efforts from these two teams.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.9)
FOURTH MATCH: David Finlay, Toa Henare, Togi Makabe & Michael Elgin vs. CHAOS (Jay White, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI)
This match…happened. Henare and Ishii continue to shine. Elgin and Yoshi-Hashi continue their inexplicable rivalry, and Yano does Yano things. Inoffensive, but definitely nothing spectacular outside the finishing sequence.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.5)
FIFTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, SANADA, EVIL & Hiromu Takahashi) vs. Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Minoru Suzuki)
This was less a match, and more a penultimate battle in a war that will climax on Sunday at Wrestling Hi No Kuni. Every rivalry in this match has been filled with heat and drama, and this match pours gasoline on it. Definitely recommended place to begin the show, for those in a time crunch.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.7)
SIXTH MATCH: NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto vs. Juice Robinson
Juice Robinson is having a banner 2018. While not exactly at the level of his New Japan Cup match with Tanahashi, this match definitely proved that his greatness was no fluke. Goto takes to the role of veteran ring general very well. Juice, wanting to prove that he’s one to take deathly serious, unleashes new moves and shows a level of heart, yet to be seen from the young Gaijin. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
MAIN EVENT: Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA vs. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay)
A match that has plenty of action from its main rivalries, but is truly made special by the new combinations it allows. Okada and KUSHIDA have excellent chemistry, as do Tanahashi and Ospreay. There’s no good reason this match was main event, but it was a damn fine way to come down from Juice vs. Goto. Highly recommended.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.9)
