Horangi

There was zero reaction for Nagata et al., a good reaction for Taichi/Kanemaru by the live crowd, and a GREAT reaction for SANADA/BUSHI (as great as clap crowd can be). Would not be against NJPW loaning SANADA to AJPW for a while, might give him some direction and freshen him up a bit. Trade him for Jake, I still selfishly dream of a Jake New Japan run.

Zach is in the TV Title Tournament final so he has a WK match. Taichi has been setting up going after KOPW again so may have a match with Shingo.

World & Super Jr. Tag League teams: World Tag League: - Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano - Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI - Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd - Tetsuya Naito & SANADA - Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare - Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher - Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste - Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer - Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens - "King of Darkness" EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi Super Jr. Tag League: - Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors - KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight - Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles - YOH & Lio Rush - Alex Zayne & El Lindaman - BUSHI & Titan - TJP & Francesco Akira - Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI - Ace Austin & Chris Bey - SHO & Dick Togo Some fascinating potential matches particularly in the Junior Tag League. Hoping for Aussie Open to take the World Tag League of course.

My gut feel is Zack vs Narita final with Shibata on commentary to see the guy he had his exhibition return against his disciple/official return match opponent. If Narita can go clean over Ishii, surely it isn't a stretch for him to go over SANADA too

Taichi vs SANADA was really great, and is exactly the kind of match I hope this TV title keeps on producing. Taichi is so good, the boat has probably sailed on world title challenging Taichi unfortunately but his development over the past few years has been a joy to watch. Sub-15 minute SANADA without Paradise Lock is so much better. I doubt Kawada comes back for one more based on the translation of his post match comments, but if he ever did it'd have to be against Taichi. Never say never I guess... For WK, nothing super interesting so far... I'm guessing KUSHIDA was meant to be in the 4 way instead of Wato. Wato has been quietly improving, though you wouldnt really know based off English commentary (which I've finally given up on...)

Was hoping for a couple of outsider teams in the tag league (like a GLEAT team, Mashimo/KAZMA again etc). However I'm still excited for it, especially as I'll be at the 13/11 Korakuen show (the girlfriend is happy that my wrestling show on our weekend away from Osaka will be a morning show haha). Not sure who wins...Saitos?

I wish! Loved Gino on commentary. I've heard different things relating to him though ranging from him being completely done with wrestling to it just being a visa thing, guess we just have to wait and see with these Tamashii shows.

NJPW just announced its touring Australia/New Zealand brand - NJPW Tamashii First shows 11/11 in Christchurch, 13/11 in Sydney. Fale, Ishimori & KENTA announced for the first shows so far with the goal to mix it up with Australia/NZ and Fale Dojo talent. I'll be in Japan for the Sydney show (hopefully Sumotickets are successful in getting me 5/11 Osaka EDION Arena show tickets) otherwise I'd be more than happy to travel to Sydney for this. Hopefully next time they do Melbourne.

I had major chills for Kaze ni Nare, sounded louder than a pre-COVID full Korakuen. After this, I wouldn't mind if they just ran half Korakuen with chanting, may not look as good but my god what a difference it made. A fun main event was made so much better with a mega-hot crowd.

According to Chris Charlton there is no immediate danger to his life and the headline was clickbaity so seemingly things are okay! Tenryu is one of my all-time favourites so very happy to see that.

Fucking hell Naito and Ospreay brought it tonight, first time against each other and it did not disappoint

Budokan may be restricting crowds still, the number claimed is in line with Super Juniors final and NOAH's show last month. I didn't watch the NOAH show so I don't know if they had people in the upper deck, but Super Juniors was definitely the same. Though with how hard Kevin Kelly & Chris Charlton have been pushing tickets I doubt they'd be even close to getting enough sold to open the upper deck even if they could. @Sublimesummed up my feelings perfectly I think, the G1 used to be my most anticipated time in wrestling and I would be watching every show live (being either in Melbourne or Seoul helps with the convenient time differences)...but this year (actually it may have started last year) has seen me have no problem not watching some live or skipping all together. Maybe Super Juniors is now my most anticipated event as that was a blast. I wont say the G1 has been bad, but it hasn't been that unmissable event and has real late 00s vibes of lethargy once again. I will say I am not as much on the doom & gloom as many are, I do think there is a future where we have great tourneys with Umino, Uemura, Tsuji, Oiwa & co, its just getting there that feels like a slog at this point & whether or not any of them will be megastars like Okada or Tanahashi.

I was thinking about this, initially my reaction was that Ospreay & Takagi are new guys pushed to top level in the past 18 months. However, looking at how this G1 has played out, 3 of the 4 groups are going to be topped by guys who have been topping groups/in G1 finals for the last 5 or 6 years (Okada, Naito, White) and only D Block is giving us someone somewhat new (Ospreay or Takagi but both have been in the main picture for nearly 18 months now so not exactly new, but New Japan new). They have a massive log jam of guys in that position just under the main 3 that they could slot up and have top a group (i.e. Zack, Goto, Jonah, Taichi, KENTA, EVIL, SANADA, Tama, Ishii, Cobb) so I am hugely disappointed in this G1 that no one new has been put in a prominent position (yes, Finlay got some big wins, Jonah beat Okada, Goto even feels fresh with his wins but none of them are topping the group and advancing). I did get a chuckle at over half the crowd walking out after Jay beat Taichi, an example of the bookers just being out of touch with the fanbase - not for pushing Jay, I think it was more a case of the fanbase wanting someone like Taichi to get a big win instead of just looking strong and falling at the last hurdle. I don't think we will see anyone new in a major featured position until Umino or Uemura come back and who knows how long that'll be and if they take the traditional route with either of them, even on return it'll take a few years before they are up there.