Every G1 match is now trying to compete with Moxley vs Yano for top spot as Match Of The Tournament.  With the tournament winding down it’s unlikely we see that MOTY contender knocked from its perch but Naito’s neck and Shingo are likely to give it a try.

Tomohiro Ishii vs Toru Yano

This started hot with Ishii having no time for Yano’s shit and beating on him from the start.  Yano once again proved his status as GOAT by powering up and strong-styling Ishii.  They proceeded to have a NEVER Openweight style match involving forearms and angry mumbling.  Ishii overpowers his teammate and wins with a brainbuster.

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii Rating: 6 out of 10

Taichi vs Juice Robinson

A fight right from the start as both guys traded shots all match long.  Taichi, outside of the stalling and interference, is quite good and we saw that side of him here as he was hitting Juice back just as hard as Juice hit him.  What dragged this down was the end as there was too much cowering behind the ref and Kanemaru interference that led to Taichi getting the win.

Winner: Taichi Rating: 4 out of 10

Jeff Cobb vs Hirooki Goto

This isn’t the first match between these two but it might just be the best.  Goto and Cobb have had a few high profile matches that didn’t land but this one was just a good hoss battle with both of them using brute force to try and overcome their opponent.  If you like big dudes throwing hands then you’ll like this.  Goto managed to get the win with the GTR.

Winner: Hirooki Goto Rating: 7 out of 10

Jay White vs Jon Moxley

Moxley gets the jump on White and we are brawling outside. The match was almost nothing but sequences of counters once they got back into the ring.  Jay played to his strengths with all the counters while allowing Moxley to hit him quite hard.  The most I’ve liked White maybe ever.  After countless Gedo interferences, White won with the Blade Runner.

Winner: Jay White Rating: 4 out of 10

Tetsuya Naito vs Shingo Takagi

This was good if a bit long.  Naito is one of the better workers in NJPW and he can pull off some really cool stuff especially when presented with a hoss like Shingo to work off.  Shingo played his part to perfection by acting like a tank with a Ferrari engine and murdering Naito as much as possible.  While the length worked against it I think most people will love this match and Naito getting the win was the right call.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito Rating: 6 out of 10

This was probably my favourite night of the G1 so far with some good matches and no real bad matches.  We’re at the stage where every point means something which adds some tension to the matches as well.

Standings

A Block

Kazuchika Okada – 12 Points

Kota Ibushi – 10 Points

Hiroshi Tanahashi- 8 Points

KENTA – 8 Points

EVIL – 8 Points

Zack Sabre Junior – 6 Points

SANADA – 6 Points

Bad Luck Fale – 4 Points

Lance Archer – 4 Points

Will Ospreay – 4 Points

B Block

Jon Moxley – 10 Points

Tomohiro Ishii – 8 Points

Hirooki Goto – 8 Points

Jay White – 8 Points

Tetsuya Naito – 8 Points

Toru Yani – 6 Points

Juice Robinson – 6 Points

Taichi – 6 Points

Jeff Cobb – 6 Points

Shingo Takagi – 4 Points