I can get why people might not like this match because of all the yelling and borderline-gross hair stuff, but I have to respect it for being so wild in a way that’s legitimately kind of surprising in present-day wrestling. It’s classic Yano shenanigans up against a guy who has never committed less than three hundred percent to a weirder and much more aggressive bit. This drives O-Khan to use the old, severed piece of hair as a taunt and sometimes a weapon throughout their G1 match, as one does.īackstage afterward this match, Yano basically says O-Khan is crazier than him, and that’s a big part of this match’s entertainment value. Toru Yano is based around how Yano cut off the end of O-Khan’s braid in the New Japan Cup this spring. The night’s first A Block match is an insane story of revenge, and the midpoint in what has now been revealed to be at least a six-month-long, on-off rivalry. There are wrestlers out there who can have a hard-hitting match in their 50s (see: Mochizuki and Sugiura over in NOAH’s N-1 right now), but Nagata doesn’t look like one of them. You get the sense that his younger, stronger opponent is letting Nagata get his offense in here, making the match feel fake. It’s watchable, especially in the warm-up position, but it’s hurt by how much Nagata shows his age. Night 3 of G1 31 starts with the first Naito Replacement Match, Tanga Loa vs.

Night 3 – 9/23/21 – A Block – Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo Tanga Loa def.

Nights 3-4 of the G1 aren’t as hot as Nights 1-2, but they’re a good pair of shows, featuring the first Shingo-ZSJ match in twelve years, a surprisingly emotional Bullet Club match, and more of Okada doing classic Okada things. Unfortunately, this was followed by the bad kind of surprise: Naito getting injured for real and forfeiting the rest of his matches. Previously on NJPW‘s G1 Climax 31: The tournament started strong! Its first two shows were very entertaining overall, with some standout matches and surprise results.

Wrestling spirit 3 reviews