Day 4 – Round 1
Date: June 23, 2020
YOH def. BUSHI
Match Time: 15:42
If you want to talk about bland then this is it and what a shame too because I like both wrestlers, BUSHI in particular. As an LIJ fan myself, I think BUSHI is still capable of putting out good bangers but this was far from it. Both wrestlers had no heat or intensity at all throughout the match and without a crowd to play off to, it suffered immensely. Maybe they were both injured going in so that’s why they’re taking it easy? Perhaps shortening the match time could’ve saved it but who knows. I’m just really disappointed as I thought this math could’ve been at least a hidden gem but it turns out it should just stay hidden forever in our memories. SHO having that instant classic against Shingo, I think it’s clear which of the RP3K is the Shawn and Marty of the two once they split off. BUSHI wins with the MX to no fanfare, literally and figuratively.
YOSHI-HASHI def. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Match Time: 17:35
Now for a match that is actually surprisingly good, who would’ve thought that in 2020 we’ll have YOSHI freakin’ HASHI have a decent bout against old ankles Tenzan? I sure didn’t but it’s a welcomed surprise. It isn’t like a five star match or anything crazy like that but these two actually put in a solid effort to make this match entertaining, YOSHI-HASHI for all the years I’ve thought of him as a joke, I know deep down he’s actually a good worker, just heavily lacking in the personality department. Tenzan of course is one of the greats but clearly past his prime now, although from time to time, he can still dish it out if given the proper opponent and I think YOSHI-HASHI being an athletic much younger wrestler than him is a good enough match, he won’t elevate his opponents to the next level but give them a good enough push to have a performance like this. A lot of brawling and striking exchanges with a few close calls here and there, I think the best way to describe it is that it was a good television match. Not much else to say really. YOSHI-HASHI advances with the Butterfly Lock and as much as I praised this match, he needs a new finisher because that is one of the worse looking submissions ever. He looked like he was hugging his dad there than actually trying to make him tap.
Hirooki Goto def. Yujiro Takahashi
Match Time: 16:40
An interesting match up to say the least, former 3x New Japan Cup winner Hirooki Goto against The Tokyo Pimp. Similar vibes to the previous match, I thought it was a solid bout from both. Yujiro at this point of his career, kind of phones it in during matches nowadays but with a workhorse like Goto in the ring, he could bring out the best out of anybody and we saw glimpses of the Yujiro of old. There was a reason why he was seen as equals with Tetsuya Naito back then. Overall though this match wasn’t really anything special, they don’t have a lot of history together to have a compelling story but what we got was still a nice little match either way. At least Goto got the win but I don’t see him getting far.
EVIL def. Satoshi Kojima
Match Time: 20:08
These two wrestles have only faced each other once before in singles competition and I still do remember their G1 match actually it was Kojima’s last one so far and he really performed well there and now they still did great. Their styles are similar enough to have the right amount of chemistry to pull off an intense, high volume action. Some good back-and-forth throughout but it was mainly EVIL who had the better on the former World Champion. Once again the Third Generation group have proven that they still got it and if given the right opponents, they can go and pull off some surprisingly entertaining matches. Kojima, just like Nagata is still actually a very solid worker and it shows here, he didn’t feel like he got carried by EVIL to a good match, both men evidently put in the work. I hope he gets to have that G1 retirement run just like his peers at some point. Despite Kojima still giving it his all, EVIL is still victorious and advances.
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