KOPW
Toru Yano defeated Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale & Bushi
4.5/10
Bullet Club tried the Fingerpoke of Doom almost 22 years to the date that it happened. I wish it was three members of Bullet Club fighting to turn on each other throughout this. A dick punch gets the win for Toru Yano.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (c) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato to retain the titles
4.75/10
These referee spots are a little too cute for their own good. I'm not a big Taguchi guy, and I'm not big on two comedy heavy matches kicking things off. Taguchi is just....so much. He has a great suplex on El Desperado. There was a weird running crucifix spot where El Desperado sat up and just waited for Taguchi. El Desperado got the win with the Pinche Loco. This was okay at best.
NEVER Openweight Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) defeated Jeff Cobb to retain the title
9/10
Jeff Cobb is a certified Sirloin Beef Sunsabitch. He's looking great right now. There's a horrifying setup that looks like Cobb will Awesome Bomb Takagi off the top rope to the floor, but instead he eats a dive. Cobb's looking so motivated and big time. They're going at it, big slam after big slam. Cobb is slinging around gravity defying suplexes all over the place. Takagi falls out of the ring after SLAPPIN' MEAT, a fantastic sell! Cobb ends up hitting a filthy piledriver that was definitely more like a powerbomb, and I'm here for it. Last Of The Dragon, one of the best moves in wrestling, hits for Takagi.
Cobb went for a backflip powerslam, but it didn't quite work. Shingo Takagi is 220 pounds but I am hereby certifying him a SIRLOIN BEEF SUNSABITCH. Blood Fall wins it for Takagi. This was an unreal ass beating contest. Take that however you want!
Sanada defeated Evil
4/10
Wild to see where these two are now. In 2015 Sanada was in TNA and EVIL was in ROH. I hated Sanada waiting 30 seconds to kick Evil in the ass. I hate the Paradise Lock. It's particularly shitty spot here, and all these ref spots are ridiculous. All night long. They keep flying into an announcer at ringside repeatedly, and it's pretty hilarious. Evil and Sanada are dressed like they're still teaming. ANOTHER REF SPOT allows Dick Togo to help Evil do a Magic Killer.
There's a hideous table spot in a hideous match, and it has too many ref spots on a show that already has too many ref spots. I played Tetris at the end of this. It was really not good at all.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Hiromu Takahashi defeated Taiji Ishimori (c) to become champion
8.25/10
Ishimori would be the biggest thing in NJPW if he were six inches taller. Everything he does looks good and crisp. A 450 onto Hiromu's arm is just incredible, as is a running Destroyer. Hiromu pulls out a wheelbarrow flatliner that really impresses, a fantastic counter. Takahashi and Ishimori have amazing chemistry, and some of the best offense, counters, selling and execution. Takahahsi's suplex into a flatlinter is one of my favorite moves I've ever seen in my life, a bit of a modified Victory Royale. Takahashi hits his finish to win the match. Outstanding match, and always impresssive when you see Takahashi or anyone have that type of match quality two nights in a row.
Double Gold
Kota Ibushi (c) defeated Switchblade Jay White
8.75/10
Jay White is looking good and lean, and Ibushi looks like a superhero. Neckdropamania on Ibushi, it's night two. There's a close call on a hanging slingshot suplex, a suplex in the corner and an apron spot are all close calls. Ibushi calls for the V-Trigger, but misses it. White pretending to scold Gedo was very funny.
They had me fearing for lives on a tease of a top rope Taz superplex. A totally memeworthy moment for Ibushi as he no-sells getting kicked in the face. Ibushi gets destroyed into the ring post. There is a horrifyingly amazing german suplex on White off the middle of the second rope. A perfect nearfall after a Last Ride. White barely gets his shoulder up, and Red Shoes played it well.
MORE HEAD DROPS! Head drops all the time! Ibushi has the match won after a Kamigoye, but Gedo pulls Red Shoes out and KILLS HIM. A Blade Runner is kicked out of. Ibushi counters another with a V-Trigger. Kota Ibushi wins after more knees! Wow!
The post match is incredible. Jay White can barely move, but he won't give up. Ibushi wants some more too. Sanada takes the ring to challenge Ibushi, THIS AINT IT.
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!