I started watching NJPW right after Dominion and have almost no prior knowledge besides a little about the histories of a few WWE guys that have come from there.
David Finlay – I think this guy is legit, and it seems I think a lot fonder of him compared to A LOT of NJPW fans I come across. Like I've already said, I'm a new fan so I understand I haven't been around too long, so I haven't seen most of the reasons as to why y'all think so low of him. But from what I've seen in this G1, he's great! I like the way he leads, because it's not archetype that you see much in wrestling. He's a great wrestler, and he's a pretty good talker too. I like him a lot and I want to see him lead Bullet Club more after this G1. Don't know how that'll work out for me because Kidd is destined to challenge him, but I'll enjoy it while I can!
Konosuke Takeshita – I’ve already seen enough of Take from AEW, and I already know he’s a god in the form of a wrestler. Glad he’s going through although I don’t think he’ll make it to the final. So upset he has to go back to Tony Khan’s wasteland of booking…
Yota Tsuji – This guy has it. One of the most interesting looks and presentations I’ve seen in a wrestler, and maybe it’s just the creepy smile… But regardless, combine that with his wrestling and he’s put himself a few steps ahead of all the young guys in the company, with the exception of maybe Kidd. With all that being said though, I don’t think he’s the Tanahashi that NJPW is looking for. Tsuji fans, you may not like this next part, I’m about to be a shitty WWE mark. If this ace that NJPW is looking for is comparable to say John Cena from 2006 – whenever he stopped wrestling full time, then I don't think Tsuji is that (I say John Cena because he’s comparable to Tanahashi in the sense that they were both poster boys and THE top dog in their company during their prime). To be honest, I think Tsuji is more of a foil to whoever the ace will be. I see him more as a Randy Orton or a CM Punk, who were arguably John Cena’s biggest rivals. And that definitely is not a bad thing, I fully believe that Tsuji will be a top five guy consistently in the company for the next ten years. He has all the tools he needs to be a top guy: a push to the playoffs of the G1, a NJC win, a sick look, a good promo, great wrestling, and a fire fuckin entrance song. I don’t think he’s the ace that NJPW is looking for, but he is destined for huge things in the future and I’m so grateful to be picking up NJPW now, when he's just getting started. I’m taking him to go to the Finals, but ultimately losing to ZSJ. But man… this guy sports entertains. I’m so sorry please forgive me
Jeff Cobb – When you look up a picture of meat, he is what you see. How has this guy not been snatched by WWE or AEW yet? Every match he has is great and honestly, I’m glad he hasn’t been snatched yet. He plays a great role in NJPW, and I’m excited to see what he looks like after this down period that the United Empire is going through.
Ren Narita – Sick of the shenanigans. I mean, his talent is obvious. NJPW knows how talented he is, and it doesn't take much as a new fan to see it. The interference is fun sometimes in EVIL matches but even then it’s overdone a lot. I want to see more from Ren, without the interference. Please and thank you, Gedo.
Hirooki Goto – The oldest underdog I’ve ever seen in my life. He really had me convinced that he was gonna go through and win the whole damn thing. But for whatever reason, Gedo didn’t want him to be great. I understand that Goto is one of the dads of this company at this point, so I guess his time has passed. But I mean the performances he put on in this tournament were phenomenal! And I want to see more! I wish he went through but it is what it is. People will look back on this tournament and the first thing a lot of them are going to remember is Goto’s amazing performances. The G in G1 stands for Goto!
HENARE – Don’t have too much to say honestly. I mean he’s a fantastic wrestler and plays his role really well, but doesn’t do more than that for me. I’m excited to see what more he’s going to do with the NEVER championship, and what his role is going to be in United Empire going forward. Maybe he’ll get even more shine because of the power vacuum within that faction now?
Yuya Uemara – I think it’s funny how Yuya seemed to be really overlooked before this tournament started. I imagine because Tsuji, Shota, and Ren are the biggest names of this young generation, so maybe that’s why? Regardless, he clearly came in with the motivation to fuck up the whole narrative, and job well done. There’s nothing really fancy about him in all honesty, and I think interestingly enough, that’s what sets him apart from the other younglings. His ability to do the bayface-isms really REALLY well in this tournament set him apart from the other guys and their lack of ability to do that. It’s obvious to see that prior to this tournament, he hasn’t had the backing the other three had, and I feel confident in the fact that that’ll change after this. Hopefully he’s not out too long with his injury, and is able to recapture the same momentum he left off with!
El Phantasmo – Oh boy where do I start. He’s one of the few wrestlers that I was a little bit of a fan of prior to me getting into NJPW. I used to always see clips of him and Hikuleo, which I always thought was such an interesting pair, and clips when he was part of Bullet Club but then switched to Tama’s faction. At the beginning of the tourney, it broke my heart so much that he’s all alone and left with Jado while Tama is in WWE making wolverine noises, and Loa is botching everything he does, and Hikuleo is probably stashed in WWE developmental waiting for his moment. I was always screaming at my tv for his hands to connect when he was making his little heart gesture (what am i doing with my life? Screaming at my tv for a grown man to make a heart gesture?) Anyways, his arc of slowly refinding himself through this tournament, all while putting on fire matches has been fantastic. I’m guessing that he’s going to be on his own for a while, unassociated to a faction, and hopefully that last match with Finlay set up a Global championship match at some point. Go ELP! I’ll continue to make heart gestures with you while I’m watching in my room, and then contemplate what exactly it is I’m doing with my life!
Boltin Oleg – Unfortunately, don't have too much to say about Bolt. Other than he’s super legit for a guy as young as he is, which we all already know, I don’t have too much to say. He has big things set up for him in the future and he clearly has the backup of NJPW’s booking so hopefully, big things to come!
My top 5 favorite matches from this block (in no order):
Konosuke Takeshita vs Yuya Uemara – Will forever be known as the match where Yuya put his name on everybody’s radar
Konosuke Takeshita vs Hirooki Goto – “THE G IN G1 STANDS FOR GOTO” – all of us at the time
Konosuke Takeshita vs ELP – This must be the match where ELP found himself again
Jeff Cobb vs HENARE – Two meaty men slapping each other’s meat. Count me in.
Yota Tsuji vs Konosuke Takeshita – I might be bias, but this was the first G1 match in my life that I’ve been excited for
This came out to be farrrrr too long but I appreciate everybody that took the time out to read even half of this!
by kashebe