Juice Robinson vs Yujiro Takahashi
Highlights:
Yujiro with a snap leg drop
Very Awkward looking neck breaker where Robinson just fell over.
Yujiro with a beautiful fisherman suplex.
Yujiro with a reverse DDT
Yujiro Hits the Miami Shine for a two count
Robinson misses a cannonball
Juice hits Pulp Friction for the three count
Winner: Juice Robinson by Pinfall
Grade: 2 1/2
Thoughts:
The Tokyo Pimp looked strong in this match. Juice took a beating and picked up a resilient win. I still can't buy into the Juice Robinson character and the match itself was underwhelming at best. You expect underwhelming matches in the first round but usually the better wrestler walks out on top and that wasn't the case here. So far Bullet Club is 1 for 4 in this tournament.
SANADA vs Yoshi-Hashi
Highlights:
SANADA with a slingshot cross body over the top rope.
Yoshi-Hashi turns a suplex into a neck breaker.
SANADA with a Ric Flair flip over the turnbuckle and turned it into a springboard dropkick
Yoshi -Hashi reaches the ropes after spending a ridiculous amount of time in the Skulls End
Butterfly Lock and SANADA reaches the rope, they flip out of the hold and right back into it.
Yoshi-Hashi hits a Swanton for a two count.
SANADA with a Skulls End for the win.
Winner: SANADA by submission
Grade: 3 1/2 Stars
Thoughts:
Say what you will about EVIL but I think SANADA is the most intimidating member of Los Ingobernables. SANADA is ready to be a main eventer and he worked well with the fan favorite Yoshi-Hashi. This was a very strong match and is on par with the EVIL v Tanahashi match for best so far in this tournament. SANADA looked strong and like he could be a dark horse to win the whole tournament.
Katsuyori Shibata vs Minoru Suzuki
Highlights:
Suzuki locks on an arm bar with Shibata's arm draped over the top rope.
Taichi with some outside interference putting the boots to Shibata on the floor.
Suzuki takes the fight to the crowd slamming Shibata into chairs and then hitting him with the guardrail.
Beautiful hesitation drop kick with Suzuki in the corner. I could seriously watch that every day.
Shibata locks in the Octopus Lock
Suzuki with a Penalty Kick for a two count.
Suzuki applies his version of the Octopus Lock
Double kicks to the face knocks both men down.
Shibata hits a death valley driver then a PK for the three count
Winner: Shibata
Grade: 3 Stars
Thoughts:
The Wrestler is my pick to win the whole tournament. As much as I love Shibata and every thing he does. This match seemed to drag for the first half. They really didn't seem to hit a grove until about midway through but the ending really made up for the slow beginning.
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega
Highlights:
The Cleaner plays to the crowd making sure he "Too Sweeted" anyone with an Omega or Elite sign.
Omega hits a moonsault off the guardrail
Ishii with a release power slam
Ishii with the biggest Frankensteiner I've ever seen of the top turn buckle
Omega got dropped on his head out of a German suplex where it looked like he was trying to land on his feet.
Dr Willy Bomb for a two count.
Croyt's Wrath for a two count.
Ishii counters the One Winged Angel with a Stunner
Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the three count
Winner: Ishii
Grade: 4 Stars
Thoughts:
What??? This is one decision that I did not see coming. I thought for sure the Cleaner would make it to at least the Semi Finals but to loose in the first round after the year he has had is an odd thing to see. Bullet Club ended the first round 1 for 5 and Bad Luck Fale is their only chance to win this tournament. The match itself took a long time to get going, much like the Shibata match, but once it got rolling it easily became the match of the first round.
Final Thoughts:
I am seriously in shock and slightly disappointed. The first round usually isn't filled with greatness but this one was filled with clunkers. EVIL and SANADA is an intriguing possible finals match up and it's nice to see The Wrestler keep his hopes alive. I was really looking forward to an Omega v Shibata match but that will have to wait until later. Omega looked strong in defeat and even though he lost in the first round he put on the best show of the weekend.
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