July 6th, Dallas Texas is the spot where the 2019 version of the G1 kicks off. The blocks are set and we now set forth on the most grueling and prestigious tournament in wrestling. Sit back and enjoy the ride as this only comes around once a year for a reason.
Lance Archer vs Will Ospreay kicks of this tournament. A brand new look from Archer since his KES partner has bolted for another promotion and to be honest, he's scarier then usual. Archer charges while Ospreay is taking off his jacket and catches a One Man Spanish Fly for his effort. Archer rolls out of the ring and is hit by a corkscrew moonsault on the outside. Ospreay throws Archer back in and hits a springboard 450 for a 2 count. A chop in the corner wakes up Archer who drops Ospreay with a forearm. Archer catches Ospreay in a Space Tiger Drop attempt and then choke slams him through a ringside announcers table. Archer in complete control of this match walks from turnbuckle to turnbuckle on the top rope, then walks halfway and delivers a version of the Undertaker's Old School. After a little offense by Ospreay Archer delivers a pounce and is back in control. Archer drags Ospreay up the ramp where Ospreay counters a power bomb into a Code Red. Archer beats the 20 count by sliding under the ropes and Ospreay beats it by hitting Archer with a springboard dropkick. Following that with a Shooting Star Press for a two count. Robinson Special followed by an Oz-Cutter for another two count. A little back and forth before Archer delivers the Blackout for a two count. A top rope Blackout followed by the Iron Claw ends Ospreay's night. 4.5 Stars This was an interesting match. Seeing Ospreay beaten down like this was a shock considering how hot he has been this year. This was a highlight for Archer coming out with a new look and showing some flashy new offense and it feels like a major push is in store for him. Archer gets his first two points of the tournament.
Evil vs Bad Luck Fale continues the night of great A block matches. Evil may have my favorite entrance in wrestling., music is great and fits him perfectly and the mask, robe, and presence is second to none. Evil jumps the bell and brings Fale to the outside. A running clothesline down the ramp staggers Fale and Evil has come to this tournament to prove a point. The tide quickly turns, however, and Fale is on offense. After a few failed attempts at the power slam, Evil finally hits it, afterwards they make their way out to ringside. Evil uses a chair then rolls Fale back into the ring. A Bronco Buster gets a 2 count. A shoulder tackle by Fale and Evil's offense is once again short lived. Fale brings a chair into the ring and as he and the ref play tug of war with it, Evil kicks it into Fale's face. A running clothes line drops the big man and Evil tries to hit Everything is Evil but it is blocked by Fale. Grenade by Fale for a two count. Referee gets knocked to the outside and Evil hits Fale with a chair. A low blow from Fale followed by a chair shot and the Bad Luck Fall gives Fale his first two points of the tournament. 3 Stars This tournament is off to a blazing start with another fantastic match. Fale is that guy who is a great monster heel but never seems to put it all together. Evil looked like a man beast throughout this match. He absorbed a ton of punishment and showed a lot of heart in the process. Kevin Kelly and Rocky Romero played up the fact that Evil may be shopping for a new stable throughout the match, and he faces his tag team partner and stable mate, Sanada, July 18th
Speaking of Sanada he is up next against the best technical wrestler in the world today, Zach Saber Jr. Two minutes into this match and we have been treated to an amazing display of back and forth technical wrestling that features counter after counter after counter. Sanada heads to the outside to slow the pace and gets a drink of water from the announcer's booth. Sanada is looking for a test of strength which ZSJ is having none of. They finally lock up and start twisting each other into a back and forth of the same move. After multiple attempts at the paradise lock were countered, Sanada finally ties ZSJ up using the ropes. A great spot wear ZSJ had Sanada into a modified Skull's End was powered out of by Sanada. He stands up with Zach in an electric chair. Sanada then flips ZSJ into position for the TKO but Zack counters it into an Octopus. A rope assisted neck breaker followed by a TKO and a two count on ZSJ. A Skull end by Sanada turned into a Big Swing and a moonsault attempt that was countered into a triangle. Sanada powers out of the triangle and hits a second rope moonsault into another Skull End. Over twenty minutes into this match and ZSJ counters the Skull End into a pin attempt, Sanada rolls through and gets the three count. 5 Stars This was every technical wrestling fans dream come true. A beautiful display of athleticism, ring psychology and technical ability where counters ruled the match. Great heel work by ZSJ as he mocked the fans and Sanada at various spots. Great work by Sanada selling his arm injury and counter mocking Zach. This is one of my top 10 matches of the year so far.
Kota Ibushi vs KENTA is next up on the night. This is expected to be a hard striking match and a mixed martial arts face off to start the match lends to that thinking. They get tied up in the ropes and KENTA teases a clean break but hits Kota with a right hand. Ibushi retaliates with one of his own that send KENTA to the mat. A second rope knee drop on a rope hung Ibushi swings the momentum Kenta's way. After KENTA controls a good portion of the beginning of this match, Ibushi's quickness allows him to hit a powerslam followed by a moonsault for a two count. Ibushi's flurry of offense is quickly countered and KENTA is back in control. After Kenta rolls to the outside, Ibushi dives over the top rope and gets countered with a knee to his left leg. Falling hard, he looks to have injured his ankle and KENTA pounces. Draping Ibushi over the guard rail KENTA delivers a double stomp from the apron and this match is back in KENTA's favor. A double stomp from the top rope by KENTA gets a two count. I thought it was a weird moment hearing the Japanese crowd break into a "this is awesome chant" then I remembered we are in Dallas lol. A series of roundhouse kicks to the head lands KENTA a two count. One of the worst looking GTS's I've ever seen ends the match and gives KENTA the victory. 3.5 Stars Much like the Ospreay vs Archer match, there wasn't much offense out of the loser. This match was dominated by KENTA from bell to bell. The bad looking Go To Sleep lowered the grade but that wasn't KENTA's fault as it was on Ibushi to make it look good and he spent a lot to protect his upper body from the knee.
Main event time between two old rivals in Okada vs Tanahashi. Okada mocks the big slap in the corner that has become famous by shushing the crowd and patting Tanahashi on the chest. Tanahashi retaliates with a forearm to the mouth. After a back and forth Tanahashi climbs to the second rope and gets drop kicked to the floor for his trouble. An amazing amount of back and forth action and it's really hard to pick out anything that impresses me because it is all so good. A High Fly Flow attempt is blocked by a couple of knees that does damage to both guys. Okada delivers a Rainmaker and keeps wrist control as he looks out to the audience. He pulls Tanahashi up for a second Rainmaker and connects full force. A third Rainmaker turns into a small package for a two count. Okada sets up for the Rainmaker a couple more times and is met with a right handed strike to the face. Tanahashi goes for a clothes line that turns into a spinning pile driver followed by a Rainmaker for the three and Okada has two points on the board. 4.5 Stars Every time these two guys meet you expect greatness, you expect a classic and every time, they exceed expectations. Okada is one of the top three in the world and when you see these performances, you see why he won the championship in New York and was the champion in Dallas. Great showing by the greatest Heavyweight Champion in the last 20 years.
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