#g1 special in san francisco

[thistledropkick]

I really appreciate that even though these two haven't shared a ring in almost three years now, they still have this kind of relationship.

[scrubl0rd444]

Cats, guitars, and transformers themed clothes

Name: Mackenzie DiCola

Age: 23-24 Years old (As of 2021)

Species: Tuxedo Cat

Hometown: Los Angeles, California (Downtown Area)

Current Residency: Not Adventure City San Francisco, California

Mercenary Group Affiliation: None (As of now)

Occupation: Flight Instuctor

Guitar Model: Fender Stratocaster. Contains an aux plug and whammy bar. Guitar design is heavily based off of Starscream’s alt mode in Revenge of the Fallen

Personality: Loud. Especially when playing the guitar.

Likes: Black Tide (The band), Transformers (G1 has a special place in his heart), Model Kits

Dislikes: Unnecessary Drama, People with a “Play the villain” mentality. Why the hell should people be pigeonholed into a certain category?

[hangmanclub]

IT’S A LOOK 

[queenielacy]

Cody and Kenny are fighting over bullet club leadership. Meanwhile Tama Tonga is looking like:

[puroresu-musings]

So some terrible news, early reports suggest that Hiromu Takahashi broke his neck on that insane Phoenix Plex spot in the Dragon Lee match last night. I’m honestly not surprised, it was amongst the worst looking bumps I’ve ever seen, and with the style those guys work; spectacular but terrifying, it was potentially an inevitability. In fact there were several times during the San Fran show in which I was legitimately fearful of someone dying, which is never a good feeling to have when watching wrestling. C’mon guys, you don’t actually have to try and kill each other. I hope Hiromu makes a full recovery.

[xxnobodyshero1313xx]

This is so sad. Alexa, play Despacito

[hotpinkstaples]

REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD Y’ALL CAUCACITY WAS GONNA GO OVER IF THEY TRIED THIS EXPANSION SHIT WITH KENNETH AT THE HELM? HOW Y’ALL LIKE THAT SWEET, SWEET SOUND OF XENOPHOBIC FUCKASSERY IN 2018? TWO CANADIANS WHO AINT DID SHIT IN NEW JAPAN THE FIRST HALF OF 2018 GOT THE TOP TWO BELTS RIGHT NOW, AND CODY WHO NEEDA GET CARRIED IN EVERY MATCH ABOUTTA HEADLINE YER 10K MOO PALACE FIASCO. THIS Y’ALL GOD NOW.

[shinnakafan384]

Kazuchika Okada, I love you!!

[pwrestlingxpress]

Bullet Club:  A New Beginning

The reason why I’m entitling this Bullet Club: A New Beginning is cause ever since Kenny Omega reunited with Kota Ibushi almost six months ago (that date was January 28th by the way), most of the Bullet Club have changed for the better and for each other.  Also, in the documentary entitled The Golden Comeback, (which you can view on NJPWWorld by clicking here but you must be a member to watch the video in its entirety) Kenny revealed that since he’d became leader, he decided to make some changes within Bullet Club and that there were those who resented those changes.  

Last night at the G1 Special in San Francisco, we found out which of those members who didn’t like the changes that Kenny was making for the Bullet Club were.  Those members were Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa who have felt that this version of the Bullet Club is not the version they want to see and want see back to what they were when the group was formed back on May 3, 2013.  Many people saw what happened after Kenny’s promo in which both Tonga and Loa, along with their father attacked Kenny Omega and then proceeded to attack The Young Bucks, Adam Page, Marty Scurll, Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, and Cody leaving only Nick Jackson and Chase Owens moveable after the attack. 

A lot people had saw this coming after we had witnessed the changes these past six months.  Ever since teaming with Kota, Chase Owens ended up having a new lease on life and was having the most fun in the ring.  Yujiro was also changing by becoming more of a rally-type person instead of one who would just drink and party every night.  The Young Bucks were changing to which they were becoming more for others than for themselves.  Lastly, at the Press Conference before their match, seems like even Cody changed as well.

We don’t know if Bad Luck Fale has changed or not but we can all assume that he’ll be on Kenny’s side moving forward since he’s apparently angry at what happened in San Francisco when he wasn’t there.  Last night in San Francisco, the Bullet Club of old ended with this version of Bullet Club who along with Kenny’s tag partner Kota Ibushi and possibly Taiji Ishimori set off on a new beginning within New Japan Pro Wrestling.  A new journey begins with this version of Bullet Club and how it’ll go will be anyone’s guess.  We are truly and forever in a new era of Professional wrestling. 

[wrestlingisfake]

G1 Special in San Francisco preview

Kenny Omega vs. Cody Rhodes - Omega is defending the IWGP heavyweight championship for the first time since winning the title in an epic 70-minute match in Osaka.  This will most likely be the final IWGP title match before both men appear at All In on September 1.  Incidentally, Cody has been chasing the ROH world title of late, to set up a title-for-title match against the NWA world champion on 9/1, so it’s at least possible that he could win all three belts by the end of the summer.

This appears to be the blowoff to a feud that’s arguably been brewing since 2016, when Omega announced that Cody would join Bullet Club.  Tensions over which man was the true leader of the group led to open hostilities in January, when Cody turned on Omega and Kota Ibushi ran in to make the save and reunite the Golden Lovers tag team.  Omega is still considered part of the group, but several members explicitly aligned against him with Cody, and the rest have on the fence at best.  The tide seemed to turn for Cody when he defeated Kenny due to botched interference from the Young Bucks.  On 6/9, however, Kenny won the IWGP title and, alongside Ibushi, reconciled with the Bucks to form the Golden Elite.  It remains to be seen if this new faction can consolidate control of Bullet Club, or if the others will coalesce around Cody to oppose it.

It’s frankly getting a little old that these two guys are mortal enemies but neither can simply remove the other from the stable.  A post-match angle that forces the issue would be great, and would help publicize New Japan’s move into the US market.  Omega could move on to a long-term feud with the G1 Climax winner, and Cody could move on to whatever the hell he’s doing next.  I wouldn’t count on getting that resolution, though, since everybody seems perfectly happy to drag “Bullet Club is Fine” out forever.

The match should be good, and it’s arguably the best main event New Japan can give a US audience.  But it’s virtually a lock that Omega will retain, which means it’ll be pretty disappointing if we don’t get some kind of storyline payoff to go with the predictable finish.

Jay White vs. Juice Robinson - Robinson pinned White in a tag team match, so he gets to challenge for White’s United States title.  This championship was created for last year’s G1 Special show, and to date no American has held the title; Juice would be the first.

New Japan is determined to make this title a key part of its North American expansion plans, which is why this is second from the top.  But it’s tough to take White and Robinson seriously as semi-main guys.  White was a rookie jobber not all that long ago, and aside from winning the title in a massive upset over Kenny Omega, White hasn’t beaten anyone of note since he returned from excursion last year.  Robinson has been built up a little more, and he’s developed a cult following, but he’s not at a level where he can make this championship feel important, or carry a US tour.

I’m pulling for Juice to get a star-making performance and a title win, but it’s mainly going to depend on how over he is with the Cow Palace crowd.  Should be an okay match, but it needs to be really good to earn it’s spot on the card.

Hiromu Takahashi vs. Dragon Lee - This is for Takahashi’s IWGP junior heavyweight title.  Lee is the CMLL lightweight champion but that belt is not at stake.  Hiromu feels like he’s on a hot streak of late--both his crazy moves and the dozen gimmicks he brings to the ring are hella over.  At this point he’s the guy I’m most looking forward to seeing bell-to-bell, and I’m hoping we get a good show out of him.  Lee is his longtime rival so I’m feeling pretty good about those odds.  I’d be very surprised if Takahashi doesn’t win. 

Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay vs. Tetusya Naito & BUSHI - Except for Bushi, everyone in this match is coming off of a big title loss, so it’ll be interesting to see which guy scores the win and which guy does the job.  This match feels like an excuse to get Okada, Ospreay, and Naito on the card for the US fans, and that’s fine with me, but I’d have preferred to see them in higher-profile spots.  If I’m New Japan I gotta do some Okada/Naito stuff to tease what could happen if they meet in the G1 Climax finals.  But I’m not New Japan, which is why I’m thinking they’ll just have Okada pin Bushi like it’s no big deal.

Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson vs. EVIL & SANADA - The Young Bucks won the IWGP heavyweight tag team title from Evil and Sanada last month, so this is the rematch.  The Cow Palace ought to be pretty hot for the Bucks, so that should be interesting, but I’ve never really gotten into them.  One cool thing is that I’ll be in the building so I won’t have to listen to announcers jerking off to the way Steve Corino used to call Bucks matches.  I think the Bucks will win, but it’s not a total lock.

Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb - This is Goto’s first defense of the NEVER openweight title since losing it to Michael Elgin on 6/9 and regaining it on 6/17.  Cobb is best known for working in Progress, PWG, and as Matanza in Lucha Underground.  He’s just getting his feet wet in New Japan, after debuting in World Tag League as Elgin’s partner.  Elgin ran into a lot of controversy a while back, and among other things it came out that he badmouthed Cobb.  That makes you wonder why Goto regained the title from Elgin so quickly, and whether or not Cobb vs. Elgin is a possibility down the line.

A title win for Cobb would be exciting, but I don’t get the feeling New Japan is going to pull that trigger. Then again, they’re much looser about hotshotting the NEVER titles than the IWGP ones.  The safe bet is still Goto, though.

Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA vs. Marty Scurrl & Hangman Page - Tanahashi and Kushida are the whitemeat babyfaces of New Japan, and I’m pretty sure this match exists mainly to give them a feelgood win in front of an audience that doesn’t get to see them live much.  Scurrl should get a big pop but I don’t think that’s gonna be enough this time.

Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii - Suzuki and Sabre are the Rev Pro tag team champions, but the title is not on the line here.  Suzuki also recently won the Rev Pro heavyweight title from Ishii, so it looks like they’re stirring up bad blood for a Suzuki/Ishii feud. Ishii kinda needs a win if they’re gonna keep doing this, so maybe this is his time, but I wouldn’t count on it.

King Haku & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo & SHO & YOH & Rocky Romero - Yeah, that’s right--Haku.  The guy whose action figure does not come with crown as illustrated.  The dude who teamed with Andre the Giant and retired the WCW hardcore title.  The father of 75% of the Tongans in Bullet Club.  That Haku.  He’s like 59 years old.  He’ll probably only tag in for a couple of big spots but that ought to be enough.  I guess the CHAOS team could get the decision amid the chaos of a ten-man tag, but the Haku factor makes Bullet Club a heavy favorite.

[puroresu-musings]

I thought I’d actually watched Hiromu’s death

SWEET JEEBUS!

[frentique]

[queenielacy]

Trying to watch UFC 226 and the G1 Special at the same time was a bad idea

[babytumblehead]

It's not a crime if you don't get caught 😉

Jay White’s lost the plot… and I’m fine with it

[puroresu-musings]

NJPW G1 SPECIAL in San Francisco (July 7th 2018, Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA.)

Roppongi 3K, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo vs. Guerrillas Of Destiny, Yujiro, Chase Owens & Haku  **1/2

Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.  ***

Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA vs. Marty Scurll & Hangman Page  ***1/4

NEVER Openweight Title Match: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Jeff Cobb  ***1/4

IWGP Tag Team Title Match: The Young Bucks (c) vs. SANADA & EVIL  ****1/4

Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI  ***1/2

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title Match: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Dragon Lee  ****1/2

IWGP U.S. Title Match: Jay White (c) vs. Juice Robinson  ****1/2

IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Cody  ****1/2

Photos.

This was an excellent show that was unfortunately marred by a series of events that it will probably be better remembered by, not least the fact that Hiromu Takahashi suffered a (potentially) broken neck in his tremendous match with favourite foe, Dragon Lee. Things statred in typical New Japan big show form with a seies of decent, but unsprectacular multi man match ups. Hirooki Goto retained the NEVER strap in a good, but somewhat disappointing bout with Jeff Cobb. This was nowhere near as good as Goto’s epic Korakuen collision with Big Mike Elgin a couple of weeks ago, and despite the fact it had huge potential, just came off as rather flat. Cobb impressed when he was throwing Goto around, and Goto was his usual hard-hitting self, but this just didn’t gel like it was supposed to. It was also way too short for my liking. Goto retained at the 12:10 mark with the GTR. The Young Bucks successfuly defended the Heavyweight Tag Titles against EVIL and SANADA in the first excellent match of the evening. This was a hot doubles clash which picked where these guys left off at Dominion. The finish saw the LIJ duo hit an Indytaker of their own onto a chair on Matt after a ref bump, which got a great near fall, then the Bucks fought back and hit the Meltzer Driver on EVIL to retain in 16:05.

The first match back from intermission saw Okada and Ospreay victorious over Naito and BUSHI, in a typically very good outing, after Okada pinned (you guessed it) BUSHI with a Rainmaker in 12 minutes. Then it was the Jr. Title match. OK, first things first, this was a spectacular high flying match, but I’ve been saying forever (well about 3 years actually) that as great as these guys matches are, whenever I watch them, I’m always terrified that one, or both, are going to end up either seriously injured, or dead, based on the risks they take in these things. Well, it finally happened, after both guys hit insane moves like a hurricarana out of the ring, a senton dive to the floor, and a double stomp to outside the ring, Hiromu locked in his new “D” Triangle choke finish, but Lee powered out and hit a Pheonix Plex/Dragon Driver, to escape. Now I don’t know if the move was mistimed or if Dragon slipped, or what, but it resulted in Hiromu landing on top of his head in horriying fashion. When he landed and he immediatley clutched his head and neck, I knew he was seriously injured. There’s just no way you could land like that and get away unscathed. They went a couple more minutes after that, with Hiromu even kicking out of the Desnucadora, before countering a powerbomb into a Canadian Destroyer, then getting the win at 16:18 with Time Bomb. There’s still no definitive word on Takahashi’s injury, but I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

The U.S. Title match far exceeded expectations and was probably the MOTN. The crowd were white hot for this one, Juice played the babyface in peril perfectly, and White was tremendous in his role as the heel throughout. There was an incident in this one too, after White suplexed Juice into the barricade next to the AXS TV commentatry table, the impact caused veteran announcer Jim Ross to fall backwards out of his seat and hit the floor hard. This prompted JR’s colleague, Josh Barnett, to hit the ring and berate the still in-character White, before being asked to leave. This whole thing was so weird as it looked completely authentic, but alarm bells were going off in my wrestlig warped brain about it being a total work. We shall see, but it appears not as Ross too was apparently badly injured here. Regardless of these shenanigans, these guys worked a near perfect match, and it was the best outing of either mans career at this point. Juice was coming in with a broken hand (with cast), and Switchblade heelishly worked over it all match long. The craziest spot (on a night of crazy spots) saw Jay go for a German off the apron, but Juice turned it into a Russian Leg Sweep off the apron the floor. The finishing sequence was great, after a ref bump, White tried a low blow but Juice avoided it, then hit his casted Big Left Hand, followed by Pulp Friction for an amazing near fall (a stipulation said that Juice couldn’t use the cast or he’d be DQ’d in this, so the ref bump here was great). After a few more minutes, Robinson countered Blade Runner into a school boy at 23:22 to win the belt for a massive pop. Jay protested the finish, so it seems they may do a rematch, then Juice celebrated in the crowd and looked like a big star in the process. This was a star-making outing for both guys here. Just great stuff.

It was unthinkabe to think going in that Kenny and Cody would have a hard time following Jay and Juice, but it was the bizarre reality on the night. These guys worked a completely different match to pretty much any IWGP Title bout ever. It was a crazy grudge match that featured several risky and dangerous bumps, as if this show needed anymore at this point. I really loved this match, even though it was very gimmick heavy, and I thought it told a compelling story. The biggest spot of the match (and night) was when Kenny introduced a massive ladder to proceedings. The two climbed up and teased that Kenny would superplex Cody off the top, out of the ring, and through a table. I was legitimately worried here, and audibly peaded with them not to as, seeing what else had happened on this show so far, anything was possible. Thankfully, Cody reveresed the superplex and both he and Kenny took a gigantic bump into the ring, which looked no fun at all. Cody hit Cross Rhodes for a near fall, then Omega hit a Mike Awesome style powerbomb out of the ring and through a table, but unfortunatey for Cody, the table didn’t break, and he took a really bad spill. At this point I was begging for them to finish, as my nerves could take no more, then Kenny destroyed him with some stiff looking V-Triggers, and a One Winged Angel to win in a somewhat overly long 34:14 match. As good as the match was (maybe the best I’ve ever seen Cody in), it was the post match angle that it will likley be better remembered for. As the Golden Elite members of the BC celebrated, they were jumped by Tama Tonga, Tanga Roa and their father, Haku, who beat them into oblivion. Every memeber of the BC on the show ran in to stop the Tongans (wearing T-shirts the read ‘Firing Squad’), before finally Cody came out, teased he would side with the Tongans, before attacking them, and ultimately being laid out too. This Tama Tonga turn is a story that has been told for a year now and it played out expertly. And it looks like the Bullet Club have finally reformed, put their diffrences to one side, and come together to fight a common enemy. All in all, a great show that is well worth checking out.

NDT

[breadclubrising]

i’m going to the g1 special too! i just wanted to say hi and tell you that you’re the best kota ibushi tumblr and i don’t know you but i love you, bread. 🍞 i’d say see you there but... i’m shy, going by myself, and will be socially awkward through it all just to catch a glimpse of kira’s ripped back... so... yeah this message derailed quickly. anyways, you’re awesome. let’s hope we all have fun in july!

i know because of who I am as a person that ‘kira’ is how autocorrect sometimes handles ‘kota’, and... i thought that I had seen an announcement somewhere of the roster for the show, and he wasn’t on it, but now I can’t find that! So maybe there is hope!

And of course you should find me and say hi if you want! If Kota IS gonna be there, i will obviously wear my ibushi outfit that I wore to wk and SSE, so all your socially awkward-ness will be negated by my intense dorkery. That goes for anyone, feel free to find me and say hello :)