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G1 Climax 2023 Block B Match: El Phantasmo vs. YOSHI-HASHI
If the intent was to get the crowd going with a hot match, this failed to do that. It could be that it’s a face v face bout or that both are fine enough wrestlers with not much charisma to them. YOSHI-HASHI can shine in tags and Phantasmo in certain situations but neither took the lead to create compelling action as the match crawled to the 10+ minute mark. **1/4
G1 Climax 2023 Block A Match: Chase Owens vs. Gabe Kidd
I thought the pre-match brawl to the crowd was surprisingly good despite the lack of crowd heat and I thought it was a good way to establish Kidd as a threat. A great first impression, I thought, but then the match officially began and they then no sold the brawl. Which is utter bullshit for one. And then they proceeded to have a poor, boring match with Chase Owens being dominant and winning in the end. Dreadful. *
G1 Climax 2023 Block B Match: KENTA vs. Tanga Loa
Somehow not the worst match of the night but it was slow, and long, a bereft of anything memorable. Help. *1/2
G1 Climax 2023 Block A Match: Shota Umino vs. Ren Narita
I couldn’t help but see this as one of those shindie cosplay matches with the cosplay Tanahashis and cosplay Okadas. But once they started to settle in the ring and told a match story that suited their strengths and their dynamics, the match got really good. Shota showed good energy in the ring and Narita proved himself to be the solid worker we know he is. If they are able to work and develop on what they did in this match, improving the opening portions and fixing up a so-so finishing sequence, then New Japan will be perfectly fine with these two leading the future. But that’s a question for the future. ***1/2
G1 Climax 2023 Block B Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Great-O-Khan
This was Great O-Khan wrestling a broom, practically. He was grappling, setting up some decent arm submissions and seemed to be crafting an interesting story for the match since Okada had recently tapped out with an arm submission but Okada checked out as soon as he came out, didn’t sell really for O-Khan nor ever seem interested in doing the bare minimum. Okada has been nothing but great all year but this was a real disappointment by him. **1/2
G1 Climax 2023 Block A Match: Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Yota Tsuji
While Kiyomiya didn’t exactly shine over Tsuji, who proved once again that he’s got IT, he did pick up the win as he should. Tsuji didn’t have to go too crazy but even in defeat, he comes across as a star. It took him 10 seconds, if that, to do something to get the crowds to cheer and go crazy for him. He just comes off the screen immediately. The match had some wicked sequences and moves that flowed from one spot to the next. It was an exciting match while never getting to that next level while keeping enough quality to make a compelling match. ***1/2
G1 Climax 2023 Block B Match: Taichi vs. Will Ospreay
I have zero clue what this match was trying to be. This is Taichi’s home prefecture, so naturally he was on the defensive, trying to gain sympathy from the crowd with Ospreay working on top. But Ospreay, honestly, seemed lost, changing between working slow and face, deciding to sell his ear and bringing potential balance issues into the match, which is odd because he’s working on top, only for them to ignore the story entirely for a hot closing sequence. This was messy and incoherent. At least we understood what their February match was supposed to be. But this was just a poor outing with a strong finish. *1/2
G1 Climax 2023 Block A Match: SANADA vs. Hikuleo
Sometimes a simple, fun and short main event is all you need. The show was up and down in terms of consistency so ending the show on a positive note was important, which these two delivered on. They proved to have decent chemistry and put on a better match than expected. Hikuleo looked decent as a monster that manhandled SANADA and SANADA came across as a smart champion overcoming that obstacle in a short amount of time. ***
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