19 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW G1 Climax 2019

Downs...

4. A Man Out Of Place

Bad Luck Fale
NJPW

The G1 Climax is no place for Bad Luck Fale anymore.

He has never been anything other than a basic wrestler, but Bullet Club's 'Rogue General' could always be helped to a decent bout by a super worker like Kazuchika Okada or Hiroshi Tanahashi. Not anymore. At 37 years old the New Zealander is more limited than ever before and no longer carryable. Increasingly reliant on interference from Jado and other stablemates, his 2019 performances didn't hit the mark. Size doesn't matter when you can't keep up.

Moreover, Fale has been made redundant by the surging Lance Archer. Taller, scarier, more athletic, hungrier, and consistent, he, not the former 'Underboss,' should be installed as the G1 big man who can best any top-tier talent on his day. His night three trouncing of Fale should go down as a torch-passing match in that regard.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.