19 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW G1 Climax 2019

3. Is That You, Hideo? (Night 9)

Kazuchika Okada KENTA
NJPW

Night nine peaked with its first match. A great execution of the David vs. Goliath format, it saw swaggering monster Lance Archer but the absolute p*ss out of opponent Kota Ibushi, who sold, and sold, and sold, finding out the hardy way that little of his own impactful offence was any use against the former Killer Elite Squad man. This helped inform one of the tournament's most badass moments as Archer absorbed Ibushi's first Kamigoye. That move is supposed to be a silver bullet; that it took two to put the main mountain away ensured he looked incredible in defeat.

The show's biggest issues came during a sssslooooowwww three-match closing stretch, with EVIL besting Zack Sabre Jr., SANADA continuing to be a lot less interesting than he should be against Hiroshi Tanahashi, and a main event that took 15 minutes to come to life.

It wasn't KENTA wrestling Kazuchika Okada in those opening stages, but Hideo Itami. The NOAH legend looked pedestrian despite bludgeoning 'The Rainmaker' with impossibly stiff kicks. While he showed a few flurries of adrenaline and looked domineering, the lack of fire was evident. Busting out a few Katsuyori Shibata spots isn't enough.

The third act brought considerable improvement as KENTA heated up and Okada switched into his usual match-ending gear, though it was a struggle to get there.

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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.