NJPW G1 Climax 2018, Week 2: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best
Tongan Death Grip
The second set of matches in 2018's G1 Climax steered into a storm whipped up in Week 1 by Bullet Club 'OG's Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Bad Luck Fale.
Their early-tournament assaults were designed to play off a magnificent turn at the end of Cody's failed crack at Kenny Omega's IWGP Heavyweight Championship just ahead of the tournament's commencement. Just as all wounds looked healed amongst the merch-shifting megastars, the 'Firing Squad' shot a brand new one straight through the stable's heart.
Not content just with protesting Kenny Omega's leadership, Tonga, Loa and Fale seemed determined to ruin the entire G1 as a way to earn the scorn of the NJPW fanbase. One could argue it's working - Tama Tonga stopped just short of saying it outright in a dreadful Twitter promo - but the go-away heat reflects their w*nky performances in an angle that was once white hot.
Their omnipresence was such that the disqualifications and shenanigans took attention away from some scintillating action from the usual suspects. Minoru Suzuki, Kenny Omega and Hiroshi Tanahashi were in irresistible form. Jay White remains the enjoyably devilish heel. Kazuchika Okada's breakdown continues in earnest. Tetsuya Naito is summoning last year's tournament form to reignite his entire 2018.
Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto were the ones to take back their turf - their punches had more heft that a billion 'Firing Squad' bullets. The prestige and (fighting) spirit of the G1 was in great health, even if half of the competitors weren't...
20. SANADA Vs. Tama Tonga (19 July)
Rating: **
The closest Tama Tonga's thus far come to having a singles clash that justifies his current push, the Block B battle failed to live up to sleeper hit potential but did at least supply a satisfying finish for fans of hard-working winner SANADA.
The LIJ star was out-numbered and out-gunned by Tonga and his Bullet Club brethren for much of the match, but his ability to outshine them as an outsider to the 'BC OG's tension with Kenny Omega et al provided pleasing relief from the endless stream of deeply disappointing disqualifications.