In the past I'd really only check out a handful of matches that get a lot of press. That eventually turned into how I viewed all of wrestling as a whole. There's just too much out there and it's hard to keep up unless it's all you do with your downtime.

My first G1 was 2015. I made an effort to watch every single match. It was not worth it. At least 75% of the matches are average at best. It's a much better strategy to only watch the pimped matches or the matchups you are personally curious about. But hey, if I did that from the start, I might not have discovered the joy of Toru Yano G1 matches. No regrets.

I thought it was a good show I especially enjoyed Takahashi/Ospreay, Jericho/Naito, and Omega/Okada. I thought Bucks vs EVIL/Sanada was good too.

I’m very happy with the result of the main event and I loved the post match stuff. I also thought each of the advertised main events told their respective stories very well, imo.

Turn subtitles on. Watch to the end. You won't regret it.

Safe to assume the Junior Belt has the best mic skills of all foreign objects. Except maybe Moppy.

What's New Japan World like? is the context easily accessible? or is it difficult to navigate? 

Anything recent is very easy to find. There are lists on the homepage that feature the last few tours. It's great for keeping up with the current product the the video quality itself is great. Unfortunately the search function is horrendous. It's difficult to find specific matches in the past.

The second G1 Special will be held in San Francisco on Saturday July 7th. Here's a rundown of the card.

IWGP Heayvweight Championship

Kenny Omega (c) vs Cody

Omega's first title defense is against his nemesis for almost the whole year. In their previous encounter at an ROH show, Cody defeated Omega, but not without a ton of shenanigans and interference. With Omega back on friendly terms with The Young Bucks, this ought to be a cleaner affair, but Cody always has several tricks up his sleeve. This is Cody's second year running in challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight belt at the G1 Special. He lost to Okada last year.

IWGP United States Heayvweight Championship

Jay White (c) vs Juice Robinson

Omega won the IWGP US belt in the tournament last year. He lost the belt to Jay White, who has carried it since. He will put the title on the line for the fourth time against fan favourite Juice Robinson, who still seeks his first championship in the company.

IWGP Junior Heayvweight Championship

Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Dragon Lee

Takahashi has been unstoppable over the past few months. He won the Best of Super Juniors tournament, then went on to convincingly defeat division stalwart Will Ospreay to reclaim his place at the top of the division. His first defense was against El Desperado, one of two people to beat him in the block stages of BOSJ. He then named his next challenger, longtime rival Dragon Lee, who also defeated Takahashi in the tournament. Takahashi hopes to avenge his final recent loss and come out on top in the next chapter of their feud.

IWGP Tag Team Championship

The Young Bucks (c) vs EVIL and SANADA

The Young Bucks haven't been a heavyweight team for long, but they won the heavyweight tag team belts on their first attempt, defeating EVIL and SANADA at Dominion. This is a rare case of an instant rematch for the people who lost the title. Interestingly, it was the Bucks who made the challenge. Of course, EVIL and SANADA were happy to accept.

Two other high profile matches are Okada/Ospreay vs Naito/BUSHI and Jeff Cobb challenging Goto for the NEVER Openweight Championship.

Cody isn’t blonde anymore and I’m sad.

Every time JR says Cow Palace I giggle a little.

LMAO at JR having to talk about Daryl JR.

About time Cody stepped up. If Omega vs Okada was six stars this would have to be seven. What a match and what a great story in the match, well beyond Omega and Okada. Omega may have won, but Cody did not lose because he held back the entire match and if worked dirty like Omega did the whole match, he easily would have beaten him several times.

New Japan can't miss. When Jay White has the MOTN and looked like a serious top guy, the company is unstoppable.

That ending angle with the Tongans turning on the Being the Elite Bullet Club + Owens & Yujiro was really awesome! Loved Tama handing Cody the chair & him choosing to use it on GoD instead of Kenny.

Jul 6, 2018 23:33:39 GMT KJ said:

Cody isn’t blonde anymore and I’m sad.

I wish he was still blonde, but he had to change it back because he is filming a role for tv or something. 

Jul 8, 2018 5:14:11 GMT Krimzon said:

New Japan can't miss. When Jay White has the MOTN and looked like a serious top guy, the company is unstoppable.

Yeah that was an amazing match.  I thought White was ok going into this and wllllas so-so on Juice but they won me over big time.

Bullet Club FINALLY breaking is good to see.  They are really two stables at this point so good to see them cutting people loose into a second group.  Really cool moment with Cody staying with the Elite, after Kenny just beat the hell out of him with the Bucks backing.  Him hugging Omega was feels.  Feel like tonight was a real turning point Cody where he upped his game.  

The Tongan interference was kinda cool (except for Haku's stupid throat jabs), but I'm expected to believe that Cody and Kenny are suddenly friends again because he saved him one time? After a year of manipulation, betrayal, lies, mind games, and trying to kill him in the ring multiple times? That's all forgotten about because of one save? Give me a break. There were two ways that could have gone. (1) Cody blasts Kenny, meaning that Cody is the leader (or member) of a new stable with the Tongans. (2) Cody goes to blast Kenny but then the Tongans attack him, displaying their animosity for all Bullet Club.

For the most part the Elite/Bullet Club storyline has been finely crafted, but this particular event is absurd.

Jul 8, 2018 4:12:32 GMT c said:

About time Cody stepped up. If Omega vs Okada was six stars this would have to be seven.

Nonsense. It was an OK match that relied too much on gimmicky bullshit. The weapon setups and ref bumps and Brandi interferences killed the flow multiple times, and the actual finish was anticlimatic considering all that came before it. Mediocre main event. Cody vs Okada was way better, the previous Cody vs Kenny was better, as was White vs Robinson and Takahashi vs Lee.

Emperor, the enemy of my enemy is my friend...

Jul 8, 2018 15:25:22 GMT Mistress said:

Emperor, the enemy of my enemy is my friend...

No, I don't think it's that simple. I rewatched and Cody was even going to hit Kenny with the chair right after he attacked the Tongans.

In other news, Dragon Lee broke Hiromu's neck. Confirmed by Meltzer.

imgur.com/I5JhQ1F

It looks horrible, but when they finished the match, I didn't think anything serious had happened. He collapsed backstage and was rushed to the hospital.

Just read about this, absolutely awful.

Hiromu and Dragon Lee always go balls to the wall but that was a new level of crazy. They must have been exhausted at the halfway mark, with so much more work left to go. Work becomes sloppy, and if you're executing dangerous moves, that can happen.

For the fellow Aussies, silverlionsportsking.com/ for all your merch needs.

Jul 8, 2018 15:41:33 GMT Emperor said:

Jul 8, 2018 15:25:22 GMT Mistress said:

Emperor , the enemy of my enemy is my friend...

No, I don't think it's that simple. I rewatched and Cody was even going to hit Kenny with the chair right after he attacked the Tongans.

No, he just had a weird angle with the chair. He was going to hit Loa over the back with it I think. Also, it will probably all be explained on the next Being the Elite anyways. 

Cody is taking time off anyway so it looks like it will be Elite vs Firing Squad

JR joined Hiromu in the ER. His bump was not planned and he may have broken a rib.

Being the Elite was too funny this week with the Psychology book. I am loving the whole Cody and Kenny angle of them basically becoming siblings.

I can't believe this has happened twice in the span of a year or so. First Shibata and now Takahashi. Both having huge years, both on the rise, both amazing performers...then they're just gone.

Do we have any more details on Takahashi's condition? I haven't seen any updates aside from speculation.

NJPW released an official update: www.prowrestlingsheet.com/njpw-update-hiromu-takahashi/

New Japan Pro Wrestling has provided an update on Hiromu Takahashi, who injured his neck during the G1 Special in San Francisco.

The injury occurred during a Phoenix-plex gone wrong from Dragon Lee and NJPW’s website reports Hiromu was taken to the hospital after the match.

For those who missed it, the Los Ingobernables de Japon stable member continued to wrestle after hitting the top of his head and reportedly may have collapsed when he walked backstage.

According to NJPW, Takahashi is “in a state that can sit and talk with consciousness” — which sounds like a step in the right direction — while undergoing examinations.

No additional information was given, but we’ll report back once more is made available.

There's also a relevant tweet from Sean Waltman:

I wonder how much heat is on Juice and White for injuring JR with such a stupid, unplanned spot. JR is blasting them on his own podcast. If there isn't action from NJPW, I wouldn't be shocked to see Ross walk (or even sue).

Jul 12, 2018 16:47:21 GMT RT said:

I can't believe this has happened twice in the span of a year or so. First Shibata and now Takahashi. 

NJPW is exactly what I'd point to when I think "stupid, unsafe spots." Stiff is one thing, but they still think giant head drops equate to being a badass. Whenever someone is injured doing something stupid, the last emotion to register for me is "shock."