After the excitement and awesomeness of Day 1 and 2, one block has established itself as the better of the two. We have seen the patterns emerge and more potential scenarios open up with every passing match. Days 3-6 provided some great matches, continued some good stories and set us up for another entertaining G1. Due to the bite-sized nature, I will provide both my own personal recommendations as well as Meltzer’s ratings (where available) to be used as a viewing guide
Day 3 Results (16/07/18)
Michael Elgin (2-0-0) Def. Hangman Page (1-1-0) (****)
EVIL (1-1-0) Def. YOSHI-HASHI (0-2-0) (***1/4)
Togi Makabe (2-0-0) Def. Minoru Suzuki (0-2-0) (****1/4):
Highly recommended brawl between two grumpy old dudes.
Bad Luck Fale (1-1-0) Def. Kazuchika Okada (0-2-0) (***1/4)
Jay White (2-0-0) Def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-1-0) (****)
Day 4 Results (19/07/18)
SANADA (1-1-0) Def. Tama Tonga (1-1-0) (***1/2)
Zack Sabre Junior (1-1-0) Def. Toru Yano (0-2-0) (***3/4):
As a fan of Yano and ZSJ’s 2018 this was the perfect clash of the two styles. A must watch for a fan of either man
Kota Ibushi (2-0-0) Def. Juice Robinson (0-2-0) (****1/2)
Tetsuya Naito (1-1-0) Def. Tomohiro Ishii (1-1-0) (****3/4):
This was two cocky guys that hate each other just beating each other up. In particular, I loved how Naito would resort to dirty tactics only to be put on his ass each time.
Kenny Omega (2-0-0) Def. Hirooki Goto (1-1-0) (*****)
Day 5 Results (20/07/18)
Jay White (3-0-0) Def. Fuck Michael Elgin (2-1-0):
Best match of both men’s tournament so far.
Minoru Suzuki (1-2-0) Def. YOSHI-HASHI (0-3-0):
Watch this just to see Suzuki slap poor Hashi around for about a minute
EVIL (2-1-0) Def. Togi Makabe (2-1-0)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (2-1-0) Def. Bad Luck Fale (1-2-0)
Kazuchika Okada (1-2-0) Def. Hangman Page (1-2-0)
Day 6 Results (21/07/18)
Toru Yano (1-2-0) Def. Kota Ibushi (2-1-0)
SANADA (2-1-0) Def. Zack Sabre Junior (1-2-0)
Tetsuya Naito (2-1-0) Def. Juice Robinson (0-3-0)
Kenny Omega (3-0-0) Def. Tama Tonga (1-2-0)
Tomohiro Ishii (2-1-0) Def. Hirooki Goto (1-2-0):
If you are a fan of the Ishii vs Shibata matches or even the Makabe vs Ishii matches this is right up your alley. This was hard-hitting strong style that had me up out of my seat with excitement.
Best Matches:
Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito
Kenny Omega vs Hirooki Goto
Tetsuya Naito vs Juice Robinson
Hirooki Goto vs Tomohiro Ishii
Zack Sabre Jr vs Toru Yano
Worst Matches:
Anything involving Tama Tonga or Bad Luck Fale
Standings:
A Block:
Jay White: 6 Points
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 4 Points
Togi Makabe: 4 Points
Michael Elgin: 4 Points
EVIL: 4 Points
Kazuchika Okada: 2 Points
Bad Luck Fale: 2 Points
Hangman Page: 2 Points
Minoru Suzuki: 2 Points
YOSHI-HASHI: 0 Points
B Block:
Kenny Omega: 6 Points
Tetsuya Naito: 4 Points
Tomohiro Ishii: 4 Points
Kota Ibushi: 4 Points
SANADA: 4 Points
Hirooki Goto: 2 Points
Toru Yano: 2 Points
Tama Tonga: 2 Points
Zack Sabre Jr: 2 Points
Juice Robinson: 0 Points
B Block has provided some amazing matches and A block is standing out as the storytelling block. Some surprise standings with Minoru Suzuki and Kazuchika Okada on 2 Points trailing the dominant Jay White. B Block has a much bigger logjam with 4 people tied with 2 wins just behind Kenny Omega who has looked unstoppable so far with 3 wins from 3. I hand over to Jozef for the next four days coverage where we see the G1 slog really begin to settle in.