🦁 NJPW - G1 Climax 33

[chrom]

[Starshine]

Aug 13, 2023 9:11:09 GMT -5 clifford said:

Naito/SANADA doesn't scream 'Dome main event' to me, I'm not sure what does to be honest at this stage. And if not SANADA, who? EVIL? (f*** outta here with that)

My route would've been Shingo defeating SANADA in the G1, defeating him again in October, and then Shingo/Naito in the Dome, an all LiJ main event where regardless of result the roll call gets to close the show.

Yeah, Sanada just ain't it. It seems like such a weak dome match, and even though there's the LIJ connection, it feels really hollow when one guy just can't seem to illicit any emotion from his work.

Shingo plays a really good heel if they ever wanted to go that route. But sadly, I think New Japan's moved on from him. Always trust the booking, and the fact Shingo finished in the bottom half of his block seems to indicate that.

[Mozenrath]

I whole-heartedly disagree. I actually really like SANADA right now. I think stoic does not automatically mean boring.

Beyond that, SANADA vs Naito is much, much more interesting to me than vs Shingo, someone Naito doesn't really feel that connected to, versus SANADA, who spent longer under Naito's learning tree, and who said he had to leave LIJ in order to reach the next level, that Shingo was overshadowed by Naito even while world champion, which, isn't wrong, considering what has happened with him since then.

[AwamoriRock]

I think that Naito/SANADA is fine and has a lot going for it (obviously SANADA going through LIJ, his breakaway starting with the Naito match, Naito being the one to retire Mutoh, etc.) but seems a little undercooked in the immediate because SANADA is wrapped up in HoT stuff.

I think this will be another WK where they have two separate "mains" for the Japanese and international audience though, with some mix of Okada, Danielson, Ospreay, Omega.

[chrom]

They should've had Shingo advance and beat Sanada in the quarter finals so to continue the him vs his former stable story leading up to facing Naito at WK.

["The Natural" Bustin Loads]

Naito/SANADA is a fine main event and would've been better served if Shingo had been in EVIL's spot.

I don't see them having a hot match at Declaration/Destruction much less any intrigue of an EVIL win. With Shingo there would've at least been a little question and fit the story of SANADA outdoing the stablemates he just left. They already did this feud when EVIL left and their encounters then were lacking.

Naito/Ospreay and Naito/Okada saved this from being the worst G1 I've followed. Too many inconsequential and mid matches. I admire trying to give more guys a spotlight - really - but Chase, Tonga, Nichols, and Haste had no business in this.

Disappointed by Narita and Finlay's outing. The latter especially after a good NJC. Narita got better as it went on, he wasn't bad, but I was expecting a lot more in a big stage.

Not sure why Hikuleo got hate. He thoroughly outperformed my expectations and had good matches against Tsuji, Kidd, Umino and Naito.

Tsuji is ready. Umino is ready. Gabriel Kidd's stock skyrocketed. He was a treat to watch every match and can be their next homegrown big bad.

[Mozenrath]

Aug 13, 2023 22:00:46 GMT -5 chrom said:

They should've had Shingo advance and beat Sanada in the quarter finals so to continue the him vs his former stable story leading up to facing Naito at WK.

As opposed to EVIL, who of course was never in a stable with SANADA.

(Kidding. Yeah, Shingo would have made some sense, too, though I wouldn't be shocked if the two have an encounter sometime between now and WK, given Tsuji and Hiromu have crossed SANADA's path.)

[ANuclearError]

Royal Quest III has been announced for the 14th of October at the Copper Box arena, the site of the first Royal Quest. Naito and Sanada are confirmed for the card.

It'd be nice if they squeeze in another defence for Sanada.

Whilst I went to the previous events, I don't think I'll be making this one. Already doing a London trip on Wednesday and my life will be too busy in October.

[chrom]

A fatal four way tag is announced for Junior Festival.

Alex Shelley, Chris Bey, Ace Austin, Robbie Eagles, TJP, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Cheeseburger and Kosei Fujita will each be drawing colored straws and be teaming with whoever they match with.

[AwamoriRock]

Kinda already known but it's official now.

[discoelysium]

Aug 14, 2023 1:48:57 GMT -5 ANuclearError said:

Royal Quest III has been announced for the 14th of October at the Copper Box arena, the site of the first Royal Quest. Naito and Sanada are confirmed for the card.

It'd be nice if they squeeze in another defence for Sanada.

Whilst I went to the previous events, I don't think I'll be making this one. Already doing a London trip on Wednesday and my life will be too busy in October.

Ha, imagine if that's where they do SANADA/EVIL

[ANuclearError]

Aug 14, 2023 8:19:42 GMT -5 discoelysium said:

Aug 14, 2023 1:48:57 GMT -5 ANuclearError said:

Royal Quest III has been announced for the 14th of October at the Copper Box arena, the site of the first Royal Quest. Naito and Sanada are confirmed for the card.

It'd be nice if they squeeze in another defence for Sanada.

Whilst I went to the previous events, I don't think I'll be making this one. Already doing a London trip on Wednesday and my life will be too busy in October.

Ha, imagine if that's where they do SANADA/EVIL

Copper Box was a decently sized arena, so would be a bold move. Was Okada Vs Suzuki last time. Think it'd be smarter having Naito defend the briefcase with an Osprey defence as well.

[JoDaNa1281]

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Ah. So it seems as though Naito is going to topple the second guy to leave LIJ and become world champion. This time at the Dome.

Not sure how much Naito getting his Dome main event matters since he’s already had one this year. I guess the drama will be around if he can get through it without some post-match craziness happens like it has with him.

[Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED!]

Aug 13, 2023 21:51:02 GMT -5 AwamoriRock said:

I think that Naito/SANADA is fine and has a lot going for it (obviously SANADA going through LIJ, his breakaway starting with the Naito match, Naito being the one to retire Mutoh, etc.) but seems a little undercooked in the immediate because SANADA is wrapped up in HoT stuff.

I think this will be another WK where they have two separate "mains" for the Japanese and international audience though, with some mix of Okada, Danielson, Ospreay, Omega.

They've really sabotaged this run for Sanada to be honest. After failing constantly for the better part of 5-6 years to win the belt, they've consistently fed him challengers who really didn't help establish him as a top guy.

Hiromu is great and certainly a fan favorite, but in Japanese pro wrestling (as near as I understand it) it's understood that there's a huge gap between Jr. Heavyweights and Heavyweights can rarely be expected to really overcome this disadvantage against top level heavyweights. That's even more true in New Japan than in companies like NOAH, where people like Ogawa and Marufuji (in his first reign at least) won the belt while still effectively being Jr Heavyweights.

Then you have Yota Tsuji, which while it was a tremendous match was against a guy who the crowd really didn't know all that well since he just came off of excursion and nobody really knew what he was capable of and although Young Lions returning from excursion have generally been of higher status lately with their desperation to try to make another Okada happen, he's not a top guy.

After that we have Jungle Boy who is not known at all outside of the US (and I love Jack Perry don't get me wrong, but to the crowd in Japan that match does nothing for him.)

Now EVIL whose matches weren't even particularly good before the House of Torture and are unwatchable now that he is part of it.

It's not even a Rikio situation where they've really made an effort to make him the top guy, and he just doesn't have the talent to do it, this is one where he's got the talent but doesn't have the buy in from the office.

[Mozenrath]

I have to ask, among the pessimism: Say SANADA retains, say Naito decides he'd rather put his buddy over big. Does that help make SANADA for you?

[Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED!]

Aug 14, 2023 20:58:59 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I have to ask, among the pessimism: Say SANADA retains, say Naito decides he'd rather put his buddy over big. Does that help make SANADA for you?

Yes and no. It would very much legitimize the title reign, but I don’t know if doing that and having the massively over Naito lose on the biggest stage and never get his Tokyo Dome victory speech, might turn fans against him completely. As badly booked as Sanada’s been as champion I don’t think the way to fix it is to make another objectively bad booking decision.

I think that having him face Shingo for the belt would have really helped him, since Shingo is already pretty well established as a top level contender by virtue of being a former champion, and actually producing consistent results against top guys.

[Mozenrath]

Aug 14, 2023 22:23:38 GMT -5 Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! said:

Aug 14, 2023 20:58:59 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I have to ask, among the pessimism: Say SANADA retains, say Naito decides he'd rather put his buddy over big. Does that help make SANADA for you?

Yes and no. It would very much legitimize the title reign, but I don’t know if doing that and having the massively over Naito lose on the biggest stage and never get his Tokyo Dome victory speech, might turn fans against him completely. As badly booked as Sanada’s been as champion I don’t think the way to fix it is to make another objectively bad booking decision.

I think that having him face Shingo for the belt would have really helped him, since Shingo is already pretty well established as a top level contender by virtue of being a former champion, and actually producing consistent results against top guys.

I guess, whoever wins, I just want a good match. I have been perfectly fine with his world champion reign, like it's been better than a lot of their first time champs have been (Ospreay's booking sucked and then he gets hurt, Jay White was blatantly not ready, EVIL was... yeah....), so barring bad luck like the injury that threw off his US title reign, he's probably safe to not be fully derailed if he loses. Shingo was, but, fair or not, it probably didn't help Shingo's case that he's like 5 years older and not as traditionally handsome.

[Starshine]

Aug 14, 2023 19:46:02 GMT -5 Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! said:

Aug 13, 2023 21:51:02 GMT -5 AwamoriRock said:

I think that Naito/SANADA is fine and has a lot going for it (obviously SANADA going through LIJ, his breakaway starting with the Naito match, Naito being the one to retire Mutoh, etc.) but seems a little undercooked in the immediate because SANADA is wrapped up in HoT stuff.

I think this will be another WK where they have two separate "mains" for the Japanese and international audience though, with some mix of Okada, Danielson, Ospreay, Omega.

They've really sabotaged this run for Sanada to be honest. After failing constantly for the better part of 5-6 years to win the belt, they've consistently fed him challengers who really didn't help establish him as a top guy.

Hiromu is great and certainly a fan favorite, but in Japanese pro wrestling (as near as I understand it) it's understood that there's a huge gap between Jr. Heavyweights and Heavyweights can rarely be expected to really overcome this disadvantage against top level heavyweights. That's even more true in New Japan than in companies like NOAH, where people like Ogawa and Marufuji (in his first reign at least) won the belt while still effectively being Jr Heavyweights.

Then you have Yota Tsuji, which while it was a tremendous match was against a guy who the crowd really didn't know all that well since he just came off of excursion and nobody really knew what he was capable of and although Young Lions returning from excursion have generally been of higher status lately with their desperation to try to make another Okada happen, he's not a top guy.

After that we have Jungle Boy who is not known at all outside of the US (and I love Jack Perry don't get me wrong, but to the crowd in Japan that match does nothing for him.)

Now EVIL whose matches weren't even particularly good before the House of Torture and are unwatchable now that he is part of it.

It's not even a Rikio situation where they've really made an effort to make him the top guy, and he just doesn't have the talent to do it, this is one where he's got the talent but doesn't have the buy in from the office.

I don't know if I'd call it sabotage, I think the LIJ gauntlet thing is designed to give him a long form story as champion while still keeping the popularity of that unit attached to him; it's just that he's such a dull personality that I find it hard to feel anything. Being stoic is one thing, it's basically been Okada's deal for most of his career, but at least that guy can also show some fire when needed, Sanada just doesn't, or can't.

Like, he beat Okada and went undefeated in his G1 block, so they're trying with him. It's just that Jungle Boy match excluded, the main issue is Sanada just isn't being received as any sort of notable favourite in his title defences. I find it a little funny he might be wrestling Naito at WK, considering I look at him as having a lot of the same issues Naito had back during his first big G1 win and push. Unless something drastically changes I don't see any way he can walk out as champion, and I even wonder if he and Naito would get the main event slot over whatever else they might be planning.

[chrom]

KC Navarro is announced for The Junior Festival.