[2017-07-20-NJPW-G1 Climax] Juice Robinson vs Satoshi Kojima

[soup23]

This was a fun opener that I put on par with something like YH vs Nagata from Night 1. Juice had his back worked over and sold it well and then fed into his comebacks with good openings. Kojima was willing to give him a lot here and put him over as a big player that could go on a run throughout the tournament. After Juice’s big win, I liked the show of respect they each gave to each other. I don’t know if Juice will reel off many “great” matches in this G1 but his floor seems to be pretty high overall and I am excited to see him work the variety of opponents in his block. ***1/4

[ShittyLittleBoots]

Loved this. Both guys did some really good selling + I always love Kojima's facial expressions - those were outstanding, especially during the great finishing stretch where Juice was all fired up. Awesome match. ***1/2

[GSR]

Loved this. Both guys did some really good selling + I always love Kojima's facial expressions - those were outstanding, especially during the great finishing stretch where Juice was all fired up. Awesome match. ***1/2

 

'Awesome match' but then you only give it 3 1/2 stars? A 1/4 star more than a match you thought went on too long? I still don't get your star ratings and the way you review and rate things I'm afraid.

 

[ShittyLittleBoots]

 

Loved this. Both guys did some really good selling + I always love Kojima's facial expressions - those were outstanding, especially during the great finishing stretch where Juice was all fired up. Awesome match. ***1/2

 

'Awesome match' but then you only give it 3 1/2 stars? A 1/4 star more than a match you thought went on too long? I still don't get your star ratings and the way you review and rate things I'm afraid.

 

 

As far as I am concerned, ***1/2 is very good, and very good is awesome. Really don't see what's the problem here mate.

[bradhindsight]

I was right at the high end of ***1/2 here, I liked a lot of the smaller touches they build in: the lariat to juice's leg to crotch him. The punching of forearms to block lariats, only to have Kojima switch arms. Kojima is just great, they never lose the crowd even if there isn't a big story told throughout.

[gingears]

This was so much fun. I loved the story they did last year with Kojima being the selfless best friend gifting his spot to Tenzan but seeing his G1 return just illustrates how much better things are going to be with him involved. Juice has come a very long way since starting here and it is nice to get to see him shine. I don't know if I have ever seen the Tomakaze look more brutal. He just did a flat back drop on poor Kojima's head. That post-match chant was well earned.