[2017-07-23-NJPW-G1 Climax] YOSHI-HASHI vs Zack Sabre Jr

[soup23]

This was the perfect length for a YH match. A quick opening matwork segment leading to ZSJ going after the arm and cranking it out like only he knows how. YH was good in selling the damage and then was able to mix in his comebacks building up the sympathy that had been laid out in the prior 6-7 minutes. I enjoyed him sending Desperado down to the floor before he eats the knees of Sabre on the Swantom. That leads to the finishing run where he narrowly escapes the pinning combo of Sabre and then loses by submission to an adaptation of the octopus hold. ***1/4

[bradhindsight]

Ioan at PTBN:

 

 

Yoshi initially dealt well with Sabre’s grappling and went on a brief run of offence, but Sabre caught him with an overhead kick to the arm and the punishment began. Sabre twisted the left wrist and stomped it, then applied the hammerlocked armbar only for Yoshi to make the ropes. A low dropkick and running blockbuster kickstarted the comeback, and the rope-hung dropkick and suplex-neckbreaker earned Yoshi a two-count, then after avoiding Sabre’s kicks, he hit the powerbomb pin for a near-fall. The swanton hit the knees, however, and Sabre’s Penalty Kick got two before he transitioned into the triangle choke. Yoshi tried and failed to lift Sabre, but he was able to stretch for the ropes. A counter-lariat from Yoshi got two, then Sabre slithered into the European Clutch, also for two. Yoshi looked to have powered his way into hitting Karma, but Sabre slipped out and applied the double-arm Octopus Hold, from which Yoshi was forced to submit. An assured and definitive win for Sabre, and a decent match to boot. ***1/4