NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Roppongi 3K (CHAOS) w/ Rocky Romero vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Kanemaru) (c)

This match started fast and wild, with all three teams bouncing around the ring. Given the direction of the story they have been telling, I thought LIJ was going to win this one. RPG3K was looking to recover the titles they lost to Suzuki-gun. The stakes were very high for both LIJ and RPG3K, so I expected one of them to win in the end. I was wrong. Suzuki-gun won after pulling the referee out of the ring and finishing Sho. Something was missing in this match, as it was not nearly as good as I expected it to be.

Result: Suzuki-gun

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Marty Scurll (Bullet Club) vs. Will Ospreay (CHAOS) (c) – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship

"“There are three things certain in life: Death, taxes, and Marty Scurll beats Will Ospreay.” – Don Callis."

Will Ospreay has never had much success against The Villain. Scurll always seems to be one step ahead, and the last time these two faced off one on one, Scurll won. That makes the direction of this match very interesting. Both men exchange a ridiculous amount of fast paced holds in the opening minutes, with neither man being able to hold an advantage.

Marty was able to keep pace with Ospreay, but he tried to slow the match down a little bit, which served his gameplan a bit. However, slowing Ospreay down is like trying to catch wind. Ospreay hit a Space Flying Tiger Drop. Unfortunately for Ospreay it didn’t keep Marty at bay for long, as he hit an apron superkick on Will, dropping him to the ground. Marty continued his assault on the outside with chops and sending Ospreay into the guardrail.

Once back in the ring, Scurll began to get the heat on Ospreay with a series of submissions and attacks that kept him grounded. This is why Scurll has always been able to beat him. He keeps him down and forces Ospreay to wrestle his match. Ospreay managed to hit a hand spring kick, but he struggled to do anything else, selling the neck. Ospreay was great here.

After an exchange of finisher attempts, Scurll managed to hit a pumphandle neckbreaker, but Ospreay kicked out. Marty can’t seem to finish him here, despite trying very hard to. Marty hit a tombstone piledriver on the outside of the ring! Ospreay’s neck is being relentlessly attacked. Ospreay somehow kicked out, despite the pain. Ospreay went for his standing Spanish Fly but went into a powerbomb on Scurll instead! That was insane.

Marty managed to counter the OsCutter by pushing Ospreay to the outside. Ospreay hit his head on the apron on the way out, further hurting his neck. Both men battled on the apron, and Ospreay hit a Spanish fly to the outside of the ring, but Ospreay hit his head on the apron and busted himself open. Ospreay then hit a corckscrew shooting star press, but Scurll kicked out. Marty hit a superkick to the back of Ospreay’s head, but Ospreay kicked out. Ospreay is bleeding everywhere now. Ospreay caught a superkick, and a series of near fall counters began, ending with Ospreay hitting an OsCutter with Ospreay unable to pin Scurll because of the pain. Scurll hit a piledriver on Ospreay, but Ospreay still kicked out.

Scrull broke Ospreay’s fingers, then stomped on Ospreay’s neck repeatedly, and the ref just watched. Scrull locked on the Chicken Wing, but Ospreay escaped. Marty went for more direct attacks on the neck, but Ospreay finally countered and hit the OsCutter again! He got the pinfall! Ospreay wins! What a match.

Result: Will Ospreay

Rating 5 stars out of 5

This match was madness. It would have been 5 stars without that crazy apron bump that resulted in Ospreay being busted open. I hope his neck is okay, because that was insane.