NJPW G1 Climax 28 Night 4: Review, Grades, and Analysis

Juice Robinson (0-1) vs. Kota Ibushi (Bullet Club Elite) (1-0)

Juice Robinson looked to get a significant win here over Kota Ibushi, one of the biggest names in Japanese wrestling today. Ibushi, however, has been at the wrestling game for a long time, and he will not be easy to defeat. Juice hit a shoulder block, and Ibushi kicked up immediately and hit the ropes again. Juice hit a series of arm drags, but Ibushi managed to hit a kick to knock Juice to the mat.

Ibushi went for the Golden Triangle moonsault, but Juice dodged and hit a cannonball off the apron onto Ibushi! Juice hit a flying cross body, but Ibushi kicked out. Juice hit a senton after a camel clutch attempt, but Ibushi still kicked out. Kevin Kelly pointed out that Ibushi was having trouble with his left hand because of what Jay White did to him. His hand is only 70% healed. That broken hand continued to play a role in the story of this match.

Juice went for another cannonball, this time into the corner, and Ibushi moved. Ibushi then hit a springboard dropkick. A series of kicks and a standing moonsault followed by Ibushi. Juice hit a hard chop, but was sent to the outside of the ring. Robinson cut Ibushi off and stopped him from hitting the Golden Triange moonsault again. Juice hit a superplex, a cannonball, and a powerbomb, but Ibushi kicked out!

Ibushi went for a springboard, but got caught with a hard chop from Juice Robinson. Both men started to exchange blows on the apron, and Ibushi hit a hurricanrana off the apron to the floor! That was incredible. Ibushi climbed onto the top of the ring post and moonsaulted off onto Juice Robinson! Woah!

Back in the ring, Juice blocked the Kamigoye and hit a massive lariat. Juice went for a fireman’s carry, but Ibushi blocked it and hit a big kick to the head. Ibushi went for another Kamigoye, but Juice dodged it again. Ibushi went for a straight jacket suplex, but Juice rolled through and hit a leg lariat. Juice hit a double knee gut buster, but Ibushi kicked out. Robinson went for Pulp Friction, but Ibushi broke free and hit a straight jacket suplex. Juice kicked out, but Ibushi maintained wrist control and hit the Kamigoye for the pinfall. Awesome match.

Result: Kota Ibushi (2-0)

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

This was a very good match, and absolutely one of the must see matches so far. Kota Ibushi defeated Juice Robinson, which indicates that he might be getting a US title shot soon. NJPW has a few directions they can go, which is great. Ibushi and Robinson having a title match on a US show would definitely draw some eyes to the NJPW show on September 30th at Long Beach.