NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 1: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Will Ospreay (CHAOS) vs. Lance Archer (Suzuki-gun)

Lance Archer made his entrance and immediately attacked two Young Lions. Archer is a 19 year veteran, and you can expect him to try and top everything here. Archer charged Ospreay to start the match, but Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly! He then hit a flying corkscrew body press to the outside of the ring onto Archer and followed up with a Springboard 450! Ospreay got a near fall, as this match starts hot.

Archer was on the apron, but Ospreay hit a springboard dropkick and sent him to the floor. Ospreay went for the Space Flying Tiger Drop, but Archer caught him and choke slammed him through a ring side table! Holy crap! Archer sent Ospreay back into the ring and hit a huge shoulder block. Archer hit a massive lariat and got a 2 count. Ospreay was bleeding from the nose here, as Archer walked across the top rope holding Ospreay’s hand in an arm lock before diving off the rope with a forearm blow.

Archer locked on an arm lock, and continued to hammer away at the nose and arm of Ospreay to boos from the crowd. Archer killed Ospreay with a series of hard running elbows in the corner, and Ospreay hit the mat in a heap. Archer screamed “Everybody dies!” as he picked Ospreay up. Ospreay fired back with hard forearms, but Archer killed him with a big one of his own. Archer hit another running elbow, sent Ospreay to the ropes, and then Ospreay did a handspring corkscrew kick that dropped Archer.

Ospreay hit a kick the head and a top rope 619! Ospreay hit a springboard flying elbow, but Archer kicked out. Ospreay went for Stormbreaker, but Archer hit a forearm. Ospreay hit an enziguri. Ospreay hit the ropes and Archer hit the opposite direction and went for a shoulder tackle, but Ospreay jumped over him (HOLY CRAP) and hit a head kick but Archer hit the shoulder tackle on a second attempt.

Archer than hit a buckle bomb and a last ride on Ospreay. Ospreay rolled to the outside, and Archer hit an apron powerbomb on Ospreay, leaving him half dead on the outside. Archer dragged Ospreay up the entrance ramp and picked Osprey up for another powerbomb, but Ospreay flipped over and hit a Code Red! Oh my goodness.

Ospreay and Archer tried to get back to the ring but Archer shoved him to the side! As Archer was crawling through the ropes, Ospreay git a springboard dropkick and a shooting star press! Archer kicked out. Ospreay went for the OsCutter, but Archer blocked it. Ospreay managed to go for it again, and hit him! Archer kicked out! Ospreay hit a series of Kawada kicked and went for the Hidden Blade, but Archer counters and went for the Black Out. Ospreay ended up on the top rope, and Archer hit him and hit the Muscle Buster! Ospreay kicked out!

Archer put Ospreay on the top rope and went for Black Out again, and nailed Ospreay but Ospreay kicked out! Archer signals for the Iron Claw and gets it on Ospreay. Ospreay fights to try and get out of it, as the crowd cheered the favourite moves of the Von Erich’s. Ospreay made it to the ropes, to Archer’s frustration. Archer takes Ospreay back up to the top rope and tries to chokeslam him off!

Ospreay counters and hits a top rope Spanish Fly on Archer! Holy cow. This match is insane. Archer kicked out. Ospreay went for Stormbreaker again, and hit a series of Kawada kicks before picking Archer up and going for Stormbreaker again! Archer powers out and goes for a Chokeslam, but Ospreay backflips out and hits a series of huge kicks and goes for a super OsCutter, but Archer cuts him off!
Archer goes for a top rope dragon suplex, but Ospreay breaks his grip and hits a headbutt that sends archer to the mat! Archer runs up the ropes and hits a flying knee! My goodness! Archer then tries a Super Black Out from the top rope, but doesn’t make the cover on Ospreay! Archer locks on the Iron Claw and drives Ospreay to the mat and gets the pinfall! Wow!

Prediction: Will Ospreay

Result: Lance Archer (1-0) (2 Points)

Rating: ****1/2 stars (4.5 stars out of 5)

This match was the perfect big man vs. small man match, and both men worked very hard to start the tournament off hot. Ospreay looked like an absolute star, and Lance Archer looked more dangerous than ever in this one. Both men came out looking incredible, and Archer is going to be a major force to be reckoned with going forward. Incredible match.