"came back to rewatch this, Mikey showed a lot of fire and struggle, he's obviously disoriented but also it very much still is good selling and reaction to the whole thing. He will do this again in the tag league, busting himself open with a headbutt, and then going crazy. Gnarly finish too, what a beast. But at the end of the day, these headbutts gotta stop when its proven to be very dangerous."
[3.0] "This was very needlessly dangerous. The headbutts were reckless, dangerous, and irresponsible, why do skull on skull headbutts? No upside and plenty of downside. And the final move to drop Henare on his head was just unnecessary. I hope it was a botch and not intentional. Either way not good. If you take the headbutts and final move out, this would have been a great match. I really liked the new side of Henare and it would have been one of my favorite matches of his. But those moves were just too reckless and messed up the whole match to me so I have to rate it low."
[8.0] "Brutal mid card match, almost too brutal as we almost lost both guys for the rest of the tournament I'm sure. But they both gave a hell of a performance, I'm a Henare mark through and through and Mikey showed he can hang in a G1. Henare is bound to have another banger sooner or later, but let's see if Mikey can keep this intensity. ***1/2"
[7.0] "This match kind of fell apart after Nicholls was busted open by the shoot headbutts and you could really tell he was reeling from that point on. Also the ending was obviously botched and was very scary and could have turned out way worse but luckily HENARE escaped serious injury and has been able to continue to compete in the G1."
[5.0] "This is a challenge to rate due to the shoot headbutts and botched finish. The action was solid for the most part, and the intensity was there, but I question if that level of intensity was required here. Despite how unsafe they are, I don't mind the occasional shoot-headbutt if the occasion calls for it, but this match simply didn't. I can't lie and say that it didn't up the energy, but it simultaneously took me out of the match. I think I'm just gonna call this one straight down the middle. **1/2"
[2.0] "From the moment Mikey headbutted Henare, this match fell apart. It kept getting scarier to watch as Mikey slipped up more and more. It ultimately came to a head when Mikey dangerously dropped Henare on his head for the finish, most likely concussing Henare in the process. The match should've been stopped after the headbutt. Hopefully, Henare can continue to compete, but he shouldn't have been placed in this situation. The refs need to do better."
[5.0] "Sloppy and unengaging in a way that is baffling for both competitors. Two solid wrestlers who for whatever reason in this instance had absolutely no chemistry, and as a result it ends up being a rather unengaging and unremarkable match (outside of a notable and frightening botch from Nicholls) despite the clear effort and physicality from both participants."
[9.0] "I'm shocked at how low this rating is. It is one of my favorite matches of the tournament so far, from the opening with the reveal of Henare's new look and tattoo, to Mikey getting busted open from a headbutt, finishing with Henare landing on his head. This was brutal, hard hitting and the kind of Strong Style that I like. I feel like people are too worried about the performers, who can take care of themselves, and aren't actually losing themselves in the matches."
[6.0] "This one is really difficult to evaluate. On one hand, it was an incredibly physical match with some genuinely great spots. On the other, the headbutts were pretty damn devastating and even busted Mikey Nicholls open. I try not to judge the chances that wrestlers take because they are the ones who know what they are doing, but Nicholls was visibly shaken up by the Headbutt, stumbled through some spots, and the finish was really tough to watch because of how bad it could have turned out. I will give them their props and say it was a three-star match for the positive, but perhaps an example of crossing the thin line between Strong Style and the dangers of wrestling. 3 stars, 6 out of 10."
[6.0] "I respect the physicality and risks these guys were willing to take, but closing stretch and result didnt work for me. It was interesting while it lasted but the less interesting, less safe, less skilled wrestler won and that really killed my immersion."
[7.0] "Scary ending aside, this was a fun little match. Sometimes I like to pretend I am watching this with my late grandfather who had no patience for phoniness and would leave if something preposterous happened. I think he would have been entrenched by the action in this one."
[6.0] "Brutal match, especially during the headbutt sequence with Nicholls seriously bleeding, which reminded me of Shibata's injury. Also, I hope that Henare's fine after the finish. Good but a bit too long show. ***1/4*"
[4.0] "Sometimes a match "feels real", and it adds excitement. This match felt real, but no... that did not help. The match after the legit headbutts... it just felt weird and sloppy. I see a lot of ratings higher here, and if you want to enjoy it, sure. For me, this was my least favorite match of the first two days."
[8.0] "What an amazing, hard hitting match - both men showcaed their talents in strong style. I just hope that Henare is alright, he was dropped righ ton his head."
[4.0] "Hard hitting but it felt messy and a little bit cheap. The rough headbutts and big drop spot didn't raise the match intensity enough to take the risks. I really like Hanare's new look and hope he's ok."
[8.0] "This is the best Henare match I've seen, probably helps that Mad Mikey went crazy in this one. Stiff as hell with some good offense, and a sick finish."
[7.0] "This match had some disgusting spots. Henare opened up Nicholls with a gross headbutt but Mikey ends the match by dropping Henare on his head. Obviously, I don't want anyone to get hurt but I thought these two had great chemistry and it was a solid bout."
[5.0] "Despite best efforts, this didn't pick up much energy from the crowd. The intentional headbutts were really stupid, and the finish was too scary."
[9.0] "ANZAC boys decided to go out and put on a banger. Wrestling with no regard for safety is dumb but god is it entertaining. Henare proved again he can have random world-class outings but Nichols really showed something I don't think many had seen before. All hail CTE wrestling."
[6.0] "I think it's tempting to rate this higher than it deserved based on the chaos of the headbutts and the finish being so close to crushing Henare's neck. After Shibata I think headbutts are just unnecessary, especially ones so hard you get cut open as with Mikey. Just too much. Better than I expected but a tad reckless. ***1/4"
[6.0] "The match was very hard hitting and intense during the finish, but the headbutt and the finishing move were some unnecessary risks even considering that a match of this caliber (no one cared) did not need them at all"
[4.0] "This match fell apart with some sloppy moments. I hope Henare is ok after a scary finish to the match. Both guys are great but this didn't work for me."
[7.0] "Absolutely crazy last quarter. I'd rather not see shoot headbutts especially with what happened to Shibata. Very entertaining but just hope there's no serious injuries if that kind of stuff is gonna continue"
[8.0] "Where did this come from? Awesome, hard hitting match that is only dragged down by being too dangerous at times. Glad to see that Henare is okay, as I seriously thought the match finish ended his G1 run early."
[9.0] "honestly, this completely shocked me with how good it was. regardless of how intentional, the intensity toward the end was incredible, although the finish was a tad hard to watch."
[6.0] "Fairly pedestrian for most of it but blood and an absolutely SICK finishing move helped it along. Definitely worth checking out the finish at least lol"
[8.0] "This is the best singles match of Mikey Nicholls' career, unless this is the beginning of a string of homicidal bombfests throughout the bracket which in that case, check back in a month. Nicholls has always been defined by his tag work, mostly due to being a blank canvas that anyone he teams with fill in for him. But he's in an awkward spot as a singles wrestler, the Jannetty of Jannetties, serviceable on the mat but a complete non-entity everywhere else. The fact that he's even in the G1 was a headscratcher, like Lawlor or Rosser or Bad Dude Tito couldn't get a spot but that guy Shane Haste teams with can? Nicholls is here to prove that assumption wrong, as he takes on the returning Henare. Henare already impressed during last years G1 and is back with a new look tapping into his Maori heritage, it seems like he's gonna steamroll Nicholls. And from the first half of this match, he does. Big strikes, throwing Nicholls around on the floor, a Samoan Drop, it looks like Henare has the win in the bag. Suddenly, Nicholls gets a burst of wind, hitting a Tornado DDT and a Superplex but Henare is unfazed. At this moment, both men are struggling back to their feet when Henare headbutts Nicholls, Nicholls returns the favor. And before you know it both men are to their feet exchanging scary looking headbutts, but it's Nicholls who wins the exchange, getting a nasty cut on his head akin to Shibata's infamous headbutt years before. For the first time in this match, rather Nicholls' entire time in NJPW, he's shown dominance over another competitor. It's a double edged sword however, as he is clearly rattled by the effects of the headbutt, trying for big moves but either being denied by Henare's tenacity or poor judgement due to his shaken equilibrium. Nicholls continues to eat vicious strikes from Henare including a hard Justice Knee, but eventually both men are exchanging go-behinds for the advantage. Suddenly, Nicholls lifts up Henare for a FUCKING FLOWSION, what? And it's a great one too, getting Kevin Kelly to curse on the air. Against all odds, Nicholls wins, proving that he isn't just capable of singles competition, but ready for it. Excited to see where he goes from here"
[7.0] "Match feels like it kinda went off the rails to maybe get the crowd on board, not sure. The headbutts were gross, Nicholls gets busted open pretty bad but i dont penalize for risky moves that's their business. The finisher was botched and Henare takes a nasty landing. Henare has a new, tougher look highlighting his heritage, but remains to be seen if this helps his presentation within the company."
[7.0] "Respect the hell out of both these guys for going out there and giving us a match that we will remember and they succeeded. It wasn't the cleanest, it wasn't a technical masterpiece but it was kinda beast. They punched, chopped, slapped, shoot headbutted till Nicholls was busted open and then someone almost died at the finish. I certainly won't forget this match that easy. ***1/2"
[7.0] "It was a good brawl where both guys looked good. Henare has improved a lot this year and even Mikey Nicholls of all people had an interesting performance. The finish was cool."
[9.0] "wrestling can be really simple. dudes just being dudes. Mikey's headbutt was so nasty and the finish was amazing even though it was a botch. never in my wildest dreams i expected this match to be my favorite match of the tourney so far. ****1/2."
[7.0] "This was a pretty solid brawl. Started a little slow but turned into an absolute slugfest. The shoot headbutts sounded loud and brought more of that brawl feel. Finish was kind of scary with Henare's landing but solid."
[8.0] "This was a great physical bloody brawl. These two brawlers beat the snot out of each other into a finish so wild Kevin Kelly exclaimed SHIT. Crazy match. And HENAREs new look is sick."
[8.0] "Yes, they killed to each others and watching Nicholls doing the fucking cosplay of Shibata was disgusting but I usually don't penalize a match if the wrestlers involved take risks they shouldn't take. At the beginning this looked like a squash to push Henare due his new Umaga style gimmick but Nicholls found the way to beat the monster and finished him with that horrible head drop. Very good but stop putting your fucking life on the line with the headbutts, I love them but they are too dangerous. If you wanna do them, just do them safely and without bleeding from the head. ***3/4"
[6.0] "It did take a little bit of time for them to find their rhythm. That being said, and once Nicholls decided to inexplicably go batshit with the shoot headbutts, the match became super enjoyable. Nicholls really seems to be a fan favorite and looked like a great underdog here. Henare is sporting a new look, I don't know if this will be the catalyser for a push but he looks more menacing with the extra pounds. If the keeps his speed and agility he will be a very credible contender in the heavyweight division."
[6.0] "You can tell that these guys really wanted to go out and impress for the first match of the tournament but, there were too many akward moments and missed strikes for this to be a great match. On top of that you have the horrifying finish with Nicholls dropping Henare's full weight on his head. There was also the debut of Henare's name change and new look including a face tattoo that completely changes his presentation. There were some headbutts here that busted Nicholls open hard way which came out of nowhere and elevated the heat between them but, overall this match didn't land and could have ended up much worse for both of them. 3*"
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