[7.0] "Pretty good show. The main event was awesome and there were some solid matches and some average ones."

[10.0] "I've never understood why this show wasn't rated higher honestly. Only meh match was the jr tag title match. Everything else was great. Fun heavyweight tag match with War machine getting over. Great LIJ tag match that set up Juice getting his first big shot in NJPW against Naito of all people. Then the last 3 title matches were all great in their own ways. Goto vs ZSJ was fun and we dont see Goto getting grounded like that often. Kushida getting nuked by Hiromu was such a shock to see live and made Hiromu look like an absolute monster. Doesn't get talked about enough. And we end the night with the greatest match ever. Amazing show that I've rewatched a decent amount because it's that fun"

[8.0] "That main event was so emotional when you know the consequences. Even without the tragedy, once the blood starts dripping down his forehead, the emotion came alive. Breathtaking battle. The twist in the Junior Title bout was a mark-out moment. So unexpected. Goto/Sabre, quality wrestling. IWGP Tag battle, a war. And Juice gets elevated. Great and varied show. Kazuchika Okada (c) -vs- Katsuyori Shibata – (IWGP Title) [**** 3/4] Thank you for everything Shibata~~~ The match started a bit slow, though always incredibly solid. Got really elevated around the 20-min match, and from THAT HEADBUTT(! ) and on…. as real as it gets…."

[7.0] "Okada vs Shibata was excellent by any standard; another entry in Okada's growing resume of stellar main event performances, and a fine swan song for Shibata if that is indeed what it turns out to be. The rest, while still a good show, wasn't quite as good - the Tag Title match was a good tag team brawl, the Jr. Heavyweight Title match worked as a story point, but wasn't much of a match in and of itself. Goto vs Sabre had some fine technical wrestling, but I still wish Sabre would bother to sell once in awhile. The other really notable point was Robinson getting the pin on Naito in the eight-man to set up their one-on-one IC Title match. Not a bad show througout, but the main event is the one really must-see part."

[8.0] "When the main is as good as this one it is easier to see the whole show through rose colored glasses . That is not to say this wasn't a great show . The only match I would say was not good was the opener . But many of the matches where good and that's it . Business picked up with the Heavy Tag Title match . The JR. singles match was good for what it was but really did not add to overall match quality . If that is Shibata's last match it is a wonderful way for him to be remembered . I think it is time for these guys to cut the shit with the headbutts already . You are tough we get it . Don't ruin your career and maybe your life over a headbutt . My top match was Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata ."

[6.0] "I enjoyed 'Beginning of Cherry Blossoms' (untrue as the first in Japan started blooming in mid-Feb, ) less than most. Last month I was thinking of going to Nihon for Dontaku in Fukouka, and Nagoya for DG's "Dead or Alive, " but w/ the two title matches of the May tour being Okada/Fale & Naito/Juice, I'll hold back. Experts speak to the clarity & thoughfulness of Gedo's 'sensical' booking. Well, after Fale pinned Okada @ Yokohama's G-1 show, Okada got his win back, in a non-title match, during the 'Destruction' run in September. Since then Fale has done Zero to deserve an IWGP shot. Within NJPW's world, defeating EVIL is a step towards challenging Naito for the IC belt, and besides, Fale didn't even win the NJ Cup. But b/c we're building to an Okada/Omega re-match at Dominion, Okada has to beat the #2 before the #1 hombre of the 'BC' is allowed to re-challenge for the IWGP. Speaking of that #1 hombre, WTF in that tag w/ Ishii. Booking the Omega/Ishii singles re-match was an easy, logical step prior to Omega rechallenging. He's beaten Goto twice, but has never pinned Ishii in a high-profile circumstance. So why would it hapen during a meaningless tag, one I would give 1/2 star to due to Yano's hijinx & Omega playing along, placing Ishii in the awkward space of getting the tag on-track so that it means something when Kenny pins him. That match was the shits! In other action, Finlay's stunner sucks and he's clearly not where he was prior to his shoulder (? ) issues. I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed the Suzuki six-man, and although I predicted incorrectly that Shibata would beat Okada and then lose to Omega, I do feel confident Minoru will take the 'Never' from Goto. I loved the wild 2 minutes of Hiromu/Kushida, and the decision to book the match as such as it shuts up the folks that complain that competitors in NJPW title matches aren't quickly-enough going for the win. However, I haven't seen Rico (not P Puma) in a 4 star singles match in a"

[8.0] "Only the main event was the highlight of the show, but everything else was fun. Opener featured the Young Lions jobbing again, but setting up interesting storylines, **1/2; BC vs Tigers and older guys was decent and thankfully featured Based Muffin Ass, ***; CHAOS vs Suzuki was whatever but Yoshi getting the pin is leading to something, ***; the Jr Tag match was actually really fun featuring antics from both sides, ***1/2; the next BC vs CHAOS match had Kenny in his house show tights but still put on a fun performance, ***3/4; LIJ vs Taguchi Japan is always fun but I really don't want to see Juice in an IC championship match, ***1/2; War Machine was impressive but didn't do much impressive stuff, ***1/2; Sabre vs Goto was actually really good but hampered by a SG interference but I don't know why they aren't saving Goto vs Suzuki for Dominion, ****; Hiromu vs KUSH was surprising but actually pretty good for future storytelling, ***1/2; the main event was just an epic all out war between the two men and a MOTY, ****3/4."

[9.0] "Junior Tag Team Match was nothing special. Fale-Omega vs Yano-Ishii was Fun. Good Comedy. LIJ vs Six Man Champions and Juice was Solid. Juice Robinson Looks great. War Machine vs TenKoji was Really Good. ZSJ vs Goto was Great. Jr Heavyweight title match was Shocking. Great Action for only 2 Minutes match. The Main Event was Incredible. One os the best matches I've seen. 5 Stars. Great Show"

[7.0] "Not like I'm rating it much lower than average, the tag team matches were more consistently not terrible than usual and the 8-man had some fun moments. The Tag Team Championship match was disappointing, Goto and Sabre was above average, Takahashi and Kushida was interesting, but it could have made a classic match, and the main event was really great, but not as great, to me, as many seem to think"

[9.0] "I was lucky enough to be at this show live, & the atmosphere inside Ryogoku Kokugikan was amazing. The crowd as well as I were into every match, even if a few of the tag bouts were the same matchups to the lead up to the show. Every match delivered though. Kenny & Fale vs Ishii & Yano was really enjoyable, as well as LIJ vs Tanahashi & co. It was surprising seeing Juice get the clean pin over Naito, as a IC title match between the 2 could be huge for Juice & a good match. Sabre was all over Goto throughout a lot of their match, it was a good match then setting up Goto vs Suzuki too. Minoru shocked everyone with how quickly he took down Kushida, that was a direct homage to Goldberg vs Brock last week. Finally Okada vs Shibata was an absolute war. Those strikes were so brutal & showing that the champ just couldn't hang with Shibata when it comes to that was awesome. The crowd was solidly behind Shibata in this one, & I really thought he was going to take it for a bit. It was incredible, ****3/4. but this Okada is something else though. During his reign literally every single defense he's had has been 5* worthy, can't say enough on how great he is. I saw his match with Kenny live too & I don't think anything will ever top that for me."

[10.0] "A show of the year candidate. Team Liger vs. Young Lion was a lot of fun - just Finlay, Liger & Nakanishi giving the youngsters a whooping while the youngsters answered with some neat comebacks (***1/2), Bullet Club vs. Team Tiger Mask was a match, some solid stuff in it, but for the most part super forgettable (*1/2), CHAOS vs. Suzuki-gun was OK, Trent was the MVP (**), Taichi & Kanemaru vs. Gedo & Jado was better than I expected - rock solid match (***1/4), Kenny & Fale vs. Ishii & Yano was the worst match of the night, just complete trash outside of Ishii doing his thing for a while (*), LIJ vs. Taguchi Japan was fun, everybody looked good & Juice Robinson got put over big time (***), TenKoji vs. War Machine was also good, War Machine continues to impress in New Japan - another really good performance by them, in particular Hanson (***1/4), Goto/ZSJ was just outstanding, absolutely loved it (****1/2), a New Japan title match going under 2 minutes is super shocking - but in a VERY positive way, I loved KUSHIDA/Hiromu II (****1/2), and then the main event, my goodness - Shibata & Okada delivered one of the greatest matches of all-time (*****). I think this just edges out Wrestle Kingdom 11 for me as the best wrestling show of the year (so far)."

[8.0] "Given I have only caught the last four match, of which two were better than good. ZSJ/Goto was pretty great. *** 3/4. And of course the WAR that was Shibata/Okada. What a run as champion Okada has had so far. Amazing match by both these men! **** 3/4."

[8.0] "Great show from New Japan with a fantastic main event, which is the second best match of 2017 so far. A solid card up and down but things got really good at the end: Liger, Nakanishi & Finlay vs. Kawato, Kitamura & Oka **1/2, Makabe, Nagata, Tiger Mask & Tiger Mask W vs. G. O. D. , Yujiro & Owens **1/2, YOSHI-HASHI & RPG Vice vs. Suzuki-gun ***, IWGP Jr. Tag Title Match ***1/4, Omega and Fale vs. Ishii & Yano ***1/4, Team Tanahashi vs. L. I. J. ***3/4, TenKoji vs. War Machine ***3/4, Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr ***3/4, IWGP Jr Title: Hiromu Takahashi vs. KUSHIDA ***, IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Katsuyori Shibata *****"

[9.0] "Great show. The bottom of the card advanced the storylines between Ishii/Omega and Tanahashi/Evil. Omega finally pinned Ishii in very fun match. Los Ingobernables de Japon vs Taguchi Japan was very fun and elevated Juice in the eyes of the fans. The Junior tag matches was just a match. The Young Lions vs veterans was short but interesting. It's just a guess but Kawato may be a big player in five years. TenKoji vs War machine was good. The Goto vs Zack Sabre Jr was real good match, people were real into Sabre Jr. skills, but the interference put a ceilling in that match. However the interference means that we will have Goto vs Minoru Suzuki for the title. The Jr. Title was a shocker in real good way. Kushida (The ACE OF THE JR. Division) had enough of Himoru and attacked him before the match start. Despite that he lost the match in less than 2 minutes (real rare thing in NJPW). Himoru received a lot of support from the fans and is real star. The main event was awesome. Match of the year contender. Okada knows when and how to work heel. But by end of the match he was face again. It's weird but it worked very well. Shibata was elevated to star and from now on instead of four top guys (Okada, Naito, Omega and Tanahashi) there is five top guys."

[8.0] "Dark Match was a fine shwocase (**1/2). The 8-Man opener was alright, TMW did his thing (**1/2). CHAOS vs SZKG was a nice match (**3/4). The Jr. Tag match knew it needed to be a clusterfuck to be good, and it barely managed that (***). Yano/Ishii vs Fale/Kenny was a good semi-comedy match that got way more serious when it was Ishii vs Omega (***1/4). Taguchi-Japan vs LIJ was so well put-together; the team offense, the pacing, the story moments, hot tag from Ricochet, everything EVIL did, Juice getting the shock pinfall on Naito, everything was on-point here (***3/4). War Machine vs Bread Club was some fucking radical hard-hitting heavyweight tag action with my boy Hanson doing everything he could to blow the crowd's minds; the final Rowe vs Kojima sequence RULED (****). ZSJ vs Goto was understandably methodical, and the crowd reacting to Zack's various holds was interesting, but it didn't really pick up until the Suzuki-Gun interference, but I think Goto overcoming that was good stuff (***1/2). Hiromu vs KUSHIDA was a perfec story match; KUSH dives over the post into Hiromu, beats him up outside, rolls him in, the match starts, he targets Hiromu's arm, Hiromu gets in one kick at the right moment, he hits the Tope Sunset Bomb (and KUSHIDA eats shit), he hits a few more crazy high-impact moves, then his finish, and he pins KUSHIDA; just perfect execution of a shockingly short match with Hiromu's character clashing with KUSHIDA's apparent change in character and I LOVED it (****). Shibata controlled much of the feeling out process in the main event, and that worked well, but with one good dropkick Okada was in control and the slow escalation began, although I found that escalation a bit drawn out; Shibata was wildly over, and Okada was booed for mocking him; many great moments and a couple awesome sequences (especially towards the end), but it dragged a bit between each; another crazy good Okada main event that could be improved by removing 5-10 minutes (****1/2)."

[9.0] "Dark match: **1/2. Absolutely nothing wrong with this. Kawato's already pretty good, which shouldn't be a big surprise. Proper show opener: ***. Good match. Ibushi got his moonsault in. CHAOS/SZG 6 man: **3/4. It was just kind of there. Wish they wouldn't beat TAKA in every match he's in. It was fine, but underwhelming. Fale&Omega/Ishii/Yano: ***1/4. Good match. Very much a Yano match but it was fun. LIJ/Taguchi Japan: ***1/2. Match was pretty good. I think Juice is a Incredibly weak challenger for Naito, especially considering it's probably gonna headline a show. This will be a test for Naito. Tag Title match: ***3/4. Better than i expected. MVP of the match is Hanson, who through hell or high water was determined too get himself over in this match. Rowe was really good too. NEVER Title match: ***3/4. Really fun. Crowd was into it. The interference didn't hurt the match too bad, however the crowd didn't really react to the finish. The Jr. title match isn't something i'm gonna rate. I like the idea of beating someone in like 3 minutes, but i'm not sure if KUSHIDA was the right person to be on the losing end of that, thought he fact that it was KUSHIDA makes it work even more for Hiromu. Also Bill Watts would've fined Ricochet for his clothes. Main Event: ****3/4. Almost went the full 5. Absolute masterpiece of a match. 38 minutes of Fury. If you don't Okada is one of the 3 best wrestlers going today, you're crazy. Great show."

[9.0] "I'm gonna give 9 to the show, but I only came here to talk about the Main Event. Okada vs Shibata was fucking incredible, just a war, physical and intense from the start to the finish with a great story, just amazing. The match just speaks for it self. *****"

[9.0] "Another fantastic show from NJPW. The opener was a ton of fun as all guys looked good. Really wanna see Tonga vs Ibushi now ***1/4. CHAOS vs SG was fun **3/4. Jr Tag was decent **1/2. BC vs CHAOS was fun ***. LIJ vs Team Tana was really good. Juice vs Naito should be interesting ***1/2. Tag title match was awesome. TenCozy can still go and both teams brought it. Wow that was great ****. Goto vs ZSJ was good and a great showing from Sabre ***1/2. Takahashi vs KUSHIDA was just wow. That was unexpected. Crazy <5 minute match but too hard to rate, Ricochet vs Takahashi should be insane DUD. Shibata vs Okada was nothing short of epic. 30 minutes of these guys beating the fuck out of each other. Wow, would've been better though had Shibata won ****3/4. Very good undercard and great main events"

[9.0] "An excellent show. The undercard was really enjoyable, easy to watch, even the WCTT/SZKG title match was better than expected. The LIJ 8 man tag was the first great match on the show, just great stuff (*** 3/4), Tag Title Match was very good too (*** 3/4), and Goto/ZSJ felt like something really fresh, awesome storytelling and great callbacks with the interference, but the ending made ZSJ look kinda weak, but still, a great match (*** 3/4). Hiromu vs KUSHIDA was so fucking incredible, 1) because no one saw it coming 2) because it felt fresh and new 3) you build an amazing story with KUSHIDA's redemption. This was a squash and I am perfectly ok with this, even though this was the semi-main event of the show. Okada vs Shibata is one of those matches that I definitely have to rewatch to give a proper rating, but my God, I loved this. This was just unbelievable, not sure if I can go full 5* here because it went a little bit too long for me but an incredible match regardless. Overall a fantastic show, and NJPW sells out Ryogoku once again, highly recommended show imo."