"Tottori, famous in Japan for its sand dunes and a 60s film about a crazed woman, should be pleased it got the 'B' block as though it contains two preliminary big boys, half the teams are former IWGP champs and another is the formidable twosome of Elgin-Cobb. The opener was a decent 2 - 2 1/4; although a bit sloppy it featured Iishi-Kitamura. Is it me or has Tanga Loa lost some mass? I'm uncertain how the enthusiastic Henare will fan-out as an upwardly mobile competitor, but he came-off more polished tonight than did Kitamura. Loa got the duke with a Fire-thunder Bomb in a 2 1/4. If I'm a typical Japanese fan attending tonight's show, and I see the expressions by which accompany Chuck Taylor's entrance, I would immediately lower my esteem for the entire tournament; he's such a goof, talented and highly skilled, but an absolute joke. Thankfully, after Trent's first collision with Rowe, and Chuck demanding a bigger competitor than Rowe, "This guy's too small, " I could just have fun with it. The match went a little long, and was generally unheated throughout the first 60%, but the guys worked hard including Hanson taking a NW top-rope flip-over German and then a delayed piledriver from Trent. I didn't like the invoked D Gate rules as C Taylor was never tagged as the legal man, but certainly the KY Gentleman getting pinned is better than the pushed Trent B. (2 1/2) The final tournament match of the evening is on-paper a good one; they made this a grueling, slow-burner with Cobb playing face-in-peril t/out much and not looking particularly special. He did a standing SSP headbutt late that came-off silly and was pinned about a minute later after the Killer bomb. (2 3/4) It's sad that after 6 nights of a tournament I have only one match at 3 stars or higher (1st night Main Event. )"
[6.0] "Das ist jetzt sicherlich eine bessere WTL Show, als die 4 davor. Ishii & Yano v/ Finlay & Kitamura ist ziemlich knapp gehalten, mit anfangs zu viel Yano Stuff, aber gegen Ende mit 1/2 netten Kontern von Ishii & Kitamura (**¼). Das zweite Turniermatch ist auf ähnlichem Niveau, auch wenn Makabe weiterhin so uninteressant wirkt. Best Friends v/ War Machine war dann bis jetzt das zweitbeste Turniermatch. Flüssiges Wrestling, 2/3 wirklich krasse Spots und ein smartes Layout. Das passt da schon ganz gut rein (***¼ + MOTN). KES/Cobb&Elgin überzeugt in den Tag Team Moves der Big Men. Nicht immer flüssig und sauber, dafür aber ganz hart und impulsiv gearbeitet. Geht definitiv durch (***+). Insgesamt komme ich dann (mit etwas Toleranz) auf befriedigende: 5. 60/10"
[4.0] "Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano -vs- David Finley & Katsuya Kitamura - (World Tag League 2017 - Block B) [**] Decent effort by two of the less ranked teams of the tournament. Finley is full of energy the time he's in, and Kitamura gets to step out of his rookie persona and try his luck against much more experienced guys who'll give him a real lesson. Mainly Ishii, who really taught him what to expect in the New Japan ring. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa -vs- Togi Makabe & Henare - (World Tag League 2017 - Block B) [* 3/4] Not bad, but not ultra exciting either. They did give it a try and Henare is trying to pick-up where he left off with injury many months ago. Raymond Rowe & Hanson -vs- Beretta & Chuckie T - (World Tag League 2017 - Block B) [** 1/4] Best Friends against War Machine! A good house show affair. Not going to compare if they'd been let loose at a major show, but for a filler show on a tour like this, the two teams delivered a bout to be satisfied with. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. -vs- Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb - (World Tag League 2017 - Block B) [** 1/2] Killer Elite Squad against one of the most intriguing teams of the tour - Cobb/Elgin. The battle was a little on and off, but overall I felt we got a good match from two of the most heavyweight teams of the tournament. I was satisfied, at least."
"Mit Abstand der beste Tag des Turniers bis jetzt. Ishii/Yano vs. Finlay & Kitamura war gut und Ishii & Kitamura haben bereits eine tolle Chemie (***1/4). GOD vs. Henare & Makabe war am schwächsten, da Makabe in Tag Team Match nie wirklich motiviert ist. Henare dagegen schlägt sich gut (**3/4). Best Friends vs. War Machine startet mit viel Comedy und endet mit tollen Team Moves (***1/2). KES vs. Cobb/Elgin ist ein weiteres Highlights des Turnier (***1/2)"
