"Six teams entered this evening with 8 points & a less-predictable winner than Block A potentially creates an exciting denouncement of Block B; I wonder when this small shipbuilding & towel-y textile city on Shikoku has ever had a bigger card? I also wonder why this site was chosen... maybe it's because Imabari's sister city is Lakeland, FL, home to many a NXT show (and 5-21-77, aka DP #3 for DeadHeads. ) Overall, a better effort than many other nights but the crowd was too quiet. Who's going to be the black trunk exiting Tag League w/ a victory? Regardless, I enjoyed the urgency both brought to their match but the finish felt rushed. A King Kong kneedrop I could have taken finished off Kitamura and Henare can thank Makabe's vet status for his points. (1 3/4) Trent mocked Archer's water-spitting on his way to the ring, and yet the way it dribbled from his mouth made it come-off as more gross than Lance's spurts. Until the near-falls that constituted 30% of the contest, CT is seemingly following TB's example in taking Big Bumps at even the spot shows ie. a nasty chokeslam from Lance, the match was played-for-laughs as Archer took the crowd's chanting for Beretta as more offensive than anything the 'BF's' could do to him or his partner. (2 1/3 - 1/2) I feel Cobb's lack of polish, he's often disjointed and clunky, reared itself on this tour whereas Elgin was his typically sturdy if not particularly personable self. For Chrissakes, a top-rope superplex (Elgin) in which the victim (Rowe) absolutely lands on his back is Not a "brainbuster. " (In addition, after 18 shows in such a short span, I'm ill of Milano's overemoting. ) (2 1/3 - 1/2) Despite two other teams with 10, the winner of the Main wins the Block. As expected, I mostly enjoyed myself when Ishii was in, (shoulder-bock opening w/ Loa, ) and rolled-my-eyes when marshmellow man was 'competing, ' but at least junky was pinned after a 'Magic Killer, ' and a drop-DDT from the same set-up. (2 1/4)"

[4.0] "Another low-key NJPW, this one decided Block B of the World Tag League. A couple of the tournament matches were good and the main event sparkled for a few minutes, but otherwise standard small show stuff. Togi Makabe & Henare -vs- David Finley & Katsuya Kitamura – (World Tag League 2017 – Block B) [*] Boo at making Kitamura a zero! Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. -vs- Beretta & Chuckie T – (World Tag League 2017 – Block B) [** 1/2] They managed to make it surprisingly exciting considering the small show and limited crowd engagement. But smart motivated wrestling, especially by the Best Friends getting to surprise KES more than expected, made this a joy. Especially considering how dead the show had been up to that point. Raymond Rowe & Hanson -vs- Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb – (World Tag League 2017 – Block B) [** 1/4] A real heavyweight clash! Unfortunately not enough steam to reach its potential as the big highlight of the tournament. But by all means, a very solid impact battle by the big guys that was fun to watch. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa -vs- Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano – (World Tag League 2017 – Block B) [* 3/4] Didn’t really work for the longest time, then it literary stumbled into some excitement. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI -vs- Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay & Gedo [**] A bit blah at first, but it was good once Naito and Okada up’ed a gear for the final minutes."