Naomichi Marufuji vs. Prince Devitt

[9.0] "A great, fast paced match with loads of action and great spots. Genuinely looked like it could go either way and I was fine with either man winning. This is one of the few matches I saw of Devitt in New Japan and I didn't know he could do this well."

[9.0] "I wasn't sure if I would be into this but I thought the result was actually great, very fast paced and exciting, both guys were on top form."

[9.0] "BANGER! Naomichi Marufuji and Prince Devitt, with excellent chemistry, bring a incredibly well-paced display of amazing wrestling. This was the first time I've seen these two wrestle each other, and they certainly brought it. Devitt was really over with the crowd, here, and Marufuji was getting some great reactions too, despite being the outsider. The action didn't slow down at all right from the start, though it never felt TOO rushed either. An excellent and fun display. Awesome stuff."

[9.0] "INCREDIBLE! This was the very definition of a classic battle between Junior Heavyweights! Prince Devitt and Naomichi Marufuji, two of the most methodical wrestlers on the planet, throwing every ounce of themselves at one another in a bout that firmly expresses the undeniable prestige of the Super J Cup. Two men who are incredibly calculated in when they hurt themselves in order to damage their opponents both take chances that they simply don't often take. Devitt the master technician, and Marufuji the true complete package. Both men pull out all the stops in one of the best matches of both of their careers. When Marufuji lifelessly throws the high kick at Devitt, this went from a great match to a masterpiece of storytelling. The stoic warrior in Marufuji against the thoughtful arrogance of Devitt. Their vastly different, yet compellingly similar training on full display. What... A... WAR! 4.75 stars, 9.5 out of 10."

[8.0] "Really great match, Devitt was very good and Marufuji was incredible. I would go 4 stars with this one. Koruaken crowd really added to it."

[8.0] "Devitt was great in this, but Marufuji was incredible. This was a master performance by him. As always the case with Marufuji, he's not going to be great night after night, but when put in a big spot he will be nothing short of incredible. Seek this out. ***1/4."

[7.0] "A very good Super J Cup Final and a very competent display of the Japanese junior style. This match had lots of great high spots from both wrestlers. Devitt notably hit a great senton off the top rope into the crowd while Marufuji hit an awesome fosbury flop over the top rope into a drop kick. Marufuji was very aggressive from the start, coldly working over Devitt and pulling out some rather stiff moves in the process. Marufuji's offence was stylish and with great impact the entire match-long, but it was especially good in this opening feeling-out process where it established Devitt as the underdog. Devitt played that role well, selling his pain and exhaustion competently and having the proper technique and timing to pull off strong comebacks. Devitt had an injured leg and initially sold it well, but there were moments where, had he not dropped the selling. it would have added a lot to the match. There was also a tease of focus upon Marufuji's injured arm, though this sadly never came to fruition. Had these two limb-work aspects been fully explored I could have seen this match being great. It was still very good, but perhaps missing that extra important detail that should come into play in big matches such as the Super J Cup finals. ***3/4"

[9.0] "Awesome Super J Cup finals match with a still rising Devitt and veteran Marufuji. Though things kind of started slow, the pace was super quick the whole way. Each guy threw some crazy spots and moves at each other besides pulling out some sick sequences. The crowd was mostly for Maru in the beginning, but they were super hot for Devitt towards the end. Both guys just wouldn't give, but in the end Marufuji was the first to hit his finisher thus making him the decisive winner, ****1/2."

[9.0] "Well this was a damn BATTLE between these 2 guys. On paper, I thought this match looked pretty meh, but damn did they deliver. Really exciting match. ****1/4."