KENTA vs. YOSHI-HASHI

[5.0] "[3.0*] This was a normal match, there wasn't much emotion or action but it had a good rhythm. The match revolved around Kenta trying to steal the victory until getting a roll at the end of the match."

[6.0] "I enjoyed this match a bit more than most people it seems like. The uber-babyface YOSHI-HASHI taking on the bullying KENTA just works for me. KENTA worked harder than usual to get heat on himself using the kendo stick and YOSHI-HASHI's staff that was the crux of their feud in 2021. Y-H's comebacks were well done with his low key great moveset leading to the smooth Karma reversal winning the match for KENTA. ***"

[7.0] "This was honestly a pretty good G1 match with KENTA vs YOSHI-HASHI here where both men had plenty of really good wrestling exchanges. I definitely thought this was a pretty good performance by KENTA, and that YOSHI-HASHI was very consistent in this G1 tournament this year (who I believe deserves more than just 4 points in his block)."

[6.0] "I think that this match was fine, not good but not hawful. We know very well that KENTA is not the wrestler he used to be years ago and that his matches now are full of dirty tactics but here they were not too annoying for me. The final stretch was very well done and I do not have a problem with the winner. ***"

[4.0] "Please, Gedo, I beg of you, I never want to watch a KENTA match again, please! Just tediously boring and totally undeserving of having a better record than YOSHI-HASHI in 2023. He's just unbearably lazy and unathletic at this point, like more or less Yujiro Takahashi levels of dull. **1/4"

[5.0] "This match featured a bit less of modern day KENTA's grab-assery than most of his G1 run has...at least at the beginning. YOSHI-HASHI is at least a sympathetic enough foil for a bit of KENTA's over the top shtick to land, but it still feels fairly played out and ineffective at the end of a tournament. There was some decent fire from YOSHI-HASHI peppered in throughout and a slightly non-formulaic end, but neither man especially covered themselves in glory in this match or on this year's G1, for that matter."

[4.0] "I'm bored to see the usual KENTA's match again and to see HASHI losing again, he has only 4 points! Anyway KENTA had to change because people are starting get annoyed of him. And about YOSHI well, I really can't figure what NJPW bookers wanna do with him. **"

[5.0] "A decent match with KENTA's usual schtick of causing a distraction or a ref bump. The last 2 or 3 minutes were good. As much as YOSHI-HASHI has improved and as much as I love watching him, he still couldn't get anything more than decent match from KENTA."

[5.0] "It's a shame YOSHI-HASHI's run in this G1 has to end this way, he has been one of the best in B block but this match was just disappointing. The last minute was good but other than that, not much to remember. Decent but weird pace, could have been better and the crowd wasn't really into it either."

[5.0] "I know KENTA is wrestling safe, but oh man, what a bore his matches are. His antics aren't even funny, and his offensive rarely looks devastating. I preferred when he came to the ring with his book in hand, at least that way we had some funny moments. And Yoshi Hashi, well, I know he's popular in Japan, but I just can't get into the guy, so this zero-stakes match meant nothing, was nothing and led to nothing. I guess, in another world, Kenta and someone else could challenge for the tag titles, but it won't happen."