[10.0] "Even if it's the weakest of their 4 matches, it's still 10/10 in my book. Can Omega do in 30 what he couldn't do in 60? Sure, he just needs to drop Okada on his neck enough time, brutal"
[10.0] "I ended up liking the final of this G1 (Omega v Naito) more mainly due to the stakes of that match and the crowd heat, but this was nothing short of perfect obviously. Everything about these two wrestling will forever be great. *****"
[10.0] "I would need to watch the rest of their matches to be able to compare and critique them all, but i feel fairly confident in saying that this is a certified classic. Everything about this was fun and entertaining to watch, some fantastic spots and brilliant reversals with two of the greatest in modern wrestling. This was easily digestible and left me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Another tidbit, i loved that Omega targeted Okada's taped neck throughout this one, such attention to detail."
[10.0] "different from their other matches due to it being shorter as it is in the g1, but it's still incredible. the fact that this classic is the weakest match out of the four is insane. kenny finally overcoming okada was a great moment. these two constantly put on the greatest matches ever."
[10.0] "I really liked how Omega mostly targeted Okada's heavily taped neck. Great reversals throughout the match and all-around just fantastic stuff."
[10.0] "This is my least favorite of the four singles matches between Okada and Omega, but it is still a phenomenal match. I love how they worked with the G1 30 minute time limit. Omega works the hell out of Okada's neck until the Rainmaker starts to come back to life. Great work from two of the best. (5*****)"
[9.0] "[4.5*] Holy shit, they did it again. This is a match where you have to be very cautious while evaluating it, specially if you are watching the complete series in order, because it is indeed worse than the other two masterpieces, but it is still one of the best G1 matches in history and probably the best one on the group stage. They literally condensed 1-hour of action and packed it into 25-minutes of pure madness. If I wanted to show NJPW for a friend for the first time and I had to choose one of the Okada vs Omega matches to attract him, it would be this one. 100%. This is by fat the most easy-watchable and honestly the 1st one that I am not tired after finishing it. So, you need to be cautious because if you look only at the numbers then this may be deserving of a much lower rating, but the thing is: at least in my opinion, the first two matches are GOATs. Really, both of them make my list of Greates Matches Ever. So, they mean even more than a 5* to me, which is already very meaningful because I only have 20 5-Star matches rated here until this point. So I needed to compare this match with other matches on the same level to see if it holds up and yeah, it surely does. Actually, if I watched this match alone (not just one day after watching the Time Limit Draw), I would possibly give it the full 5*, I will never know. What I know is that this is a near perfect Group Final, where they did all their greatest hits and told a beautiful story with this absurd Okada selling, the best selling of the whole series to be honest. Kenny was also impeccable at the limb-work. Instead of doing it with holds and submissions, he did his limb-work with his own move-set, targeting Okadas cervix in every single move. Frankensteiners, neckbreakers, suplexes, V-Triggers from the back and all the stuff we saw. Brilliantly built match, honestly. Not only Okada sold his neck perfectly but his facial expressions were also amazing, he would be a great get on the movie business because my man can show a thousand emotions with just one look in his eyes. One of a kind. He did all he could to resist and connected 3 Rainmakers, but at the end of the day it was not enough to beat a Kenny that not only needed the win to go to the Finals, but also needed it to show the world that he could beat Kazuchika Okada."
[10.0] "In my opinion, the weakest of the quadrilogy, but that's only because I, II, and IV are at the Andromeda Galaxy in terms of "other-worldly" whereas this match is "only" at Sagittarius A*. Because as I and II proved, and IV was to put beyond any reasonable doubt, you want any Omega/Okada match to go on as long as possible, and this is "only" 25 minutes long. But boy, do they make all 25 of those minutes count. Omega needed to exorcise a few demons here: he's currently at one loss and one draw in the rivalry, he's still smarting from coming up short in Osaka, and he wants another bite of the cherry at the Dome four months from now (which he doesn't get, leading to the decisive victory in Osaka nearly a year later). Just one problem: the greatest tournament wrestler of all time stands in his path, and Omega needs to win in thirty minutes for any chance at the Dome. Okada just needs a draw to progress to the final, and any other man with a slightly knackered neck would take it. But not Okada, who works through poisonranas and neckbreakers and V-triggers that would retire mortal men. By the twenty minute mark, both men are just dropping bombs. After a few attempts at their signatures, Okada finally hits the first Rainmaker, only Omega kicks out. So Okada answers with a second rainmaker, and a third, and almost hits the fourth before Omega answers by suplexing him across the ring before hitting yet another poisonrana. Surely that's going to put him down? Holy shit, no it's not. Surely the Rainmaker into the Rain Trigger is enough? Holy shit, no it's not! But even Okada is mortal, so Kenny goes for the OWA, which finally puts him away. And, let's be honest, putting Okada away in 25 is almost as impressive as managing to go 107 combined minutes and only getting pinned once. Despite being the weakest of the quadrilogy, it's still absolute magic, and its rating is more than deserved."
[10.0] "The last match was between Block and Okada with 13 points and Omega with 12 points, so we can say that Okada doesn't need to win, he just shouldn't lose, but Omega needs to win. On this issue, Omega was really struggling to win the match at the end of the match and used roll-ups, finishers, and everything he knew on Okada, and he showed his effort to win in the best way, and even the start of the match was very fast. I have to say that the previous two matches between these two had very long times, and this match, unlike the others, had a time limit, which made the conditions of the match much more interesting. Okada was injured in the neck and Omega officially intended to destroy Okada's head and neck and landed the heaviest possible blows on his neck (Minoro Suzuki had destroyed Okada's neck in the previous match and Omega did the exact same thing in this match). From the beginning to the end of the match, a wonderful sequence was created, such as Omega's crossbody to Okada, which hit Okada's hands and neck. The neutral falls of the match added to the charm of the match. The two wrestlers' swinging was great, especially Omega, who started with a few drop kicks at the end after Omega's dizziness. It was truly a wonderful match that has so many positive points that it is impossible to mention them all. The buildup, tournament conditions, start, ending, time limit, etc. all made it one of the best matches in history."
[7.0] "Both Okada and Omega are too big for 30 minutes time limit matches and it shows here. Not complaining of course thanks to what we got but this match is most definitely a mini side quest to the actual main matches. With that being said, what a match this was. Obviously fast paced to begin with and it pretty much didn't stop a beat. The story this time, for Kenny to take advantage of a beaten up Okada, in contrast to of course their second match. The Frankenstein outside was beautifully executed and sold. And for the first time Kenny beat Okada with the One Winged Angel. Wished it was in a bigger stage though. In my opinion I would've had this be a draw as well but have Kenny feel the rush and urgency to beat Okada to go to the finals and secure another spot at WK 12. Of course he would've lost but this 3rd match would've felt special and equal to the rest. Anyways, 5.5 stars for me. 1 > 2 > 3. On to the final and my favourite match of the series. p.s. Okada's dropkicks should be it's own museum."
[9.0] "Four and three quarters, it just doesn't touch their Wrestle Kingdom match but was more focused by virtue of the time limit than their one hour draw."
[10.0] "Kenny did it! And wowwww, what a match! It's so weird to say that a 27 minute match felt short, but after their two previous marathons this one just flew by. They were able to tell a more consistent story this time with Omega's relentless targeting of Okada's neck, and it really showcased a more ruthless side of Kenny. Every time he hit a move, he'd immediately get in position to hit the next one and it eventually just became too much for Okada. Kenny finally hitting the One Winged Angel and getting the pin was an awesome moment. I loved this one and I'd rank it second in the initial trilogy. All three are masterpieces of course. *****"
[9.0] "This is my second favorite of the four matches they had. It wasn't as good as their Wrestle Kingdom match, however it started a whole new chapter for their feud. Kenny finally beating Okada was an amazing moment and it was smart to do it in the G1 Climax so Okada didn't drop the belt to continue their feud for a little while longer. It was a bit shorter than their previous matches considering it was in the Climax but it was still amazing in-ring and story-telling wise"
[10.0] "[5, 75 Stars] It's hard to find the words to describe the Masterclass that was this match, a 24-minute sprint of pure madness. Personally, it's their worst matches, but it's still a 5-stars & more and proves that it's one of the greatest series of matches ever."
[10.0] "The pace this match starts out the fastest. Both men trading fast paced counters and sequences trying to hit there finishers instantly. Definitely in the upper echelon of g1 matches"
[10.0] "[5*] It's not on the level of the past matches but even with that the match was 5* worthy. Okada paid for all his sins in this match, his selling on the neck was perfect and omega's limb work was all timer, he focused his offense on okada's leg with only moves that are on his moveset, just straight bizarre."
[10.0] "they just can't stop having good matches, THEY JUST CAN'T STOP! First is a like a great movie, second is an epic, this is a sprint, I can't wait to watch the fourth."
[7.0] "Match to zone out to. Turns out, I simply can't enjoy that kind of pace of move after move after move after move. Call me rest hold Randy, call me grandpa. Personally, I just need a little time to watch the drama unfold, and this made me feel like I'm watching Subway Surfers at times."
[9.0] "This was another fantastic and thrilling match between those two, with high stakes, final round of the G1, Okada could even draw to qualify and Omega needed only the win, and he got the win, finally beating Okada and not only qualifying to the final but proving he can beat Okada, so this makes it obvious that there will be a final match, it's 1-1-1, and a definitive winner must be crowned. Incredible match, it has a 30-minute time limit so both men go straight to the point, they wrestled two extremely long matches and know that this one must be short, so the pace is very fast and they try to finish the business early several times. It's not in the same level as their Wrestle Kingdom bout, but I think it managed to equal their last match, with less epic elements, but better progression and sellings... I loved Kenny's work on Okada's neck - {****1/2}"
[9.0] "It was fantastic to see what these two brilliant performers, fighters, and storytellers were able to pack into under 30 minutes, with fantastic pacing, some phenomenal spots (loved turnbuckle pop-up reverse-neck breaker by Okada), and typically emotional and dynamic narrative work from these two. Perhaps my least favorite of their bouts so far, but honestly that might just be because of the reduced runtime. Good to see Kenny get the W, and Okada more than made him work for it, with the last four attempted pinfalls all coming off of pretty spectacular sequences."
[10.0] "When this is the worse match between the two it really speaks to the quality of their work. A match that 99% of wrestlers could only dream of having. However I do understand people that want shorter matches and I'm very glad this exist for them. These two never miss together and this exist to tell a very important story. Which is kenny not just knowing but confirming he can beat Okada."
[7.0] "Probably their worst match together for me, but for more personal reasons. Of course, these two still put on a great match that I think most would love watching. However watching their previous two doubts I think this one falls flat in numerous ways. First, I think this match does not truly become great until past the 15 minute mark. Second, I think the neck selling from Okada at the start also was not very good and really took away from the match. And third, I think these two really do excel in a much more longer, epic match with more build up like their two previous encounters. It's a good match, but personally due to these reasons its not a great one for me."
[9.0] "This was an awesome match with some great storytelling. Due to the time limit, the two skipped the feeling out process and just went at it, with some great offense and perfect near falls. The two sold well and packed as much in here as possible. Omega finally got his big win over Okada."
[10.0] "Great match but its a hair below their dome match and it is still one of the best G1 matches of all time, ths elite drama added a lot to this and the finish was excellent"
[9.0] "On a rewatch, I still think this is the best of the whole quadrilogy of these matches. But I don't think it's an all timer but it's quite close. These two told a darn near perfect story with thirty minutes then they could with 45, 60 or higher. I think of the no selling for me left a bit to be desired. Still has some good stiff strikes and cool highspots. ****1/2"
[10.0] "While I don't mind a long match, especially of the length of the usual Okada vs. Omega match, it is nice to have something more "brisk" at 25 minutes. It's just really cool to see something way more fast paced than their usual match, and have it still look just as incredible as the rest. Like the appetizer for a three course meal at the five star restaurant. This shit was jam packed for it's length, with many of the highlights from these two that you can expect, with so so so many near falls and some insane spots. Okada always looks incredible leaping over the fence, especially here with him landing on Omega with rows of chairs to break their fall. The many Rainmakers, and One Winged Angel attempts, and the insane Piledrivers and Hurricanranas throughout the entire match. Not to mention the selling from both men, and just the insane amount of effort put into every second in this match. What makes this match just as great as the ones previous, is the story that goes with this. He is now officially tied with Okada, having lost to him once, having gone to a draw in the NJPW Dominion 6.11 match, and finally pinning him in the G1 Climax. It's proof he can't beat him, and it only adds to the long story between these too. And that huge reaction to Kenny finally winning against Okada. The Young Bucks going to him and hugging him after the victory is incredible. Really, this match is fantastic. Don't sleep on this one, I didn't know this one existed until I checked."
[10.0] "All of the Omega/Okada matches are masterpieces, but depending on the day you ask me this might be my favourite. 20+ minutes but still feels like a sprint. Omega secures his first win against Okada, but theres the asterisk of Okada being battered from previous G1 matches. - *****"
"*****+ On a pure conceptual level, this is my favourite of the fabled Omega vs Okada series. The 30 minute time limit made the match that bit more intriguing because of how long both of the previous matches were."
[7.0] "Match starts at an incredible pace, then fades off a bit with some rest holds and a slower pace, before a lot of reversals then some great sequences to end the match. - even with a bit of no selling. Theres also some good near falls and the crowd is very hot especially at the end. Kenny omega hits a lot of the knee strikes throughout the match, some of which are no sold and spends the whole match trying to hit his finishing move - the one winged angel, with some great foreshadowing at the start of the match when he tries to hit it"
[9.0] "It took them like 120 minutes across two whole matches and the beginning of the 3rd one to finally make their rivalry interesting for me. However, exactly at the moment of Dropcick/Outside Rana/Apron Snap Dragon sequence I was, at last, emotionally engaged in their series. Which really should speak to the mind: how much time did they waste in their first two bouts? That should be illegal. This match is easily the best one of the series so far and honestly great."
[9.0] "A great match, and I felt the pacing was quite good, I liked the fact that Kenny finally got his win, but it was pretty much just a squash of Okada. I liked the snapdragon on the ring apron that later got used against MJF, these are the 2 best wrestlers in the world and it was very good"
[10.0] "A 25-minute match that flies by, and is all about Kenny finally picking up a win against the Rainmaker. The match starts fast, slows a little, and builds to the epic end where Kenny finally hits the OWA for the win. Everything is smooth, calculated, and precise down to the detail for the sake of the rivalry. Probably to most digestable of the 4, but equally as great. 5 Stars."
[10.0] "I came into this match expecting it to be an 8. But damn, this match breezes by. Fast pace and fits the story perfect. Kenny beats Okada but Okada is hurt. G1 allows for unique story beats unlike normal singles matches. this match rules these two are made for each other"
[10.0] "The third match to the greatest trilogy in professional wrestling history. The match is much more fast paced than their previous matches due to the time limit. Okada comes in this match with a weaken neck. It has been less than a week since his match with Minoru Suzuki and Okada got completely destroyed by Suzuki. The match starts fast and Okada hits the elbow from the top rope and goes for the Rainmaker even before the 5 min mark but Omega counters and starts working on the neck of Okada. Omega is absolutely brutal and relentless as he targets Okada's neck. Omega hits a reverse Rana on the floor and Okada is down. Red Shoes is seriously considering referee stoppage but Okada comes back. Omega goes right back to the neck and he just brutalizes Okada. Unfortunately for Okada most of Kenny's moveset targets the neck and Okada is so hurt that he cannot even kip up and is not able to capitalise on the Rainmaker. Omega makes the most of Okada's injuries and physical state and finally beats Kazuchika Okada at the 25 min mark. Not only is the action among the best but even the storytelling here was on a completely another level; Kenny won but he defeated a broken Champion and not the GOAT he faced previously. This was such a little nice detail to an already Outstanding match.*****"
[9.0] "A unique progression on their feud, these two were eager to get back at each other after the draw in Osaka. As the two went the full sixty minutes at Dominion, the 30 minute time limit played into the dynamic perfectly, with both men knowing that if they were to win, they would have to not take the foot off the gas. As a result, this is the most fast-paced Omega/Okada match, and in my opinion, even better than their Dominion match that came before. Okada is visibly battered from the G1, but fights through the pain finding himself on the backfoot throughout, Omega throwing everything in his arsenal knowing his next step could be his most important in dethroning the Rainmaker. Omega's win is well-earnt, fulfilling, and laid the seeds for the final match in their saga."
[10.0] "The most unique of the matches in the series. This was the most urgent. Although this had the lowest stakes, as it was the only one of their matches not to be for the heavyweight title, it still was very important, being the block final. They went at each other fast and hard, great spots, great moves, great pace, great everything. This felt like a huge step forward, as Kenny finally got the win over Okada."
[10.0] "I'm pretty sure that Meltzer rated this match 6* because he didn't wanna to give them less than 6*, being said that this is your usually GOAT match by these two. Omega brutally worked Okada's neck and he finally hit the OWA to reach the win. Okada and Omega, they always do it. *****1/2 (5, 5*/11 out of ten)"
[8.0] "This match was alright. Very good stuff and nearly flawless, it's pacing was correct and everything about it was fluid. Not as good as the masterpiece that second one was but still a very well done match."
[10.0] "I'm really enjoying this watch through of the Okada Omega series. Easily some of the best wrestling to ever happen. I think I might prefer this third match over the sequel, but their first match is still my favourite of the trilogy. I still have the 7 Star two out of three falls match to get to so I will see if that surpasses the original Wrestle Kingdom match. But yeah this match was perfection yet again, the diving dropkick Okada hit to a kneeling Omega in this match is one of the best executed moves I've ever seen."
[10.0] "Omega gets his bell rung so badly in this match that it causes vertigo for the next 4 years... he also manages to have the best g1 match of all time at that point and surpass it with a new best g1 match of all time the very next day against naito. Superhuman doesnt even come close to describing what that feat is. Okada continues the best year of any wrestler ever and closes out the trilogy with a fast paced, focused match that feels very different from the first two. These guys defy reason."
[10.0] "This was the third fight of their series, this time it was not valid for Okada's title but it was valid for first place in group B of G1 Climax 27. Okada had come to this match leading the group standings with 13 points, Omega was right behind him with 12 points so to get to the final he had to beat his rival, something he had never done on previous occasions. Since Climax matches have a time limit of 30 minutes, the action of the match starts immediately very fast and The Cleaner focuses on the neck injured in the previous days of the Rainmaker. Another great battle comes out, with Okada trying everything to resist despite not being 100% and Omega more aggressive than ever to finally beat his rival and to reach the final of the Climax and win it for the second consecutive year. The final minutes are thrilling and spectacular, with Kenny finally managing to beat Okada thanks to his lethal One Winged Angel. Masterpiece, bringing their series to a tie (1-1-1) and leaving the door open for one last big match. Masterpiece. 5 stars."
[10.0] "Wrestling seems so easy with these two guys. This fight is maybe my least favorite of the 4 but it's still an absolute classic and undeniable 5*. The story told by this bout is great and they've one of the best chemistry ever. Just another classic from the two."
[9.0] "I haven't seen better chemistry between two wrestlers in my lifetime. (b. 1999). This match is very damn good, but I definitely think the first two matches are a better viewing experience. I may be in the minority here, but I honestly don't think Kenny should have beaten Okada in this one. But hey, no complaints!"
[10.0] "For the third time in the same year, these two managed to produce a masterpiece. I've never seen better chemistry between two wrestlers. This is probably my least favorite match of their first three, but that just shows how mind-blowing this series actually is, given that normally Omega/Okada III would be a no-brainer pick for MOTY. They had a much more focused and to-the-point fight here, while also telling two great stories throughout the match. The first was the race against time, as their first two matches both went over 45 minutes and they only had 30 to work with here. They nailed this by going full speed from the start and it made for a unique dynamic compared to the other two marathon matches. The second story was centered around Okada's neck, which had taken a beating during the tournament and was an easy target for Kenny and his arsenal of neck-damaging moves. Okada sold it masterfully, while Kenny did an amazing job at staying on top and hitting multiple Poisonranas and V-Triggers that looked like they could kill. In the end, Kenny finally managed to hit the One-Winged Angel in the middle of the ring and get the huge win over Okada, tying the series at 1-1-1 and setting things up for a final showdown in the future. *****"
[10.0] "This is a 24 minute match, their shortest by quite a margin, which feels like it lasts 4. Omega absolutely brutalises the neck of Okada with a reverse rana on the floor, followed soon after with a dragon suplex on the apron. Omega lands some disgusting chops to the neck of Okada and even pulls out Croyt's Wrath in an attempt to put the Rainmaker away. Omega finally gets his win after landing the ultra finisher, the One-Winged Angel, in the center of the ring. (*****)"
[10.0] "This is my least favorite match so saying from the brilliant series between Okada and Omega, the other matches are all 5*+ undisputed, this is "only" a 5* and not that this is a demerit, even because the "worst" match between these two it is still one of the best fights of all time, the fast pace and rush that G1 provides for having the time reduced in my opinion is a point below compared to the other matches, but nothing that spoils the great match which was, the high point and the differential of this one is the long-awaited victory of Kenny who finally beat his great rival (*****)"
[10.0] "Das nächste irre Match zwischen den zweien und diesmal Omega mit dem Sieg. Sehr temporeich und wahnsinnige Aktionen. Ihr kürzestes Match, das drittbeste für mich. *****"
[10.0] "They aren't going as long here, so they waste zero time and try to hit their big moves from the get-go, but since they know each other so well they end up just countering them. Okada had a bad neck, the upper part of his body was banged up really bad so after Omega hit a reverse Rana on the floor the officials come up to check on Okada, and they considered stopping it but they don't, right immediately after this Kenny hits a dragon suplex on the ring apron. Omega viciously targeted the neck in this, Okada's selling/bumping was really strong in the process, and all of his various comebacks throughout this were also really good. There was a nice touch in Okada's selling where he wasn't able to kick up due to how damaged his nick was. Omega is finally able to cleanly hit the One Winged Angel in this after a double underhook piledriver near fall, and a barrage of V-Triggers on Okada. Better than the time-limit draw match but not the 1st.*****"
[10.0] "How can a Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega match be underrated? Somehow, this one is. These two put on what I think is the greatest sub 30 minute match ever. To see Kenny Omega finally get a victory against Kazuchika Okada felt so satisfying. There is nothing like the G1 Climax, especially when Okada and Omega are involved."
[10.0] "The third match between Okada and Omega ended Group B and was decisive for the winner, so Omega had to beat Okada, which it has not managed so far, to reach the final of the tournament. The story of the tournament is Okada's run, finally defeated, by EVIL, and the night before he had finished a tie with Minoru Suzuki. So Omega's strategy was to attack Okada's neck/back, i.e. the injured side, being the impact area for One Winged Angel as well. It was different from the first two matches between them, here the fight was more even than ever, neither could execute more than 2-3 consecutive maneuvers, so they couldn't get to the final maneuver. Again, arrogance cost Okada, practically turning the fate of the match in favor of last year's winner after Okada tried to execute his 3rd consecutive Rainmaker. The moment of One Winged Angel's execution and Omega's victory was a historic moment."
[10.0] "Absolutely amazing, one of the best G1 Climax matches of all time. Since this was a 30 minute time limit, Okada and Omega proposed us a condensed version of their previous matches, but those two still managed to give birth to an amazing match. I'm so happy that I managed to watch this gem"
[10.0] "The epitome of storytelling. Also, the epitome of what makes the G1 what it is. Following a match that changed the industry and another that went to a 60 minute time limit draw, Kenny Omega was faced with the greatest challenge of his career to date: Do something he had never done before in less than half the time than his previous failure allotted him. And if he failed to, he may never have found the means to justify a future challenge this seemingly unstoppable champion for the one title that had eluded Bullet Club leader. Talk about high stakes. Kazuchika Okada was simultaneously on top of the world, worn down, and nursing a neck injury. That combined to make this one of the most shocking matches of his career. And the best opportunity for Omega to finally overcome his greatest rival. Omega was magnificent, dominating this match in every sense of the word. He dissected the neck of Okada, once again proving that he can play the limb targeting game as well as just about anyone. His offense was remorseless, opportunistic, and simply commendable for its strategical brilliance. Okada sold his behind off and fought back with desperation offense from start to finish. He never seemed to gain true control and looked the part of a wrestler whose infallible confidence had somehow been shattered. Okada looked like he was not sure they he could defeat Omega again. And thus, we got one of the greatest matches of all time. Again. The drama, the tension, and the suspense were built perfectly. The selling was damn near unmatched on an all time level. The commentary provided the perfect bow. From beginning to end, this was an all-time classic that determined the trajectory of New Japan Pro Wrestling as a company. All of this and we have not even mentioned that the match would help decide the G1 Final. 5 stars, 10 out of 10. A completely different experience in this legendary saga that made the 30-minute time limit the perfect set of boundaries for the story being told. One of the very best examples of how to make every second count."
[9.0] "This was a fantastic match. Fast break from the outset because of the time limit and Omega needing to win. Okada was broken down from the G1, and losing to EVIL, so he was naturally weaker than he usually is. The brilliance of it all is beautiful. ****3/4"
[10.0] "My favorite match of the "Okada's exhausted and injured" run. Shout out to Don Callis as the classic, unashamed heel commentator putting forth zero effort to be objective. Kevin Kelly is brilliant as always as well."
[10.0] "One of the greatest matches of all time, and in my opinion the best of their series. Calling a 27 minute match a sprint feels wrong, but that's what this match is, with Kenny Omega absolutely destroying Kazuchika Okada's already taped-up neck with some unbelievable bumps starting with the dragon suplex on the apron. The teased stoppage seguing into Kenny simply tossing the ref aside to continue his onslaugh is a great moment. Okada gets some incredible moments of shine with his trademark dropkick setting up potential comebacks only for Kenny to interrupt them with his vicious offense, most notably the Uranage that blocks a rainmaker attempt, and Okada ultimately crumbling under the weight of his wear and tear. Flawless storytelling, with both men delivering in spades."
[9.0] "Despite being undoubtedly the weakest in their four match series, Okada-Omega III certainly stands tall as one of the best matches of New Japan's illustrious decade. Omega's ability to finally overcome Okada and plant the seed of doubt in the mind of the Rainmaker is the perfect precursor to their paradigm-shifting bout at net year's dominion. (5.25) (MOTM: Kazuchika Okada)"
[10.0] "It's my least favorite of their matches but that isn't really saying much since it's still an all time classic. These 2 just have unseen before chemistry, everything on point, they played off of Okada's injury brilliantly and the drama was off the charts. I wouldn't give this 6 stars but definitely 5.5 or 5.75"
[10.0] "There have been so many wrestlers who have tried to follow a similar formula to these matches and feel repetitive, dull or underwhelming. Not these two, two of the best of all time delivering another a fucking masterclass. Exhilarating, tense, the stakes high, the crowd and commentators losing their shit because they are witnessing greatness. Then, Omega wrestles another fucking masterpiece against Naito THE NEXT FUCKING NIGHT."
[10.0] "This was interesting. They drew last time and Okada won the first one in a very long 40 minute plus match. But this was a G1 Block Match and so Omega had to find a way to beat Okada in 30 minutes. Truly memorable."
[10.0] "Absolutely phenomenal. In one of the best G1 showcases ever, Omega & Okada, solidified their spearhead position in 2017. Even before the bell rang, this had such perfectly built hype behind it. Okada finally becoming the ace of New Japan and Omega simultaneously becoming the top gaijin threat. The previous two matches ending in a hard victory for Okada and a draw, which established and continued the one wing angel narrative and build Omega as a true rival to the peak version of the Rainmaker. The whole G1 story of the supposedly invincible Okada barely surviving a grueling tournament to eventually arrive at a semi final match were he would once again attempt to topple said foe. And after all that, the match more than delivered. This was a more frenetic, more compact version of the first two thirds of the trilogy. The impeccable chemistry these two share was once again at full force and everything was executed beautifully. Okada came as the proud but wounded champ and Omega like a shark smelt the blood in the water. He relentlessly attacked Okada's neck, brutally at times, building for the finisher he never properly hit in the previous matches. It felt monumental when Kenny finally managed to get the win. It wrapped up the 2017 series wonderfully, while also leaving the door open for more down the line. (* * * * *)"
[10.0] "It's weird to call a near 25 minute match a sprint but that's really what this was, they'd both been through a grueling tournament and gave whatever they had left in another pretty much perfect match. Their previous two matches were slow burns, but this match feels like a finishing stretch from the first five minutes and never lets up in intensity, outstanding *****."
[10.0] "I had this at ****1/2 after I first saw it back in 2017, but I now realise that it's honestly a near-perfect match. With their previous two matches at a combined almost 2 hours, this match felt like a total sprint. The entire structure felt special, as they were hitting and teasing their signature and finishing moves from the very opening minutes, directly showing how they knew each other so well and could thus predict, counter, and surprise each other right away. There was no "slow opening 20 minutes of grappling" in this NJPW main-event, oh no. Omega's plan was to work over Okada's already injured neck, and he showed just why he was one of the greatest wrestlers in the world as he totally and utterly destroyed that neck with strikes and power moves. Every single move Omega performed had solid-sounding impact and looked brutal. Okada's selling was absolutely fantastic. In real time, he would look as if the life had been sucked out of him, while in the long term he hunched his posture and slowed his movement down to show just how badly he had been limited physically. These two had perfect chemistry, just as they always do. Every sequence and spot was flawlessly timed and had super-smooth technique. Omega continued to destroy Okada over and over, but Okada would continuously call upon his superman power to snarl in total defiance and stage some fantastically timed and incredibly athletic comebacks out of nowhere. He hadn't lost to Omega before, and would be damned if he did here. Just as in their previous matches, he seemed to have an answer for everything Omega threw at him. Or at least almost everything. Omega's onslaught was simply too continuous. After essentially two amazing, big finishing stretches with plenty of awesome callbacks and both guys beautifully throwing big bombs at each other, both men were totally depleted. Omega stayed on Okada though, and finally managed to hit his One Winged Angel clean in the middle of the ring, unlike at Dominion, and finally got his victory over Okada. Even though I thought their previous two matches were better, the psychology, story, and action here were still world-class and created a beautifully unique match. The fact they managed to condense an amazing match like this into sub-25 minutes is absolutely insane, at least by modern-day NJPW standards, and is what is most impressive about this match. Those final 10 minutes were pure bliss in the way that only Okada and Omega could produce. ****3/4"
[10.0] "Finally Omega took a win against Okada. Restricted by the 30 minutes' time limit, this match didn't go as long as their previous two. But the elements of their character still shinned brightly. (******)"
[9.0] "Für mich war das hier, das beste Match zwischen Okada und Omega. Was zum einem großen Teil an der länge liegt. Die beiden hatten schlicht nicht die Chance das Match ins unendlich zu ziehen. Auch wenn ich auch hier das Match am Vortag zwischen Naito und Tanahashi bevorzuge."
[10.0] "The lead-up to this match was perfect. Okada had a 1-point advantage in the rankings meaning that he would advance in the case of a draw, and considering that both their previous matches went well over 30 minutes, it was not hard to imagine this match going to a 30-minute draw. Considering how fast paced their long matches were, I was surprised to see this one start almost slowly, and Omega even used a rest hold. But it wasn't long before the action picked up. The story of the match was Okada's neck, which suffered continuous damage throughout this grueling tournament, which Omega exploited to the fullest. A cross-body to the outside saw Okada's neck slam had against the guard rail, and then a reverse rana on the outside and a snap dragon suplex on the apron made it seem realistic that Omega could win this match against the champ within the time limit. But Okada still would not quit and was able to hit a few rainmakers without being able to capitalize. Omega would finally capitalize with a flurry of V-triggers, a convincing near fall with a double underhook piledriver, and finally the one-winged angel, which this time Okada can't escape, so Omega finally defeats Okada in a classic. That said, it still felt the least of their 3 classic encounters in 2017 and least deserving of 6 stars. Still it was easily the best match of the tournament thus far with only the final remaining. *****"
[10.0] "G1 aura & a much more compact 'n short match definitely brought the best out of these two. Okada came into this match with some neck problem and it was a matter of time until it became the focal point of the match. He gained some control over Omega in the beginning until his neck problem eventually popped up & then it all began. Omega smelled blood and went after his neck right away. Absolutely loved him going after it all the way through to the finishing line. His work over it was fantastic. Very focused, brutal & everything he did was on point. Those V-Triggers & Suplexes on the apron - all of this ruled big time. Okada had to get some strikes in & this is when i eventually had a fear of him abandoning the neck issue but he really surprised me there, off top of my head that was his best selling performance ever. After every big move he hit, i saw pain, struggle, drama, emotion - everything clicked perfectly. Finishing stretch was red hot too. Fantastic match, one of the best ones of all time. *****"
[10.0] "Shortest match of the Okada vs Omega saga but just as good. This one was more fast paced because of the G1 30 minute time limit. Okada sold his neck perfectly and Omega shined. This match was so emotional. Omega wanted to prove to the world that he could beat Okada and he went to another level to do that. Perfect storytelling! ******1/4"
[9.0] "This one was a nice change of pace after the first two epics. A different dynamic here as it's a G1 block decider rather than a championship match. It's simple. Omega has to win. Something he hasn't been able to do in over 100 minutes of wrestling against Okada. Okada only has to last half an hour to advance. Something he'd done in the first two matches with relative ease. But here Okada doesn't have that champion's advantage and he's really banged up from the tournament. The pace is quick from the get go as you'd expect and doesn't really let up for 25 minutes. Okada really sells his neck injury well and at no point does he completely shrug it off. Falling into the turnbuckle after the second rainmaker was a good moment. This match is definitely the tightest of the three matches so far although I don't think the peaks are as high or memorable as the first two. There's still some great moments though. The dragon suplex on the apron was devastating. As Okada was champion, it seemed very unlikely he'd actually make the final. And with Okada in such a bad way physically, this was clearly Omega's best chance yet at beating him. They did a good job of making you think that Omega could miss this opportunity and get caught out though. And I really liked that the match ended inside 25 minutes rather than going another 5 and having Kenny squeeze by at after 29 minutes which they could quite easily have done. It may have been tempting to do that in order to manufacture more drama but it wasn't necessary."
[10.0] "This match was absolutely fantastic, one of the better matches of the year. The only thing even remotely negative about this match is that it took a while for things to really click for me."
[8.0] "This was an excellent match, but no way it was even close to both of the they matches they previously had. I can't believe why people have this match at the same standard as their previous bouts. Their match at Wrestle Kingdom and their match at Dominion are both #2 and #1 greatest matches in pro wrestling history upto that time in my opinion. But this match wasn't even the best match of this tournament as I thing the final was way better. Most people say that the pacing of this bout was the best part of this but Kenny's match with Naito had better pacing and it even didn't feel like a rehash of their previous match as that's what I felt watching this match. It didn't have anything new or anything memorable for someone who had already seen their previous matches to see. I also thought this was an unnecessary match to have in their feud, as it wasn't even a long time after their history making match at Dominion. But after all this just my opinion. Everyone's tastes are different afterall. ****3/4"
[9.0] "I thought that this was an excellent match, even though, it just wasn't overwhelming like these two got me used to at the first time. The fast paced beginning and everything is fucking awesome, Omega brutalizing the neck of Okada and Okada selling it was legimetely GREAT. Definetely a banger but not on the level of their WK 11 and Dominion 17/ 18 matches. That said it is definetely worth watching ****1/2"
[9.0] "8. 85/10 : A legendary match since the moment that bell rang no doubt about it. One that is completely different and unique from the other 3 but also my least favorite out of the four. My dislike towards NJPW's epic matches' signature boring first thirds should make this one my favorite : fast-pace, hot from the get go, not overstretched... Yet, a rewatch has proven to me how un-engaging this match can be after the magic of the first watch fades away. Undoubtedly still excellent, I am just pointing out the fact that a rewatch of this match is not as rewarding as re-watches of their other bouts, and relatively to the high bar its peers set, less engaging. The last 5 minutes feel finisher overdrive when you are not invested in this match, and quite frankly loses you. To make it clear though, I am very much just nitpicking the relatively negative aspect of this match but would not be able to say enough about how epic it is, especially on a first watch."
[10.0] "To me this is the perfect wrestling match. Pace, story, spots, selling, psychology, they all work in unison to create an exceptional match that perhaps more than any other match I can't understand not liking. Fantastic end to their 2017 trilogy. (*****+)"
[10.0] "Wrestle Kingdom 11 from earlier this year was pretty much my introduction to New Japan Pro Wrestling. The main event was Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP heavyweight title in the Tokyo Dome, the grandest stage in NJPW. I was completely blown away by that match and realized that I had been missing out on the greatest wrestling in the world. Was this the greatest match in G1 history? maybe. Was this as good as the other two Omega/Okada matches? probably not but it wasn't the same type of match as the previous two. This match was a mad sprint to the finish with both guys try to finish it early and quick. The time draw was an increased factor during this match considering their first two matches went 46 minutes and 60 minutes respectively. Also the fact that Okada had gone to a draw with Minoru Suzuki only a few nights earlier made it seem even more likely that we could see a draw in this match. This match had insane spots and I was genuinely worried about Okada's health after that reverse frankensteiner on the outside. I hope both these men get plenty of time off after G1, they've certainly earned it. *****"
[10.0] "The third in this Okada/Omega trilogy had the most drama behind it of the three encounters. The cumulative effect of Omega still not having a win over Okada, but having got a little closer each time, and there still being a big question mark over Okada's ability to kick out of the One-Winged Angel, has fans solidly behind Omega as he made his entrance. Okada, meanwhile, was more than a mere obstacle, with his own reason to win: a victory here would send him into the G1 final with the highest number of points in the tournament's history. Though even a draw would be enough to qualify over Omega, playing off the previous match, and raising the question of if Okada will just ride out the time limit. The match itself is as exciting as we've come to expect from the pair, particularly with the crowd riding on the wave of this aura Omega and Okada had built up by this point. The sequence where Omega is attacking Okada's injured neck is particularly brutal, and the climax with the tide finally turning in Omega's favour is excellent. Looking back at the trilogy as a whole... it's great stuff, some of the best wrestling content of the past few years. But 6+ star matches? The greatest matches of all time? Just in general I find the 6-star stuff dumb, you shouldn't be able to go higher than 5, anymore than you can go higher than 100%. And I wouldn't rate them as the greatest ever, but that's possibly because I? m missing the most important ingredient of all: emotional investment. I don't really follow NJPW, I'm a WWE guy, it's American wrestling where I'm immersed in the recent history and can feel the gravitas. So I was never going to have it on the same pedestal as fans who already knew and cared about these guys. But watching the matches certainly made me BECOME a fan of both."
[10.0] "This match is different from their previous matches. It was not as long as the first and second matches but what they showed in 24 minutes was great. This is their third match in which they continue to surprise us and create a story. One of the best confrontations in history."
[9.0] "First time watching Okada/Omega, and this delivered big-time. The story of this match was simple: Okada has never kicked out of the One-Winged Angel, so Omega needed to hit it all costs to finally beat Okada. Started off really intense with great back-and-forth action, which saw both men trying to finish the bout quickly. Kenny soon took control by brutalizing Okada's neck, making this his perfect chance to soften up the Rainmaker enough to hit the One-Winged Angel. The onslaught rendered Okada helpless, and the ref nearly stopped the bout. Omega refused to let it stop however, as this was his chance to finally pin Okada. This nearly cost Omega everything, as Okada's resilience brought him right back into the match, and it seemed it would be business as usual. In the end however, the damage done to Okada proved to be just enough to allow Omega to hit the One-Winged Angel and defeat the champ. The storytelling here was both compelling and masterful, meeting all the hype I came into this match with. **** 3/4"
[9.0] "Well, not actually their cup of tea. I loved the Okada vs Omega feud, and their encounters from WK and Dominion are easily two of the best matches I've ever seen. But in this case, it seemed all so odd. All done only to make Omega fans happy for the fact that he defeated a injured Okada in a G1 Climax match not for the title. Despite the story being told brilliantly, I can't actually be very fond of this match."
[10.0] "Nach ihren Klassikern von Wrestle Kingdom und Dominion beweisen die 2, dass sie auch ein ein absolut fantastisches Match unter 30 Minuten zeigen können und worken erneut einen MOTYC und neben dem Finale das beste Match des Turniers. Das Time Limit bei 30 Minuten sorgte dafür, dass von Anfang an das Tempo sehr hoch war und die 2 haben das Limit schön in die Matchstory miteingefügt. Wie auch in den Matches zuvor gab es einige wahnsinnige Moves, wenn auch vielleicht nicht von dem Kaliber der zuvorigen Matches. Da sind sicherlich zum einen der Dragon Suplex auf die Apron, aber auch der reverse Frankensteiner außerhalb des Ringes zu nennen. Das Highlight war jedoch wie bei vielen Okada Matches die Endphase mit vielen geilen Momenten und großartigen Kontern. Technisch war es ebenfalls auf dem allerhöchsten Niveau und im Endeffekt sucht man vergeblich nach irgendwelchen Schwächen bei diesem Match. Allerdings würde ich das Match als das "schwächste" Match der beiden bezeichnen und etwas hinter den Matches von WK und Dominion einordnen, da im Vergleich zu diesen Matches die epischen Momente etwas fehlten. Alles in allem hauen die 2 jedoch erneut einen MOTYC raus und beweisen aufs Neue, dass sie die 2 besten Wrestler der Welt sind. **** 3/4 (4)"
[10.0] "No match deserves 6 stars in my opinion. But this was an amazing match, the best in their trilogy. They started off busting out big bombs to get the crowd hype, after that Omega made Okada's banged up neck his main target as he worked it tremendously, with a great Okada selling performance. The final minutes were insane with the bombs again. (*****)"
[10.0] "Oh boys, these 2 delivered again. From the in ring work standpoint, this was definitely the best match of their triology. Omega worked over okada's neck which was also attacked by evil and suzuki in the 2 previous matches. And okada sold it wonderfully. Omega's work was awesome, too. There is no single dull moment in the entire match. The ending with omega finally hitting the OWA was great. I also gave prop to the commentary team, they did great jobs to sell the match."
[10.0] "Kenny Omega -vs- Kazuchika Okada – (G1 Climax – Block B) [**** 3/4] Both their Tokyo Dome match and their June 11th hour draw were basically 25-min matches with added stalling, with portions which served no other purpose than stretching those matches out. Here they skip the stalling and deliver the 25-min action spectacular! And needless to say, that works to its advantage and in my opinion delivers their best match of the year! If not THE match of the year!"
[9.0] "The second best match of the trilogy, with the first still being the clear best. Even so, this was great, the shortened running time really helped them eliminate the filler and some of the offense was just killer."
[10.0] "Das BESTE der Trilogie! Als dieses Match für den G1 angekündigt wurde, entstand erneut wieder viel Hype - natürlich nicht ohne Grund. Bei Wrestle Kingdom [****¾+] könnte Okada seinen Titel in einem Match mit fantastischen Spots und riskanten Szenen verteidigen, während die beiden sich in Dominion [****¾] mit mehreren Story-Elementen zu einem Time Limit Draw brachten. Was dieses Match so besonders macht, ist das Beide nun im G1-Sprint Style agieren. Da das Match max. 30 Min. Geht gibt's kein "fucking around" und beide werfen große Spots rein. Das Tempo und der Skill ist absolut fantastisch, die Moves von Anfang an sauber, aber ebenso hart und brutal. Nettes Back-Work von Kenny mit Bezug auf Okada's harten G1, Okada's Selling gut. Es ist schwer das Match in Stücke zu gliedern, weil das Tempo der beiden einfach solch eine Kontinuität hat. Manche Sequenzen kennt man aus den vorherigen Matches schon, aber auch hier protzen beide nur so von Innovation. Kenny muss Okada am Ende fast schon töten mit dem Butterfly Piledriver, mehreren V-Triggern, dem Croyts Wrath (endlich) und dem OWA um endlich einen Sieg gegen den Rainmaker einzufahren. Schwer mit den anderen Okada/Omega Matches zu vergleichen, wahrscheinlich Top-Match des G1-27 & MOTYC. Die Qualität des Matches kann man im Term "Sinn für Dringlichkeit" perfekt auffassen, denn das war das einzige, was den anderen Matches gefehlt hat (*****)."
[8.0] "There's no other two men who together can put on this superior level of impassioned urgency and impeccably tight, extremely high skill level performance like these two. Added to the ecstacy of this jaw-dropping glee was the pleasing earth-bound vulnerability of Okada's spinal cord. Tonight the ever-changing Okada evoked Tsuruta w/ those 'oh my, no! ' widening eyes. Despite the far majority's foreknowledge of Omega's victory, the bookers were still able to allow Okada to not lose too much face as it's extremely rare when a doctor is brought ringside to check on a competitor. Okada continuing the match, and at one point on the verge of victory after hitting consecutive Rainmakers, emphasizes his perseverance though he really did suffer almost too much by the end making Kenny' victory a little smaller than EVIL who beat Okada clean after the first usage of his more commonplace finisher. However, I didn't find every execution ideal: a) the beginning was like a robotized run-through of some of their greatest hits, b)Upon Omega's first cover 5 minutes in, Okada kicked out at 2 2/3'rds lightly diluting the power of the really impressive, deep kickouts later in the match c) some of Okada' execution was only ordinary like his top-rope flying elbo and the nd of the consecutive Rainmakers. (To defend Okada he took some awesome neck bumps and I dug the arc of his body and the thrust of his mile dropkick. ) Though this is highly exciting stuff, my heart raced instead of last night where it also widened. Kenny's determination to always have the best possible match is inspiring, but emotionally he's limited as he & Okada cannot have the history, and the corresponding weight of what Naito/Tana can bring to the table. Nevertheless, it's magnificent and worked better for me than Dominion, if not the Dome. **** 1/4 8. 5 rounded-down b/c I think 9. 74 is too high. (now down to 9. 73... ha! )"
[10.0] "Für mich das beste Match der Trilogie. Tempo stimmt von Beginn an, weil Omega den Timelimit Draw auf jeden Fall umgehen muss. Wahnsinnige Spots dabei, durchgehend hohe Pace. Der Aufbau aus den zwei Vorgängermatches spielt psychologisch auch eine Rolle. Mein Lieblingsmatch aus 2017 bisher."
[10.0] "Rainmaker-versuch nach 20 Sekunden. Knee-Trigger stattdessen. One-Winged-Angel-Versuch unter einer Minuten. Die Herren erinnern sich wohl an ihr 60 Minuten-Draw und wollen halt direkt die Entscheidung suchen - auch wenn Okada sie gar nicht braucht. Guard Rail inklusive. Cross Body darf auch nicht fehlen. Nächster Rainmaker-Versuch nach 3 Minuten. Die Herren spulen also ihre Schlussphase ab und Omega schnappt sich logischerweise direkt den Nacken für seine Attacken und seine Holds. Gutes Hin und Her der Herren danach und immer wieder Okadas Nacken, der gezielt bearbeitet wird. Typischer Dropkick-Konter sitzt, der Reverse-Rana-Konter aber ebenso. Ganz böse Impact-Moves für den Nacken oder halt auch Knie ins Gesicht. Omega hat den Champ stark im Griff und der leidet so schön wie immer dabei, entdeckt bei der Halbzeit aber auch sein Kämferherz. Nette Kontersequenzen und die Story mit dem Nacken zieht. Die giftigen Okada-Antworten sitzen und durchbrechen gut Kennys Dominanz. Die Konterphase vor dem ersten Rainmaker ist stark. Der erste richtige Nearfall bei 2/3 der Zeit leitet dann die Schlussphase ein. Wobei die Pinversuche von Kenny anschließend schwach gebrochen werden. Dafür spamt Okada den Rainmaker. Mit dem High German und einer Reverse-Rana schickt Kenny wieder Grüße in den Nacken. Nur der One Winged Angel kommt nicht, dafür der x-te Dropkick und der x-te Knee-Trigger. Es wird giftiger, intensiver und schneller - ehe dann doch der One-Winged-Angel kommt und reich. Sogar etwas deutlicher vor dem Zeitlimit. Absolut krass, wie die Herren diese Story erzählen. Starke Action, starke Worker, starkes Match. Muss sich hinter Duell 1 und 2 nicht verstecken – im Gegenteil. (*****)"
[5.0] "Far far far better than the two awful matches that these two have had earlier this year. This one was so much better because 1 it was not stupidly long just for the sake of being long and 2 had something of a story to it unlike the other two which were 20 min of meandering just to artificially inflate the length before doing a 20 mins spotfest at the end. This match was just the 20 mins spotfest. Still a bit to long. For the good stuff okada sold well in places, the first half of the match was his best selling performance since the 2012 naito match but that is not high praise as he has not really had any other good selling performances. Omega was omega, his mannerisms, the way he moves and his facial expressions are all still utterly stupid and take me out of the match completely. His work on the neck was solid but his offense still has two categories, 1. Moves that should be finishers but are just transitions or 2 phoney weak looking shit. The end of the match was also a problem as they give in to the worst of their tendencies and just do your turn my turn with finishers. no long term (or even short term) control here or selling in any way outside of the initial bump, this is also where okada forgets about his neck but to omegas credit he does keep on after it. So in closing easily their best match by the virtues of not being completely shit but still was manily just an indie spotfest in a njpw ring but a good indie spotfest. ***1/4"
[10.0] "Die Frage, ob dieses Match 10 Pkt bekommt, hat sich für mich gar nicht gestellt. Tatsächlich habe ich nur überlegt, ob es besser, schlechter oder irgendwo zwischen den anderen beiden Matches steht. Ich glaube, es hat mir etwas besser gefallen als das doch sehr lange zweite Aufeinandertreffen. Hier schien mir der Aufbau schön methodisch. Insgesamt also ein würdiger Abschluss einer historischen Trillogie, die wahrscheinlich die bisher beste Matchserie im Pro Wrestling darstellt."
[10.0] "Oh my god, this match is everything. So fun to watch. The pace is just incredible. There is no "feeling out" period - it's just full-on non-stop action for 24 minutes. Brutal, enthralling wrestling. Both men are great (of course). This is certainly MOTY type stuff, and will probably become one of my favorite matches ever. *****."
[8.0] "Superb bombfest with a compelling story. Okada's upperbody and neck are sore, making them easy targets for Kenny's offensive and bumps. Desperation grows with every minutes passing but the Cleaner dishes every trick to win. ***3/4"
[10.0] "2017 ist bisher ein ultimatives Showcase für Okada und Omega gewesen. Erneut schaffen es beide, mir die Höchstpunktzahl zu entlocken. Diesmal geht das ganze kürzer, und trotzdem bleibt es vonBeginn an heiß. Das beste am Ganzen ist Omega's Sieg durch den One Winged Angel (*****)"
[10.0] "What could I say to make you watch this match? If you've seen the previous two, this one put the nail in the coffin. Yes this match is shorter than the previous two but gosh, it was so intense. Kenny Omega & Kazuchika Okada gave eveything from top to bottom! All the story behind this, the story behind the One Winged Angel that can't be deliver. Omega giving everything he has. Okada here to stay one of the strongest champ ever. Go watch this match now! 5* without any problem!"
[10.0] "Oh boy what a match ! This match marks the debut of Okada end and the resurrection of the character of the cleaner. A must see and a perfect final for the triptych Okada-Omega !"
[10.0] "HO. LY. FCK. Okada ist komplett tot. Was war das für ein Match? Und ich dachte, dass man die ersten beiden Matches gar nicht mehr toppen könnte. Vllt kommt mir das nur so vor, weil es jetzt frisch war, aber das ist mir gerade gänzlich egal. Das MOTG1C (ja, das ist nun die offizielle Abkürzung für "Match of the G1 Climax") und ganz anders als die anderen beiden legendären Fights. Ein absoluter Wahnsinn."
[10.0] "Much faster paced than the first 2 of there matches, which was necessary due to the 30 minute time limit. Maybe better than WK11 but not better than Dominion. These 2 can do no wrong. *****"
[10.0] "I think the WK11 match is still my favorite since it has some of my favorite spots and sequences in wrestling, but the Dominion match had such a great atmosphere and story behind it. This match though was all killer and no filler. The drama and psychology in this match came from Okada going into this match having the toughest wrestling year of his life, and finally at his breaking point. Kenny on the other side also had a very difficult year, but came into this match as cocky as could be because he was ready to destroy the weakened Okada. Right from the get go both guys skip the bullshit, and just go for signature moves and finisher attempts, Kenny managed to land a Dragon Suplex and Okada landed a Drop Kick all within the first minute of the match. After some brawling outside Kenny took Okada back into the ring and slowed things down to work on the injured neck that would give him the win if he hit the OWA. Kenny pretty much dominated this match with Okada desperately fighting back with Drop Kicks and Lariats, but Kenny's will just wouldn't give up. I love the subtle references to not just their old matches, but Kenny threw in references from his B Block Finals match from last year with the Dragon on the ring apron, and the Croyt's Wrath; he even stole Ibushi's over the top rope Crossbody, and used the Tiger Driver '91 from the Elgin match, Kenny finally ends the slaughter with a OWA in dominant fashion. The G1 Climax 27 Final is now set for a legendary rematch, *****."
[10.0] "They actually managed to follow the previous two matches up, a perfect third match and final to the trilogy and B Block itself. They skipped any feeling out process, the first 5 minutes were as packed as any other 5 minutes you could find throughout this match. Kenny focused on the neck incredibly effectively, broke out a Croyt's Wrath and finally defeated the one blip on his radar. He finally hit the Katayoku no Tenshi after over 2 hours of singles competition with Okada, Okada's dropkicks and Rainmakers weren't enough to stop Kenny from proceeding to the final. Amazing, just amazing. (*****)"
[10.0] "Mit allen drei Matches zusammen, standen die beiden über 2 Stunden im Ring und nicht eine dieser Minuten war langweilig! Der eine oder andere Move war dieses mal vielleicht zu viel des guten, aber selten war ich so gebannt was als nächstens passierend wird. Über zwei Stunden In-Ring-Zeit ist Omega hinter diesem Sieg hinterher gehechelt und der Moment des Sieges ist jetzt bereits mein Highlight des Wrestlings-Jahres. Hochachtung auch wieder vor Okada der hier Bumps abseits von Gut und Böse genommen hat. *****"
[10.0] "Dieses Match lässt sich mit einem einfachen Wort wunderbar zusammenfassen: Apotheose! Denn am heutigen Tag, dem 12. August 2017, wurden zwei Männer zu Göttern erhoben und stiegen in den Olymp des Wrestlings auf, ihre Namen waren Kenny Omega und Kazuchika Okada! Dieses Match, das Match um den Sieg des B-Blocks beim 27. G1 Climax, ist für mich das beste Match, das ich jemals gesehen habe und sehen werde! Es war einfach perfekt, nichts und niemand wird das jemals toppen können! Das Match hatte alles und hat aus diesem ''alles'' die absolute Perfektion herausgeholt! Die Story um Okadas Nacken spielte dabei die größte Rolle, und was für eine! Ohne Witz: Das Selling in diesem Match war eine der großartigsten Leistungen der Wrestling-Geschichte! Okada hat mal wieder gezeigt, warum er aktuell der beste Wrestler der Welt ist! Diese Leistung kann nur dem absolut Besten gelingen! Und auch Kenny wächst ein weiteres Mal über sich hinaus und liefert eine wie bereits gesagt gottgleiche Performance ab! Als der One Winged Angel durchging, hab ich mehreren Kleinkram aus meinem Zimmer durch die Gegend geworfen, ich war einfach baff! Fazit: Für mich das beste Match aller Zeiten! (*****)"
[10.0] "Boyy the people saying "30 minutes will not be enough for Okada/Omega, it will be underwhelming" could not be more wrong. This match brought the best out of them. Everything they did made sense, there was no killing time just to kill time here, no forgotten leg work by Kenny, no unnecessary table spots. This was just a fucking brilliant pro wrestling match. Okada has had 3 times as many draws (Tana, Suzuki, Omega) in the last year as he had losses (EVIL), and after failing to beat him in 60 minutes, Omega has to do it in just 30 now. Them both going for their signature moves & finishers early, then when OWA attempt fails, Kenny going right after the injured neck of Okada was great start to the match. The doctor spot was probably planned, and Kenny saying fuck this bs and doing a Dragon Suplex on the apron was awesome stuff. And then it just felt like you hit a 1. 25x speed button and drop filler from the previous matches. Okada fighting from underneath, some of the sickest counters/reversals you will ever see and Kenny finally beating Okada in just under 25 minutes, with OWA still being protected. This match was fucking incredible. While I would still say the Dome match is my MOTY (with Okada/Shibata, Naito/Elgin and Walter/Dragunov being runner-ups), this exceeded my already high af expectations and turned out to be the best G1 match so far. Even tho I had issues with the Osaka draw, this trilogy has been unreal, and with them being 1-1-1 you just know a rubber match is coming. And yeah, and Kenny is facing Naito in a G1 final tomorrow morning. Lads, wrestling is pretty good rn. *****."
[7.0] "Easily the weakest of their three matches, but still very good. The finishing sequences felt too similar to most of Okada's big matches, in that he would hit the rainmaker multiple times without even going for a pin. The match overall didn't feel nearly as epic as I expected and was a little too formulaic for my taste. I will say though that the story with Okada's neck was pretty well done."
[10.0] "Great Story. Okada is finally burned out and Omega took advantage of that. Different from previous matches. Everything made sense. 4 3/4 Stars."
[9.0] "This is one of those matches that puts things in perspective. I thought this was the best match these two have had together, because they told a tight and consistent story that was paced well and had no filler. This match clocked in at under 25 minutes, shorter than I expected even considering that there was a 30-minute limit. The work on Okada's neck was consistent from the moment it became a target, and the character/story beats being closer together made for a more impactful match. Kenny finally getting the win on Okada was a really cool moment too. ****1/4 to ****1/2 on this, but in retrospect, the bloated 45 & 60-minute matches between these two feel a LOT worse due to an extreme comparative lack of focus."
[8.0] "Very good match but it will be as overrated as the other two of them. Also everybody knows what's going to happen now: G1 win for Omega and then he'll take down Okada at the dome."
[10.0] "Einfach bombastisch. Verdammt geil. Ich will es aber gar nicht mit WK11 und Dominion vergleichen. Alle 3 Matches sind einfach ***** wert. Basta!"
[10.0] "Bestes Match der beiden. Der wichtigste Unterschied zu den anderen Matches war für mich, dass man zu keinem Zeitpunkt eine Länge gespürt hat. Dazu die perfekt erzählte Story, 10 Punkte."
[10.0] "Das 3 Match zwischen den beiden war wieder grandios. Die Story um Okadas Neck, hatte einfach so einen langen Aufbau und war dann auch entscheidend, dass Omega sich hier letztendlich den Sieg holt. Anfangs fangen sie schon an große Moves rauszuhauen, was ich geliebt habe. Okadas Selling war wieder so wunderbar, als er da nach dem Reversed Frankensteiner am Boden lag, dachte ich er sei wirklich verletzt. Die Endphase war so spannend, Okada konnte den One Winged Angle wieder so oft entkommen, aber als Kenny ihn dann am Ende letztendlich durchbringt, war das ein Gänsehautmoment. Super Match und ich freue mich schon sehr auf das Finale. (*****)"
[10.0] "Omega vs Okada No. 3: Trotz 30 min Time Limit und einem f*cking G1 in den Knochen reißen die zwei wohl besten Catcher weltweit die Hütte vollkommen ab. Beide beginnen schnell und zeigen reihenweise Signatures, schon nach wenigen Minuten merkt man, dank grandiosem Selling und einer dicken Portion realem Schmerz, den beiden ihre körperliche Erschöpfung an und das Tempo geht runter, das Match wird methodisch. Omega rettet sich per Reverse Rana aus der Dominanz von Okada und bearbeitet fortan eiskalt dessen verletzten Nacken, schafft es aber nicht die Sache zu beenden und Okada kann zurück kommen. Einige klasse Sequenzen und irsinnig spannende Reversals später sieht er dann schon wie der sichere Sieger aus, kann drei Rainmaker durchziehen, aber um ein Statement zu setzen will er den Vierten und wird von Kenny ausgekontert. Dieser drückt dann nochmal richtig aufs Gas und knallt Okada alles was sein Reportaire zu bieten hat an den Kopf, ehe Omega dann tatsächlich den OWA durch kriegt und endlich unter den ekstatischen Jubelschreien der Crowd über Okada siegen kann. Ein fantastisches Must-See-Match, das mich endlich auch mal wieder emotional voll fesseln konnte. (****1/2)"
[10.0] "They did the thing again. Wow, just wow. Absolutely epic and on par with the last two. 3 all time classics with 3 different styles for each match. Legendary ******"
[10.0] "(**** 3/4) Better than 2 , but not as 1 anyway very close. I'm glad that Kenny won but it was a little bit predictable. Great storytelling inside the ring , great spots , Okada was also damn awesome sold every manuever to the nail."
[10.0] "JESUS, THEY DID IT AGAIN! Okada finally has fallen down. Amazing psychology here, with a story that is building up since last year's G1 where Okada lost to Marufuji. Brillant, just brilliant. Omega's work was brutal with those spots and he finally murdered Okada. Amazing, just not too much to say. *****"
[10.0] "Ich habe Omega vs Okada I vergöttert und als bestes Match allerzeiten betitelt. Omega vs Okada II kam nah ran und war auch exzellent und auch Omega vs Okada III ist einfach großartig! Für mich hinter ihrem WK11 , aber vor ihrem Dominion Match. Dies war das Methodischste der aufeinandertreffen und hatte eine eindeutige Matchstory um Okadas Nacken welcher einfach F*cked war. Omega killt ihn weiter mit Reverse Ranas und Tiger Suplessen usw. Okada gibt eine absolut großartige Babyface performance und ist einfach so erschöpft das er nichtmal seinen Kick up nach seinem DDT zeigen kann. Okada betrieb so ein tolles Selling das jeder Kickout von ihm so hart und erschöpfend wirkte. Dazu war die Finishphase mal wieder super spannend! Okada kriegt 3 Rainmaker durch, aber da wir durch diesen G1 alle wissen das er einfach verdammt Cocky ist, will er den 4ten noch zeigen. Omega aber teilt dann alles aus was er hat inform von Reverse Rana, V-Trigger und dem One Winged Angle welcher (zu meinem Mädchenhaften kreischen) endlich, nicht an den seilen, durchgeht und zum Sieg führt. Für mich eine der besten Rivalitäten der letzten 20 jahre und ein weiterer MOTY Kandidat im Jahr 2017. *****"
