SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

[7.0] "This was a pretty good match. The action was fun to watch, they did some cool sequences and reversals."

[9.0] "Amazing technical match we had here. I have some issues when it comes to the SANADA style of wrestling, I think that during a good part of his career he put his effort on some highflying abilities that wasn't really necessary for his showcase in the ring, and he showed exactly a good point in my argument. His career focusing in the technical style might be something really different. Anyway, amazing match with the right winner."

[8.0] "Really great match. Both guys trading holds and Sanada trying to prove he could keep up with Zack in that aspect, and he did. He did more than that in fact. Zack just couldn't manage to get the better of Sanada to the point where Zack got frustrated and started going for more strikes. Zack couldn't deal with the fact that he was being bested and he was caught getting overzealous. So many great counter holds and some fun roll up sequences. Really exciting match and not what I was expecting from this."

[7.0] "There's some fun stuff at the beginning with Sanada frustrating Zack by outsmarting his holds and proving a surprising challenge. Some of the middle gets lost in repetitive roll up exchanges, but is never dull. Zack's love affair with throwing chairs an attacking the railing in on delightful display as he loses."

[8.0] "This felt incredibly unique and different from your usual New Japan match. SANADA and Sabre bring out the best in each other. This was a tight, compelling and wildly fun 10 minute match. There was a great story of SANADA not letting Zack outwrestle him and getting the better of him several times. He kept locking in the Full Nelson and other submissions while Zack got increasingly frustrated. SANADA even worked the neck a bit for the setup of the Skull End. Zack gets more vicious near the end but makes mistakes and SANADA gets the better of him this time. All of the back and forth reversals and quick counters were near flawless. Great match. ****"

[10.0] "I thought SANADA repeatedly reversing Sabre's technique and getting him locked up and countering out of holds was excellent. It was incredibly fun to say the least. The sequences of back and forth reversals after reversals throughout the match were fantastic. The action was amazing how fast it was going with both men going full speed, moving flawlessly and effortlessly and keeping the momentum 50/50. SANADA was impressive as hell by not only keeping up with Sabre and matching him move for move but even surpassing him by out wrestling him a fair number of times. I liked how they also brought in strikes and had some exchanges of uppercuts which were good. The finishing stretch of pin attempts and chain reversals was awesome. SANADA out wrestling Sabre in the end and pinning him was just fantastic. I don't give a shit if this match was only 10 minutes, it deserves a 10/10. These two worked so well together, it's incredible. Absolutely excellent."

[9.0] "A fast-paced match with two good workers that knows how to do a great fast-paced match. It's a shame that lasted only 10 minutes, for me, it could last 13~15 minutes and would be a perfect match. But still, this was very cool and the ending surprised me. ****1/2"

[7.0] "Very good match, i loved how Sanada made Sabre understand that he could challenge him to his own game. That was a very good performance. ***3/4"

[9.0] "Loves the start of the match with SANADA not letting ZSJ out wrestle him at all, relentlessly putting on the full Nelson and constantly countering everything Sabre did. Even weakening the neck for the cold skull in the process. Zack then became obsessed with beating SANADA his way, making mistakes allowing SANADA to get the win. I don't think it's better than their last match but still a great match. Very different as well, less for a struggle and more of a battle to outdo each other. ****1/4"

[7.0] "SANADA and Sabre Jr. had a really good match, with SANADA showcasing some of his mat wrestling and not looking entirely bad at it."

[9.0] "Thought this was great, lots of guys come at Sabre with their usual stuff only to get thwarted and drawn into his game, but SANADA came in planning on a super technical contest and had Sabre very well scouted. Sabre did an awesome job blending his frustration with some masterfully executed attacks. One of the better G1 matches in my opinion, it was smart, told a good story, and never dragged at all."

[8.0] "SANADA and Zack went full on World of Sport mode here. With SANADA making it clear from the get-go that he was willing and more than able to match ZSJ in his own game, the contest devolved into pretty much one long chain wrestling sequence. They rarely, if ever, broke contact and constantly one-uped and countered each other trying to gain a dominant position. This struggle raged on until a tremendously executed and kind of surprising finish. Very good technical match. ***3/4"

[8.0] "This was great. I like the story when Sanada outwrestled Zack. He countered everything Zack did. Zack couldn't control his mind and lost the bout. The chemistry was great. Crowd was into and loved this. 10 minutes was so well done here."

[7.0] "I really liked their match from the New Japan Cup (gave it 4. 5 stars) but this wasn't even close to that, in my opinion. Maybe I was in the wrong mood while watching this but it seemed very bland to me. Yes, it had some good technical wrestling but nothing outstanding. They basically did two sequences with 20 counters into the same move. First, they did it with the Full Nelson and then with the Stranglehold. Some transitions were quite amazing but it really never went anywhere and it didn't seem to me like SANADA outclassed ZSJ technically, he just got lucky with a roll-up. It didn't really have any long submission struggles that ZSJ matches usually have or any real athletic sequences à la SANADA. I was expecting more from this. ***1/2"

[8.0] "You know what, screw it, I LOVED this match. The beginning with Zack getting really pissed off with being put in countless Full Nelsons was great, the pin sequence that lit Korakuen on fire was great, the sequences at the end were great. I just really loved how this match was done, and if this is what WOS used to be, then, hell, I've got to watch a truckload of that ASAP. I think their NJC match was slightly better but I'd say this was different with less submissions and more them just having a technical wrestling back-n-forth. So so so good. (****1/4)"

[9.0] "Super smooth & exciting back and forth technical wrestling all the way through. I prefer their New Japan Cup match just a bit more, but this was an absolutely awesome sequel. SANADA & Zack Sabre Jr. have a great chemistry with each other, and their matches feel pretty unique in today's New Japan. ****"