[8.0] "A fun little Four-Way match for the JR title. All of these guys were great and really put on a solid display, especially Master Wato, i thought he was the stand-out performer here. The right guy won in the end though, with Takahashi pinning Wato to win his 5th IWGP Junior Title. Overall, it was good and exactly what i was expecting out of a high-card WK match."
[8.0] "Obvious winner, but still a very fun and entertaining 4-way none the less. I'm usually not the biggest fan of 4-ways but this one was really good in my opinion. All the talent got to show their Super Junior style of wrestling and the crowd was pretty into it. Overall I enjoyed this match and is in my top 3 of the night."
[8.0] "Loved the match! Incredible display of fast paced crazy wrestling by those Junior Heavyweights here. Insane moves and nonstop action - {***3/4}"
[8.0] "A pretty fun Four-Way Match here. Takahashi getting the win isn't all that surprising, but that didn't really take away from my enjoyment of the match itself. Wato getting the win would have been a crazy moment that I think a lot of fans would have liked, but I'm not mad about Takahashi getting another reign."
[7.0] "A rather poorly exploited Four Way with Counts Out and DQs. It's still a good match but I'm still quite disappointed with the final result. (3*1/2)"
[7.0] "Really fun four way match here. 17 minutes of non-stop action with great counters and cool multi-man spots. There wasnt amount of psychology here but I guess that wasnt the point. Hiromu pinned Wato to take the title. ***1/2"
[7.0] "This was a great fatal four way match that put everybody over, however, the fact that it had a wrong winner downgrades the quality of the match in my opinion. Master Wato is particularly showcased here, and this match is all the evidence you need that he is ready for the babyface push in this division, however, I understand why they didn't pull the trigger on him right there, regardless of how invested the crowd were. The finishing sprint in this match is simply excellent."
[6.0] "This match was all about making Master Wato look like he could fit in the ring with the two aces of the Junior division. The way this crowd reacted showed me that they may have something with Wato I wrote off as the pin eater. And while he did eat the pin, he may have earned a chance to earn his way to the top of this division."
[8.0] "Master Wato almost had his moment of dream to reality here during those final moments and the fans were super over for the rising star. Even though I had Takahashi as the new champion, his presence is still a bit much after having ample reigns with the title before. The same applies to the defender Ishimori who had a couple of great runs as the champ. Desperado is a slight exception despite falling under the same umbrella. Nonetheless, Wato earned my fandom and I root for him to become the face of the Juniors soon. 4 out of 5 stars!"
[9.0] "As excepted, it was a really good match, and it's surprised me the evolve of Master Wato since I just skipped 2022 NJPW. Wato is the next Junior Ace"
[7.0] "This match was absolutely the most hyped I was for the night so far! Excellent tag team action demonstrated from all performers throughout the match with lots of close calls. I so badly wanted Master Wato to win, and seeing as he almost did just had me spilling my coffee everywhere! Was still really good to see Hiromu take the win. Keep it coming, Wato!"
[8.0] "8. 5 - Good, creative action using the four-man structure well. Was always gonna go as far as its worst competitor, and fortunately Wato had the performance of his life. His stretch of offence towards the end was star-making."
[6.0] "Lots of moves were done. A lot of them really risky. It felt like nobody was given any space to shine in this match. Just bodies crashing everywhere. There were enough spectacular moves done in an incredible fashion that I can't say this match wasn't impressive at times, but it's ultimately just a fun match without overlooming drama."
"A pretty enjoyable match overall - Hiromu winning is probably the least interesting outcome, but it's clear they do, despite the weird gimmick, have something with Wato as a underdog babyface"
[9.0] "This is disappointed. Theorically this is very good (9 out of 10) but practically they decided to don't to do the classic they were prepared for. Everythink they did while was perfect could have been better, plus there were less spot then what they could have done. Awesome but not enough. ****1/2"
[8.0] "Pretty good match. You shouldnt watch this match if you arent liking high flying moves. But participants Don't give their psychology properly. They literary failed to deliver on that side. (***3/4)"
[9.0] "Really excellent scramble 4-way, rarely fell into usual multi-man traps and had a lot of excellent nearfalls. This really felt like the division's best all trying to get the top prize on the biggest stage, the best way a multi-man title match can go. Everybody was on point here, with a lot of natural and crisp spots that moved people around and utilized 3-4 people in short succession while having the 1v1s feel natural (and lie more towards the end so guys could rest). Wato's near-victories were hot, but Despy was the standout here besides the finishing stretches with Hiromu. Really, there wasn't much of a surprise that these four names put on a killer match. ****1/4+"
[9.0] "Great match, all 4 played their part, Wato's German suplex was amazing and the near falls got the crowd and myself I still can't tell if it was fear or excitement but they were effective"
[8.0] "Nowhere near the other Cruiserweight four way at Wrestle Kingdom 12, but still a really good match, pretty entertaining and the right choice to turn on the crowd before Omega vs Ospreay. The first minutes were pretty confusing but the match got better as the minutes went by"
[6.0] "Solid three boy. A good pace, lots of exciting nearfalls and high spots. It was a very good showcase of the Junior Division. But yeah, exciting, but nothing that anybody is gonna remember a couple of months from now."
[8.0] "This is how four way matches ought to be with nothing but fast-paced and nonstop action. Everyone looked good, especially Wato. Hiromu is one of my favorites but even I can see it's kind of underwhelming to go back to him."
[8.0] "Really impressed by the prestation of Master Wato! Otherwise, excellent non stop action match between great talents. Surprised by the result, but I hope it will add something to the storytelling around the title."
[8.0] "Finally, Wato had the right and big scene to shine. The way the crowd went crazy when he had the upper hand was so overwhelming. Otherwise, that was a fun and chaotic 4-Way. Non-stop and intense action which showcased every guy pretty well, but for sure, the Wato sequence added something. Not satisfied by thee result, but I can understand it."
[8.0] "Very nice fight, suspense and intensity in the line of 2 vs 2 involving the four protagonists. A final of great quality with the phases of close fall by Wato before Takahashi takes the title. 8/10 (4*). Match seen on NJPW World."
[7.0] "Very good multi-man match that I think overdelivered. I thought this was going to be Wato's moment, and he had a good showing here, but Hiromu is always a good choice to go with."
[8.0] "Haven't watched NJPW for long so didn't know what to expect from 2 of the wrestlers in this match but wow did they all deliver. Very good match."
[7.0] "I wasn't high on this match and I thought it didn't deliver as hyped. Other than Wato's some really nice pin attempts, it was a pretty basic 4-way match with usual spots that you could see many times before (from the pin break ups, selling the exhaust, etc.). There weren't many things that I could call bad, but I couldn't call the whole thing great either."
[8.0] "These 4 put on a great match. 4 ways are notoriously hard to execute but I think they more or less nailed it, with each man shining and coming away from the match as a worthy competitor for the title moving forward, even Wato! ****"
[8.0] "Turned out to be better than initially hype. The Jr. Heavyweight scene is so thin right now; Other than Wato, there doesn't seem to be credible new comers and its always Hiromu, Despy and Ishimori. I was glad that Wato was given the chance to shine and he step up finally after months of being mediocre. We need fresh faces and new challengers with fresh storylines in the division. Hiromu winning wasn't a big deal because its so cliche at this point. Wato was the MVP, he has been given multiple opportunities to step up his game and he finally did on this night. If he remains consistent with his performance, there could be new life for the division. ****"
[9.0] "After the tag match featuring these four last year I knew this would be something else. One of the best four ways I've seen. Everyone had a moment in this where it looked like they would win convincingly. Even Wato looked fired up and the finishing sequence between he and Hiromu was terrific."
[8.0] "A very exciting and slightly chaotic four way as it should be. Lots of pinfall interruptions to keep tensions high and bubbling over. Master Wato (my pick to win) didnt go over but had a good showing regardless. He also was close to winning a couple of times. Im hoping at some point this year he can go onto win the title."
[8.0] "Great fun multi man match with all the chaos you'd expect, but still easy to follow and with plenty of teases as to who would win. Master Wato especially looked like he could take it, and if he continues to improve will surely win the title soon."
[7.0] "Nothing amazing but still very good. Multi-man matches are usually inherently limited due to how formulaic and contrived they become with guys cycling in and out for their spots and suddenly running in to break up other wrestlers' falls. That was still the case here, but that being said, no company these days can make multi-man matches so creative, exciting, and genuinely story-driven other than NJPW. They still had a few contrived multi-man spots and sequences, but they were usually short and never over-the-top like they usually are in other companies. Wato, being the only guy here still unproven as a junior star and the only guy who has thus never held the Junior Heavyweight title, felt like a possible choice for the dark horse winner, just because it felt possible that NJPW might want to do something radically different instead of giving us any of the other 3 guys for the millionth time. There was a fun story early on of various alliances being proposed and often immediately abandoned as soon as they were formed. I also enjoyed the story of Ishimori being the biggest heel of the match by trying to let the other 3 fight it out between themselves, with the plan being that he would then swoop in to pick up the scraps. The other 3 were wise to this plan, but then their eagerness to punish Ishimori for his cheap tactics actually led them overcommitting on offence and thus allowing Ishimori to catch them off-guard and briefly dominate all 3 of them. Their various multi-man exchanges and spots in the 2nd half were all good, but it was in the final 1/3rd with Wato's break-out performance that the match became even more exciting. Wato, often known for his in-ring awkwardness and even outright botches, was actually an absolute star with his performance here, hitting all his mid-level spots very cleanly in the first 3/4ths of the match and then showing superb technique and great babyface fire as he got all his awesome and genuinely convincing hope spots in the final 1/4th. It was great fun watching him manage to not just hang with the 3 junior aces here but actually threaten to put them away. That high-angle german suplex he hit Hiromu with was especially awesome, but then Hiromu was able to catch Wato as he went for an overly risky headscissors that opened him up to be countered with the Time Bomb 2 for the win. The story is that Wato still isn't on the level of the junior division's top guys, but he's at least hot on their heels. ***3/4"
[8.0] "A tightly put-together match that was executed flawlessly. Early on the focus was on Taiji Ishimori outsmarting everyone but the psychology went out the window once the craziness started. Master Wato didn't look out of place and they gave him a tonne of offence to get the viewers to think he had a chance. This matches biggest strength was its fluidity and crispness, It just felt very modern."
[8.0] "Multimen matches feel so fresh in New Japan. There was always action and almost not breathing room, except for the Ishimori count-out spot. Wato was a mystery for me, as I have minimal knowledge of him and he greatly impressed me to the point I have on edge hoping for his win. But, not the time, as Takahashi reclaimes his top spot in Junior Heavyweight division. I also want to mention that damn Elevated German Suplex. It was so brutal and was a highlight spot of the night. Well, this and another that came in the next match."
[6.0] "Decent 4-way. I wanted Wato to get the win here and he came oh so close time and time again before finally falling to Hiromu. Guess there are a few options for Hiromu now. Despy and Ishimori were good here too."
[8.0] "2023 - Surprisingly good. I knew the outcome but was still biting on those Wato nearfalls. It feels like they could do something with him here, the crowd was definitely behind him at the end and maybe if he just fine tunes a few things I will be really pushing for him too. ****"
[7.0] "This was as true to the name Four Way Match as I could imagine. All four competitors executed their offense in remarkable form, with counters and fun stereo strikes, throws, and submissions aplenty. If you are a fan of fun and high spots, then you will enjoy this match. The story of Master Wato being his own worst enemy was a compelling one in this one, as it really took this from fun and entertaining to the point of being a genuinely good match. That includes the final few minutes, where Wato morphed into the MVP of one of the most star-studded bouts that this division can produce. A highlight of the show and a fun match that turned into a great story. 3.75 stars, 7.5 out of 10."
[9.0] "The ACE of the Jr. Heavyweight division, the great Hiromu Takahashi regains his crown. The devastating impact of the High Angle German Suplex, that Hiromu took from Wato was crazy! BTW, why was there a countout from the referee during a match like this? You don't do Countouts & DQ's during a 3 Way or 4 Way match. Taiji Ishimori understood the psychology of this match. He knew that this type of match is the type of match where putting your hands on the referee and using weapons is something that you should be able to get away with (because there should be no DQ's here). Hiromu should continue his rivalries with El Deperado & Taiji Ishimori as they were not the ones to take the fall here."
[9.0] "An excellent four way match, featuring Takahashi, Despy, and Taiji, who have almost exclusively ran the division since Ospreay graduating to Heavyweight in 2020, against Wato the up and comer trying to achieve his dream. All of the men excelled in this match. Wato turned in a great performance and I think he is a future IWGP Jr champion despite taking the pin. Nice to see Hiromu win but something about the finish felt awkward. ****1/2"
[7.0] "Starting off, I just wasn't into the match at all with Taiji just planting himself outside the ring until the others finally rebelled. So gotta dock a point for that. But the match picked up afterwards into something enjoyable."
[6.0] "The best way I can describe this match is that it willed itself to become a decent match with some well timed, quality moments, surprisingly built around Wato getting 2.9 nearfalls/false finishes on all three opponents while the crowd was buying into them. The match was rough around the edges, rarely got going but there was things to like. Somewhat disappointing but Wato? s nearfalls were too good to deny. ***"
[8.0] "Wato steals the show. Exciting 4 way which continues the dynamic set in their very good tag match from Battle Autumn. Really had me convinced any one of them was going to walk away the winner, but after that elevated German, I seriously thought Wato was winning."
[7.0] "Going into the first half of the match, I was feeling pretty bored. Nothing was really indicative of me of this being a great match, but as the match progressed the segments with Wato in control and the sequences with Desperado and Hiromu. I really like Hiromu but this wasn? t his moment. Wato is (shockingly! ) next up."
[2.0] "Master Wato had a few pretty cute nearfalls, but other than those, I wasn't feeling this one much at all. Very generic four-way action all the way thru with none of the guys really bringing the heat."
[9.0] "So much chemistry in this fight, I loved it. From start to finish you didn't know who would win and even though my favorite is the one who wins, I also doubted. Very good fight that gets this rating but I really could have given it more."
[9.0] "Wild four-way between these four very talented guys who were brought together in order to steal the show and I think they succeeded in their mission to surprise everyone, I also think that those who didn't know them (because people obviously discover NJPW every year in front of Wrestle Kingdom and even more so this year with the debut of Mercedes) they made a perfect introduction for everyone to enjoy. It was exactly the match we expected to see with these four guys, exactly the kind of match we want to see for this title and we weren't disappointed because what they offered was of high quality. We had already seen during their Battle Autumn tag match two months ago, which was a disguised four-way let's face it, that they all had a pretty fun chemistry together and here it was obviously even better with all the freedom they had. Lots of spots and sequences that would have gone viral on Twitter if NJPW videos & GIFS were allowed on the platform, and an interesting story around Hiromu & Despe."
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