[6.0] "This was alright, but Newman's inexperience really showed here and only proves why he wasn't ready for this year's G1 Climax. The action was a mix of minor slip ups with some actually good action, but it just didn't fully click for me. Newman's claims that "he wasn't Ospreay" were false claims as he looked and moved exactly like Ospreay did, except at a lesser rate. I believe that they'd have a better match now since Callum's improved greatly since then. ***.5"
[6.0] "That was a good match, I've said that Newman's match against ZSJ would probably the his best at this G1, but this is a contender, Shingo Takagi is the master in giving people good matches, and it's almost impossible to have a bad match against him, so this was fun. The ending sequence isn't something that I enjoy, he no-sold two head bumps, and that's bad and deserved the criticism, but doesn't erase the fact that they worked a fun match - {**3/4}"
[5.0] "I just wasn't feeling this match. Callum Newman feels like he's trying too hard to be Ospreay and it causes Takagi to bring out his worst tendencies too. Not a bad match, but a really forgettable one for me."
[4.0] "This match started rather slow before eventually picking up, as Shingo put an absolutely savage beating on Callum Newman that he at least sold quite well. But then came the finish of the match, which quite frankly was so stupid on so many levels that it practically ruined the match for me (and I docked it a full half star as a result). Shingo again had been just absolutely destroying Callum for at least the past several minutes, before he did his signature DDT after making Callum flinch on a punch. Rather than, you know, sell the move he was just hit with, Callum somehow leaped straight upward, leaped up again into the ropes, hit an Oscutter out of nowhere on Shingo, and somehow that was enough for him to get the PIN? Yes, Callum Newman pinned Shingo Takagi with Will Ospreays secondary finisher. You may recall that Shingo had quite the series of matches with Ospreay in New Japan, and you may also recall that he kicked out of the Oscutter numerous times across those matches. So again, somehow a move that never seemed to put Shingo away (I may be forgetting some match where Ospreay actually pinned him with it, but all the ones I can think of off the top of my head definitely ended with the Stormbreaker) when performed on him by the actual inventor of the move, usually in the middle of a grueling back-and-forth contest, put Shingo away here when performed by a young rookie upstart copying it from his mentor. And it put him away when said rookie upstart had been absolutely getting his ass kicked for minutes straight, before just randomly no selling a DDT out of nowhere and hitting this one, single move. Just a completely illogical finish on multiple levels, and it really brought this match down several notches for me. I have not been particularly impressed with Callum Newman in this G1 so far"
[7.0] "Newman's best match of the tournament so far. Shingo was a great dance partner here as he can keep up with Newman's speed while still delivering some nice high impact offence. They kept up a good pace and got the crowd going for sure. The ending sequence with Newman taking the DDT immediately into an Oscutter did make me laugh a little and not in a good way as it's really pushing the limits on suspending disbelief for me, and I'm by no means anti that kinda thing normally. ***1/2"
[7.0] "Some good action-filled match. Didn't expect Callum to win, but I'm happy with that. He's getting better match after match. Some good sequences here, but some of them might've went a little overboard. The ending was sudden and it wasn't clear did Newman reverse the DDT or just ate it."
[7.0] "The G1 Climax really made me a fan of Callum Newman. I never really liked the way he wrestles with depending to much on spots but he fits his styles perfectly against his opponents in New Japan. Very cool strenght vs. speed match with Shingo even pulling out some Lucha Libre as well. Liked the finish a lot, really well done."
[8.0] "Yep this is it. We had a mini Ospreay vs. Takagi revival. Shingo lost...what the hell. Not bad. Callum is really good and I hope he wins the Junior title. So great action and manouvers. ****"
[6.0] "This wasn't so bad action-wise but they shrugged off so many moves so quickly that by the time the ending came I didn't buy it. They went overkill on that stuff in the final few minutes."
[7.0] "Legitimately surprising finish I did not think was even conceivable until it happened. Pretty entertaining throughout and Newman is beginning to polish some of the rougher edges in his matches."
[6.0] "Fun match with couple of good spots. Both man have pretty nice chemistry but the amount of no-selling was really overwhelming. The finish was kinda weird but overall it still was a pretty nice contest."
[6.0] "Almost have to respect doing this match in this way, where Shingo clearly was like I will do what Newman does, and show I'm not some old fart. The running of the ropes, a poison rana, letting Newman shine with his spots, the momentum never halting.. So its a shame that I feel its wasted on Newman.. who.. after seeing wrestle awhile is not there yet.. as this minor push wants him to be. He's athletic, fast... sure but he doesn't do anything that no one else can do, and there's nothing there otherwise. At least not yet. I would have rather Shingo bully the kid lol."
[5.0] "***1/2 interesting match, Callum is improving and Shingo helps improve the match, the initial and final spot are the best of the match with some nods to the classic Takagi vs Ospreay"
[6.0] "It was a fast pace match and it was decent. Callum is clearly not experience enough in selling which is fine because he is only 21. I think the G1 will help him learn how to sell. Shingo Takagi is amazing in this match he sells Callum's moves well and I did not think Callum would win this match. It does make sense because this is a changing of the guard tournament at least so far. Overall a 6/10 match."
[4.0] "This was a passable match until the strange finish. Newman can't be another Ospreay clone that does ridiculous "fighting spirit" segments without selling anything. Stuff like taking a DDT and immediately transitioning into an Ospreay Cutter takes me completely out of a wrestling match. The more I see of that, the angrier I get. **1/2"
[6.0] "Pretty good match that was quick paced which played into Callums strengths, and it was fun to see Shingo try to match the pace. Surprising result that felt fresh, still think Newman needs to find a new finish. It's weird hearing commentary saying He is not an Ospreay clone when almost all of his offense is Ospreay moves but he's still fun to watch just wish had to develop something of his own to finish off tough opponents like Shingo"
[8.0] "This match was honestly great. It reminded of the good ol' Ospreay vs Takagi matches featuring great sequences and vicious striking and also a satisfying final stretch that this time featured a shocking result. Short and really sweet, as any <15 minutes Climax match should be. ****1/4"
[6.0] "This was mostly good, as Takagi gets to go fast and wrestle a little bit differently because of who he's up against. Newman is fine, pretty much same thing he's been showing the last few matches. Basically just a worse Ospreay clone, complete with similar annoying bad habits. But he did alright. But I really take issue with and need to rant about the result. Newman is Ospreay's protege, as green as goose shit, and he beats one of Ospreay's career rivals on his first try? And I just can't kayfabe wrap my head around the Oscutter as Newman's finisher, as it stopped being a finisher for Ospreay a long time ago. Takagi has kicked out of Ospreay's Oscutter on multiple occasions, but apparently Newman can literally do an Oscutter even better than the guy that taught it to him with way less practice, and beat Shingo Takagi with it. Just wild stuff. In their haste to push the youths in this tournament I really think they're making some booking blunders here. Newman should not have beaten Takagi at this point, when he's literally just copying Ospreay. He's made a point in backstage comments saying "I'M NOT OSPREAY! " well uh, yeah you are mate. You wrestle quite literally the exact same and use his old finisher/current signature move as your finisher. The upset also would have been much more effective if Newman hadn't beaten Umino. Just incredibly strange booking and inherently phony feeling, the most phony G1 win since Yujiro beat Ibushi clean in 2021."
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