Wew fucking lads, what a set of matches.

Firstly, Kenny returned after over a year and getting really fucking sick and may have got even better. And he didn't carry Kidd, Gabe absolutely rocked in this match and i've basically never seen him - this would have been a star-making performance against any other NJPW main eventer, but Kenny put on the return of a lifetime and Kidd is a made man in NJPW now. It would be a generational bag fumble if Gedo fucks this up from here.

Now that would seem impossible to follow, but Zack and Bald Trevor put on a banger to keep the crowd hot when they easily could have blown it. Hot start that really flipped the structure compared to the match before and some elite spots that all happened in-ring or apron, which was another point of difference. If you ever forgot or doubted that Ricochet can go, this will change your mind. I was going to add a spoiler for a big spot, but I've changed my mind, you have to see it. It's a Ricochet spot, you'll know when it happens.

I think watching or rewatching both in isolation will lead to opinions that both matches rocked, even if watching the show through leads to the semi-final overshadowing the main. Worth a watch.

Also Ishii vs Takeshita was great in the midcard. Real NEVER shit. Bite 141 eternally