Tag: g1 2019

NJPW G1 Climax 29 night 14 results: Tetsuya Naito vs. Shingo Takagi

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 29 continued today in Osaka with B Block action.

Here are the results and match recaps.

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SHOTA UMINO & REN NARITA DEFEATED TOA HENARE & YUYA UEMURA

A nice little showcase for the Young Lions here. Narita held his own with Henare at first, but Henare came back with a suplex and went to work.

Henare and Uemura worked over Narita’s left leg. Narita’s selling was excellent. Narita hit a release belly-to-belly, and Umino got a hot tag. Uemura quickly cut him off, but Umino came back with an elbow, then a dropkick.

The finish saw Umino use a powerbomb for a nearfall, then followed with a fisherman suplex on Uemura for the pin.

MINORU SUZUKI, LANCE ARCHER & ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI

This was built around SANADA battling the effects of his nearly 30 minute battle with Okada yesterday.

SANADA sold for Suzuki and Archer most of the way. EVIL and Sabre tagged in for a quick back-and-forth. BUSHI and Suzuki got tags, and Suzuki used a misdirection spot, then a rear naked choke into a Gotch-style piledriver for the pin.

After the bout, Archer went after SANADA. He applied the EBD Claw, then continued fighting SANADA to the back.

BAD LUCK FALE, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KOTA IBUSHI & TOMOAKI HONMA

Bullet Club attacked Tanahashi as he posed on the ropes during his entrance. They turned this into a brawl, as Fale choked Tanahashi with a camera cable.

Tanahashi sold for a while, then hit a dragon screw to Yujiro. Ibushi tagged in for some signature offense on Yujiro, including a standing moonsault.

Honma and Owens tagged in. Honma teased a kokeshi off the second rope, but missed with it. Honma couldn’t keep up with the pace of Owens here, which was sad.

Owens hit a package piledriver for the pin, while Fale used a Grenade on Tanahashi ahead of their matchup later this week.

KAZUCHIKA OKADA, WILL OSPREAY & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS

YOSHI-HASHI got the submission win over Connors with a Butterfly Lock.

Aside from a couple of brief sequences between Ospreay and KENTA, this was mostly a showcase for the selling ability of the L.A. Dojo boys, Connors and Fredericks.

Fredericks continues to show more potential than Connors, but Connors had a nice outing here.

KENTA and Ospreay’s sequences were mostly teases and counters, as KENTA avoided Ospreay’s tiger wall flip kick, while Ospreay avoided the Busaiku knee strike of KENTA. KENTA did connect with a one-legged dropkick.

Ospreay and KENTA had a quick pull-apart after the match.

B BLOCK MATCH: TOMOHIRO ISHII DEFEATED TORU YANO (9:36)

This was super entertaining.

Yano exposed two buckles before the opening bell. He sent Ishii into both, then pulled Ishii’s shirt over his head. Yano used three quick cradles for nearfalls.

Yano got a chair, and sat it on the ramp. Yano sat down. He begged Ishii to come outside with him, but Ishii declined, and the referee started to count. Yano jummped up pat 17, and made it back in at 19.

Back inside, Ishii lit Yano up with chops in the corner. Yano avoided a charge into the corner, and Ishii twice got sent into the exposed buckle.

Ishii hit a short clothesline, then a powerslam. He taunted Yano with short kicks to the head, and Yano fired up. They had an intense striking battle, and Yano actually dropped Ishii with a short forearm.

Ishii made it back to his feet, then hit a release German. Yano used two quick cradles for nearfalls. Ishii got sent into the exposed buckle again, and Yano used a schoolboy for a nearfall.

Yano hit a lariat, then used a belly-to-belly for a nearfall. Ishii came back with a headbutt, then hit his own lariat for a nearfall.

They traded low blow attempts, then traded cradles for nearfalls, as things got really chaotic.

Ishii hit a sliding lariat, then hit the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin.

B BLOCK MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON (12:29)

I didn’t like this match. Too many distractions and ref bumps, and too much interference in a bout that didn’t need those things to be good.

Miho Abe and Yoshinobu Kanemaru accompanied Taichi to the ring. Before the opening bell, Abe took the referee, while Kanemaru attacked Juice on the ramp.

Taichi used a buzzsaw kick for a nearfall immediately after the opening bell. Juice came back with a full nelson bomb. Abe and Kanemaru provided another distraction on the outside, and Abe slapped Juice.

They traded jabs and kicks, back inside. Juice blocked a thrust kick, while Taichi blocked a Juice Box. Juice connected with a leg lariat, a corner clothesline, then a cannonball.

Juice went for Pulp Friction, but Taichi blocked it. Taichi hit a kamaguri. Taichi hit an axe bomber, but Juice came back with a Juice Box.

Juice hit a powerbomb for a nearfall, then used the grip to transition to a crab. This is where things really fell apart.

Kanemaru jumped on the apron for a distraction. The referee took a bump. Taichi avoided Pulp Friction. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey in Juice’s eyes, but Juice hit him with the Left Hand of God, then a pescado.

Back inside, Taichi spit whiskey in Juice’s eyes, then used a Gedo Clutch for a nearfall.

Taichi followed with a buzzsaw kick, then hit Black Mephisto for the pin.

B BLOCK MATCH: HIROOKI GOTO DEFEATED JEFF COBB (11:20)

This was neither man’s best match, but they showed great effort. Neither guy is built for a technical classic on their own, and this was a hard-hitting big guy match as a result.

They traded tackles and dropdowns in the opening sequence. Cobb hit a dropkick, sending Goto rolling to the floor. Cobb sent Goto into the security fence, then threw Goto back into the ring.

Goto blocked a throw, then hit a discus lariat. Goto hit a suplex for a nearfall. They traded lariats, then Cobb hit a spin cycle. They exchanged lariats again, then Cobb hit a leaping uppercut forearm. Cobb followed up with a standing moonsault for a two count.

They battled their way to the top rope, where Cobb connected with a delayed superplex for a two count. Cobb teased Tour of the Islands, but Goto countered with an ushigoroshi.

Goto hit a series of mid kicks, then hit an inverted GTR for a nearfall. Goto went for a traditional GTR, but Cobb fought it off, then hit a superkick. Goto blocked a throw, then hit a belly-to-belly for a two count.

Cobb hit a snap German, then went for Tour of the Islands. Goto reversed the attempt into another ushigoroshi, then hit a GTR for the pin.

B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED JON MOXLEY (15:20)

Too many shenanigans leading to the finish in this one for my liking. I understand the desire to protect Moxley, and White is an important building block. At some point, though, you have to question whether it helps White to have all of his wins come as a result of interference.

Moxley went after White before the match, not allowing White to do his usual stalling routine at the opening bell.

This was all Moxley early. He used basic offense, primarily punches and chops. He set up a table, but Gedo took the table down.

White clotheslined Moxley with the top rope, then used a series of DDTs to establish his first real offense of the match. White hit a Blade Buster, then tossed Moxley outside. White sent Moxley into the barricade, then posted him. Moxley began selling his left shoulder as a result.

Moxley started a comeback. He hit a one-legged dropkick, then a suicide dive. Moxley took the fight to the floor, then dragged White into the crowd for a brawl. Back at ringside, Moxley used a figure four around the post.

They finally made their way back inside, where Moxley used a cloverleaf. He transitioned to an STF, but White reached the ropes. White cut Moxley off with a suplex into the buckle, a Saito suplex, a flatliner, then a deadlift German.

White hit a uranage for a two count. Moxley hit an X-plex for a nearfall of his own. They trades strikes. Moxley teased the Regal knee, but Gedo provided a quick distraction. Moxley hit a Death Rider, but only got a two count.

Moxley tried for another Death Rider, but White pulled referee Red Shoes to the ground. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. White hit a low blow, then used a rollup for a nearfall. Moxley countered with his own rollup for two.

Moxley hit the Regal knee for a two count. Moxley went for another Death Rider, but Gedo jumped on the apron for a distraction. White hit two sleeper suplexes. Moxley flipped White double middle fingers.

White hit a Bloody Sunday DDT, then hit Blade Runner. He covered, and pinned Moxley.

B BLOCK MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI (27:15)

What a match. This was an absolute joy to watch.

They teased a couple of lockups, but Naito backed off. They finally tied up, and Naito backed Shingo into the ropes. Naito broke cleanly, but Shingo tried to hit a chop on the break. Naito avoided it.

They did an intricate series of counters and reversals, ending with Shingo pulling out of a side headlock on the mat. Naito offered a fist bump, but Shingo refused. Shingo hit a chop, but got sent outside after a dropkick. Naito teased a dive, but hit his Tranquilo pose instead.

Shingo tossed a chair into the ring. Naito set up the chair, and hit a drop toehold on Shingo into the chair.

Naito used his legs to tie Shingo up in a crucifix hold, but Shingo reached the ropes. Naito tried for the combinacion cabron, but Shingo caught him coming in. They exchanged strikes in the center of the ring, before Naito raked Shingo’s eyes.

Shingo used a hair pull, while Naito spit in Shingo’s face. Shingo connected with a jab-chop combination, then clotheslined Naito over the top rope.

On the outside, Shingo sent Naito into the railing. He then whipped him over the barricade. Shingo posted Naito. He dropped Naito face-first on the apron, then hit a DDT on the floor.

Shingo hit a slingshot knee to the chest, back inside. He followed with a lariat, then a shoulder tackle. On the mat, Shingo used a headlock. He followed with a kneedrop to the chest. Naito came back with palm strikes, an inverted atomic drop, then a hurricanrana.

Naito hit a back elbow, a dropkick to the back, then a combinacion cabron. Naito used a neckbreaker, but only got a one count. Naito missed on a swinging DDT attempt, and Shingo connected with a pop-up DVD.

Shingo hit a top rope back elbow for a two count. He missed with a sliding lariat, and Naito countered with an enziguri. Naito hit a draping neckbreaker over his knee, then teased a top rope reverse rana. Shingo slipped out, then hit noshigami.

Shingo tried for a short lariat, but Naito blocked it, then hit a swinging DDT. Naito went for Gloria, but Shingo blocked it. Naito hit a wheel kick, then a flying forearm. Naito then hit Gloria for a nearfall.

Naito teased Destino, but Shingo blocked it. Naito tried for a poison rana, but Shingo blocked that, then hit a powerbomb. Shingo hit a wheelbarrow German, suplexing Naito into the turnbuckle.

Shingo hit a pair of corner clotheslines. Naito dropped to the mat, selling exhaustion. Shingo climbed the ropes, with Naito draped over his shoulders. Naito fought off whatever Shingo had in mind. Naito tried a frankensteiner off the top. Shingo blocked it at first, but Naito ultimately connected with the move.

Naito hit a poison rana. He teased Destino, but Shingo cut him off with a huge lariat, and Naito took a flip bump at the 20 minute mark.

Shingo went for Made in Japan, but Naito blocked it. Shingo hit a couple of brutal lariats. He went for a third, but Naito blocked it. Shingo hit a third lariat in the ropes, then a Saito suplex. Naito countered with a sick dragon suplex.

Naito hit a dropkick. He went for Destino, but Shingo countered into Made in Japan. He covered, but Naito kicked out.

Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, and Naito took another flip bump. He covered, but Naito again kicked out.

Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Naito reversed it into a Destino. Naito could not follow up, and they did a double down.

They exchanged punches on the mat, then traded headbutts. Back on their feet, Naito spit at Shingo, then hit a series of strikes. Shingo fired back, and they continued trading at the 25 minute call.

Shingo hit a headbutt. Naito blocked a suplex, and reversed it into a brainbuster for a nearfall.

Shingo escaped a Destino, then hit a Pumping Bomber. Shingo tried for Last of the Dragon, but Naito hit a Canadian Destroyer. Naito then hit Destino — but only got a two count.

Naito hit another Destino, and this time it was enough. 1-2-3.

G1 STANDINGS

A BLOCK

⦁ Kazuchika Okada 12 (holds tiebreaker over KENTA, yet to face EVIL, Ibushi)

⦁ Kota Ibushi 10 (holds tiebreaker over KENTA, yet to face Okada)

⦁ EVIL 8 (holds tiebreaker over Ibushi, yet to face Okada)

⦁ KENTA 8 (holds tiebreaker over EVIL)

⦁ Hiroshi Tanahashi 8 (eliminated)

⦁ SANADA 6 (eliminated)

⦁ Zack Sabre Jr. 6 (eliminated)

⦁ Lance Archer 4 (eliminated)

⦁ Will Ospreay 4 (eliminated)

⦁ Bad Luck Fale 4 (eliminated)

B BLOCK

⦁ Jon Moxley 10

⦁ Jay White 8

⦁ Tomohiro Ishii 8

⦁ Hirooki Goto 8

⦁ Tetsuya Naito 8

⦁ Juice Robinson 6

⦁ Toru Yano 6

⦁ Jeff Cobb 6

⦁ Taichi 6 (eliminated)

⦁ Shingo Takagi 4 (eliminated)

NJPW G1 Climax 29 night 13 results: Okada vs. SANADA

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 29 continued today in Osaka with A Block action.

Here are the results and match recaps.

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JUICE ROBINSON & TOA HENARE DEFEATED REN NARITA & YOTA TSUJI

Henare worked most of the match for his team. He gave the Young Lions quite a bit of offense, but pinned Tsuji with a Toa Bottom.

TOMOHIRO ISHII, HIROOKI GOTO & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED TORU YANO, JEFF COBB & TOMOAKI HONMA

Not much to this one.

Goto and Cobb had a nice exchange after some early Yano comedy. Honma and YH paired off. After missing one kokeshi, Honma hit two in a row.

The match broke down, leaving YH and Honma the legal men, and YH used the Butterfly Lock to submit Honma.

TETSUYA NAITO, SHINGO TAKAGI & BUSHI DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU

Suzuki-gun turned this into a crowd brawl at the outset. BUSHI made a comeback against Suzuki, and Naito and Taichi got tags.

Taichi targeted Naito’s ear, which had been busted open the other night. Naito hit a flying forearm, and Kanemaru and Shingo tagged in.

Kanemaru hit a satelite DDT. Suzuki entered for the illegal double-team. Near the finish, Suzuki, Naito, BUSHI and Taichi brawled to the outside.

Shingo caught Kanemaru coming off the top rope, then hit a pop-up DVD, a Pumping Bomber, then used Made in Japan for the pin. The way they worked to the finish was excellent.

Naito and Shingo face off tomorrow. They shared the LIJ fist bump after the match, but then had a brief staredown.

JAY WHITE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED JON MOXLEY & SHOTA UMINO

This was fun and told a good story. White was afraid of Moxley and did everything he could to avoid him.

Umino had Owens in a crab, and it looked as though Owens would tap, but White made the save. Moxley jumped in and chased White outside. Owens hit a dropkick through the ropes, taking out Moxley.

Back inside, Owens hit a knee strike, then tagged White. White hit the Blade Runner right away, and pinned Umino.

A BLOCK MATCH: BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED KENTA (7:20)

Fale tried for a tree slam right off the bat, but KENTA avoided it. Fale took the referee, allowing Jado to hit a kendo stick shot on KENTA from the floor.

Fale sent KENTA into the barricade, then worked over his lower back with stomps. KENTA tried to fire up with slaps, but Fale countered with his own slap, and KENTA fell to the mat.

KENTA used a guillotine to clothesline Fale on the top roe, then targeted his legs with dropkicks. KENTA hit a series of boots in the corner, then hit a delayed dropkick.

KENTA hit a double stomp off the top. He covered, but only got a two count. KENTA teased the Go To Sleep, but he couldn’t get Fale up. Fale hit a lariat, then covered for a nearfall.

Fale went for the Grenade, but KENTA jumped up and slapped on a triangle choke. He transitioned to the Game Over submission, but Chase Owens jumped up from the commentary table to distract the ref.

With Owens distracting the referee, Jado entered and tried to hit KENTA with the kendo stick. KENTA caught the stick, but Fale used the distraction to schoolboy him for the pin.

KENTA worked well with Fale, which is no easy task. All of the interference was to be expected given how many bells and whistles you need to make a Fale match passable.

A BLOCK MATCH: ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED LANCE ARCHER (10:44)

The contrast in styles here made for a good story, and this felt like two guys trying to win an athletic contest. It had a real sports feel. Good stuff.

Sabre made Archer chase him at the outset, figuring that he would have an edge when it came to agility. Archer kipped up off a trip takedown, and Sabre was forced to think of another strategy.

Archer went for a twisting body press out of the corner, but missed. Sabre tried for a guillotine, but Archer threw him off. Sabre rolled outside. Archer teased a flip dive off the apron, but Sabre jumped to the apron, then used the ropes to slow Archer. He applied a guillotine, but Archer fought it off.

Archer tried for a pounce, but Sabre caught him in a guillotine in a nice misdirection spot. Archer reached the ropes, then tried his rope-walk. Sabre crotched Archer, then tried another guillotine. Archer pushed Sabre off, then hit a crossbody off the top for a nearfall.

Back on the mat, Sabre was able to get a triangle choke applied, then transitioned to an omoplata. Archer reached the ropes, forcing a break. Archer hit a powerbomb for a two count.

Archer went for the EBD Claw, but Sabre avoided it. Sabre went after Archer’s arms with kicks. Archer came back with a Boss Man Slam for a nearfall.

Archer hit a chokeslam. He had Sabre pinned, but he pulled him up at the count of two to do more damage. Archer went for Blackout, but Sabre slid out the back. Sabre applied a rear naked choke, then pulled Archer down into a crucifix for a pin.

A BLOCK MATCH: EVIL DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY (17:09)

At a certain point, you run out of superlatives for Ospreay matches. This was excellent, but probably not even in the top ten best Ospreay matches this year. EVIL was great here as well. He is a master of misdirection spots.

Ospreay came out on top in the opening sequence, sending EVIL to the outside. He teased a dive, but posed instead. EVIL tried to bait Ospreay with a chair, but Ospreay declined it, and allowed EVIL to get back inside.

EVIL missed a senton. Ospreay tried a standing shooting star, but EVIL got his knees up. EVIL sent Ospreay to the floor with a clothesline, then used a chair shot on the ramp to take control of the bout.

EVIL used a chinlock, then went for a vertical suplex. Ospreay twisted out of the suplex, turning it into a cutter. Ospreay hit a flying forearm, then connected with Pip Pip Cheerio for a nearfall.

Ospreay missed with a Robinson Special. EVIL hit a mid kick, then suplexed Ospreay into the buckle. Ospreay got a brief hope spot with a trip takedown in the corner, but EVIL cut him off with a corner clothesline.

EVIL teased a superplex, but Ospreay fought it off. EVIL tried to use the referee as the base for a Magic Killer, but Ospreay slipped out. Ospreay sent EVIL to the outside with a backflip kick, then hit a Sasuke Special.

Ospreay hit a coast-to-coast for a two count. Ospreay hit a tiger wall flip, but EVIL cut him off with a big lariat. They exchanged strikes on the mat. They climbed to their feet, still trading. EVIL dropped Ospreay to his knees with a big forearm.

EVIL went for Darkness Falls. After a series of reversals, he finally connected with the move for a nearfall. EVIL tried for Everything is EVIL, but Ospreay reversed it into a Liger Bomb for a great nearfall.

Ospreay hit a hook kick. He missed with a Hidden Blade, but followed up with another hook kick. EVIL survived the exchange, then hit a headbutt. EVIL hit the ropes, but ran right into a Spanish Fly. Ospreay hit an Oscutter, but EVIL kicked out at two.

Ospreay called for Storm Breaker. EVIL slid out. EVIL tried for a German, but Ospreay landed on his feet, then hit a Robinson Special.

Ospreay tried for a super Oscutter, but EVIL caught him, then hit two half-and-half suplexes. EVIL hit a lariat for a two count.

EVIL followed up with Everything is EVIL, and got the 1-2-3.

A BLOCK MATCH: KOTA IBUSHI DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI (15:54)

This was a great match, and felt like a career-defining moment for Ibushi.

They made the psychology of the match clear from the outset. Tana has bad knees, and wanted to keep Ibushi grounded.

So, after an early exchange of headlocks, Ibushi hit a dropkick. Tana had enough of that, and took Ibushi down. He worked over Ibushi’s legs with kicks and stomps.

Ibushi came back with a big mid kick, then hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Tana came back with a dropkick to the legs, then a dragon screw to the right leg. Tana hit a second dragon screw to the right leg, then applied a cloverleaf. Ibushi stayed in the hold for a long time, but finally reached the ropes.

Ibushi rolled to the apron. Tanahashi hit a rope-assisted dragon screw to Ibushi’s left leg. Tana went up top and teased a High Fly Flow to the floor, but Ibushi cut him off, then hit a rana off the top rope, back into the ring.

Ibushi avoided a low dropkick, and landed a double stomp. Ibushi lawn-darted Tana into the turnbuckle, and Tana rolled to the apron. Ibushi climbed the ropes, and hit a deadlift German for a two count.

Tana avoided a Last Ride, and hit a slap to the face. Ibushi no-sold it. They traded a series of slaps to the face and neither man sold any of them. Ibushi finally ended the sequence with a lariat, into a double down. Ibushi was bleeding from the mouth.

Ibushi hit a Last Ride, but only got a two count. Ibushi went for Kamigoye, but Tana reversed into Twist and Shout, which he hit three times. Tana hit slingblade for a nearfall.

Tanahashi went up top, and landed a standing High Fly Flow. He went for another with Ibushi down, but Ibushi rolled out of the way, and Tanahashi sold his right knee on the landing.

Ibushi hit a Bomaye, but Tanahashi kicked out.

Ibushi went for Kamigoye, but Tanahashi turned it into a cradle for a nearfall.

Ibushi hit a high kick, but Tana didn’t go down. Ibushi hit a second high kick, and Tana dropped to the mat.

Ibushi followed with a Kamigoye for the pin.

Ibushi was in tears after the match. Tanahashi pulled Ibushi in and shared some words with him. This was clearly very meaningful to Ibushi and a very cool moment.

I won’t call this a passing of the torch, because I think Tanahashi will be in the top mix as long as he can walk. That said, with Ibushi signed long-term, this certainly felt like he was permanently placed in the main event picture with this win.

A BLOCK MATCH: SANADA DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA (29:48)

This was superb. Almost as important as the wrestlers in the match, referee Red Shoes was incredible in his role. Without him selling the near-submissions towards the end, this would not have been nearly as dramatic.

They began with some very basic stuff, trading headlocks and leg sweeps. SANADA hit a dropkick, then scored with a back elbow. Okada came back with his own back elbow for a knockdown, a back elbow in the corner, then a DDT out of the corner for a nearfall.

SANADA avoided a top rope elbow, and Okada rolled through. SANADA went to the top rope, but Okada hit a dropkick, sending him to the floor. Okada sent SANADA into the barricade, then knocked him over the railing with a big boot.

Still outside, Okada hit a draping DDT off the barricade. They did a countout tease, but SANADA got back in at 15. With SANADA seated, Okada hit a dropkick. Okada covered with one boot, but Red Shoes refused to count. Okada flat out playing heel.

Okada hit an uppercut. He teased a dropkick, but SANADA hit a low dropkick to Okada’s legs. SANADA followed with his leapfrog dropkick. Okada rolled to the outside, and SANADA hit a pescado.

Back inside, SANADA used the paradise lock. He broke the hold with a dropkick to Okada, then covered for a two count. After a series of reversals in the corner, Okada hit a flapjack, into a double down.

Okada missed a dropkick, and SANADA hit one instead. SANADA hit a back suplex for a two count. SANADA teased a springboard dropkick, but Okada cut him off with an air raid crash. Okada hit a top rope elbow.

Okada hit his Rainmaker pose. SANADA reversed the Rainmaker into Skull End. Okada fought to the turnbuckle, stepped up, and flipped over into a tombstone. Okada went for a Rainmaker, but SANADA turned it into a draping neckbreaker, as they went to another double down.

They exchanged strikes from their knees. They climbed back to their feet, and Okada started to trash-talk. Okada demanded that SANADA hit him in the neck. SANADA obliged, and they continued to trade shots.

SANADA finally dropped Okada with a series of hard uppercuts. Okada came right back with two dropkicks. Okada teased a Rainmaker, but SANADA ducked under. SANADA tried for Skull End. Okada slipped to tombstone position, but SANADA pulled him back into Skull End. SANADA gave up the hold, then hit a tiger suplex for a nearfall.

SANADA hit a TKO for a two count. SANADA went for a moonsault. Okada got out of the way, and SANADA landed on his feet. SANADA hit a moonsault into Skull End, but Okada pulled out of the hold and hit a short Rainmaker.

Okada maintained control of SANADA’s wrist, and hit a second Rainmaker. Okada posed. He went for a spinning Rainmaker, but SANADA countered with his own Rainmaker.

SANADA used a spinning Skull End. He dropped to the mat, and used a bodyscissors, with Skull End still applied. Okada popped his head out of the hold, as SANADA kept the bodyscissors applied.

SANADA managed to get back to Skull End from the bodyscissors. Okada sat back into a pinning position for a nearfall.

SANADA pulled Okada back into Skull End. SANADA finally gave up the hold.

With two minutes left, SANADA went for a moonsault. Okada got his knees up, and we got another double down, this one with time running short.

SANADA went for Skull End, but Okada escaped, and hit a dropkick. Okada went for a Rainmaker, but SANADA turned it into a pop-up TKO.

SANADA hit two moonsaults, and finally got the pin.

G1 STANDINGS

A BLOCK

⦁ Kazuchika Okada 12

⦁ Kota Ibushi 10

⦁ Hiroshi Tanahashi 8

⦁ EVIL 8

⦁ KENTA 8 (eliminated)

⦁ SANADA 6 (eliminated)

⦁ Zack Sabre Jr. 6 (eliminated)

⦁ Lance Archer 4 (eliminated)

⦁ Will Ospreay 4 (eliminated)

⦁ Bad Luck Fale 4 (eliminated)

B BLOCK

⦁ Jon Moxley 10

⦁ Tomohiro Ishii 6

⦁ Juice Robinson 6

⦁ Toru Yano 6

⦁ Tetsuya Naito 6

⦁ Hirooki Goto 6

⦁ Jay White 6

⦁ Jeff Cobb 6

⦁ Taichi 4 (eliminated)

⦁ Shingo Takagi 4 (eliminated)

NJPW G1 Climax 29 night three results: Tanahashi vs. KENTA

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Ethan Renner

The G1 continued today in Ota, and the A Block continues to produce some early upsets.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, The Ace of New Japan, and Kota Ibushi, considered by many to be the A Block favorite, remain winless after Sunday’s action. Both will look to rebound on Thursday in Korakuen Hall.

B Block continues tomorrow in Hokkaido, with Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi, and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White in the headline matches.

Here are full results and match recaps from today’s show, as well as the current G1 standings.

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JUICE ROBINSON, TOA HENARE & YOTA TSUJI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOAKI HONMA & YUYA UEMURA

Honma missed a kokeshi, which was an early momentum shifter. Juice and Goto had an intense faceoff ahead of their upcoming tournament bout. Both countered some signature spots, teasing them for the singles bout.

Henare and Uemura exchanged strikes, but Henare put an end to that with a big headbutt to the chest. That led to a Toa Bottom, and Henare picked up the pin. A solid opener.

JEFF COBB & REN NARITA DEFEATED JON MOXLEY & SHOTA UMINO

Narita started off hot, hitting a shotgun dropkick in the first move of the match. Cobb and Moxley got in, and Moxley flew around for Cobb. He twice slipped out of Tour of the Islands, while Cobb also avoided the Death Rider.

Umino got a tag, and hit a missile dropkick for a nearfall. Cobb made his own comeback, hit Tour of the Islands, and pinned Umino. Cobb and Moxley had a staredown after the match.

TOMOHIRO ISHII, TORU YANO & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS

White teased starting off with Ishii, but he begged off. Yujiro and YH then tagged in. Yujiro used every heel trick in the books, including biting and hair pulls. YH tried for a dropkick off the roes, but Gedo grabbed his ankle, allowing Bullet Club to take over.

A brawl around ringside saw White send Ishii over the barricade. Back inside, Bullet Club took turns working over YH. YH hit a heel kick, then managed a tag to Ishii. Ishii no-sold White’s offense. White tried to bail to the outside, but Yano tossed him back in.

White avoided a brainbuster, and floated over for a DDT. They teased hitting finishers, but the sequence ended with White hitting a Saito suplex into a double down.

Owens and Yano tagged in. Yano untied a corner pad, but Owens grabbed it and used it as a weapon. Owens and Yujiro doubled up on Yano. Owens hit a running knee for a nearfall, but YH saved.

The match broke down, and Ishii nailed White with a powerslam. Owens swung the corner pad, but Yano ducked. Yano hit a low blow, and hit a schoolboy on Owens to earn the victory. White and Ishii should have an excellent match tomorrow.

MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO, SHINGO TAKAGI & BUSHI

Suzuki-gun quickly turned this into a brawl. Kanemaru hit Naito with a leg slice over the barricade, and Suzuki-gun went to work on Naito in their corner.

Taichi used a stretch plum on Naito, but BUSHI broke it up. Taichi took his trousers off. He went for a buzzsaw kick, but Naito cut him off with a neckbreaker. Kanemaru and Shingo tagged in and had an intense exchange. Kanemaru held his own, and blocked a pop-up DVD.

Suzuki tagged in and scored some offense on Shingo. He used a PK and a guillotine, but Shingo powered out with a vertical suplex. BUSHI made the save for Shingo, and LIJ went three-on-one against Suzuki.

While Shingo, Kanemaru, Taichi and Naito brawled to the floor, Suzuki slapped a rear naked choke on BUSHI. He transitioned to a Gotch-style piledriver, then covered for the pin.

After the bell, Taichi choked Naito with a camera cable on the floor. Those two will face off tomorrow.

A BLOCK MATCH: LANCE ARCHER DEFEATED BAD LUCK FALE (10:12)

They started off hot, as Archer hit Fale with a tackle, and they fell through the ropes to the floor. Archer sent Fale into the announce desk, and a monitor flew off the table. Jado used a kendo stick on Archer on the outside. Archer no-sold it, but the distraction gave Fale the chance to take over.

Archer is billed at 6 feet, 8 inches, but found himself working as a babyface in peril by default here, which was a sight to behold. Fale sent Archer flying into several rows of chairs. Archer made it back inside, where Fale continued working over his back.

Archer came back with a big strike, then tried his rope-walk spot. Jado nailed him with the kendo stick from the floor, and Archer ended up seated on the top rope. Fale hit a monstrous superplex for a nearfall.

Fale teased his own rope-walk, but Archer cut him off. Archer teased a Blackout off the second rope, but Fale escaped. Fale hit a Grenade for a nearfall.

Fale went for a Bad Luck Fall, but Archer fought it off. Archer fought off a Jado attack, then hit a pounce. Archer hit a chokeslam for a nearfall, then used the EBD Claw to pin Fale.

This was the best Fale match in forever, and Archer is on a real roll.

A BLOCK MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED SANADA (17:06)

The opening sequence saw some mat wrestling, then both men kipped up into a pose. SANADA offered a handshake, then tried to catch Ospreay off-guard with a kick. Ospreay caught it, then teased applying a paradise lock. SANADA escaped and applied the hold himself, but Ospreay kipped up out of it.

Ospreay hit a dropkick. SANADA came back with a paradise lock, applied over the bottom rope. SANADA broke the hold with a dropkick to the floor. Back inside, SANADA went after Ospreay’s legs with a dropkick, then used a chinlock and strikes to target the neck.

Ospreay hit a backflip kick, a top rope 619, a standing double stomp, then landed a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. Ospreay hit a Sasuke Special to the floor, then hit Pip Pip Cheerio on the inside.

SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick, then followed with a pescado. SANADA hit a back suplex for a nearfall. Ospreay hit a hook kick, avoided a TKO, then landed another hook kick. SANADA caught Ospreay off a backflip, then hit the TKO.

They traded strikes. Ospreay hit an enziguri, then teased a Spanish fly, but SANADA avoided it. Ospreay hit a Liger bomb for a nearfall, then used a shooting star press for another. Ospreay teased Storm Breaker, but SANADA blocked the first attempt.

Ospreay tried for Storm Breaker again, but SANADA reversed it into Skull End. SANADA went for the moonsault press, but Ospreay avoided it. SANADA landed on his feet, enabling Ospreay to hit a standing Spanish fly for a nearfall.

Ospreay hit the Robinson Special. SANADA blocked an Oscutter, and hit Skull End again. Ospreay slid out. SANADA tried for an Oscutter, but Ospreay avoided it. Ospreay hit an Oscutter, then followed with a Storm Breaker for the pin.

This was great. If they had gone five more minutes, this could have been an epic on the level of the best Ospreay matches this year.

A BLOCK MATCH: KAZUCHIKA OKADA DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR. (12:00)

Sabre used a variety of holds to target Okada’s left arm. Okada did a great subtle sell of the arm after the opening volley. They traded neck holds, then high kick attempts. Okada hit a big boot. Sabre avoided a dropkick, then used a European clutch for an awesome early nearfall.

Sabre used another quick cradle for a two count. Getting people to buy nearfalls this early was really something. Sabre used a banana split, but Okada rolled to the ropes. Okada hit a back elbow in the corner, then a DDT.

Okada went to the top for an elbow, but Sabre avoided it, forcing Okada to change direction and land on his feet. Sabre blocked a DDT, then used a guillotine. Okada broke the hold with an air raid crash, then landed a top rope elbow.

Okada hit his Rainmaker pose. Sabre kicked the arm away, but Okada countered with a tombstone. Okada tried again for the Rainmaker, but Sabre turned it into an octopus hold. Okada reached the ropes, forcing a break.

Sabre was selling his neck after the tombstone. He stomped away at Okada’s Rainmaker arm. They traded standing strikes. Sabre went for a PK, but Okada caught it. Okada hit a pair of dropkicks.

Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Sabre turned it into a European clutch for a nearfall. Sabre used another cradle for a nearfall. Sabre blocked a tombstone, then applied an octopus variation. Okada spun out, and hit a Rainmaker. He followed with a second Rainmaker for the pin.

This was different than your typical long Okada match, but it was excellent. Okada worked a lot like Omega here in terms of how the match was laid out, and where and how he hit his signature offense.

A BLOCK MATCH: EVIL DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI (19:12)

They came out firing, exchanging a flurry of strikes. Ibushi hit a massive mid kick, but EVIL quickly grounded Ibushi. EVIL went to work on Ibushi’s bad ankle. He used a leg lock, then stomped on it. The pace slowed, as EVIL continued working over the ankle.

Ibushi came back with mid kicks, then hit a standing moonsault for a two count. EVIL fought off a straightjacket German attempt, and landed a senton for a nearfall. Ibushi blocked Darkness Falls, hit a powerslam, then landed a moonsault for a two count.

Ibushi went to the top rope, but EVIL crotched him. EVIL hit a superplex, then used a lariat for a nearfall. EVIL flipped out of a German, then hit his own German. Ibushi no-sold it. They hit simultaneous clotheslines, and both collapsed to the mat.

They exchanged forearm blows. EVIL went for a Scorpion, but Ibushi rolled to the ropes. Ibushi hit a mid kick. EVIL sent Ibushi into the referee, who took a bump. EVIL hit a mid kick, but Ibushi came back with a high kick for a nearfall. The ref bump didn’t really play into anything.

Ibushi tried for a Kamigoye, but EVIL caught his legs, and applied the Scorpion Deathlock. Ibushi dragged himself to the ropes, forcing a break. EVIL missed a senton off the top rope, enabling Ibushi to hit a Bomaye to the back of the head. Ibushi hit a second Bomaye to the face, but only got a nearfall.

EVIL blocked a Kamigoye. Ibushi blocked Everything is EVIL. EVIL hit a lariat, and Ibushi took a flip bump. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a nearfall, then hit Everything is EVIL for the pin.

They struggled to get the crowd into the match early, but this built well.

A BLOCK MATCH: KENTA DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI (18:36)

They locked up. KENTA backed Tana into the ropes, then slapped him on the break. Tanahashi returned the favor on the ensuing break. Tana hit a series of strikes, then a senton. Tana played air guitar, but KENTA ended the taunt with a kick to the back of the head.

Tana pulled KENTA to the floor, then whipped him into the barricade. KENTA sent Tana into the barricade, then kicked him over the fence. KENTA hit a DDT on the floor, then sent Tana into the post.

KENTA drove his knee into Tana’s neck, then stomped on his head. KENTA used a knee lift for a two count, then used a headscissors on the mat. Tana came back with strikes, but KENTA cut him off with another knee lift. KENTA then used a PK for a nearfall.

Tana caught an attempted yakuza kick, and hit the first dragon screw of the match. Tana hit a flying forearm, then a somersault senton for a two count. KENTA hit a pair of big boots, then a mid kick. He blocked a slingblade attempt, then hit a powerslam.

KENTA hit a springboard dropkick, a yakuza kick, then a delayed dropkick in the corner. He hit a double stomp off the top, but only got a two count. Tana slipped out of a GTS, then hit a dragon screw. He followed with an inverted dragon screw on the mat.

Tana used a cloverleaf. After a struggle, KENTA turned the hold into a small package for a close nearfall. KENTA used a draping DDT, then hit a running knee in the ropes. Tana caught him coming in on another running knee attempt, and hit slingblade.

They exchanged strikes. KENTA blocked an open hand slap, then hit a discus lariat. Tana countered a GTS attempt into three Twist and Shouts. Tana hit a second slingblade for a nearfall.

Tana hit a High Fly Flow to a standing KENTA. He went for a second, but KENTA got his knees up. Tanahashi did an awesome sell on the landing.

KENTA got a sleeper hold applied. He tried for a PK, but Tana caught the leg. KENTA blocked a dragon screw, then hit the PK. KENTA hit the GTS — and got the pin. A very good main event.

KENTA offered a handshake after the match, but Tanahashi refused it.

KENTA cut a promo to close the show. He said he came to NJPW to win the G1. He told the fans to remember his face, and remember his name, KENTA.

G1 STANDINGS

A BLOCK

Kazuchika Okada 4
KENTA 4
Lance Archer 4
SANADA 2
Bad Luck Fale 2
EVIL 2
Will Ospreay 2
Kota Ibushi 0
Zack Sabre Jr. 0
Hiroshi Tanahashi 0

B BLOCK

Hirooki Goto 2
Tomohiro Ishii 2
Toru Yano 2
Jon Moxley 2
Juice Robinson 2
Shingo Takagi 0
Taichi 0
Tetsuya Naito 0
Jeff Cobb 0
Jay White 0