Kota Ibushi is the winner of this year’s G1 Climax.
Three straight nights at Budokan Hall wrapped up today with Ibushi defeating Jay White in the G1 finals. After White kicked out of a Kamigoye, Ibushi hit another one to win the tournament.
White had attacked Ibushi’s left ankle with a steel chair in an angle at the end of Sunday’s B Block finals. After saying that Gedo wouldn’t accompany him against Ibushi, White came out with Gedo and the Bullet Club. Referee Red Shoes had the Bullet Club ejected from ringside before the match, then had Gedo ejected after he interfered early.
Gedo got involved later in the match until being taken out of the ring by Rocky Romero.
This was the second straight year that Ibushi made the finals of the G1. He lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi in last year’s tournament.
On Saturday, Ibushi defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the A Block. Ibushi went 7-2 in block action and finished with 14 points. His two losses were against KENTA and EVIL.
By winning the G1, Ibushi has been set up as the IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenger for Wrestle Kingdom 14. He’ll likely defend the title shot between now and January.
Wrestle Kingdom 14 will be a two-night event with shows on both January 4 and 5. Okada is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
After eighteen shows, the 29th G1 Climax tournament is set to end this morning at Budokan Hall.
Kota Ibushi, the winner of the A Block, will face B Block winner Jay White in the main event. Ibushi looks to do what he fell short of last year by winning the final match of the tournament. Jay White has promised that Gedo will not be at ringside, but promises only go so far in the Bullet Club.
The rest of the card features a number of tag team matches that will likely set the direction for the rest of the year. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada will team up in the co-main event to face Zack Sabre Jr. and Minoru Suzuki. Tanahashi pinned Sabre in yesterday’s B Block finals, and may have an opportunity at Sabre’s British Heavyweight Championship down the line.
Join us for live coverage starting at 2 a.m. ET. There will be English commentary for the event.
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CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED REN NARITA & YOTA TSUJI
They’re playing up a rivalry between the Japanese dojo students and the Los Angeles dojo students. This played into that story. A fun, different opener.
Connors submitted Tsuji with a crab after what was nearly a squash match. After the closing bell, they all continued to brawl.
The crowd was hot for this, as they loved seeing Liger. The match was paint-by-numbers, with not much standing out.
Taichi attempted to unmask Liger and Tiger. Tiger came back with kicks, and hit a Tiger Driver for a nearfall.
Archer and Cobb tagged in and did some big man spots, the highlight being Archer hitting a pounce on Cobb.
Suzuki-gun continued to dominate the proceedings until Kanemaru got in. Kanemaru tried for Deep Impact, but Cobb caught him, and hit a release belly-to-belly. Cobb followed with a Tour of the Islands on Kanemaru, and got the pin.
They didn’t get much time. Ishimori and Owens worked over Roppongi 3K at the outset. Owens worked especially well with the lads.
Ospreay got a tag and made a comeback against Yujiro. SHO and YOH hit stereo cope con giro’s to the floor, taking out Owens and Ishimori.
The finish saw Ospreay hit Storm Breaker on Yujiro for the pin. They strongly put over on commentary that Ospreay had just beaten another heavyweight.
JUICE ROBINSON & TOA HENARE DEFEATED JON MOXLEY & SHOTA UMINO
Not much to the match. Henare pinned Umino with a Toa Bottom. The real highlight here was the post-match.
Moxley and Juice had a staredown in the ring. Juice went to leave, and Moxley hit him with the U.S. title belt.
Moxley set up a table. He said Juice looks like he belongs in a 1990s jazzercise class and he’s going to toughen him up.
Moxley slammed Juice through the table and left him laying, then left with Umino. Juice sold being put through the table as though he had fallen off a skyscraper.
The early part of the match was built around Taguchi comedy. He sold his ass after a series of missed hip attacks.
Honma missed a kokeshi, of course. Goto tagged in and made a comeback for his team. Honma tagged back in, and SANADA cut him off.
SANADA hit a TKO for a two count. He followed up with a backbreaker, then hit a moonsault for the pin on Honma.
LIJ shared their traditional fist bump after the match. EVIL participated as well, which he had not done since just before the G1.
TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII, YOSHI-HASHI & KENTA
This just screamed “angle alert”. And what an angle it was. KENTA joined Bullet Club, and Katsuyori Shibata did physicality in a strong angle.
YOSHI-HASHI and Fale began. YH hit a headhunter. Tama Tonga tried to cut him off from the apron, but Fale accidentally hit him instead. Fale made his own comeback, and Bullet Club worked YH over in their corner.
YH finally managed to tag Ishii after an extended beatdown. Fale took Ishii down with a shoulder tackle, and Bullet Club then went to work on Ishii. Ishii fought off a gun stun from Tonga, then hit a suplex on Loa.
Ishii went to tag KENTA. KENTA jumped off the apron, leaving Ishii hanging. Tonga hit a frog splash on Ishii for a nearfall.
YH jumped in to save Ishii, but ate a sloppy gun stun. Tonga went for a gun stun on Ishii, but Ishii turned it into a powerslam.
Fale tried to save Tonga, but Ishii hit him with a brainbuster. KENTA entered and hit Ishii with a running knee. Tonga then covered Ishii for the pin.
YH and the L.A. Dojo boys jumped in to save Ishii from an extended beatdown, but Bullet Club sent them outside.
As KENTA posed in the ring, Katsuyori Shibata jumped in. Shibata hit a series of strikes, then a delayed dropkick in the corner on KENTA.
Tonga jumped in, but Shibata fought him off with strikes. Loa jumped in, but Shibata fought him off. Shibata used a rear naked choke on KENTA, and set him up for a PK. Instead, Jado cut him off with a kendo stick shot from the floor.
Bullet Club ganged up on Shibata in the ring. KENTA hit a PK on Shibata, and sat on top of him in Shibata’s pose. KENTA threw up the too sweet hand signal, and joined Bullet Club.
Shibata walked to the back under his own power. Wow.
A very good match. This also sets Suzuki up for an IWGP title match in the near future, perhaps in London at Royal Quest on August 31.
Okada and Tanahashi hit some tandem offense, including a back elbow to Sabre. Suzuki jumped in and slapped an armbar on Okada over the ropes, while Sabre simultaneously got a flying armbar on Tanahashi.
Suzuki and Okada brawled on the outside, while Sabre worked over Tanahashi’s right arm in the ring. Suzuki sent Okada into the barricade, taking him out of action for a bit. Suzuki and Sabre used quick tags in their corner, continuing to attack Tanahashi’s limbs. Okada jumped back on the apron, but Suzuki sent him to the floor with a running boot.
Tanahashi came back with a dragon screw on Sabre, then managed to tag Okada. Okada hit a back elbow in the corner, a DDT, a slam, then went up top. Sabre rolled out of the way of an elbow, and Okada rolled through on landing.
Okada went for an air raid crash, but Sabre blocked it with an octopus. Sabre tagged Suzuki, who hit a PK for a nearfall, then a running boot to Okada. Suzuki went for a kimura. Tanahashi jumped in for the save, but Suzuki no-sold his offense, then sent him outside.
Suzuki grabbed a front facelock on Okada. He teased the Gotch-style piledriver, but Okada blocked it, hit an air raid crash, then tagged Tanahashi. Suzuki also tagged Sabre.
Tanahashi hit Sabre with slaps. Sabre got the octopus hold, but Tanahashi slid out. Tanahashi hit Twist and Shout, then a slingblade. He covered, but Suzuki made the save.
Okada and Suzuki fought to the floor. Tana went for High Fly Flow, but Sabre got his knees up, then tried for an armbar. Tanahashi bridged into a cover for a nearfall, but Sabre came back with a PK.
Okada and Suzuki got tags. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick, then a top rope elbow. Okada hit his Rainmaker pose. He went for the Rainmaker, but Suzuki elbowed out of the attempt.
Suzuki and Okada exchanged forearm strikes. Okada missed on a dropkick, and Suzuki hit a PK. Suzuki applied a rear naked choke. He tried to transition to a piledriver, but Tanahashi saved with a slingblade.
Tanahashi sent Sabre outside with a slingblade, then hit a pescado. Okada hit Suzuki with a dropkick to the back. Suzuki avoided another dropkick, then used La Mistica. Incredible.
Tanahashi jumped in for the save, but Sabre took him out with a flying guillotine.
Suzuki used a rear naked choke, then hit Okada with the Gotch-style piledriver for the pin.
Suzuki cut a promo after the match. He told Okada that he lost to a guy that wasn’t allowed in the G1. Suzuki told Okada to hand over the IWGP belt to him.
Okada was helped to the back with his title. Suzuki said NJPW can’t escape him, and that Suzuki-gun is ichiban.
G1 CLIMAX 29 FINAL: KOTA IBUSHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE (31:01)
This was an all-time great match. The bar was set ridiculously high over the last five weeks, and these guys had to absolutely tear the house down to meet that standard. They did, and then some. What a match.
The entire Bullet Club came to the ring with White. Red Shoes ejected them from ringside before the opening bell. Gedo bargained with Red Shoes, who allowed him to stay.
Gedo tried to trip Ibushi shortly after the opening bell, so Red Shoes ejected him as well.
Ibushi hit a dropkick, and White rolled outside. Ibushi teased a Golden Triangle off the post, but White pushed him into the post, then went to work on Ibushi’s bad ankle on the floor.
Back inside, White hit a double underhook suplex into the turnbuckle. Ibushi went for a snap hurricanrana, but his ankle gave out. He got the rana on his second try, but continued selling his ankle.
Ibushi hit a powerslam, then a moonsault. He followed up with a flurry of kicks, then hit a standing moonsault. He went for a backflip kneedrop, but White rolled to safety, and Ibushi continued selling his legs.
White hit a Blade Buster for a two count. He went for his TTO submission, but Ibushi kicked him off at the 10 minute mark.
Ibushi hit a double stomp to the back. White hit a flatliner, then a German suplex. White hit a superplex. He went for a kiwi krusher, but Ibushi blocked it. Ibushi hit a spike package driver.
White came back with a uranage, then used a kiwi krusher for a nearfall at the 15 minute mark.
White called for Blade Runner. Ibushi escaped the move. Ibushi tried for a Kamigoye, but White blocked it. White tried for a sleeper suplex, but Ibushi reversed it into his own sleeper suplex.
Ibushi teased lawn-darting White into the turnbuckle. White slipped out, then shoved Ibushi into Red Shoes. Red Shoes took a bump, then rolled to the floor.
White hit a low blow. Gedo came back to the ring, and slid a chair in. Gedo held Ibushi’s leg while White hit it with a chair. Gedo rolled outside, and White hit an inverted dragon screw. Gedo revived the referee and rolled him back in.
White applied the TTO. After a long struggle, Ibushi reached the bottom rope for a break at the 20 minute mark.
White tried for a sleeper suplex, but Ibushi hit a backflip kick. Ibushi lawn-darted White into the buckle. White rolled to the apron, and Ibushi hit a deadlift German off the second rope into the ring.
They got back to their feet, where White hit a palm strike to the chest. Ibushi no-sold it, then lit White up with strikes. Ibushi dared White to hit him. White hit a palm strike to the face. Ibushi hit one of his own, and White dropped to the mat. Ibushi tried to pull White up for a lariat, but White hit a dragon screw.
Ibushi hit a lariat, then used a Last Ride for a two count at the 25 minute mark.
Ibushi called for a bomaye. White dropped to the mat before Ibushi could hit the move, playing possum. White took the referee. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Ibushi ducked the knucks, then kicked Gedo.
White hit a sleeper suplex. Ibushi no-sold it, then hit a Bomaye. Red Shoes called Rocky Romero from the commentary table to pull Gedo out of the ring. Ibushi hit a second Bomaye for a nearfall.
Ibushi went for Kamigoye, but White blocked it, kicking at Ibushi’s bad leg. Ibushi hit a pair of high kicks. He went for Kamigoye, but White reversed it into a Blade Runner. White could not follow up with a cover right away.
White grabbed Ibushi’s wrists. He teased a Kamigoye or a cross-armed brainbuster, but Ibushi hit a headbutt to the chest, cutting him off.
Ibushi hit a straightjacket German He went for a Kamigoye, but White blocked and hit a sleeper suplex. White hit a second sleeper suplex, dropping Ibushi on his head.
White went for a Blade Runner. Ibushi hit a Kamigoye. Ibushi hit a jumping knee strike, then another Kamigoye. White kicked out at two.
Ibushi hit a third Kamigoye, and pinned White.
Harold Meij presented Ibusho with a flag and the G1 trophy. Ibushi posed for a couple of minutes, then cut a promo.
Ibushi said this G1 has been the most important month of his life. Ibushi said he made the finals last year, but one year later, he won. He said he could not be happier than he is right now.
He said that he was able to win thanks to the efforts of all 20 men in the tournament.
Ibushi said that all together, we are going to tear up the wrestling world. He said a new era in NJPW starts today. He thanked everyone, and said he’ll see everyone at next year’s G1.
NJPW has revealed the full card for the G1 Climax 29 finals.
The show is taking place at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan overnight tonight and will air live on New Japan World starting at 2 a.m. Eastern time (11 p.m. Pacific). It will be headlined by A Block winner Kota Ibushi facing B Block winner Jay White in the tournament finals.
In the semi-main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi & IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada will team against Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki. Tanahashi pinned Sabre in a tag match at the B Block finals this morning, and NJPW looks to be building to Sabre defending his RPW British Heavyweight Championship against Tanahashi at Royal Quest in London, England on Saturday, August 31.
Here’s the full card for the G1 finals:
Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White in the G1 Climax 29 finals
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki
KENTA, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) & Bad Luck Fale
It will be Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White in the G1 finals at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan overnight tonight. The show will air live on New Japan World and will begin at 2 a.m. Eastern time (11 p.m. Pacific).
Ibushi defeated Kazuchika Okada on Saturday to win the A Block, while White became the B Block winner by defeating Tetsuya Naito in this morning’s main event.
After White vs. Naito, there was a post-match angle where White called Ibushi out to the ring. White claimed that Gedo wouldn’t be in his corner for the G1 finals. White offered a handshake to Ibushi. White went to attack him, but Ibushi avoided a kick. White then ducked a kick from Ibushi.
Gedo grabbed Ibushi’s leg as he went to leave the ring. White targeted Ibushi’s left ankle, putting it inside of a chair and using another one to give Ibushi multiple chair shots.
In today’s other tournament matches, Shingo Takagi defeated Hirooki Goto, Juice Robinson defeated Jon Moxley, Taichi defeated Tomohiro Ishii, and Jeff Cobb defeated Toru Yano.
Ibushi went 7-2 in A Block action and finished with 14 points. White went 6-3 in his tournament matches and ended up as the B Block winner with 12 points.
Before going on to win their blocks, Ibushi lost his first two tournament matches and White lost his first three. Ibushi was defeated by KENTA and EVIL. White lost to Goto, Ishii, and Yano.
The winner of Ibushi vs. White will be set up as the IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenger for Wrestle Kingdom 14, though they’ll likely defend their title shot between now and January.
These guys had an intense brawl, not the kind of thing you typically see in these Young Lion openers. Lots of stomps, kicks, punches, and brawling on the outside from Umino and Tsuji, who also continued going at it after the closing bell.
The finish saw Narita get a full crab on Uemura. Uemura fought the hold forever, but finally tapped out. This was excellent.
BAD LUCK FALE, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
Yujiro pinned BUSHI after hitting Pimp Juice, as Bullet Club and LIJ continue to trade wins in the undercard tag matches on this tour.
The match was okay, the highlight being a comedy spot where Owens tried to put SANADA in the Paradise Lock.
KOTA IBUSHI, TOA HENARE & TOMOAKI HONMA DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS
Henare pinned Fredericks after a Toa Bottom. This was a pretty standard Honma tag match where he missed kokeshis, got worked over, hit a kokeshi, then tagged his partners for the comeback.
Ibushi and KENTA had a nice sequence, ending with them hitting simultaneous high kicks. Fredericks continues to sit at the top of the L.A. Dojo class.
It would be virtually impossible to have this much talent in a ring and have a bad match. This was fantastic.
Tanahashi pinned Sabre. Sabre hit a Northern Lights suplex, then used the bridge to transition to a double wristlock with a headscissors, then a cross armbreaker. Tanahashi used the armbreaker position to cradle Sabre for the win.
They played up on commentary that Tanahashi could be in line for a shot at Sabre’s RPW British Heavyweight title after the win. August 31 in London seems like a good time and place for that one.
B BLOCK MATCH: JEFF COBB DEFEATED TORU YANO (5:19)
This was not one of the more inspired Yano comedy matches of the tournament.
Cobb asked the referee to check Yano’s tights after the opening bell. Yano had five rolls of tape in his tights. Yano asked the referee to check Cobb’s singlet. Cobb turned his back, and Yano rolled him up for a near fall.
Yano then tucked Cobb’s arms down into his singlet, and rolled him up for another near fall.
They traded throws. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Yano missed on a series of low blow attempts. Cobb hit Tour of the Islands, then pinned Yano.
B BLOCK MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (11:56)
These guys have great chemistry. Ishii wrapped up his G1 with another incredible performance, and, sadly, another loss.
Taichi hit an axe bomber immediately, then followed with a backdrop suplex for a quick near fall.
Ishii tried to fire out of the corner with a shoulder tackle, but Taichi took it, then dropped Ishii with a kick. Taichi hit a series of short kicks. Ishii came back with a powerslam.
Taichi hit an enzuigiri in the corner. Ishii blocked a buzzsaw kick, then hit a release German. Ishii hit his own series of kicks at the five minute mark, then hit a delayed superplex for a two count.
Ishii hit a backdrop suplex, but Taichi no-sold it. Ishii it a clothesline, then used a sliding lariat for a near fall.
Ishii went for a brainbuster, but Taichi blocked it. Taichi sent Ishii face-first into the buckle, then hit a head kick. Ishii missed on an enzuigiri, and Taichi followed up with a buzzsaw kick.
Taichi hit an axe bomber for a near fall. He went for a Last Ride, but Ishii blocked it. Taichi hit a kamiguri, then hit a Last Ride for a two count.
Taichi removed his trousers, then hit a head kick. They traded a series of hard strikes, and Ishii dropped Taichi. Ishii hit a lariat, and Taichi took a flip bump. Ishii got a near fall off the lariat.
Ishii again went for the brainbuster, but Taichi blocked it, hit a series of kicks, then a backdrop suplex. Ishii no-sold an enzuigiri. Taichi hit another high kick, and Ishii kicked out at the last possible instant.
Ishii hit an enzuigiri, but Taichi no-sold it, then hit a thrust kick. He followed with Black Mephisto and got the 1-2-3.
B BLOCK MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED JON MOXLEY (16:26)
This was nowhere near the level of their first match in June, but still a very good match. Juice had his left knee taped up, so they built the match around Moxley working over the left leg.
They teased locking up. Moxley offered Juice a free strike, which led to an exchange of strikes. Juice’s knee gave out on a charge into the corner, and Moxley went to work on the leg.
Moxley hit a stomp to the abdomen, then used a figure four. Juice hit a slap to the face, but Moxley didn’t break the hold. Juice reversed the figure four, and Moxley forced a rope break.
Juice missed on a Juice Box attempt, and Moxley applied a cloverleaf. Juice forced a break, then bit Moxley’s earring out.
He bit Moxley’s earring out.
Juice went for a crossbody off the top, but Moxley was ready for it, and rolled to the floor. Moxley pulled a table from under the ring, but Juice hit a pescado, cutting him off. Juice gently placed the table back under the ring. Moxley recovered and sent Juice into the barricade.
Moxley posted Juice’s legs. He teased a figure four around the post, but went for a chair instead. Juice avoided a chair shot to the legs, posted Moxley, then hit him with a cannonball off the apron. Juice again refused to use a weapon and dropped the chair behind the barricade.
Back inside, Juice hit a high cross off the top for a near fall, but sold his leg on landing. They had a striking battle, while the crowd did dueling chants. Moxley hit a lariat, ending the sequence.
Moxley used an ankle lock and grapevined the leg. Juice reached the ropes for a break. Moxley hit a series of strikes to the back, then applied an STF. Red Shoes dropped Juice’s arm twice. On the third drop, Juice grabbed Red Shoes’ pant leg.
Moxley thought he won the match, and released the hold. Red Shoes told him that he hadn’t won and they argued. Moxley hit a Regal Knee, then an x-plex.
Moxley threw all sorts of plunder into the ring. Chairs, a table, and a bucket flew in. Moxley bit Juice’s face, but Juice cut him off with a Left Hand of God.
Juice hit a series of jabs, a Left Hand of God, then connected with Pulp Friction for the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO (15:10)
Goto needed a couple of rest holds in the first few minutes, but aside from that, he did well keeping up with Shingo’s frenetic pace. A very good match. If Will Ospreay didn’t exist, Shingo might have a case for wrestler of the year.
Goto broke cleanly against the ropes on the opening tie-up. Shingo refused to do the same on the next tie-up, hitting a chop. Shingo scored a knockdown off a shoulder tackle, hit a series of elbows, then hit a senton. He made a cover, but Goto kicked out at one.
Shingo hit a knee strike, then a vertical suplex. Goto fired back with a discus lariat, and Shingo rolled to the floor to collect himself. Back inside, Goto hit a neckbreaker for a near fall, then hit a mid kick for a one count.
Goto used a chinlock, then applied a headscissors on the mat. Shingo reached the ropes, forcing a break. Goto hit a couple of clotheslines in the corner, and Shingo sold them big.
They exchanged strikes and chops in the center of the ring. Shingo connected with a snap backdrop suplex. Goto hit a backdrop. They traded strikes, and Shingo dropped Goto with a lariat for a two count.
Goto hit a vertical suplex, then hit a Saito suplex for a two count. He teased an ushigoroshi, but Shingo blocked it. Shingo hit the ropes, but ran right into a sleeper hold. Shingo broke the hold once, but Goto went right back to it.
Shingo hit a backdrop suplex to break the hold, a sliding lariat, then hit noshigami for a two count. He teased Made in Japan, but Goto blocked it. They traded misdirection spots and lariats. Goto hit a big lariat, then used an ushigoroshi for a two count.
Goto hit some mid kicks for a near fall. Goto went for a GTR, but Shingo blocked. They hit simultaneous headbutts. Shingo hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo connected with a Pumping Bomber, but Goto again kicked out at two.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon. Goto blocked it. Shingo hit a big right hand, then a series of elbows. Shingo teased another big right, but Goto cut him off with a headbutt.
Goto hit an inverted GTR, but did not make a cover. Shingo cut him off with a lariat. Goto ducked one Pumping Bomber, but Shingo hit another on the rebound for a near fall.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon,got the pin, and finished his G1 with a win.
B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO (18:51)
They had a good match, but not at the level of the best matches of the tournament.
I don’t want to say that Naito can’t go any more, but this version of Naito can’t hang with the top in-ring guys in the industry right now. He’s just too beaten up. If I were booking, I’d be putting Shingo in Naito’s spot for whatever long-term plans I had.
They didn’t touch for nearly the first full minute of the match. Both of these guys love to stall. White rolled outside. White got back in. White rolled outside. Naito teased a dive, but hit his tranquilo pose instead.
They finally faced off on the floor, where a Gedo distraction failed. Naito took control of the early offense. Back inside, Naito tried twice for his combinacion in the corner, but White cut him off both times.
White pushed Naito off the ropes on a slingshot attempt, and Naito crashed to the apron. White then whipped Naito into the barricade. Back inside, White hit a DDT for a two count. White rolled Naito to the floor, then slammed him into the barricade and ring frame.
Back in the ring, White used a chinlock. Naito came back with a one-legged dropkick. Naito hit a hurricanrana, then a low dropkick. He finally connected on a combinacion in the corner, then hit two neckbreakers for a near fall.
Naito applied a crucifix hold, but White managed to reach the bottom rope. White ducked a lariat, hit a flatliner, then a suplex, as the momentum shifted back to Switchblade.
White blocked a flying forearm and hit a uranage. Naito blocked a Kiwi Krusher, then hit a DDT. He teased Gloria, but White blocked it with a hair pull. White pulled Naito into the referee, who took a bump.
Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles, but Naito cut him off. White tried for a low blow, but Naito blocked it, then hit Gloria for a near fall.
Naito went for Destino, but White blocked it. Naito hit a tornado DDT, but White again blocked a Destino attempt. White hit two Saito suplexes, then hit a Kiwi Krusher for a two count.
White teased Blade Runner, but Naito reversed into a sloppy poison rana. Naito dropped himself right on his head. Naito hit Destino, but White kicked out.
Naito went for a second Destino, but White blocked it, then hit a sleeper suplex.
They did an intricate series of finisher reversals, ending with White hitting another sleeper suplex. White hit a bloody Sunday DDT, then hit Blade Runner.
White covered and got the win.
White taunted Naito in his post-match promo. He taunted the fans, then called out Ibushi.
Ibushi slowly walked to the ring, then slowly climbed inside. White promised that Gedo would not accompany him tomorrow.
White offered a handshake. Ibushi shook his hand. White tried to kick Ibushi low, but Ibushi avoided the kick.
As Ibushi went to exit the ring, Gedo grabbed his ankle. White used the distraction to hit a chop block. Gedo threw two chairs to White. White Pillman-ized Ibushi’s left ankle with three chair shots.
White closed the show saying that tomorrow, Ibushi will breathe with the Switchblade.
A quick opener. Uemura and Tsuji beat down Umino, with the highlight being a double dropkick.
Umino made his own comeback, then pinned Tsuji with a fisherman buster.
BAD LUCK FALE, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
Average undercard tag fare here. The match didn’t have a lot of heat.
Bullet Club got the heat on SANADA. SANADA hit a missile dropkick, then tagged EVIL. EVIL hit a fisherman buster, but Yujiro cut him off. Yujiro and Owens continued the Bullet Club beatdown on EVIL.
EVIL managed a tag to BUSHI, and LIJ then went three-on-one against Owens. The match broke down, leaving Owens and BUSHI legal.
Yujiro entered for an illegal double team. Owens hit a shining wizard, then a package piledriver on BUSHI for the pin.
MINORU SUZUKI, ZACK SABRE JR. & LANCE ARCHER DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS
Minoru Suzuki beating up Young Lions will never get old. This was a fun brawl.
KENTA, Connors, Suzuki, and Sabre brawled into the crowd, leaving Archer and Fredericks in the ring. Archer hit a pounce, then a series of back elbows in the corner.
Suzuki got a tag and dared Fredericks to hit him. Suzuki no-sold his offense — and the Suzuki-gun party was on.
Fredericks managed a tag to KENTA. KENTA ran wild on Sabre, then knocked Suzuki off the apron. KENTA teased a GTS, but Sabre slipped out. Sabre worked over KENTA’s left arm, so remember that when they face off Saturday.
Suzuki and Connors tagged in. Suzuki ate dozens of chops, and even sold some for Connors. Connors hit a dropkick and went for a crab. He managed to get it applied, but Sabre broke it up.
The match broke down. Sabre and KENTA brawled to the outside. Connors managed a quick cradle on Suzuki for a near fall, before Suzuki got a rear naked choke, then hit the Gotch-style piledriver for the pin.
Sabre continued working on KENTA’s left arm after the match.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA, HIROSHI TANAHASHI & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, WILL OSPREAY & TOA HENARE
They didn’t get a ton of time, but we got a nice preview of two big A Block matches coming up on Saturday.
Okada and Ibushi started off with an intense sequence. Ibushi ducked a Rainmaker and hit a series of kicks. He went for a standing moonsault, but Okada got his knees up. Okada hit a flapjack and tagged YH.
YH and Tanahashi went to work on Ibushi, cutting the ring in half. Ibushi came back with a double stomp on Tanahashi, then tagged Ospreay. Ospreay cleared the apron and hit a handspring enzuigiri on Tanahashi.
Ospreay went for Storm Breaker, but Tanahashi reversed it into a Twist and Shout. Henare and YH got tags. YH teased his running chop in the corner, but Henare cut him off with a rugby tackle.
We saw a crazy sequence next, as Tanahashi jumped in with a dragon screw to Henare. Ospreay then hit Pip Pip Cheerio on Tanahashi. Okada hit Ospreay with a dropkick, then Ibushi hit Okada with a dropkick.
YH hit a brainbuster on Henare for the pin.
Okada and Ibushi had a staredown after the match. They played to the crowd, trying to get a mixed reaction kind of thing going. The crowd was either not mic’ed well, or not up for the idea, though.
B BLOCK MATCH: TORU YANO DEFEATED TAICHI (5:04)
This was not one of the better Yano comedy matches of the tournament, but the finish was among the best.
Taichi took forever to remove his entrance gear. He then rolled outside immediately after the bell, continuing to stall. Yano teased walking out. He made it all the way to the stage, where Yoshinobu Kanemaru ambushed him. Kanemaru hit Yano with a whiskey bottle, then beat him back to the ring.
Taichi wrapped Yano up in the ring skirt, and they teased a countout. Yano made it back in at 18. Yano and Taichi played a game of hot potato with a turnbuckle pad. Yano tore Taichi’s pants off, then sent him into the buckle. Yano hit a sloppy schoolboy for a near fall.
Taichi sent Yano into the exposed buckle, then used a Gedo Clutch for a near fall. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey at Yano on the floor, but Yano ducked and the whiskey hit Taichi.
Yano rolled Kanemaru and Taichi up in the ring skirt, and Taichi could not beat the 20 count back inside.
B BLOCK MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED JEFF COBB (12:48)
This started slow. Naito didn’t exactly have his working boots on. The last few minutes were good, though.
Naito mocked Cobb by taking a sumo stance before the opening bell. Cobb responded with a shoulder tackle before the bell, then sent Naito rolling outside after a throw.
Back inside, Cobb fired off a couple of headbutts. Naito came back with a series of dropkicks to the legs. Naito continued to target Cobb’s legs with kicks. He then hit a dropkick to the back. Naito used a neckbreaker for a near fall.
Naito tried for a combinacion cabron in the corner, but Cobb caught him, then hit an overhead belly-to-belly. Cobb hit a Samoan drop, then a standing moonsault. Cobb got a near fall, but continued selling the damage to his legs.
Naito fought out of a deadlift attempt, then hit an enzuigiri. Cobb hit a gutwrench suplex into a bridge for a two count. Cobb hit a delayed superplex for a near fall. Cobb hit a spin cycle for another two count.
Cobb signaled for Tour of the Islands, but Naito hit a dropkick to the left leg. Cobb hit a superkick. Cobb teased a powerslam off the top rope, but Naito fought it off, then hit a frankensteiner. Cobb no-sold it. Naito then hit a swinging DDT.
Naito hit a poison rana. He went for Destino, but Cobb turned it into an F-5. Cobb was first up out of a double down. Naito got to his feet as well, and they exchanged strikes. Naito took a flip bump off a lariat.
Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but Naito turned it into an inverted DDT. He covered, but only got a two count.
Naito hit Destino and got the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: HIROOKI GOTO DEFEATED JON MOXLEY (8:39)
I think it was smart to keep this on the shorter side. They had a solid, very hard-hitting brawl.
They shared tough guy fist bumps at the outset, then went right into a striking exchange. Moxley got the better of it, and Goto rolled to the floor. They continued to trade strikes on the outside. They teased a double countout, but both made it back in at 19.
They continued to trade. Moxley took one lariat, but remained standing. A second lariat from Goto dropped him. Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner, then hit a back suplex for a near fall.
Goto went for an ushigoroshi, but Moxley blocked it. Moxley hit a release German, a corner clothesline, then a uranage. Moxley teased a Regal knee, but Goto blocked it. Goto teased a GTR, but Moxley blocked it.
Moxley hit a butterfly suplex, then tried for a kimura. He settled for an armbar, but Goto reached the ropes. They traded more strikes. Moxley hit a lariat for a near fall, then used the Regal knee for another two count.
Goto hit an ushigoroshi out of nowhere, but could not follow up. They hit a series of simultaneous lariats, and both men dropped to their knees.
Moxley was first up, but Goto was first to strike. Goto hit a headbutt, then a series of mid kicks. Moxley caught a kick, then hit a Death Rider. He went for a second Death Rider, but Goto countered. He pulled Moxley into a GTR, hit it, then got the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON (23:00)
These guys had a hell of a match, and both displayed great selling. The ref bump and interference hurt the finish.
White did some trademark stalling at the outset. Gedo provided a series of distractions from the floor, and White used them to get a couple of strikes in. Nothing substantial, though. Juice came back with a jab, but White rolled outside.
On the floor, White tried to use a chair on Juice’s hands, but Juice got out of the way. White got back inside. Gedo grabbed Juice’s ankle as he climbed back in, and White went after Juice’s left leg with a chop block.
White sent Juice’s left leg into the apron. He sent Juice into the barricade, then the ring frame. He continued to target Juice’s left leg, slamming it over the barricade. White slammed Juice’s knee into a chair in the crowd. Red Shoes refused to start a count on Juice because of White’s tactics.
As Juice got back inside, White continued working over the leg. He used a half crab, but Juice reached the bottom rope. White hit a series of jabs, mocking Juice. Juice managed a couple of his own jabs, but White cut him off, going back to the leg.
Juice hit a spinebuster, then fired up. He hit a series of jabs, but White ducked the Left Hand of God. White rolled outside. Juice hit a pescado, but continued to sell his left leg on landing.
Juice sent White into the barricade, then whipped him over the barricade. He dropped White throat-first onto the barricade, then posted both of White’s legs.
Juice hit a pair of clotheslines in the corner. He teased a cannonball, but White stood up out of the corner. Juice hit a jackhammer for a near fall, but continued selling his leg.
Juice went up top for a high cross, but White crotched him. White hit a DDT, then used a Blade Buster for a two count. White hit a Saito suplex at the 15 minute call.
White teased a Saito suplex over top rope. Juice fought off the first attempt, but White hit the move on his second attempt. White dragged Juice back inside, then hit a uranage for a two count.
White teased a sleeper suplex, but Juice elbowed out of it. Juice hit a full nelson bomb, into a double down.
Juice hit a powerbomb for a near fall. He applied a Tenzan-style crab, but White hammered at Juice’s left leg with strikes, breaking the hold. White hit an inverted dragon screw, then used his TTO submission hold. Juice reached the ropes after a struggle.
White ducked a Left Hand of God, then hit a sleeper suplex. He went for a Blade Runner, but Juice reversed into a roll-up for a two count.
Juice went for Pulp Friction, but White slid out, then hit a chop block. White went for Blade Runner again, but Juice escaped, then hit Left Hand of God.
Juice went for Pulp Friction. Gedo jumped on the apron, distracting the ref. White hit a low blow, then shoved Juice into Red Shoes, who took a bump.
Gedo gave White a chair. Juice cut White off before he could use it, then hit a Left Hand of God. He tried for Pulp Friction on the chair, but White slid out and slammed Juice on the chair.
White hit Juice’s left leg with the chair, then applied the TTO. Juice tapped out.
B BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (22:42)
This did not disappoint. A great main event.
They began with an awesome series of teases and counters. Both missed on sliding lariat attempts. Ishii missed an enzuigiri. They traded a series of shoulder tackles. Shingo finally dropped Ishii with a shoulder tackle.
Shingo used an elbow drop, then hit a senton for a two count. He used a bodyscissors on the mat, but Ishii rolled to the ropes, forcing a break. Ishii dropped Shingo with a tackle, then hit a series of strikes.
Ishii hit kicks to the back, then one to the back of the head. Ishii hit a chop to the throat. They exchanged headbutts, then traded chops. Shingo hit a double sledge to the chest, then hit a vertical suplex. He used an elbow drop off the second rope, then hit a DDT. Shingo followed with a back suplex for a near fall.
Shingo teased a piledriver, but Ishii hit a backdrop. Shingo blocked one powerslam attempt, but Ishii hit the move on his second attempt. Ishii hit chops in the corner, but Shingo reversed positions, then blistered Ishii with strikes in the corner.
Ishii no-sold a series of strikes out of the corner, but Shingo finally dropped him with a lariat. Ishii popped right up, then hit a vertical suplex. Ishii offered his neck to Shingo and no-sold a series of neck shots.
They exchanged lariats, then traded backdrop suplexes. They no-sold everything, until Ishii ended the exchange with one more backdrop suplex. Ishii was bleeding from the left ear.
Ishii hit a superplex for a two count, then used a series of short kicks to the head. Shingo stood up and tried to fire back, but Ishii dropped him with a forearm. Ishii hit a powerbomb. He stacked Shingo up in a cover, but Shingo kicked out.
Ishii teased a brainbuster, but Shingo slid out, then hit a big lariat. Shingo hit noshigami, then connected on a sliding lariat, earning another near fall.
Shingo went for Made in Japan, but Ishii blocked it. Shingo hit a series of hard lariats. Ishii fired back with a lariat, then dropped Shingo with a headbutt.
Ishii tried for a sliding lariat, but Shingo caught him coming in. He hoisted Ishii up for Made in Japan. Shingo connected, but Ishii kicked out at two.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, but Ishii again kicked out.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Ishii blocked the attempt. Ishii hit an enzuigiri, which Shingo took on his arms. Ishii hit a release German.
Ishii blocked a lariat, then hit two lariats of his own for a near fall. Ishii hit the sliding lariat for another near fall.
Ishii called for the brainbuster. They did a series of reversals, and Shingo hit an emerald frosion.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, but Ishii no-sold it. Ishii hit an enzuigiri.
Ishii hit a lariat. Shingo kicked out at one. Shingo hit a lariat. Ishii kicked out at one. They hit simultaneous lariats. Shingo then dropped Ishii with a lariat.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. This looked like the finish, but Ishii kicked out.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon — and this time got the pin.
After the bell, they traded headbutts on the mat.
Shingo closed the show with a promo, promising to breathe fire.
G1 STANDINGS —
A BLOCK
Kazuchika Okada 14
Kota Ibushi 12
EVIL 8 (eliminated)
KENTA 8 (eliminated)
Hiroshi Tanahashi 8 (eliminated)
SANADA 8 (eliminated)
Zack Sabre Jr. 6 (eliminated)
Bad Luck Fale 6 (eliminated)
Will Ospreay 4 (eliminated)
Lance Archer 4 (eliminated)
B BLOCK
Hirooki Goto 10 (holds tiebreaker over White, Moxley)
Jon Moxley 10 (holds tiebreaker over Naito)
Tetsuya Naito 10 (holds tiebreaker over Goto)
Jay White 10 (holds tiebreaker over Moxley)
Tomohiro Ishii 8 (needs to beat Taichi and needs Goto, Moxley, Naito to lose)
Toru Yano 8 (needs to beat Cobb, needs Ishii and Goto to lose and White vs. Naito to end in a double DQ/countout)
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.
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)
The G1 continued this morning in Hiroshima with B Block action.
Jon Moxley stands alone atop the block after another convincing win — this time over Shingo Takagi, while Tetsuya Naito climbed back into the hunt with a win over Tomohiro Ishii in a great main event.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YUJIRO TAKAHASHI, BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, TOMOAKI HONMA & YUYA UEMURA
Yujiro pinned Uemura with Pimp Juice in a formulaic opener.
Bullet Club worked over Honma, then turned it into a crowd brawl. Ospreay made a comeback, then tagged Uemura. Uemura ran wild, but Yujiro and Owens cut him off.
After the bell, Fale sent Ospreay into the barricade ahead of their tournament match on Saturday.
MINORU SUZUKI, LANCE ARCHER & ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
Suzuki-gun worked over EVIL. SANADA came back with a rana on Archer, but Archer cut him off. Suzuki got a tag, and SANADA hit him with a dragon screw.
The match broke down, and BUSHI and Suzuki were left legal. Archer used the EBD claw on BUSHI and SANADA, then Suzuki hit BUSHI with a Gotch-style piledriver for the pin.
Tanahashi pinned Narita after a slingblade, but he also gave Narita a ton of offense. Narita hit an overhead belly-to-belly for a great near fall, and he also used a full crab for a long submission tease.
The interaction between Tanahashi and Ibushi was limited, but Ibushi did land some kicks, while Tana hit a dragon screw.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS
KENTA and Okada started off, and KENTA controlled the match. He hit Okada with kicks, then mocked him with a Rainmaker pose.
Okada made his own comeback against Fredericks. Henare and YOSHI-HASHI exchanged quick tags and went to work on Fredericks. Okada tagged back in and sent KENTA from the apron to the floor with a shoulder tackle.
KENTA sent Okada into the barricade, while Henare and Connors were left the legal men in the ring. Connors hit a nice dropkick, but Henare came back with a Samoan drop.
Fredericks and Connors doubled up on YH, but YH made his own comeback, then used a Butterfly Lock on Connors for the submission. This was a good little tag match.
B BLOCK MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED TORU YANO (4:28)
Yano asked for a handshake, but used it to roll Juice up for a near fall. Yano untied a corner pad, then sent Juice into the exposed buckle.
They went outside, where Yano tried to tape Juice to the barricade. They did a countout tease, but Juice made it back in at 19.
Yano got two more near falls off schoolboys and again sent Juice into the exposed buckle. Juice avoided two low blows, then hit Pulp Friction for the pin.
This was a short, typical Yano G1 match. It was entertaining.
B BLOCK MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO (12:11)
Goto went after Taichi before the bell, as he continues to show a more aggressive edge.
They brawled outside, where Taichi posted Goto, then took over. Back inside, Taichi worked over Goto with kicks. Goto went for an ushigoroshi, but Taichi slipped out the back.
They traded lariats, but Taichi continued to control the match with his kicks. Goto hit an ushigoroshi, but sold the damage to his legs from the kicks, and he could not follow up.
They exchanged lariats, and Goto hit a spinning lariat for a near fall. They traded a series of short kicks. Goto hit an inverted GTR for a two count. He went for a second GTR, but Taichi blocked it. He teased Shouten Kai, but Taichi slipped out, then sent Goto into the referee, who took a bump.
Taichi tried to use his mic stand as a weapon, but Goto blocked it. Goto went for a GTR as the ref revived. Taichi pulled the referee into Goto for a distraction, hit a low blow, then used the Gedo Clutch for the pin.
This was the weakest match of the tournament so far.
B BLOCK MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI (14:45)
They exchanged forearm shots right away. Moxley scored a knockdown off a tackle, and Shingo rolled outside. Moxley went for a suicide dive, but Shingo caught him, then hit a DVD on the floor.
Moxley came back immediately, sending Shingo into the barricade, then posting him. Moxley set up a table. Both teased sending the other off the apron through the table, but both blocked.
Moxley hooked Shingo’s leg in the ropes, then nailed it with a dropkick. Moxley used a figure four, but Shingo reached the ropes. Moxley tried for a Death Rider, but Shingo hit a backdrop.
Shingo hit a pair of corner clotheslines, then hit a vertical suplex. Shingo continued to sell his legs. He went for a sliding lariat, but Moxley caught him, then hit a low dropkick to the legs. Moxley posted Shingo’s left leg repeatedly, then used a figure four around the post.
Moxley hit a clothesline in the corner, and they exchanged German suplexes. They exchanged strikes, then Moxley hit a dragon screw. Moxley used a figure four to cradle Shingo for a near fall, then hit a sliding lariat. He teased a cloverleaf, but Shingo fought it off.
Moxley tried to send Shingo from corner to corner, but Shingo’s leg buckled. Moxley went for the Regal knee, but Shingo hit him with noshigami, a lariat, then a Pumping Bomber for a near fall.
Shingo fired up at the ten minute call. He went for Last of the Dragon, but his leg buckled. Moxley hit Death Rider, but only got a near fall off of it.
Shingo blocked a second Death Rider, and they rolled outside. Moxley slammed Shingo’s left leg into the table, which didn’t break. Moxley wrapped a chair around the left leg, then hit it with another chair. They teased a countout, but Shingo made it back inside.
As soon as Shingo stepped back inside, Moxley hit the Regal knee. He went for a Death Rider, but Shingo blocked it. Shingo then hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Moxley kicked at the bad knee. Moxley hit another Regal knee to the back for a near fall, then used a cloverleaf for the submission.
This was good. Shingo did more selling than he has at any point since his NJPW debut, and Moxley did more wrestling than hardcore brawling.
B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED JEFF COBB (15:50)
White did his customary stalling early on. Cobb hit a dropkick, then a huge throw, and White rolled outside. Cobb teased posting White, but Gedo made the save for White.
Cobb got Gedo in the ring, allowing White to hit a knee to the back. White took over, choking Cobb with the ring skirt, then hitting a neckbreaker off the apron to the floor.
White continued working over the neck with a chinlock, then a neck tie. Cobb hit a Samoan drop. He tried to kip up, but White pulled him back to the mat by his hair. Cobb hit a belly-to-belly, then a pop-up backdrop.
Cobb hit a gutwrench suplex, an uppercut, then a vertical suplex. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cobb went for the Tour of the Islands, but White blocked it, then snapped Cobb’s neck over the top rope. White hit a DDT, then a flatliner.
White hit another flatliner, then a Saito suplex. They traded strikes. White used an eye rake, but Cobb came back with a fallaway slam. Cobb hit an impressive sidewalk slam, then placed White on the top rope. Gedo provided a distraction, and White slipped to the apron. Cobb followed up with a deadlift superplex for a great near fall.
White blocked a Tour of the Islands with elbow strikes. Cobb pushed White off into the referee, and we had our second ref bump of the night. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles, but Cobb slammed him. White blocked another Tour of the Islands attempt, then hit a low blow.
White hit a sleeper suplex. Cobb hit a snap German. Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but White reversed it into a Blade Runner to get his first win of the tournament.
The ref bump sucked the life out of the crowd and really hurt an otherwise good match.
B BLOCK MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (19:00)
Naito controlled the early-going with strikes. Ishii came back with a powerslam, then landed a series of chops. Ishii hit a headbutt. Naito hammered Ishii’s neck with elbows, then hit an inverted atomic drop. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick.
Naito was really moving well here. He hit a flying headscissors, a dropkick to the back, then a combinacion in the corner. He teased a top rope rana, but Ishii cut him off. He teased a powerbomb out of the corner, but Naito slipped out.
Naito hit a hard shot to the neck, but Ishii no-sold it. Naito spit at Ishii, who then dropped him with a forearm. Ishii hit a series of chops and strikes in the corner. Ishii hit a back suplex for a near fall.
Ishii went for a powerbomb, but Naito countered out. Ishii missed a sliding lariat, and Naito hit an enzuigiri. Naito missed a dropkick, and Ishii hit a suplex. Naito hit a tornado DDT, into a double down. This was an awesome sequence.
Naito hit a neckbreaker off the second rope, then a top rope rana for a near fall. Naito hit a flying forearm, then hit Gloria for a near fall. Naito went for Destino, but had to settle for a suplex after Ishii fought out.
Naito hit a poison rana. He tried for Destino again, but Ishii fought it off with a lariat. Naito ducked another lariat, then hit an enzuigiri. Ishii placed Naito on the top rope, then hit an uppercut headbutt to the chin. Ishii followed up with a superplex for a two count at the 15-minute call.
Naito blocked a lariat, but Ishii hit a headbutt. Ishii hit a hard lariat, and Naito took a flip bump. Ishii got a two count. Naito slipped out of a brainbuster. Naito hit Destino, but only got a two count.
Naito went for another Destino. Ishii blocked it, but Naito hit a suplex. Ishii no-sold it, popped up, then hit a sliding lariat for a two count.
Naito blocked a brainbuster, then hit a Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
We have reached the one-third point of the G1 Climax 29 after today’s show in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
Here are night six’s results and match recaps:
BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR. & YOSHINBOU KANEMARU
They’re playing up Sabre’s losing streak in the G1, as he remains winless. Sabre tried to attack Fale after the match, but Fale fought him off and left him laying.
This was a wild brawl that saw Bullet Club attack Suzuki-gun before the opening bell.
Fale won with a Grenade on Kanemaru after ducking the whiskey mist. Kanemaru accidentally sprayed the whiskey in Sabre’s eyes.
This was another fun brawl. Suzuki-gun attacked a pack of Young Lions after the match.
Honma went for a kokeshi on Suzuki, but Suzuki tripped him. Suzuki-gun took over. Suzuki used an armbar over the ropes, and this turned into a Suzuki-gun crowd brawl.
Archer and Suzuki worked over Honma in their corner. Suzuki landed some stiff forearm shots. Honma caught a PK, then hit a diving kokeshi, enabling a tag to Tana.
Tana worked on Archer’s legs, playing off the damage KENTA did to Archer’s legs with kicks last night. Archer caught Tana on a slingblade attempt and hit a bossman slam.
Tana and Honma used a double suplex on Archer, then hit stereo kokeshis. Archer hit stereo chokeslams on Tana and Honma as the match broke down. Archer won with the EBD Claw into a pinfall on Honma.
Archer used the Claw on Tanahashi after the bell.
EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, KENTA & CLARK CONNORS
This was a nice preview of the upcoming SANADA vs. Ibushi and EVIL vs. KENTA matches. SANADA and Ibushi posed on the turnbuckles after the match, getting a split reaction from the crowd.
SANADA and Ibushi started out with a hot exchange. BUSHI tripped Ibushi from the floor, allowing LIJ to take over. They cut the ring in half, working over Ibushi. Ibushi came back with a dropkick and managed a tag to KENTA.
KENTA lit up EVIL with kicks and knee strikes. BUSHI made a tag and hit a missile dropkick. KENTA came back with a powerslam, then tagged Connors.
Connors hit a great leapfrog/drop down/dropkick, then used a full crab on BUSHI. SANADA tried to break it up, but Ibushi intervened. LIJ went three-on-one against Connors, and BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall. BUSHI then hit the MX for the pin.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY & TOA HENARE
Ospreay and Okada delivered a nice preview of their meeting tomorrow, but the real star of this match was Henare. He looked great in defeat here.
YH and Henare had an even back-and-forth at the outset. Okada got a tag, hit a slingshot senton, then mocked Ospreay with his pose. Okada and YH worked over Henare in their corner.
Ospreay finally got a tag. He hit Pip Pip Cheerio on Okada, then hit the Rainmaker pose. Ospreay ducked a Rainmaker. Okada blocked an OsCutter with a dropkick. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri, and we were back to Henare and YH.
Henare got a pair of near falls off a vertical suplex and a tackle. Okada and Ospreay jumped in. Ospreay sent Okada to the floor with a clothesline, then hit a pescado. YH picked up the pin after a fisherman buster.
B BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TAICHI (14:41)
This was excellent. Shingo was great as always, but Taichi really rose to the occasion.
Shingo attacked before the bell, as things got off to a fast start. Shingo hit a big vertical suplex, and Taichi rolled to the floor in an attempt to slow things down. Taichi used a distraction from Miho Abe to hit Shingo with his mic stand.
They fought into the crowd, and Taichi used a chair. Back inside, Taichi used an eye rake, then hit a series of kicks. Shingo fired back with strikes, a slam, and a back elbow off the second rope.
Shingo missed on a sliding lariat, then Taichi hit a head kick. Taichi nearly took Shingo’s head off with an enzuigiri, then took his pants off.
Shingo blocked a buzzsaw kick. They traded strikes, then exchanged back suplexes. Shingo blocked an axe bomber, then hit noshigami. They hit simultaneous lariats. They exchanged strikes, and Taichi hit an axe bomber into a double down.
Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick. Shingo used a backslide for a two count, then hit Made in Japan for a near fall. Shingo fired up, then hit two lariats. Taichi blocked a Last of the Dragon attempt, then hit an axe bomber and an enzuigiri.
Taichi used a Last Ride for a near fall. Taichi shoved the ref down and tried a low blow, but Shingo blocked it. Shingo hit a short lariat, then hit a Pumping Bomber for a two count.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon and got the 1-2-3.
B BLOCK MATCH: JEFF COBB DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON (13:22)
Both guys looked great here. They worked a very hard-hitting match.
Juice took the early part of the match. He hit a series of jabs and clotheslines. He teased the cannonball, but switched to a dropkick as Cobb stood up out of the corner. Juice tried a pescado. Cobb caught him and teased a suplex on the floor, but Juice slipped out, then posted him.
Juice continued to dominate on the inside. He tried for a standing moonsault, but missed. Cobb caught a leg lariat attempt and hit an overhead throw. Cobb caught Juice on a spear attempt, then hit another throw. Cobb then hit a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Juice fought off a Tour of the Islands attempt. He connected with a leg lariat, then went for a Juice Box. Cobb slipped out, and they exchanged forearms. Cobb hit a series of overhand rights, but Juice answered with a spinebuster.
Juice hit a cannonball, then a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall. Cobb caught Juice on a running attack, then placed him on the top rope. Juice hit a sunset flip powerbomb from that position, earning a two count.
Cobb blocked a Pulp Friction attempt, then hit a throw. Juice hit a big right hand, then dropped Cobb with a clothesline for another near fall. Cobb blocked another Pulp Friction attempt, then hit a German. He followed with a release German.
Cobb hit a superkick, then connected with a bridging German for a near fall. Juice blocked Tour of the Islands and used a roll-up for a two count.
Cobb blocked a left hand, then hit Tour of the Islands for his first win of the tournament.
B BLOCK MATCH: TORU YANO DEFEATED JAY WHITE (3:04)
This was fun.
White rolled to the floor, then used a distraction from Gedo to take over. Yano untied a corner pad. They traded roll-ups, then White hit a low blow. Yano spit in White’s eyes.
White blocked a low blow. Gedo jumped in, and Red Shoes took a bump. Yano took brass knuckles away from Gedo. White ducked a brass knucks shot, but got sent into Gedo. Yano then hit a low blow with the brass knuckles and used a schoolboy for the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO (14:00)
I was having a difficult time trying to visualize this match. Physically, Naito isn’t in a position to be carrying anyone right now. Goto has always been a guy that is capable of great matches, but he needs someone just a level up to work with.
I think both guys took an extra step here. Naito had to kick it up a notch from his recent efforts, and Goto had to be more of a ring general than usual. The last few minutes were good, but I’m not sure that the finished product was as good as the sum of its parts. The effort was there, though.
Goto choked Naito with his T-shirt before the match, as they continue to present a more intense version of Goto. Goto hit a series of kicks, but Naito quickly made a comeback. He dragged Goto to the apron, then snapped his leg against the apron.
Naito continued to work on Goto’s left leg. He hit a low dropkick, then used a figure four. Goto came back with a spinning clothesline, a wheel kick to the back, then a Saito suplex for a near fall.
Goto hit a neckbreaker in the corner. Naito continued working over the leg. Naito went for Destino, but Goto turned it into a neckbreaker over the knee. Goto hit an ushigoroshi for a near fall.
Goto hit a series of short kicks to the chest with his bad leg. I’m not sure if he was supposedly playing possum, or if he just stopped selling.
Naito went for Destino again, but Goto caught him, then hit an inverted GTR. Goto hit a mid kick for a near fall. He went for another ushigoroshi, but Naito turned it into a DDT. Naito hit Destino, but Goto kicked out.
Naito followed up with a second Destino, earning his first points of the tournament.
B BLOCK MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (20:37)
I don’t know if this was the best match of the tournament so far, but this is currently my favorite.
They went nose-to-nose before the bell and started off at warp speed. They traded a flurry of strikes. Ishii missed an enzuigiri. Moxley took control and took the fight into the stands. Moxley rammed Ishii into the EAST sign.
Moxley controlled the brawl as they continued around the entire arena. Back inside, Moxley taunted Ishii with short kicks and stomps. Ishii no-sold them, then fired up. Moxley cut him off with more short strikes, then used an STF.
Moxley hit a series of chops and punches in the corner. Ishii ran out of the corner and hit a tackle, dropping Moxley. Ishii answered with his own series of punches and chops, then hit a vertical suplex.
They brawled to the floor, where Moxley whipped Ishii into the barricade. Each man grabbed a chair. They hit stereo chair strikes, but Moxley got the best of the exchange. Moxley threw a chair at Ishii, dropping him.
Moxley set up a table. He teased a uranage through the table, but Ishii blocked it. Ishii teased a suplex through the table, but Moxley blocked it. Moxley hit a dropkick, then a suicide dive. Moxley hit a chair shot. Ishii blocked another shot with his elbow, then used the chair himself.
Ishii placed Moxley on the table, then hit a splash off the top rope through the table. We reached another level here.
Ishii hit a suplex off the second rope for a near fall. Moxley blocked a sliding lariat. Ishii hit a German. Moxley hit a German, then a big lariat.
Ishii blocked a knee strike, then hit an enzuigiri. He used a sliding lariat for a near fall. Ishii tried for a brainbuster, but Moxley bit his face, stopping him. Moxley hit a Regal Knee strike, into a double down.
They traded headbutts. Moxley hit a lariat, then used a uranage for a two count. Moxley hit the Regal Knee, but Ishii kicked out.
Ishii hit a backdrop out of a Death Rider attempt. Ishii blocked another Death Rider with a lariat. Ishii hit a second lariat. He covered, but Moxley kicked out.
Each teased their finisher. Ishii hit a headbutt, then two lariats. Moxley no-sold, hit palm strikes, then hit Death Rider — but only got a two count.
Moxley pulled down his knee pads, hit a Regal Knee, then followed with a Death Rider. This time, it was enough for the pin.
Umino won with a fisherman’s suplex on Uemura, but the match result was secondary to the Moxley/Ishii interaction.
They started off hot, trading blows. The intensity was off the charts, and Umino and Uemura had to break it up. In the body of the match, they exchanged finisher teases. They also had a pull-apart after the match.
HIROOKI GOTO, JEFF COBB & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON, TOA HENARE & YOTA TSUJI
Goto and Cobb worked over Henare at the outset. Cobb missed a standing moonsault, and Juice tagged in. Juice and Cobb had a back-and-forth ahead of their match tomorrow.
The finish saw YOSHI-HASHI use the butterfly lock on Tsuji for the submission victory.
Yano wanted to start off with White, but White begged off. Bullet Club worked over Honma. Yano finally got a piece of White, and he got a near fall off a schoolboy.
Yano exposed a turnbuckle, but White sent him into it. The match broke down, and Honma hit Yujiro with a kokeshi. Owens went for a package piledriver on Narita, but Narita hit a frankensteiner for a near fall. Owens then hit the package piledriver on Narita for the pin.
Shingo and Taichi face off tomorrow, and they were the focus of this tag preview.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the bell. They worked over Shingo for a long time. Naito hit some signature offense on Kanemaru. The finish saw Suzuki use the Gotch-style Piledriver on BUSHI for the pin.
After the match, Kanemaru spit whiskey in Shingo’s eyes. Shingo had to be helped to the back.
A BLOCK MATCH: KENTA DEFEATED LANCE ARCHER (11:59)
KENTA went after Archer’s legs with kicks early on. Archer came back with a tackle. He tried to chokeslam KENTA off the apron, but a group of Young Lions caught KENTA. Archer answered with a flip dive off the apron.
Archer taunted KENTA by calling him “Hideo.” Archer hit a pounce, but KENTA came back with a slam. KENTA hit a series of kicks. They fought on the top rope, and KENTA won the exchange with a palm strike.
Archer caught KENTA coming off the top, then dropped him face-first on the mat. Archer went for the EBD Claw, but KENTA blocked. Archer went for a Blackout, but KENTA blocked it with a sleeper.
KENTA hit a PK, then went for the GTS. Archer blocked and got the Claw applied, but KENTA reached the ropes, forcing a break. Archer hit a muscle buster, but KENTA kicked out at two.
Archer hit a powerbomb, but KENTA kicked out of that as well. Archer went for a chokeslam, but KENTA pulled him to the mat with a triangle choke, then transitioned to the Game Over submission for the victory. Solid work from both guys here. Archer continues to impress.
A BLOCK MATCH: EVIL DEFEATED SANADA (18:13)
SANADA missed a moonsault press in the opening exchange, which allowed EVIL to control the early part of the match. EVIL used SANADA’s own paradise lock on him. EVIL missed a senton, allowing SANADA to apply a paradise lock over the bottom rope.
SANADA hit a pescado, then a back suplex. EVIL tried for his own suplex, but SANADA flipped out, then hit a springboard dropkick. SANADA hit a ref-assisted Magic Killer for a near fall, then hit a superplex for another two count.
They traded Skull Ends. SANADA hit Everything is EVIL for a near fall. SANADA went for a moonsault, but EVIL got his knees up, then used an inside cradle for a near fall.
They exchanged strikes. SANADA got Skull End applied, but EVIL pulled him into an inside cradle for another near fall. EVIL hit a lariat, then hit Darkness Falls for a two count. SANADA used an inside cradle for a near fall.
EVIL hit a lariat, but SANADA kicked out at one. EVIL hit a second lariat for a two count, then hit Everything is EVIL to get the victory. Good match. The intensity really picked up in the last five minutes.
The tag team partners shared a fist bump after.
A BLOCK MATCH: KAZUCHIKA OKADA DEFEATED BAD LUCK FALE (10:15)
Fale attacked Okada in the aisle during his entrance. Chase Owens and Jado accompanied Fale to the ring, and they attacked Okada on the outside while Fale took the referee.
Okada came back with a back elbow in the corner, a slam, and a flip dive over the top rope to the floor onto Fale, Jado, and Owens.
Back inside, Okada hit a back elbow and used a DDT for a near fall. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick, then used an air raid crash for a near fall. Okada hit a top rope elbow, then hit his Rainmaker pose.
Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Fale pulled the referee in the way. With the ref down, Owens jumped in for the illegal double team. Fale hit a Grenade. Okada slipped out of a Bad Luck Fall, then hit Owens with a dropkick.
Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor. Fale tried for a sunset flip, but Okada sat down into a pinfall and got the win. Okada hit Fale with a dropkick after the match, then mocked him with a salute.
This was not one of the better Okada vs. Fale matches that I’ve seen.
A BLOCK MATCH: HIROSHI TANAHASHI DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR. (13:56)
They began with an excellent mat wrestling exchange. Sabre went for a cobra twist, which set off a series of cradle attempts from both men. They traded near falls, and Tana ended the sequence with a Twist and Shout. That was awesome.
Sabre got the octopus applied, but Tana slid out and hit a dragon screw. They traded strikes, then both went for a backslide. After a stalemate, Tana hit a slingblade.
Tana used a European clutch for a near fall. Sabre tried for a cross armbreaker, then tied up both of Tana’s arms with his legs. After a long submission tease, Tana reached the ropes.
Sabre stomped on Tana’s right arm. Tana caught a PK. Sabre hit a series of slaps, but Tana no-sold them, then hit a dragon screw. Tana hit slingblade, then a standing High Fly Flow.
He went for a second High Fly Flow, but Sabre got his knees up. Sabre applied a triangle, but Tana rolled through and bridged into a pin for the victory.
These two can present something of a style clash at times, but I think this was one of their better outings together. This was excellent.
A BLOCK MATCH: KOTA IBUSHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY (27:16)
They locked up, and Ospreay broke cleanly against the ropes. Ibushi returned the favor on the ensuing lockup.
Ospreay tried a wristlock. Ibushi transitioned to a headscissors. Ospreay escaped once, but Ibushi made it back to the headscissors. Ospreay escaped again and went back to the wristlock. Ibushi hit a tackle out of a side headlock.
Ospreay went for an OsCutter, but Ibushi avoided it. Ibushi missed with a Kamigoye, and Ospreay pulled him to the apron. Ospreay rammed Ibushi’s bad ankle into the apron, then slammed him on the barricade. Ospreay posted Ibushi’s ankle.
Ospreay went for double knees in the corner, but Ibushi stepped out of the way and hit a blistering kick to the taped-up neck of Ospreay. Ibushi used a chinlock.
Ibushi hit a mid kick, but Ospreay returned fire with a handspring kick. Ospreay hit a top rope 619, but missed on Pip Pip Cheerio. Ibushi hit a powerslam, but missed a moonsault. Ospreay connected on Pip Pip Cheerio, and Ibushi rolled outside. Ospreay hit a Sasuke Special.
Ospreay hit a Bloody Sunday DDT for a near fall. Ospreay went for another handspring kick, but Ibushi caught him. Ibushi hit a German, pulling Ospreay out of the air. Ibushi hit a series of strikes to the neck.
The intensity really picked up here.
They exchanged strikes in the center of the ring. Ospreay caught a kick, then used a schoolboy for a near fall. Ospreay hit a head kick. Ibushi countered with a snap German. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri, but Ibushi countered with a sick-looking Jay Driller, spiking Ospreay on top of his head.
Ibushi hit a Last Ride for a close near fall. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker. Ibushi teased a spike package piledriver, but Ospreay pulled him to the mat in a cradle for a two count. Ospreay hit a spinning powerbomb for a near fall.
Ospreay hit a series of head kicks. He teased a top rope OsCutter, but Ibushi cut him off, then tied him to the tree of woe. From that position, they traded slaps to the face. Ibushi kept Ospreay tied up, then hit a series of kicks to the head.
Ibushi teased a top rope dragon suplex. Ospreay fought off the suplex, but Ibushi hit a backflip kick. Ibushi tried for a deadlift German off the second rope, but Ospreay landed on his feet.
Ospreay hit Hidden Blade. He covered, but Ibushi got his hand on the bottom rope. Ospreay hit a Robinson Special. He tried for an OsCutter, but Ibushi blocked it. Ospreay hit a high kick, then hit an OsCutter. He covered, but only got a two count.
Ospreay went for Storm Breaker. Ibushi countered with a knee to the face, then hit a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall.
Ospreay teased another Hidden Blade, but Ibushi ducked it, then hit a lariat. Ibushi hit a Bomaye for a near fall.
Ibushi hit the Kamigoye and got the 1-2-3.
Both guys gave their all in spite of being injured, and this was a great main event.
Will Ospreay is returning to the ring in time for night five of NJPW’s G1 Climax.
NJPW announced that, after suffering a neck injury, Ospreay has undergone a thorough examination and has been cleared to return to the ring. Ospreay will face Kota Ibushi in an A Block match in the main event of night five of the G1, which is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Thursday morning.
Ospreay wrote about being cleared: “Death can kiss me all it wants, it never nails me. Translation: I got the green light. See you tomorrow Korakuen.”
Ospreay missed a tag match on night four of the tournament this Monday due to the neck injury. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that the injury was a stinger and that Ospreay suffered it in his match against SANADA on night three of the G1.
Ospreay has had two tournament matches thus far, losing to Lance Archer on night one and defeating SANADA on night three.
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.
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.
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 Climax 29 continued today in Tokyo, with the B Block taking center stage.
The show was well-paced — and it featured a couple of customary opening night upsets. Raise your hand if you had Toru Yano defeating Tetsuya Naito in your picks.
Here are the full results and match recaps from Ota City General Gymnasium:
EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, WILL OSPREAY & YUYA UEMURA
Ibushi and EVIL kicked things off. Ibushi posted a photo of his swollen ankle on social media the other day. You would never know he was hurt otherwise. He hit a series of kicks, then broke out a standing moonsault. He hit the ropes, then started to sell the ankle, and LIJ went to work on him.
BUSHI and EVIL worked over Ibushi in their corner. EVIL tried for Darkness Falls, but Ibushi slid out, hit a mid kick, then tagged Ospreay.
Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio on SANADA. They did a series of teases of their signature spots. SANADA hit his leapfrog dropkick, but Ospreay countered with a double handspring kick to BUSHI and SANADA.
Uemura got a tag. He connected with a back elbow to BUSHI, then applied a crab. BUSHI reached the ropes for a break. Uemura tried for a double underhook suplex, but BUSHI avoided it.
LIJ tripled up on Uemura. BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall. Uemura used a backslide for a near fall. He hit the ropes, but ran right into a codebreaker. BUSHI pinned Uemura.
EVIL went after Ibushi after the bell, posting his bad ankle.
This was effective in setting up both Ibushi vs. EVIL and Ospreay vs. SANADA.
The smaller men were just here to be thrown around by Archer and Fale, which was a nice touch. Fale and Archer faced off at the outset and fought to a stalemate. They hit stereo chokeslams. Archer hit a Pounce on Owens. Kanemaru spit whiskey mist in Fale’s eyes.
The match broke down, with Fale and Archer brawling around ringside. Kanemaru and Owens were left in the ring. Kanemaru hit a DDT for a near fall. He tried for Deep Impact, but Owens avoided it. Owens followed with a package piledriver for the pin.
After this, I am actually intrigued by the upcoming Archer vs. Fale match.
KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI, SHOTA UMINO & REN NARITA
Connors and Fredericks are students at the NJPW LA Dojo. Both looked very good here.
Tanahashi and KENTA face off tomorrow, and they had a pull-apart before the opening bell.
Connors and Narita started off with some mat work. Umino and Fredericks were in next, trading headlocks and shoulder tackles. Umino hit a back elbow for a one count, while Fredericks used a scoop slam for one of his own.
Fredericks and Connors used a double team to take control of the match. KENTA got a tag and continued working over Umino. Tanahashi got a hot tag. He hit a flying forearm, then used a somersault senton for a near fall.
Tana went for a slingblade, but KENTA blocked it. Tana blocked a GTS attempt. The match broke down. Tana used a cloverleaf on KENTA, but Connors broke it up. KENTA slapped Tana, then Tana hit a dragon screw.
After a double down, Fredericks and Narita tagged back in. Narita hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. He used a leg lace into a scorpion, but Connors saved.
While KENTA and Tana brawled on the outside, Narita hit Connors with a belly-to-belly. Fredericks hit a dropkick, a spinebuster, then kipped up. He used a single-leg crab — and Narita tapped.
Sabre and Okada began with a short, intense sequence. Sabre tied up Okada on the mat, but Okada came back with a back elbow. YH and Suzuki tagged in — and things quickly devolved into a ringside brawl.
Suzuki threw YH into the barricade, then hit him with pieces of the barricade. YH beat the count back inside, where Suzuki peppered him with kicks. Sabre and Suzuki worked over YH’s arm. YH came back with a clothesline to Suzuki, into a double down.
Okada and Sabre got tags. Sabre tried for an octopus, while Okada tried for an air raid crash. After a struggle, Sabre finally got the octopus, but YH saved. Okada fought off another octopus attempt with a hip toss, then hit a dropkick.
YH tagged in. He hit a clothesline, his running chop, then a vertical suplex on Sabre. Okada and YH double-teamed Sabre. YH hit a headhunter off the top for a near fall. YH used a lariat to make a cover, but Suzuki made the save.
While Suzuki and Okada brawled to the floor, Sabre used an armbar on YH for the submission.
Okada and Sabre are going to tear the house down tomorrow.
B BLOCK MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI (14:42)
They started off exchanging shoulder blocks and strikes. Juice went for a leapfrog, but Shingo cut him off. Juice rolled to the apron. Shingo pulled him to the outside, then hit a DDT on the floor. Back inside, Shingo used a chinlock.
Juice fought out of the hold with strikes. They traded strikes and chops. Shingo hit a double sledge to the chest, then clotheslined Juice over the top to the floor. Shingo teased a dive, but Juice cut him off with a spear through the ropes.
Juice hit a spinebuster, then climbed to the top rope. He hit a high cross for a near fall. Shingo fought out of a Juice Box, but missed with a follow-up lariat. Juice hit a full nelson bomb for a two count.
Shingo countered the Left Hand of God with a lariat. They traded corner clotheslines. Juice went for a cannonball, but Shingo slipped out of the way. Shingo connected with a wheelbarrow German for a two count.
Shingo went for noshigami. Juice reversed it into a Juice Box, and Shingo rolled to the corner. Juice hit a cannonball, then sat Shingo on the top rope. Juice hit a headbutt, then a superplex into a jackhammer for a near fall.
Juice went for Pulp Friction, but Shingo escaped, then hit a sliding lariat. They hit simultaneous lariats twice. They traded strikes. Shingo hit a Saito suplex, but Juice no-sold it, then hit a lariat.
Juice went for Juice Box, but Shingo countered with noshigami. Shingo then hit the Pumping Bomber for an awesome near fall.
Juice used a roll-up for a near fall, then hit two Left Hand of Gods. He followed with Pulp Friction — and got the 1-2-3. This was an excellent match.
B BLOCK MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED TAICHI (7:36)
Taichi jumped Moxley as he made his entrance through the crowd. Taichi used a chair, then hit an axe bomber on the floor. They entered the ring for the first time, where Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick for a near fall.
Taichi took his pants off, then hit an enzuigiri. Moxley used a sunset flip for his first offensive move of the match. He followed with chops and strikes in the corner. Moxley sent Taichi outside with a low dropkick, then hit a suicide dive.
Moxley pulled a table from under the ring. He deposited Taichi through the table with a uranage. Back inside, Moxley pulled a kneepad down, then hit a running knee for a near fall.
Taichi sent Moxley into the referee, who took a bump to the floor. Miho Abe slid a chair to Taichi. Moxley grabbed the chair and threw it into Taichi. Taichi reversed a Death Rider attempt into a Gedo clutch for a near fall.
Moxley popped up, hit Death Rider, and picked up the pin. A fun sprint.
B BLOCK MATCH: TORU YANO DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO (3:43)
Yano was frustrated with how long it took Naito to take his entrance gear off. Naito kept his T-shirt on, so Yano decided to wrestle in a shirt as well.
Yano looked to lock up, but Naito kept backing off. Yano tried to untie a turnbuckle pad, but Naito cut him off. Naito pulled a corner pad off, but Yano cut him off.
Naito pulled Yano’s shirt over his face, then used a schoolboy for a near fall. Naito tried to use the corner pad, but Red Shoes jumped in and took it away.
They pulled each other’s hair. Yano pulled Red Shoes’s shirt over his face, then hit a low blow. Yano pulled Naito’s shirt over his face, then rolled him up for the upset.
B BLOCK MATCH: TOMOHIRO ISHII DEFEATED JEFF COBB (18:33)
Cobb scored an early knockdown off a shoulder tackle. Ishii countered with an extended series of chops and elbows in the corner. Cobb’s chest turned red from all the chops.
Cobb hit some chops, but Ishii countered with three headbutts. Cobb hit a crazy release belly-to-belly throw, then landed a spinning back suplex for a two count.
They exchanged short forearm strikes, which the crowd loved. Cobb teased going down, but instead hit a short right hand, ending the exchange. Cobb sent Ishii into the buckle, but Ishii rebounded with a shoulder tackle.
Ishii hit a vertical suplex. He covered, but only got a one count. Cobb deadlifted Ishii out of the lateral press. Cobb hit a vertical suplex, then hit a standing moonsault for a two count.
Cobb demanded that Ishii stand up. Ishii tried to get up, but collapsed. Cobb hit a series of right hands. Ishii fired up and no-sold a series of strikes. Ishii stepped right into a series of elbows and no-sold all of them.
Ishii hit a clothesline in the corner, then placed Cobb on the top rope. Ishii hit a superplex. Cobb stood right up, no-sold a lariat, then hit his own lariat. Cobb placed Ishii on the top rope and hit a superplex as well. Cobb covered and scored a near fall.
They exchanged strikes until Cobb dropped Ishii with a headbutt to the chest. Cobb hit a traditional piledriver for another near fall.
Cobb teased the Tour of the Islands while Ishii teased a brainbuster. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex. He went for a lariat in the corner, but Cobb caught him with a uranage. Ishii no-sold it and hit a suplex. Cobb no-sold that. Cobb hit a suplex — Ishii no-sold that. The sequence ended with Ishii dropping Cobb with a clothesline.
Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but Cobb caught him. Ishii fought Cobb off, then hit a dragon suplex. Ishii hit a lariat, and Cobb took a flip bump. Ishii covered, but Cobb kicked out at one. Cobb hit a lariat.
Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but his back gave out. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a near fall. Cobb countered out of a brainbuster. They traded headbutts.
Ishii got neck control, then hit the vertical drop brainbuster. This was finally enough to put Cobb down — and Ishii covered for the victory.
A great performance by both guys. I’m not the biggest Cobb supporter, but he more than held up his end of the bargain here. Ishii, meanwhile, remains one of the best wrestlers alive.
B BLOCK MATCH: HIROOKI GOTO DEFEATED JAY WHITE (21:07)
White stalled early on. He gave Gedo a chair and told him to sit beyond the barricade, as he was confident that he could take Goto on his own.
White finally engaged Goto with a side headlock. Goto sent White over the top rope with a clothesline. Goto took the fight outside and sent White into the barricade. As White got back in the ring, Gedo grabbed Goto’s leg, allowing White to recover.
White dropped Goto on the apron with a gutbuster. They teased a countout, but Goto made it back in. White took Goto back to the floor, then slammed him into the barricade and ring frame. Back inside, Goto hit some slaps to the chest. White hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.
White worked over Goto’s neck with elbows. Goto came back with a spinning clothesline. Goto hit a clothesline in the corner. White fought off an ushigoroshi, but Goto hit a mid kick, a spinning wheel kick, and a Saito suplex.
Goto hit a clothesline in the corner off a misdirection spot. White came back with a DDT. White hit two rolling head-and-arm suplexes. He tried for a third, but Goto initially blocked it. After a struggle, White hit a suplex into the buckle.
White then used a Blade Buster for a near fall.
They exchanged strikes. White got the better of it with uppercuts. They did a crazy misdirection sequence, ending with White hitting a Saito suplex. That ruled.
White hit a clothesline, then blocked a headbutt. He slapped Goto, taunting him. White hit a uranage, which Goto sold as though he had been killed. White started jawing with Red Shoes, allowing Goto to pop up and hit a lariat.
Goto hit an ushigoroshi. He fired up, but this time it was White’s turn to play possum. White rolled to the ropes, so Goto wasn’t able to go for a GTR.
White jumped up. They traded strikes. Goto hit a big headbutt, then hit the inverted GTR. He covered, but only got a two count.
Goto went for a second GTR, but White fought it off. Goto fought out of a sleeper suplex. He grabbed White by the hair, then hit a series of headbutts. Goto hit a final cut. Gedo jumped in the ring with brass knuckles, but quickly begged off.
Goto hit Shouten Kai for a near fall at the twenty minute mark. Goto hit an ushigoroshi for another near fall. He hit a mid kick, then hit the GTR for the 1-2-3.
The story they told here was that this is a new, more vicious Hirooki Goto who is willing to bend the rules if he has to. These guys have wrestled a lot over the last year and a half. This may have been the best of their matches together.
For the first time ever, the G1 Climax will begin in the United States.
The American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas will be home to the 29th opening day of the G1 tournament. Tonight’s card will feature A Block tournament matches, with Hiroshi Tanahashi taking on Kazuchika Okada in a battle between two of NJPW’s biggest stars in the main event.
KENTA will also officially arrive in NJPW as he faces Kota Ibushi in the semi-main. The other tournament matches set for tonight are: SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr., EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale, and Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer.
The undercard for tonight’s show will feature a mixture of B Block participants (minus Jon Moxley and Taichi), junior heavyweights, and young lions. Jushin Thunder Liger will be in action as he teams with Juice Robinson & Toru Yano against Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI. The opening bout will feature the Guerillas of Destiny taking on Roppongi 3K’s SHO & YOH.
The show will air live on AXS TV in the United States and will be live on New Japan World elsewhere. Join us for live coverage starting at 6 p.m. Eastern time.
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TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA DEFEATED SHO & YOH
SHO and YOH hit big dives at the outset, but were quickly cut off. Tonga and Loa isolated SHO in their corner, working him over. Both Tonga and Loa delivered slingshot sentons.
SHO came back with a spear to Tonga, and made a tag to YOH. YOH landed a dropkick to Loa, then a flying forearm on Tonga. YOH hit a head-and-arm suplex into a bridge for a nearfall, as the crowd got behind Roppongi 3K.
YOH blocked a gun stun, and SHO and YOH hit stereo knee strikes on both members of G.O.D. Tonga popped up and hit a gun stun out of nowhere on SHO. Loa hit a super powerbomb on YOH off the second rope, and Tonga covered for the pin. A hot opener.
Ishii and Cobb started off with an awesome big hoss battle. Ishii no-sold a dropkick, and Cobb no-sold a shoulder tackle. Umino and Narita tagged in, and Umino gave his team the advantage, dropping Narita with a back elbow.
Ishii tagged in. He teased a brainbuster, but Narita reversed it into a suplex. Cobb got a tag, and ran wild with suplexes on Umino and Ishii. Cobb hit a spinning backbreaker on Ishii for a nearfall.
Cobb and Ishii traded strikes, which got a nice reaction. Ishii ducked a forearm, and landed a German suplex. Ishii tagged Umino, who hit a missile dropkick. Umino went for a fisherman buster, but Cobb blocked it. Umino settled for a vertical suplex, earning a nearfall.
The match broke down. Ishii dropped Cobb with a forearm. Narita took out Ishii with a dropkick. Narita then hit a belly-to-belly on Umino, and Cobb hit the Tour of the Islands on Umino for the pin.
Cobb and Ishii got into a wild brawl after the bell. Narita and some security guys pulled them apart. Cobb ended up with a bloody nose. This was great.
HIROOKI GOTO & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE & CHASE OWENS
Owens and White used a distraction from Gedo on the outside to score some early offense on Goto. Goto came back with a big right hand to Owens, then tagged YOSHI-HASHI. YH hit a dropkick to Owens, but another Gedo distraction allowed White to pull YH to the floor.
White sent YH into the barricade and the ring frame. Owens hit a backbreaker. YH hit a headhunter on Owens. White got a tag, and YH nailed him with a headhunter as well.
Goto tagged in, and hit White with a hip toss, a clothesline, then a Saito suplex. Owens jumped in for an illegal double team, but Goto locked him in a single-leg crab. Goto went for an ushigoroshi on White, but White turned it into a Saito suplex of his own.
Owens tagged in. He hit Goto with forearms, but Goto no-sold them. Owens hit a knee strike, then hit Jewel Heist for a nearfall. White hit a brainbuster, and Owens hit a running knee. He covered, but YH made the save.
Owens went for a package piledriver, but YH again made the save. Goto clotheslined White to the floor, then hit an ushigoroshi on Owens. Goto hit the GTR on Owens for the pin.
They didn’t get a lot of time, but this was fine for what it was.
BUSHI and Liger kicked things off. BUSHI raked the eyes. Liger tried for the Romero Special, but LIJ jumped in to triple-team him. Shingo and Naito took out Juice and Yano on the floor, while BUSHI went for Liger’s mask on the inside.
Naito got a tag, and he used a sleeper on Liger. Shingo tagged in. He continued to work on Liger, until Liger cut him off with a Shotei. Juice got a tag. Shingo and Juice exchanged strikes. Shingo avoided a Juice Box. Juice avoided a sliding lariat, then hit a full nelson bomb for a two count.
Juice hit a series of jabs. Shingo hit a big left hand. They traded lariats, and Juice hit the Left Hand of God. Shingo countered with a noshigami, into a double down.
Yano and Naito tagged in. Naito untied a corner pad, exposing a turnbuckle. Naito hit the combinacion cabron. Yano used a schoolboy for a nearfall. They traded hair pulls. Naito hit a neckbreaker, then tagged BUSHI.
LIJ went 3-on-1 against Yano. Naito and BUSHI hit double dropkicks. BUSHI went for a cover, but Juice and Liger saved.
While Liger, Naito, Shingo and Juice brawled to the floor, Yano hit a low blow on BUSHI, then used a schoolboy for the pin. The crowd was super into seeing Liger, which really made the match.
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They announced a U.S. tour, September 27 in Boston, September 28 in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom, and September 29 at the ECW Arena.
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G1 CLIMAX 29 A BLOCK MATCH: LANCE ARCHER DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY
Archer has a new look. Kind of a Ruby Riott/Michael Hayes/Bull Nakano haircut.
Archer charged Ospreay before the bell, but Ospreay caught him, and hit a standing Spanish Fly. He followed with a corkscrew dive off the post to the floor, then hit a springboard 450 for a nearfall.
Ospreay sent Archer outside with a springboard dropkick. He went for a Sasuke Special, but Archer caught him, then chokeslammed him over the barricade, through a table. Back inside, Archer hit a series of hard chops. He did the rope-walk spot, then used a chinlock. Ospreay was bleeding from the nose.
Ospreay came back with a handspring kick. He hit a top rope 619, then Pip Pip Cheerio, and got a two count. Ospreay avoided one Pounce, then hit a high kick. Archer got the Pounce on his second attempt, then hit a buckle bomb.
Archer hit a Last Ride, and Ospreay rolled outside. Archer hit a powerbomb on the apron. Archer went for another powerbomb on the ramp, but Ospreay turned it into a Code Red. Archer had a tough time going over for the move.
They teased a double countout, but both made it back in at 19. Ospreay hit a shooting star to Archer, and got a nearfall. Archer blocked one Oscutter. Ospreay hit an Oscutter, but Archer kicked out at two.
Ospreay teased a Storm Breaker and a Hidden Blade, but Archer blocked both. Archer hit a muscle buster, but Ospreay kicked out at two. Archer hit Blackout, and again Ospreay kicked out.
Archer used the EBD Claw, but Ospreay reached the ropes. They climbed to the top rope. Archer went for a top rope chokeslam, but Ospreay turned it into a Spanish Fly off the top for a two count.
Ospreay got Archer up for the Storm Breaker, but Archer slipped out. Archer went for a chokeslam, but Ospreay hit a series of kicks. Ospreay went for a super Oscutter off the ropes, but Archer cut him off. Archer hit a running knee with Ospreay seated on the top rope.
Archer hit a super Blackout off the top. He went back to the EBD Claw, and used it to drive Ospreay to the mat. With the claw still applied, Archer got the pin.
A very good match. Not at the level of Ospreay’s recent stretch of incredible matches, but probably the best match of Archer’s life. The big man/smaller man dynamic worked great here.
G1 CLIMAX 29 A BLOCK MATCH: BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED EVIL
EVIL went after Fale before the bell. They brawled to the floor, where Fale hit a slam on the ramp. Back inside, Fale used stomps to the abdomen. He hit a series of forearms to the back, then some more to the head. Fale made a cocky cover with one foot, and got a two count.
EVIL came back with a slam, then clotheslined Fale to the floor. EVIL grabbed a chair, but Fale cut him off. Fale grabbed the chair, but EVIL blocked a chair shot. He placed the chair around Fale’s neck, then sent him head-first into the post.
Back inside, EVIL hit a senton in the corner for a two count. EVIL hit a lariat, but Fale didn’t go down. EVIL hit a second, dropping Fale to a knee. He went for a third, but Fale cut him off with a shoulder tackle.
Fale hit a big splash for a two count. Fale brought a chair into the ring, but EVIL kicked it away, then hit a lariat for a nearfall. They traded finisher teases. Fale hit a Grenade for a nearfall.
Fale went for the Bad Luck Fall, but EVIL slid out. EVIL hit a lariat to Fale, but also took out the referee, who took a bump to the floor.
EVIL grabbed a chair. He went to swing it, but Fale hit a low blow. Fale put a chair around EVIL’s neck, then hit the chair with another chair. The ref was revived, and Fale hit the Bad Luck Fall for the pin.
They tried. It’s tough for anyone other than Okada to have a good match with Fale. They did a lot of Okada/Fale spots early on, but then they had to resort to smoke and mirrors.
G1 CLIMAX 29 A BLOCK MATCH: SANADA DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR.
They had a crazy exchange on the mat at the outset. They followed that up with a series of rolling cradle exchanges. SANADA went for a paradise lock, but Sabre slipped out. SANADA rolled to the floor to regroup.
They exchanged holds. Sabre hit an uppercut, the first strike of the match. SANADA hit a dropkick, and Sabre rolled to the floor. SANADA teased a dive, but Sabre stepped away. SANADA held the ropes for Sabre to get back in the ring, but Sabre took a stroll, stalling.
Back inside, Sabre caught SANADA in an armbar. SANADA quickly reached the ropes. SANADA hit the ropes, but Sabre caught him in a cobra twist. SANADA escaped, then hit a leapfrog dropkick. He teased the follow-up plancha, but Sabre rolled back inside.
SANADA applied the paradise lock over the bottom rope. He broke the hold with a dropkick, then hit the plancha. Back inside, SANADA hit a back suplex for a two count.
SANADA went for a TKO, but Sabre turned it into an octopus hold. Sabre slipped to a crucifix hold on the mat, but SANADA forced a rope break.
SANADA managed to apply Skull End, but Sabre broke the hold, hit a DDT, then applied his own variation of Skull End. SANADA powered out. He tried for a TKO, but Sabre slipped to a hanging guillotine choke. SANADA popped out, and hit a neckbreaker.
SANADA hit a TKO for a nearfall. He went for a moonsault, but landed on his feet, as Sabre rolled out of the way. SANADA tried for a backslide, but Sabre escaped, then hit a PK.
Sabre went for the Zack Driver. SANADA turned it into Skull End. He went up top for a moonsault, but Sabre got his knees up, then slapped on a triangle choke. SANADA powered out, then hit a moonsault into Skull End.
Sabre rolled into a European clutch for a nearfall.
SANADA reversed the clutch into one of his own, and got the pinfall.
This was something of a style clash. The last few minutes were good, but the first half of the match didn’t do anything for me. The crowd loved it, though.
G1 CLIMAX 29 A BLOCK MATCH: KENTA DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI
Dueling chants early on. They locked up, but nothing came of it. KENTA hit a short kick. They locked up again. Ibushi backed into the ropes. KENTA did not break cleanly, and landed a hard slap on the break. Ibushi responded with a hard slap.
KENTA wore a sleeve on his left arm, and Ibushi began targeting that arm with kicks. KENTA draped Ibushi over the middle rope, then hit a knee drop off the second rope. KENTA hit a series of mid kicks, and Ibushi sold them big. KENTA covered for a nearfall, then went to a chinlock.
KENTA hit a knee lift, then a PK. KENTA hit a couple of knee drops to the back of the head. Ibushi fired up. He hit a series of short elbows to the neck. KENTA fired back with his own, then hit another big kick. He covered, but Ibushi kicked out at one.
KENTA went back to the chinlock. Ibushi elbowed out, then hit a dropkick. Ibushi hit a powerslam, then a second rope moonsault for a nearfall. KENTA hit a leg lariat. KENTA hit a series of bump-and-feed clotheslines, then hit an exploder.
KENTA went to the top, and hit a clothesline for a two count. He went for a tornado DDT, but Ibushi cut him off with strikes, and dropped him to the apron. Ibushi teased a deadlift German from the apron, but KENTA blocked it.
Ibushi sent KENTA to the floor with a backflip kick. Ibushi tried for a pescado, but KENTA caught him with a knee on the landing. It looked as though Ibsuhi jammed his ankle on the floor on landing.
KENTA draped Ibushi over the barricade, and hit a double stomp. Ibushi’s head hit the barricade on impact. Back inside, KENTA hit a springboard dropkick, a yakuza kick, then a delayed dropkick in the corner.
KENTA hit a double stomp off the top for a nearfall. KENTA teased the GTS. Ibushi slipped out, and landed a hard clothesline. Ibushi hit a Last Ride for a nearfall.
Ibushi went for a Kamigoye. KENTA reversed into GTS position. Ibushi slid out, and KENTA landed a jumping knee strike.
They exchanged strikes from their knees. They got to their feet, and continued to trade. KENTA hit a high kick for a nearfall. With Ibushi on his knees, KENTA hit four head kicks. He made a cover, but Ibushi kicked out.
KENTA pulled down his knee pad, and hit the Go To Sleep for the pin.
They had an awesome match. But as I find myself saying far too often after an Ibushi match, I hope Ibushi is okay. He took some real shots to the head.
KENTA helped Ibushi to his feet after the match. They shook hands, then embraced.
The crowd gave them a standing ovation at the opening bell, then a “New Japan” chant broke out. They locked up. Okada teased breaking cleanly on the ropes, but Tana slapped him, and it was on.
They did a series of signature move teases. Okada went for a Rainmaker, Tana went for a Slingblade. Tana used a headlock takeover, and Okada used a headscissors to escape. Tana hit a senton, then played air guitar.
Tana went to the second rope for a senton, but Okada hit a dropkick, and Tana spilled to the floor. Okada hit a DDT on the floor at the five minute mark.
Back inside, Okada hit a dropkick to a seated Okada. Tana found himself backed into the corner. Okada hit a back elbow, then a dragon screw. He hit a neckbreaker for a nearfall, then used a chinlock. Tana got sent into the ropes, but bounced off, then hit a dragon screw of his own.
Tana hit a flying forearm, then a running dropkick in the corner. He followed up with a somersault senton off the second rope for a nearfall at the ten minute mark.
Okada hit a back elbow in one corner. He sent Tana to the opposite corner, hit another back elbow, then connected with a DDT for a two count.
Tana blocked an air raid crash. He stepped to the apron, then hit a dragon screw over the ropes. Okada caught Tana coming in, and landed a flapjack. Tana hit a dropkick to the knee, but Okada countered with an air raid crash for a nearfall.
Okada hit a slam, then went to the top. He landed an elbow off the top, then hit his Rainmaker pose. Tana pulled him right out of the pose into a cradle for a two count, then hit an inverted dragon screw. Tana used a cloverleaf, but Okada forced a rope break.
Tana hit another inverted dragon screw at the fifteen minute mark. Okada rolled to the floor. With Okada standing on the floor, Tana hit a High Fly Flow.
Back inside, Tana hit Twist and Shout. Okada countered with a shotgun dropkick.
Tana hit Slingblade, and Okada countered with a dropkick. Okada teased a tombstone, but Tana hit another Slingblade. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. With Okada down, he went for a standard High Fly Flow, but Okada got his knees up.
They tried to tombstone each other, but both blocked. Tana went for Slingblade, but Okada caught him in a backslide, pulled him up, then hit a Rainmaker. He kept wrist control, then hit a second Rainmaker.
He went for a third, but Tana pulled him into a small package for a very close nearfall.
Tana hit a dragon suplex into a bridge for another close nearfall.
Tana blocked a Rainmaker, and grabbed Okada’s wrist. He hit a series of slaps to the face, maintaining wrist control. He hit the ropes, but ran right into a spinning tombstone from Okada.
Okada hit a third Rainmaker for the pin.
Okada cut a promo in English after the match. He said tonight was the first time G1 was in America, but it will not be the last. He said next time he comes to Dallas, he will be the G1 champion, and the IWGP Champion. He thanked the crowd.
After revealing the tournament schedule for this summer’s G1 Climax, NJPW has also announced the undercard matches that will be taking place on the tour.
The tournament begins at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on July 6 and concludes with three straight nights at Budokan Hall in Tokyo from August 10-12. NJPW has announced the undercards up until the tournament finals.
The undercards will feature tag matches that will build to the tournament bouts for the next show.
Two of the Young Lions from NJPW’s Dojo in California will be in action on the G1 tour, with Clark Connors and Karl Fredericks teaming with KENTA.
Here’s the full schedule for the tournament:
July 6 (A Block tournament matches, Dallas, Texas) —
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA
SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale
Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer
Jushin Thunder Liger, Juice Robinson & Toru Yano vs. BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jay White & Chase Owens
Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino vs. Jeff Cobb & Ren Narita
SHO & YOH vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
July 13 (B Block, Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo) —
Jay White vs. Hirooki Goto
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb
Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
Jon Moxley vs. Taichi
Shingo Takagi vs. Juice Robinson
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs. KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks
Lance Archer & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Kota Ibushi, Will Ospreay & Yuya Uemura vs. EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
July 14 (A Block, Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo) —
