Tag: g1 climax 2017

NJPW G1 Climax 27 night three results: Kota Ibushi vs. ZSJ

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Night three of this year’s G1 Climax took place this morning, once again in Korakuen Hall as the venue hosted A Block action.

Prelim results —

– EVIL & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Juice Robinson & David Finlay when EVIL submitted Finlay with the Banshee Muzzle.

– Minoru Suzuki & Taichi defeated SANADA & BUSHI when Taichi pinned BUSHI with a roll-up after a microphone stand shot.

– Kenny Omega & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Tama Tonga & Chase Owens after Takahashi pinned Owens with the Pimp Juice DDT.

– Michael Elgin, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & Gedo when Tenzan submitted Gedo with the Anaconda Vise.

A Block matches —

Hirooki Goto defeated Yuji Nagata

They started off slow, with basic grappling and back and forth. Nagata caught Goto and pelted him with some stiff kicks. He followed that with an exploder for a near fall. 

Goto came back with a spinning heel kick to the corner and then landed an ushigiroshi. Nagata escaped the GTR, but Goto continued the assault. Nagata eventually caught him and locked in the armbar.

Nagata continued, hitting an ego trip and landing a brainbuster. He went for the exploder but landed an enzuigiri after Goto resisted. He then hit the exploder for a good near fall. They battled, exchanging fierce strikes and kicks until Nagata landed a spinning heel kick.

Goto fired back with a headbutt, then landed the GTR for the win. This was an awesome match. Nagata without a doubt is always the most underrated guy in the G1 even though he’s consistently very good in big matches.

Tomohiro Ishii defeated Togi Makabe

It began as one would expect — back and forth assaults on one another. Ishii took it to the outside where he threw Makabe into the guardrails not once, but twice with fierce force. 

A lot of this match consisted of hard shots against one another. Ishii would fire back, then Makabe, and so on. Makabe started to gain momentum with two lariats, but Ishii still kicked out. They fought to the top rope, where Makabe fought off Ishii, sent him to the floor, and went for the King Kong knee drop, but Ishii dodged it.

They continued battling. Ishii dropped Makabe with a few lariats, then a huge one for a near fall. He followed with the brainbuster for the win. This was good, but it reminded me a lot of their previous matches. There were better ones than this one, but this was still a good back-and-forth battle.

Kota Ibushi defeated Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre started early, taking down Ibushi and taking it to the ground. After a bit of a striking session by Ibushi, Sabre took him down again and focused on one of Ibushi’s legs, then worked on other parts of the body, taking control of Ibushi’s wrists. 

Ibushi was caught in a chokehold by Sabre, but he transitioned out of it and actually reversed it. He let go and struck Sabre with a vicious kick that put him in control. Ibushi went for a standing moonsault, but Sabre caught him with a triangle. Ibushi immediately went to the ropes to escape. 

Sabre put Ibushi in the octopus hold and tried to follow with a sunset flip, but Ibushi responded with a double foot stomp instead. Both on the floor, they started striking each other and continued to do so as they got up. Ibushi went for a Pele kick, but Sabre grabbed his ankle and wrapped him in an inverted STF. 

Sabre caught him as they both got up, but Ibushi controlled Sabre’s wrists and hit a knee straight in his face. Sabre went for a triangle until Ibushi deadlifted him and hit the press powerbomb for the win. Great match that encapsulated both men’s styles. This may have been better than Sabre’s match with Tanahashi from the opening night.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Bad Luck Fale by countout

The story of this match was that every time Tanahashi would gain a modicum of momentum, Fale would fire right back and keep him grounded. After dominating during the early portion of the match, Fale threw him to the apron, but Tanahashi skinned the cat (favoring his arm) only for Fale to counter with a spear.

Tanahashi countered with a clothesline before launching off with the High Fly Flow as both men fell to the outside. Tanahashi then hit a slingblade and made it to the ring right at 20 for the countout win. This was pretty good while it lasted.

Tetsuya Naito defeated YOSHI-HASHI

They kept it mostly even early. Naito got the advantage until YH cut him off with the headhunter neckbreaker. Naito tried for the satellite DDT, but YH not only dodged that, but also an enzuigiri as he hit a double foot stomp. 

YOSHI-HASHI hit a shoulderbreaker, though Naito took him down and tried for Gloria. It didn’t work as YH blocked it before hitting an enzuigiri as Naito brought him up. Naito fired back, taking him to the corner and unleashing a super rana. He followed that with Gloria for a near fall.

Naito went for the Destino, but YH countered out of it. They both struggled to get up, but when they did, they exchanged punches and kicks until YH laid out Naito with a codebreaker. He followed that up with the butterfly lock, then a senton for a near fall. 

YOSHI-HASHI went right back to the butterfly lock again. Naito tried to make it to the ropes, but YH pulled him back in. He continually struggled until he finally got a leg on the ropes. YH tried for Karma, but Naito fought out of it and hit the koppo kick. YH followed with a big lariat.

YOSHI-HASHI went for Karma, but Naito hit the Destino in mid-air. YH kicked out, then Naito hit another for the win. That was an awesome finish to a great, heated match.

Naito cut a promo to end the show. All five G1 matches delivered and were fun in their own way. The match of the night probably goes to Sabre and Ibushi, but there were plenty of great matches to choose from.

Current standings —

A Block:

  • Tetsuya Naito — 4
  • Hirooki Goto — 4
  • Zack Sabre Jr. — 2
  • YOSHI-HASHI — 2
  • Bad Luck Fale — 2
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 2
  • Kota Ibushi — 2
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi — 2
  • Yuji Nagata — 0
  • Togi Makabe — 0

B Block:

  • Kenny Omega — 2
  • Tama Tonga — 2
  • Kazuchika Okada — 2
  • SANADA — 2
  • Juice Robinson — 2
  • Satoshi Kojima — 0
  • EVIL — 0
  • Toru Yano — 0
  • Michael Elgin — 0
  • Minoru Suzuki — 0

NJPW G1 Climax 27 night two results: Minoru Suzuki vs. Kenny Omega

Posted on by Bryan Rose

After a few days of recovery, we’re back for the second night of the G1 Climax as the next few days will feature action live from Korakuen Hall, complete with English commentary. Here are this morning’s results, featuring tournament matches from the B Block.

Prelim results —

– Zack Sabre Jr. & El Desperado defeated Kota Ibushi & Hirai Kawato when Desperado pinned Kawato with La Guitarra del Muerte.

– Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask IV defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo when Tiger Mask pinned Gedo with a crucifix.

– Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & David Finlay when Fale pinned Finlay with the Grenade.

– Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI defeated YOSHI-HASHI & Jado when BUSHI rolled up Jado after countering a crossface attempt.

B Block matches —

Juice Robinson defeated Satoshi Kojima

This was a really good match. The opening parts were solid, with the crowd picking up big time for a bunch of great near falls towards the end. This felt like a big moment for Robinson, who’s been racking up big wins this year.

Robinson went for the Pulp Friction early, but Kojima escaped. Kojima borrowed the Mongolian chops from his tag team partner Hiroyoshi Tenzan, sending Robinson out of the ring. Kojima followed with a DDT on the apron.

Robinson rallied back, hitting a big crossbody, but Kojima soon struck back with a Koji cutter. He put Robinson on the top rope, but Robinson fought back, sending him off. Robinson looked to go for something on the top rope, but Kojima countered with a lariat to the knee and followed with a big cutter off the top.

Kojima went for the lariat, but Robinson repeatedly blocked it until Kojima landed one on the back of Robinson’s head. Kojima hit a brainbuster, but Robinson kicked out. Kojima landed another one, same result. Robinson struck with a big punch and followed through with the Pulp Friction for the surprise win.

Tama Tonga defeated Michael Elgin

Elgin was dominating the match early until Tonga tripped him on the apron. Tonga took it back into the ring, but Elgin struck back and started unleashing German suplexes. Tonga escaped but ate an enzuigiri.

Elgin hit the clubbing lariats, but Tonga countered back with a reverse DDT. Elgin blocked the first waistlock DDT but fell to the second. He went for the Gun Stun, but Elgin blocked it, only for Tonga to strike back with a dropkick. Elgin went for a springboard, but Tonga met him there with the Gun Stun.

Going to the top rope, Elgin had Tonga latched on as he went for what looked like the Falcon Arrow, but Tonga transitioned into the Gun Stun in mid-air and landed it for the win. This was a pretty good match with a great finish. 

SANADA defeated EVIL

They had a great match. SANADA is so immensely talented as a worker, and he’s improved dramatically in the last year. You have to give credit to EVIL as well, who brought his A game here, leading to a very heated match with some cool, clever spots.

SANADA sent EVIL out of the ring early, causing EVIL to take out a few chairs in response. EVIL took one of the chairs, put it on SANADA’s throat, and smacked it with another chair that flew into a bunch of photographers at ringside. That didn’t seem particularly safe.

They went to the outside, where EVIL choked SANADA with his own Skull End submission. SANADA fell to the floor, but he immediately popped up and hit a cutter off the top rope onto the outside. 

EVIL went for a German until SANADA escaped. He floated over EVIL and went for the Skull End, but EVIL countered with a fisherman’s buster into the post. EVIL hit the Darkness Falls, but SANADA escaped, avoided EVIL’s new finish, and hit a dropkick off the top rope.  

SANADA missed a moonsault, allowing EVIL to hit the Banshee Muzzle, EVIL’s new modified hammerlock submission. SANADA made it to the ropes. EVIL went for the STO, but SANADA countered and hit a German suplex bridge for a near fall. 

EVIL kept going for the STO until SANADA floated over again and locked in the Skull End. EVIL popped out, but SANADA locked it in again until EVIL made it to the ropes. SANADA went for his second moonsault attempt, this time landing it for the win.

The two bumped fists after the match.

Kazuchika Okada defeated Toru Yano

There was some comedy early. Yano escaped from the ring and undid the turnbuckle until Okada chased him away. Okada then tied the turnbuckle pad back on. I think that’s a first. Yano eventually did get it undone after a ref bump and whipped Okada into it, following with a low package for a near fall.

They made it out of the ring, where Okada threw Yano over the barricade and looked to do a big splash. He started running until Jado stopped him, pleading with him not to do it. Yano took the opportunity to shove Jado into Okada and lay them both out with low blows. When Gedo saw this, he low blowed Yano in retaliation.

They made it back in the ring at 19, then traded some back and forth. Okada took Yano down and applied the Red Ink. Yano fought it for a bit but eventually tapped out. This was a lot better than you’d think. It was a pretty fun match.

Kenny Omega defeated Minoru Suzuki

This was also great; a fantastic, wild main event with both men playing up to their strengths. There were a few moments in the match where Suzuki couldn’t take some of Omega’s bumps, but the announcers covered it up well, selling Omega’s injured knee, which did play a part in the match.

Omega seemed reluctant to even look at Suzuki at the start, but he started firing back as they both exchanged strikes. Suzuki took out Omega with a PK on the apron as Omega fell on the floor. Omega went to land something off the barricade, but Suzuki cut him off and wrapped Omega’s legs on the barricade instead.

They brawled into the crowd, with Suzuki pelting Omega with a chair shot, but Omega fired back with some of his own. He took Suzuki back in the ring, where he hit a one-legged moonsault. He then went for the V-Trigger but hit the referee instead.

Of course, with there being no referee, that immediately meant El Desperado, Taichi, and Taka Michinoku came out to lay out Omega. Chase Owens tried to make the save but was quickly taken care of.

Fale followed, taking care of all three Suzuki-gun members pretty easily. Omega hit a giant springboard crossbody over the barricade to lay them out, then Owens and Fale took them to the back as Suzuki and Red Shoes recovered in the ring.

Omega went for a V-Trigger off the top rope, but Suzuki latched onto the injured leg and applied a knee lock. Suzuki continued to wear him down, going for the sleeper until Omega started to fight back.

Suzuki swept the injured leg. Omega spat at him, leading to a fierce striking exchange that culminated with the V-Trigger. Omega hit the snap dragon suplex and then tried for a One Winged Angel, but Suzuki fell and countered with an ankle lock. Omega managed to transition out of it and escape by slamming Suzuki on the mat.

Suzuki reared back up, seemingly from the dead, to apply the sleeper. Omega powered out of it to hit the V-Trigger, then tried for another but got derailed. Omega hit a reverse rana that didn’t completely connect, but he followed up with two V-Triggers and finished Suzuki with the One Winged Angel.

Omega said after the match that he survived, and the Bullet Club survived. His work is far from over. He had to bid adieu, but he gave props to Suzuki before saying goodbye and goodnight.

Current standings —

A Block:

  • Tetsuya Naito — 2
  • Zack Sabre Jr. — 2
  • Hirooki Goto — 2
  • YOSHI-HASHI — 2
  • Bad Luck Fale — 2
  • Togi Makabe — 0
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 0
  • Yuji Nagata — 0
  • Kota Ibushi — 0
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi — 0

B Block:

  • Kenny Omega — 2
  • Tama Tonga — 2
  • Kazuchika Okada — 2
  • SANADA — 2
  • Juice Robinson — 2
  • Satoshi Kojima — 0
  • EVIL — 0
  • Toru Yano — 0
  • Michael Elgin — 0
  • Minoru Suzuki — 0

NJPW G1 Climax 2017: Non-tournament schedule, tag title matches set

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The full cards for each of the G1 Climax events taking place over the next month have been revealed, save for the G1 Finals on August 13th.

Most undercards feature a mixture of tag team matches, usually pitting G1 opponents against one another in a preview for their match on the next card. Most are standard fare you’ll find on any New Japan show, though the Korakuen Hall shows do start out with stable matches between members of Chaos and Los Ingobernables. There’s also the occasional tag match pitting members of LIJ, Suzuki-gun or Bullet Club against one another, which normally doesn’t happen that often.

All of the New Japan young lions will appear sporadically on the cards. Interestingly, there are a couple of singles matches in the undercard as well, both featuring Chase Owens against a young lion.

Although the complete lineup for the finals hasn’t been released yet (it will most likely be announced the day of), two title matches have been confirmed.

New IWGP Tag Team Champions War Machine will make their first defense against Hangman Page & Cody. Meanwhile, The Young Bucks will look to retain their titles once more as they square off against the relatively new team of Ryusuke Taguchi & Ricochet.

Match listings, times, and other notes —

July 17th — Hokkaido (A Block, 2 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Togi Makabe vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Yuji Nagata vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Gedo & Kazuchika Okada vs. Jado & Toru Yano
  • BUSHI & SANADA vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL
  • El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki vs. Chase Owens, Tama Tonga & Kenny Omega
  • Jushin Thunder Liger, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. David Finlay, Juice Robinson & Michael Elgin

July 20th — Korakuen Hall (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Kenny Omega
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Toru Yano
  • SANADA vs. EVIL
  • Michael Elgin vs. Tama Tonga
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Juice Robinson
  • Jado and YOSHI-HASHI vs. BUSHI and Tetsuya Naito
  • David Finlay and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale
  • Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata & Togi Makabe vs. Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto
  • Hirai Kawato & Kota Ibushi vs. El Desperado & Zack Sabre Jr.

July 21st — Korakuen Hall (A Block, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Yuji Nagata vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Michael Elgin vs. Gedo, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada
  • Yujiro Takahashi & Kenny Omega vs. Chase Owens & Tama Tonga
  • Taichi & Minoru Suzuki vs. BUSHI & SANADA
  • David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL

July 22nd — Korakuen Hall (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Michael Elgin
  • Kenny Omega vs. Tama Tonga
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA
  • EVIL vs. Juice Robinson
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Toru Yano
  • Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito
  • Katsuya Kitamura & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomoyuki Oka & Yuji Nagata
  • Jado & YOSHI-HASHI vs. El Desperado & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • David Finlay, Kota Ibushi & Togi Makabe vs. Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto

July 23rd — Tokyo Machida Gymnasium (A Block, 5 a.m. ET)

  • Togi Makabe vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • YOSHI-HASHI vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Gedo & Kazuchika Okada vs. BUSHI & SANADA
  • Jado & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Kenny Omega
  • Chase Owens & Tama Tonga vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL
  • Hirai Kawato, David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Katsuya Kitamura & Michael Elgin

July 25th — Fukushima (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
  • Kenny Omega vs. Toru Yano
  • Juice Robinson vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Tama Tonga vs. EVIL
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Michael Elgin
  • David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jado & Hirooki Goto
  • El Desperado, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
  • Yuji Nagata & Hirai Kawato vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito
  • Tomoyuki Oka & Katsuya Kitamura vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Togi Makabe vs. Shota Umino & Kota Ibushi

July 26th — Miyagi (A Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Togi Makabe
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Gedo & Kazuchika Okada
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Michael Elgin vs. Chase Owens & Kenny Omega
  • Taichi & Minoru Suzuki vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL
  • Jado & Toru Yano vs. BUSHI & SANADA
  • David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga

July 27th — Niigata (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. EVIL
  • SANADA vs. Toru Yano
  • Juice Robinson vs. Tama Tonga
  • David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto
  • Jado & Tomohiro Ishii vs. BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito
  • Katsuya Kitamura, Tomoyuki Oka & Kota Ibushi vs. Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Togi Makabe vs. Hirai Kawato & Yuji Nagata
  • Ren Narita & Shota Umino vs. El Desperado & Zack Sabre Jr.

July 29th — Aichi (A Block, 5:00 a.m. ET)

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Togi Makabe vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Juice Robinson vs. Gedo & Kazuchika Okada
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Chase Owens & Kenny Omega
  • Taichi & Minoru Suzuki vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga
  • Jado & Toru Yano vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL
  • David Finlay & Michael Elgin vs. BUSHI & SANADA  

July 30th — Gifu (B Block, 3:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Juice Robinson
  • Kenny Omega vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • Michael Elgin vs. SANADA
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Tama Tonga
  • EVIL vs. Toru Yano
  • Jado & Hirooki Goto vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirai Kawato & Kota Ibushi
  • Tomoyuki Oka & Yuji Nagata vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii
  • Shota Umino & Togi Makabe vs. El Desperado & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Tetsuhiro Yagi, Katsuya Kitamura & David Finlay vs. Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale

August 1st — Kagoshima (A Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Togi Makabe vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • YOSHI-HASHI vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Gedo & Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga
  • Chase Owens & Kenny Omega vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL
  • David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. BUSHI & SANADA
  • Hirai Kawato, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki
  • Jushin Thunder Liger & Michael Elgin vs. Jado & Toru Yano

August 2nd — Fukuoka (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kenny Omega vs. EVIL
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • Michael Elgin vs. Toru Yano
  • SANADA vs. Juice Robinson
  • Jushin Thunder Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. David Finlay & Togi Makabe
  • El Desperado, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito
  • YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto vs. Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hirai Kawato & Yuji Nagata vs. Tiger Mask & Kota Ibushi
  • Shota Umino & Tomoyuki Oka vs. Ren Narita & Katsuya Kitamura

August 4th — Ehime (A Block, 6 a.m. ET)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Gedo & Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL
  • David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. Chase Owens & Kenny Omega
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. BUSHI & SANADA
  • Jado & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga
  • Hirai Kawato, Tiger Mask & Michael Elgin vs. El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki

August 5th — Osaka (B Block, 4 a.m. ET)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
  • Kenny Omega vs. Juice Robinson
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Michael Elgin
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. SANADA
  • Tama Tonga vs. Toru Yano
  • David Finlay, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Gedo, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii
  • Jado & Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hirai Kawato, Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe vs. Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito
  • Shota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka & Yuji Nagata vs. El Desperado, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Chase Owens vs. Katsuya Kitamura

August 6th — Shizuoka (A Block, 3 a.m. ET)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Kota Ibushi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Gedo & Kazuchika Okada vs. El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki
  • Chase Owens & Kenny Omega vs. BUSHI & SANADA
  • David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. Jado & Toru Yano
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga
  • Hirai Kawato & Michael Elgin vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL

August 8th — Kanagawa (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Kenny Omega vs. SANADA
  • Michael Elgin vs. EVIL
  • Juice Robinson vs. Toru Yano
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Tama Tonga
  • David Finlay, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito
  • Jado & Tomohiro Ishii vs El Desperado & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hirai Kawato, Kota Ibushi & Togi Makabe vs. Gedo, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto
  • Katsuya Kitamura & Yuji Nagata vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
  • Chase Owens vs. Tomoyuki Oka

August 11th — Sumo Hall (A Block Finals, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Bad Luck Fale vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Togi Makabe vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Kenny Omega & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Michael Elgin, Ricochet, Ryusuke Taguchi & War Machine vs. Cody, The Young Bucks, Chase Owens & Hangman Page
  • Jado & Toru Yano vs. Taichi & Minoru Suzuki
  • Juice Robinson & Satoshi Kojima vs. Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL
  • Guerrillas of Destiny vs. BUSHI & SANADA

August 12th — Sumo Hall (B Block Finals, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Tama Tonga vs. SANADA
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Toru Yano
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega
  • Michael Elgin vs. Juice Robinson
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. EVIL
  • David Finlay, Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. .Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito
  • Katsuya Kitamura, Ricochet, Ryusuke Taguchi & War Machine vs. Cody, Bad Luck Fale, The Young Bucks & Hangman Page
  • Yuji Nagata & Togi Makabe vs. Takashi Iizuka & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto vs. Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Tanga Roa
  • Hirai Kawato, Tiger Mask, Jushin Thunder Liger & KUSHIDA vs. Taka Michinoku, El Desperado, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

August 13th — Sumo Hall (G1 Climax 27 Finals, 2 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Winner of the A Block vs. Winner of the B Block in the tournament finals
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions War Machine defending against Cody & Hangman Page
  • IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defending against Ryusuke Taguchi & Ricochet

NJPW announces full G1 Climax 2017 tournament schedule

Posted on by Bryan Rose

After revealing most of the key matches yesterday, New Japan Pro Wrestling has now announced the full schedule for this summer’s G1 Climax.

All of the shows will air live on New Japan World. The first four shows, along with the final three shows, will feature English commentary from Kevin Kelly and Don Callis. Alongside Block A and Block B matches there will be tag matches on the cards featuring action from the opposite block. Overall, each show is expected to have around 9-10 matches.

NJPW’s site did not specify which matches will main event and which ones won’t, but considering what was announced at Kizuna Road yesterday morning, those matches will probably be the ones that headline each card.

Match listings, times, and other notes —

July 17th — Hokkaido (A Block, 2 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • Yuji Nagata vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Togi Makabe vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii

July 20th — Korakuen Hall (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Kenny Omega
  • SANADA vs. EVIL
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Toru Yano
  • Michael Elgin vs. Tama Tonga
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Juice Robinson

July 21st — Korakuen Hall (A Block, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Yuji Nagata vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale

July 22nd — Korakuen Hall (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Kenny Omega vs. Tama Tonga
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA
  • EVIL vs. Juice Robinson
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Michael Elgin
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Toru Yano

July 23rd — Tokyo Machida Gymnasium (A Block, 5 a.m. ET)

  • Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Togi Makabe vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • YOSHI-HASHI vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata

July 25th — Fukushima (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
  • Kenny Omega vs. Toru Yano
  • Tama Tonga vs. EVIL
  • Juice Robinson vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Michael Elgin

July 26th — Miyagi (A Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Togi Makabe
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

July 27th — Niigata (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. EVIL
  • SANADA vs. Toru Yano
  • Juice Robinson vs. Tama Tonga
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Satoshi Kojima

July 29th — Aichi (A Block, 5:00 a.m. ET)

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Togi Makabe vs. Yuji Nagata

July 30th — Gifu (B Block, 3:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kenny Omega vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Juice Robinson
  • Michael Elgin vs. SANADA
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Tama Tonga
  • EVIL vs. Toru Yano

August 1st — Kagoshima (A Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yuji Nagata
  • YOSHI-HASHI vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Togi Makabe vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

August 2nd — Fukuoka (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kenny Omega vs. EVIL
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga
  • SANADA vs. Juice Robinson
  • Michael Elgin vs. Toru Yano

August 4th — Ehime (A Block, 6 a.m. ET)

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bad Luck Fale

August 5th — Osaka (B Block, 4 a.m. ET)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. SANADA
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Michael Elgin
  • Tama Tonga vs. Toru Yano
  • Kenny Omega vs. Juice Robinson

August 6th — Shizuoka (A Block, 3 a.m. ET)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Kota Ibushi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yuji Nagata

August 8th — Kanagawa (B Block, 5:30 a.m. ET)

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Kenny Omega vs. SANADA
  • Juice Robinson vs. Toru Yano
  • Michael Elgin vs. EVIL
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Tama Tonga

August 11th — Sumo Hall (A Block Finals, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Bad Luck Fale vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Togi Makabe vs. YOSHI-HASHI

August 12th — Sumo Hall (B Block Finals, 5:30 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega

  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Toru Yano
  • Tama Tonga vs. SANADA
  • Michael Elgin vs. Juice Robinson
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. EVIL

August 13th — Sumo Hall (G1 Climax 27 Finals, 2 a.m. ET) (English Commentary)

  • Winner of the A Block vs. Winner of the B Block in the tournament finals

Okada vs. Omega III set as NJPW reveals 2017 G1 Climax blocks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though the exact date for the match isn’t known yet, Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega are set to turn their rivalry into a trilogy.

New Japan Pro Wrestling revealed the blocks for this summer’s G1 Climax during their Kizuna Road show at Korakuen Hall this morning, with Okada and Omega both in the B Block. We’ll find out when and where that match will take place when the tournament schedule starts to be announced tomorrow.

Okada and Omega faced off in two classics at Wrestle Kingdom and Dominion earlier this year. The second match ended in a 60-minute draw, but their G1 meeting won’t go that long as tournament matches have a 30-minute time limit.

If we’re going to get the much anticipated Omega vs. Kota Ibushi match in NJPW, it will have to be in the finals if it happens in this year’s G1. Ibushi is part of the loaded A Block field, along with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, and Zack Sabre Jr. as standouts.

Ibushi will take on Sabre in a match that many wanted to happen at the Cruiserweight Classic last year, but both were eliminated in the semifinals of that tournament after not signing with WWE.

The full blocks for the 2017 G1 Climax are:

A Block —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • Togi Makabe
  • Tomohiro Ishii
  • Hirooki Goto
  • YOSHI-HASHI
  • Bad Luck Fale
  • Yuji Nagata
  • Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi
  • Tetsuya Naito

B Block —

  • Kazuchika Okada
  • Toru Yano
  • Satoshi Kojima
  • Michael Elgin
  • Juice Robinson
  • Tama Tonga
  • SANADA
  • EVIL
  • Minoru Suzuki
  • Kenny Omega

The G1 will begin on July 17th and conclude on August 13th. Each wrestler will have a match against everyone else in their block along the way, with the A Block winner meeting the B Block winner in the finals.

If the IWGP Heavyweight Champion doesn’t win the tournament, whoever does will receive a briefcase (that is usually defended a couple of times) to challenge for the title at the Tokyo Dome next January.