Tag: g1 climax 27

NJPW G1 Climax 27 B Block finals live results: Okada vs. Omega III

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The third encounter in perhaps the biggest rivalry of the year is set to take place at Sumo Hall this morning as Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega face off in the B Block finals of the G1 Climax.

They are the only two left in contention at this point. Okada has the edge heading into the match as following his draw with Minoru Suzuki, he has 13 points to Omega’s 12. Okada can advance with a draw, but Omega needs to pin Okada in order to make it to the finals.

Other B Block matches tonight include Michael Elgin taking on Juice Robinson, Tama Tonga squaring off against SANADA, Minoru Suzuki trying to outwit Toru Yano, and Satoshi Kojima facing EVIL.

Join us this morning at 5:30 a.m. ET for live results. The show will have English commentary available with Kevin Kelly, Don Callis, and Rocky Romero calling the action.

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El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taichi defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, KUSHIDA and Hirai Kawato

Liger got a hot tag early and looked great, dominating and laying out all three members of Suzuki-gun. KUSHIDA and Desperado went at it as well, since they are having a title match somewhere down the line. They teased an encounter before the G1 shows, and Desperado has picked up a multitude of wins during these last 17 shows.

Kawato came in and had Desperado in the Boston crab but Taichi and Kanemaru came in to even the odds. Desperado followed through with the Angel’s wings for the win.

Desperado blasted KUSHIDA with the IWGP Jr. after the match. 

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defeated Chase Owens, Tanga Roa and Yujiro Takahashi

This was a good back and forth tag team match. Owens came in and nearly had the package piledriver on Goto. He fought back, hit the ushigiroshi and followed with the GTR for the win.

Takashi Iizuka and Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Yuji Nagata and Togi Makabe

Heels took Nagata and Makabe to the outside. Iizuka blasted Makabe with a chair. Mostly just an okay match. Iizuka is just as good as you remember him being; what that entails is up to you to decide. He used the iron fingers to blast Nagata, then Sabre followed with a penalty kick for the win.

Cody, Young Bucks, Hangman Page and Bad Luck Fale defeated War Machine, Ricochet, Ryusuke Taguchi and Katsuya Kitamura

There was a fun spot early where Rowe took out half the Bullet Club with back breakers and gut busters. Fale came in for the save, and what do you know, Rowe can’t do what he just did to the other members of the Bullet Club.

Young Bucks, Page and Cody all went for the moonsault but Taguchi Japan cut them off. They piled up Bullet Club and had Hanson go on top but Fale came in for the save. Everyone came in for spots, eventually leaving most of Bullet Club out of the ring.

Ricochet came flying first with a twisting Sasuke special. Hanson followed with a somersault to the outside. Kitamura hit the ropes, but Page came in with a clothesline, then followed with the rite of passage (Omori driver) for the win.

Juice Robinson defeated Michael Elgin

This was a really good match. Nothing fancy or anything, but there were a few really great spots and the finish was nice. If there is one person in this tournament who should have higher stock following the G1, it’s Juice.

Elgin wiped out Robinson on the outside with a big somersault to the floor. Robinson made a pretty good comeback. He laid out Elgin with a DDT but ate an enziguri as he hopped off the top rope. Robinson caught Elgin with a full nelson slam for a two count.

Robinson captured Elgin as he was going to the top rope and landed a powerbomb. He motioned for the pulp friction, but Elgin escaped…only to be caught with a gutbuster. Robinson went for a somersault into the corner, but Elgin grabbed him and gave him the buckle bomb. Robison quickly came back with a flash cover, but Elgin kicked out.

Elgin went for a burning hammer, but Robinson escaped and hit a big punch. Elgin reversed the pulp friction, but Robinson met him with another punch and finally got the pulp friction for the win.

Robinson wanted to shake hands after the match. Elgin obliged, then left as Robinson celebrated.

Tama Tonga defeated SANADA

This was fine, not much to talk about. Just a nice back and forth match. SANADA and Tonga showed great agility towards one another early. SANADA got the advantage and put Tonga in the paradise lock, leading to Tanga Roa and Yujiro Takahashi to come in for some help. Roa made himself helpful by taking out SANADA on the outside with a lariat.

Back in the ring, Tonga hit a gun stun and also hit a twist and shout neckbreaker. SANADA escaped one gun stun attempt, but then walked right into another for the win.

Toru Yano defeated Minoru Suzuki

Suzuki jumped Yano immediately at the bell and took him to the floor. Taichi, who was seconding Suzuki, jumped into the fray. He took him back to the ring. Yano managed to undo a turnbuckle, but Suzuki mostly dominated.

Yano gave Suzuki an atomic drop on the outside and tried to tape Suzuki’s legs, but it doesn’t work. Instead, Suzuki ties up HIS legs. He puts Yano in the sleeper. He started to argue with the referee as Taichi came in with a chair. Rocky Romero, who was on commentary, came in to make the save. Suzuki took him out as Yano came with some tape. Suzuki fought back, but did eventually get wrapped up in tape, got low blowed, and was pinned with a roll up.

Suzuki was incensed about the loss, attacking every young lion he saw after the match with a chair and fumed to the back.

EVIL defeated Satoshi Kojima

Kojima gave EVIL a bunch of chops in the corner and hit the elbow. He went for a roaring elbow, but EVIL fought back. Kojima blocked EVIL’s attacks and hit a koji cutter, then laid him out with a giant DDT on the apron.

EVIL managed to catch Kojima in a waistlock and landed a German suplex, then followed with the darkness falls. EVIL did a throat slash, motioning for the STO but Kojima fought out of it. He kept no selling EVIL’s lariats until he busted out one of his own, taking out EVIL.

Kojima followed with a brainbuster. He went for one more lariat and countered EVIL’s attempt at an STO. EVIL, however, headbutted Kojima and followed through with the STO, securing the win in a very nice back and forth match.

Kenny Omega defeated Kazuchika Okada

Yes, I can confirm that this was better than their other two matches — well, at least in my own opinion. While those matches were amazing in their own right, I honestly can’t think of how you can have a better 20-25 minute match like this one. Once again, both Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada have demonstrated what a big time pro wrestling is in 2017, and it’s pretty damn amazing.

This felt like a hot match from the very start, ditching the slow pace of usual big NJPW main events and never cooled down. Just hot, frenetic action from the start. Add in the drama with Okada’s neck (the doctor spot was so well done), along with an array of incredible moves, both guys pulling out all the stops with a hot crowd and, well, I can’t think of a better match you’ll see all year. Well, except the G1 Finals are tomorrow, and you know how that goes…

They start off with guns blazing as Omega immediately went for a V-trigger. A very exciting minute of action ensues as Okada gets Omega on the top rope and dropkicks him to the floor. Omega throws him into the barricade, then lands a big boot that sends him to the floor. Omega hits a giant running crossbody, sending them crashing onto a row of chairs.

Okada hits the elbow and the rainmaker pose. Omega immediately took him to the floor and hit a big crossbody to the outside. Okada smashes his neck against the guardrail. Omega took Okada back to the ring and made a point to score a missile dropkick right in the back of Okada’s neck.

Omega continued to work on the neck, looking for a piledriver but Okada countered with a back body drop. Omega fired back with a rolling senton. Okada got the knees up with a moonsault attempt, but Omega countered with a hurricanrana and a dropkick to the neck., but Okada came back to the ring and hit a flapjack.

Omega tried for a springboard, but Okada dropkicked him, sending him to the floor. Omega countered with a reverse rana to the floor. A doctor and some other officials checked in on him. Omega would have none of it continued the attack, hitting a dragon suplex on the apron and lifted him up with a knee neckbreaker…but Okada kicked out.

At the fifteen minute mark, Omega continued the assault, hitting Okada with a v-trigger square to the face. Okada started to get angry, grabbed Omega’s knee and started to fight back, hitting a tombstone. Omega took him to the top rope and went for a fisherman’s buster but Okada sent him back to the floor, then delivered a big dropkick to the back of Omega’s head.

Omega hit a v-trigger again as they did more back and forth, but Okada fought back with a German suplex. Omega hit a big time uranage, but Okada was able to fight back with a rainmaker, only for Omega to kick out at two. 

Omega hit a backslide, but Okada hit another rainmaker and held on to the wrist. Okada hit another, then went for one more but Omega ducked and hit a German suplex, then another. Okada fired back with elbows, but Omega neutralized him with a reverse rana. Omega went for the One Winged Angel, but Okada tried to escape, so he transitioned it into the Croyt’s wrath.

Okada came back with one more dropkick and went for the rainmaker but Omega countered, grabbed the wrist and landed a v-trigger. He finally hit the One Winged Angel and pinned Okada to not only beat Okada for the first time, but also to win the B Block.

Omega cut a promo in Japanese before going into his match with Tetsuya Naito tomorrow. Naito, as well as Los Ingobernables de Japon,  is so good and so popular. The problem is, however, everyone here is wearing Bullet Club, Kenny Omega and Elite shirts. He will win and become the first ever two time gaijin winner of the G1 Climax.

Current standings —

A Block:

Tetsuya Naito — 14 (WINNER)
Hiroshi Tanahashi — 12
Bad Luck Fale — 12
Kota Ibushi — 10
Zack Sabre Jr. — 10
Hirooki Goto — 10
Tomohiro Ishii — 8
Togi Makabe — 8
YOSHI-HASHI — 4
Yuji Nagata — 2

B Block:

Kenny Omega — 14 (WINNER)
Kazuchika Okada — 13
EVIL — 12
Minoru Suzuki — 9
SANADA — 8
Michael Elgin — 8
Toru Yano — 8
Tama Tonga — 8
Juice Robinson — 8

Satoshi Kojima — 2

NJPW G1 Climax 27 night eight results: Elgin vs. Omega

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Niigata hosted more action from the B Block as the G1 Climax commenced earlier this morning. The show featured a huge rematch from the Long Beach shows earlier this month as Michael Elgin and Kenny Omega squared off in the main event.

Prelim matches —

– Zack Sabre Jr. & El Desperado defeated Shota Umino & Ren Narita when Desperado submitted Narita with the stretch muffler.

– Togi Makabe & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Yuji Nagata & Hirai Kawato when Taguchi submitted Kawato with the ankle lock.

– Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens defeated Kota Ibushi, Tomoyuki Oka & Katsuya Kitamura when Owens pinned Oka with the package piledriver.

– Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo when BUSHI countered the Gedo clutch into a jackknife pin. 

– YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & David Finlay when Goto pinned Finlay with the GTR.

B Block matches —

Tama Tonga defeated Juice Robinson

This was pretty good. Robinson’s leg has been a sore spot for him in matches ever since the bout with Minoru Suzuki, and that injury helped tell a great story throughout this one. I think next to Tomohiro Ishii he’s quickly developing into one of the best sellers on the roster.

Robinson came down to the ring with his knee heavily bandaged, so that was destined to come into play early. Sure enough, after some back and forth, Tonga started to go after it. Robinson eventually took him down with a reverse DDT and put him in a submission, but Tonga made it to the ropes.

Tonga clipped Robinson’s knee after a suplex spot. He put Robinson in a tree-of-woe position in the corner and gave a Stinger splash to the knee twice. He went for a Gun Stun, but Robinson kept reversing until Tonga took him out with the waistlock DDT.

After a small package attempt by Robinson, Tonga struck with the Gun Stun and picked up the win.

SANADA defeated Toru Yano by countout

SANADA wasn’t up for the shenanigans, immediately attacking Yano, but Yano found a way to roll him up for a near fall. Yano took the time to undo a turnbuckle until SANADA attacked him with the turnbuckle and poured the contents of Yano’s water bottle on the top of his head.

SANADA had him in the Skull End, but Yano grabbed the ropes and escaped. He brought in the tape and began tying up SANADA’s legs, much like the Kenny Omega bout, but SANADA cut him off and hit a tope. SANADA put him in the paradise lock, used the rope to tie him up, then casually walked into the ring for a countout victory.

For a promotion that hardly ever does countout wins, NJPW has done three in this tournament alone. This was just a match overall.

EVIL defeated Minoru Suzuki

This was fine, but I didn’t think it was anything special. Just nice back and forth until the interference, then the big surprise finish, which I think is the bigger story of the match. 

Suzuki made it a brawl right at the bell, taking EVIL out of the ring. EVIL got the better of it, taking him back out and using his favorite steel chair spot. Suzuki took him back down with an armbar, but EVIL made it to the ropes.

Taichi came down to the ring, and along with Desperado (who was cornering Suzuki) tried to take out EVIL. Los Ingobernables de Japon members BUSHI and Hiromu Takahashi, however, came out and evened the score, brawling with the Suzuki-gun pair to the back.

After the referee took away the chair Suzuki had, EVIL went for the STO until Suzuki put him in the sleeper. He lifted him up for the Gotch piledriver, but EVIL escaped, cut him off, then pinned him with the STO in a big upset.

Based off this win, EVIL will probably be in contention for the NEVER title later this fall.

Kazuchika Okada defeated Satoshi Kojima

This was great. There were several times at the end where you’d think Kojima would pull off the upset win, but he just couldn’t get it done. They did a great job of making Kojima look like he had a chance of winning, especially with a crowd that really wanted it.

Okada played the heel early, throwing Kojima into the barricade and even throwing Tenzan into the ring and goading him to do something. Kojima tried to muster a comeback, but Okada no sold it and took him down in one shot.

Kojima fired back with his partner’s Mongolian chops, culminating with a DDT. Kojima did the chops in the corner, but Okada came back, hit the elbow, and went for the Rainmaker, but Kojima pushed him into the corner. Okada went to the top rope and fired some shots, but Kojima snapped back and gave him a lariat, sending him tumbling to the floor.

Going to the top rope, Kojima launched off with a big Koji cutter for a near fall and then followed with a brainbuster. He went for the lariat, but Okada countered with a Rainmaker attempt. Kojima blocked it, then Okada tried for the Rainmaker again, but right as he was about to put his arm up Kojima blasted him with a lariat of his own.

Okada came back with his dropkick but missed the Rainmaker, instead walking into a roaring elbow. Kojima tried for the lariat again, but Okada countered with the tombstone, then followed with the Rainmaker for the victory.

Michael Elgin defeated Kenny Omega

They had an excellent match, one of the better matches in the tournament so far, and that is saying a lot. It was a super impactful match, hard-hitting throughout with a bunch of great spots. Both Elgin and Omega have been having a great tournament, with this match being perhaps the apex moment for both of them, at least up to this point.

It started off hot, with Elgin giving Omega a huge lariat that sent him crashing into the barricade outside. He gave him a boot, sending him into the crowd. Omega blocked him and jumped off the barricade, but Elgin grabbed him instead and hit an overhead suplex.

Elgin went for a sunset flip bomb, but Omega stayed on his shoulders, escaped, then followed with a superkick. After some more back and forth, Elgin hit a German suplex and sent him to the corner, unloading some clotheslines. Omega cut him off and went for a crossbody, but instead Elgin caught him and hit a spinning side slam.

A hurricanrana counter by Omega sent Elgin to the outside. After coming back into the ring, Omega hit the snap dragon suplex and followed with a tope con hilo to the floor, wiping out Elgin.

Back in the ring, it became another back-and-forth affair as both tried to one-up one another. Elgin hit a lariat, then a buckle bomb and tried for the Elgin bomb, but Omega countered with the One Winged Angel. Elgin countered that with a reverse rana and hit the Elgin bomb, but Omega kicked out.

Elgin’s next move was to go for something on the apron. Omega cut him off and tore away the matting outside of the ring. Elgin caught him. Omega tried to counter with a hurricanrana, but Elgin held on and laid him out with a powerbomb on the apron. 

Omega came back to life after countering a powerbomb attempt by Elgin off the top rope. He followed with two V-Triggers and an underhook piledriver. Elgin fought back momentarily but was taken out with another reverse rana. Elgin came back yet again, hitting another buckle bomb and Elgin bomb, but again Omega kicked out.

Elgin went for a Burning Hammer attempt. Omega escaped that, but Elgin responded with two back suplexes. He went for the Burning Hammer once more, this time executing it for the win

Elgin cut a promo after the match, saying he’s been wrestling half his life and the G1 was the most important tournament he’s been a part of because anyone can beat anyone at any given time. He promised that Big Mike will win the G1 Climax.  

Current standings —

A Block:

  • Tetsuya Naito — 6
  • Zack Sabre Jr. — 6
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi — 6
  • Kota Ibushi — 4
  • Hirooki Goto — 4
  • Bad Luck Fale — 4
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 4
  • Togi Makabe — 4
  • YOSHI-HASHI — 2
  • Yuji Nagata — 0

B Block:

  • Kazuchika Okada — 8
  • Kenny Omega — 6
  • EVIL — 6
  • Minoru Suzuki — 4
  • Tama Tonga — 4
  • SANADA — 4
  • Michael Elgin — 4
  • Juice Robinson — 2
  • Toru Yano — 2
  • Satoshi Kojima — 0

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