Tag: G1

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night 10 results: Okada vs. SANADA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today at Korakuen Hall.

Kazuchika Okada faced SANADA in the main event, while Hirooki Goto took on YOSHI-HASHI in the semi-main. 

Taichi vs. Jeff Cobb, EVIL vs. Tama Tonga, plus Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens were the other tournament matches today. 

Here are results and a report from the show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
  • Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Jeff Cobb vs. Taichi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens 

Report —

B Block: Chase Owens defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (10:58)

You have to see this if only for the result. 

They opened with some grappling. After trading holds, Owens hit a dropkick. Tana came back with a crossbody off the second rope. Owens answered with his own crossbody. As Tana went for a flying forearm, Owens hit a dropkick to the left leg to take control of the match. 

Owens continued to attack the left leg with holds and strikes. Tana managed a flying forearm, but Owens cut him off again by going after the leg. Owens hit a short clothesline in the corner and a jewel heist for a near fall. 

Owens went for the package piledriver, but Tana hit a backdrop and sent him to the apron. Tana hit a dragon screw in the ropes, then connected with a slingblade. 

Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. He went for another High Fly Flow, but Owens got his knees up. Owens used a schoolboy with his feet on the ropes for a two count. Owens used a backslide for another near fall. 

Tana blocked a v-trigger with a palm strike. Tana went to hit the ropes, but Owens hit two more v-triggers to block. Owens hit the package piledriver and pinned Tanahashi. 

Chase Owens pinned Hiroshi Tanahashi clean in the middle. 

Owens draped Tanahashi’s IWGP US belt across the fallen Ace’s chest after the match to set up a future title match. 

NJPW seems to think that the American audience only wants to see Americans holding or challenging for the United States title. I think the Americans would much rather see the best guys and the best matches possible regardless of nationality. No offense intended to the Chase Owens and David Finlays of the world. 

B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (13:47)

We were this close to finally getting a good match out of EVIL. Then the finish happened. 

All four did the too sweet hand gesture before the match to signify that they would be adhering to the Bullet Club code of honor. 

Tonga hit some classic Haku offense early. EVIL rolled outside to collect himself. Togo exposed a turnbuckle and Tonga missed a splash into the steel. Togo tried to interfere, but Jado wandered over to stop him. 

Tonga dodged a charge and EVIL ran into the buckle. Tonga hit a neckbreaker and three dropkicks as he turned the bout in his favor. Tonga whipped EVIL into the exposed buckle. Tonga hit a splash in the corner for a two count. 

EVIL blocked a Tongan Twist with a rake of the eyes and hit a ref-assisted mid kick. EVIL went for a scorpion deathlock. Tonga used a Tongan death grip to block, then used his own scorpion deathlock. EVIL forced a rope break. 

Tonga went up top, but aborted whatever he had planned as EVIL grabbed the referee. EVIL pulled the ref in Tonga’s path and hit a ref-assisted Magic Killer for a two count. EVIL got the scorpion deathlock applied, but Tonga got to the ropes. 

Tonga blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a Tongan Twist for a two count. EVIL blocked a Gun Stun. Tonga blocked a low blow and hit a death valley driver. Tonga hit a top rope splash for a two count. 

Tonga called for the Gun Stun, but the lights went out. When the lights came back on, Togo was choking Tonga with his ligature and the ref was out. Jado used a kendo stick on Togo. 

EVIL hit Everything is EVIL and revived the ref, then covered Tonga for the pin. 

SHO came to the ring after the match for the big reveal that he had turned the lights out. 

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (15:15)

These guys had a banger. Great stuff. 

Cobb broke cleanly against the ropes after locking up. Cobb threw Taichi to the mat after another lockup. Taichi needed a new plan, so he went after Cobb’s taped left leg with kicks. They fought to the floor and Taichi sent Cobb into the barricade and choked him with camera cables. 

Back inside, Cobb blocked a gamengiri in the corner and launched Taichi across the ring with a throw. Cobb stayed on offense and drove Taichi into the corner pads, just ragdoll-ing him around the ring. Taichi sold his back. Taichi came back with a high kick, then a gamengiri in the corner. 

Taichi removed his trousers. Cobb hit a dropkick for a two count. Taichi hit an enzuigiri, then hit a series of mid kicks to the chest. Cobb dared him to fire more kicks, but Taichi kicked his leg out of his leg instead. 

Cobb blocked an axe bomber and hit his own clothesline. Cobb hit a spin cycle and a standing moonsault for a pair of near falls. Taichi blocked a Tour of the Islands. His back gave out as he went for a backdrop suplex, selling the damage of the match. 

Taichi blocked another attempt at Tour of the Islands with an illegal choke, then hit his backdrop suplex for a near fall. Cobb blocked a thrust kick and hit a thrust kick. Taichi hit a gamengiri and used a Gedo clutch for a near fall. 

Taichi went for Black Mephisto. Cobb blocked and hit strikes to the lower back. Cobb dropped Taichi with a forearm strike. Taichi blocked Tour of the Islands with an axe bomber. Cobb avoided Black Mephisto and another high kick and hit a German. 

Cobb then finally connected with Tour of the Islands and got the win. 

B Block: Hirooki Goto defeated YOSHI-HASHI (16:57)

This was a great brawl. Great intensity from both guys. The crowd was alive tonight which helped greatly. 

They had a striking battle at the outset. They brawled in the ring, then brawled to the floor. YH had the upper hand after a neckbreaker on the floor. Goto made it back in after a countout tease. 

YH remained in control until Goto hit a lariat to cut him off. YH avoided a misdirection lariat, but Goto hit a throw and an ushigoroshi to get a near fall. Goto hit an inverted GTR, but YH kicked out. Goto went for a standard GTR, but YH reversed into Goto’s own Shouten Kai move. 

They exchanged strikes. YH fired off chops. Goto threw a kick, but YH caught it and hit a headbutt. YH hit double knees for a near fall. YH hit a dragon suplex. Goto no-sold, but YH hit him with a thrust kick and a kumagoroshi for a two count. 

YH used a sleeper at the 15 minute mark. Goto blocked Kharma and hit a headbutt. After a double down, Goto hit a GYW and a GTR for the pin. 

B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated SANADA (29:14)

A great main event to cap what was probably the best night of the tournament so far. 

They did some basic mat wrestling. Headlock takeovers, head scissor escapes and the like. Okada broke cleanly against the ropes after teasing a strike. Okada hit a big boot and an elbow drop. SANADA hit a dropkick five minutes in. 

Okada avoided the paradise lock on the first attempt. SANADA used a frankensteiner to set up a second attempt and got the paradise lock on. SANADA broke it with a dropkick and got a two count. SANADA used a chinlock, Okada forced a rope break. 

SANADA hammered at Okada’s neck with elbows. He hit a snap suplex for a two count as Okada sold his back. SANADA hit a back elbow, but missed a standing moonsault. Okada hit a running back elbow. 

Okada hit a running back elbow in the corner, then a DDT out of the corner for a two count. SANADA blocked a tombstone attempt, but Okada hit a neckbreaker. Okada used a neck tie with SANADA’s own arms. SANADA forced a break at the 10 minute call. 

Okada hit a sliding dropkick. SANADA avoided a senton and Okada sold his back again. SANADA hit a basement dropkick to the left knee and kipped up. SANADA hit an arm drag, a back breaker and a plancha. 

Okada sent SANADA from a seated position on the top rope to the floor with a dropkick, then hit a DDT on the floor. SANADA beat the count back in at 18. Okada used the Money Clip. SANADA broke it quickly. Okada avoided a moonsault. SANADA landed on his feet and sold his right knee giving out on landing. 

Okada hit a knee breaker and continued to go after the bad leg. Okada used the Money Clip again. After a long submission tease, SANADA fought to the ropes for a break. 

Okada hit a slam and an elbow off the top. He hit his Rainmaker pose. SANADA ducked a Rainmaker and used Skull End. Okada immediately got out of the hold, but SANADA hit a TKO for a two count. 

SANADA used a spinning Skull End and applied a body scissors with it on the mat at 20 minutes. SANADA gave up the hold as he always does against Okada. It’s a total logic break when he does that. SANADA went for a moonsault. Okada rolled out of the way and SANADA landed and sold his knee. 

SANADA used a Destino to set up Skull End with the body scissors again. Okada made the ropes after teasing tapping out. 

Okada avoided a magic screw. SANADA avoided a Rainmaker, but Okada hit his dropkick. SANADA hit a pop-up TKO and a moonsault. Okada kicked out at two. We heard the 25 minute call. 

Okada used the threat of an air raid crash to use his sit-down cradle for a near fall. Okada hit a spinning tombstone into a double down. They traded strikes at the 27 minute call. SANADA no-sold a shotgun dropkick. Okada hit a German. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall at 28 minutes. 

SANADA blocked the landslide and got Skull End again. Okada escaped. SANADA ducked a Rainmaker. Okada hit the landslide, then hit a Rainmaker. Okada covered for the pin. 

Each gave the other a thumbs up after the match. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night 11, Thursday, October 7, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Great-O-Khan
  • A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Toru Yano
  • A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Tanga Loa
  • Hiromu Takahashi vs. KENTA
  • El Desperado vs. Ryohei Oiwa 

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night nine results: Shingo vs. Ibushi

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Aichi.

Shingo Takagi faced Kota Ibushi in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-main. 

Tanga Loa vs. Yujiro Takahashi, and KENTA vs. Great-O-Khan were the other tournament matches today. 

Toru Yano took on BUSHI, plus Yoshinobu Kanemaru faced Kosei Fujita in the two non-tournament matches. 

Here are results and a report from the show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Report —

Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Kosei Fujita (7:34)

Fujita is not as good as Oiwa is my hot take on the new Young Lion duo. Oiwa had a really good match with Kanemaru the other night. This was just there. 

Fujita tried some forearm strikes early. Kanemaru cut him off and worked him over. Fujita made a comeback and hit a dropkick. Kanemaru cut him off again and used a Boston crab for the submission. 

Toru Yano defeated BUSHI (7:14)

This was complete haha. 

They blindfolded each other with tote bags. BUSHI tied Yano to the barricade with a towel for a countout tease. Yano exposed a buckle. Yano tied BUSHI to the barricade by the mask for another countout tease. 

BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and a suicide dive. Yano put a blindfold over the ref’s head. BUSHI rolled up Yano but there was no referee. 

Yano hit a low blow and used a schoolboy for the pin. 

A Block: KENTA defeated Great-O-Khan (19:39)

This was okay. The Great-Okay. 

They did some promo work before the match where each asked the other to bow down to the other. The loser of the match would be forced to bow down to the winner. 

KENTA stalled early and hid under the ring. He popped out from under the ring and attacked O-Khan on the floor. They traded leg holds on the mat. O-Khan took control of the match after some Mongolian chops. 

O-Khan used an iron claw and went for the Eliminator, but KENTA escaped and hit a DDT. KENTA followed up with the green killer for a near fall. KENTA hit a running boot and stalling dropkick in the corner. 

KENTA rolled through after missing a double stomp, but O-Khan cut him off with a pump kick. They traded hard slaps, with KENTA getting the better of the sequence. O-Khan escaped a GTS attempt an went for an Eliminator, but KENTA used a knee strike to block. 

O-Khan used the sheep killer. KENTA slid out and bumped O-Khan into the referee. KENTA brought a chair in and used it on O-Khan. KENTA put O-Khan’s hat on and hit a double stomp off the top onto O-Khan on the chair. 

KENTA brought a baseball bat into the ring. He threw the bat to O-Khan. The ref was revived and saw O-Khan with the bat. KENTA used the distraction to schoolboy O-Khan and pin him. 

KENTA sat on a chair and demanded that O-Khan bow down. O-Khan almost did, but popped up at the last minute and hit the Eliminator on KENTA. KENTA gets the win, O-Khan keeps his pride. 

A Block: Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (12:36)

They had a fine brawl, they didn’t overstay their welcome, they worked hard. No complaints about this one which looked like it could have been a struggle on paper. 

Loa gained the early advantage and busted out a standing moonsault for a two count. He continued on the offensive with a blue thunder bomb. Loa used a chinlock. 

Yujiro came back and actually hit a suicide dive. These guys weren’t messing around tonight. 

Yujiro hit an Angle slam for a two count. Loa came back with a sit-out powerbomb. Yujiro hit Miami Shine and scored a near fall. 

Yujiro went for Big Juice, but Loa blocked and hit Apesh*t to get the pin. 

A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (18:40)

Really good match with a simple story. Sabre went after Ishii’s right arm. Would Ishii be able to deliver enough punishment before the arm gave out?

Sabre tried to steal a quick win with a European clutch. Sabre used kicks and holds in working over the arm. Ishii went for a superplex, but Sabre escaped and hit a powerbomb off the second rope. Ishii came back with a German after blocking a PK. 

Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but Sabre caught his right arm in an armbar. Ishii forced a rope break. He adjusted the wrap on his arm and continued to sell it. 

Ishii no-sold a kick and kicked Sabre’s right leg. Ishii no-sold another kick and hit a big forearm shot. They traded strikes. Ishii hit an enzuigiri and a powerbomb with a stack cover for a near fall. 

Sabre again avoided a sliding lariat and caught Ishii in a crucifix for a two count. Ishii kicked out and then hit the sliding lariat at 15 minutes. 

Ishii hit another lariat. Sabre avoided another lariat swing and used a clutch for a two count. Sabre used a kimura, then transitioned to a cross armbreaker. He then slid to a triangle. Ishii forced a break with kicks. 

Ishii escaped a Zack Driver and hit a headbutt and a lariat. Ishii rammed his own arm into the corner pad and ripped the padding off. 

Ishii hit a lariat for a two count, then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.

A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Shingo Takagi (23:57)

A classic G1 match. This was easily Ibushi’s best match since his return from pneumonia. 

They started simply, hitting shoulder blocks and trading headlocks. They turned to striking. Shingo hit some strikes, but Ibushi went into Murder Ibushi mode and no-sold. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick. 

Ibushi sent Shingo to the floor with a snap rana, then hit a gorgeous Asai moonsault. Back in, Ibushi used a standing moonsault for a two count. Shingo blocked a last ride attempt with a backdrop, then hit a neckbreaker to halt Ibushi’s momentum. 

They traded half-and-half suplexes. They traded strikes. Ibushi dumped Shingo with a suplex, but Shingo no-sold and hit a diving forearm to the back into a double down. 

Shingo hit a superplex for a two count. Ibushi blocked a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo hit a left-arm lariat. Shingo used a standing switch to set up Made in Japan for another two count. Ibushi blocked Last of the Dragon and hit a knee strike to the face. 

Shingo blocked Bomaye and tried a sliding lariat. Ibushi avoided it, then hit an enzuigiri. Ibushi then connected with the Bomaye and a last ride for a near fall. 

Ibushi went for Kamigoye at 20 minutes. Shingo blocked and hit his own Kamigoye. Ibushi sold this huge. Shingo could not immediately follow up. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. Ibush took a flip bump. Shingo covered for a two count. 

Shingo went for Last of the Dragon. Ibushi powered out with forearm strikes. Shingo hit a combination of strikes. Ibushi hit a palm strike and a hook kick. Ibushi blocked a Pumping Bomber attempt with a high kick. 

Ibushi hit a Kamigoye, but Shingo kicked out at two. 

Ibushi pulled down the knee pad and tried another Kamigoye, but Shingo blocked and tried Last of the Dragon. Ibushi slid out and hit a poison rana. 

Ibushi hit a v-trigger and two more Kamigoyes and got the pin. 

Ibushi held up one finger after the match, as if to say let’s do it one more time. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night 10, Monday, October 4, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
  • B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • B Block: Taichi vs. Jeff Cobb
  • B Block: EVIL vs. Tama Tonga
  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night eight results: Tanahashi vs. SANADA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today at Hamamatsu Arena.

Hiroshi Tanahashi faced SANADA in the main event, while Kazuchika Okada took on Hirooki Goto in the semi-main. 

YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi, EVIL vs. Chase Owens, plus Jeff Cobb vs. Tama Tonga were the other tournament matches today. 

Yoshinobu Kanemaru faced Ryohei Oiwa in the non-tournament opener. 

Here are results and a report from the show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA

Report —

Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Ryohei Oiwa (7:36)

Small sample size, but I think Oiwa is the better of the two Young Lions in this class. 

Oiwa attacked Kanemaru before the opening bell to get this show started off right. Oiwa used a side headlock. Kanemaru sent Oiwa to the floor and worked over his legs to set up the finish. 

Back inside, Kanemaru continued the leg work. Oiwa tried a belly-to-belly, but Kanemaru blocked with a face rake. Oiwa hit a great dropkick and tried to get Kanemaru over for a crab, but Kanemaru blocked. 

Kanemaru hit his own dropkick, then used a single-leg crab. He transitioned to a figure four for the submission. 

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (12:47)

Once they got into teasing finishers this was very good. A very good closing stretch. 

The first half of the match was all Cobb, to the point where it dragged a bit. I always talk about the Ricky Steamboat rule of fighting from underneath, where the underdog can’t let the aggressor hit more than two consecutive moves without throwing in a hope spot. I think that applied here.

Cobb quickly established the advantage with a belly-to-belly throw. Tonga rolled outside. Cobb went out after him and pounded on his lower back with strikes. Back in the ring, Cobb hit a stalling vertical suplex for an early near fall. 

Cobb used a waistlock on the mat and some combination strikes in the corner. Tonga avoided a pillar to post and hit a dropkick, then guillotine grip to drop Cobb with a DDT. Tonga hit a neckbreaker. 

Cobb blocked a splash in the corner and tried his own, but Tonga escaped and then hit his splash. Tonga hit a death valley driver for a two count. Cobb hit a backdrop out of a powerbomb attempt and followed with a dropkick. 

Cobb hit a standing moonsault. Tonga blocked Tour of the Islands and hit a Tongan Twist and a frog splash for a two count. 

Cobb blocked a Gun Stun. They traded superkicks. Cobb blocked another Gun Stun attempt and hit a release German, then followed with Tour of the Islands for the pin. 

B Block: EVIL defeated Chase Owens (12:38)

EVIL can’t have a good match with this gimmick and these patterned matches. It’s not possible. 

EVIL asked Owens to lay down for him. Owens declined and slapped EVIL across the face. So the match was on, unfortunately. 

Owens made a point of telling Togo not to get involved, but he did. They did all the Bullet Club EVIL spots. EVIL bumped the ring announcer. They exposed a turnbuckle. Togo choked Owens with his ligature while EVIL took the referee. 

Togo took the ref, EVIL hit a low blow and Everything is EVIL for the pin. 

B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (22:26)

They tried to have an intense brawl as the sparse crowd politely sat there in silence. This was a struggle. People like YOSHI-HASHI. The NEVER Six-Man titles have become the most prestigious titles in wrestling while he has held them. Long singles matches are not his strength.

Taichi hit a forearm strike before the bell and they brawled to the floor. Taichi threw the referee aside and taunted YH with his own title belt. Both used the barricade and hit strikes on the floor. 

YH fought to the ropes out of a stretch plum from Taichi. YH ducked an axe bomber and hit a dragon suplex. YH hit a lariat and the kumagoroshi for a near fall. 

YH escaped Black Mephisto and got the butterfly lock applied. He transitioned to a sleeper as Taichi tried to fight to the ropes. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex to break the hold as the crowd finally woke up near the 20 minute call.

Taichi hit a huge gamengiri. YH blocked Black Mephisto and hit a destroyer for a two count. YH blocked a high kick and hit a lariat. YH then hit Kharma for the pin. 

B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Hirooki Goto (18:06)

Okada was excellent here. He worked more heelish than he normally does, using some subtle facial expressions and things of that nature. He also did a great job of selling the cumulative damage of the tournament to his arms and neck. The lack of crowd reaction hurt this match too, though.

Okada broke cleanly in the ropes after the first lockup. Goto did not break cleanly against the ropes on the second lockup. They did some chain wrestling. Goto hit a clothesline, sending Okada to the floor. Goto threw Okada right back in. 

Goto used a chinlock. Okada hit a flapjack five minutes in. Okada sent Goto into the barricade and hit a DDT on the floor for a countout tease. Back in, Okada hit a sliding dropkick. They exchanged strikes. Goto ducked a boot and hit a lariat. Goto hit his heel kick in the corner and bulldog at the 10 minute call. 

They brawled to the floor as the niceties were dispensed with. Back inside, Okada hit a dropkick. Okada used the Money Clip, but Goto forced a rope break. Goto avoided a top rope elbow attempt and a shotgun dropkick attempt. Goto hit a neckbreaker for a two count 15 minutes in. 

Goto hit a lariat, a mid kick and an ushigoroshi for a near fall. Okada blocked a GTR and hit a clothesline into a double down. Goto ducked a Rainmaker, but ran into an Okada dropkick. 

Okada hit a tombstone. Goto ducked another Rainmaker attempt and used a leg sweep for a two count. Okada escaped an ushigoroshi attempt. Goto blocked a spinning Rainmaker and hit a reverse GTR. 

Okada ducked a spinning lariat, hit a backdrop, then sat down into a cradle and got the flash pin. 

B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA (25:35)

This was a great main event. The story of the bout was that they were evenly matched. Neither held a significant advantage for any length of time. One would attack the legs, the other would counter attack the legs. 

Tanahashi had the slight edge in the opening mat wrestling sequence. Tana tried the paradise lock, but he couldn’t figure it out and SANADA but Tana in the hold instead. SANADA played some air guitar. 

SANADA used a head scissors on the mat, but Tana rolled to the ropes. Tana fired up and hit the first real strikes of the match at the 10 minute call. Tana hit a flying forearm, a scoop slam and a somersault senton for a two count. 

SANADA reversed a whip into the corner, but Tana fired out with a basement dropkick to the knee. SANADA hit a dropkick to the knee. They traded dragon screws. Both ended up going for a dragon screw at the same time. They agreed to put each other down, but SANADA didn’t keep his promise and hit another dragon screw. 

SANADA hit a backbreaker and a plancha. Tana caught SANADA coming back into the ring and hit a dropkick to the right leg and two dragon screws in the ropes. Tana fought for the Texas Clover Hold, but SANADA got to the ropes. Tana hit another dragon screw instead. 

SANADA tried to block a slingblade with a rana, but Tana blocked the rana to set up the Texas Clover Hold. This was a great spot. SANADA made the ropes for a break. Tanahashi hit a plancha. Tanahashi was really trying to get the crowd into it, putting his hand to his ear and clapping. 

Tana blocked a magic screw attempt and hit two twist and shouts, but SANADA held on and got the magic screw. SANADA used a TKO threat to set up Skull End, but Tana reversed into his own dragon sleeper. SANADA kicked out of the hold. 

SANADA hit a springboard dropkick at the 20 minute call. SANADA hit the TKO for a two count. SANADA rolled through on a moonsault attempt. They stumbled as SANADA set up a spinning Skull End. Tana hit another twist and shout. 

Tanahashi hit slingblade for a near fall. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. He tried a standard High Fly Flow, but SANADA got his knees up. SANADA tried a moonsault, but Tana got his knees up. 

They traded forearms. Tana hit a slap. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a two count. Tana used an O’Connor roll to hit a dragon suplex into a bridge for a two count. 

Tana then went back up top and hit a High Fly Flow to get the victory. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night nine, Sunday, Ocotber 3, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
  • A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • A Block: Tanga Loa vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • A Block: KENTA vs. Great-O-Khan
  • BUSHI vs. Toru Yano
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Kosei Fujita

BAN: Stardom 5Star GP, NJPW G1 Climax, NOAH N1 Victory tourney

Posted on by Adam Summers

The solo express edition of the Big Audio Nightmare is back as I guide you through the latest in the world of Japanese professional wrestling.

Topics include:

  • The conclusion of Stardom’s 5Star GP
  • A look at the first week of the NJPW G1 Climax
  • Thoughts on Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N1 Victory as we head into the final night of that tournament

All that and more right here on a new Big Audio Nightmare.

Right click save

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night seven results: Shingo vs. KENTA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today at Korakuen Hall. 

Shingo Takagi faced KENTA in the main event, while Kota Ibushi took on Toru Yano in the semi-main. 

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great-O-Khan and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa were the other tournament matches today. 

Here are results and a report from the show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. KENTA
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great-O-Khan
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa

Report —

Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) defeated BUSHI (13:01)

When you look at the lineup and you see Yano in the semi-main, you can bet on everything else getting a few extra minutes. This went too long as a result. 

BUSHI hit a dropkick before the bell for the jumpstart, then threw Yujiro into the barricade. Yujiro used Pieter as a human shield to stop BUSHI from attempting a dive and used the distraction to drag BUSHI to the floor. Yujiro sent BUSHI into the security fence and took control of the bout. 

Yujiro worked BUSHI over in a dull manner. BUSHI came back with a basement dropkick and a suicide dive. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. Yujiro bit BUSHI’s hand to halt the momentum. Yujiro went for Miami Shine, but BUSHI blocked and hit a backstabber. 

BUSHI went for an MX, but Yujiro caught him with a lariat. They exchanged forearm strikes. Yujiro hit a big boot. BUSHI hit a dropkick. Yujiro hit another lariat and an Angle slam for a two count. 

BUSHI blocked a Pimp Juice attempt and cradled Yujiro for a near fall. Yujiro blocked a codebreaker and hit Big Juice for the pin. 

A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (16:18)

Really good match. Ishii will probably end up MVP of the G1 again. His worst match so far was with Kota Ibushi of all people. The sons of Haku continue to deliver in the tournament so far as well. 

Loa rolled outside after a quick strike exchange kicked things off. He climbed back in and they got the crowd into the match with a long series of strikes exchanged. Loa got the best of the sequence. Ishii rolled outside. Loa sent him into the barricade, then posted his back. 

Back in, Loa used a chinlock and elbows to the head. Loa hit an exploder and Ishii sold his back big. Ishii answered with chops in the corner, a powerslam and a delayed vertical suplex. Loa hit a neckbreaker to cut him off. 

Loa no-sold a German suplex and hit a blue thunder bomb for a two count. Loa used the OJK, but Ishii made the ropes. Ishii blocked a powerbomb and hit a backdrop. Ishii hit a superplex for a two count. 

Ishii tried to set up a sliding lariat, but Loa popped up and hit a dropkick. Loa hit a massive lariat and a top rope diving headbutt for a near fall. Loa hit a spear and a sit-out powerbomb for a good near fall. 

Ishii escaped Apesh*t and hit an enzuigiri and a lariat for a two count. They traded lariats, but neither went down. Ishii hit a headbutt. Loa again avoided the sliding lariat. 

Ishii escaped Apesh*t a second time and hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin. 

A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Great-O-Khan (15:26)

This was unique and excellent if you like Sabre matches. They did almost exclusively technical wrestling and it felt like a real contest. This might have been the best match of O-Khan’s career. 

They spent the first eight minutes of the match trading holds on the mat. O-Khan ended up bleeding from the nose. 

Sabre fired off a couple of forearms, but O-Khan dropped Sabre with one Mongolian chop. O-Khan used two more Mongolian chops to drop Sabre a second time. Sabre sold losing feeling in his right arm after the chops to the neck. 

Sabre used an octopus. O-Khan reversed into an ankle lock. Sabre reversed into a heel hook. O-Khan reversed. Sabre forced a rope break. Sabre blocked a gutwrench throw and took O-Khan’s back with a choke. Sabre used a crucifix for a two count. 

Sabre hit a penalty kick, but O-Khan kicked out at one. Sabre avoided the claw and went for a tornado DDT, but O-Khan blocked and used a cobra twist with the iron claw applied as well. O-Khan transitioned to the sheep killer. O-Khan slipped to a modified torture rack, then gave up the hold. 

O-Khan went for the Eliminator at the 15 minute mark, but Sabre locked on a standing triangle. O-Khan didn’t submit, but the referee called for the stoppage with O-Khan unable to improve his position. 

A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Toru Yano (4:03)

This was total comedy. 

Yano put a bag over Ibushi’s head and rolled him up for two near falls. Yano then rolled Ibushi up in the ring skirt and tried to steal a countout, but Ibushi freed himself and made it back in. 

Ibushi hit a dropkick and a plancha. Yano tried to tape Ibushi to the apron, but Ibushi kicked him away and Yano was almost counted out. Ibushi blocked a low blow. Yano used another cradle for a near fall. 

Ibushi hit a Kamigoye to the back, a Bomaye, then hit a standard Kamigoye for the pin. 

A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated KENTA (23:56)

A very good main event. Not match of the tournament or anything, but a solid match with good storytelling.

They traded strikes and shoulder tackle attempts. Shingo hit a slam and a senton. KENTA blocked a diving forearm attempt and used Game Over on Shingo’s taped right arm, but Shingo forced a rope break.

Shingo rolled outside and KENTA posted his right arm. KENTA kicked the right arm as it was draped over the barricade. Back inside, KENTA kicked at the arm and used a Fujiwara armbar. KENTA exposed a turnbuckle and whipped Shingo’s arm into it. 

KENTA continued working on the arm. Shingo grabbed a chinlock, but got backed into the exposed buckle. Shingo hit a couple of strikes and a DDT. He continued firing off strikes with the right arm, selling it after each strike. Shingo blocked a swing DDT and hit a lariat with his left arm. 

Shingo hit a vertical suplex and a sliding lariat with the right arm. He continued to sell the arm, then covered for a near fall. KENTA fought off Made in Japan and hit a swing DDT across the top rope. KENTA hit a top rope clothesline for a two count. 

KENTA hit a DDT for another near fall. Shingo blocked a draping DDT attempt and they fought to the apron. Shingo teased Made in Japan off the apron, but KENTA slid out and dropped Shingo’s right arm across the top rope. 

They battled on the floor. KENTA hit the green killer DDT off the apron to the floor. Shingo made it back in after a countout tease. KENTA hit a running kick and a stalling dropkick in the corner. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top to the bad arm for a near fall. 

Shingo blocked a GTS attempt. KENTA hit a knee strike and tried it again. Shingo blocked and hit a pop-up DVD into a double down at the 15 minute call. 

They traded forearms. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes. Shingo hit a headbutt. KENTA hit a spinning backfist. Shingo blocked a kick and hit Made in Japan for a two count. Shingo hit a top rope superplex. 

Shingo tried a lariat in the corner, but KENTA pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump and rolled to the floor. KENTA hit a low blow and a divorce court. KENTA Pillman-ized Shingo’s right arm. 

KENTA dragged the ref back in at 20 minutes and locked on Game Over, but Shingo got his foot across the bottom rope to force a break. KENTA hit a running knee strike. He teased a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo cut him off with a lariat. 

Shingo escaped another GTS attempt and hit a dragon suplex and a diving forearm strike. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber with his bad arm, but KENTA kicked out. 

KENTA slipped out of one Last of the Dragon attempt and tried to send Shingo into the buckle, but Shingo sent KENTA into the buckle instead. Shingo then hit Last of the Dragon to get the pin.

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night eight, Friday, Ocotber 1, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA
  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hirooki Goto
  • B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi
  • B Block: EVIL vs. Chase Owens
  • B Block: Jeff Cobb vs. Tama Tonga
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Ryohei Oiwa 

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night six results: Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Kazuchika Okada took on YOSHI-HASHI in the main event, while Hiroshi Tanahashi faced Tama Tonga in the semi-main. 

Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb, SANADA vs. Chase Owens, plus EVIL vs. Taichi were the other tournament matches today. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tama Tonga
  • Jeff Cobb vs. Hirooki Goto

Report —

B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (11:30)

They had EVIL’s patterned match. It was short and it was the opener. 

Taichi kicked Togo before the opening bell and sent EVIL outside. He tried to choke EVIL with a camera cable, but Togo distracted him. Taichi chased Togo into the ring, where EVIL hit him with a lariat to take over. EVIL whipped Taichi into an exposed turnbuckle. 

EVIL bumped Taichi into the barricade and the ring announcer took a bump. Taichi came back with a hook kick. They brawled back to the floor. Taichi bumped EVIL into the barricade and the ring announcer took his second bump of the night. 

EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Taichi blocked the STO and sent EVIL into the exposed buckle. Taichi hit an axe bomber and tore off his pants. Taichi hit a gamengiri off a series of standing switches. 

They threw the ref aside. EVIL tried a low blow, but Taichi blocked and hit a low blow. Taichi used a clutch for a pin attempt, but Togo took the ref. Taichi sent EVIL into Togo and hit another jumping high kick and a backdrop suplex for a near fall. 

Togo grabbed Miho Abe on the outside and distracted Taichi and the ref. EVIL hit a low blow to Taichi, then hit Everything is EVIL. He then used the scorpion deathlock. Taichi was out, so the ref called for the stoppage. 

B Block: SANADA defeated Chase Owens (11:58)

This was good. Owens has been good in the tournament to this point, but he has no credibility after being treated as a comedy job guy for years. 

After a couple of quick comedy spots, SANADA sent Owens outside. SANADA teased a plancha, but Owens stepped out of the way and tripped SANADA up on the apron. Owens sent SANADA into the barricade for a countout tease, but SANADA made it back in. 

Owens stretched SANADA with a surfboard. SANADA came back with a basement dropkick and a paradise lock. He sent Owens outside with a snap rana, but Owens again avoided the plancha and sent SANADA into the barricade. Owens hit a shoulder breaker and a lariat for a two count. 

SANADA hit a springboard dropkick and a TKO for a two count. He rolled through on a moonsault, then got a standing Skull End applied. Owens slipped out and hit a top rope cutter and a shining wizard. 

Owens grabbed the ref as SANADA executed an O’Connor roll and threw him down. SANADA covered, but no ref to count the pin. 

Owens hit a pump kick. He went for the package driver, but SANADA rolled through. Owens blocked another O’Connor roll and used two cradles for near falls. 

SANADA used Skull End, then hit a moonsault for the pin. 

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Hirooki Goto (15:09)

This was an excellent brawl. 

Goto sent Cobb outside and posted his left arm. Goto continued working on the arm. He tried a wheel kick after a whip into the corner, but Cobb caught him coming in and launched him with a throw. 

Cobb continued tossing Goto around the ring with throws. Cobb hit his chop and clothesline combinations in the corner. He teased a standing moonsault, but Goto got up and fired a few strikes. Cobb dropped Goto and tried the moonsault, but Goto rolled out of the way. 

Goto made his comeback and hit a spinning kick and a bulldog for a two count. Cobb blocked an ushigoroshi attempt and hit a dropkick. Cobb hit a back suplex and a standing moonsault for a two count. 

They traded strikes. Cobb hit the ropes and ran right into an ushigoroshi. Goto dodged a kick and hit a lariat. Cobb blocked a GTR, but Goto hit a belly-to-belly. Goto used a cross armbreaker, but Cobb forced a rope break. 

Cobb fought out of a hammerlock and hit a thrust kick. Cobb ducked a lariat. Goto escaped a powerslam attempt. Cobb reversed a bulldog attempt into a spin cycle. Cobb hit a German. Goto escaped a Tour of the Islands and used a leg sweep for a two count. 

Goto used a GTR and a lariat for a two count. He went for another GTR, but Cobb blocked. Goto hit a headbutt, but Cobb popped up and hit his own headbutt. 

Cobb then hit Tour of the Islands for the pin. 

B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (14:17)

These guys got every ounce out of everything that they did, which was not a lot. The story of the match was Tonga continually trying for the Gun Stun. When he finally hit it, he didn’t cover right away and it cost him the match. 

They started with trading side headlocks. Tana blocked two Gun Stun attempts. Tana hit a senton for a two count, but Tonga reversed into a crucifix for his own near fall. Tonga snapped Tana’s neck across the top rope to get the heat. 

Tonga worked a sleeper hold, then a Tongan death grip. Tanahashi caught a kick and teased a dragon screw, but then used the death grip himself. Tana then hit a dragon screw. Tanahashi fought for a Texas Clover Hold, but Tonga escaped and used the death grip again. 

Tonga missed a splash in the corner. Tanahashi missed with slingblade, allowing Tonga to hit a Tongan Twist for a two count. Tonga hit slingblade, then hit his own version of the High Fly Flow for a sweet near fall. 

Tanahashi blocked a Gun Stun. They fought for position as Tonga tried a Tongan Twist and Tanahashi went for twist and shout. Tana won out and hit twist and shout and a slingblade. 

Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow. He went for a second, but Tonga rolled out of the way. Tonga popped up and hit a Gun Stun, but he could not cover right away. 

Tonga eventually made the cover, but Tanahashi kicked out at two, then slid to a crucifix for the flash pin. 

B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI (26:53)

Chris Charlton gave a great history lesson on commentary about the history between these two before the match to set the stage. 

They know each other super well, and that was the story of the match. They had to fight for every bit of offense. The pacing was slow for that reason, but everything made sense. 

They locked up. Okada teased hitting YH on the break, but YH struck first. They brawled to the floor. YH sent Okada into the barricade. Okada came back with two DDTs on the floor and another in the ring. 

YH came back with a headhunter, a neckbreaker and a blockbuster. YH got a butterfly lock applied, but Okada forced a break. Okada used the Money Clip. YH tried to fight to the ropes, but Okada pulled him back to the center and re-applied. They did a long ref stoppage tease, but YH snapped to life and reached the ropes for a break. They were past 15 minutes at this point. 

Okada hit a top rope elbow and the Rainmaker pose. YH ducked the Rainmaker and hit a chop. Okada blocked a thrust kick, then rolled through on a whip attempt and hit two Rainmakers. 

Okada went for a third Rainmaker, but YH hit his own Rainmaker into a double down. 

YH avoided a tombstone and hit a dragon suplex. Okada missed a dropkick. YH hit a meteora for a two count just past the 20 minute call. Okada ducked one lariat, but YH hit a clothesline on the rebound. YH hit a kumagoroshi for a two count. 

YH went back to the butterfly lock. As Okada tried to scoot to the ropes, YH transitioned to a sleeper, then hit a backstabber. YH again used the butterfly lock, then again slipped to a sleeper hold. YH tried to hit Kharma out of the sleeper, but Okada hit a spinning tombstone. 

YH avoided a shotgun dropkick. YH hit a clothesline in the corner at 25 minutes. YH missed a senton bomb off the top. Okada hit a dropkick to the back, then another to the front. 

YH ducked a Rainmaker and cradled Okada for two. YH blocked another Rainmaker attempt and hit a thrust kick. Okada blocked a dragon suplex. 

Okada hit landslide, then used another Rainmaker for the pin. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night seven, Thursday, September 30, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. KENTA
  • A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Toru Yano
  • A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great-O-Khan
  • A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa
  • BUSHI vs. Yujiro Takahashi

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night five results: Ibushi vs. Sabre

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today at Kobe World Hall. 

Kota Ibushi took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii faced KENTA in the semi-main. 

Great-O-Khan vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Tanga Loa vs. Toru Yano were the other tournament matches today. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi faced Yuji Nagata in a special singles match, while Master Wato took on Kosei Fujita in the opener. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. KENTA
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Report —

Master Wato defeated Kosei Fujita (6:21)

I’m not an anti-Wato guy, I think some of his stuff is good, but these Young Lion openers probably benefit him as much as Fujita and Oiwa. Wato could use the ring time and practice on fundamentals. 

Wato got the best of a brief chain wrestling sequence, then took control with kicks. Fujita hit a great desperation dropkick to create separation and locked on a crab, but Wato fought to the ropes. 

Wato hit a backdrop and used a Boston crab for the submission. 

Shingo Takagi defeated Yuji Nagata (16:51)

This was terrific. 

Shingo had his right arm taped up, selling the damage from his match with Sabre last week. 

They began by trading holds, then traded strikes. Shingo hit a knee lift and backed Nagata into the ropes. They slipped to the apron. Each teased a move on the apron, but Nagata jumped to the floor. Shingo tried a diving chop off the apron, but Nagata caught him and hit an exploder on the floor to take control of the match. 

Back inside, Nagata began targeting the arms. He wrenched on the left arm, then the taped right arm. Nagata hit kicks to the arms, then barred the left arm. Shingo forced  a break, then hit a vertical suplex.

Shingo caught a kick attempt and hit a DVD. Nagata hit a knee strike and caught Shingo in a Nagata Lock. Nagata transitioned to pin attempt, but Shingo kicked out. Shingo hit a dragon screw. 

Nagata fought off a figure four attempt, then caught a sliding lariat attempt and slapped on another variation of the Nagata Lock. Shingo escaped and hit a diving forearm strike. Nagata hit the Justice knee in the corner. Shingo tried to fight off a superplex, but Nagata hit a top rope exploder for a near fall. 

Shingo blocked a back suplex and dumped Nagata on his neck with a back suplex. Shingo hit a lariat. Nagata countered with a back suplex. They traded forearm blows. Nagata hit an enzuigiri, but Shingo answered with an immediate sliding lariat. 

Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a near fall, then used Last of the Dragon to score the pin. 

Shingo cut a promo after the match and promised to deliver Shingo vs. Naito as soon as possible. That was the originally scheduled main event for tonight before Naito’s knee forced him to withdraw from G1.

A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (14:15)

This lacked intensity and the pacing was slow, but it was better than I expected. 

O-Khan wanted to amateur wrestle on the mat, but Yujiro didn’t want any part of that. They brawled to the floor. Yujiro used his walking stick on O-Khan on the ramp to take over. O-Khan made it back in after a countout tease. 

Yujiro used a legdrop, a slam and another legdrop for a pair of near falls. O-Khan came back with a back suplex, then tied Yujiro to the tree of woe and hit a sliding dropkick. They traded chops. O-Khan hit a belly-to-belly to set up a head and arm choke, but Yujiro forced a break. 

Yujiro hit a fisherman buster and an Angle slam for a two count. Yujiro hit Miami Shine for another near fall. O-Khan blocked Pimp Juice. Yujiro escaped the Eliminator and hit a lariat for a two count. 

O-Khan escaped Big Juice and used a sheep killer to set up the Eliminator for the pin.  

A Block: Toru Yano defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (10:46)

They didn’t go full comedy or full serious match with this one and the result was a bad mix of both. 

Yano produced a bag before the opening bell. The referee emptied the bag and it was full of handcuffs and rolls of tape. 

Loa got the better of a striking battle. Loa pulled Yano’s shirt over his head and tried to win by countout, but Yano beat the count back in. 

They traded suplexes for near falls. They had a plodding brawl. Yano exposed a buckle. Loa used the OJK, but Yano rolled to the ropes. Yano cradled Loa for two. Loa used a cradle for a near fall.

Yano hit a slingshot into the exposed buckle. The ref blocked Yano as he went for a low blow. Loa bumped Yano into the ref. Jado climbed in with a kendo stick. Yano got the kendo stick and threw Loa into the buckle, then threw the stick to Jado. 

Yano used the distraction to low blow Loa and schoolboy him for the pin.  

A Block: KENTA defeated Tomohiro Ishii (21:08)

This was very good and KENTA’s best match in quite some time.

KENTA tried to roll outside to stall, but Ishii dragged him back in and hit a tackle. KENTA again rolled outside. Ishii went after him and sent him into the barricade. KENTA hit Ishii with the bell to turn the tide in his favor. 

KENTA posted Ishii’s right arm and sent him into the barricade arm-first. Back in, KENTA continued to work over the right arm. KENTA exposed a buckle, but Ishii sent KENTA into the exposed steel. Ishii hammered away with chops and forearms in the corner. KENTA answered with a diving clothesline off the top.

KENTA caught Ishii coming in and tried for Game Over, but Ishii rolled to the ropes. Ishii got to the apron and teased a suplex to the floor, but KENTA hit a draping DDT. KENTA hit a running boot and a stalling dropkick. 

Ishii avoided a double stomp off the top and hit a German suplex into the buckle. They exchanged strikes. KENTA hit a clothesline, then connected with a double stomp off the top for a near fall. 

KENTA used Game Over. Ishii fought his way to the ropes after a long submission tease. Ishii blocked a penalty kick and dropped KENTA with a German suplex. Ishii hit a superplex for a two count. 

KENTA hit a short knee. Ishii escaped a GTS attempt and hit a lariat, but KENTA hit two Busaiku knees for a near fall. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes to the face. Ishii escaped a GTS and hit a headbutt to the chest. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a two count at the 20 minute mark. 

Ishii went for the Vertical Drop. KENTA reversed into a GTS attempt. Ishii slid out and hit an enzuigiri. Ishii hit a lariat for another near fall. 

KENTA escaped a Vertical Drop attempt and rammed Ishii into the exposed turnbuckle, then used a schoolboy with the trunks for the flash pin. 

A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Kota Ibushi (19:55)

This was Ibushi’s best match since his return. The G1 is turning into the Zack Sabre Jr. Invitational. 

Sabre broke cleanly after the opening lockup. Sabre escaped a head scissors on the mat and again broke cleanly. Ibushi tried to break cleanly after another lockup, but Sabre piefaced him. Ibushi swung and missed on a high kick as Sabre rolled to the floor to reset. 

Sabre reversed a whip, then tried a backslide, but Ibushi blocked. Ibushi missed on another high kick attempt as Sabre rolled out of the way. Ibushi went after Sabre’s left leg with a series of kicks. Sabre used a submission in the ropes to go after Ibushi’s left arm, then kicked the left arm on the break. 

Sabre continued to go after Ibushi’s left arm on the floor, hitting a stomp. Sabre kept up the arm work as Ibushi got back in. Ibushi came back with a striking combo, then hit a standing moonsault for a two count. 

Sabre hit another kick to the left arm, but Ibushi answered with a snap rana and a plancha. Ibushi escaped a submission attempt on the left arm by rolling to the ropes. Sabre hit a series of short kicks to the arm. Ibushi dropped Sabre with a mid kick. 

They traded kicks. Ibushi got the better of the strikes. Ibushi used a backslide to set up a lariat. Sabre hit a flying mid kick and a last ride. Sabre trapped the left arm, but Ibushi made the ropes for a break. 

Ibushi hit a German and a powerslam. Ibushi tried to go for a moonsault, but Sabre hit a kick to the legs to halt the attempt and Ibushi crashed to the mat. Sabre hit a PK and used a stack cover for a near fall. 

Sabre used an ankle lock. Ibushi broke the hold with a palm strike to the chest. Ibushi hit a Bomaye. 

Ibushi teased Kamigoye, but Sabre blocked and used Clarky Cat for the submission. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night six, Wednesday, September 29, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tama Tonga
  • B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb
  • B Block: SANADA vs. Chase Owens
  • B Block: Taichi vs. EVIL

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night four results: Okada vs. EVIL

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today in Tokyo at the Ota City General Gymnasium. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Jeff Cob vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Tama Tonga vs. Chase Owens

Report —

B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Hirooki Goto (14:10)

This was two veterans working a very good opener. They didn’t kick out of a bunch of finishers or do countout teases, they kept the match in the ring and left you wanting more.  

Tanahashi took virtually all of the offense in the first ten minutes. 

Tana dominated a chain wrestling sequence at the outset. Goto got one brief hope spot with his wheel kick and bulldog out of the corner, but Tana used a deathlock, a senton and strikes to maintain control. 

Tanahashi hit a somersault senton for a two count. They did a great series of misdirection spots as Goto hit a lariat, then Tana hit a dropkick to the legs. Goto started to come back with a top rope neckbreaker. 

Tana avoided a top rope superplex and tried to turn it into a sunset bomb, but Goto slid out. Tanahashi blocked Shouten Kai and hit slingblade. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. Goto rolled out of the way of a second High Fly Flow, allowing him to hit a lariat to the back of Tanahashi’s head. 

Tanahashi hit a palm strike to the face, but Goto countered with a headbutt and an inverted GTR for a near fall. 

Tana reversed a GTR attempt into an inside cradle for the flash pin. 

B Block: Tama Tonga defeated Chase Owens (12:59)

This was much better than you might expect. 

They began with a solid back and forth technical wrestling battle. Each avoided the other’s finisher. 

After exchanging holds, they turned to a more traditional brawling style. Owens used a hip toss into a neckbreaker, a flurry of strikes and a Jewel Heist for a near fall. Tama came back and hit a Tongan Twist. 

Owens used a tiger driver for another near fall. Tama blocked a jumping knee. Owens connected on another v-trigger. 

Owens went for the package driver, but Tama hit a great reversal into the Gun Stun and got the pin. 

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated YOSHI-HASHI (13:21)

YH low-bridged Cobb to the floor and sent him into the barricade. Cobb cut YH off with a huge shoulder tackle as they got back in. Cobb hit a dropkick and a delayed vertical throw. YH answered with a dragon screw as he looked to take out Cobb’s base. 

YH tried a sunset flip, but Cobb blocked. YH teased a powerbomb, but Cobb launched him into orbit on a backdrop. Cobb hit a series of strikes in the corner, then used a belly-to-belly and a spin cycle for a two count. 

Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a two count. YH came back and hit a snap dragon suplex, then hit a lariat for a two count. Cobb blocked another powerbomb. YH hit a thrust kick, then a Canadian destroyer for another near fall. YH hit a meteora for a two count. 

YH used the butterfly lock to set up a Kharma attempt, but Cobb blocked. Cobb hit a snap German suplex. They traded thrust kicks. YH blocked two Tour of the Islands attempts, then rolled Cobb up for a two count. 

Cobb hit a spear, then ended things with Tour of the Islands and a pin. 

B Block: Taichi (w/Miho Abe) defeated SANADA (25:15)

The small crowd and their inability to be vocal due to the pandemic restrictions really hurt this match. They didn’t help themselves by starting really slowly, but they were working hard once they got into the near falls and it was as though they were wrestling in an empty building. 

They opened with a quick chain wrestling sequence, then they tried to work the crowd with some pec popping. The referee didn’t sell the pec pop battle and they just dropped the idea. 

Taichi used a kitchen sink, then used a variety of rest holds. SANADA came back with a dropkick to the left knee and a plancha. Taichi hit a high kick. SANADA went back to the legs with a dropkick, then hit a magic screw. 

Taichi avoided a TKO and tried for a stretch plum, but SANADA blocked. Taichi no-sold a tiger driver and hit a backdrop suplex. Both stumbled out of the ring, selling. Kind of a goofy spot. They did a double countout tease, then a double down once they beat the count back in. 

They traded strikes. Taichi blocked Skull End. SANADA blocked a chokeslam. Taichi blocked an O’Connor roll. SANADA kicked out of a Gedo clutch. SANADA missed a moonsault into another double down. 

SANADA used a moonsault to try to set up Skull End, but Taichi blocked. SANADA blocked Balck Mephisto, but Taichi hit a gamengiri and a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Taichi kicked out of an O’Connor roll. 

Taichi avoided another moonsault, then hit a forearm and Black Mephisto for the pin.

B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (21:46)

NJPW has doubled down on EVIL and this version of the character is killing every show he’s on. The Bullet Club House of Torture is just that. Okada is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever live, but even he can’t make a match with 2021 EVIL work. 

EVIL rolled outside and immediately stalled. Togo exposed a buckle. They brawled to the floor, where EVIL sent Okada into the barricade. The ring announcer took his first bump. Okada made a quick comeback with a back elbow and a DDT after EVIL missed a charge into the exposed buckle. 

EVIL rolled back to the floor and again sent Okada into the barricade and the ring announcer. While the ref checked on the announcer, EVIL hit Okada with a chair. EVIL tried a running kick with Okada seated on the chair, but Okada hit a drop toe hold on the chair. 

Back in, Okada avoided a misdirection lariat and hit a dropkick. Okada used the Money Clip, but EVIL reached the ropes. Okada hit the Rainmaker pose, but EVIL used interference from Togo to cut him off. Togo used a chair on Okada while EVIL took the ref. EVIL hit a tackle for a near fall. 

EVIL hit a superplex and tried a pin while grabbing the trunks, but Okada kicked out. Okada fought off Everything is EVIL and used a cradle for a two count. 

Okada hit a short Rainmaker. EVIL ducked under a second Rainmaker, but Okada nailed him with a dropkick and a spinning tombstone. Okada went for another Rainmaker, but EVIL pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump. EVIL hit a low blow. 

EVIL revived the ref. EVIL tried Everything is EVIL, but Okada reversed into a Money Clip attempt. Before he got the hold applied, EVIL bumped the ref again as Red Shoes rolled to the floor. 

Togo jumped in and hit Okada with a series of right hands. Okada fought off a Magic Killer and sent EVIL into the exposed buckle. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to Togo. 

Red Shoes was revived. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Okada blocked a lariat and hit EVIL with Everything is EVIL. 

Okada hit a sit-out tombstone and another Rainmaker for the pin. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night five, Sunday, September 26, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. KENTA
  • A Block: Toru Yano vs. Tanga Loa
  • A Block: Great-O-Khan vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Master Wato vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night three results: Shingo vs. Sabre

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Tokyo at the Ota City General Gymnasium. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Zack Sabre Jr. face off in the main event, while Kota Ibushi took on Tomohiro Ishii in the semi-main. 

Tanga Loa earned two points by way of Tetsuya Naito forfeiting their G1 match due to injury. Instead of a tournament bout, Loa faced Yuji Nagata in a special singles match in the opener.

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sare Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Report —

Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Yuji Nagata (15:35)

This was a good opener. Nagata was moving well today and everything they did made sense. 

After some chain wrestling, Loa used a right hand to the throat to take over. He hit an axe handle off the apron to the floor and sent Nagata into the barricade. 

Loa maintained the advantage with brawling offense in the ring. Loa used a blue thunder bomb for a two count, then used a chinlock. Nagata fought back with punches and a kitchen sink. 

Nagata began working on Loa’s legs with kicks and a dropkick to the knee, then used a butterfly suplex for a two count. Nagata used a heel hook, but Loa forced a rope break. 

Loa hit a flatliner and slapped on the OJK. Nagata escaped the hold and used an ankle lock. Nagata grapevined the legs, but Loa crawled to the ropes. Nagata hit some more kicks to the leg and an exploder suplex. 

Loa hit a hotshot across the top rope, then used a spear and a powerslam for a two count. Nagata escaped Apesh*t and hit a German. Loa rolled through on landing, but Nagata hit another kick for a near fall. 

Nagata hit an enzuigiri, but Loa answered with an immediate lariat and hit Apesh*t for the pin. 

A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Toru Yano (11:30)

These two had a blood feud earlier this year where Yano tied O-Khan’s hair to the barricade and O-Khan was forced to cut one of his braids off to escape. O-Khan also tried to stab Yano with scissors at some point. O-Khan saved the braid that was cut off six months ago and brandished it as Yano made his entrance. 

I appreciate the continuity here, but the match was hot garbage.

O-Khan attacked Yano as he entered and choked him with the braid. O-Khan pounded on Yano and used an Anaconda Vice. Yano forced a rope break. 

Yano sprayed hand sanitizer in O-Khan’s eyes. O-Khan produced a pair of handcuffs. Yano exposed a buckle. They fought over the corner pad. O-Khan bumped the ref with the corner pad. Yano hit a dragon screw and wrestled the corner pad away. 

Yano tried to cuff O-Khan to the barricade, but O-Khan reversed and cuffed Yano to the barricade. Yano freed himself by prying the barricade apart and beat the count back in. 

O-Khan fought off two cradle attempts and hit the Eliminator for the pin. 

Yano hit a low blow after the match and ran to the back. O-Khan chased after him with a chair, so this feud must continue. 

A Block: KENTA defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (15:48)

KENTA is smart and picks his spots for when to work hard. Tonight was not one of those spots.  

I will always pop for Kevin Kelly explaining Pieter’s interpretive dance.

Yujiro and Pieter both refused Too Sweet hand gestures from KENTA. 

They brawled in slow-motion. Yujiro gained the upper hand as they fought to the floor. Yujiro danced in front of Pieter. KENTA hit a DDT on the floor and could have won by countout, but threw Yujiro back in. 

KENTA hit some stomps and mocked Yujiro’s dancing. KENTA hit some kicks and used a front facelock. Yujiro fought back with strikes and a sliding dropkick. KENTA answered with a DDT and a diving clothesline off the top for a two count. 

KENTA used an STF. Yujiro forced a break. Yujiro avoided one double stomp off the top, but KENTA hit it on his second try and earned a near fall. 

Yujiro reversed a GTS into a DDT. Yujiro hit an Angle slam and Miami Shine for a pair of two counts. KENTA used a jackknife and a rollup for two near falls of his own. 

KENTA hit a Busaiku knee. Yujiro blocked GTS and tried a low blow, but KENTA caught the arm and used it to set up Game Over for the submission.  

They made amends and hugged and did the Too Sweet after the match. 

***** 

A PSA for saving lions aired with Togi Makabe and a player from the Seibu Lions. This was the best thing on the show to this point. 

*****

A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Tomohiro Ishii (17:42)

If these guys wrestled ten times, they would probably have a better match than this one nine of those times. I’m giving this a mild recommendation because of who these guys are, but this was not the classic you would expect. 

Ibushi tried to break cleanly against the ropes of the opening collar and elbow, but Ishii slapped him across the face. Ibushi kipped up after a shoulder tackle, but Ishii took him down with another tackle. 

Ibushi got dropped with a forearm strike. Ishii hammered away with chops, dropping Ibushi against the ropes. They had a slap fight, then Ibushi scored his first significant offense of the match with a mid kick at the five minute mark. 

Ibushi sent Ishii outside with a snap rana. He followed with a plancha, then a powerslam and a moonsault as the fight returned to the ring. Ishii answered with a backdrop suplex. Ishii no-sold a dropkick and hit a diving shoulder tackle. 

Ishii hit a delayed superplex for a two count. Ishii missed with an enzuigiri. Ibushi missed on a standing moonsault and almost landed on the top of his head. Ishii missed a sliding lariat. Ibushi hit a mid kick into a double down. 

They traded strikes. Ibushi ducked under a lariat and hit a German suplex. Ishii sprawled to avoid a last ride attempt. They traded strikes. Ibushi hit a lariat into another double down. 

Ibushi hit a powerbomb for a two count. Ibushi called for the Kamigoye, but Ishii fought it off. Ibushi hit a head kick, but Ishii immediately countered with a headbutt into another double down. 

Ibushi kicked away a lariat, but Ishii hit a clubbing forearm and a German. Ibushi landed on his feet out of the suplex, but then was dropped with a clothesline. Ishii hit another lariat and Ibushi took a flip bump. Ishii got a two count. 

Ibushi slid out of a Vertical Drop Brainbuster attempt and hit a high kick. Ishii blocked Kamigoye and hit a clothesline. Ibushi missed a v-trigger. Ishii tried a lariat, but Ibushi blocked with a v-trigger. 

Ibushi hit two Kamigoyes and scored the pin. 

A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shingo Takagi (27:17)

Great psychology in this match. Shingo worked on Sabre’s right leg, while Sabre worked on Shingo’s right arm the entire match. Sabre won out. 

Sabre avoided an early lariat attempt. They traded arm drags and each escaped from holds on the mat. Shingo missed a sliding lariat, but hit a shoulder tackle and Sabre rolled outside. Shingo teased a dive, but did Naito’s Tranquilo pose instead. 

Shingo missed on a senton and Sabre used a neck twist. Shingo rolled outside to collect himself, but Sabre went right after him and threw him back in to keep the pressure on. 

Sabre blocked a hip toss and used a cobra twist. Shingo fought out and hit a DDT. Shingo hit a clothesline in the corner, then turned to chops. Sabre blocked a chop, avoided a DVD, then used an octopus hold in the ropes. 

Sabre began to attack the right arm. Shingo caught a PK and hit a dragon screw. Sabre blocked a sliding lariat and twisted on the right arm with his legs. Sabre stomped on the right arm. Shingo hit noshigami and a diving forearm strike to Sabre’s right leg. 

Sabre used a triangle choke. Shingo hit a powerbomb out of the hold, then used an inverted STF. Sabre forced a break. Sabre blocked Made in Japan and hit a German, but Shingo rolled through and answered with his own. 

Sabre blocked multiple lariat attempts with the right arm with kicks. Shingo kicked at Sabre’s right leg and hit a sliding lariat. Sabre used a cradle and a Euro clutch for two near falls. Sabre hit a PK, but Shingo popped right up and hit a lariat. 

Sabre cut Shingo off as he went for a superplex and used a wristlock. Sabre hit a swing DDT, then hit a La Mistica. Sabre transitioned to the Clarky Cat submission hold just past the 20 minute mark. Shingo rolled to the ropes to force the break. 

Sabre wrenched on the right arm. He blocked a pop-up DVD attempt and tried a guillotine, but Shingo escaped and hit a diving forearm strike. Sabre blocked a Pumping Bomber and hit the Zack Driver for a near fall. 

Sabre hit a series of elbows to the neck. Shingo ate all of them and powered through to finally hit the DVD he had been trying to land all match. Sabre escaped a choke. Shingo blocked a PK and turned it into Made in Japan for a near fall at the 25 minute call. 

Shingo hit the Pumping Bomber, but sold the work to his right arm and could not follow with a cover. Sabre blocked Last of the Dragon. Shingo hit a right hand, then tried Last of the Dragon again. Sabre blocked with a choke. 

Sabre switched to a crucifix hold, then slipped to a triangle choke. Shingo tried to power out, but Sabre kept the hold applied and Shingo tapped out. 

Sabre taunted Shingo with the IWGP World title after the match. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night four, Friday, September 24, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
  • B Block: SANADA vs. Taichi
  • B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jeff Cobb
  • B Block: Tama Tonga vs. Chase Owens
  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night two results: Okada vs. Tanahashi

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 B Block kicked off today in Osaka.

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night two results: Okada vs. Tanahashi

The G1 Climax 31 B Block kicked off today in Osaka. 

Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi squared off in the main event, while Taichi took on Hirooki Goto in the semi-main. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi
  • SANADA vs. Tama Tonga

Report —

SHO defeated Kosei Fujita (8:09)

SHO hasn’t found his rhythm yet as a heel. He looks like a guy cosplaying as a heel, plus he’s incorporating an element that makes Bullet Club matches insufferable when he rolls outside to stall at the opening bell. 

SHO rolled outside to stall, then beat Fujita up with strikes. Fujita made a quick comeback with forearm shots and a nice dropkick. 

SHO cut Fujita off with a lariat, then used the Snake Bite for the submission win. 

B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated YOSHI-HASHI (17:15)

YOSHI-HASHI was good in this match. He sold well. The EVIL shtick is beyond played out, though. 

They kicked things off by trading side headlocks. 

If you have been watching NJPW for the last 15 months, you know what happened next –Togo got involved and allowed EVIL to take control on the floor. EVIL and Togo exposed a buckle. EVIL bumped the ring announcer. YH made a comeback, EVIL bumped the ring announcer again. 

YH used the butterfly lock, but EVIL forced a break. EVIL tried to bump the ref twice, but the ref fought back and slapped him. YH hit a brainbuster for a two count. 

EVIL blocked Kharma. Togo jumped in the ring. YH had a rolling cradle applied, but Togo took the ref and EVIL escaped.  

EVIL hit a low blow and the STO for the pin.

B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Chase Owens (12:11)

I presume that Cobb is going to win a lot in this tournament, maybe even winning the whole thing. He gave Owens enough to not totally make him look like a job guy, but not so much that it hurt Cobb. 

Owens is in better shape than maybe at any point in his career. 

Cobb hit one shoulder block, then Owens began stalling. This was different than the stalling in the previous two matches in that they were telling a David and Goliath story, Owens wasn’t just stalling for heat. 

Cobb clobbered Owens around the ring with his power moves. Owens got some hope spots with v-triggers and a Jewel Heist. Cobb hit his running powerslam, his standing moonsault, thrust kicks, lots of his signature spots. 

Owens made one last attempt to put Cobb away with v-triggers. Cobb blocked, then hit the Tour of the Islands for the pin. 

B Block: SANADA defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (19:04)

This over-delivered. A very good match. 

They opened with a nice series of quick counters and teases out of a side headlock from Tama and some arm drags from SANADA. 

Tama baited SANADA into posing on the turnbuckles for applause to take control, attacking him from behind and sending him outside. Tama sent SANADA into the barricade for a countout tease. 

Back in, Tama used a chinlock. SANADA came back with a basement dropkick to the knee out of a whip into the buckle. SANADA hit another nice arm drag and a backbreaker, then hit planchas to both Tama and Jado. 

SANADA used a sunset flip to set up a paradise lock. A dropkick broke the hold. Tama blocked Skull End and hit a Tongan Twist. Tama hit a powerslam for a two count. SANADA blocked a Skull End attempt with another arm drag. 

SANADA used Skull End. Tama reversed into his own Skull End. SANADA escaped and hit a magic screw. SANADA hit a TKO for a near fall after a strike exchange. Tama reversed Skull End into an inside cradle for a near fall. 

Tama hit an underhook piledriver for a near fall. SANADA blocked a Gun Stun and used Skull End. He gave up the hold and tried a moonsault, but Tama got his knees up and cradled SANADA for a near fall. 

SANADA blocked two more Gun Stun attempts and used an O’Connor roll for the pin. 

B Block: Taichi (w/Miho Abe) defeated Hirooki Goto (18:30)

They worked this as an intense fight and had a very good brawl. 

Taichi was taunting Goto with his IWGP Tag title belt before the opening bell. Goto snapped and the fight was on. 

Taichi choked Goto with a camera cable to take control early. Taichi repeatedly choked Goto. Goto finally fought back and began choking Taichi. They exchanged hard kicks. Goto hit his wheel kick in the corner and a bulldog for a near fall. 

Taichi regained control with chokes. Taichi hit a chokeslam for a near fall. Goto hit a Shouten Kai out of nowhere, but could not follow up with a cover. Taichi came back with a buzzsaw kick and a gamengiri. 

Goto blocked Black Mephisto and hit a headbutt into a double down. Taichi blocked a GTR attempt with a choke, then hit a chokeslam for a two count. Goto blocked a thrust kick. 

Taichi hit a forearm out of a three-point stance, then hit Black Mephisto for the pin. 

B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (29:36)

This was a real treat. Two of the best to ever do it, if not the two very best to ever do it. Tanahashi deserves consideration for wrestler of the year. His in-ring this year has been outstanding.

They began slowly with some basic chain wrestling. Tana ducked an early Rainmaker attempt, then began to attack Okada’s legs with dragon screws. 

They rolled outside, where Okada hit a DDT on the floor to capture the momentum. Back inside, Okada hit a flapjack and an air raid crash neckbreaker. Okada placed Tana on the top rope and dropkicked him to the apron. Tana crashed to the floor. 

Tana blocked an Okada boot and hit a dragon screw on the floor. Tana teased a High Fly Flow to the floor, but Okada cut him off and tried for a tombstone on the apron. Tana slid out and hit another dragon screw in the ropes. Tana hit an Ace’s High Fly Flow to the floor. Okada barely beat the count back in at 20 minutes.

Tana blocked another air raid crash attempt and hit three twist and shouts and a slingblade for a two count. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow, but Okada rolled through on the landing and locked on the Money Clip. Tana fired up and reached the ropes. 

Each tried to hit a tombstone. Okada was eventually successful. Tana ducked a Rainmaker. Okada sat down into a cradle for a two count. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick at 25 minutes. 

Okada hit a top rope elbow drop and the Rainmaker pose. Tana ducked a Rainmaker, ducked a spinning Rainmaker, then hit two slingblades. 

Tana went to the top for High Fly Flow. Okada got his knees up. They did a double down with three minutes left. 

Okada hit two Rainmakers. Tana reversed a spinning Rainmaker into an inside cradle for a great near fall. Tana hit a German, then hit a dragon suplex. Okada kicked out at one at 28 minutes in.

They traded strikes. Okada hit a dropkick with under a minute left. 

Okada hit a tombstone and a Rainmaker for the pin. 

**********

Here is the lineup for the next show: 

G1 Climax 31 night three, Thursday, September 23, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • A Block: Tetsuya Naito vs. Tanga Loa
  • A Block: KENTA vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • A Block: Toru Yano vs. Great-O-Khan

NJPW G1 Climax 31 night one results: Shingo vs. Ishii

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax 31 tournament kicked off today in Osaka with A Block action. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Tomohiro Ishii squared off in the main event, while Tetsuya Naito took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-main. 

Here are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Report —

SHO defeated Ryohei Oiwa (6:08)

Great intensity from both guys in this quick opener. 

Oiwa fired off a series of strikes right away. SHO quickly cut him off and dropped him with a forearm. SHO took the fight to the floor and whipped Oiwa into the barricade. 

SHO stayed on offense as the fight returned to the ring. Oiwa made a fiery comeback and ht a series of strikes and a slam. SHO avoided a crab, then hit a lariat to halt Oiwa’s momentum.

SHO used the Snake Bite and Oiwa tapped out. 

G1 Climax 31 A Block: Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) defeated Kota Ibushi (11:31)

So the story they’re telling is that Ibushi has yet to fully recover from pneumonia and is vulnerable. Still, this was a pretty shocking result. 

Ibushi hit one dropkick early, but this was pretty much all Yujiro. Yujiro hit stomps. Yujiro kicked Ibushi off the top rope to the floor as he tried a springboard attack. Yujiro used his walking stick to hit Ibushi. Yujiro hit some stomps. 

Ibushi made a comeback with a mid kick, a striking combination and a standing moonsault. Ibushi hit a snap rana and sent Yujiro to the floor. Yujiro blocked the Golden Triangle moonsault off the post and sent Ibushi crashing to the floor. Yujiro hit a reverse DDT on the floor. 

Back in, Yujiro used a boot and a fisherman buster for a near fall. Yujiro ducked a high kick and hit an Angle slam for another two count. Ibushi fought off two Miami Shine attempts and hit a high kick and a last ride for a near fall. 

Yujiro blocked Kamigoye. Ibushi blocked Pimp Juice and hit a v-trigger. Yujiro used the threat of a ref bump to hit a low blow and Pimp Juice for a two count. 

Yujiro hit a Big Juice implant DDT and got the pin. 

G1 Climax 31 A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (17:45)

Booking these guys to go more than ten minutes with each other is promotional malpractice, but this is also the same company that booked Chase Owens and Toru Yano to go nearly half an hour two weeks ago. 

They began with a long collar and elbow, ending in a stalemate. O-Khan rolled outside and Jado threatened to get involved, but stayed away from O-Khan at this point. 

Loa took over after a spear. Loa took the ref and threw O-Khan outside. Jado chopped O-Khan and hit him with a kendo stick. Loa hit a suplex on the floor for a countout tease. 

O-Khan made a comeback with an inverted suplex and some of his unconventional offense. They traded strikes. Loa got a two count off a lariat. Jado took the ref for some reason as Loa locked on the OJK. The interference didn’t lead to anything. O-Khan forced a rope break.

Loa got a two count after a blue thunder bomb. They traded strikes, then O-Khan used a standing choke. Jado hobbled into the ring and O-Khan bumped him. Loa avoided an Eliminator and hit a powerbomb for a two count. 

O-Khan avoided a Michinoku Driver and hit the Eliminator to end this. 

G1 Climax 31 A Block: Toru Yano defeated KENTA (11:07)

Yano G1 matches are a wrestling comedy artform. You have to learn to love them, or else you’ll just be miserable all month. 

KENTA gave the ring announcer a sheet of accomplishments to read off to match the length of Yano’s introduction. 

The referee confiscated a roll of athletic tape from each man before the bell. 

KENTA stalled for the first minute. Yano then followed suit and rolled outside. They did some comedy. KENTA sprayed Yano in the eyes with hand sanitizer. They fought on the ramp and the stage. 

KENTA stashed two rolls of tape on the entrance stage. Yano threw one away, but KENTA used the other to tape Yano to the entrance truss. Yano freed himself and beat the count back in. 

Yano exposed a turnbuckle and hit a slingshot on KENTA into it. Yano used a schoolboy for two. KENTA sent Yano into the exposed steel and hit a Shibata dropkick. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top for two. 

Yano avoided a GTS. They pulled each other’s hair. They fought to the outside. KENTA bumped Yano into the ref. KENTA taped Yano’s wrists together and threw him under the ring, then revived the ref. Yano beat the count back in and hit a low blow and a schoolboy for a near fall. 

Yano used another low blow and cradled KENTA for the pin. 

G1 Climax 31 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Tetsuya Naito (27:05)

This was excellent. These two don’t always have the best matches with each other for some reason, but the psychology here was perfect. Naito always goes after the neck, Sabre went after Naito’s knees, Naito gave out first. 

They opened with some chain wrestling. Each won one of the two opening exchanges. Sabre used a neck crank to send Naito outside. Back in, Sabre used Naito’s own arms to choke him. Naito would try to reverse, but Sabre kept working back to the same position. 

Naito made a comeback ten minutes in with a dropkick and his combinacion cabron in the corner. Sabre cut Naito off again with an ankle pick and a PK. Sabre laid in some uppercut forearms. 

Sabre blocked a swing DDT and a flying forearm, then used Naito’s momentum to hit a dragon suplex for a two count. Naito then connected with a DDT and began to target Sabre’s neck to soften it up for Destino. 

Naito hit Esperanza. Sabre caught Naito coming in and used a heel hook with a body scissors, but Naito fought to the ropes to force a break. Sabre tried a knee breaker, but Naito blocked and hit a spike DDT. 

Naito went for a top rope frankensteiner, but Sabre blocked and used an octopus on the top rope. Sabre hit a sunset bomb off the top for a two count. Sabre used another heel hook, Naito forced another break. 

Sabre kicked at Naito’s legs. Naito hit Destino, but could not follow with a cover. They traded strikes. Naito blocked a Zack Driver and hit Valentia. Sabre blocked Destino and used a clutch for a two count. 

Sabre hit a dropkick to the legs and a leg sweep. Sabre hit a double stomp to the knees. Sabre tried a Zack Driver, but Naito countered into a clunky Destino. 

Sabre used a double wristlock with a body scissors on the mat, almost a modified octopus hold from a seated position, he calls it YES! I AM A LONG WAY FROM HOME. After a ref stoppage tease, Naito tapped out. 

Naito continued to sell his knees as he was helped to the back after the match.

G1 Climax 31 A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Tomohiro Ishii (27:56)

This was everything you would expect from these two. Hard-hitting and a great match with insane pacing that flew by. Big, meaty men slapping meat. 

They began at a crazy pace, firing off shoulder tackle attempts and trading forearms. Shingo scored the first knockdown. They fought to the floor, where Ishii hit a powerslam on the floor to establish the early advantage. 

Back in, Shingo hammered away with forearms. Shingo dodged a headbutt and hit a DDT to win back control of the match. Shingo hit a series of strikes and a senton. Shingo hit some taunting kicks, so Ishii fired up and began to no-sell Shingo’s strikes. Ishii dropped Shingo with a forearm. 

Ishii continued to fire off chops and forearms in the corner. Shingo fired back and dropped Ishii with a forearm. Shingo then began hammering away with strikes in the corner. Shingo hit a diving back elbow off the top for a two count. 

Ishii avoided a sliding lariat, but Shingo hit a vertical suplex. Ishii answered with his own vertical suplex. Each no-sold two suplexes from the other. Shingo hit a sliding lariat on his second attempt. 

Shingo hit a top rope superplex for a two count. Shingo hit a lariat. Ishii stumbled. Ishii fired off a lariat and dropped Shingo. Ishii ducked a lariat and hit another lariat. Ishii dropped Shingo as he tried a superplex. They realized what was happening as Ishii was losing his grip and Shingo was able to land safely. 

Ishii hit the superplex on a second attempt. Shingo answered with a clothesline. They traded short forearm strikes. Shingo hit Made in Japan for a two count. Shingo hit a short clothesline to the back of the neck. Ishii hit a German. Shingo popped up and hit another lariat for a two count. 

Ishii reversed Last of the Dragon into a crucifix bomb for a two count. They hit simultaneous lariats. Ishii hit an enzuigiri and bumped Shingo into the referee., but Red Shoes popped right back up. Ishii hit a powerbomb with a stack cover for a two count. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for another near fall. 

Ishii blocked the Vertical Drop Brainbuster and hit a death valley driver. Ishii hit a half-and-half suplex and another lariat for another two count. Shingo blocked another brainbuster attempt and hit a dragon suplex. 

Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, Ishii kicked out at two. Ishii hit a series of chops. They traded headbutts. 

Shingo blocked a forearm shot and lifted Ishii for Last of the Dragon and pinned him. 

**********

Here is the lineup for tomorrow: 

G1 Climax 31 night two, Sunday, September 19, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
  • B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi
  • B Block: SANADA vs. Tama Tonga
  • B Block: Jeff Cobb vs. Chase Owens
  • B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL
  • SHO vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW G1 Climax 30 finals live results: Kota Ibushi vs. SANADA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The G1 Climax concludes today in Ryogoku’s Sumo Hall. 

A Block winner Kota Ibushi will face B Block winner SANADA to determine the G1 Climax 30 winner. Ibushi is appearing in his third consecutive finals, the only man to ever do so.

Ibushi won the G1 in 2019, defeating Jay White in the finals, and lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi in 2018’s G1 finals. The two have met twice before, both in G1 block action in 2018 and 2019. Each has one victory over the other. 

This is SANADA’s first appearance in a G1 finals. 

The undercard was announced late on Saturday Eastern time. 

LIJ’s Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI will face EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi from Bullet Club in the semi-main. 

Kazuchika Okada & SHO will team against Will Ospreay and Great-O-Khan.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Jeff Cobb & Master Wato will face KENTA, Jay White, Gedo & Taiji Ishimori in an eight-man tag. 

Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi will team against Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. 

The show opener is Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & DOUKI. 

Our live coverage begins at 2 a.m. Eastern time. 

**********

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & DOUKI defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano (10:34)

This was all about setting up challengers to the NEVER Six-Man titles. The match was nothing special. 

Taichi and Ishii started off, trading kicks to each other’s bad legs. Sabre and Goto tagged in and Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around ringside. When the dust settled, Sabre began working over Goto’s bad shoulder. 

Goto managed a tag to Yano. Sabre and Yano did some comedy. 

DOUKI and YH tagged in for the closing sequence. Desperado jumped in and hit YH with a right hand. Sabre and Taichi hit YH with Zack Mephisto. 

Taichi threw DOUKI on top of YH and DOUKI actually scored a pin. 

**********

Post-match, Suzuki-gun continued to beat down Ishii, Goto and YH. DOUKI used a steel pipe on Goto. Sabre used an octopus on Yano. Sabre hit a dragon screw on Ishii. 

Suzuki-gun then posed with the NEVER Six-Man titles. 

**********

Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (11:55)

As you might expect, the intensity was off the charts in this one. 

As soon as he stepped through the ropes, Suzuki went after Shingo. All four brawled around ringside. Kanemaru cut Hiromu off with a drive-by dropkick on the apron. 

Kanemaru and Suzuki worked over Hiromu. Shingo got a hot tag and had an awesome exchange with Suzuki. They did a series of near-misses on signature spots. Suzuki avoided a sliding lariat. Shingo fought out of a choke. Suzuki no-sold a DVD. Shingo ate a PK. 

Kanemaru and Hiromu tagged back in. Suzuki jumped in for a double team and again Hiromu found himself being worked over. 

Kanemaru hit a Deep Impact but Shingo saved for Hiromu. Shingo hit a pop-up DVD on Kanemaru and fired Hiromu up. 

Hiromu hit a running DVD into the buckle, then followed with Time Bomb and pinned Kanemaru. 

**********

Suzuki and Shingo had a pull-apart after the match. 

Hiromu also grabbed Kanemaru’s Jr. Heavyweight Tag belt and they pushed on commentary that Hiromu and BUSHI want Kanemaru and Desperado’s Jr. Tag titles. 

**********

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Jeff Cobb & Master Wato (w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan) defeated KENTA, Jay White, Gedo & Taiji Ishimori (9:04)

They got very little time. As a result, this was all action and basically a fun house show match. 

White teased starting off with Juice but begged off. 

Ishimori and Wato started instead. Wato got cut off right away as Bullet Club turned this into a brawl around ringside. Bullet Club worked Wato over in their corner. 

Cobb got a hot tag. He hit White with a dropkick before both tagged out. 

Tana and KENTA went heads-up. KENTA blocked a slingblade and tagged Gedo. 

Tana hit Gedo with a dragon screw. White jumped in and hit a dragon screw on Tana. Cobb press slammed White and Ishimori into Gedo. Juice hit a plancha to White. Wato hit a tornillo on Ishimori. 

Tana hit Gedo with a slingblade. Cobb followed with a standing moonsault. Tanahashi then used a cloverleaf and Gedo tapped out. 

**********

Wrestle Kingdom 15 was officially announced for January 4 and January 5, 2021. 

**********

***** Intermission *****

Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Kazuchika Okada & SHO (12:35)

This was a decent showcase for Ospreay’s new faction. 

Okada went right after Ospreay while making his entrance. They brawled around the ring while O-Khan and SHO started the match. 

O-Khan used a variety of face rakes and chops in working SHO over. Ospreay tagged in for a couple of quick spots here and there but it was mostly O-Khan. 

O-Khan missed a charge into the corner, allowing SHO enough time to set up a spear and tag out. 

Okada hit O-Khan with a running back elbow and a DDT. O-Khan tied Okada to the tree of woe and used a series of stomps. O-Khan hit a sliding dropkick to Okada. Ospreay tagged in for Pip Pip Cheerio and a near fall. 

Okada and Ospreay traded strikes. Okada blocked a tiger kick and hit a dropkick before tagging out. 

SHO went for a power breaker but Ospreay escaped and went after SHO’s right knee. Ospreay took the ref and Priestley hit a dragon screw in the ropes on SHO. 

Ospreay then used a figure four to submit SHO, while O-Khan sent Okada to the mat with a claw slam. 

EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Dick Togo) defeated Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI (14:15)

I guess we’re not done with EVIL and Naito. 

I thought KENTA beating Naito Saturday would lead to something, and perhaps it still will, but EVIL looks to be next for Naito after this one. 

The match began with Yujiro and EVIL illegally doubling up Naito. Naito made a comeback on Yujiro. Yujiro and EVIL resorted to brawling on the floor to regain the advantage. EVIL used chairs on Naito. 

Back inside, Yujiro worked over BUSHI. BUSHI came back with a rana and tagged Naito. Naito hit Yujiro with a combinacion in the corner but kept his eyes focused on EVIL the whole time. 

Yujiro bit Naito’s hand and EVIL tagged in. Naito hit a swing DDT. Both tagged out. 

BUSHI hit a tope suicida and a DDT to EVIL. Togo took the ref. Yujiro jumped in for the double team. EVIL recovered and hit a fisherman buster for a two count. 

Everyone jumped in for a big move near the finish. Yujiro sent Naito outside after a big boot. EVIL hit a lariat to cut BUSHI off before he could make his comeback. 

EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a near fall, then used a scorpion deathlock for the submission. 

**********

After the match, Togo choked out Naito with a ligature. EVIL then hit Naito with Everything is EVIL and posed over him with the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles. 

**********

G1 Climax 30 Finals: Kota Ibushi defeated SANADA (35:12)

My enjoyment of this was tempered by thefact that I was worried that Ibushi was concussed. The 35-plus minutes flew by. They really kicked it into high gear after the 20 minute mark and some of the near falls were amazing. 

They started slowly, sizing each other up. Ibushi used a hammerlock and looked to be going after SANADA’s left arm. They traded a few holds. 

They went to striking after a few minutes. Ibushi’s left leg was taped up after his kick war with Taichi on Friday. SANADA kicked at the bad leg. 

There was a weird spot where SANADA went for a dropkick. Ibushi ducked under the dropkick but got caught by a SANADA forearm on top of his head. Ibushi rolled outside. Tough to say how much of this was selling and how much was legit but Ibushi looked out of it. 

Ibushi got back in and they went back to trading holds on the mat. SANADA used an ankle lock. Ibushi slapped on an STF. 

From there, they returned to striking. You almost never see anyone call spots in NJPW but you could see SANADA calling spots to Ibushi here. SANADA dropped Ibushi with a palm strike. SANADA then used a figure four. Ibushi forced a break. 

SANADA dropped Ibushi with a forearm strike. Ibushi came back with a sunset flip into a standing moonsault for a near fall. We were past the 15 minute point and this still had not kicked into second gear. 

SANADA rolled outside. Ibushi hit a plancha. Back in, Ibushi connected on a springboard missile dropkick for another two count. SANADA hit his leapfrog dropkick and follow-up plancha. SANADA tried to fire up the crowd. 

Ibushi fought off a TKO. SANADA missed a moonsault. Ibushi hit a powerslam. Ibushi missed a phoenix splash. SANADA tried a moonsault but Ibushi rolled out of the way. SANADA landed on his feet out of the missed moonsault and sent Ibushi outside with a rana. 

Ibushi reversed the position and sent SANADA to the floor. Ibushi teased a golden triangle. Instead, SANADA jumped up on the apron. Ibushi hit a double stomp on the apron. SANADA answered with a magic screw off the apron to the floor. 

They teased a double countout at 23 minutes. Both made it back in at 18. 

They did a striking sequence, both going after the other’s neck with forearm shots. SANADA hit one kick to the leg and then hit a magic screw inside the ring for a near fall. 

SANADA locked on Skull End. Ibushi powered out at the 25 minute call. 

SANADA tried for his springboard dropkick but Ibushi caught him coming off the ropes into a last ride. Ibushi sold his leg on landing and could not follow up with a cover. 

Ibushi hit a strike combination and another last ride for a near fall. Ibushi made the motion that he was setting up for Kamigoye. 

SANADA dropkicked Ibushi’s legs as Ibushi went for wrist control. Ibushi answered with a lariat. SANADA ducked a right hand and hit a tiger suplex for a two count. 

SANADA went for a TKO. Ibushi grabbed a dragon sleeper on the way down. SANADA reversed into his own dragon sleeper before using a spinning Skull End. 

SANADA got the full Skull End with body scissors in on the mat. Like an idiot, SANADA gave up the hold as Ibushi was about to have his arm dropped three times by the referee. SANADA always gives up on Skull End just when it’s working. It’s a logic flaw in his matches. 

SANADA missed a moonsault. Ibushi hit a high kick at the 30 minute call. Ibushi hit a Bomaye for a near fall. Ibushi went for Kamigoye. SANADA blocked and hit a TKO. 

SANADA hit a moonsault to Ibushi’s back. He went for a standard moonsault but Ibushi got his knees up. Ibushi sold the damage to his bad leg in blocking the move. 

SANADA got Skull End. Ibushi walked the ropes and reversed the hold. They teased a lawn dart. SANADA got back to Skull End. Ibushi reversed and hit a bastard driver for a great near fall. 

Ibushi went for Kamigoye. SANADA flipped into a backslide. Ibushi powered out and went for Kamigoye again. SANADA used a sunset flip. Ibushi slid out. SANADA used a Japanese clutch for the closest near fall you’ll ever see. 

SANADA tried Skull End again. Ibushi hit a high kick, a bicycle knee and a Kamigoye for another extremely close near fall. 

Ibushi then hit a second Kamigoye for the 1-2-3. 

Ibushi is The One for the second consecutive year. 

**********

Chono entered the ring and presented the G1 Climax trophy and flag to Ibushi. They posed together for the ringside photographers as Ibushi fought back tears. 

Ibushi cut a promo in the ring. He thanked the fans and thanked Chono. Ibushi said he can’t wait for things to get back to the way they used to be with full buildings. 

Ibushi said he intends to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and he will become God. 

The show ended with streamers falling from the ceiling and Ibushi posing with his trophy and flag.

**********

After the show, Ibushi sat at a table backstage for his post-match comments. 

Jay White entered. They drank Zima together. 

White said Ibushi isn’t really the winner. He said sometime soon, they’re going to give Ibushi a briefcase to signify his win. White said he’s going to take that case from Ibushi. 

Ibushi then gave his comments. He said he will face Jay at any time.  

NJPW G1 Climax 30 night 18 live results: B Block finals

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • SANADA vs. EVIL

Report —

Gabriel Kidd defeated Yuya Uemura (8:16)

They went the technical wrestling route for most of the contest. Uemura was incredible here. 

Uemura used a knuckle lock, then a short arm scissors which he used to roll Kidd around the ring. Kidd used a chancery to soften Uemura up for his buttefly suplex. 

Uemura tried to strike with Kidd. That was his downfall. Kidd hit a forearm, a dropkick, then used the butterfly suplex for the pin. 

G1 Climax B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Toru Yano (6:11)

This was absolutely horrendous. I’m a fan of Yano comedy but this didn’t work. 

YH tried taping Yano to the barricade and his bo staff. Yano tried to spray hand sanitizer in YH’s face. There were two ref bumps. Yano exposed a buckle. 

For the finish, YH blocked a low blow and used Yano’s arm to cradle him for the pin. 

G1 Climax B Block: Juice Robinson defeated Hirooki Goto (12:09)

Goto got a couple of hope spots but the bulk of this was Juice going after the bad shoulder.

They came out firing off strikes. Juice sent Goto outside and hit a plancha. Goto sold his taped shoulder after the impact of the plancha and that became the story of the match. 

Juice blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a superplex. He maintained neck control on the landing and went for a jackhammer. Goto blocked and hit a neckbreaker. 

Goto finally connected with an ushigoroshi. A series of counters and teases ended with Goto blocking Pulp Friction and locking on a sleeper. Goto used the sleeper to set up a pair of cradles for near falls. 

Juice connected with a Left Hand of God. He followed with an awkward-looking Pulp Friction and pinned Goto. 

Goto really sold this as a big deal in the post-match with his facial expressions. A pro’s pro job by Goto. 

***** Intermission *****

G1 Climax B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (12:02)

This was a fun match. These two have great chemistry, but they have had more crisp matches. 

Sabre scored early with a couple of quick cradles. Tanahashi took a second to regroup, then used a side headlock takeover. He maintained the hold for a long time. Sabre eventually transitioned to a headscissors. They traded these two holds for quite a while. 

Sabre went after Tanahashi’s neck with neck cranks and a triangle. Sabre used an octopus. Tanahashi reversed into his own octopus. Sabre went for a Euro clutch. Tanahashi reversed into his own clutch hold for a near fall. 

Tanahashi focused on Sabre’s right knee with a low dropkick and inverted dragon screw. Sabre used an inside cradle and a guillotine. Tanahashi reversed the guillotine into twist and shout. 

Tanahashi went for a slingblade, the first time either guy hit the ropes in the match. Sabre blocked. Tanahashi got it on his second attempt. 

Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow. Sabre rolled through on the landing. Tanahashi trapped Sabre in a cradle and got the flash pin. 

Tanahashi held the cradle for a few extra seconds and Sabre threw a tantrum as a result. 

G1 Climax B Block: KENTA defeated Tetsuya Naito (21:06)

I was not a fan of this match. I thought they had a good eight minutes laid out and stretched that into 21:06. The finish was very clever. 

Both stalled at the outset. KENTA stole a near fall off a cradle. Naito went for a walk around the ring and stalled some more. 

They tied up. Naito went after KENTA’s bad shoulder with a hammerlock. KENTA rolled to the floor and grabbed his briefcase. KENTA shoved the ref down and Naito ate a briefcase shot. KENTA went to work from there. 

KENTA used a chinlock, a headscissors and a headlock at the 10 minute call. Naito hit his combinacion cabron in the corner and a crucifix. KENTA responded with a top rope clothesline for a two count. 

The match finally picked up as Naito made his comeback. Naito hit a poison rana and a series of back elbows, looking to soften up KENTA’s neck for Destino. Naito hit Gloria for a two count. 

KENTA blocked Destino and went for a GTS at the 20 minute call. Naito reversed into a Destino but could not follow up with a cover. 

Naito rang up the arm and went for Destino. KENTA hit two spinning back fists. Naito answered with Valentia. 

Naito went for Destino. KENTA caught Naito’s legs and cradled him for the flash pin. 

This loss eliminated Naito. 

G1 Climax B Block: SANADA defeated EVIL (27:00)

Lots of Bullet Club-style interference in this one but a good main event with a good story. 

Hiromu Takahashi was at the commentary table and played an important role. 

Nothing of consequence came from the opening volley. EVIL teased an Everything is EVIL. SANADA teased a Skull End. 

EVIL rolled to the floor. SANADA teased a plancha but flipped to his feet on the apron, then pulled himself back into the ring to pose. 

After a trip from Togo, EVIL used a snap suplex on a stack of chairs on the floor to take control of the match. 

Back inside, EVIL used a scoop slam and a cocky, one-foot cover. Red Shoes refused to count the pin due to the underhanded tactics used on the floor. 

EVIL took the ref. Togo pulled SANADA to the floor and sent him into the barricade, then tossed SANADA back in. EVIL used a single-leg crab. SANADA responded with a dropkick to the knee and a back suplex. 

SANADA hit his trademark plancha. He put both EVIL and Togo in paradise locks, then broke the holds with a single dropkick. 

EVIL gouged the eyes and hit a ref-assisted mid kick, avoiding a TKO in the process. A clever sequence ended with SANADA avoiding a misdirection lariat and hitting a springboard dropkick. 

SANADA used the threat of a TKO to set up a Skull End but EVIL powered out. SANADA hit a magic screw and a tiger suplex for a two count. The crowd really got into the match at this point. 

SANADA used a spinning Skull End as a precursor to a moonsault attempt. EVIL rolled out of the way and SANADA crashed to the mat. Togo exposed a buckle. SANADA missed a charge into the corner and got sent into the exposed steel twice. 

EVIL hit a superplex to set up a scorpion deathlock. SANADA fought to the bottom rope to force a break. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count at the 20 minute call. 

SANADA blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a TKO. They did a lengthy double down, prompting Red Shoes to check if both men wanted to continue. They did. 

SANADA avoided the exposed buckle and used a moonsault to transition to Skull End. EVIL slid out but SANADA immediately got the hold applied agai and locked in the body scissors. EVIL pried his head free, but SANADA popped up and hit two moonsaults. 

Red Shoes went to count the pin. Togo pulled the ref out of the ring. Togo used a chair on SANADA and peppered him with right hands. 

EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer. Hiromu Takahashi jumped up from the commentary table to come to SANADA’s aid. Hiromu hit a superkick to Togo. EVIL hit a low blow on Hiromu. EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer on Hiromu at the 25 minute call. 

Togo revived the ref. SANADA stole a near fall off a cradle. EVIL planted SANADA with a lariat. EVIL hit a second big lariat and called for his finisher. 

SANADA reversed Everything is EVIL into Skull End. EVIL grabbed the ref. Togo choked SANADA from the apron. Hiromu superkicked Togo and SANADA recovered. 

SANADA then used a Japanese clutch and got the pin. 

SANADA wins B Block.

SANADA closed the show with a quick promo and said he’ll see us tomorrow. 

G1 Standings —

B Block

  • SANADA — 12 points (6-3) *B Block winner* 
  • EVIL — 12 points (6-3)
  • Tetsuya Naito — 12 points (6-3)
  • KENTA — 10 points (5-4) 
  • Zack Sabre Jr. — 10 points (5-4)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Juice Robinson — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Hirooki Goto — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Toru Yano — 6 points (3-6) 
  • YOSHI-HASHI — 4 points (2-7) 

A Block

  • Kota Ibushi — 14 points (7-2) *A Block winner*
  • Jay White — 12 points (6-3)
  • Will Ospreay — 12 points (6-3)
  • Kazuchika Okada — 12 points (6-3)
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Taichi — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Jeff Cobb — 8 points (4-5)  
  • Shingo Takagi — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Minoru Suzuki — 6 points (3-6) 
  • Yujiro Takahashi — 2 points (1-8) 

NJPW G1 Climax 30 night 17 live results: A Block finals

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Taichi
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White

**********

Yota Tsuji defeated Gabriel Kidd (6:52)

They worked quickly and kept things simple. 

Tsuji fired off a dropkick at the bell, then used a splash for a series of quick near falls. Kidd recovered and hit a sunset flip and used an inside cradle for a pair of two counts. 

Kidd grounded Tsuji with a headlock. Tsuji made the ropes to force a break. Kidd used a couple of more cradles and hit a dropkick. Tsuji came back with an inside cradle and a spear. 

Tsuji hit a powerslam for a two count. Tsuji locked on a Boston crab, then switched to a giant swing. 

Tsuji transitioned back from the swing to the crab and Kidd tapped out. 

G1 Climax A Block: Yujiro Takahashi defeated Jeff Cobb (10:30)

They had about as good of a singles match as Yujiro is capable of having. They threw in a couple of twists and the match peaked at the right time. 

Cobb landed a series of forearms. Yujiro tried to bail out but Cobb kept him in the ring. Yujiro bit Cobb’s hand. Cobb hit a dropkick. They played cat and mouse on the outside. Yujiro avoided a suplex on the floor and hit an inverted DDT. 

Yujiro raked Cobb’s face before jumping back in. Cobb beat the count back inside. Yujiro hit a couple of short legdrops and a headbutt in working Cobb over. Yujiro used a stroke for a near fall. 

Cobb fired back with chops. Cobb missed a standing moonsault and Yujiro connected on a low dropkick. Cobb hit a series of shoulder tackles and an overhead belly-to-belly out of the corner. Cobb hit a running back suplex for a two count. 

Yujiro blocked a charge with a hotshot. Yujiro hit a wheel kick and a fisherman buster for a near fall. Cobb blocked Miami Shine and tried a gutwrench lift. Yujiro again resorted to biting Cobb to free himself. 

Cobb hit a spin cycle out of the corner and a standing moonsault for a two count. Yujiro blocked Tour of the Islands and used a cradle for a two count. 

Yujiro shoved the ref away. Yujiro used his cane on Cobb and hit an olympic slam for two. Yujiro hit Miami Shine for another two count.

Yujiro hit Pimp Juice and got the tainted victory. 

G1 Climax A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Minoru Suzuki (12:30)

They didn’t get a ton of time and this didn’t reach the heights of their Summer Struggle match. This was still a very good brawl. 

They came out swinging. Neither went down after a series of strikes. Suzuki baited Shingo to the ropes where he locked on a rope-assisted armbar. They spilled to the floor. They traded slaps to the face before Suzuki claimed control by whipping Shingo into the barricade. 

Back in, Suzuki tried a PK. Shingo caught the kick and hammered away with strikes. They traded shots again. Suzuki lured Shingo in for a rear naked choke. He went for a Gotch piledriver but Shingo hit a DVD. Shingo sold the damage from the armbar to his right arm. 

Shingo hit some Misawa elbows and a sliding lariat for a two count. Suzuki blocked a Pumping Bomber by locking in a flying armbar. Suzuki slid to a triangle choke, again working the right arm. Shingo could not power Suzuki up to break the hold. 

Suzuki gave up the choke and hit a series of kicks to the right arm. Suzuki fought for, then finally applied, a Fujiwara armbar. Shingo forced a rope break but not before Suzuki did more damage to the right arm. 

Suzuki got a rear naked choke. Shingo slid out and hit a series of lariats. Suzuki refused to go down and hit a series of palm strikes. Suzuki hit a headbutt. Shingo blocked a second headbutt attempt and hit a series of his own headbutts. 

Suzuki used a misdirection spot to set up another choke. Shingo countered out of the choke with a wild right hand and Suzuki finally went down. 

Shingo hoisted Suzuki up for Last of the Dragon. He connected and pinned Suzuki. 

Post-match, Suzuki sold his head. He also used a series of awesome facial expressions to convey that he liked the pain. A rematch between these two for the NEVER title seems imminent. 

*****Intermission*****

G1 Climax A Block: Will Ospreay defeated Kazuchika Okada (17:03)

The story of the match was Okada failing to implement his pace and being forced to work at Ospreay’s speed. The match was fantastic and the angle was impactful. 

Ospreay immediately hit a shotgun dropkick, Sasuke Special and Pip Pip Cheerio for a near fall. 

Ospreay hit a high kick and went for an Oscutter. Okada blocked and used the Money Clip. Ospreay forced a rope break. They went outside where Okada hit a draping DDT off the apron to the floor. Ospreay beat the count back in at 15. 

Okada asserted control of the match with a swinging neckbreaker. Okada clearly found his target in Ospreay’s neck. Okada hit a series of back elbows to the neck in the corner. 

Ospreay created some distance with a backdrop. He followed with a standing shooting star for a near fall. Okada went back to the neck with a DDT. 

Ospreay avoided an air raid crash neckbreaker and hit a handspring kick. Ospreay avoided a shotgun dropkick. Okada sat Ospreay on the top rope and went for a dropkick. Ospreay blocked, reversed the position, then hit his own dropkick. Okada crashed to the floor. 

Ospreay hit an insane tope over the post to the floor. Back in, Ospreay hit a springboard forearm off the top for a two count. 

Okada fought off a Storm Breaker attempt. They traded forearms. Ospreay hit a tiger wall flip kick. Okada missed a dropkick. Okada got his knees up on a standing shooting star. Okada tried the dropkick again but Ospreay caught him flying in with a powerbombfor a two count. This spot ruled. 

Ospreay hit a thrust kick and a hook kick. Okada avoided Hidden Blade. Okada escaped a Storm Breaker mid-air and hit a short Rainmaker, maintaining wrist control on landing. 

Ospreay ducked a Rainmaker. Okada hit a rebound dropkick. Okada hit a tombstone. Okada got the Money Clip applied. Ospreay forced a rope break. 

Ospreay slapped Okada across the face and said “I’m just as good.” Okada hit a shotgun dropkick. Ospreay blocked a tombstone. Ospreay turned a spinning Rainmaker into a standing Spanish fly for a near fall. 

Okada slid out of a Storm Breaker and captured Ospreay’s legs for a two count. Ospreay hit a poison rana and Okada landed awkwardly on his neck. Ospreay hit an Oscutter. 

Ospreay tried for Storm Breaker again. Okada reversed into another Money Clip. Ospreay escaped. 

An insane sequence followed. 

Okada used a backslide to set up a Rainmaker attempt. Ospreay ducked it and tried a Rainmaker. Okada ducked that. Okada went for a Rainmaker. Ospreay turned it into a Spanish fly, then changed his mind mid-Spanish fly and tried a Storm Breaker. Okada escaped that and hit a spinning Rainmaker. 

Okada got the money clip applied. Bea Priestley ran in. Okada gave up the Money Clip and hit a spinning tombstone. Okada went back to the Money Clip. 

Priestley jumped in the ring and took the ref. The Great O-Kharn, the former Tomoyuki Oka, ran in and planted Okada with a claw slam. 

Ospreay looked around, feigning surprise. Ospreay then hit Storm Breaker and pinned Okada. 

**********

After the match, Ospreay ran back to the ring and hammered Okada with a Hidden Blade. 

Ospreay cursed Okada and said that Okada held him back and this was a long time coming. 

Ospreay, Priestley and O-Kharn left together. 

This was a huge angle and a fantastic match. 

**********

G1 Climax A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Taichi (17:12)

This was the most unique match I’ve ever seen. A complete original. 

All they did was kick each other. There was one missed suplex and one Kamigoye finisher. Aside from that, only kicks. And it worked. This was incredible. 

They didn’t touch for the first minute of the match. 

From there, they traded kicks for eight minutes. Just kick, kick, kick, kick. They no-sold each other’s kicks, they offered each other free kicks at each other’s backs, just every kick thing you can think of. 

Taichi hit a back suplex at the ten minute mark. Ibushi landed on his feet and they went back to trading kicks. They went into a double down after exchanging high kicks to the head. 

Both made it to their feet. They continued trading kicks, limping around as they recovered in between throwing and absorbing kicks. Taichi tore his pants off. Ibushi dropped Taichi with a kick. 

Ibushi called for a Kamigoye. Taichi took Ibushi’s legs out from under him with a sweeping kick. 

Both needed the aid of the ropes to stand at the 15 minute call. They held each other up and continued to kick each other into oblivion. 

Ibushi hit one final high kick, then delivered a Kamigoye for the pin. 

Tsuji carried Taichi to the back. Ibushi limped to the back under his own power. 

G1 Climax A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Jay White (24:36)

Excellent main event. Ishii was incredible and White more than held up his end of things. 

White began with his customary stalling. He danced around Ishii, taunting him. White slapped Ishii. Ishii responded with a forearm, dropping White. White rolled outside. Ishii went out after him. Gedo distracted Ishii and White took control, whipping Ishii into the barricade. 

Back inside, White used a legdrop and a slam for a pair of near falls. Ishii tweaked his left ankle trying to run the ropes. White tried a charge out of the corner but Ishii hit a powerslam. 

Ishii hit his chop combinations in the corner. White hit a DDT and a Blade Buster for a two count. White went after Ishii’s taped right knee, slamming it into the mat and hitting it with kicks. 

Ishii no-sold a series of forearms. White went back to the knee to cut Ishii off. White ducked a sliding lariat, hit a complete shot, then used a German suplex to plant Ishii. Ishii got a hope spot with a series of strikes, but White remained in control. 

White hit a uranage, kicked at the knee, then suplexed Ishii into the buckle. Ishii answered with a German into the same turnbuckle. White blocked a superplex and went back to the knee, using a dragon screw in the ropes. 

Ishii knocked White off the apron with a headbutt to the chest. Ishii dragged White back in and hit a delayed superplex for a near fall. White pancaked on the mat to avoid a lariat. Ishii hit a headbutt. White blocked a jumping kick and hit two more dragon screws.  

White used the TTO submission. Ishii sold this like crazy. Red Shoes also did his part to sell this as a near finish. Ishii finally fought to the ropes to force a break. 

White hit a chop block and a sleeper suplex. He followed with a Kiwi Krusher for a two count. 

White called for the Blade Runner. Ishii blocked and hit an inverted dragon screw. Ishii powered White up and hit a knee breaker onto his own bad knee. 

Ishii was now out for White’s right knee. Ishii used a kneebar at the 20 minute call. Gedo jumped in while White took the referee. White shoved Ishii into the referee. 

Ishii ducked a brass knuckles shot from Gedo. He teased a brainbuster on Gedo but White saved. Ishii hit a German to Ishii. As the referee came to, Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a near fall. 

Gedo took the ref. Ishii tried for a brainbuster. White slid out and hit a low blow. White then hit a Regal suplex for another near fall. 

Ishii blocked a cross-armed DDT with a headbutt. Ishii fired himself up in the corner. White hit a sleeper suplex. Ishii no-sold it. White hit another sleeper suplex.

They did a series of finisher teases. Ishii hit a cutter. 

Gedo shoved the ref down. Ishii hit Gedo with a lariat. Ishii then hit White with a lariat for a two count. 

Ishii followed with the vertical drop brainbuster and pinned White to eliminate him. 

Ibushi wins A Block. 

**********

After the match, Ishii limped to the back. 

Gedo helped White to the back and told him that the referee screwed him, he’s still the best and this wasn’t White’s fault. 

In his backstage comments after the match, White said he was King Switchblade. He also said he would sincerely cheer for EVIL tomorrow, but warned EVIL to watch out for the referees. 

**********

G1 Standings —

A Block

  • Kota Ibushi — 14 points (7-2) *A Block winner*
  • Jay White — 12 points (6-3)
  • Will Ospreay — 12 points (6-3)
  • Kazuchika Okada — 12 points (6-3)
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Taichi — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Jeff Cobb — 8 points (4-5)  
  • Shingo Takagi — 8 points (4-5) 
  • Minoru Suzuki — 6 points (3-6) 
  • Yujiro Takahashi — 2 points (1-8) 

B Block

  • Tetsuya Naito — 12 points (6-2)
  • EVIL — 12 points (6-2)
  • SANADA — 10 points (5-3)
  • Zack Sabre Jr. — 10 points (5-3)
  • Hirooki Goto — 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
  • KENTA — 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • Juice Robinson — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • Toru Yano — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • YOSHI-HASHI — 2 points (1-7) *eliminated*

Updated NJPW G1 Climax 30 standings and scenarios

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Eight wrestlers remain mathematically alive as NJPW’s G1 Climax 30 enters its final stretch.

Four competitors still have a shot in each block with one A Block show and one B Block show remaining before Sunday’s final. In A Block, Jay White controls his own destiny. In B Block, it’s EVIL who controls his own fate. 

After that, things get more cloudy.

White, Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay still have a chance to win A Block.

The most likely A Block scenarios would be White winning with a victory over Ishii or Ibushi winning with a win over Taichi and a White loss. Ospreay needs to win and get help. Okada needs to win or draw and Ibushi and White both to lose. 

In B Block, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, and Zack Sabre Jr. are still in the running. 

A scenario exists in B Block where there could be a three-way tie for the lead heading into Sunday, although it seems far more likely that Saturday’s EVIL vs. SANADA matchup will determine the B Block winner. 

Here are the updated standings and scenarios: 

G1 Climax 30 standings —

A Block

  • Jay White — 12 points (6-2) *wins the block with a win over Ishii*
  • Kota Ibushi — 12 points (6-2) *wins the block with a win over Taichi and a White loss/draw/no contest*
  • Kazuchika Okada — 12 points (6-2) *wins the block with a win over Ospreay, White and Ibushi losses/draws/no contests or a draw with Ospreay and Ibushi/White losses/no contests*
  • Will Ospreay — 10 points (5-3) *ties for the block win with a win over Okada, White and Ibushi losses/no contests*
  • Taichi — 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
  • Jeff Cobb — 8 points (4-4) *eliminated* 
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 6 points (3-4) *eliminated*
  • Shingo Takagi — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • Minoru Suzuki — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • Yujiro Takahashi — 0 points (0-8) *eliminated*

B Block

  • EVIL — 12 points (6-2) *wins the block with a win over SANADA or a draw/no contest with SANADA, Naito loss and Sabre loss/draw*
  • Tetsuya Naito — 12 points (6-2) *wins the block with a win/draw over KENTA and an EVIL loss/no contest*
  • SANADA — 10 points (5-3) *wins the block with a win over EVIL and a Naito loss/no contest*
  • Zack Sabre Jr. — 10 points (5-3) *ties with Naito & EVIL for block win with a win over Tanahashi, a Naito loss, and a SANADA/EVIL no contest*
  • Hirooki Goto — 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
  • KENTA — 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
  • Toru Yano — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • Juice Robinson — 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • YOSHI-HASHI — 2 points (1-7) *eliminated*