Tag: njpw g1 climax 35

NJPW G1 Climax 35 finals results: Takeshita vs. EVIL

Posted on by Markus Gronemann

Ariake Arena in Tokyo hosts today’s G1 Climax 35 finals with a shot at NJPW immortality at stake in the tournament’s conclusion.

Konosuke Takeshita, the third place finisher in B Block, will face EVIL, the first place finisher in A Block, in today’s finals. The winner will earn a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship currently held by Zack Sabre Jr.

Tradition would say that today’s winner will challenge for NJPW’s top prize at Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, 2026, but that tradition was bucked just last year by Sabre, who won the G1 and then cashed in his title shot at King of Pro Wrestling last October, where he went on to defeat Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Takeshita defeated David Finlay in the quarterfinals, then Sabre in yesterday’s semifinals. EVIL earned a bye into the semifinals where he defeated Yota Tsuji yesterday.

EVIL is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, holding the now-retired title for 48 days in 2020. Takeshita has not held IWGP gold, but held NJPW’s NEVER Openweight Championship for 162 days earlier this year.

Neither Takeshita nor EVIL have won the G1 before, meaning that first-time winners will be crowned in back-to-back years for the first time since the 2007 to 2013 stretch where there were seven consecutive first-time winners.

**********

Zane Jay & Masatora Yasuda vs. Tatsuya Matsumoto & Shoma Kato

We kick things off with some Young Lions action. Basic, non-flashy start by Jay and Masatora working over Matsumoto. Matsumoto finally hits a big dropkick on Jay to get the hot tag. Kato starts a house of fire and even gets a pin attempt off a scoop slam of all things. Jay escapes a vertical suplex attempt and shoots Kato into the corner with a dropkick of his own. Yasuda tags back in and locks a Boston Crab on Matsumoto, eventually forcing him to tap out. This marks Zane Jay’s first win in NJPW in the U.S.

Match Result: Zane Jay & Masatora Yasuda defeated Tatsuya Matsumoto & Shoma Kato

Satoshi Kojima & Taichi vs. Katsuya Mirashima & Togi Makabe

TAKA Michinoku is out with Kojima and Taichi. Taichi and Mirashima start out and exchange blows immediately. Kojima tags in he and Mirashima and they trade rapid-fire chops in the corner. Kojima follows up with an elbow drop off the turnbuckles for a two-count and Makabe tags in. A 10 punch series in the corner is followed by a lariat for a two count by Makabe.

Kojima tags in Taichi and they try for a double clothesline, but Makabe floors them both with a double clothesline of his own. Young Lion Mirashima gets to try his luck against Taichi and hits a power slam against one falf of the IWGP Heavyweight tag team champion for a two-count. Makabe is back in and Taichi hits a head kick, followed by a stunner from Kojima.

Mirashima almost gets the win against Taichi with a small package, but eats and Axe Bomber lariat for his troubles. Another lariat by Kojima and a back drop driver by Taichi seals the fate of the Young Lion for tonight, but I see great things in the future of young Mirashima in New Japan.

Post-match: Taichi shakes Kojima’s hand after the bout when the music of the Bullet Club War Dogs hits and Dave Finlay walks out and pauses on the stage, calling out some backup. It is the return of Young Blood: Yuto Nakashima and OSKAR Leube. We see those two back in NJPW for the first time since New Year Dash in 2024, after their European excursion in RevPro and wXw and a brief interlude in New Zealand over the summer. Nakashima now has white hair and is dressed in all-white while OSKAR is dressed in black. They promptly destroy Kojima, Taichi and Michinoku, ending things with a kick assisted jumping tombstone piledriver on Taichi. They pose with Taichi’s tag team title, making their intentions very clear, as they War Dogs pack seemingly just grew by two very aggressive and violent puppies.

Match Result: Satoshi Kojima & Taichi defeated Katsuya Mirashima & Togi Makabe

Master Wato, Toru Yano & Yoh vs. El Desperado, Ryusuke Taguchi & YOSHI-HASHI

Desperado and Yoh start off with Phantasmo getting the better of the exchange. Yano and YOSHI-HASHI are next and Yano immediately removes a pad from the corner and slams YOSHI-HASHI back first into it. Master Wato tags in and works over YOSHI-HASHI, who finally manages to tag in Taguchi.

Taguchi runs wild with hip attacks, almost taking Wato’s head off with a running hip attack in the ropes. Yoh tags back in, but both him and Wato get taken out by another springboard flying hip attack. All six men are in and it boils down to Desperado vs. Yoh before Wato flies in to take out Desperado, then immediately dives onto everyone else on the floor. Yoh hits the double underhook DDT and pins Desperado, potentially earning himself a future shot at the the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight championship.

Match Result: Master Wato, Toru Yano & Yoh defeated El Desperado, Ryusuke Taguchi & YOSHI-HASHI

El Phantasmo, Oleg Boltin & Tiger Mask vs. House of Torture (Don Fale, SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

We get our first taste of House of Torture for the night, as SANADA comes out with the broken guitar, that recently was smashed over the head of Drilla Moloney.

Phantasmo and SANADA start, as Phantasmo looks for guidance to Milano Collection AT at commentary on how to correctly apply the Paradise Lock. Fun times don’t last long as SANADA drags Phatasmo into the crowd and hits him in the head with a water bottle. Kanemaru is in next and applies some nasty head scissors on Phantasmo, who finally makes the ropes but it takes the referee’s intervention to finally break the hold. Phantasmo sends him to ringside, then hits a hurricanrana on SANADA but his partners get dragged off the apron as he is about to make the tag.

He finally manages to tag in Boltin, who clears house on SANADA and Kanemaru but runs into Fale. The big men clash and Boltin gets beaten down, necessitating a tag to Tiger Mask. Fale comes in for the other team and briefly gets tripple-teamed.

Kanemaru hits a blatant kick to the nether regions with the referee distracted, followed by a Shining Wizard by SANADA and an elbow drop by Fale for the win. Post-match, Fale and Boltin clash, with Boltin getting the better of the exchange and hitting a big splash on Fale to send House of Torture packing for the time being.

Match Result: House of Torture defeated El Phantasmo, Oleg Boltin & Tiger Mask

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura vs. United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young)

Tanahashi and The Great-O-Khan start out with some mat wrestling before getting the crowd going with opposing chants. The President hits a cross body, then attacks the throat and poses over Khan in the corner, before getting kicked by Newman and Young.

It is now Great-O-Khan’s turn to pose over his opponent in the corner, as he strums the air violin, instead of the air guitar. Young is in next, holding his own against Tanahashi. New man is in next, but falls victim to a Dragon Screw by Tanahashi. Shota Umino is in next and sends Newman spinning with a shoulder block, before Great-O-Khan eats a dropkick and is sent to the outside. A fisherman’s suplex against Newman scores a two-count.

After Newman escapes a tornado DDT, Umino hits it on the second attempt, before both men are down and make tags respectively to Young and Uemura. Young with a rana, a sling blade and twisting suplex for a two-count. Jacob Austin Young briefly holds hiw own against all three opponents, before getting wiped out by a triple dropkick.

Chaos briefly ensues as everyone comes in at rapid succession trading moves, before Uemura pins Young with a dead bolt suplex. Tanahashi and Great-O-Khan have words as United Empire exits, as the announcers plug Tanahashi’s final match in the UK next week in the Lights Out cage match at AEW Forbidden Door.

Match Result: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura defeated United Empire

Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay, Drilla Moloney, Gedo & Taiji Ishimori) vs. Daiki Nagai, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji

Nagai is pumped and gets into the faces of the War Dogs, who laughed him off. Gedo starts out with him, using cheap tactics to keep the Young Lion in check. Hiromu and Ishimori are in next, with Hiromu using Nagai to gain the advantage. Ishimori hits a handspring somersault kick to take Hiromu out, as Finlay takes over. Moloney is in next, as Hiromu is in trouble.

Ishimori is in next as things look dire for Hiromu, who finally makes the tag to Tsuji. Finlay is on the other side, who hits the Irish Curse on Tsuji. They go back and forth, until Finlay hits a spear. Moloney and Nagai are in next and trade blows, with the Young Lion not backing down. Shingo comes in for some backup, allowing Nagai to hit a spinebuster and a sliding D by Shingo.

Moloney hits a gore on Shingo, before a powerbomb, a buckle bomb by Finlay, another gore and the Drilla Killer seal the fate of Nagai and gives the War Dogs the victory.

Post-match, Moloney and Shingo further get into it, before Shingo sends Moloney and Gedo packing. Shingo asks for the mic and challenges Gabe Kidd for the NEVER Openweight title, telling him he should vacate the title if he can not defend it and vows to take care of all the War Dogs.

Match Result: Bullet Club War Dogs defeated Daiki Nagai, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji

House of Torture (Douki, Ren Narita, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) vs. TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

SHO cuts a promo before the match, insulting the crowd. Fujita grabs it but instead of a cutting a promos of his own, attacks SHO. After some brief action with Fujita, Oiwa and Douki in the ring the action spills to ringside as everybody brawls outside.

Douki and Oiwa return to the ring, with Oiwa receiving more punishment at the hands of SHO and Narita. With the ref distracted, House of Torture hits Oiwa on the outside with chairs, bats and whatnot. Takahashi is in with Oiwa, who finally hits a suplex and manages to tag in Zack.

The IWGP Heavyweight loses no time going on offense, before trading abdominal stretches with Narita. They keeb things mat-based, trading holds and hooks, as Narita locks in a nasty guillotine. Zack finally comes back with a PK and tags in Hartley Jackson, who steamrolls Narita with a running cross body. He misses a senton and finds himself trapped in a desperation knee bar before making the ropes.

The senton hits on the second attempt and Sho needs to make the save. Narita and Takahashi double team Jackson as the ref is distracted, but Oiwa comes in to clean house. Narita hits Jackson in the knee with a wrench, the push up bar is brought into play and Jackson gets hit with yet another foreign object, allowing Narita to hit Hell’s Guillotine for the pinfall victory.

Immediately post-match, ZSJ flies in to lock in a rear naked choke on Narita, but gets triple teamed right away. HoT is looking to hit ZSJ with a pipe before Fujita makes the save and then makes it very clear, he wants a shot at the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight tag team titles held by Douki and SHO. Zack then grabs a chair and goes on the hunt for Narita.

Match Result: House of Torture defeated TMDK

G1 Climax 2025 Finals: Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Rocky Romero) vs. EVIL (w/ Dick Togo and House of Torture)

Before the match, five-time G1 Climax winner Masahiro Chono comes out to hype the crowd and asks them, if they are ready for the finals. A video package then shows how we got here. EVIL in the finals feels very underwhelming, but I’ll try to keep an open mind. All the seconds get sent away from ringside, let’s see if they stay there.

EVIL with a side head lock to start things off, Takeshita escapes and hit a shoulder block to send EVIL to the mat. Roman knuckle lock and a test of strength follows, with some back and forth, like it’s Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior in 1990. EVIL locks in an abdominal stretch but Takeshita throws him off right away.

Three minutes in and here is the first interference of House of Torture with an attack by Dick Togo. EVIL distracts the referee and everyone beats down Takeshita on the outside, while EVIL already poses with the G1 trophy in the ring. EVIL works over Takeshita’s left knee as we reach the five minute mark. Takeshita misses an enzuigiri and EVIL locks in the STF, as Masa Chono looks on stoically from the commentary position, before Takeshita makes the ropes.

Takeshita is visibly hurt as his knee buckles under pressure and he again has to fend off House of Torture, which he does, even hitting a vertical suplex on Fale and hitting a dive on some of the rest. Rocky meanwhile drags some other members of HoT to the back with he help of some Young Lions.

Back in the ring, Takeshita flies at EVIL with a spinning punch, then hits a Yakuza kick in the corner before locking in the cross face chicken wing. Narita pulls Red Shoes out of the ring, who for some reason does not disqualify EVIL. He is about to hit Takeshita with the push -up bar but Zack Sabre Jr. comes in and drags Narita away by the ankle. Takeshita and EVIL trade punches, with Takeshita getting the better of the exchange, before EVIL kicks him in the knee again.

A lariat by EVIL scores him a two count. EVIL has Takeshita on his shoulders for Darkness Falls, but Takeshita hits a Gotch-style tombstone piledriver, then dead lifts EVIL for a wheel barrow suplex. Both men hit lariats at the same time, and for the first time, this match feels like a G1 finals, about 13 minutes in. Both are back up, hit synchronized lariats again, this time not leaving their feet, Takeshita misses a fling knee in the corner and tumbles over the ropes, hurting his knee some more. EVIL hits a superplex for another two-count, then locks in the Scorpion Deathlock, but Takeshita gets tot he bottom rope.

EVIL hits Darkness Falls for another close two-count. Takeshita evades Everything is Evil and eventually counters with an exploder. Takeshita counters Everything is Evil with an “Everything is Alpha” (as the announcers called it) of his own and gets a two-count. He hits a huge Blue Thunder Bomb for another close near-fall, then hobbles to the corner and wills himself to the top rope for a big senton off the top, but still only gets a two count.

EVIL hits his spinning face buster for a two, then follows up with another Scorpion Deathlock. Takeshita manages to crawl to the ropes after a long time. EVIL goes for another Everything is Evil, but Takeshita’s knee gives out and he collapses before EVIL can hit the move. Takeshita blocks the move a second time and receives a hard right to the jaw for his troubles. Takeshita still comes back with a huge suplex, even bridging with just one leg, but it only gets him a narrow two-count.

Takeshita hits a flying knee for another two, then takes his knee brace off to hit another one, but collapses again during the sprint. Red Shoes checks on Takeshita, allowing EVIL to hit a low blow from behind and a lariat for the sure victory. But Takeshita KICKS OUT ONCE MORE!!!

Takeshita counters Everything is Evil into a back slide, then hits a huge Last Ride. He does for another knee, but EVIL catches it. Takeshita hits a knock-out punch and follows up with Raging Fire for the victory. The second half of the match delivered and I am glad we got no more HoT shenanigans after its mid-point.

Konosuke Takeshita has won the G1 Climax 35 in 26:26 and will go on to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, presumably at Wrestle Kingdom 2026.

It is time for the ceremony and Takeshita is in tears as he receive the trophy and the G1 flag. He is still crying as he starts his promo, talking about achieving his dream and making dreams come true. He tells everyone who wants to become a professional wrestler, that he is the best professional wrestler there is. He says that the wrestling world has seen nothing yet and declares himself the Alpha once more.

Match Result: Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Rocky Romero) defeated EVIL (w/ Dick Togo and House of Torture) to win the 2025 G1 Climax

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Semifinals

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The NJPW G1 Climax 35 tournament reaches its penultimate night with semifinals action.

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. and Konosuke Takeshita square off in the main event with a place in Sunday’s finals hanging in the balance. Sabre earned a bye into the semis with his first place finish in B Block, while Takeshita earned his way in with a win over David Finlay in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Tonight’s other semifinals bout features EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji. EVIL earned his spot in the semis by finishing with the highest point total in A Block, while Tsuji defeated Shota Umino in Thursday’s quarterfinals to move on.

The winners of tonight’s bouts will square off tomorrow in the G1 finals with a spot in the Wrestle Kingdom main event potentially on the line. Last year’s G1 winner Sabre chose to cash in his title shot at King of Pro Wrestling last October rather than wait for the traditional January 4 Tokyo Dome challenge. Sabre defeated Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World title last October.

**********

  • El Desperado, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, YOSHI-HASHI & Yuya Uemura defeated Master Wato, Satoshi Kojima, Taichi, Toru Yano & YOH
  • House of Torture defeated Oleg Boltin & Tomoaki Honma
  • United Empire defeated El Phantasmo, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima
  • Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi defeated War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo)
  • House of Torture defeated War Dogs
  • House of Torture defeated TMDK
  • EVIL defeated Yota Tsuji
  • Konosuke Takeshita defeated Zack Sabre Jr.

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

El Desperado, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, YOSHI-HASHI & Yuya Uemura defeated Master Wato, Satoshi Kojima, Taichi, Toru Yano & YOH

(Fun 10-man tag to open the show. Everyone hit their best strengths. Kojima and Taichi’s moments were a real chuckle, on par with Yano and Taguchi’s comedic proclivities.)

Uemura and Taichi locked up, with the former eating a big boot from the latter. Deep arm drag by Uemura saw Taichi dragged into the corners, with Umino soon on the receiving end of a kick. Kojima and Taichi had an awkward intense stare after Yano tagged himself in. Kojima eventually made it in, were he rained down chops on Umino’s chest.

YOSHI-HASHI and Desperado bore down on Kojima, who escaped to YOH. Suplexing Desperado, YOH dropped to one himself. Taguchi delivered two Funky Weapons to topple Wato. YOSHI-HASHI nearly tricked Taichi into taking out Kojima, who repeatedly tried shaking Taichi’s hand. Uemura and Umino coordinated to plummet Wato to the mat. Taguchi hit Wato with a Bomaye.

Desperado assisted Taguchi by slingshotting Wato and YOH onto the top rope. Wato fell down, while Desperado pulled YOH by the leg. Taguchi took advantage of the situation by rolling up Wato. Three taps later and Taguchi won the match for his comrades.

House of Torture (Don Fale & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Oleg Boltin & Tomoaki Honma

(With his recent, crushing loss to EVIL in the G1 Climax A-Block coupled with this loss, there might be a slight change in Boltin. With commentary mentioning to keep an eye on Boltin’s post-match comments in the night, I wonder what it could be.)

A bitter Boltin didn’t even bother taking off his shirt or NEVER Openweight Championship; he charged Fale in the corner and chopped him down. Fale fired back with strikes but stumbled to his opponent’s dropkick. Fale dropped him with a charging lariat and tagged Takahashi in. Honma tagged in after his partner stunned Takahashi with a shotgun dropkick.

Takahashi rolled out of the way of Honma’s Kokeshi. Boltin halted Fale’s rampage for Honma to deliver one Kokeshi. Mid-Kokeshi, Fale caught Honma by the throat, hit him with a stiff clothesline, and an elbow drop for the pinfall.

Post-match: Fale and Takahashi dispatched an irate Boltin, with Fale faux-pinning his downed former opponent.

United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young) defeated El Phantasmo, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima

(Newman’s being positioned as the big star of this triumvirate while Khan’s longer tenure glues the group’s dynamics in place. This match was emblematic of that in the wake of departures like Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay, and Aussie Open’s. Murashima is coming to his own, displaying more than intensity and drama; he’ll go far in NJPW.)

Khan grappled with the Ace, ultimately driving him into the corner. Tanahashi rebounded with a flying crossbody with further assist from Phantasmo and a senton by Murashima. Tanahashi, Phantasmo, and Murashima did an air guitar pose, the latter of which had such a good time doing it that he didn’t notice Young and Newman taking out his partners. After singlehandedly dispatching United Empire, Murashima resumed excitedly playing the air guitar until Tanahashi calmed him down.

Khan sat atop Tanahashi’s shoulders on the top rope, pressing his full weight. He pulled the Ace to the ring’s center for Mongolian chops that instantly fell his opponent. Phantasmo soared into the United Empire on the outside, dragging Khan back into the ring for a Senton + Lionsault combo. Scouting Phantasmo, Khan caught his Canadian opponent with a punch. Sturdy as he was, Newman flipped in the air by Murashima’s power, landing to Tanahashi’s Slingblade and Murashima’s bulldog powerslam.

Newman charged for Murashima, with some trouble. However, he inevitably sent the Young Lion on his back with a crushing Firebolt. This earned Newman and his United Empire co-horts the win.

Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi defeated War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo)

(Unafilliated (LIJ) coming to Nagai’s aid more and more keeps me invested in this new iteration of the group. Post-Naito and BUSHI, its as though Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, and Yota Tsuji are filling a void left behind and the hungry Nagai could be that foil.)

Finlay swiftly dragged Nagai to the ropes, where the pair struck the other with elbows in repetition. Ruthlessly, Finlay battered the Young Lion and hit him with a Senton. Spinning around Nagai atop his shoulders, Finlay dizzily stumbled to a tag with Gedo.

Nagai struggled back to his feet, grounded firmly by Gedo’s neck hold. Takagi tagged in, but had little luck when Gedo and Finlay unified their sights on him. Nagai came to Takagi’s aid, resulting in a plancha to Finlay. Gedo hit the ground stunned after Takagi’s Dangerous Driver. WAR Special locked in, Gedo submitted to the merciless hold of Takagi.

House of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori)

(House of Torture win, but at least I got a kick out of Ishimori noticeably taking out Kanemaru on the outside away from the camera. Combined with the whiskey spray from the War Dogs and the sound the guitar made on Moloney popped me. That said, I hope the resulting blood wasn’t too serious. He staggered off in the end as it streamed down his face.)

SANADA was dressed from head to toe in a full-body reflective suit. Glimmering in the light, he looked like a human disco ball.

Both teams wasted no time as they brawled before and after the bell. Moloney and Ishimori went to work on Kanemaru in the corner. SANADA pulled Moloney away, bashing him against the hard, blue steel guardrails near the crowd. Kanemaru and SANADA applied pressure with their legs, driving Ishimori into the corner turnbuckle. Ishimori leapt to a comeback with a dropkick to Kanemaru.

Moloney with the tag, scouted SANADA’s each move temporarily downed him. Kanemaru prevented any follow-up courtesy of a leg pull. Ishimori equalized Kanemaru on the outside, loudly and off-camera. SANADA clutched the referee when Moloney hoped to suplex him. Kanemaru sought to spray whiskey in Moloney’s eye but he ducked in time. The War Dogs imbibed the whiskey, spraying it into the House of Torture. SANADA blasted Moloney’s skull with his guitar, deeply embedding it. This earned House of Torture a pin.

House of Torture (DOUKI, Ren Narita & SHO) defeated TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa)

(Fujita and Oiwa didn’t get much time, but Jackson put up a valiant effort. I wasn’t a fan of this match once it became clear and predictable, try as everyone might.)

House of Torture struck Fujita and Oiwa, but had a hard time with Jackson. SHO and DOUKI bullied Fujita on the outside. Narita added to this in the ring, driving Fujita’s head along the rope. DOUKI overwhelmed the exhausted and worn Fujita, capitalizing with a double-stomp. Wearily, Fujita turned the tables at last with a dropkick.

Oiwa blasted off with a fury, dropkicking Narita and punishing him with utmost focus on the left arm. Even though he raked Oiwa in the eye, he found himself again in the throes of agony courtesy of another arm hold. SHO joined Narita to torment Oiwa, both men dropped to a double-clothesline.

Jackson threw his weight at Narita. Suffering knee targeting, Jackson’s friends aided him into landing a senton on Narita. Clinging the referee to the rope, Narita distracted him so SHO might harm Jackson more with a wrench. Thanks to this, a poke in the eye, and DOUKI’s pipe, House of Torture quelled Jackson’s Jagged Edge. Narita locked in a figure-four leglock to tap Jackson out.

G1 Climax Semifinal Matches

EVIL defeated Yota Tsuji

(Disappointed with the finish. It feels like a crime. And voice my misgivings as I might, I think there’s nothing stopping NJPW from booking EVIL versus Zack Sabre Jr at Wrestle Kingdom 20.)

Tsuji got the better of EVIL initially, but Dick Togo pulled him into the steel guardrail outside. EVIL flung him into it, toppling over someone in a production desk. Wrapping a microphone around Tsuji’s neck, EVIL demanded he declar him the winner. Shingo Takagi and Daiki Nagai joined Tsuji’s side to urge him back up. There htey stayed through the match.

EVIL hoped to take advantage of the recent woes he inflicted on Tsuji, but he persevered. Sinking in a figure-four leglock, EVIL inevitably relinquished his hold. Hurling his opponent in the corner, he powerbombed the limping Tsuji. The two battled for a vertical suplex, with Tsuji grittily pulling through.

In his spirited comeback, Tsuji chopped down EVIL. In his ire, EVIL beamed Tsuji into and over the steel guardrail. Dick Togo kicked Tsuji’s leg into the barricade and fled behind Don Fale after Shingo Takagi gave chase. EVIL cinched in a deep Darkness Scorpion. Red-faced and unrelenting, Tsuji dramatically gripped a rope break.

Tsuji curb stomped EVIL, earning him enough time for a reprieve. A Spanish Fly begat an urgent rebound by Tsuji, leading EVIL to fling the referee in the way of a Gene Blaster. With the referee incapacitated, Fale and Togo frantically took out Nagai and Takagi so they could assault Tsuji. EVIL’s allies and Tsuji’s allies gave each other low blows. Tsuji and EVIL traded counter after counter. Attempting to send EVIL from the top rope, Tsuji tragically fell to Fale’s low blow. EVIL locked in one last Darkness Scorpion, enough to render Tsuji unconscious.

Post-match: Referee Kenta Sato rejected Takagi and Nagai’s appeals to overturn the finish, as Tsuji hadn’t tapped out.

Konosuke Takeshita defeated Zack Sabre Jr.

(Takeshita pulled out a miracle here. Off the cusp of the last match, he became Western fans’ last hope against EVIL with this win. Admittedly, NJPW should be investing more in their younger stock; they’ve quite an impressive crop to do so with. However, Takeshita makes his NJPW dates, and does more than I think most people realize. He is contracted to NJPW, after all. Him winning the G1 and potentially the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship would not be a bad call.)

Sabre started off this rematch by getting the best of Takeshita. However, the Alpha reversed this with a shoulder hold of his own. Sabrearms were tied around his neck as he struggled to maintain calmness. Soon, Sabre shouldered Takeshita to send him down. There, he cranked the arm of his opponent and bent his fingers back. Takeshita wriggled to a rope break.

Sabre aimed for a Penalty Kick on the ring apron, but Takeshita countered him with a DDT to the floor ringside. A German Suplex rendered Sabre momentarily stunned, and a flying shoulder tackle brought him back down. Sabre dodged Takeshita’s knee, kicking the back of it as he did so. To rub salt in the wound, he tied Takeshita’s weak leg against a bottom rope. Following a modified stretch to agonize it further, Sabre stomped on the knee.

Takeshita’s adrenaline propelled him to demolish Sabre with two consecutive exploder suplexes. Sabre snatched a comeback as he clutched an armbar. This essened the affect of a lariat. Out of nowhere, Sabre survived a Blue Thunderbomb to engage a triangle choke. Takeshita wept for frantic rope break attempts as Sabre tied his legs together. A loud clap followed a Rolling Elbow from Takeshita. He stole a Zack Driver to no avail. Desperately, Sabre tried many different holds and pins, but Takeshita escaped via a German suplex.

Sabre avoided a knee, landing a Zack Driver followed by an armbar. He maintained this with urgency as Takeshita miraculously earned a rope break. A lariat overturned Sabre’s Penalty Kick. The men sparred with Sabre slapping the taste out of Takeshita’s mouth. On the top turnbuckle, Sabre maintained a hold on Takeshita’s left arm but fell to the mat in Takeshita’s transitioned Raging Fire. A Powerdrive Knee and another Raging Fire tore Sabre apart for the pinfall.

Post-match: The entire House of Torture spilled to ringside. EVIL teased entering the ring, but smugly backed away and his lackeys joined him.

(I stress again the urgency of elevating the young, hot talent. So many could’ve qualified for the playoffs, semifinals, and finals. EVIL, no matter what his popularity in Japan may or may not be, should not be in this position in 2025. Hope beyond hope, Takeshita’s NJPW schedule could see him be a bigger deal in AEW and NJPW. The stars of the past cannot be relied on forever, especially in today’s wildly changing wrestling climate.)

NJPW G1 Climax 35 semifinals set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Following Thursday’s show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, NJPW G1 Climax 35 is down to its final four competitors.

Yota Tsuji and Konosuke Takeshita secured their semifinal spots with respective victories over Shota Umino and David Finlay as the G1 playoffs began. Both semifinal matches will go down this Saturday with EVIL vs. Tsuji and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Takeshita determining which two competitors advance to the finals.

EVIL and Sabre earned byes to the semifinals by finishing atop A and B Block during round-robin competition. The semifinal bouts are both rematches from earlier in the tournament, where EVIL defeated Tsuji and Sabre defeated Takeshita.

Ariake Arena in Tokyo is hosting the semifinals on Saturday with the finals then happening at the same venue the next day.

Along with bragging rights, the G1 winner receives an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship shot that is traditionally used at NJPW’s annual Wrestle Kingdom spectacular at the Tokyo Dome in January. Sabre is the current champion, having defeated Hirooki Goto to regain the belt back in June. Sabre could choose his Wrestle Kingdom challenger if he wins the G1.

NJPW G1 Climax 35 remaining schedule —

Saturday, August 16:

  • Semifinal match: EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Semifinal match: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Sunday, August 17:

  • Tournament finals

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Playoffs begin

Posted on by Marc Quill

The NJPW G1 Climax 35 Playoffs begin today with the quarterfinals matchups in a sold out Korakuen Hall.

The main event features the second place finisher in B Block facing the third place finisher in A Block, with Shota Umino taking on Yota Tsuji. The winner advances to the semifinals on Saturday to face A Block winner EVIL.

Both began their careers in the NJPW Dojo system as Young Lions around the same time, so they have met 12 times previously with Umino holding a 10-2 edge.

In today’s semi-main event, the second place finisher in A Block faces the third place finisher from B Block, with David Finlay taking on Konosuke Takeshita. The winner will face B Block winner and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. in the semifinals on Saturday.

Finlay has won the only prior career singles meeting against Takeshita.

Today’s show streams live on NJPW World beginning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

– We began things with the opening video highlighting our A & B Block winners, as well as the men who will battle it out tonight in the two playoff matches we’ll see just ahead.

– We were welcomed for our English commentary by Walker Stewart & Chris Charlton as we got ready for our preliminary bouts to get underway.

YOSHI-HASHI & Shoma Kato vs. Satoshi Kojima & Taichi

This tag match got under way with Kato and Taichi kicking things off for their respective sides. Kato tried to strike at Taichi with repeated running forearms, but struggled to lift Taichi up for the slam. After some effort, Kato finally managed to hit a slam on Taichi as he had the upper hand early. Taichi grounded Kato with a side kick as he pushed him towards his team’s corner, so that Kojima could enter the match with a tag.

Kojima delivered a neckbreaker on Kato, but only got a two count in the process. Kato recovered and got into an exchange of strike with the veteran Kojima, who got the best of the Young Lion. Kojima tagged in Taichi as the two tried for a double team. Kojima ended up accidentally hitting Taichi after Kato dodged a strike. This allowed YOSHI-HASHI to finally enter the match with a tag.

YOSHI-HASHI felled Kato with a running strike in the corner, followed by a DDT for the near fall. The two foes got into a strike exchange, but Kojima entered the match once again and trapped YOSHI-HASHI in the corner to hit his signature machine-gun chops. YOSHI-HASHI fought back as he and a now-legal Kato attempted the double team on Kojima.

In the ensuing chaos, Taichi was asked by Kojima to hit a double team move on Kato, but ended up on the receiving end of an accidental strike from his partner. Kato avoided the running elbow from Kojima and nearly won it after a roll-up pin. However, Kojima picked up the victory after a second attempt of the elbow and the pin.

Post-match, Taichi refused a handshake from his partner, undoubtedly after the friendly fire we saw.

Satoshi Kojima & Taichi def. YOSHI-HASHI & Shoma Kato via pinfall

**********

House of Torture (Yoshinobu Takemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita, SANADA) vs. Toru Yano, Jado, El Phantasmo, Boltin Oleg

We got things started with the House of Torture attacking their opponents right away. In the ring, ELP had to contend with the faction’s combined might early on, but seemed to have a handle on things as he took three of them down with a dropkick. He tagged in the enigmatic Yano, who immediately exposed one of the turnbuckles. He got taken down by a quadruple kick from HoT.

Takahashi threw Yano into the exposed turnbuckle as he got a near-fall. Takemaru got the tag as he continued to work away on the back of Yano with a knee being driven to it. Narita entered the match and maintained the HoT’s advantage on Yano.

Yano hit the inverted atomic drop on SANADA, which allowed Boltin Oleg to enter the match. He got his trademark Boltin Shake on the former IWGP World Champion. Narita grabbed at Oleg’s leg, which allowed SANADA to take a momentary advantage. The attempted double suplex failed as Oleg slammed SANADA and Narita with a suplex instead.

ELP and Jado looked good with the double team, but Phantasmo took himself out with an attempted dive to the outside. In the ring, Jado fell victim to a cheapshot to the knee by Narita while the ref was distracted by SANADA trying to bring in a guitar. This allowed Narita to pick up the win for the House of Torture with a leglock submission on Jado.

House of Torture def. Jado, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, & El Phantasmo via submission

A decent opener, but like with most of the House of Torture’s oeuvre of matches, your mileage may vary with how you feel about the faction and their heel antics.

**********

United Empire (Jakob Austin Young, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Katsuya Murashima, Yuya Uemera

The commentary mentioned Tanahashi’s involvement in the huge eight-man tag Lights Out Steel Cage match at AEW’s Forbidden Door show as The Ace made his entrance.

The two teams size up one another before the bell rang, as Tanahashi and Great-O-Khan kicked things off for their teams. O-Khan had Tanahashi locked into the corner as he hit a two-handed chop on him, followed by another one. Tanahashi responded with a crossbody as Murashima took out J.A.Y. and Newman.

In the ring, Tanahashi, Uemera, and Murashima hit a trio of diving splashes on O-Khan before J.A.Y. and Newman recovered and took the former two out. This left Murashima to be taken out by a United Empire triple-team attack.

As things settled down for a bit, O-Khan tagged J.A.Y. into the match as they seemingly had Tanahashi at their mercy. Young took down Tanahashi with a Slingblade, but only got a two-count. Newman entered the match and maintained control for the United Empire until a knee from Tanahashi flattened him.

Uemera got the hot tag as he held his own against the United Empire trio. A fast-paced series of reversals from Uemera and Newman ended with a suplex from Uemera, as Murashima got the tag for his team. Newman recovered, but immediately got sent flying by a running shoulder charge from Murashima. The powerslam from Murashima wasn’t enough as Newman just managed to kick out.

Murashima locked in the Boston Crab on Newman, but Great-O-Khan broke it up. O-Khan had Murashima and Tanahashi trapped in dual Iron Claws, but the two men escaped. Newman recovered and hit the running knee on Murashima, and he ultimately secured the victory with a Prince Devitt-styled Coup de Grace for the pin and win.

United Empire def. Katsuya Murashima, Yuya Uemera, & Hiroshi Tanahashi via pinfall

A fun trios tag match and it’s clear that a sea change is coming within the United Empire. That should be interesting to see.

**********

Shingo Takagi & Daiki Nagai vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Taiji Ishimori & Drilla Moloney)

Nagai and Ishimori opened the match as the two traded offense in the early stages of the bout. Nagai dropped Ishimori with a shoulder block, but got sent to the outside after a failed suplex attempt. On the outside, Drilla threw Nagai into the barricade as Ishimori exited the ring and did the same to his foe.

The War Dogs maintained control of the match as they kept Nagai isolated from Takagi. Moloney got the tag into the match and he blasted Nagai with a hard chop to the chest. Nagai showed some fighting spirit, but a big elbow from Moloney kept him grounded. Moloney tried for a slam, but Nagai escaped as Takagi finally got the tag.

Takagi struck Moloney with strikes, and was met with some offense from Drilla in the process. Moloney took a bit too long to taunt and got hit with a back elbow from Takagi as a result. Takagi and Nagai showed great team chemistry as they hit a double team scoop slam on Moloney, but that didn’t end the match.

It was spine on the pine with Moloney crushing Takagi with a hard spinebuster. Nagai and Ishimori tagged in for their respective teams. Suplex by Nagai only got a two count, as he had the Boston Crab immediately applied on Ishimori. Moloney broke it up and tried for the Drilla Killa, which Nagai managed to fight out of.

With the ref’s back turned, Ishimori hit Nagai with a low blow kick, as he then followed that up with the running crucifix and the Bulldog submission hold for the victory.

Bullet Club War Dogs def. Taiji Ishimori & Shingo Takagi via submission

I quite enjoyed this one, and the rivalry between Moloney and Takagi has me interested in seeing these two in singles action in th near future.

**********

House of Torture (EVIL, DOUKI, Don Fale) vs. TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa)

The House of Torture, of course, struck first with an ambush on their opponents. Outside the ring, Sabre Jr. and EVIL mixed it up, while inside the ring, it was DOUKI and Oiwa who got things started officially.

Oiwa had the hammerlock applied on DOUKI, as he then slammed him down hard on the mat afterwards. DOUKI hung on to the referee after an attempted Irish whip by Oiwa, which allowed EVIL to pull at his leg to maintain the House of Torture’s advantage. We got successive tags from Don Fale and then EVIL, who continued to punish Oiwa in their corner.

Outside the ring, DOUKI hit Oiwa with a weapon while EVIL had the referee distracted. Oiwa finally stopped the advance of EVIL with a dropkick as Sabre Jr. got the tag. The IWGP World Champion held his own as he had EVIL grounded, followed by applying an arm submission on Don Fale.

Sabre tried for the power slam, but EVIL raked at the eyes of his opponent. EVIL then followed that up with a fisherman suplex, but got a near-fall. He choked away at Sabre Jr. but the Champ turned it around momentarily. A bridged pin from Sabre couldn’t put the match away as he took down EVIL with a kick to the test.

It was time for big meaty men slapping meat as Hartley Jackson and Don Fale entered the match. In the power battle, Jackson got the best of Fale with Oiwa’s help, but that wasn’t enough. A distraction from Dick Togo on the outside allowed DOUKI to strike Jackson with a weapon to the face. This gave Fale the pinfall win in the usual House of Torture manner.

In the stands, the action seemed far from over as Sabre Jr. had EVIL trapped in a submission as the battle raged on. EVIL hit the IWGP World Champion with a lowblow as he briefly glanced at the title belt itself before he left with his House of Torture allies.

House of Torture def. TMDK via pinfall

Perhaps having two House of Torture matches that end in the same manner of distraction finish that the faction is infamous for might’ve been a bit too much. The post-match stuff between ZSJ and EVIL was at least interesting.

**********

G1 Climax Playoff Quarterfinal Match: David Finlay vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Gedo was the cornerman for Finlay, while Takeshita’s Don Callis Family ally Rocky Romero stood in his corner.

The two men locked horns in the ring to start before they started trading blows. As Takeshita headed up top, he got sent outside by a shove from Finlay. At ringside, Finlay hit a running shove on Takeshita that sent him over the barricade. Finlay taunted Hiroshi Tanahashi, who was on Japanese commentary, before he pulled out the infamous Japanese-grade tables from under the ring.

Finlay looked like he wanted to put Takeshita through the tables, but The Alpha turned it around and threw him into the barricade before he blasted Finlay with a knee to the face. The action spilled back into the ring with Takeshita appyling a rear chinlock on Finlay for a moment before the broken. The back of Takeshita’s knee was targeted with a chop block from Finlay, which gave him the opportunity to continue the attack on the vulnerable target.

Finlay further damaged Takeshita’s knee as his slam caused it to hit the bottom ropes hard. The Rebel Savior threw down Takeshita before he applied a single-leg crab, again targeting the injured knee of his opponent. Takeshita mustered up strength to break the hold by reaching the ropes in time.

Takeshita recovered and hit a vertical brainbuster on Finlay, which created some much-needed breathing room for him. He powered through his bum knee as he threw Finlay shoulder-first into the square turnbuckle coverings repeatedly. Takeshita headed to the top rope and tried for the senton, but Finlay got the knees up.

Finlay lifted Takeshita up for the Northern Irish Curse backbreaker, but that wasn’t enough to put this match away. Finlay attacked Takeshita with clubbing blows to the back of the head, followed by the running elbow, but again, Takeshita refused to go away quietly. With evil intentions, Finlay dragged Takeshita to the apron and looked to once again put him through the tables. Takeshita stunned Finlay with a strike and attempted a back suplex through the tables. Finlay escaped as he then threw Takeshita through the tables with a fierce powerbomb.

Finlay rolled back into the ring and wanted to win via countout, but Takeshita found the strength to make it back in before the count of 20. Finlay lifted Takeshita onto the top turnbuckle and bit at his forehead before attempting a superplex. Takeshita fought back with a headbutt and tried for a sunset powerbomb, to no avail.

Finlay got the upper hand with repeated buckle bombs that targeted Takeshita back. However, The Alpha recovered a poison rana, followed by the Power Drive knee. One, two… Finlay just kicked out at two. Takeshita attempted the Raging Fire, but Finlay countered into a ushigoroshi, followed by the powerbomb. Somehow, Takeshita kicked out at two after all that.

Finlay wanted to finish this with a little Overkill, but he got flattened by a hard knee from Takeshita. We got a wild sequence of reversals that ended with a powerbomb and a Power Drive from Takeshita. In the end, Takeshita picked up the victory with one final Raging Fire, as he punched his ticket to the G1 Climax Semifinals and a match with Zack Sabre Jr.

Konosuke Takeshita def. David Finlay to advance to the G1 Climax Semifinals

Solid, solid stuff between Finlay and Takeshita, especially as the match intensified near the end. The ZSJ vs. Takeshita semis match should make for a fun one, especially given the history between these two men.

**********

G1 Climax Playoff Quarterfinal Match: Yota Tsuji vs. Shota Umino

Tsuji and Umino got into a test of strength early on, with neither man winning out. Tsuji eventually got Umino in a standing headlock, as he then took him down with a shoulder block. Umino responded with a running shoulder block of his own that brought Tsuji to the mat.

Umino attacked Tsuji with repeated European uppercuts, but he failed to connect with a kick, as Tsuji deftly dodged it and mocked his foe by standing on him derisively. Tsuji now had the momentum as he blasted Umino with strikes of his own. He hit an impressive running hurricanrana that sent Umino to the outside. Tsuji followed that up with a suicide dive on Umino. At ringside, Tsuju threw Umino into the barricade and continued his attack in the stands.

Tsuji stomped at Umino before he headed back to the ring and seemed like he wanted to win via countout. However, instead, he was challenging Umino to stand up and fight by getting himself back in the ring. As Umino entered the ring, Tsuji dropped him with a scoop slam, then following that up with hard chops to the chest.

Tsuji continued to taunt Umino with nonchalant kicks, but the Roughneck tried to fight from underneath. Umino created a needed opening with a down-low dropkick on Tsuji’s knees. In the corner, Umino delivered a blast of strikes to “Gene Blast” in the corner. Umino connected with a dragon screw to keep Tsuji grounded. He targeted the leg of Tsuji with another dropkick.

In the corner, Umino zeroed in on Tsuji’s hurt right knee with repeated attacks on it. He lifted Tsuji up for a powerbomb, but couldn’t capitalize. Tsuji literally turned that around into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Umino.

Umino countered Tsuji’s attempt at a Boston Crab with a modified STF. Tsuji found himself pulled into the middle of the ring as Umino locked in the STF again. After a long struggle, Tsuji managed to break the hold by reaching the bottom rope. Umino targeted Tsuji for a DDT, but got sent outside instead. Tsuji climbed on the middle turnbuckle strut and hit a standing diving moonsault on Umino at ringside.

With the action once again back in the ring, Tsuji struck Umino with a series of particularly hard chops to the chest. He planted his boot on the face of the downed Umino in the corner. As Tsuji tried to head to the top, his knee buckled on him, which gave Umino a much-needed opening. Powerbomb from Umino only got a near-fall.

With a second wind, Umino tried for a running lariat, but he once again found himself on the backfoot after a headbutt to the jaw from Tsuji. The Boston Crab was finally applied by Tsuji, but Umino refused to give up. Through the pain and struggles, Umino tapped into his fighting spirit and reached the bottom rope to barely escape the Crab.

Tsuji looked down on Umino, who slowly got himself back to his feet and struck his foe with a elbow to the face. Tsuji hit back with an elbow before the two traded elbows in this war of attrition. Tsuji tried to chop Umino down, but he couldn’t take him down.

Umino rolled through a German suplex by Tsuji, but he got taken down with a clothesline. He somehow kicked out of that. Tsuji connected with his top rope curb stomp, but Umino again kicked out at two. Umino intercepted a Gene Blaster attempt and hit a running knee. That, miraculously, was not enough for the win.

Tsuji hit his curb stomp and sized up Umino for another Gene Blaster attempt. Umino met that with a hard lariat, as he then hit another successive lariat. Tsuji finally managed to nail the Gene Blaster on Umino. One, two… 2.999999999!!! Tsuji hoisted Umino up top and hit the Guerrero Special before he finally dashed the G1 hopes of Umino with one final Gene Blaster and the victory.

After the match, Tsuji addressed Umino and told him that everyone can be great in their own way. He stated that he and Umino will have to do this again in the future. Tsuji talked about how he had belief in his own self and that he’s put his life in the ring every time he steps in it. He promised to be the one to carry New Japan Pro-Wrestling now and into the future.

Yota Tsuji def. Shota Umino via pinfall

That was an incredible semifinal main event, and the story of Shota’s underdog run in the G1 really brought this match together. I was on the edge of my seat, especially as the match winded down. Just great stuff from both G1 quarterfinal matches we saw today.

G1 Climax Update

  • Semifinal 1: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Konosuke Takeshita (8/16/25)
  • Semifinal 2: EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji (8/16/25)
  • Finals: Winner of ZSJ/Takeshita vs. Winner of EVIL/Tsuji (8/17/25)

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: B Block’s final night

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The G1 Climax 35 playoffs will be set following today’s final night of B Block action in Hamamatsu.

The top three in B Block following today’s show will advance to the playoffs, with the top points total earning a bye into Saturday’s semifinals. Seven competitors remain mathematically alive heading into the show, with only one wrestler having secured their playoff spot in the Block.

In today’s main event, Konosuke Takeshita faces Ren Narita. Both stand at 10 points entering today, and the winner is guaranteed to make the playoffs.

Shota Umino (10 points) faces Great-O-Khan (8 points) in the semi-main event. Umino makes the playoffs with a win, while O-Khan needs a win and help to make the next round.

Zack Sabre Jr. takes on YOSHI-HASHI in tonight’s second tournament bout. Sabre has already secured a playoff spot and will be wrestling for a bye, while YOSHI-HASHI is mathematically eliminated from contention.

Shingo Takagi (8 points) and Drilla Moloney (8 points) square off in tonight’s first tournament bout. Both need to win and need help to have a chance at the playoffs.

**********

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima defeated Masatora Yasuda & Taichi
  • TMDK defeated United Empire
  • Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated House Of Torture
  • Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji defeated Shoma Kato & Yuya Uemura
  • House Of Torture defeated War Dogs
  • Shingo Takagi defeated Drilla Moloney
  • Zack Sabre Jr. defeated YOSHI-HASHI
  • Shota Umino defeated Great-O-Khan
  • Konosuke Takeshita defeated Ren Narita

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima defeated Masatora Yasuda & Taichi

Taichi spent the early half dominating Murashima. Yasuda continued that offense, but Murashima laid him flat for a hot Tanahashi tag. Taichi kept the Ace occupied at ringside. Meanwhile, Yasuda grounded Murashima with a Lion Tamer. Murashima slammed Yasuda and tapped him out with a Boston Crab.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa) defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Jakob Austin Young)

(Either it’s temporary frustration or a change in personality for Newman, but I do wonder what’s coming next for him. He needs a shakeup so maybe this disappointment is what’s needed to mix things up.)

Newman’s injuries and exhaustion from the G1 Climax kept him slow against the spry Oiwa. Young attempted to keep Jackson away, resulting only in stunned confusion; Newman kicked him to ringside. Jackson made a hot tag, squashing Newman under his own girth. Young too sustained this damage from Jackson after Oiwa offered a scoop slam. Jackson pinned Young following a Jagged Edge.

Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

(This finish was the perfect combination of Boltin’s Superman and Yano’s Deadpool. Using their chemistry made this an entertaining short bout.)

House of Torture immediately cut down their opponents. Kanemaru took advantage of Yano’s turnbuckle antics to attack his knee. Elsewhere, SANADA left Boltin in a heap of chairs amid the audience. Boltin double-suplexed SANADA and Kanemaru, swinging the former in his patented Boltin Shake. SANADA attempted a Skull End and an inside cradle, but both failed as Boltin lightly tossed him through a side suplex. Unwisely, Kanemaru sought a flying crossbody, but Boltin caught him and lent him to Yano for a roll-up pinfall.

Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji defeated Shoma Kato & Yuya Uemura

(This was the right move, keeping Tsuji on track and giving hope as opposed to sowing doubt. As for Uemura, he sold the dejection of delivering everything to the tournament just to fail, so well.)

Nagai and Tsuji kept Kato isolated, keeping him flat while knocking Uemura from the corner. A spirited comeback for Uemura saw Tsuji bulldogged onto the mat. Kato made a desperate crawl to escape a Boston Crab, but Tsuji transitioned it into a stretch that tapped out the Young Lion.

House Of Torture (Dick Togo & EVIL) defeated War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo)

(I’m not asking for much, just that we get a Finlay win over EVIL. Or at least a clean finish in their upcoming Block-A match. I know that’s like throwing a wish to a brick wall, but I’m begging.)

House of Torture abused the War Dogs before the bell could ring, with EVIL driving Finlay through the chairs in the crowd. Don Fale joined the affair, battering Finlay on the barricade. EVIL choked Finlay with the tag rope. Finlay swung a comeback with a Northern Irish Curse. EVIL sought to interrupt Gedo’s momentum, but was choked by Finlay instead. Fale hit Gedo with his Grenade, giving Togo the pinfall.

G1 Climax B-Block Matches

Shingo Takagi (10) defeated Drilla Moloney (8)

(The match did well to position Moloney as a next-up guy. Meanwhile, shining Takagi up as a legend who still has a fire burning deep within his soul is the move at this point. Excellent B-Block opener before the playoffs. Moloney was on fire for this year’s tournament.)

Moloney showed glimpses of hope after the bell, but Takagi got the upper hand at ringside, throwing the War Dog into barricades. The men then battled in the sea of chairs hastily abandoned by the crowd. Evenly matched, the seasoned Takagi unsheathed a lariat, returning control to his favor. A wrathful Moloney quelled Takagi’s momentum with a Spinebuster. Takagi struck Moloney with a Made in Japan. Evading a lariat, Takagi struck with a sliding Pumping Bomber to Moloney’s back. He responded to Takagi with a Piledriver. Having dropped Moloney with a Pumping Bomber, Takagi followed with a Last of the Dragon to defeat Moloney.

Zack Sabre Jr. (14) defeated YOSHI-HASHI (8)

(Well done. Very well done. YOSHI-HASHI’s been an underrated part of the G1 Climax, even after being eliminated. Paired with the personal story of avenging Hirooki Goto against the man who won the title back from him, YOSHI-HASHI put on a match of the night contender.)

Right out of the gate, YOSHI-HASHI and Sabre collided. Sabre soon gained control of YOSHI-HASHI’s legs. YOSHI-HASHI agonized during Sabre’s transition to torturing his wrist. YOSHI-HASHI turned the tides, eventually impacting Sabre with a dropkick. They fought across the barricades outside. YOSHI-HASHI returned the match in his favor with a Headhunter.

Sabre worked YOSHI-HASHI’s arm. YOSHI-HASHI landed a stiff lariat that rattled the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. YOSHI-HASHI scored a nearfall with a Kumagoroshi. Sabre wrenched YOSHI-HASHI’s arms back. Ushigoroshi and a superkick rendered Sabre mat-prone, punctuated by Loose Explosion. YOSHI-HASHI snared Sabre’s arm in an extensioned, but the Brit reversed it, ultimately pulling it back until YOSHI-HASHI submitted.

Shota Umino (12) defeated Great-O-Khan (6)

(Fine match. The Hamamatsu, Shizuoka crowd wasn’t as on-fire for this one as the previous two B-Block matches tonight. That said, this match was what it needed to be, a settling between Umino and Khan, not demanding to be some epic.)

Khan overwhelmed Umino quickly, with the latter narrowly escaping an Eliminator. At ringside, Khan delivered Mongolian chops prior to slingshotting Umino to the blue steel guardrails. As though that were not enough, he sent Umino through the chairs before a dispersed crowd. Khan continually slammed Umino, maintaining a lock on his neck. Umino finally rebounded with a Tornado-DDT.

Khan recovered with a Tenzan Tombstone to daze Umino. Though Umino withstood a flying right hook, he escaped Khan’s claw to discharge a powerbomb. Khan turned Umino’s Northern Lights Suplex to a cradle. Umino turned the page to a Second Chapter for the win over Khan.

Main Event G1 Climax B-Block

Konosuke Takeshita (12) defeated Ren Narita (10)

(This may be one of my favorite House of Torture comeuppances. Takeshita was a warrior, through and through. At times, this match left me breathless. By no means was it Omega/Okada or Steamboat/Flair, but it was a thrill. Credit to Walker Stewart as well, for he brought out something akin to Jim Ross. He truly helped elevate the match. Fantastic main event.)

True to House of Torture fashion, Narita found a prompt advantage with his allies battering Konosuke Takeshita and Rocky Romero of The Don Callis Family. Somehow holding a stoic rage, Takeshita charged in, but fell back to Narita’s boot.

Takeshita fired back with repeated knees to Narita’s jaw. Within the sea of the Hamamatsu crowd, Narita tormented Takeshita, tossing him into chairs. He even slammed Takeshita’s knee with a steel chair. Unsatisfied, Narita swung Takeshita’s knee into the ringpost, where his co-horts added to the damage.

Returning to his technical roots, Narita held his opponent in a submission, to which Takeshita countered into a Brainbuster. Sneakily stealing the control of the match, Narita resumed abusing Takeshita’s knee. The Alpha rallied back with a lariat. Aiming for a German suplex, Takeshita instead was sent into the referee. Don Fale struck Takeshita with a chair whereas Dick Togo choked him with a wire. Romero dispatched both men.

Takeshita downed Narita with an elbow. A tope suicida decimated Narita and his legion of horribles. An Exploder Suplex toppled Narita, as did a Powerdrive Knee. Yoshinobu Kanemaru jammed a bottle of whiskey into the back of Takeshita’s knee. Narita once more returned to stretching Takeshita’s leg. Tapping one time for adrenaline, Takeshita broke the hold with a hasty rope grab. Refusing to stay down, Takeshita plummeted Narita with a Last Ride. Showing great ring awareness, Takeshita yanked his arm from a Kanemaru intrusion and ducked a mist of whiskey to choke Narita into unconsciousness with a Crossface Chickenwing for a triumphant victory.

G1 Climax Playoff Update

Shota Umino and Yota Tsuji face off on August 14. The winner of that match will face EVIL on August 16.

Konosuke Takeshita and David Finlay face off on August 14. The winner of that match will face Zack Sabre Jr. on August 16.

(With the exception of Shota Umino versus Great-O-Khan, the B-Block matches tonight were a blast. YOSHI-HASHI’s last stand against Sabre was an emotional thrill, whereas Takeshita overcoming the odds of House of Torture provided a catharsis to end the night. Those are the matches to watch in terms of quality; Shingo Takagi versus Drilla Moloney is just an added bonus.)

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: A Block’s final night

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW G1 Climax 35 reaches the conclusion of A Block matches on today’s show in Hamamatsu.

The top three competitors in A Block will advance to the playoffs, beginning Thursday. The Block winner receives a bye into the semifinals set for next Saturday.

Eight of ten competitors in A Block have some chance of advancing to the playoffs entering today’s show. Only two competitors can seal their own fate with a victory.

Yuya Uemura (10 points) faces David Finlay (8 points) in today’s main event. If Uemura wins, he’s in the playoffs. Finlay needs to win and get help to advance.

EVIL (10 points) faces Hiroshi Tanahashi (8 points) in the semi-main. EVIL is in the playoffs with a victory. Tana needs to win and get help to make the playoffs.

Yota Tsuji (8 points) and Callum Newman (8 points) meet in the third tournament match of the show. Each needs to win and get help to advance.

Ryohei Oiwa (8 points) faces SANADA (6 points) in the second tournament bout tonight. SANADA is eliminated from contention, while Oiwa needs to win and get help to remain alive.

Boltin Oleg (8 points) vs. Taichi (6 points) is today’s tournament opener. Taichi is eliminated, and Boltin needs to win and get help to keep his playoff hopes alive.

**********

  • War Dogs defeated Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi
  • TMDK defeated Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI
  • United Empire defeated Katsuya Murashima & Shota Umino
  • House of Torture defeated The Don Callis Family
  • Oleg Boltin defeated Taichi
  • SANADA defeated Ryohei Oiwa
  • Yota Tsuji defeated Callum Newman
  • EVIL defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • David Finlay defeated Yuya Uemura

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori) defeated Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi

(Moloney has the killer instinct, and matches the power presented by Takagi. This will make their upcoming B-Block matches interesting with both men currently tied at 8.)

Moloney and Takagi locked horns until a shoulder tackle gave the latter control. Ishimori and Moloney isolated Nagai from his partner. Nagai blasted Ishimori with a Spinebuster. Moloney ate a lariat from Takagi. Ishimori held Nagai deep with a Bone Lock, which ultimately resulted in the Young Lion tapping out.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI

(Only a brief taste of Sabre and YOSHI-HASHI. Very brief, I might say. The story I saw coming out of this is that despite Jackson getting the better of him, Kato’s heart wouldn’t let him stay down for long, no matter what size his opponent is. Plus, he changed tactics early on whereas some Young Lions might’ve stubbornly stuck to the same method.)

Jackson swiftly leveled the playing field with both YOSHI-HASHI and Kato lain flat. Sabre worked on the neck of young Kato. YOSHI-HASHI drove Sabre into the mat with a DDT. Kaito unwisely attempted to flip Jackson over his shoulder but changed strategy to a leg hold that knocked down the girthy giant. Jackson compressed Kato’s midsection with a devastating senton. In the center of the ring, Jackson flattened Kato with a Jagged Edge, warranting a pinfall.

United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young) defeated Katsuya Murashima & Shota Umino

(Young was almost a non-factor in the match following his August 8 tag with Callum Newman against Yota Tsuji and Daiki Nagai. Khan’s much maligned ruined knees during this tournament didn’t deter him, however.)

Khan denied a thirsty Umino of a chance to lock up, lending a still-hurt Young to suffer his knee to the Roughneck. To give his weakened partner more of a chance, Khan laid ruin unto Umino, hurling him into the barricade. Mongolian chops and his patented top rope sit-down may have rocked Murashima, but the Young Lion sent him flying with a pounce. He aligned with his more senior partner to level Khan. Tenzan Tombstone Driver and a vice grip wrought enough agony for Murashima to tap out.

House Of Torture (Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero)

(Standard House of Torture fare, albeit without weapons or the accursed interference. Romero sold believably. Takeshita was presented as formidable and likely to handle Narita in the B-Block, but even the numbers game may prove too much for him.)

House of Torture struck first after the bell, with Narita disposing of Takeshita into the chairs in the crowd. He and Kanemaru targeted Romero’s knee. Takeshita returned, sending Narita downward with an exploder suplex. Romero briefly had control on Narita, but his knee gave out during a Sliced Bread attempt. Narita tapped Romero out with an Indian Deathlock.

G1 Climax A-Block Matches

Oleg Boltin (10) defeated Taichi (6)

(Boltin’s matches excite when he’s up against someone who is either more cunning than him or relatively close in strength. Taichi was just that, so seeing how Boltin had to pull through on sheer will made this a battle for survival that tested the merits of his tenacity.)

The more-experienced Taichi controlled the early goings, but a Dangerous Backdrop, Boltin Shake, and backbreaker incurred a deep woe into Taichi’s ribs. Boltin’s momentum came to a screeching halt after an enzuigiri laid him out. A Dangerous Backdrop lent Taichi a moment to recuperate. Boltin landed a short-range Kamikaze, softened by his worn back and hobbling knee. Taichi rocked Boltin with a roundhouse kick. Boltin swung a brief comeback through a Kamikaze. He then unleashed another, full-force Kamikaze to pin Taichi.

SANADA (6) defeated Ryohei Oiwa (8)

(SANADA played spoiler to Oiwa’s last chance to stay in the G1 so dirtily. At least he can live in the solace that he dragged Oiwa down with him; neither man advance in the tournament. Foreshadowing this in the tag match against Oiwa and Hartley Jackson on August 8, it paid off in a different way for the House of Torture member. I may not like it, but we move on.)

Try as he might, SANADA struggled to escape Oiwa’s headlocks. Even when he tried a Side Headlock Takedown, SANADA found himself in Oiwa’s grasp. SANADA ruined Oiwa’s neck following a DDT to the floor from the ring apron. Oiwa transitioned SANADA’s Skull End to another headlock. Firmly locking hands across SANADA’s waist, Oiwa flung his opponent about with suplexes. After some Eddie Guerrero-esque shenanigans with his guitar, SANADA blasted Oiwa with the musical instrument for the pinfall.

Yota Tsuji (10) defeated Callum Newman (8)

(Selling not just the wear and tear of the G1 Climax, but the disappointment of elimination, Newman did admirably here. Walker Stewart on commentary mentioned a Tsuji win may cost Oleg Boltin the oturnament here, so in any event this match still gives hope to someone moving forward in the tournament at this juncture in tonight’s show.)

Newman, having been told he was eliminated from the finals, sourly and halfheartedly struck Tsuji. Soon, it annoyed Tsuji so much that he pitched Newman into a row of chairs. Sensing Newman’s exhausted state and his strength in fast-paced action, Tsuji slowed the match to a crawl as he worked his opponent’s neck. As Newman steadily gained momentum, Tsuji quelled it with a double-stomp. Spanish Fly by Newman thwarted a potential Gene Blaster.

From the top rope, Newman crushed Tsuji’s midsection with a double-stomp. Tsuji unsheathed a Gene Blaster, short-range, leaving Newman retching by the ropes. Marlowe Crush from Tsuji punished Newman to the point of collapse. Seventeen Crosses gave Tsuji the vital three seconds to win.

EVIL (12) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (8)

(Deflating. Heartbreaking. And yet expected. The August 8 tag match where EVIL swore to make the match fair and honorable didn’t carry over. I wouldn’t have minded the loss had it been clean. However, the silver lining is that this win helps push Yota Tsuji further in the tournament as well.)

A Flying Crossbody provided confidence to Tanahashi, but EVIL suplanted this by stealing the Ace’s Dragon Screw Legwhip. He then focused on Tanahashi’s notoriously spent knees. Hope was within Tanahashi’s clutches after a senton, but EVIL caught him in a Figure Four Leglock. EVIL dropped Tanahashi with Darkness Falls. Tanahashi crawled for a rope break to stop a Darkness Scorpion. Twist’n’Shout and a Slingblade incapacitated EVIL, but not enough to roll away from a High Fly Flow.

Dick Togo and Don Fale strutted to hand EVIL a steel chair. He implored them to leave, to which Tanahashi assisted by handing the referee the chair. Distracted, the referee missed EVIL throwing powder into Tanahashi’s face. House of Torture assaulted Tanahashi. EVIL pinned Tanahashi with Darkness Falls, thus eliminating him from the tournament.

Main Event G1 Climax A-Block

David Finlay (10) defeated Yuya Uemura (10)

(Match of the night. I’m gutted that Uemura is out, but Finlay’s had an incredible year. Already a fan of these two, my appreciation for each grew in this match. The desperation, the drama, it oozed right out of the screen, where their deepest desires and biggest moves were pure adrenaline made manifest. Making an insane comeback earlier in the tournament, Finlay’s underdog story continues, but where will it take him?)

Uemura sent Finlay into the barricade at ringside and worked his shoulder in the ring. Finlay got revenge by sending Uemura into the barricade. Uemura wriggled to a rope break in an escape from Finlay’s rear naked choke. Finlay tossed out a lariat that sent both men to the outside; the War Dog then lobbed Uemura into the ring post.

Northern Irish Curse courtesy of Finlay slammed Uemura on the mat. He flew too close to the Sun, however, as he tried sending Uemura to the outside but was ironically flung there himself from a rope-assisted hurricanrana. Uemura writhed in pain after a Backbreaker, yet he escaped a pin from Finlay’s Dominator. Fully extending Finlay’s arm, Uemura maintained pressure, pulling back as far as he could. In this tormenting stretch, Uemura even pulled Finlay’s leg.

Finlay plummeted Uemura with two Pop Out Powerbombs and an Oblivion. Uemura tried a Dragon Suplex and Hiroshi Tanahashi’s High Fly Flow, to no avail. Finlay saved himself with two Overkills to put away Uemura.

(This was an important night in this year’s G1 Climax. Oleg Boltin was out despite his victory. Callum Newman’s disappointment carried into his match with wrinkles added to his personality. SANADA spoiling Ryohei Oiwa left a bad taste in my mouth. Hiroshi Tanahashi’s loss would’ve done the same, had it not meant Yota Tsuji would progress. EVIL’s win meant so much in the layout of the G1 Climax, as did the winner of David Finlay versus Yuya Uemura. With the three winners of the A-Block settled, B-Block will settle that section.

The G1 Climax is nearly at its end, and so much is on the line with the future of New Japan Pro Wrestling.)

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shota Umino

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The NJPW G1 Climax 35 tournament reaches the home stretch today with a B Block show from Yokohama Budokan.

Konosuke Takeshita faces Shota Umino in the main event of today’s show, the next-to-last night of B Block action. With only the top three point totals advancing to the playoffs, Umino needs a victory to control his tournament future. He enters the bout with 8 points in a four-way tie for fourth place. Takeshita has 10 points as part of a three-way tie atop the B Block.

Shingo Takagi faces Ren Narita in the semi-main event today. Shingo enters the bout with 6 points in a two-way tie for eighth place in the 10-person block. Narita has 10 points.

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. and his 10 points take on Drilla Moloney and his 8 points in tonight’s second tournament bout.

YOSHI-HASHI with 8 points faces the mathematically eliminated El Phantasmo and his 6 points in tonight’s first tournament matchup.

A series of tag matches previewing Sunday’s A Block card fill out today’s undercard. The show streams live on NJPW World beginning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

  • Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated Masatora Yasuda & Taichi
  • House Of Torture defeated TMDK by disqualification
  • Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji defeated United Empire
  • House Of Torture defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima
  • Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura defeated Bullet Club War Dogs
  • El Phantasmo defeated YOSHI-HASHI
  • Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Drilla Moloney
  • Shingo Takagi defeated Ren Narita
  • Shota Umino defeated Konosuke Takeshita

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated Masatora Yasuda & Taichi

(Taichi convincingly looked dejected, despite striking hard and true. Boltin certainly looks more confident in the G1 Climax since last year.)

Taichi led Yasuda in a united front against Boltin, but he overpowered his way out. Yano removed a turnbuckle pad, propelling Yasuda into its corner. It wasn’t easy, but Yasuda toppled Boltin with a hurricanrana and a dropkick.

Taichi directed a kick to Yano, who tumbled out of the ring. Boltin unleashed a belly-to-belly suplex to Taichi. An Axe Bomber was his response. Yano sent Yasuda down with a slam. Yasuda silently agreed to Taichi slamming him onto Yano. Yasuda fell victim to a successful schoolboy pin, losing the match.

House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa) by disqualification

(I admit, I’m a sucker for the classic Guerrero style antics.)

Oiwa outwrestled SANADA’s grapple attempts. Offering his hand to shake, SANADA watched as Oiwa was taken to the barricade by Kanemaru whereas Jackson retaliated against SANADA. Into the crowd SANADA dragged Oiwa, ruthlessly beating him with a defenseless water bottle.

Kanemaru and SANADA clobbered Oiwa in the corner. Jackson attempted to garner a comeback with a Jagged Edge but SANADA pulled the referee in to complicate it. Evoking the spirit of Eddie Guerrero, SANADA slapped his trusty acoustic guitar, tossed it to Jackson, and lay on the mat. The referee caught Jackson holding the guitar (despite sheepishly hiding it behind his back. TMDK was then disqualified.

Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Jakob Austin Young)

(I’m stoked for Newman and Tsuji on August 10’s series of A-Block matches. Here’s to hoping nothing too worrisome is afflicting Young.)

Newman had the advantage with high speed and lucha libre offense, yet fell onto Tsuji’s knees once caught. Nagai maintained his team’s control with a dropkick to Young. He retorted with one of his own. Tsuji dropped Newman with a scoop slam and jumped on his prone opponent. A Gene Blaster by Tsuji put Young away for the pinfall.

Post-match: United Empire attacked Tsuji and Nagai. Tsuji dragged Newman to the front. Young was already taken to the back; he had to be checked on earlier in the match.

House Of Torture (Dick Togo & EVIL) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima

A generous EVIL offered to fight fair for Tanahashi’s final G1 Climax season.

(Okay, they actually did it. House of Torture put on a clean match. I fully expect this to not be the case tomorrow and will probably be proven wrong. But for all intents and purposes, this was an enjoyable change of pace with a huge subversion of expectation.)

Seemingly true to his word, EVIL asked Togo not to interfere in the early goings. Tanahashi and Murashima took turns tagging in to work Togo’s arm. Murashima caught Don Fale attempting to distract him, to which EVIL instructed Fale to back away. Togo nearly resorted to underhanded tactics, but thought better of it.

Murashima hoped to work EVIL’s leg, but ate a lariat for his efforts. Togo kept Tanahashi on the outside as EVIL locked in a Darkness Scorpion to Murashima, tapping him out.

Post-match: EVIL shook Tanahashi’s hand as Fale and Togo evacuated. Both teams parted ways amicably.

Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura defeated Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo)

(Finlay’s epic G1 comeback clashes against Uemura’s strong performance thus far come August 10. Their interactions may not have invested me in this match, but this head-to-head clash still compels me to wait in anticipated breath for the next round of A Block matches.)

Uemura looked to have Finlay’s number, wearing him down for Honma’s Kokeshi, which ultimately failed. Gedo worked on Honma’s face, but he and Finlay missed their own stolen Kokeshi. The veteran finally landed a Kokeshi on both fallen opponents. Finlay plopped Uemura with a Backbreaker, lending him to Gedo for his patented Gedo Clutch.

Uemura pulled Gedo in for a Deadbolt, but he escaped only for a deep arm drag. Armbar then in place, Uemura tapped Gedo out for the victory.

G1 Climax B-Block Matches

El Phantasmo (6) defeated YOSHI-HASHI (8)

(There wasn’t much sauce to this match. Both are entertaining wrestlers, but there was no heightened drama or stakes, nor any levity. The Kanagawa fans in attendance may have enjoyed this, but I did not so much. Not bad by any stretch, just painfully average.)

YOSHI-HASHI locked in with Phantasmo, leading to a struggle between the two. Phantasmo kicked YOSHI-HASHI to the outside and followed with a plancha. He leapt to a moonsault from the top rope to YOSHI-HASHI on the outside, who evaded just in time. This rattled Phantasmo’s legs momentarily.

Phantasmo confidently planted YOSHI-HASHI with a Brainbuster. YOSHI-HASHI turned the tide with a dropkick and a baseball kick to render Phantasmo horizontal. Phantasmo fired back with a springboard senton and a springboard moonsault. YOSHI-HASHI returned fire with a dragon suplex and a lariat. He aimed for an Ushigoroshi but failed.

Panic settled in the wrestlers as they urgently pulled out their deepest moves. Phantasmo landed a CR2 to no avail. He then plummetted YOSHI-HASHI with a Burning Hammer. A Thunderkiss ’85 put away YOSHI-HASHI for good, gifting Phantasmo the pinfall.

Zack Sabre Jr. (12) defeated Drilla Moloney (8)

(Sabre’s mixture of technical wrestling, mocking attitude, and cunning makes him dangerous and this match exemplifies this. Moloney’s a powerful beast, but when up against calmer, out-thinking opponents, that won’t account for much.)

Moloney powered out of Sabre’s rapid succession of holds after the bell. However, Sabre regained and maintained control with utmost flexibility with a headlock takedown. Moloney suplanted this with headscissor holds and a short piledriver.

Sabre mockingly tossed his forearm repeatedly into Moloney’s jaw, resulting in the latter throwing in a louder, thunderous forearm to stagger him. Moloney attempted to counter a Zack Driver, only to have his neck twisted by Sabre’s ankles.

The maintained control held by Sabre soon ended with a sit-out piledriver and a Gore. Baiting Moloney into a forearm exchange, Sabre surprised him with a Zack Driver and moved to working onhis arm. In the nick of time, Moloney caught a Penalty Kick, using it to land a powerbomb. He sought to do another one, but Sabre took advantage of Moloney’s weakened bicep, tapping him out in a triangle hold.

Shingo Takagi (8) defeated Ren Narita (10)

(So much happened in this match and I only covered half of it. Takagi and Narita had an action-filled thrill ride that commanded full attention the whole way through.)

Yoshinobu Kanemaru shocked Takagi from the darkness to batter him on the outside.

Enjoying this reversal of fortune, Narita flung Takagi into the chairs before the fans. He clobbered Takagi’s knees with steel chairs and left him for dead in a canyon of chairs. Desperately hobbling to the ring, Takagi collapsed once more thanks to Kanemaru attacking the leg en route to the ring.

Narita tied Takagi’s leg to the rope, pulling hard to strain the knee. Fortunately for him, Daiki Nagai came to his aid by pulling Narita to the outside. Referee Marty Asami fell into Takagi as he hyped up the crowd. Kanemaru took advantage of this with a chair shot. Takagi dropped Narita from the top rope as blood cascaded from his nose. Narita quelled Takagi’s providence with a hold to aggravate the already soft knee.

Takagi nearly choked out Narita for the win, had it not been for Kanemaru ringing the bell. A low-blow and Made in Japan almost gave Takagi the win, but Kanemaru pulled Asami away from the pin. He then attempted to spray whiskey in Takagi’s eyes. Nagai stopped Narita from using his board. Takagi successfully pinned Narita after a Last of the Dragon.

Main Event G1 Climax B-Block

Shota Umino (8) defeated Konosuke Takeshita (10)

(Takeshita has more than proven his ability to deliver classic matches in NJPW. But here, Umino felt like a star. His perseverance and heart won out after a grueling battle where tenacity overcame the stoic, yet raging wildfire that is Takeshita.

Takeshita quickly proved indominatable against the tenacity of Umino. He then went to work on Umino’s neck. Umino turned the tables with a fisherman’s suplex but the Brainbuster he took the prior day took effect. He sent Takeshita a-whirling with two dragon screw legwhips. Takeshita endured stomps to his knee and stumbled mid-Irish Whip.

Umino went for a facelock and drove Takeshita’s knee into the mat. Takeshita caught Umino and wrenched control with a powerbomb and an STF. At ringside, Umino dispatched Takeshita’s knee onto the floor and delivered a hateful lariat across the barricade. Takeshita dropped Umino on the hard blue floor among the crowd with a Brainbuster. Narrowly beating the 20-count on way to the ring, Umino was instantly greeted with a lariat.

Umino heaved Takeshita with a fisherman’s suplex, met by a German suplex by Takeshita. A Tornado-DDT gave him further room for control. Takeshita weathered a heated forearm exchange to send Umino spiraling from the top rope. Umino replied with a superplex in the corner. Snapping Umino’s neck, Takeshita reeled his opponent in for a Crossface Chickenwing. Faded, but not out, Umino weakly kicked out of a pin. A Blue Thunderbomb couldn’t even do the trick.

Catching Takeshita’s leg mid-kick, Umino knocked Takeshita down with a lariat. Takeshita countered Umino’s Second Chapter into a Brainbuster. A second attempt at a Second Chapter did the trick, with Umino getting the win over the Alpha.

(The B-Block stumbled at first, but each match progressively improved on the last. If Umino continues with matches like this, I’ll be a fan again.

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Yota Tsuji vs. David Finlay

Posted on by Joseph Collins

The NJPW G1 Climax 35 tournament continues today at a sold out Korakuen Hall for an A Block show.

In the main event, Yota Tsuji faces David Finlay. Tsuji is part of a five-way-tie for first place in A Block with 8 points, while Finlay is part of the five-way-tie for sixth place with his 6 points. Finlay must win to have a chance to advance to the playoffs. Tsuji has won three of their four previous singles matches.

Yuya Uemura faces Ryohei Oiwa in the semi-main event in a battle of two of NJPW’s hopeful next generation of stars. Both have 8 points entering today’s card.

Hiroshi Tanahashi faces SANADA in another A Block battle on the show. Each has 6 points and must win to remain alive in the tournament. This will be their eighth career singles meeting, with SANADA holding a 4-3 edge.

EVIL faces Boltin Oleg in another matchup of two wrestlers with 8 points each.

Taichi and Callum Newman square off in the night’s first tournament bout, with both sitting at 6 points and needing a victory to salvage any playoffs hopes.

Today’s show streams on NJPW World beginning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Live from a sold out Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Walker Stewart & Chris Charlton were on commentary.  

Jado & El Phantasmo defeated Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI (5:37)

YOSHI-HASHI superkicked Phantasmo into a bodyslam from Kato for a near fall. Kato tried to get a pin with a backslide, but ELP rolled through right into a C2 for the win. After the match, ELP put his Television Title belt on the shoulder of Aaron Wolf who was standing at ringside. He then took it back and put it on the shoulder of a young fan in the crowd.

Zach Sabre, Jr. & Hartley Jackson defeated Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori (7:32)

Ishimori did a fantastic job overselling a senton from Jackson. Ishimori dodged an avalanche in the corner to get the tag to Moloney. Moloney no-sold an avalanche and slammed Jackson, then popped Sabre with a right hand. Ishimori went for a roll up but Sabre countered into a rollup with a back bridge to get the pinfall. Moloney & ZSJ went nose-to-nose after the match.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Ren Narita vs. Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi (6:40) 

The House of Torture team jumped the Unaffiated team before the bell rang.  Narita and Shigo brawled right into the crowd and Takagi got the advantage and the crowd behind him. Back in the ring, Takagi took down both his opponents with a double clothesline. Nagai got the tag and Kanemaru got a near fall with a suplex. Takagi ran in with a clothesline on Kanemaru to set up a spinebuster from Nagai. Kanemaru locked Nagai in a Boston Crab for the submission. Of course, the House of Torture guys jumped Tagaki after the match; Kanemaru spat whiskey in his face and Narita hit him with a push-up bar. 

Rocky Romero & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Tomoaki Honma & Shota Umino (5:35)

Honma did not move around well out there. Honma missed a headbutt on Takeshita. Romero took out Umino on the floor. Takeshita and Romero tried to doubleteam Honma but Umino broke it up. Honma tried for a running headbutt, but he ran right into a forearm from Takeshita. Takeshita locked in a crossface chicken wing on Honma for the submission. 

After the match, Takeshita and Umino went at it and brawled into the crowd, and Takeshita dropped Umino with a brainbuster on the floor. Umino had to be helped to the back, casting the chances of tomorrow’s main event of Takeshita v. Umino in doubt.

Now time for the A Block matches, where everyone has either 6 points or 8 points. We should start to get some separation in the field after tonight… right?

Callum Newman (4-3, 8 pts) defeated Taichi (3-4, 6 pts) (12:48)

Taichi was eliminated from the playoffs with a loss. This match told a tremendous story, as this was essentially an elimination match for both guys. It was a war of attrition where both guys took the best shots the other had to offer and kept refusing to go down.

Taichi and Newman exchanged kicks for the first three minutes of that match. Taichi laid in two really solid ones that knocked Newman down. He tried to kip up, but crumpled back down. Newman then floored Taichi with a forearm. Taichi rocked Newman with a forearm, then snapped his head back with a kick. Taichi went to take off his long pants, but Newman stopped him, pulled off Taichi’s long pants himself, and then spat in his face. Taichi then absolutely leveled him with a forearm. 

Taichi hit a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Newman caught Taichi with a solid shot to the ribs and Taichi sold it like he’d been shot. Newman followed that up with a sliding knee, and came off the top with a double stomp for a near fall. 

Newman went for a springboard cutter, but Taichi caught him with a forearm to the back. Taichi followed up with an Axe Bomber, and a lariat got a near fall. Newman escaped a back suplex and caught Taichi with a dropkick. Newman hit a v-trigger and poisoned rana. Newman hit Taichi with what looked like a single underhook death rider, but Taichi sat up before Newman could cover. Newman followed up with a kamigoya. Taichi, even though he realized he was done, spat in Newman’s face! Newman finished Taichi off with another modified death rider for the pinfall.

EVIL (5-3, 10 pts) (w/ Don Fale & Dick Togo) defeated Boltin Oleg (4-4, 8pts) (9:46)  

There were times where it looked like Oleg would overcome the 3-on-1 advantage the House of Torture had, but it was not to be. This House of Torture stuff is literally torture to sit through. 

Of course the House of Torture guys jump Oleg before the match. Fale and Togo set up a table on the floor for EVIL to ram Oleg’s head into. Back in the ring, EVIL hit a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. Oleg ran through EVIL with a tackle, but Fale tripped up Oleg when he ran the ropes. EVIL dragged Oleg into the crowd. 

While in the crowd,  EVIL and Togo went for a double suplex. Oleg escaped and floored EVIL with a chop. Oleg drug both EVIL and Togo back to ringside. Back in the ring, EVIL caught Oleg with a pair of lariats, but he wouldn’t go down. Oleg hit a belly to belly and a fireman’s carry slam for a near fall. Oleg hit a pop-up F5.

EVIL trapped the ref in the corner and Oleg accidentally hit him with an avalanche. The ref was out, which set up more interference from Togo and Fale. Fale put Oleg through a table with a splash off the middle rope. A new ref came to the ring, and EVIL put Oleg away with Everything is Evil. EVIL pinned Oleg in pieces of the table. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi (4-4, 8 pts) defeated SANADA (3-4, 6 pts) (2:37)

This was another must-win match for both guys and with his loss, SANADA is elimiated from the playoffs.

Tanahashi gave SANADA an opening early when he played his air guitar, and SANADA slid in with a knee. SANADA missed a moonsault. Tanahashi went to the top for the High Fly Flow, but SANADA pushed the ref into the ropes, causing Tanahashi to crash to the mat and the ref to crash to the floor.  With the ref down, SANADA grabbed his guitar and just murdered Tanahashi with a guitar shot to the head. Don’t they have concussions in Japan? Anyway, SANADA casually brought the ref back in the ring and when he went to cover… Tanahashi snapped him up in a small package and got the pinfall! Tanahashi had to be helped to the back after the match.

Yuya Uemura (5-3, 10 pts) vs. Ryohei Oiwa (4-4, 8 pts) (17:54)  

Uemura controlled Oiwa early with a top wristlock. Oiwa went for an abdominal stretch, but Uemura countered into one of his own, then went back to the wristlock. Oiwa escaped and hit a dropkick, then went to a side headlock. Uemura escaped briefly, but Oiwa went back to the hold. Uemura tried to escape with a back suplex, but Owia held onto the side headlock to maintain control. 

Uemura finally backed Oiwa into a corner and escaped with shoulder blocks and chops. Uemura whipped Oiwa across the ring, and when Uemura charged him in the corner, Oiwa escaped and went back to the side headlock! Owia then transitioned from that into a cravat. Uemura escaped that with an armdrag, but Oiwa then caught him with a head scissors. Uemura broke that hold by making the ropes. Uemura was finally able to create some space and knock Oiwa down with a cross bodyblock. 

Uemura picked up the pace with arm drags and a dropkick. Uemura hit a bulldog for a near fall. Uemura went back to Oiwa’s wrist with a short-arm scissors. Oiwa escaped but Uemura then went into a hammerlock. Oiwa leveraged himself out of that and sent Uemura into the turbuckles. Oiwa caught Uemura with a back elbow and a lariat, then hit a doctor bomb for a near fall. 

Oiwa came off the top with a falling splash for a near fall as we approached the 15 minute mark. Oiwa went to a chinlock, but Uemura escaped with a backdrop suplex. Uemura hit a dropkick and an enziguri. Oiwa rolled through into a German suplex with a bridge for a near fall. 

Oiwa went for a discus lariat, but Uemura went with Oiwa’s momentum into a cross-arm breaker. Oiwa tired to turn that into a pin attempt, but Uemura escaped. Oiwa countered that into a sleeper. Uemura escaped and went for a rana, but Oiwa countered with a powerbomb into a jackknife cover for a near fall. Oiwa hit a lariat, then went for a discus lariat. But, Uemura turned that into a deadbolt suplex with a bridge and got the pinfall. 

This was tremendous! Go out of your way to see this one.

David Finlay (4-3, 8 pts) (w/ Gedo) defeated Yota Tsuji (4-3, 8pts) (15:20)

Going into the main event, Charlton said on commentary that if Finlay wins, “most of the block stays alive” but if Tsuji wins, “then we’re down to 4.” For sure though, if Finlay loses, he’s out of contention for the playoffs. So the result never really felt in doubt. 

Tsuji left himself open for a shot from Finlay by giving him a clean break. Tsuji sent Finlay to the floor after a spinning backbreaker. Finlay caught Tsuji going for a dive through the ropes with a forearm to take control. 

Back in the ring, Finlay took control with a camel clutch. Tsuji countered a clothesline with a reverse STO. Tsuji sent Finlay to the floor with a sliding dropkick, then hit Finlay with a tope suicidia.

Back in the ring, Tsuji hit a splash in the corner. He tried to come out of the corner with a suplex, but Finlay reversed it and suplexed Tsuji into the turnbuckle. Finlay slowed the pace down with forearms. Tsuji escaped a dominator. Tsuji got a near fall after a suplex into a sitout powerbomb. 

Finlay and Tsuji exchanged forearms in the middle of the ring. Finlay caught Tsuji with a lariat for a near fall. Tsuji escaped a powerbomb with a rana, then hit a superkick and a spear for a near fall. 

Tsuji jumped off the top rope into a powerbomb from Finlay. Finlay hit another powerbomb for a near fall. Finlay went for Overkill, but Tsuji escaped that with a powerbomb. Tsuji hit a bucklebomb. He went for a bucklebomb, but Finlay countered into his own bucklebomb. Tsuji went for a spear, but Finlay countered into a small package for two. Finlay went for Oblivion, but Tsuji countered that into a small package for two. Finlay finally hit the Oblivion for a near fall. 

Finlay sprung off the top rope with a stomp to the back of Tsuji’s head. He went for Overkill again, but Tsuji escaped. Tsuji charged in for a spear, but instead charged into a knee from Finlay. Finlay finally hit the Overkill to get the pinfall. Started out slow but got really good by the end.

After the match, Finlay told the crowd they were witnessing the greatest combat in G1 History. Gedo took the mic and told the fans Finlay was going beat everyone in his path and that New Japan needs a rebel.

A Block Standings:

10 points: EVIL, Uemura. 
8 points: Boltin Oleg, Callum Newman, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryohei Oiwa, David Finlay, Yota Tsujo  
6 points: Taichi, SANADA

Newman/Taichi and the last two matches were really good. There’s a very crowded field of potential candidates to make playoffs in the A Block.

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Osaka hosts today’s NJPW G1 Climax 35 event featuring four B Block matches.

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. faces Shingo Takagi in today’s main event. Sabre is part of of a seven-way-tie for first in B Block with his 8 points, while Shingo stands alone in eighth place in the Block with 6 points. Shingo must win to have any hope of advancing to the B Block playoffs. Sabre holds a 4-3 edge in their seven previous singles matches.

In the semi-main, Drilla Moloney faces El Phantasmo. Moloney is part of the logjam at the top of B Block with 8 points, while ELP is one of two wrestlers (Gabe Kidd, out injured) mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Great-O-Khan takes on Ren Narita in a matchup of two wrestlers with 8 points each in today’s second tournament bout.

YOSHI-HASHI (8 points) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (8 points) kicks off today’s tournament action.

A series of tag previews for Thursday’s A Block show fills out today’s undercard.

Today’s show streams live on NJPW World beginning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Live from Osaka, INTEX Osaka Hall 5. 

Walker Stewart & Rocky Romero were on English commentary. 

Jakob Austin Young & Callum Newman defeated Taichi & Masatora Yasuda (11:45)

Newman and Taichi had a striking battle that Taichi ended with a nice lariat. The young lions squared off, and Yasuda caught Young with a dropkick. Yasuda went for a submission with a Boston crab. While Taichi and Newman brawled on the floor, Young came back with a twisting vertical suplex, and then finished off Yasuda with Jakob’s Ladder (a Sliced Bread #2) to get the pinfall. Newman taunted Taichi after his victory. 

Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg defeated Dick Togo & EVIL (w/ Don Fale)

EVIL invited Oleg to join the House of Torture by giving him a t-shirt. Oleg put on the House of Torture t-shirt, then dropkicked his oppoents anyway to start the match. Fale squashed Oleg against the ring barricades on the floor. EVIL choked out Oleg with a tag rope. Yano got the tag and the ref got bumped. With the ref down, Fale came in and the House of Torture team triple-teamed Yano. Oleg broke the triple team up and clotheslined Fale to the floor. Oleg caught Togo with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Yano hit Togo with a low blow and rolled him up for the pinfall. 

Yoshinobu Kanemaru & SANADA defeated Kaysuta Murashima & Hiroshi Tanahashi (6:25)

SANADA left Tanahashi laying after they brawled into the crowd. Tanahashi made it back to the ring before behing counted out. SANADA missed a moonsault and Tanahashi caught him with a slingblade. Tags were made on both sides. Murashima overpowered Kanemaru with a suplex and a powerslam for a nearfall. Kanemaru went after Murashima’s injured knee with kicks and a single leg crab. Kanemaru switched to a figure-four leglock. SANADA held back Tanahashi from making the save, and Murashima tapped out. 

Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa defeated Shoma Kato & Yuya Uemura (5:59) 

The opening sequence between Uemura and Oiwa was tremendous. Jackson blocked a double suplex from his opponents. They softened him up with a double dropkick and were able to get the double suplex on a second try. Jackson squashed Kato with a senton for a near fall. Oiwa hit Uemura with a nasty lariat. Kato tried a couple of roll-ups on Jackson but couldn’t hold him down. Jackson floored Kato with a lariat, then hit a death valley driver for the pinfall.

Gedo & David Finlay defeated Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji (6:32) 

The young lion Nagai tried to step up to Finlay and it did not go well. Nagai fared much better against Gedo. Finlay and Tsuji had a brief exchange. Nagai hit Finlay with a great dropkick. Finlay blocked a monkey flip, but Nagai caught Finlay with a crossbody for a near fall. Finlay blocked a small package attempt and turned it into Oblivion and got the pinfall. 

Konosuke Takeshita (5-2, 10 pts) defeated YOSHI-HASHI (4-3, 8 pts) in a G1 Climax 35 B Block Match. 

Takeshita worked over YOSHI-HASHI’s back early. YOSHI-HASHI caught Takeshita with a dropkick to the knee. YOSHI-HASHI hung Takeshita up in the ropes and hit a dropkick for a near fall. Takeshita hit a boot and dropped his opponent with a backbreaker. YOSHI-HASHI escaped a suplex with a hangman’s neckbreaker. Takeshita and YOSHI-HASHI exchanged strikes. Takeshita got a near fall with his inverted tombstone. YOSHI-HASHI countered a suplex attempt with a vicious swinging DDT. 

YOSHI-HASHI hit an avalanche clothesline in the corner. He went to the top but was way too slow getting there, and Takeshita caught up with him. YOSHI-HASHI hit a sunset powerbomb out of the corner and got a nearfall with a jackknife cover. Takeshita came back with a pair of exploders for two. YOSHI-HASHI blocked a knee strike and caught Takeshita with an inverted driver for another near fall. The crowd really started to get behind YOSHI-HASHI, and he floored Takeshita with a lariat. YOSHI-HASHI hit a swanton bomb for another near fall. Takeshita came back with a knee strike for a near fall. Takeshita then hit the Raging Fire for the pinfall. Takeshita is the first to 10 points in the tournament with this victory.

Ren Narita (5-2, 10 pts) defeated Great-O-Khan (4-4, 8 pts) vs.  in a G1 Climax 35 B Block Match (12:38)

Narita attacked O-Khan on the floor before the bell could ring. Nariata took him into the crowd and went after his knee. Narita grabbed the bell hammer while the referee tended to O-Khan. Narita hit O-Khan with the hammer. O-Khan finally got into the ring and Narita went to work on his leg. O-Khan hit overhead chops, but Narita went to the leg again to take control. 

Narita kept working over the knee. O-Khan caught Narita with a shoulder throw and immediately crumpled into a pile on the mat. O-Khan managed a fireman’s carry and an overhead belly to belly suplex. O-Khan went to a head and arm choke. All of sudden, Yoshinobu Kanemaru rang the ring bell, but there was no submission. O-Khan thought he won, and while the ref checked on Narita, Kanemaru snuck in from behind and hit O-Khan in the knee with his whiskey bottle. 

O-Khan went for a claw slam, but Narita countered into a knee bar. While Kanemaru distracted the ref again, Narita hit O-Khan in the knee with a push-up bar and locked in another knee bar. The bell rang, but O-Khan hadn’t submitted. This time it was Jakob Austin Young ringing the bell. This distraction allowed Khan to take control. O-Khan took out Narita and the ref with a claw slam. Kanemaru tried to interfere again, but Young cut him off. O-Khan and Narita went to the top where Narita spat whiskey in his face. Narita hit a low blow, then locked in one more kneebar to get the submission. What an overbooked mess. 

El Phantasmo (3-5, 6 pts) defeated Drilla Moloney (4-3, 8 pts) in a G1 Climax 35 B Block Match (5:14)

Phantasmo was playing spoiler here. Phantasmo came out quickly with a running dive and a moonsault to the floor. He tried for a springboard senton, but Moloney got his knees up and hit a gore for a near fall. Moloney folded Phantasmo up with a powerbomb for a near fall. Moloney went to the top, but Phantasmo cut him off. Moloney went for the gore again, but Phantasmo blocked it. Moloney went for a dominator, but Phantasmo countered by landing on his feet. Moloney hit ELP with a piledriver. Phantasmo caught Moloney with a Canadian Destroyer and the CR2 for a near fall. ELP hit a second CR2 and then a piedriver. Phantasmo hit the Thunderkiss 86 Splash and got the pinfall. I’m not sure why this only got half the time of the House of Torture mess.

IWGP World Champion Zack Sabre, Jr. (5-2, 10 pts) defeated Shingo Takagi (3-4, 6 pts) vs. in a G1 Climax 35 B Block Match (20:48)

This was a tremendous main event. Takagi was eliminated from winning the tournament with a loss. 

Lots of great mat work to start with neither man gaining an advantage. Takagi caught Sabre with a knee in the midsection. Sabre went to work on Takagi’s leg. Takagi went for a scorpion deathlock, but Sabre countered with a kneebar as Takagi stepped through. Sabre ground his heel into Takagi’s knee. 

Sabre went for a spinning toehold. Takagi kicked him away and caught Sabre with a DDT. Takagi hit an avalanche clothesline, suplex, and a senton for a near fall. Takagi got the crowd to rally behind him. He tried for Made in Japan, but Sabre blocked it. Takagi went for the sliding lariat, but Sabre countered it and snapped Takagi’s arm. 

Sabre went after Takagi’s arm. Takagi tried to counter with a coke, but Sabre countered. Sabre locked in a modified octopus, then transitioned into a knee bar. Takagi got to the ropes to break. Sabre went for a Zach Driver, but Takagi countered with a twisting suplex. Takagi hit a superplex but was too hurt to make a cover. Takagi hit Made in Japan for a near fall. Takagi tried for Last of the Dragon, but Sabre blocked it. Sabre hit a Zach Driver but the impact had both men down at the fifteen minute mark. 

Sabre and Takagi started to exchange headbutts, but Sabre put an end to that with a running kick. Sabre hit a series of kicks, then went back to the arm. Takagi hit a Zach Driver of his own, and then a Burning Dragon for a near fall. Takagi drove in some elbows. Sabre went for a sleeper. Takagi fell back to break the hold, but Sabre locked it right back in. Takagi went for a cradle to escape, but Sabre countered with his own cradle. Sabre hit a DDT out of the corner and a Zach Driver for a near fall. Takagi kicked out, but Sabre went right into a knee bar. Takagi struggled to get out to the ropes, and just when it looked like he’d have to tap out, he rolled himself into the ropes to break. 

Sabre hit three lariats on Takagi, who wouldn’t go down. Takagi hit a pumping bomber and Sabre went down. Takagi hit a sliding forearm and another lariat. Takagi hit the Last of the Dragon, but Sabre turned into Takagi’s pin attempt with a cradle of his own and got the pinfall, ending Takagi’s chances in this year’s G1.

So as the night ends in B Block, Konosuke Takeshita, Ren Narita and Zach Sabre Jr. in a three way tie in at the top with 10 points. Drilla Moloney, Great-O-Khan, YOSHI-HASHI and Shota Umino have 8 points. Shingo Takagi and El Phantasmo only have 6 points and are eliminated.






NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yota Tsuji

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW’s G1 Climax 35 tournament continues today with an A Block show from Fukuoka.

Hiroshi Tanahashi faces Yota Tsuji in the main event tournament match. Tanahashi is part of a three-way-tie for last place in A Block, while Tsuji is part of a three-way-tie for first place. Tanahashi has 4 points, while Tsuji stands at 8.

The next G1 tournament win for Tanahashi will give him 100 for his unparalleled career.

David Finlay and his 4 points face EVIL and his 8 points in today’s semi-main event.

Yuya Uemura with 8 points and coming off a victory over Tanahashi, faces SANADA and his 4 points.

Taichi faces Ryohei Oiwa in a battle of 6 points on the show.

The other competitors with 6 points also square off with Boltin Oleg vs. Callum Newman.

A series of tag matches previewing the next B Block show on Tuesday round out today’s undercard. The show begins at 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World.

**********

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero) defeated Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI

(YOSHI-HASHI, given his G1 record this year, doesn’t inspire hope in me to win this to enter the semi-finals, let alone the finals. The B-Block matches on August 5 may change that, but I look to Takeshita to maintain his dominance.)

Takeshita tossed YOSHI-HASHI around at ringside, while the nimble Romero used aerial kicks keep Kato down. Kato ran the ropes at Takeshita’s request, eventually knocking the Alpha down. YOSHI-HASHI kept up the momentum, but Takeshita’s shoulder drove him away. Romero pinned Kato after a Sliced Bread.

House Of Torture (Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young)

(Whether to instill further doubts in Khan or to sow seeds of an epic babyface comeback, Khan’s knee and arm injuries add drama to his G1 journey. Plus, it’s a smart plan by House of Torture—wear down your opponent so they’ll be easy to handle the next night. Khan sold his wounds well.)

Sensing the still-present damage to Khan’s arm courtesy of Zack Sabre Jr the previous night, Narita targeted his right arm. Kanemaru, meanwhile, later focused on Khan’s left knee. Young left Narita dazed after he gained control and floated into a Tornado-DDT. Kanemaru yanked the referee down while he applied utmost pressure to Young in a figure-four leglock. Narita kept Khan at bay while Young tapped out to the leglock.

Post-match: Kanemaru and Narita brought in a steel chair to add further punishment to Khan’s knee.

Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori) defeated El Phantasmo & Jado

(It’s hard to say who will walk away with additional points tomorrow. Moloney’s on a hot streak right now, but Phantasmo in 2025 has a certain flair about him.)

Ishimori suffered at the hands of Jado and Phantasmo, with the former landing a DDT. Moloney feigned a ripcord to subvert Phantasmo into a series of chops. Phantasmo aimed for a CR2 but rolled away to Jado after a Spinebuster. Ishimori played dead after Jado’s clothesline, only to pull him in for a roll-up for the win.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi

(Nagai came into his own in this match. Takagi’s support went a long way, too. With whatever happens with the remnants of Los Ingobernables de Japon, I hope Nagai finds his place with them.)

Sabre and Takagi wrestled to a standstill. Nagai had no such luck against Jackson. Sabre popped in for his own technical pressure on the Young Lion. Jackson returned for a senton, but Takagi saved Nagai. Together, they neutralized Jackson. Nagai even narrowly toppled Jackson with a Canadian Destroyer!

Sabre came to Jackson’s aid, but Nagai snatched him for a Spinebuster. Jackson’s girth prevented a powerslam by Nagai, and he responded with a senton. He then followed up with a Jagged Edge to Nagai.

G1 Climax A-Block Matches

Oleg Boltin (7) defeated Callum Newman (6)

(Boltin is his own beast, but Newman pulled out a hard-fought effort. Despite the back issues, he made Boltin fight for the win.)

Boltin rolled to the outside after a hurricanrana by Newman. Outside, he withstood the unforgiving blue steel barricades. Chops and slams by Boltin aggravated Newman’s injured back. Newman transitioned Boltin’s Kamikaze to a semi-successful hurricanrana. Boltin landed a standing Kamikaze.

Newman pressed into Boltin’s midsection with a stomp from the top rope. He rolled through Boltin’s suplex. With swiftness, Boltin caught Newman, who had full momentum, and planted him with a Kamikaze for the win.

Ryohei Oiwa (7) defeated Taichi (6)

(Taichi is 6-6 in his G1 win-loss record, so he can’t get too comfortable. While I support him, I’m also investing in Oiwa stock.)

Equally strong, Taichi and Oiwa repeatedly reached an impasse. Taichi broke this with a kick. Oiwa gained the upper hand, pummelling Taichi with a scoop slam and a senton. An enzuigiri handed Taichi a comeback. Oiwa escaped a Black Mephisto to drop Taichi with a Doctor Bomb. Dangerous Backdrop provided Taichi with a moment to breathe.

A weary war of stiff forearms wore weaker, but Taichi’s wrist control kept him in control. An Axe Bomber cemented it. Taichi cut off any offense Oiwa might have wanted with enzuigiris each time. However, in the nick of time, Oiwa sent Taichi falling with The Grip. This earned Oiwa the pinfall.

SANADA (6) defeated Yuya Uemura (8)

(Perhaps the only match I wasn’t fond of. Were it not for the House of Torture, this bout would’ve had the makings of a great match.)

Within minutes, SANADA had wrist control, but it shifted to Uemura. SANADA regained it, but a deep armdrag swung it back in Uemura’s favor. SANADA opted to other forms of offense, but Uemura would return wrist control in his favor with more arm drags. Shining Wizard by SANADA broke the cycle. Choosing something new, Uemura plunged SANADA with a back suplex.

Uemura tried for an armbar. SANADA propelled Uemura into Referee Marty Asami, leading him to proceed with a low blow. Uemura rolled out of the way of SANADA’s guitar shot. After Asami missed a capture pin, Yoshinobu Kanemaru slid into the ring to spray whiskey in Uemura’s face.

SANADA finally blasted Uemura with his guitar; Kanemaru took advantage of this by rolling Asami back over and directing his attention to SANADA’s pin. This lent SANADA the pinfall.

David Finlay (6) defeated EVIL (8)

(Surprisingly great. This naturally warranted a lack of referee during the more plunder-heavy moments of this match. Moreover, the odds stacked against Finlay gave the Bullet Club leader the support of fans needed to propel him to victory. Throughout his G1 journey, at this juncture, Finlay needed this win.)

Finlay cut EVIL’s entrance short as he drove him into the crowd. EVIL tubmled onto the floor as Finlay landed upright, clotheslining him to the outside. Don Fale and Dick Togo joined EVIL in tossing Finlay into the barricade, even knocking over a commentary desk. Both opponents traded profanities on the microphone as EVIL choked Finlay with the wire.

Referee Red Shoes prevented EVIL from using a steel chair, leading to the House of Torture leader to toss it to Gedo. This lent Fale and Togo to aid EVIL by removing the turnbuckle pad. Landing in the exposed iron of the padless corner, Finlay fired back with an Irish Curse. Fale attempted to squish Finlay in the corner but instead landed Red Shoes. He, EVIL, and Togo struck Finlay with a steel chair as a Young Lion carried Red Shoes to the back.

EVIL and his henchmen were singlehandedly thwarted by Finlay, with Fale shockingly sent back in a vertical suplex. Fueled by adrenaline, Finlay nearly spelt doom for EVIL with a powerbomb, stopped only by a low blow. EVIL grabbed a steel chain to choke Finlay and adorned his lariat with its unforgiving metal. Spear by Finlay downed EVIL. Gedo handed Finlay a shillelagh. Kenta Sato replaced Red Shoes as referee. Finlay defeated EVIL with an Overkill.

Main Event G1 Climax A-Block

Hiroshi Tanahashi (6) defeated Yota Tsuji (8)

(Hope for The Ace is on the horizon. Tanahashi gaining his 100th G1 win bolsters the heightened stakes of the tournament. Can he keep up this momentum? He’s made career history, but will he end his career on the highest note possible? This is what the G1 is about, beckoning fans to speculate where things will go from here.

As far as the match goes, Tanahashi had his undying charisma driving the match, fully weaving his age and weakening knees into the storyline and the match structure. Tsuji was no slouch either, making Tanahashi look like a billion yen. To fill his Gene Blasters with so much dread that they’re hardly seen, he had the potential of a threat, supplanted by the legend.)

Tanahashi clenched hold of Tsuji’s wrists, broken by a rope break. Tsuji worked Tanahashi’s knees, most painfully exemplified by a horizontal Dragon Screw Legwhip. Karma found Tsuji, as Tanahashi sprang his own Dragon Screw Legwhip. Scoop slam reintroduced Tsuji to the mat, followed by a top rope senton. Tsuji countered a Slingblade with a backslide and a knee to the Ace’s face.

Tsuji aimed to send Tanahashi reeling with a vertical suplex but fell to the mat after a Twist’n’Shout. Tanahashi ended a standoff by stopping Tsuji’s Gene Blaster with a Slingblade. The Ace countered another Gene Blaster into a Snapdragon Suplex. Despite his best efforts, Tsuji bore the brunt of three High Fly Flows and lost the match.

(All but one of the G1 matches hit on all cylinders. Whether it’s the youthful clash of Oleg Boltin and Callum Newman, the continuance of the War Dogs versus House of Torture between David Finlay and EVIL, Taichi falling behind Ryohei Oiwa, or Tanahashi gaining his 100th G1 win, there was much to enjoy. Sadly, the House of Torture had to get a win, with SANADA taking out Yuya Uemura, with interference. But that pales in comparison to the hype of the tournament as it heats up.)

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuya Uemura

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW’s G1 Climax 35 tournament continues today in Kagawa with A Block action.

In the main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi looks for his 100th career G1 match victory against Yuya Uemura. Tana enters the bout with just 4 points in the tournament, while Uemura has 6 points in a crowded four-way tie for second place in the Block. Tanahashi has won both prior career singles matches against Uemura.

In the semi-main, A Block leader Yota Tsuji and his 8 points face Taichi, who stands at 4 points.

Boltin Oleg and his 6 points will face last place David Finlay and his 2 points in the third tournament bout of the night.

EVIL and Ryohei Oiwa match up in another A Block battle, with both currently sitting at 6 points.

SANADA vs. Callum Newman in a matchup of two competitors with 4 points each kicks off the evening’s tournament bouts.

A series of tag team matches previewing the next B Block show fill out today’s undercard.

**********

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

Katsuya Murashima & Shota Umino defeated Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI

(Loved the conviction from Kato in this match and how well Umino sold it.)

Kato and YOSHI-HASHI exhausted Murashima for an early advantage, keeping him isolated from his partner. Umino gained control with a Headhunter, but YOSHI-HASHI regained momentum with a lariat. A confident Kato landed a suplex and hoped for another, but ate a lariat courtesty of Umino, leading to a quick pinfall.

BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori) defeated The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero)

(I feel this was meant to up the hype for Takeshita versus Moloney in the upcoming Block B matches this weekend, but there didn’t seem to be much of that to really sink my teeth into. There could’ve been more of them, for sure. Perhaps they’re just saving what they can do. Also, kudos to them for managing to brawl in the dark with minimal lighting—I imagine fighting in one of those Hollister stores would’ve been like that.)

Moloney and Takeshita sought to collide with one another, but both were pulled out by their respective tag partners. The Alpha and Romero cut Ishimori away from Moloney’s side of the ring, working the Bone Soldier’s arm. Ishimori saved himself with a shoulderbreaker to Romero. Takeshita and Moloney each teased their finishers, ultimately Moloney succeeded with a Brainbuster. Moloney and Takeshita brawled on the outside, tumbling into the blue steel of the guardrail. La Mistica tapped Romero out courtesy of Ishimori.

Post-match: Moloney and Takeshita continued battling each other in the darkness of the crowd.

El Phantasmo & Jado defeated Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi

(The humor alone in this callback to 2022 adds the right amount of silliness for ELP and Takagi’s Block A match on August 2nd. Poor Nagai.)

Harkening back to KOPW 2022’s “Who’s Your Daddy?” Match, Phantasmo let Takagi know he was the daddy now. Perplexed in this new development of fatherhood status, Takagi had little time to process as Nagai broke up the proceedings.

Jado and Phantasmo punished Nagai in the corner. Spinebuster by Nagai gave him an edge against Phantasmo. Takagi sought to interrupt, but Jado grounded him several inches away as Phantasmo bullied Nagai. An Unidentified Flying Opponent dropped Nagai on his back, and Phantasmo gained the pinfall.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young)

(The contrast in styles between always leaves me salivating for more with the sporadic ZSJ and Khan matches we do get. Their match is going to rock.)

Khan overwhelmed Sabre with his might, even seeking a pin early. Eventually, he grabbed Sabre with a Claw, which was reversed into a sleeper. Jackson was too much for Young, who called upon Khan for additional firepower. Sabre and Khan traded Cobra Twists, leading Khan to flip the former over with a Gutwrench Tuck. Jackson pinned Young after a Jagged Edge.

G1 Climax A-Block Matches

Callum Newman defeated SANADA

(Newman’s excelling in this year’s G1. Though he still evokes Ospreay with the Oscutter, he’s starting to find his own path in his own structure and formula in these matches.)

Newman wasted no time, flying over the top rope to lay out SANADA. The Kagawa crowd dispersed as SANADA tossed Newman around in the crowd (and also into Milano Collection, who also got thrown into the fans). Newman swung a comeback thanks to a dropkick, grasping dominion of hte match whilst evading SANADA’s high volume offense.

Thinking he’d capitalize with an Oscutter 2.0, Newman accidentally planted the referee, casually pushed into harm’s way by SANADA. Newman thwarted SANADA’s Skull End with a roll-up, but no one could count the pin. Dropping SANADA with a beheading lariat and dragging the referee to action, Newman’s dreams were crashed by a 2-count.

The pair evaded each other’s finishers, but Newman rendered SANADA incapacitated with a kick, knee, and vertical suplex for the pinfall.

EVIL defeated Ryohei Oiwa

(Loved the match, hated the finish. Well, halfway. The match built into something incredible, lending itself to the trend of House of Torture comeuppances as of late. Doing something new breaks the monotony, no matter how cathartic.)

Ready for EVIL’s underhanded tactics, Oiwa prepared his best strengths, his power to prevent as much of his shenanigans as possible. Soon, EVIL gained sway over the match by slamming Oiwa into the barricade and distracting Referee Marty Asami. Don Fale and Dick Togo could provide additional torture on the outside. Oiwa downed EVIL with a DDT and an Elbow Drop.

Togo screeched Oiwa’s trajectory to a halt with a chairshot, followed by a bodyslam from Fale. EVIL tried a Darkness Falls, but Oiwa kicked out at 1 and swung EVIL into an exposed turnbuckle. Singlehandedly trouncing Togo and Fale’s interference, Oiwa finally had assistance from Hartley Jackson who dragged Fale away. Battering EVIL in the exposed turnbuckle, he reached for a German Suplex into a Chaos Theory; Asami evidently tired of being struck, steered clear. EVIL pied Oiwa in the face with powder and tapped him out with a Darkness Scorpion hold.

David Finlay defeated Oleg Boltin

(I’m a big Boltin fan. That said, Finlay needed this win, and the elation on his face sold how much he needed this save, giving him some much needed points.)

The pair circled each other, with Boltin’s strength and resilience keeping Finlay on his toes. Soon, Finlay found an opening in the foreign waters of ringside, where he sent Boltin into the crowd. Boltin charged into Finlay, spiraling both out of the ring. He struck Finlay’s chest and suplexed him, dizzying him with a Boltin Shake.

Finlay snuck in a Northern Irish Curse and Oblivion to take jurisdiction of the match away from Boltin. The Kazakh wrestler clutched a comeback with a Kamikaze. He unleashed one more on Finlay, but a subsequent one transitioned into Finlay’s capture pin, costing Boltin the match

Taichi defeated Yota Tsuji

(Both men needed this win. Tsuji, score-wise. Taichi, character-wise. Overlooked for the last time, he demands to be taken seriously, having had to earn his way to the G1 tournament to begin with. Great match, with the appropriate drama.)

Tsuji landed a tope suicida to bring this match to his favor early on. Taichi fired back, with a devastating Axe Bomber Lariat giving him some breathing room. Despite this valiant comeback, Tsuji kicked him back onto the mat with a resounding clap. Steadied for a Gene Blaster, Taichi instead transitioned into a Black Mephisto, which itself reversed into a running powerbomb. Another lariat by Tsuji, this time countered into a Gedo Clutch.

Once more going for a Gene Blaster, Tsuji fell instead to a Dangerous Backdrop. In a snap, Tsuji ended Taichi’s wrist control with a quick, short-range Gene Blaster. Taichi respondded with a Dangerous Backdrop and a Black Mephisto to put Tsuji away in front of a raucous Kagawa audience.

Main Event G1 Climax A-Block

Yuya Uemura defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

(Uemura just accrued an impressive accolade, important to his young career—taking down Tanahashi in the G1. He gave it his all, too. The selling of his knee stayed nearly consistent. Giving hope to fans of the Ace, just to prove that he was better on this night. Uemura’s path in the G1 Climax puts him closer to higher legacy.)

Uemura struggled against Tanahashi in the beginning lock-ups, having his leg propped up and knee targeted by the Ace. Despite this agony, Uemura managed two dropkicks. Again ensnared by Tanahashi’s knee focus, Uemura was left writhing, suffering a prone Dragon Screw Legwhip. A Texas Cloverleaf rubbed further salt into the wound.

Turning this match around, Uemura matched the Ace’s energy by centering on his arm. Risking his knee health, Uemura attempted a Deadbolt Suplex pin, but it gave out, much to his frustration. Reverse Slingblade and a regular Slingblade gave way to two High Fly Flows, one of which missed. A prolonged forearm exchange led to Tanahashi once more attacking Uemura’s knee. Enzuigiri by Uemura dazed the Ace, leading to a Deadbolt Suplex pinfall.

(Taichi and Yota Tsuji was the most emotionally compelling story to come of this, but Uemura’s victory over Tanahashi is worth noting. Callum Newman’s triumph over SANADA also made for a gripping watch. No barn-burners, but a fun show nonetheless.)

NJPW G1 Climax 35 results: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Posted on by Corey Michaels

Night eight of the NJPW G1 Climax 35 tournament takes place today in Osaka with four B Block matches on the card.

In the main event, Zack Sabre Jr. faces Konosuke Takeshita in a first-time-ever singles meeting.

Sabre, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, is off to a rough start in the G1, tied for seventh place in the 10-man B Block with just 4 points. Takeshita, the former NEVER Openweight Champion, is part of a four-way tie for third place with his 6 points.

Shota Umino and Shingo Takagi will square off in the semi-main event. Shingo is in ninth place in the Block with just 2 points thus far, while Umino has 6 points.

Ren Narita, tied for first place in the B Block with his 8 points, faces Drilla Moloney and his 6 points in the second tournament bout of the night.

Great-O-Khan (6 points) and El Phantasmo (4 points) kick off today’s tournament action.

Five undercard tag matches previewing Friday’s A Block show begin today’s card. The show streams live on NJPW World beginning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji defeated Masatora Yasuda & Taichi

(This moreso emphasized the growth of Nagai and Yasuda, so they may possibly graduate soon. I can’t wait to see how they develop later on.)

Nagai cornered Taichi early on, who tagged in Yasuda. Tsuji got the better of Yasuda who escaped after bringing out a hurricanrana. Taichi endured a Backbreaker and curb stomp to release a lariat on Tsuji. Nagai sent Yasuda soaring with a Monkey Flip following some fast-paced grappling. A dropkick by Yasuda gave him control once more. Nagai sank in a Boston Crab on Yasuda, successfully dragging him to the middle of the ring for a tap-out.

Yuya Uemura & Shoma Kato defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima

(Murashima has been earning accolades of his own, undoubtedly one of the most impressive of this recent crop of Young Lions. That said, Kato shows promise as he’s got the timing down and the in-ring awareness. Some in-ring psychology and some charisma and he’s set.)

Uemura and Tanahashi grappled after the bell, with the Ace coming out on top after a drop toehold. Murashima whittled Kato down, with he and Tanahashi taking turns slamming their opponent. Withstanding the unforgiving offense of Tanahashi, Kato toppled him with a dropkick. Uemura with a hot tag sprang with a fiery flurry of his own including a dropkick of his own. Dragon Screw Legwhip by Tanahashi gave him enough time to tag in Murashima. In rampaging fury, Murashima charged Uemura, who turned things around by targeting the Young Lion’s arm. Armbar fully locked in, Uemura tapped Murashima out.

House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Jakob Austin Young)

(If anyone would want to create a highlight reel for Callum Newman, this match would give ample footage for it. Presented as the most effective member of this match, he came off like a star.)

Unsurprisingly, House of Torture intercepted their opponents before the bell for an underhanded assault. SANADA tossed Newman across the crowd area, toppling several chairs. Newman, back in the ring, quickly dispatched Kanemaru and SANADA with kicks. SANADA attempted thwarting this momentum with a Skull End, reversed only by a resounding kick by Newman. Young spiked Kanemaru, but SANADA prevented him capitalizing on it. Whiskey Mist by Kanemaru gave him a Gedo Clutch pinfall victory over Young.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa) defeated House Of Torture (Dick Togo & EVIL)

(A classic House of Torture comeuppance bout, Jackson and Oiwa played to their strengths well. Nothing groundbreaking, as expected for an early half match on a G1 night, but not bad, either.)

Despite House of Torture’s typical antics of pre-match ambushes, Jackson survived a Senton by Togo and choke by EVIL. Sent outside to some bullying by HoT’s Don Fale, Jackson equalized him by reversing an Irish Whip to the barricade. Though Oiwa brought his might, struggled with Kanemaru courtesy of an EVIL interference; Jackson dispatched EVIL. His vertical suplex on Togo allowed Oiwa to work his arm in a Juji-gatame.

Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated BULLET CLUB War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo)

(Rather than exemplify the impressiveness of Finlay and Boltin, they saved it for later. In its place was a hilarious match not too dissimilar to a Bugs Bunny classic cartoon.)

Finlay brought the heat to Boltin, and he returned it in kind, capping it off with a Boltin Shake. A vengeful Finlay proceeded to target Boltin’s knee. Landing a Senton to Boltin, Finlay then taunted Yano on the rope. With Boltin wore down and horizontal in the ring, Gedo hoped for an easy win, only for the Kazakh wrestler to kick out of a pin leading to Finlay to tag back in. Distracting Gedo with the turnbuckle pad, Yano rolled Gedo up for a 2-Count. In a tug-of-war with hair and facial hair, Yano attempted another roll-up. Launching Gedo into the exposed corner, Yano hit Gedo with a Low Blow and won the match with a roll-up.

G1 Climax B-Block Matches

Great-O-Khan defeated El Phantasmo

(A nearly great match. This was intense as the match approached its closing stretch. Phantasmo having the bulk of the fight in his favor, only for Khan to pull out a devastating move at the last moment capped off a bout that felt like either man’s game to win.)

Khan’s power had an edge over Phantasmo, but a Tope Suicida sent him over the guardrails and into the crowd. Teasing dropping Khan onto Yamato Arena’s exposed floor, Phantasmo instead found himself ringside, battered on the guardrail. Pressing all of his weight on Phantasmo, Khan followed up his comeback by flipping his opponent over his shoulder. Phantasmo regained control with a crossbody and a moonsault.

Using his claw over Phantasmo’s face, Khan spun him around to disorient him. Phantasmo retaliated with a lariat, leading both men to collapse after a simultaneous lariat onto one another. Unidentified Flying Opponent courtesy of Phantasmo further wore on Khan. A desperate yet effective Tornado-DDT + Sudden Death brutalized Khan, but couldn’t keep him down. Khan’s Super Eliminator from the top rope devastated Phantasmo for the three crucial seconds, giving the United Empire member a victory.

Drilla Moloney defeated Ren Narita

(This wasn’t just a House of Torture comeuppance. This was survival by a one-man army. Moloney superseding Kanemaru and unleashing pressure on Narita, unrelenting, gave a heat to this match that will be an underrated match in the G1 Climax catalog.)

Yoshinobu surprised Moloney during the entrance, giving Narita an early advantage. To make matters worse for Moloney, Narita bit into his forehead, drawing blood. Kanemaru continued to aid Narita from the outside, softening Moloney. Fed up, the War Dog swung a comeback by catching Narita’s low blow and blasting him with a Spinebuster. German suplex by Narita scrambled Moloney for a chokehold. Moloney caught Narita mid-air for a powerbomb. A mighty and wild succession of offense by Moloney incapacitated Narita with a Drilla Killa gifting the War Dog a pinfall.

Shingo Takagi defeated Shota Umino

(Wow. For all the struggles Umino has had in recent years regarding fan perception, it cannot be denied how skillful he is. The action, the drama, the intensity ramped up increasingly, outright demanding a viewer’s attention.)

Umino and Takagi locked up, with the latter grabbing control with a shoulder tackle. In an instant, Umino earned a reprieve, trapping Takagi’s leg in the guardrail, swinging it against the blue steel. Back in the ring, Umino worked Takagi’s leg, with a Fisherman Suplex bringing more damage. Takagi, after much flinching and cringing, reversed Umino’s Dragon Screw Legwhip with one of his own. A sliding lariat lent Takagi more of an advantage.

Umino evaded a Made in Japan for a Dragon Screw Legwhip in the corner. STF locked in, Umino dragged Takagi deep as he sunk in the torment. A couple of Exploder Suplexes by Umino rendered he and Takagi immobile. From the top rope, Takagi flung Umino to the center of the ring and made a spirited comeback with a Made in Japan. Tornado-DDT by Umino returned Takagi back to the mat. Umino temporarily staggered during a forearm exchange but came out of it with a Strike-Knee and a Decapitation Lariat. Last of the Dragon by Takagi destroyed Umino, but unfortunately Umino’s targeting of the knee slowed him down. This cost him a Pumping Bomber victory as well. Ultimately, however, a Burning Dragon sealed the deal, making Takagi the winner.

Main Event G1 Climax B-Block

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Konosuke Takeshita

(What a match! Takeshita started out unfazed by the holds and submissions, calmly ekeing out of whatever Sabre threw at him. Sabre’s irritation at reaching for a rope break causing him to change tactics and be ruthless gave him all the edge. It was only a waiting game from there, and all Sabre had to do was hold on. Fantastic story.)

Sabre and Takeshita grappled to a stalemate, with the latter calmly dancing around the former’s technical offense. Grounded by a headscissors hold, Sabre wriggled dearly for a rope break despite his misgivings on them. Springboard dropkick by Sabre cut off Takeshita at the top rope, ruining his left leg. Sabre continued to target that leg, particularly the knee region. Contorting Takeshita like a pretzel, Sabre tied his opponent’s arm into his leg for a nasty bend.

On the outside, Takeshita reclaimed control of the match via a Brainbuster on the floor. Back in the ring, Sabre resumed work on Takeshita’s leg, and eventually arm. Eventually, Takeshita fired back with lariats and kicks. Cobra Twist by Sabre stretched Takeshita some more, but he fought out with a suplex. Reversal after reversal, the pair traded pins until Takeshita relented so he could deliver a knee. A Blue Thunderbomb by Takeshita and a Zack Driver by Sabre nearly finished the other. Sabre loudly slapped the neck of Takeshita, sent momentarily reeling, only to collide headfirst with Takeshita’s knee. Clinging tightly around Takeshita’s neck, Sabre held on even through a drop to the outside, maintaining control the whole way through. Unable to escape, Takeshita tapped out.

(The tag matches continue to paint a glimpse to the next night of Block A matches. Tonight’s G1 matches were incredible, progressively growing in match quality and they were all better than good.)

NJPW G1 Climax 35 live results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Ryohei Oiwa

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW G1 Climax 35 continues today in Nagoya with a show featuring five A Block matches.

In the main event, company president Hiroshi Tanahashi faces the up and coming Ryohei Oiwa in a matchup of two wrestlers with 4 points each in the tournament. It will be the first career singles meeting between the two.

In the semi-main, EVIL and Yuya Uemura go head-to-head in another first-ever singles matchup between them. EVIL is tied for the A Block lead with 6 points, while Uemura has 4 points.

SANADA and Taichi will square off in another A Block battle. SANADA has 2 points, while Taichi has 4. These two have met seven times in singles matches in their careers, with SANADA holding a 6-1 edge.

David Finlay and Callum Newman go one-on-one in the show’s second tournament bout in yet another first-time meeting. Both enter the bout with 2 points each.

In the first tournament match of the night, Yota Tsuji faces Boltin Oleg, with the winner in position to take the A Block lead with a victory. Both are tied with EVIL with 6 points atop A Block to this point.

A series of tag team matches previewing the next B Block matches fills out today’s undercard. The show begins at 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World.

**********

Tag matches

El Phantasmo & Jado defeated United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young)

(Phantasmo was in great form for an opener. His banter with Young was hilarious.)

Khan seemed to have early control after the bell when he grappled with Phantasmo. Jado had the misfortune of Khan applying the pressure of his weight seated on the top rope turnbuckle. Jado clenched a comeback after a lariat, to which Phantasmo followed up on with a plancha to Khan and Young. Back in the ring, Phantasmo landed a Canadian Revolution 2 on Young for the win.

Katsuya Murashima & Shota Umino defeated Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi

(Murashima has great potential. Hopefully soon, he’ll have a great stable to join. Umino was actually pretty fine here. Nagai is settling in well with Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, and Yota Tsuji in the Los Ingobernables de Japon remnants.)

Nagai tagged in Takagi after quickly gaining an advantage over Murashima. Umino got the better of Takagi with a Fisherman Suplex, but ate a lariat for his troubles. Murashima briefly had control until Nagai unleashed a Spinebuster and a Boston Crab. Exchanging lariats, Takagi eventually overwhelmed Umino. Murashima tapped Nagai out with a Boston Crab.

BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori) defeated House Of Torture (Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

(Easily digestible. This knew what it had to be and didn’t overstay its welcome. Moloney and Ishimori were splendid.)

Narita and Kanemaru bore down on Ishimori, who escaped with a big boot to the former. A huge dropkick by Moloney to Narita kept him in solid control, later followed by a Spinebuster. Kanemaru avoided Ishimori’s offense by throwing the referee in his way and locked in a figure-four leglock. Ishimori reversed another figure-four leglock into a cradle and later a Gedo Clutch for the pinfall.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero)

(Using TMDK to combine their efforts on Romero was a smart play. In that, they forced Takeshita to work more on a handicap basis, even when Romero was active. This also paid dividends in the end for Jackson to put Romero away. The prospect of Sabre and Takeshita leaves me salivating; they have every potential for a barn-burner.)

Jackson used his strength and Sabre utilized his submission maneuvering to promptly weaken Romero. Sabre continued bullying Romero, taunting Takeshita in the process. Takeshita flew in with a kick to Sabre, but couldn’t faze Jackson with one so he threw in a stiff forearm. Following a dense octopus hold, Sabre was rendered incapacitated with Takeshita’s lariat. Jackson smashed Romero with a Senton. Romero gave a valiant last stand, but ultimately fell to Jackson’s Jagged Edge as Sabre and Takeshita brawled against a barricade.

G1 Climax 2025 Block A Matches

Yota Tsuji defeated Oleg Boltin

(Holy heck. This started off tonight’s Block A matches right. Tsuji and Boltin left my blood flowing on this one.)

A Boltin Shake dizzied Tsuji in the early goings. Further overbearing on Tsuji, he wrenched in a Boston Crab. Boltin crashed over the barricade courtesy of Tsuji’s Tope Suicida. Boltin and Tsuji battled for leverage, with a Gene Blaster superseding a German suplex. A Kamikaze by Boltin caused considerable damage. Nagoya’s voice grew resonant as the pair battled on the top rope, but Tsuji grounded both men and won via a Gene Blaster.

Callum Newman defeated David Finlay

(Newman getting this win is definitely good for his NJPW resume, putting him in a good place. As El Phantasmo and Walker Stewart brilliantly illustrated on commentary, Finlay is desperate to get a win over Hiroshi Tanahashi like the other leaders of Bullet Club and despite his ruthlessness in this match, this thought haunted him the entire time. Good stuff.)

Newman wasted no time, dropkicking Finlay, raining down punches, and another dropkick—Finlay couldn’t even take off his jacket. From the ring, Finlay sent Newman flying to the outside. Irate, he tossed Newman through the chairs amid a dispersing Nagoya audience. Refusing to lose, Newman endured the many punishments of Finlay. A big boot lent Newman space to recover. A superkick + lariat combination seemed to have given a harder grip on the match, but an Oblivion wrought devastation on his opponent. Finlay sought a powerbomb, but Newman transitioned it into a sitout pin for the victory.

SANADA defeated Taichi

(I wasn’t a fan of this. Granted, Milano Collection A.T. and Masatora Yasuda were some pleasant surprises to this.)

Interrupting his own theme song, Taichi went to work on SANADA with no hesitation. Matching this energy, SANADA brought Taichi to the outside, leaving Nagoya to once more be inconvenienced out of their seats. Milano Collection A.T. on commentary came to Taichi’s aid, throwing SANADA into a chair. With some kicks, Taichi at last had some momentum, until Yoshinobu Kanemaru accosted him. SANADA reached for an underhanded tactic, but attempted a top rope move instead. This gave Taichi room for offense, ending with a backdrop.

SANADA grabbed Referee Marty Asami to trounce a Black Mephisto attempt. Taichi’s jackknife pin was close, but Kanemaru pulled Asami ahead of the 3-count. Low blow by SANADA, combined with a Shining Wizard would have given him an easy win, had it not been for an intervening Young Lion Masatora Yasuda. Taichi hesitated slamming SANADA’s guitar over his head, wasting enough time for Kanemaru to return with a Whiskey Mist. SANADA finally used the guitar on Taichi for the win.

Post-match: SANADA and Kanemaru looked as though they would assault Taichi more, before Yasuda met them in defense of Taichi. They gave him a beatdown and left.

Yuya Uemura defeated EVIL

(House of Torture matches are actually good when they get a comeuppance. Uemura being the hopeful, shining beacon for that despite the drama and the shenanigans made up for this being the stable’s second consecutive match.)

Uemura showed promise once the bell rang, but EVIL and Don Fale teamed up to torment him on the outside. EVIL worked Uemura’s back, yet that didn’t stop him from delivering a back suplex. Dick Togo distracted Uemura, giving EVIL ample opportunity to toss his opponent to the outside for a beatdown by Fale and Togo. Uemura caught EVIL with an armbar, to which Fale distracted the referee. Togo followed this with a chairshot to Uemura’s back.

Fed up with the distractions, Uemura dove onto Fale and took out Togo. EVIL fired back with Darkness Falls and a lariat. Deadbolt Suplex gave Uemura the 3-count pinfall.

Main event — G1 Climax Block A

Ryohei Oiwa defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

(My enjoyment of Tanahashi’s retirement run stems from how sincere his desperation gets; he doesn’t need to do it with meandering promos or low blows. He does it all with in-ring storytelling. It’s endearing: he faces his matches in his twilight like a young man in the dawn of his career. Oiwa benefits from this immensely, as he’s one of the young stars that evokes what Tanahashi was in his prime.)

Tanahashi and Oiwa were evenly matched in their lock-ups, but Oiwa showed flashes of brilliance with a headlock takedown. Tanahashi grounded his opponent, working Oiwa’s legs. A dropkick supplanted the Ace, yet the harm done to Oiwa’s legs still remained evident. Oiwa withstood a big forearm and a Twist’n’Shout to toss the veteran from the top rope to the center of the ring. Tanahashi halted Oiwa’s upward trajectory with a German suplex. Oiwa swung a comeback, catching Tanahashi mid-air with a wristlock.

Oiwa stole the Ace’s High Fly Flow, succeeded with a Doctor Bomb. Clenching in a sleeper hold, Oiwa tossed a spinning lariat. Defying a cradle by Tanahashi, Oiwa pulled out another spinning lariat, this time putting Tanahashi down for good. With a pinfall, Oiwa progressed in the G1 Climax.

The tag matches tonight were fun, but not required viewing, save for TMDK versus the Don Callis Family. The Block A matches profited from Boltin and Tsuji’s war, Newman’s upset over Finlay, Uemura surviving the House of Torture, and Tanahashi’s stand against Oiwa. The structure, storytelling, and finish for Taichi versus SANADA left a sour taste in my mouth, sweetened only by Yasuda and Milano’s assistance.

NJPW G1 Climax 35 live results: Shingo Takagi vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW’s G1 Climax 35 tournament rolls on tonight with four B Block matches in Ota.

In the main event, Shingo Takagi faces Konosuke Takeshita in one of the more highly-anticipated matchups of the tournament. Takeshita enters the match with 4 points, while Shingo has 2 points, with his only win so far coming via forfeit due to Gabe Kidd’s injury and withdrawal.

Three more B Block matches are set for the show.

Shota Umino and Ren Narita will match up in the semi-main event. Both enter the contest with 4 points thus far in the G1.

Zack Sabre Jr. will take on El Phantasmo in a battle of two wrestlers each with 2 points.

B Block leader YOSHI-HASHI and his 6 points will face Great-O-Khan (2 points) in the night’s first tournament bout.

A series of tag team matches previewing the next A Block battles fill out today’s undercard.

The show kicks off at 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World.

**********

Pre-show

The NJPW roster joined ringside during a tribute to the late Hulk Hogan who passed away on July 25, 2025 at the age of 71.

Main card

Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji

(Nagai has shown promise thus far with the LiJ alumni during this early stretch of the G1.)

Boltin had the early advantage over Tsuji, culminating in a Boltin Shake. Nagai joined Tsuji in planting Boltin with a 2-on-1 suplex. Yano removed the turnbuckle pad, as is his wont, but Nagai outsmarted him right into the exposed corner. Spinebuster by Nagai whittled down the veteran, but resulted in a Demon Killler powerbomb, giving Yano and Boltin the victory.

United Empire (Callum Newman & Jakob Austin Young) defeated BULLET CLUB War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo)

(Optimistic win for the United Empire’s junior members.)

Newman forewent the formalities during Finlay’s entrance as he interrupted. The pair brawled, with Finlay tossing Newman into chairs amid a fleeing crowd. Back in the ring, he controlled Newman’s arm, with Gedo offering additional punishment. Young fended off Gedo using his legs; a dropkick rattled him further. Neman saved Young from Finlay’s Dominator before they combined their offense to him and Gedo. Young pinned Gedo via Jakob’s Ladder to win the match.

House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Masatora Yasuda & Taichi

(If Taichi were to start a new stable, Yanemaru would be a great addition.)

House of Torture immediately went to work on Yasuda and Taichi, the former of which wore on SANADA. Taichi found himself dragged to the chairs as SANADA clobbered him with a water bottle (before politely handing it back to the commentator he stole it from). Yasuda had no choice but to withstand the wrath of Kanemaru and SANADA until landing a scoop slam despite his softened knee. Wrist control and spry legs gave Taichi an edge that overwhelmed Kanemaru and SANADA. Once more into the Ota crowd, SANADA send Taichi into a commentary table.

At last, Taichi swung a comeback in the form of a lariat to SANADA. Kanemaru landed on his shoulders following Yasuda’s heightened dropkick. With a Boston Crab vigorously in place on Yasuda, SANADA tapped him out.

Post-match: Unsatisfied for the first two times, SANADA returned Taichi into the crowd.

House Of Torture (Dick Togo & EVIL) defeated Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura

(I’d have preferred a Uemura win, but that’s just me. As far as House of Torture matches go, this didn’t overstay its welcome.

Re-using their teammates’ game plan from the previous match, House of Torture swarmed their opponents. Honma flattened Togo before paying homage to Hulk Hogan. Togo regained command of the match in working Honma’s arm. EVIL and Don Fale rung the ring bell to distract the referee after Togo landed an Italian Fistdrop to Honma. Uemura was unleashed next, yet EVIL tossed him to Togo and Fale for extra damage. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Uemura battled past his abdomen pain working in tandem with Honma to wear down EVIL. Togo broke up Honma’s pin to EVIL after a successful Kokeshi. Magic Killer by House of Torture to Honma gave the stable yet another victory.

Post-match: EVIL, Togo, and Fale wrenched the knee of Uemura, even as Young Lions attempted to pull them away.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima

(While building Tanahashi and Oiwa up later, NJPW put Jackson to good use in giving Murashima a spot to shine and show his character’s strength and cunning.)

Oiwa locked up with Tanahashi, with the Ace geting the upper hand twice. He followed with a flying crossbody. A Twist’n’Shout gave Tanahashi confidence, but Oiwa powered out. Murashima sought to test his girth and strength against Jackson but quickly lost his composure. A senton by Jackson winded Murashima. Jackson bullied young Murashima until he fired back with a pounce. Oiwa held Tanahashi on the apron to watch as Jackson dropped Murashima with a Jagged Edge for the win.

G1 Climax B-Block

Great-O-Khan defeated YOSHI-HASHI

(Yoshi-Hashi’s story during this year’s G1 Climax remains compelling, a desperation to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, so setbacks like these set the drama up quite well.

Khan’s strength hinted at early benefits, but YOSHI-HASHI double-palmed him to the mat. Dropping YOSHI-HASHI onto the ring apron, Khan punctuated this devastating enviornmental-assisted assault with his trademark sit on a precariously perched YOSHI-HASHI on the tope rope. Gaining speed, Khan fell victim to a Head Hunter by a defiant YOSHI-HASHI. Refusing YOSHI-HASHI’s fisherman suplexes and tombstone piledrivers, Khan landed a DDT but couldn’t capitalize. Clutching Khan’s wrist, YOSHI-HASHI weakened Khan only to run into Khan’s Pop-Up eliminator. YOSHI-HASHI unfortunately ran into Khan’s Claw, ultimately finished off by his Eliminator.

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated El Phantasmo

(Immediately one of this year’s G1 Climax’s best matches. A wonderful story build on respect, told with desperate moves in the final stretch to create a perfect drama.)

Phantasmo wriggled out of Sabre’s every technical maneuver. In one particular pin attempt, Sabre bridged out. Each man traded holds in an attempt to pin or submit the other. With unwavering neck control, Sabre dragged Phantasmo around. In a sudden comeback, Pantasmo shot Sabre outside with a dropkick.

Tope Suicida from Phantasmo flipped Sabore over the barricade and into the seats. Phantasmo landed a Tornado-DDT but didn’t pin Sabre in time for the pin. Phantasmo driver nearly gives the Canadian a win, as did his theft of Sabre’s Zack Driver. Bullied by Sabre, Phantasmo fought his way to a comeback, with a Thunderkiss 85 seeming like a sure shot before Sabre drove his knees up. Following a nasty Zack Driver, Sabre’s spider-like reflexes wrapped his limbs around Phantasmo for an octopus-hold that tapped Phantasmo out.

Ren Narita defeated Shota Umino

(Narita’s always better outside of the grasp of House of Torture. It’s pleasing to know that is a constant, because it makes his other matches better.

Lurking on the outside, Narita soon saw himself laid flat on the floor. Playing possum while grabbing his worn knee, Narita reversed Umino’s fortune with tosses into the steel barricade. Reversing the momentum, Narita gained control of Umino’s wrist, bending it against the steel barricade. Narita worked the arm of Umino, wrenching it back, pulling it closer to out of socket. Fisherman Suplex and a STF failed Umino, but agonized Narita. Grounded, Narita pulled back as much as he could on Umino’s arm. After pulling Narita back into the ring for a STF, Umino was distracted by the ring bell, sounded by Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Swiftly evading Narita’s weaponry,

Using a board that Kanemaru gave him, Narita nearly struck Umino with a stick. Double cross rendered Umino further unconscious, yet still kicking. A flying knee stomp to the back of Umino’s skull ended the match in Narita’s favor.

Main event

Konosuke Takeshita defeated Shingo Takagi

(I didn’t think anything tonight would eclipse El Phantasmo versus Zack Sabre Jr, but Takeshita and Takagi stole the show. Ota became unglued and the atmosphere grew beyond electric. Not only did Takagi lose his breath, but I did too.

Locking up, Takagi and Takeshita’s strengths were evenly matched, leading to a test of wills. Takagi had an edge in his experience, but Takeshita’s prowess lent him a comeback, as seen with a flying shoulder-tackle. A diving senton took the breath out of Takagi. Sensing a Blue Thunderbomb, Takagi wriggled out of Takeshita’s clutches and flipped him with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Reading Takeshita like a book, Takagi goaded his opponent so he could dodge and down him with a DDT.

Using DDTs of his own, Takeshita landed Takagi nastily on his neck a few times. A Sliding Pumping Bomber bore down on Takeshita. An Exploder Suplex reawakened Takeshita’s chances, with a series of German Suplexes by Takagi. Pumping Bomber on the top rope plummetted Takeshita to the mat, but Takagi couldn’t win from his Made in Japan. Takeshita fell to a Pumping Bomber and a Last of the Dragon, but much to Takagi’s chagrin, neither could pin the Alpha. He burned Takagi with a Raging Fire, but he escaped to the ropes. In an epic closing sequence full of finishers and explosive moves, Takeshita choked the life out of Takagi’s breath. Eyes bulging madly, Takagi was fully ensnared in Takeshita’s rear-naked chickenwing; unwilling and unable to give in, the referee declared Takeshita the winner.

Tonight’s G1 Climax was not exactly full of bombastic spectacles, save for El Phantasmo versus Zack Sabre Jr and Shingo Takagi versus Konosuke Takeshita. Yet, because of these two matches, this show is recommended viewing.

NJPW G1 Climax 35 live results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. David Finlay

Posted on by Ryan Howard

A Block takes center stage today with five tournament matches in Ota on night five of the NJPW G1 Climax 35.

In the main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi faces David Finlay. Both wrestlers are 1-1 with 2 points thus far in the tournament. This is of course the final G1 for NJPW president Tanahashi, as he has announced that he will retire at Wrestle Kingdom in January.

Yota Tsuji and Ryohei Oiwa will square off in the semi-main event. Both enter the match with 2-1 records and 4 points so far. The winner will remain tied for the A Block lead following today’s show.

Taichi and EVIL will lock horns in another tournament matchup. Both are 2-1 with 4 points, and the winner will also remain tied atop A Block.

Yuya Umeura faces Callum Newman on today’s card, with both 1-2 with 2 points.

The tournament action today kicks off in the sixth match of the card with Boltin Oleg vs. SANADA. Oleg is 2-1 with 4 points, while SANADA is 1-2 with 2 points.

A series of tag team previews for Saturday’s B Block bouts fill out the first five matches of today’s show.

Our coverage will begin shortly after the show ends.

**********

Gabe Kidd Officially Withdraws from G1 Climax 35

Kidd came to the ring moving very gingerly on his bad knee and said he was hopeful to power through and continue the tournament, but the doctors said there’s no way he’s going to be cleared and withdraws from the G1. While this sucks, the positive is he’s received so much love from the fans and promises when he’s back, it’ll be the best version of Gabe Kidd you’ve ever seen and thanks the crowd again for their support.

Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI vs. United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young)

After a long stare down, O-Khan fired off one Mongolian Chop on Yoshi before he & Young attacked their opponents around the ringside area. Spilling into the crowd, O-Khan sat and posed on Yoshi before posting him before controlling Kato back inside. Kato managed to fire off a deep arm drag and that was enough for a Yoshi hot tag, laying out O-Khan with a Head Hunter. A brief back and forth of chops led to Young & Kato coming back in, Kato hitting a vertical suplex before feeding Young to Yoshi for a superkick. O-Khan broke the count, but had his leg dropkicked out by Yoshi. Leg lariat by Young flattened Kato and was followed up with a shotgun dropkick out of the corner for two. Jakob’s Ladder (Sliced Bread) connected and Young got the win.

Match Result: Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young defeated Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI when Young pinned Kato

Jado & El Phantasmo vs. TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr. & Hartley Jackson)

Sabre trash talked ELP’s gear before an early scramble saw ELP lounge in the corner until a forearm/uppercut exchange ensued. ELP caught Sabre with a dropkick and briefly double teamed with Jado, who took over, but immediately was trapped in a triangle arm bar in the ropes. Jackson continued targeting the arm, until Jado started no selling Sabre’s strikes, turning him inside out with a lariat. ELP tagged in with a springboard axe handle and Lionsault for two. Sabre blocked an enzugiri with an Ankle Lock, but there was a scramble, ELP nearly getting CR2, only for Sabre to roll through into a PK for the double down. Jackson made the tag, but ELP ducked a charging Sabre, who booted his partner. Sudden Death connects by ELP, as he rolled up Jackson for the victory.

Match Result: Jado & El Phantasmo defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & Hartley Jackson when ELP pinned Jackson

Tomoaki Honma & Shota Umino vs. House of Torture (Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

At least Narita & Kanemaru had the respect enough to attack right at the bell and not before, as they worked over Honma in the early going, keeping him isolated until he flattened Kanemaru with a DDT. Umino made the tag and charged Narita, who quickly bailed, so Kanemaru suffered corner strikes and fisherman’s suplex for two. Narita tripped the leg, long enough for Kanemaru to dropkick out the leg, try a double team, but Umino had is scouted and caught Narita with a dropkick. Umino sold his knee, as Honma tagged back in, tried a Kokeshi, but Narita dodged and sank in an arm breaker. Umino made the save with locomotion corner splashes and double suplex with Honma on Narita before assisting with the Kokeshi, which finally hit. Headbutt & lariat got Honma a near fall, as Kanemaru is seen taking a swig of whisky on the outside. He threw the ref into Honma, misting him, giving Narita a chance to waffle Honma with the pushup board to steal the pin. Post-match, Narita & Kanemaru continued the beating, nearly taking out Umino’s knee, but it was dodged, sending Narita high tailing it.

Match Result: Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tomoaki Honma & Shota Umino when Narita pinned Honma

Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi vs. Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero)

An early exchange with Takeshita & Takagi saw neither budging off shoulder block attempts before each dodged signature clothesline attempts, leading to a stalemate. Nagai & Romero tagged in, with Nagai hitting a shoulder tackle, then refusing to give up the pin attempt for three separate two counts. Takeshita briefly stared down Nagai from the apron, which was enough for Romero to attack and gain control. Nagai continued being isolated, including a deep squat suplex from Takeshita, before finally dodging a corner charge, sinking in a Boston Crab on Romero. Takeshita broke it up with a big boot, but Nagai didn’t back down, hitting a huge dropkick. Takagi & Takeshita slugged it out, until Takeshita fired off a home run right hand. Nagai got a series of roll-ups on Romero, who floated over a suplex, hit a Rewind Kick and sank in the Diablo Armbar for the submission.

Match Result: Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero defeated Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi when Romero submitted Nagai

A Block: Boltin Oleg (4) vs. SANADA (2)

(Another strong showing from Oleg, who continues to impress in his G1 Climax debut. Meanwhile, the SANADA Fit Check is real, folks, I can only describe him as a Create-A-Wrestler come to life, as he’s someone you give as many accessories for entrances and as whacky attire as possible.)

Running trend this G1 has been SANADA’s absurd entrance attires, as this one, I can only describe as Giant Gonzalez Chic, as it’s an airbrushed full body suit and a thong. Thankfully he’s not wrestling in that, as he attacked Oleg during his intro, but Oleg quickly ran through him with a shoulder tackle to the outside. SANADA dodged a Kamikaze, getting a drop toe hold throat first into the barricade. The match spilled into the crowd, leaving Oleg crawling back to the ring to beat the count, as SANADA was there to dropkick out the leg repeatedly. Oleg fought back with a suplex and huge running splash for a near fall, before hitting his Boltin Shake.

SANADA booted Oleg through the ropes, crotched him and hit a draping Magic Screw off the apron and another back inside before locking in Skull End. Oleg floated over, tried a lawn dart, but SANADA slipped out, tried a springboard dropkick, only Oleg moved and mowed him down for two. Series of reversals led to a missed low blow attempt by SANADA, who tried a moonsault out of the corner, but leapt into the clutches of Oleg, who hit Verdict. SANADA avoided Kamikaze with a Shining Wizard to the back of the head. Oleg blocked the second attempt into a Kamikaze to get the win.

Match Result: Boltin Oleg (6) defeated SANADA (2)

A Block: Yuya Uemura (2) vs. Callum Newman (2)

(Uemura continues to be my favorite of the new guard of NJPW, his matches, regardless of how where on the card, always seem to draw me in and get my interest. Newman has done a great job selling this G1 so far, his first few matches saw him sell his knee, while today, it was the arm.)

After refusing to give up the center of the ring for Uemura to do his entrance, Newman exploded out of the gates early, realizing his speed is going to be his advantage. The moment the match slowed, Uemura took advantage, targeting the left arm, leaving Newman to rely on his kicks to get back control. Newman tried to drive his own shoulder into the corner to set it, as a high kick to Uemura gave him time to recover. Oscutter 2.0 blocked as he leapt right into an arm breaker in mid-air by Uemura, leaving Newman scrambling for the ropes. Newman sent Uemura to the floor and hit a wildly impressive scale of the ropes and springboard double stomp to Uemura’s back.

Not wanting the count-out victory, Newman rolled Uemura back inside for another double stomp off the top for two. Corkscrew kick landed flush, but Uemura cut off a charge with a huge dropkick. Both traded charges, until Newman tried to throw a right hand, his bad arm, allowing Uemura to Gator Roll into a Deadbolt Suplex for the victory.

Match Result: Yuya Uemura (4) defeated Callum Newman (2)

A Block: Taichi (4) vs. EVIL (4)

(Your House of Torture special, which is the carbon copy of all EVIL matches for G1 Climax’s until it inevitably blows up in his face later in the tournament. It’s been going on so long, even if it includes who I think has been the G1 MVP, Taichi, I am almost entirely zapped of interest in matches like this.)

EVIL, Don Fale & Dick Togo attacked not only Taichi, but his young lion, Masatora Yasuda as well before the bell. EVIL would almost use Yasuda as a prop of distraction to beat down Taichi outside. Back inside, Taichi started no selling, so EVIL went to the eyes. Taichi avoided the ref distraction, decking Kanemaru off the apron, ripped his britches off, before being tripped up by Fale, allowing EVIL to regain control. Taichi scrambled, tried a Saito Suplex, but EVIL held onto referee Marty Asami, who had enough of his nonsense and slapped EVIL in the face. Taichi hit the Saito Suplex with a bridge, but only for a two count. Taichi went for an Axe Bomber, but EVIL pulled Asami in to take the bullet.

Togo attacked Taichi from behind, but Yasuda made the save. Trying to fight off Fale, who just stood there unphased. After easily dispatching of Yasuda, Fale wanted a Grenade on Taichi, who avoided and hip tossed Fale to the outside before knocking EVIL (who had a chair) off the apron to the outside. Fale threw EVIL back inside at 19, but Taichi met him with an Axe Bomber for two. Taichi missed another, Fale hit him in the back with a chair, allowing EVIL to hit an Axe Bomber of his own for two. Taichi no sold being sent into an exposed corner buckle, sending EVIL chest first into it, as he wanted Black Mephisto, but EVIL countered into the neckbreaker cutter for the win.

Match Result: EVIL (6) defeated Taichi (4)

A Block: Yota Tsuji (4) vs. Ryohei Oiwa (4)

(A much slower paced match you’d expect in the first half, but once it got going, it ramped up in a big way and the crowd were loudly into it. Both know each other so well, that everything the other would throw would be scouted, so ultimately, Tsuji had to pull out a completely new way to get the flash victory, as both continue looking strong in the tournament.)

Very even back and forth out the gate, as Tsuji trapped the arm and snapped it back, as that’s the body part he’s zoned in on. Oiwa dodged a baseball slide and worked a headlock ringside before driving Tsuji into the barricade. After breaking the count, Oiwa picked up the pace a bit, but Tsuji was there with a Facebreaker combo before going back to the arm. Tsuji wanted the Marlowe Crash, but Oiwa dodged into a suplex, but couldn’t follow up due to the arm issues. Both fought up in the ropes, as Tsuji connected on a sunset flip Liger Bomb for two. Tsuji tried firing off lariats, but Oiwa no sold and spiked Tsuji with a DDT. Headbutt crumbled Tsuji, who rose up with a smile on his face. While Tsuji missed a Curb Stomp, Oiwa looked to get just enough of his (which was about zero), went for a Doctor Bomb, but Tsuji popped him with a right hand and followed with multiple Curb Stomps.

Tsuji did the deal with a Falcon Arrow for two before snapping the fingers of Oiwa, following with a pump knee and Marlowe Crash. Oiwa managed to dodge a Gene Blaster, turning Tsuji inside out with a lariat, but with his bad arm. Rolling Germans from Oiwa, but Tsuji blocked Chaos Theory into a snap German and Gene Blast for two. Tsuji charged for another, but it was Oiwa who hit a Gene Blast for a one count, turned Tsuji inside out with a lariat, this time for two. Doctor Bomb connected flush, but again, Tsuji kicked out. Discus lariat missed, but Chaos Theory landed, only for Tsuji to kick out again. Oiwa maintained wrist control, but Tsuji was able to hit a sit-out backslide for a snazzy flash pin.

Match Result: Yota Tsuji (6) defeated Ryohei Oiwa (4)

A Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi (2) vs. David Finlay (2)

(Finlay is hell bent on being the best, but each hiccup makes that desire that much more difficult and it’s all about how he bounces back. This was Tanahashi’s 99th G1 Climax tournament win and I wouldn’t be shocked if Tanahashi either goes to the Finals or gets to 100 wins and that’s it. I’m glad he’s soaking in every possible moment in his final G1 Climax, he deserves all the flowers and admiration for what he’s done and continues to do for New Japan Pro Wrestling.)

Some early comedy, with each making their case to referee Red Shoes that the other pulled their hair, but Red Shoes was having none of it. Tanahashi hit a springboard cross body out the corner and low dropkick to Finlay’s leg, leading to a little air guitar. The delay allowed Finlay to return the favor with a dropkick, going after Tanahashi’s left leg. Finlay continued to keep Tanahashi grounded until the tables were turned and a suplex into the corner left Finlay clutching his leg. Somersault senton crushed Finlay for two, as Tanahashi leapt for Sling Blade, but Finlay caught him with a back suplex. Taking it to the outside, Finlay had Tanahashi in a fireman’s carry and just launched him into the post. Trying a powerbomb, Tanahashi countered with a hurricanrana into the post, leaving both men to beat the count at 19.

Forearm battle ramped up before Tanahashi changed levels with uppercuts until Finlay cut him off with a huge Dominator for two. Finlay wanted Into Oblivion, but Tanahashi countered into multiple Twist & Shouts and Sling Blades. Struggling to leap over the top, Tanahashi still hit Aces High and High Fly Flow, but Finlay kicked out. Tanahashi went for another, this time Finlay getting the knees up for the reset. Tanahashi charged into the corner, but Finlay caught him with multiple Into Oblivions, only for Tanahashi to kick out. Tanahashi no sold multiple back fists, so Finlay threw an uppercut headbutt that crumbled Tanahashi. Finlay wanted Overkill, but Tanahashi countered into a cradle for the flash pin and Finlay can’t believe it, he had a mini-tantrum out of frustration, but signaled to Tanahashi that he was this close to winning.

Post-match, Tanahashi thanked the crowd, hoping everyone shows up tomorrow, as this is his last G1 Climax and he’s standing in the ring with conviction and determination. Tanahashi said while he’s tired, he’s never too tired to be thrown the air guitar and tear it up for the fans. After a few solos and encores, Tanahashi smashed the air guitar and thanked them all again. Aaron Wolf was shown as one of the Young Lions and we get a shot of him nodding to Tanahashi, as we already know Tanahashi’s career will end at Wrestle Kingdom, while Wolf’s career begins. Despite this not being a very full crowd, you’d never have known it at the end, as every fan flocked to Tanahashi to high five, hug or simply wave to him during his exit.

Match Result: Hiroshi Tanahashi (4) defeated David Finlay (2)

A Block Standings:

  • EVIL 6 points
  • Boltin Oleg 6 points
  • Yota Tsuji 6 points
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi 4 points
  • Ryohei Oiwa 4 points
  • Taichi 4 points
  • Yuya Uemura 4 points
  • Callum Newman 2 points
  • David Finlay 2 points
  • SANADA 2 points

B Block Standings:

  • YOSHI-HASHI 6 points
  • Drilla Moloney 4 points
  • Shota Umino 4 points
  • Konosuke Takeshita 4 points
  • Ren Narita 4 points
  • Zack Sabre Jr. 2 points
  • El Phantasmo 2 points
  • Great-O-Khan 2 points
  • Shingo Takagi 2 points
  • Gabe Kidd (withdrawn) 0 points

Saturday July 26 in Tokyo:

  • B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Great-O-Khan
  • B Block: El Phantasmo vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • B Block: Shota Umino vs. Ren Narita
  • B Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Konosuke Takeshita