Tag: NJPW results

NJPW Road to KOPW live results: IWGP Junior title match

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW’s Road to King of Pro Wrestling tour continues today with an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match in the main event.

El Desperado will put the IWGP Junior title on the line against DOUKI in today’s Korakuen Hall show-closer. The two have met six times prior with Desperado holding a 5-1 career edge in singles competition.

Yuya Uemura takes on Yuto-Ice in the co-main event position today in without a doubt the highest-profile match of Yuto’s career since his return from excursion. The only time the two met prior was in 2021 when as a Young Lion, Yuto dislocated his elbow in a bout against Uemura.

Shota Umino and OSKAR square off in the other special singles match on today’s Korakuen card.

Four tag team bouts fill out the rest of the main show’s undercard, with another Young Lion tag bout set for the pre-show.

The pre-show kicks off at 5 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World with the main card set for 5:30.

**********

  • Masatora Yasuda & Zane Jay defeated Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima defeated El Phantasmo & Jado
  • War Dogs defeated House of Torture
  • House of Torture defeated Kuukai, Tiger Mask, Toru Yano, & Oleg Boltin
  • Hiromu Takahashi, Titan, Shingo Takagi, & Yota Tsuji defeated War Dogs
  • Shota Umino defeated OSKAR
  • Yuya Uemura defeated Yuto-Ice
  • DOUKI defeated El Desperado (c) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

Pre-show

Masatora Yasuda & Zane Jay defeated Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto

(Quite a bit of mention to Aaron Wolf during this showcase. With him being an Olympic athlete, the former judoka may well be worth hyping up come time he wrestles his first match at Wrestle Kingdom 20.)

Kato and Yasuda exchanged strikes, whereas Jay instantly found himself tackled and stretched by Kato and Matsumoto, respectively. He finally swung a comeback in a Sunset Flip + Boston Crab combination to Kato. Matsumoto took advantage of Yasuda’s taped up knee as he sunk in a Boston Crab. Yasuda returned the favor, leading to Matsumoto inevitably tapping out.

Post-match: Jay and Kato brawled on the outside, to which Aaron Wolf broke up.

Main Card

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima defeated El Phantasmo & Jado

(Murashima’s very energetic and fun. He injected life into this match, and has the right chemistry needed with Tanahashi.)

Phantasmo and Tanahashi battled for the Ace’s famous air guitar. Frustrated, Phantasmo pulled an air drum set from the apron and played it. Jado accompanied him while Murashima got carried away on his own air guitar alongside Tanahashi. The referee had enough of it and made them fight.

Jado’s experience and sturdiness halted any tackles Murashima could muster, allowing the veteran to elbow him to the mat. Phantasmo added further woe to the Young Lion, yet he ultimately escaped with a vertical suplex. Using his body weight, Tanahashi pushed the air out of Phantasmo’s body with leaps from the top rope. Despite Phantasmo targeting Tanahashi’s infamously bad left knee, he managed a Slingblade. Jado pulled out a weak lariat on Tanahashi. Murashima came to his partner’s aid, pouncing on Phantasmo. Murashima’s Powerslam and Tanahashi’s High-Fly Flow to Jado gave the Ace and his Young Lion the victory.

War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) defeated House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

(The plunder in this match was enjoyable, even comical. Speaking of, I’d be a little turned off by the finish if it weren’t so hilarious seeing SANADA just give up like that.)

In true House of Torture fashion, SANADA and Kanemaru ambushed War Dogs before the bell. Unfortunately for them, Connors and Moloney were prepared. Connors pulled out a tire, an actual tire, but Kanemaru prevented it getting any tread. Kanemaru and SANADA combined their efforts on Connors. SANADA distracted the referee by pointing to Moloney on the other side of the ropes, who didn’t do anything. He would later attack Moloney off the ropes.

Moloney tagged in, whalloping SANADA’s chest and thwarting a guitar shot with a low-blow. Having had enough of this, SANADA climbed into the stands, allowing the 20-count to expire. War Dogs took the victory, much to Moloney’s annoyance.

House Of Torture (Dick Togo, Don Fale, EVIL & SHO) defeated Kuukai, Oleg Boltin, Tiger Mask & Toru Yano

(Kuukai was the star here, despite House of Torture dramatics ahead of King of Pro-Wrestling. I’ve seen enough; give Kuukai all the Junior Heavyweight gold.)

Boltin chopped furiously at EVIL and delivered a belly-to-belly suplex. Togo and SHO attempted interception, instead suffering a double-suplex. Yano undressed the turnbuckle pad, only to see Fale tagged in, to his horror. Fale, displeased by Yano slapping the top of his head, charged through him. He followed this by pressing his weight on the comic relief. SHO hurled Yano into the exposed turnbuckle.

Kuukai tagged in, quickly earning applause with an overwhelming mixture of Japanese offense and lucha libre athleticism. Tiger Mask stretched SHO. Boltin worsened things for him with a Boltin Shake. Togo rescued SHO, yet Tiger Mask and Kuukai sent him into the crowd. Fale attacked Tiger Mask, lending SHO ample opportunity for a Shock Arrow, resulting in a pinfall.

Post-match: House of Torture haunted Tiger Mask’s limbs and kept Boltin grounded, forcing him to watch. Forcing a towel in his hand, they used Boltin’s unconscious hand to “polish” the belt for his upcoming match with EVIL on October 13.

Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, Titan, & Yota Tsuji defeated War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Gedo & Taiji Ishimori)

(Takahashi’s been on a tear, recently. His matches have been a stark improvement on the previous year or two of work despite his struggling knees and he shone in particular here.)

Tsuji and Kidd wrestled to a stalemate, with the former getting the upper hand. However, Kidd’s knees suppressed a Gene Blaster. Takagi met Finlay, proving too indomitable and tenacious in his power. Titan laid out Gedo and Ishimori with a Tope Con Hilo.

Gedo swung Takahashi in circles, using the black and red flowing hair. Takahashi got his revenge, swinging Gedo by his beard hairs. As his allies kept the War Dogs leashed outside, Takahashi obliterated Gedo with a knee to finish the match.

Post-match: Kidd and Tsuji brawled near the crowd, eventually traversing outside.

Shota Umino defeated OSKAR

(OSKAR’s presentation and performance added dramatic flair in this David versus Goliath epic. Though he lost, he’s every bit as intimidating as when he walked into this match.

After much back and forth with little leeway, OSKAR slammed Umino into the mat. Taking the abuse to ringside, OSKAR tormented Umino with chops. Camel Clutch engaged, OSKAR’s dominance continued. Seeing Umino crawl for a rope break, OSKAR denied him as he relented for a stomp. Umino broke this momentum with a bodyslam.

OSKAR fired back with a massive leg drop, leaving Umino winded on the mat. Weathering the full brunt of OSKAR’s pressed leg in the corner, Umino returned fire; each man unleashed cruel chops. Adrenaline ran thin for Umino, as he collapsed during the chop exchange. A second wind followed, with a DDT and ending with a Strike Knee. The towering OSKAR nearly choked the life out of Umino, leading to a frustrated slam.

Umino evaded a powerbomb with an unsuccessful Victory Roll. He fought out of OSKAR’s second sleeper hold to unleash a full force lariat. With a Second Chapter, Umino toppled the giant OSKAR, closing the book with a pinfall.

Yuya Uemura defeated Yuto-Ice

(The Knockout Brothers may have each lost on this night, but they’ve made star performances. Yuto-Ice nearly transformed into a babyface, becoming less of a brawler and more of a survivor. Uemura displayed an edge not seen much in his work, and it made for such a gripping watch.)

Yuto-Ice sent Uemura into the crowd early, throwing him across rows of chairs. Pushing the referee away, Yuto-Ice flung a wooden table at Uemura. Propping Uemura on said table, Yuto-Ice blasted his opponent’s head through it with a Bomboclat Knee. With blood trickling his elbow, Uemura climbed into the ring to break a 20-count.

A surge of energy burst through Uemura, as he fought back with a forearm and Slingblade. Unrelenting, Uemura rained an onslaught of chops to Yuto-Ice. Enraged, Yuto-Ice whittled down his opponent’s health with a series of kicks before adding pressure with the full brunt of his leg in the corner. Uemura absorbed Yuto-Ice’s chops, revealing a darker side to Uemura as he brutally elbowed and headbutted him. Sending Yuto-Ice down, Uemura maltreated him with an armbar; an eye poke broke the hold.

Korakuen Hall came alive as the pair traded forearms. Uemura lost the exchange but survived a Penalty Kick. Catching Yuto-Ice off-guard, Uemura cranked back on his arm, shifting his foe’s shoulder doing so. Yuto-Ice spat at Uemura, warranting a vicious arm hold. Unable to withstand any longer, Yuto-Ice tapped out.

Main Event

DOUKI defeated El Desperado (c) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

(I guess the only logical reason to end such a great Junior Heavyweight Championship regin would be to end it in the most controversial and displeasing way possible. That said, good for DOUKI. He put on an incredible performance. His chemistry with Desperado is off the charts. Given his aptitude for quality performances, House of Torture or not, it’s great to see him continue his reign after so long away from injury.)

Referee Red Shoes banished SHO from ringside before the match even began. Young Lions barricaded the doors in the hopes to prevent any House of Torture interference.

DOUKI wrestled Desperado with headlocks and slammed his face into the ring apron. Red Shoes pled with Desperado to stop slamming DOUKI into the ring posts, even yanking the ring bell’s hammer from his hands. DOUKI took advantage of this distracting to strike Desperado with the bell itself.

A few Swinging Neckbreakers rocked Desperado, who endured DOUKI’s stick tenderizing his jaw. The champion planted his challenger with a suplex to recuperate his jaw and neck. Despite his faulty left knee and Desperado’s quick reflexes, DOUKI hit him with a Daybreak DDT. This enabled him to lock in the DOUKI Chokey, which he kept firmly in the center of the ring. Swinging his free leg beneath the ropes, Desperado was at last free.

A modicum of control empowered Desperado with a Suplex de la Luna. DOUKI sought an enzuigiri, but his weak knee gave out. SHO burst from the Young lions with a wrench, stopping Desperado. Kuukai came to the champion’s aid, giving Desperado the chance to evict SHO. Desperado used the wrench on DOUKI, and he followed with a Pinche Loco. Red Shoes, caught earlier in the chaos, slowly crawled to the ring. SHO pulled him away. Striking Desperado with a wrench and a sheet pan, SHO rolled Red Shoes back to the mat.

Desperado fell unconscious to a weak DOUKI Chokey, leading to Red Shoes counting a knockout victory for the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

Post-match: As fans flocked out of the arena and English commentary vented their frustrations, SHO held DOUKI up and told the rest of the fans to go home.

Final thoughts

The early matches were come and go. Not bad. It’s the last three that bear watching. The prominence of Aaron Wolf earlier in the broadcast during the Young Lion tag match is refreshing; they’re warming him up ahead of Wrestle Kingdom 20 as they should. Kuukai impressed me in his multi-man tag, as did the Knockout Brothers in their singles matches. Desperado and DOUKI was a fantastic main event. I agreed with the winner, but disagreed with the finish. That’s what you get with a House of Torture win, though.

NJPW Destruction in Kobe live results: Sabre vs. Narita IWGP title match

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The IWGP World Heavyweight title is on the line in the main event of NJPW Destruction in Kobe today.

Zack Sabre Jr. defends the title against Ren Narita by way of Narita defeating Sabre in a non-title match in this year’s G1 Climax 35 tournament. Narita also holds a victory over Sabre from the 2024 New Japan Cup, and is 2-1 overall in singles matches against the champion.

Shingo Takagi challenges Gabe Kidd for the IWGP Global Championship in the semi-main event today. David Finlay and Yota Tsuji square off in a special singles match second from the top, their third singles meeting of 2025, each holding a victory over the other.

Hiromu Takahashi will defend the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori, Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii defend the IWGP Tag titles against Oskar and Yuto-Ice, plus Boltin Oleg defends the NEVER Openweight title against Don Fale in the night’s other championship matches.

Hiroshi Tanahashi wrestles Great-O-Khan for perhaps the final time in a special singles match second on today’s card.

The show opens with Shota Umino, YOSHI-HASHI, and Yuya Uemura taking on EVIL, SANADA, and Dick Togo in a trios bout.

**********

  • El Desperado, Shota Umino, YOH, YOSHI-HASHI & Yuya Uemura defeated House Of Torture
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Great-O-Khan
  • Oleg Boltin (c) defeated Don Fale for the NEVER Openweight Championship
  • OSKAR & Yuto-Ice defeated Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii (c) for the IWGP Tag Team Championship
  • Hiromu Takahashi (c) defeated Taiji Ishimori for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship
  • Yota Tsuji defeated David Finlay
  • Gabe Kidd (c) defeated Shingo Takagi for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
  • Zack Sabre Jr. (c) defeated Ren Narita for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Main Card

El Desperado, Shota Umino, YOH, YOSHI-HASHI & Yuya Uemura defeated House Of Torture (Dick Togo, DOUKI, EVIL, SANADA & SHO)

(Couldn’t have asked for a more exciting opener for tonight. I think there might be some magic in an alliance between Uemura and Umino.)

Narita joined DOUKI in assaulting Desperado that resulted in the latter two brawling outside. YOSHI-HASHI and YOH did the same to SHO; the former’s legs collided with the ring post courtesy of DOUKI and SHO. Chaos erupted, but Umino distinguished it, scoring a comeback with athleticism. SANADA hampered this with a dropkick to Umino and a low blow to Uemura.

EVIL rescued Togo after a failed Dick-to-Dick Contact, only to receive a double-dropkick by Uemura and Umino for his troubles. Uemura snapped Togo in for a hurricanrana, capturing him for a pinfall.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Great-O-Khan

(Condensed just right in a way believable to both Tanahashi and Khan’s strengths.)

Tanahashi confidently handled the opening lock-up, but Khan’s strength threatened this momentum. Targeting Tanahashi’s knees, Khan applied pressure for focused agony before slamming them to the mat. Mongolian chops softened the Ace’s shoulders.

A series of left and right hooks left Khan clutching his midsection. Tanahashi took advantage of this with a Slingblade and a failed High Fly Flow. Khan stole two Slingblades and held the Ace’s face in his Iron Claw. Tanahashi reversed this into a Fall in Love victory roll to snatch the victory.

Post-match: Kaito Kiyomiya from Pro Wrestling NOAH congratulated the Ace. He beckoned Tanahashi to visit NOAH on October 10 in Ryogoku at Wrestle Odyssey.

Oleg Boltin (c) defeated Don Fale for the NEVER Openweight Championship

(A tad bit unnecessary.)

Fale immediately and repeatedly threw Boltin down, even tumbling him out of the ring. Back on his feet, Boltin charged Fale, going so far ast to stagger him, before ultimately toppling him. A vertical suplex further gave Boltin momentum. Dick-to-Dick Contact from Fale, EVIL, and Dick Togo tormented Boltin. However, he saved himself with a Kamikaze for the 3-count pinfall.

Post-match: Togo wrapped Boltin’s neck in a choker. EVIL planted the retaining champ with Everything is Evil. He essentially demanded a match with Boltin in the future and demanded the production truck play his music.

Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defeated Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii (c) for the IWGP Tag Team Championship

(Kobe came alive for this match. Best match of the night so far. Heartbreaking loss for Taichi and Ishii, but a huge sign of endorsement for the recently returned Knockout Brothers.)

Ishii impatiently chopped Yuto-Ice and OSKAR. Taichi chopped down Yuto-Ice and kicked wildly at him. The Knockout Brothers coordinated their offense to wear Taichi down further. In the corner, Ishii endured Yuto-Ice’s onslaught of kicks and a bombaclat. Ishii commanded control with a German suplex, providing ample time for Taichi to grapple with the towering OSKAR.

Dazed after failing to charge Taichi, OSKAR collapsed following a kick to the head. A Dangerous Backdrop lent the War Dog enough passage to tag Yuto-Ice in. There, his fellow partner dropped to Ishii’s headbutt. OSKAR retaliated with a Big Boot, only for Taichi to throw himself in the line of fire. The Knockout Brothers reconvened to destroy Ishii with what Chris Charlton referred to as The Rumbling. Yuto-Ice capitalized with a kick to the sitting Ishii’s chest.

Taichi saved Ishii with an Axe Bomber to Yuto-Ice and Dangerous Backdrop to OSKAR. Ishii planted Yuto-Ice with a piledriver, to no avail. OSKAR threatened the champions’ comeback, and a well-timed kick from both quelled his usurping. Ishii lay crumpled by OSKAR and Yuto-Ice’s KOB, thus earning Knockout Brothers the championship.

Post-match: Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura stood at the entrance and strutted to the ring. On behalf of Uemura, Umino challenged the new champions for a future match.

Hiromu Takahashi (c) defeated Taiji Ishimori for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship

(Takahashi was in great form here, probably the best I’ve seen him in years. Ishimori continues to be an underrated part of the NJPW junior heavyweight division.)

Champion and challenger entered with a sprint, each transitioning from Tombstone Piledriver to Tombstone Piledriver. They spilled outside, and Ishimori planted Takahashi with a Spaceman Plancha. Concentrating his efforts on Takahashi’s shoulder, the Bone Soldier sent the champion into the barricade and into an exposed turnbuckle. Ever-swift, Ishimori overwhelmed Takahashi until a plant-out left the challenger prone on the mat.

For equal measure, Takahashi followed with a Falcon Arrow. Having caught Ishimori’s low-blow earlier, Takahashi inevitably fell victim to it but survived a Gedo Clutch. Worn, Ishimori landed a 450 Splash on Takahashi that seemed to harm him more than his target. Timebomb 1.5 flattened Ishimori. Bone Lock cinched in, Ishimori applied excrutiating pressure, stopped by a rope break. The damaged ribs from the failed 450 continued to bog down Ishimori as Takahashi hit him with the Time Bomb 2. The original, standard Time Bomb at last put away the Bone Soldier; Takahashi retained the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Post-match: Ishimori clutched the belt from the referee en-route to Takahashi and handed it over himself. Celebrating, Takahashi didn’t notice the creeping Eita. The NOAH challenger shocked him with a superkick. Eita challenged Takahashi for the title at October 11’s Wrestle Odyssey.

Yota Tsuji defeated David Finlay

(A nice and physical match. Tsuji and Finlay have had better matches, but by no means was this a stinker. Far from it. Finlay’s knee provided a compelling narrative, as did his wavering confidence in some of his moves.)

Finlay wasted no time, unloading fists on Tsuji. The opponents took their war to the outside, battling alongside the barricade and across the entrance ramp. Northern Irish Curse left Tsuji flat on the ramp while devastating Finlay’s knee. Driven by the desire to punish, Finlay’s dominance saw him flipped back into the corner. Finlay grasped the top rope, sensing Tsuji’s Frankensteiner incoming; try as he might to stop it, his neck and spine gave in for a disastrous landing.

Tussling back and forth, Finlay finally swung a comeback with a lariat. Exposing a turnbuckle, Finlay’s hubris came to bite him as he accidentally tackled the exposed blue steel. Tsuji dove between the ropes to drive the War Dog into the hard, unforgiving cobalt barricade onto production desks nearby. Finlay sent Tsuji flying into the exposed turnbuckle and sent him to the mat with a powerbomb to no avail. Tsuji’s fire rose with a German suplex in particular rattling Finlay.

Consecutive knees tenderized Tsuji, leading to a weak Overkill. Hoping for a fuller, stronger Overkill, Finlay instead lay dazed following his opponent’s Gene Blaster. Perching Finlay on the top rope, Tsuji hit him with the Guerrero Special, punctuated with one last Gene Blaster for the pinfall.

Gabe Kidd (c) defeated Shingo Takagi for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

(Brutal, pretty much what fans would want from a hard-hitting NJPW match. The wreckage of the tables, Desperado saving Takagi by grabbing the barricade, and the blood flowing from Kidd’s head and Takagi’s arm. If you’re looking for carnage, this is the match for you.)

Kidd and Takagi brawled before the bell even rung. They traded chair shots as though they were sword-fighting. Eventually they got into the ring to start the match.

Their war spread unto the emerald floor of the greater Kobe crowd. Blood flecked the face of Kidd beneath his right eye. The two traded chops, forearms, and lariats until Takagi lay defenseless on the apron. He endured a senton and a vertical suplex; El Desperado pulled the barricade back from the commentary desk to prevent Takagi’s landing on it.

Takagi flung Kidd over his shoulder, as the wrestlers dropped to the floor. Takagi told the referee his arm might be damaged. Returning to the ring, Takagi let loose a series of elbows to Kidd’s bosom. The lacerated wound of Tagkagi was on full display. Southpaw lariat kept Kidd laying on the mat. A back-and-forth exchange of Exploder Suplexes left each man reeling on the cerulean mat. Hurricanrana from the ropes and a Southpaw Lariat gifted Kidd with hope and control of the match.

Kidd, who set up a couple of tables outside, fell victim to a Made in Japan through those same small wooden structures. So devastated was Kidd’s carcass that he barely avoided the 20-count by one second. Takagi greeted him with a powerbomb. A Burning Dragon left Kidd lifeless momentarily; he rose to stop a Pumping Bomber with a piledriver. Takagi hit a poisonrana on Kidd, who answered with a lariat. Kidd finally won this hard-fought bout with a Drill-A-Hole Piledriver.

Post-match: Kidd and Takagi showed each other respect as Yota Tsuji strutted to the ring. He challenged Kidd for the Global Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro-Wrestling on October 13.

Zack Sabre Jr. (c) defeated Ren Narita for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

(In what I’m sure will be a hot take, I feel the House of Torture interference added to the match. Sabre’s knee and pride put him through so much woe. Technical wrestling is already a highly involved aspect of pro wrestling, so telling a layered story about a hero on top of that made this a mad chess game. Narita’s technical proficiency added to the proceedings, showing sides of who he was when he first took on Sabre at Wrestle Kingdom 17.)

Naturally technical wrestlers, Sabre and Narita danced delicately with holds and submissions. A rope break gave the champion reprieve, but they went back at it. Narita kicked Sabre’s knee, tearing the bandage wrapping it, exposing the flesh. Sabre hit a suplex for the cover as the announcer echoed a reminder of the 60-minute time limit.

Following some ringside action, Sabre draped himself on the ropes as his legs clutched Narita’s arm. The challenger used this to his advantage by dropping Sabre to the apron. Once more centering on Sabre’s weak knee, he pulled it into the barricade. Distracting Referee Red Shoes Umino with one chair, he struck the champion’s softened knee with a second chair into the barricade. Sabre yanked Narita’s face as pressure was applied to his knee on the turnbuckle.

Narita hoped to trounce the champion with a slam, but fell to a DDT. A European Uppercut returned Narita to the mat again. The challenger had brief momentum, soon losing it due to a dropkick. Sabre exposed Narita’s flesh, removing his black shirt. Bridging a suplex, Narita later lay in a hellish STF.

Yujiro Takahashi came to ringsid,e distracting the referee so Narita could use his signature House of Torture bar weapon to terrorize Sabre’s limbs. Leglock initiated, Narita teetered with the champion who desperately searched for a way out, any way out. Despite his unwillingness to do so, Sabre eventually reached a rope break. Narita walked the referee to the corner so Takahashi could haunt Sabre. This didn’t work as Sabre took him out quickly.

Miraculously grabbing a comeback, Sabre pulled Narita’s arms back with his legs, wrapping his hands across the chin. Before the referee could check on Narita’s status, SANADA pulled him out. Sabre ducked from Takahashi’s incoming stick and freed himself from captor SANADA. Thus, the House of Torture goons accidentally took themselves out of the equation. Young Lions escorted the intruders to the back. Narita struck Sabre with a low blow,, landing a Double Cross; no referee was available to call a pinfall. With a Zack Driver following a prolonged tussle, Sabre at last retained his championship.

Post-match: Sabre addressed his upcoming match with Konosuke Takeshita at King of Pro-Wrestling and everyone who had doubted him.

Final thoughts

The championship matches delivered, as did the Tsuji/Finlay match. Promoting NOAH’s Wrestle Odyssey added to the extracurricular factor. While I wish Takeshita were present to address Sabre, it’s understandable as he’s embroiled in Don Callis Family action in AEW.

The biggest takeaways will be the Uemura/Umino alliance, Knockout Brothers becoming the tag team champions, and Gabe Kidd closing his trilogy with Yota Tsuji at King of Pro-Wrestling.

NJPW Battle Line Hokkaido results: Two title matches

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The road to NJPW Destruction continues today with the final night of the Battle Line Hokkaido tour featuring two championship matches.

El Desperado defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against YOH in today’s main event. YOH has won three out of four against Desperado in their singles encounters, but the one loss was in an IWGP Junior title match back in 2021.

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles are on the line in the semi-main event with House of Torture’s DOUKI and SHO defending against the Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita).

A Hiroshi Tanahashi singles match kicks off the main card, with Tana taking on Master Wato in singles competition for the first and likely last time in his career.

A series of multi-man tag bouts fills out the remainder of the undercard.

The pre-show match with two teams of Young Lions squaring off begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World.

**********

Results

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Master Wato
  • Great Bash Heel defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Shoma Kato & Tiger Mask
  • Oleg Boltin, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura defeated House Of Torture
  • Taichi, TAKA Michinoku, & Tomohiro Ishii defeated War Dogs
  • War Dogs defeated Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji
  • House of Torture (SANADA, Yujiro Takahashi, & Ren Narita) defeated TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr, Hartley Jackson, & Ryohei Oiwa)
  • House of Torture (SHO & DOUKI) defeated TMDK (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
  • El Desperado (c) defeated YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

Main Card

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Master Wato

(Quick and simple. Nothing more than it needed to be, but Wato was in good form there. A brief story of a hungry younger man working to succeed over a legend.)

Tanahashi countered Wato’s hold, driving him down to the mat with a headlock. Soon, Wato targeted Tanahashi’s knee with a dropkick. Tanahashi writhed his way through Wato’s headscissor leglock. A Slingblade and senton freed the Ace from Wato’s momentum.

Sleeper Slam courtesy of Wato halted another Slingblade. He followed this with a springboard European uppercut from the top rope. Tanahashi’s Twist’n’Shout quelled Wato’s control of the match. Wato struggled to unleash a German suplex, but inevitably he dropped Tanahashi with it. This lent him opportunity for a dive, but the Ace countered it with a Slingblade.

Another Slingblade by Tanahashi, giving way to two High Fly Flow for the pinfall.

Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) & Toru Yano defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Shoma Kato & Tiger Mask

(Sometimes matches like these are great vehicles for Young Lions to show the promise they have, but it didn’t feel like Kato had much of that time. That said, Taguchi’s comedic spots were effective. The spotlight was moreso on Tiger Mask’s impending Summer 2026 retirement, and he had a proper showing.)

Taguchi, Kato, and Tiger Mask blasted off at the ding of the bell to assault their opponents. Kato was fired up during this. Yano prevented Kato from slamming his face into Taguchi’s bottom, as he did the same with Tiger Mask. Yano and then Makabe spanked Taguchi as he moaned uncomfortably and in pain.

Taguchi had enough, as Honma was the last to take advantage of his posterior. Tiger Mask became legal, and he promptly engaged Honma’s left side in an armbar. Honma’s Rocket Kokeshi sent Tiger Mask to the mat. Kato tagged in for a spirited display, dispelling most of what Makabe’s experience could muster. Despite help from Taguchi, Makabe kept the Young Lion grounded in an unforgiving Boston Crab until he tapped out.

Oleg Boltin, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura defeated House Of Torture (Dick Togo, Don Fale & EVIL)

(I like this alliance of Boltin, Umino, and Uemura. They feel like babyfaces so easy to root for.)

Fale and Boltin collided, with the latter’s raw strength staggering the wall of Fale. He even briefly picked him up! Togo and EVIL worked Boltin’s left arm. Boltin won an exchange of chops, leaving EVIL unable to tag in Fale as Umino approached. Unleashing a torrent of chops and forearms, Umino punished EVIL and Togo expeditiously.

Dragon Screw Legwhip nearly lost EVIL control of the match. But thanks to helpful padding usage by Togo, he was saved while Umino hit the later exposed steel of it. Uemura became legal, leading to he and his partners colliding with an unfortunate Tog oin the corner. EVIL broke up the combined offense to isolate Uemura. He and Fale left Uemura vulnerable to Togo’s Dick-to-Dick Contact. EVIL clutched the referee to give Togo ample time in choking out Uemura with a belt. A hurricanrana via Uemura kept Togo down for the 3-count.

Post-match: The House of Torture brawled with this babyface alliance. Boltin chased them off, boasting his NEVER Openweight Championship.

Taichi, TAKA Michinoku, & Tomohiro Ishii defeated War Dogs (Gedo, OSKAR, & Yuto-Ice)

(OSKAR and Yuto-Ice were presented as threats, giving particular shine to Taichi who has had many a great performance this year.)

OSKAR & Yuto-Ice sent Taichi and Ishii into the crowd, opening Gedo to bully Michinoku. Yuto-Ice succeeded this with knees to Michinoku’s midsection and a Bomboclat. A double-eye poke incapacitated Michinoku and Gedo.

Ishii was undeterred by Yuto-Ice’s confident dominion. He even survived OSKAR’s Knockout Bomb for a Taichi-assisted German suplex. Measuring close to OSKAR’s height, Taichi delivered a series of Kawada Kicks. Despite OSKAR’s size and youth, Taichi drove him down with more kicks. OSKAR extinguished Taichi’s fiery comeback with a powerslam. However, Taichi got the win over Gedo courtesy of a superkick.

Post-match: The War Dogs assaulted the winners, leaving them prone and defenseless. Taichi leveled the field to stand tall.

War Dogs (Gabe Kidd, Taiji Ishimori, & David Finlay) defeated Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji

(A lot of fun, this was. Ishimori and Tsuji were the MVPs of this match. Even so, this match excellently sold Sunday’s IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship match between Kidd and Takagi.)

Ishimori began things with Takahashi with a strike exchange that transitioned to a fast-paced spot. A hurricanrana go the better of Takahashi. Finlay had less luck with Tsuji with help from Takagi, yet Kidd buffered this.

Kidd and Takagi brawled into the crowd behind the Japanese broadcast booth as the crowd dispersed that area. Ishimori lent a tenderized Tsuji to Finlay for some kicks. Kidd took his turn on Tsuji, but a Quebradora con Giro (Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker) took the wind out of his sails. Takagi fared less beneficial, but eventually swung a comeback with a lariat.

Ishimori held Takahashi at bay with a Death Valley Bomb and a shoulderbreaker. Takahashi countered a Bone Lock with a Falcon Arrow. Finlay attempted to join the fray, but Tuji curb stomped him. Takagi, Takahashi, and Tsuji united for an all-out front on Ishimori. War Dogs interfered. Ishimori struck Takahashi with a low blow and a Gedo Clutch to secure victory for the War Dogs.

Post-match: Takahashi challenged to defend his GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship against Ishimori at Destruction. Whoever wins that match defends the title against challenger Eita at an upcoming Pro Wrestling NOAH event.

House Of Torture (Ren Narita, SANADA & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

(A bit of a slog to get through with all the interferences, and the finisher left nothing as far as NJPW standards go. That said, Oiwa and SANADA were the stars of this match.)

Oiwa gained the upper hand with subsequent dropkicks to Takahashi. Jackson added his weight to the mix. Oiwa and Sabre proceeded to work Takahashi’s left arm, with the latter continually winding it up. Jackson used that work to reel Takahashi in for a suplex. Takahashi found reprieve through biting Oiwa’s hand.

Narita and SANADA brought Jackson and Sabre into the crowd; Takahashi slammed Oiwa’s face into a steel chair’s hard seat. Narita softened Oiwa on the outside for SANADA. Sabre caught Narita and unleashed suplexes, unable to clutch a Zack Driver. Sabre kept calm as Narita pulled him in for a rear-naked choke. Both men pulled out moves from Sabre’s catalogs of techniques.

Jackson bowled over House of Torture members to set up a Jagged Edge on SANADA. TMDK and House of Torture members traded finisher and techniques, soon leaving Jackson and SANADA where they left off. Jackson splashed SANADA with a Flying Crossbody. Narita distracted the referee with a stick, while SANADA snuck in his guitar, knocked on it, tossed it to Jackson, and threw himself on the mat for a distraction.

House Of Torture (DOUKI & SHO) (c) defeated Ichiban Sweet Boys (Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

(SHO and DOUKI are too good to be in the House of Torture, much less engage in their shenanigans.)

Eagles and Fujita withstood a House of Torture ambush as the bell rang, with the latter landing a moonsault on SHO at ringside. They took off two of SHO’s shirts (he laughed at the first one being removed). Fujita held SHO in a Camel Clutch, setting Eagles up for a dropkick.

DOUKI and SHO drove Eagles into the ring post and assaulted Fujita. Despite DOUKI’s best efforts, he couldn’t keep Fujita down. SHO restrategized, targeting Fujita’s already compromised midsection from earlier in the match. Though worn and weary, Fujita flew with a kick to flatten DOUKI.

Eagles burst in with the comeback, toppling DOUKI and SHO with kicks. He missed a Warp 4.5, as SHO sent him into the turnbuckle and suplexed him back to the center. SHO hit Eagles with a Piledriver. SHO pulled the referee in to stop Eagles’s motion, leading a united front with DOUKI on the TMDK member. Tilt-a-whirl courtesy of Fujita hurled DOUKI. Fujita followed this with a springboard dropkick.

SHO blasted Eagles with a steel chair and assisted DOUKI in a powerbomb. A DOUKI-chokey had to be applied twice to no avail. Eagles returned to action with a tope, positioning the opponents for Fujita to mow them over with a dive. Eagles saved Fujita from a sheet pan strike from SHO. Abandon Hope and Thrillride promised to put DOUKI away, but a roll-up and a tights-grab from DOUKI signified title retention for the House of Torture.

Main Event

El Desperado (c) defeated YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

(YOH had been a very hard sell for me for a while, but this match singlehandedly changed that. Desperado at this point in his career seems mythical, with his iconic mask and litany of scars adorning his body. But YOH’s timing was on point, and that 1-count made him feel all the more dangerous to Desperado’s insane run.)

Desperado held an early advantage with some strong holds, but ultimately relinquished it after a rope break. A side headlock from Desperado soon transitioned to YOH. The Hokkaido audience rallied behind a tope from YOH. Desperado grew annoyed by YOH tauntingly striking him softly. YOH flailed about once Desperado ground his knee upon his.

Desperado agonized YOH with a leglock, only relenting a few seconds into a rope break. YOH escaped his torment with a DDT to Desperado. Overconfident, YOH almost fell prey to a Numero DOs, saved only by a rope break. He crawled again from a single-leg Boston Crab. YOH prevented a Desperado comeback with a backbreaker that devastated masked opponent’s head and his own knee. Hokkaido was fully behind YOH here. Desperado attempted another Numero Dos, but his neck caved.

The champion crushed YOH with a spinebuster and Guitarra de Angel, yet YOH persisted. YOH asked for more punishment, and Desperado obliged with forearms to his neck. The pair danced through hold transitions, the final step being YOH’s Anaconda Vice locked firmly. YOH flung his body into a lariat with a disastrous thud to the champion. Spearing his challenger, Desperado hit a Pinche Loco, to which YOH kicked out at the 1-count. He wore YOH down some more for one last Pinche Loco, and it made all the difference as Desperado retained his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Post-match: A cloaked DOUKI greeted Desperado on the ring apron, flanked by House of Torture members. Challenging for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, DOUKI was met with Desperado mocking the need to be joined by his stable. He accused Desperado of wasting the relevancy of the Junior Heavyweight belt. Desperado retorted that with every match he put on, he’s since elevated the title. DOUKI implied Desperado wasn’t a real champion for not accepting the challenge, and that he and SHO have elevated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship anyway.

Final Thoughts

Desperado’s title defense is the big thing to come out of tonight. That said, Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori’s match for the GHC title on Sunday is interesting on its own. Most of the multi-man tags were fun, aside from House of Torture matches. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match did have quite a few high spots, but ultimately left a bad taste in my mouth.

NJPW Road to Destruction live results: NEVER Six-Man title match

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW’s trios titles are on the line in the main event of today’s Road to Destruction event at Korakuen Hall.

Toru Yano, Master Wato, and YOH defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship in the featured match, facing Hiroshi Tanahashi, El Desperado, and Ryusuke Taguchi.

A 10-man tag featuring faction versus faction is in the semi-main position, with TMDK’s Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles, Kosei Fujita, and Hartley Jackson facing House of Torture’s SHO, Yujiro Takahashi, SANADA, DOUKI, and Ren Narita. Narita will challenge Sabre for the IWGP World Heavyweight title at Destruction in Kobe on September 28.

Four more multi-man tag bouts fill out today’s undercard, but Young Lions Tatsuya Matsumoto and Zane Jay will square off in today’s opener. Jay and Matsumoto have faced each other nine times, with each bout ending in a time limit draw.

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

**********

  • Zane Jay versus Tatsuya Matsumoto ended in a time-limit draw
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask defeated Katsuya Murashima, Masatora Yasuda & Shoma Kato
  • Oleg Boltin, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura defeated House Of Torture
  • War Dogs defeated Daiki Nagai, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji
  • War Dogs defeated Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Tomohiro Ishii
  • House Of Torture defeated TMDK
  • Master Wato, Toru Yano & YOH (c) defeated El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi

Main Card

Zane Jay versus Tatsuya Matsumoto ended in a time-limit draw

(Some promise between both men, sell-wise. Jay’s legs and Matsumoto’s left arm made for a bit of drama in this opener. I appreciated El Phantasmo and Chris Charlton mentioning the reason why Young Lions can’t wear elbow or knee pads until graduating and how it affects their in-ring.)

Both Young Lions wrestled to a stalemate. Jay grappled Matsumoto over his shoulder and worked his opponent’s left arm. He then moved onto Matsumoto’s leg for a period before returning to that arm. Matsumoto’s turn earned him a modicum of control over Jay’s leg as he locked in an Achilles’ Hold. A frantic crawl to the ropes broke Jay’s Fujiwara Armbar. Jay wrenched Matsumoto’s arm for a standard Armbar, which he couldn’t maintain. The pair brawled, with Jay’s forearm laying out Matsumoto. Overconfidently talking trash, Jay fell prey to a kneebar. Matsumoto followed this with a dropkick and a single-leg Boston Crab. Time ran out in the match, resulting in a draw.

Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) & Tiger Mask defeated Katsuya Murashima, Masatora Yasuda & Shoma Kato

(Yasuda and Kato show promise, but man, Murashima stands out. Visually, his size gives it away, but the way he moves and delivers upon it is incredibly satisfying.)

Yasuda cornered Tiger Mask, throwing his right forearm to the chest. Tiger Mask kicked him in the midsection, with Honma capitalizing with a series of chest slaps. Kato overwhelmed the veteran with elbows. Tiger Mask clenched his fingers across Kato’s jaw in a fully-engaged Camel Clutch.

Murashima made the hot tag, quickly wore down Honma, and took down his partners. Makabe leaned on the turnbuckle in a daze as Murashima catapulted Kato and Yasuda into him. Honma and Tiger Mask softened Yasuda up for Makabe’s lariat, ultimately lending them the win.

Oleg Boltin, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura defeated House Of Torture (Dick Togo, Don Fale & EVIL)

(As a big Oleg Boltin fan, this felt more like a Yuya Uemura spectacle once his hot tag came around. He came across as unstoppable. It’s hard to not think of him as the future main character of New Japan Pro Wrestling.)

To no one’s surprise, House of Torture ambushed their opponents. This resulted in Fale initially getting the upper-hand on Boltin, but true to his nature, the Kazakh wrestler quickly gathered momentum. Naturally, interference by Fale’s partner quelled this. EVIL worked Boltin’s left arm, expertly crafting a Hammerlock hold.

Umino dropped EVIL to his knees and dropkicked Togo outside. He unwisely attempted to bodyslam the girthy Fale, but baited him over the top rope instead. EVIL faltered this comeback with an eye rake prior to uniting with Togo to render Umino flat on the mat. The fans rallied behind Uemura’s hot tag, cheering as he picked apart Togo. He transitioned a deep arm drag transitioned into an armbar to tap Togo out.

Post-match: Fale and EVIL bullied Umino and Boltin. A level-headed Umino held Boltin back.

War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Gedo & Taiji Ishimori) defeated Daiki Nagai, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji

(Almost a nothingburger, yet still fun to watch. I say almost, as the storytelling with Takagi, Takahashi, and Tsuji riding with Nagai quietly continued. The Young Lion had a fiery display that had this underdog charm.)

The War Dogs swarmed the Unafilliated group to the outside, with Finlay and Tsuji starting things off in the ring. Fortunately for Tsuji, Takahashi joined him, allowing himself to be planted on a horizontal Finlay. Ishimori spun Takahashi over his shoulders so swiftly that each man staggered dizzily. Gedo took advantage of Takahashi’s vulnerability, which almost resulted in Takahashi “tagging in” Finlay. Ishimori cut Takahashi from his partners more by laying him out and kicking him down onto the mat.

In a flash, Takahashi recovered, pouncing Ishimori so he could make a tag. Takagi met Kidd in the ring’s center atop the NJPW logo as they traded forearms and chops. Outside the ring, Kidd blasted Takagi with an Orihara Moonsault. Nagai plummetted Kidd with a Spinebuster, following suit with a Boston Crab. Tsuji came ot his aid amid a Finlay interruption, leaving the Young Lion alone with the bald War Dog. Kidd dismantled Nagai with a piledriver and a Drilla Killa, delivering the War Dogs a victory.

War Dogs (Clark Connors, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defeated Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Tomohiro Ishii

(As a vehicle to sell the importance of Yuto-Ice and OSKAR’s return to NJPW, this did its job. Their Shawn Michaels/Diesel dynamic immediately helps them fit into the War Dogs.)

Yuto-Ice and OSKAR battered Ishii. Connors grabbed a tire from under the ring. Ishii charged at Connors after momentarily gaining control, only to be lsammed onto it. Further adding agony to the Stone Pitbull, Connors choked him with a chain necklace.

Ishii found the spirit to fire back, suplexing OSKAR for a Taichi tag. Yuto-Ice ignorantly traded kicks with Taichi, with the latter benefitting from the exchange. OSKAR foiled this comeback with a bodyslam; Ishii and Michinoku were equalized by the reach of his kicks. Yuto-Ice and OSKAR ragebaited Taichi. Ishii attempted to save him, but Connors dragged him outside for a beatdown. Taichi began another comeback with a lariat to Yuto-Ice. Michinoku tagged in, suffering the illegal Connors; his knee sent the War Dog rolling to ringside.

Michinoku suffered a Penalty Kick via Yuto-Ice. Taichi had to be choked out. OSKAR held Ishii up for a kick from Yuto-Ice. The pair finished things off with a K.O.B. to Michinoku as Yoto-Ice pressed on him for the pinfall.

House Of Torture (DOUKI, Ren Narita, SANADA, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

(For better or worse, ZSJ and Narita are wrestling soulmates; I think they’ll be doing this as “forever” as possible.)

Narita insulted TMDK and the Tokyo crowd for quite an extended period until Eagles told him to shut up. When the bell rang, Eagles unleashed an agile and spirited front. Fujita allied with him to keep not only Narita at bay, but an interfering Takahashi as well. Oiwa planted Takahashi with a Brainbuster. Jackson joined him for some short-range splashes on the tenderized Takahashi.

House of Torture dragged the TMDK members across Korakuen Hall, isolating them for their own specific beatdowns. Sabre engaged in a technical display against Narita, each man speedily countering the other. Narita escaped a Cobra Twist by fingering Sabre’s eyes. The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion’s slaps weren’t enough to break a leg hold, leading to him humbly yet bitterly reaching for a rope break. Jackson, now legal, charged inwith the full force of his indomitable body.

DOUKI incapacitated Jackson before handing the baton to SHO before they both fell victim to the energetic Eagles and Fujita. Oiwa cancelled SANADA’s guitar shot and paid the price with a cane to the back by Takahashi. Narita chopped him down like a tree with a Hell’s Guillotine for the victory.

Post-match: Narita and Sabre brawled across Korakuen Hall’s arena. In whole, House of Torture assaulted all of TMDK, leaving no survivors.

Main Event

Master Wato, Toru Yano & YOH (c) defeated El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi for the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship

(Taguchi brought all the levity that Yano otherwise would’ve shared. He brought his comedic A-game, from the mortified look at Desperado’s back to accidentally slamming Tanahashi’s face into his bottom in repetition for a gut-bustingly long time. Yano’s crash out was surreal to watch, and it reflected in the crowd’s unsettled reaction. Outside of all that, this trios match was a blast to witness. Watch for the action and the storyline threads coming out of it.)

During the challengers’ entrance, Taguchi appeared hilariously appalled by the horrifying visage of Desperado’s heavily scarred back.

Desperado tangled with YOH, with the former getting the better of each exchange. YOH scrambled away from Desperado’s clutches and escaped with a Neckbreaker to his masked opponent. Yano, annoyed, met Tanahashi in a stalemate. The Ace and his partners overwhelmed Yano. Taguchi mistakenly hit Tanahashi with his Funky Weapon, exposing his underwear doing so, thinking he was attacking Yano. YOH wound up a haymaker during this, but Taguchi did this for so long that he just gave up and watched.

Taguchi ran the ropes with his pants around his knees, somehow managing to down YOH and clutch him for an Ankle Lock. At last, he pulled his pants up. Tanahashi wrapped his legs around Wato’s, leaving him writhing into a rope break. Taguchi teased an attack to Wato’s nether regions, but instead tied him into a figure four leglock. Tanahashi further weakened Wato’s knee on the rope. All three challengers ganged up on Wato’s prone body.

(Tonight’s Road to Destruction show did all it needed to for a Road To show. The matches were concise, fully aware of what they needed to be.)

YOH fired back with dropkicks to everyone on the opposing team. His plancha left Desperado reeling outside. Desperado swung a comeback for his team with some knees and a side suplex, but YOH’s Falcon Arrow spun the match back in his favor. Removing the pad, Yano sent Tanahashi into an exposed turnbuckle, yet failed to powerbomb the Ace. Tanahashi earned a moment of respite with a Slingblade. Taguchi gave trouble to Wato with hip attacks, but YOH collaborated with Wato for a combined suplex. Yano stopped a double Canadian Destroyer via Taguchi and Desperado.

The challengers charged at Wato in the corner. Taguchi struck him iwth a Bomaye while Tanahashi flew over the top to the champions on the outside. Wato survived a series of rolleups for a bridged suplex pin that bore no fruit. An exhausted and anguished Wato devastated Taguchi with a Recientemente for the pinfall.

Post-match: Yano assaulted Tanahashi. He dragged him to the outside, slamming him into the barricade, battering him with chairs. The crowd grew silent and still as they parted from their seats amid the carnage. The Ace was dragged to the outside. Desperado, YOH, and Wato watched awkwardly as Taguchi lay still, probably unsure of what just happened. YOH and Desperado shared a staredown, teasing their match on September 24.

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.

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  • 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 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.

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– 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

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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.

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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.

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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: 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: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great-O-Khan

Posted on by Corey Michaels

Four B Block matches are set for today’s NJPW G1 Climax 35 event in Hiroshima.

In the main event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. faces Great-O-Khan. It’s the fourth career singles meeting between the two, with Sabre winning all three previous matchups. O-Khan is part of a four-way tie atop B Block with 8 points, while Sabre has 6 points in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Block.

Drilla Moloney and his 8 points face Konosuke Takeshita and his 6 points in today’s semi-main event in a first-time singles meeting between the two.

Shingo Takagi takes on El Phantasmo in another tournament bout on today’s show. Both are tied for eighth place in B Block with 4 points. Shingo has won two out of three previous singles meetings with ELP.

YOSHI-HASHI and Shota Umino square off in today’s first tournament matchup. YH has 8 points, while Umino has 6 points.

Five tag team bouts previewing the next A Block matchups round out today’s undercard. The show begins at 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World.

**********

Main Card – Tag Team Matches

Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Jakob Austin Young)

(Yano is underrated when it comes to matches like these: playing the fool so well that everyone thinks his comedy is part of the act, but it lets him outsmart others. That’s the secret of where the genius of his character lies. Also, though quite brief, the momentary exposure of Boltin and Newman leaves tomorrow’s A-Block matches enticing; it’ll be interesting how these young foreign NJPW talent fare one-on-one.)

Newman started off with some momentum against Boltin after some kicks, but a shoulder tackle and a Boltin Shake shook him off. Young equalized Yano and joined Newman in overwhelming Boltin. Yano tore the turnbuckle pad and threw it at Young. Feigning hurt against the exposed turnbuckle, Yano used Young’s momentum during an Irish Whip to drop and roll him up for the pin.

TMDK (Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa) defeated Masatora Yasuda & Taichi

(Yasuda’s brilliance is budding, as seen in this match. Jackson selling for him despite being monstrous held the idea that the rookie could chip and tear at the beast to one day slay him. Good stuff.)

Evenly matched, Oiwa and Taichi wrestled to a stalemate. Hiroshima cheered Yasuda on as he attempted a flip on Jackson. Despite suffering the full weight of Jackson falling on him, Yasuda avoided Oiwa with a hurricanrana and dropkick.

Though their partners wrestled to another standstill, Yasuda gained some offense with high dropkicks on Jackson, and ate a burning lariat for his efforts. Jackson dropped courtesy of Taichi and Yasuda’s unified vertical suplex.

Jackson’s senton may have crushed Yasuda’s midsection, but his Jagged Edge gave him the pinfall over the Young Lion.

Shoma Kato & Yuya Uemura vs. House Of Torture (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

(Soon, Milano is going to have enough and beat somebody up if people keep involving him in their matches. The way the match went, in storytelling structure, it seems Uemura might triumph over SANADA tomorrow in the A-Block matches.)

A callous SANADA battered Uemura, dragging him into the crowd (and through Milano Collection, again). Abandoned for a hopeful 20-count, Uemura sprinted to beat the timer. Kato may have started with spirit against Kanemaru, but the veteran was wiser and merciless in his approach, dropping the upstart repeatedly on the mat.

Locking in a Boston Crab, Kanemaru dragged Kato into the center. Pulling back and sinking low, he forced a tap-out by the Young Lion.

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima defeated Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji

(Some nice levity to this match. The flex-off, Murashima having too much fun with the air guitar, it added to the fun. Tanahashi and Tsuji should have a nice match tomorrow. Tonight reads that we’ll see the Ace pass the torch to another Reiwa Musketeer.)

Following a flex-off, Tanahashi’s seasoned expertise saw him topplle Tsuji with a flying crossbody. The Ace and Murashima then teamed against Nagai; Murashima was so amped up about it that he got carried away with the air guitar pose that Tanahashi had to calm him back down.

Several spiteful chops and a dropkick by Nagai wore down on Murashima. Using Murashima’s momentum against him, Nagai planted him with a Spinebuster. Murashima barreled into a comeback, pouncing on Nagai. Tanahashi intercepted Tsuji with a Dragon Screw Legwhip. Together, Tanahashi and legal man Murashima held Tsuji and Nagai in Boston Crabs; Murashima sank his Crab in deeper upon a crawling Nagai to tap him out.

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

(Thankfully a short House of Torture match. However, credit where it’s due, the aftermath of the Bullet Club Civil War added to the match’s drama, especially in those closing moments.)

No time was spared in this match, as EVIL and Finlay reignited their Bullet Club war to the Hiroshima crowd. Don Fale played equalizer, taking out Finlay on the outside. Togo and EVIL tormented Gedo, where Fale joined them. Gedo pounded Togo with a Fistdrop. Togo ripped away the turnbuckle pad and EVIL whipped Finlay into it.

Fale and Togo held Finlay down as he locked eyes with EVIL who tapped Gedo out with a Darkness Scorpion.

G1 Climax B-Block Matches

Shota Umino defeated YOSHI-HASHI

(Hiroshima loved this one and I appreciate it as well. Umino’s quietly been putting on classic G1 performances, contrasting his rough early 2025.)

YOSHI-HASHI withstood Umino’s early fire, sending him across the barricades. Increasingly confident, YOSHI-HASHI fell victim to Umino targeting his knee. Basement dropkick by YOSHI-HASHI brought Umino’s trajectory to a screeching halt.

Umino applied pressure to an STF, to which YOSHI-HASHI could barely crawl out of. YOSHI-HASHI planted Umino with a Canadian Destroyer. A right-handed lariat cut the head off of YOSHI-HASHI, with a knee to drop him. YOSHI-HASHI reversed Umino’s Northern Light’s Suplex with a DDT. After an intense trade of lariats and kicks, each more devastating than the last, Umino pinned YOSHI-HASHI after a Second Chapter.

Shingo Takagi defeated El Phantasmo

(After a solid opener, Takagi and ELP elevated the show with a classic. Starting with goofy banter, the pair quickly heated up the scene with a display that left Hiroshima in applause.)

Phantasmo interacted with the audience for an extended period, soon wearing out Takagi’s patience. Tijeras courtesy of Phantasmo flipped Takagi over, giving way to offense on the blue steel guardrails at ringside. Takagi’s right hand stopped Phantasmo’s floaty offense with a quick yet effective punch. He flipped the Canadian with a Driver onto the ring apron.

While Takagi did incur a Step-Up Enzuigiri, he delivered a Pumping Bomber. Unidentified Flying Opponent sent Takagi crashing back down. The heat of the match began to boil, as Takagi planted Phantasmo with Made in Japan. Phantasmo swung a comeback with a Poisonrana and a CR2. Failing a Sudden Death, Phantasmo soared from the top rope but narrowly suffered a sliding Pumping Bomber.

CR2 by Phantasmo was reversed into poisonrana, followed by a Pumping Bomber. Takagi stole a CR2, hit Phantasmo with another Pumping Bomber, and sealed the deal at last with a Last of the Dragon.

Konosuke Takeshita defeated Drilla Moloney

(The match was already a great watch, but that final stand fueled on pure rage and hate elevated this. Moloney embodied a protagonistic fire and spirit that made it all the more heartbreaking when Takeshita stopped his endeavors.)

Moloney and Takeshita immediately went to war, soon spreading to the audience and into the chairs surrounding. Takeshita endured chops and promptly downed Moloney with a stiff forearm. Moloney barreled Takeshita out of the ring and into the barricade. Exploder suplex by Takeshita stopped Moloney’s control, with a Brainbuster providing additional damage.

Takeshita rolled out of the way of an elbow drop, resulting in Moloney landing loudly and painfully on the mat. Blue Thunderbomb by Takeshita added more salt in the wound. Moloney slammed Takeshita with a Spinebuster, and succeeded with a fruitful Elbow Drop. Invoking the name of the injured Gabe Kidd, Takeshita incurred Moloney’s wrath that ended with a powerful lariat. Takeshita survived a Drilla Killa, ending the match in a Raging Fire for the win.

Main Event G1 Climax B-Block

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Great-O-Khan

(What an excellent, unique showcase! Sabre had to cut away Khan’s most powerful asset, his arms, to take the win from Khan. Had he not have succeeded in wearing down Khan’s arm, Sabre would not have eked out this victory. Khan’s matches have this flair of an unstoppable force, but in this, his kryptonite cracked his skin. This is the ruthless Zack that should have had his defenses since his first NJPW World Heavyweight Championship reign.

Cautiously dancing around the other, Sabre and Khan grappled to a few impasses. Even when they got physical, they were evenly matched, with both men working the other’s arms and both men falling after boots to the faces at the same time. Khan implemented his Claw during a Cobra Twist. Sabre grounded Khan with a cross-armbar.

Finding a sweet spot in Khan’s left arm, Sabre battled with Khan for control until a back suplex broke his hold. Sabre prevented Khan’s Mongolian Chops but wound up slammed mid-air and flung around like a ragdoll.

Firmly ensnaring his limbs around the arm of his opponent, Sabre was raised up and slammed. The aches of the arm-targeting were evident in Khan’s half-Mongolian Chops to Sabre. Enduring strikes in succession, Khan brought his forearm into Sabre’s midsection, momentarily downing him. Bristling past Sabre’s Tornado-DDT, Khan blasted him with an Eliminator. Following an unsuccessful Zack Driver, Sabre held Khan in an armbar.

(Each B-Block match tonight brought something new that told a different story, each of which still commanded full attention. Heading over halfway into the tournament, and everyone is becoming more pronounced in their viability as a potential finalist. As I type this, I’m finding myself changing my favorites to win.)

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.)