Tag: shingo takagi

NJPW Road to Castle Attack results: Ibushi & Nagata vs. LIJ

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi & Yuji Nagata 

Report —

Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Yuya Uemura defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado (8:57)

This wasn’t good, but I’ll say this for Jado — he’s moving much better than he has in recent years. 

Jado and Uemura began as the legal men. Goto and YH stopped G.O.D. from interfering. Jado hit a tackle and cut Uemura off. G.O.D. brawled with Goto and YH on the outside. Bullet Club spent several minutes working on Uemura. 

Uemura came back with a dropkick and tagged Goto. Goto hit a bulldog for a near fall on Tama. Goto and YH double teamed an interfering Tanga. YH got a tag and got triple teamed by G.O.D. and Jado. Jado hit a draping DDT for a near fall. 

Uemura stopped Jado from using a kendo stick as everyone jumped in at the finish. YH hit a lariat for a two count, then used the butterfly lock to submit Jado. 

Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yota Tsuji (9:28)

This was paint-by-numbers. 

United Empire attacked while Tanahashi was posing on the ropes during his entrance. Tenzan and Ospreay ended up the legal men. After a short triple team on Ospreay, Tenzan found himself on the wrong side of the ring and being worked over by United Empire. 

O-Khan taunted Tenzan with Mongolian chops. Cobb joined in and hit Tenzan with Mongolian chops. Ospreay tagged in and hit some as well. Tenzan came back with a wheel kick on Ospreay. 

O-Khan and Tana got tags. Tana hit a high cross for a near fall. They traded strikes. O-Khan blocked a slingblade and used a kneebar. Tana forced a break. Cobb tagged in and was hit with a dragon screw. Tana tagged out to Tsuji. 

Tsuji used a dropkick on Cobb. Cobb was tripled up on. Tsuji hit a splash for a near fall. Cobb got rolled up for a two count and placed in a crab. Cobb forced a break. 

Cobb hit a spin cycle for a two count. All six men were in. O-Khan used a claw to drag Tana to the floor. Cobb then hit Tour of the Islands for the pin. 

SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI defeated Yujiro Takahashi, El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori (9:55)

I’m not advocating for these Road to shows to be longer, but with about five extra minutes this could have been a good match. Instead, it was a standard house show undercard tag that felt too quick. 

Ishimori and ELP tried to double team BUSHI at the opening bell. BUSHI and Hiromu fought them off. Yujiro caught BUSHI with a boot from the apron and Bullet Club turned this into a ringside brawl. 

Back in, Ishimori teased going after BUSHI’s mask. Yujiro tagged in for more of the same. ELP tagged in for some of his comedy spots. Ishimori and ELP tagged in and out and continued the assault. 

BUSHI made a tag after a step-up enzuigiri on ELP. Hiromu got a hot tag and took on Ishimori and ELP 1-on-2. He hit a double shotgun dropkick and avoided ELP’s airplane spin neckbreaker. 

SANADA and Yujiro tagged in for the closing sequence. Each bit the other’s hand.Yujiro hit a basement dropkick and fisherman buster for a two count. SANADA avoided Miami Shine and landed on his feet off a suplex. LIJ hit a triple dropkick. 

ELP, Ishimori, Hiromu and BUSHI brawled to the floor. SANADA used Skull End with a body scissors for the submission win. 

ELP gave Hiromu and ELP t-shirt after the match. That was kind of him. 

EVIL, Jay White, Chase Owens & Dick Togo (w/Gedo) defeated Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & SHO (14:28)

This was the best match on the show to this point. 

Bullet Club kicked the ring announcer out of the ring as CHAOS made their entrance, but the cameras missed it. Bullet Club wisely retreated out of the ring as CHAOS entered to avoid a sneak attack before the bell. 

All eight brawled around the ring. Owens again teased a strap match with Yano, using the strap on the outside. Yano ended up getting a Bullet Club beatdown in the ring. EVIL sent him into an exposed buckle. Owens tagged in and repeated the spot with a second exposed buckle. 

Owens attached himself to Yano with the strap. The referee untied them after a couple of comedy spots. Ishii and White tagged in. Ishii was sent into the turnbuckle. SHO entered for a double team and hit a jumping knee strike. Ishii used a powerslam. 

White avoided a vertical drop brainbuster and hit a DDT after an intricate series of counters and teases between the two. White hit a DVD. Ishii came back with a vertical suplex. 

Okada and EVIL got tags. Okada hit a running back elbow. EVIL dumped Okada over the post to the floor and Okada landed awkwardly. EVIL went after Okada’s left leg. EVIL ducked a Rainmaker and avoided a dropkick. Okada avoided Darkness Falls. EVIL hit a misdirection lariat. Okada hit a DDT. 

SHO and Togo tagged in and had a very nice exchange. CHAOS went 4-on-1 against Togo. EVIL jumped in for the save and hit Everything is EVIL on SHO. He then took out Okada with a lariat. 

With SHO down after taking EVIL’s finisher, Togo covered SHO for the pin. 

White and Gedo choked Ishii with a scarf after the match. EVIL put Okada in the Darkness Scorpion. Owens attacked Yano with the strap. Bullet Club stood tall. 

Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi defeated Kota Ibushi & Yuji Nagata (16:26)

Naito and Ibushi began the match with mat work, as they did yesterday. It was very good and different than anything that anyone in the promotion is doing right now aside from Sabre. Their grappling ended in a stalemate. 

Nagata and Shingo tagged in. Naito entered for an illegal double team to help Shingo gain the advantage. Naito went after Ibushi on the outside and sent him into the barricade. Naito tagged in for a long chinlock on Nagata. 

Shingo fired off some short, taunting strikes to Nagata. Nagata fired up and hit a kitchen sink. Ibushi and Naito got tags. Naito worked on Ibushi’s left leg with a low dropkick and other kicks. Ibushi hit a mid kick and standing moonsault for a near fall. 

Naito escaped a last ride attempt. Naito hit another low dropkick and did a weird delayed sell of an Ibushi mid kick to set up a double down. Shingo tagged in and continued to target the left leg. Ibushi hit a snap rana and tagged out. 

Nagata hit a boot in the corner and a suplex for a near fall. Shingo blocked another boot and hit a dragon screw. Nagata fought off a figure four and landed a series of kicks. Naito hit an exploder. Shingo answered with a lariat. 

They traded strikes. Nagata missed an enzuigiri and Shingo hit a sliding lariat. Naito cut off a tag to Ibushi from Nagata and hit a combinacion. Nagata blocked Destino and used a Nagata Lock. Shingo broke up the hold with elbows. Ibushi entered, but Naito took out his leg with a dropkick. 

Naito used a jackknife cradle for a near fall as Ibushi saved. Naito then hit Destino for the pin and mocked Nagata’s salute as he held the pin. 

Naito closed the show with a promo. 

New champion crowned at NJPW The New Beginning in Nagoya

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Hiroshi Tanahashi is the new NEVER Openweight champion.

Tanahashi defeated Shingo Takagai to win the championship for the first time tonight. After thirty minutes of a back and forth contest, Tanahashi scored the pinfall win following two high fly flows. 

After the match, Tanahashi cut a promo and even played air guitar. He was about to say his signature catchphrase to end the show when The Great-O-Khan came out and attacked Tanahashi and laid him out with the dominator, indicating that he was next in line for the title. Tanahashi had to be helped to the back as the show ended.

This ends the reign of Takagi, who held the championship for 84 days. He defeated Minoru Suzuki for the title at Power Struggle on November 7.

The Great-O-Khan was victorious in his match tonight, defeating Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the exclusive rights to the mongolian chop move that Tenzan is well known for.

NJPW Road to The New Beginning results: Final build to Nagoya

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & SHO vs. SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi 

Report —

Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask & Yota Tsuji defeated Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Gedo & Jado (9:03)

This was a wild brawl to begin the show. 

Bullet Club cut Tsuji off early and the bulk of the match was spent working him over. Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor. ELP and Ishimori hit their comedy offense. 

ELP hit a series of cartwheels and flips for no reason. He ultimately left the match and joined commentary. 

Tiger Mask got a hot tag and cleaned house with kicks and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ishimori blocked a Tiger Driver and hit a handspring kick. Gedo tagged in and got hit with the Tiger Driver instead. 

Nagata got a tag. He hit Gedo with kicks. He teased an exploder, but Jado saved for Gedo. Jado used a kendo stick on Nagata. Gedo grabbed brass knuckles, but Tsuji speared him. 

Nagata won by submission with the Nagata Lock. 

Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima went to a no-contest with Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) (2:23)

Tenzan and Kojima came to the ring with chairs. Ospreay and O-Khan cleared out of the ring. Priestley ran in and hit low blows on Kojima and Tenzan. 

Ospreay threw a table in the ring. Kojima hit Ospreay with a cutter. Kojima and Tenzan teased a cuter through the table, but O-Khan saved. 

Ospreay challenged Kojima to a no-DQ match at The New Beginning in Nagoya on Saturday. Kojima appeared to accept, but the match was not officially announced. 

Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahahsi & Dick Togo (10:44)

Togo and Okada started the match. Goto tagged in and got tripped by EVIL from the floor and Bullet Club turned this into a brawl, as they proceeded to work virtually the identical match that they have every night of this tour. 

Goto got cut off and worked over in the ring. Yujiro exposed a buckle, tagged in, then threw Goto into the buckle. Goto came back on EVIL with a whip into the buckle and a Saito suplex. 

Okada tagged in and hit EVIL with strikes and a running back elbow. Okada hit an air raid crash neckbreaker for a near fall. 

Okada went for the Money Clip, but Togo jumped on the apron for a distraction. EVIL hit a mid kick and used a Darkness Scorpion, but Okada forced a rope break. 

Yujiro got a tag. Ishii tagged in and ran wild on Yujiro and Togo. Bullet Club jumped in to aid Yujiro. EVIL hit a fisherman buster. Yujiro hit a sliding dropkick for a two count. 

Yujiro brought his pimp cane in while EVIL took the referee. Ishii ducked the cane, but Yujiro hit an Angle slam for a near fall. Ishii blocked Pimp Juice. Goto choked Yujiro from the apron. Okada nailed EVIL and Togo. Goto hit an ushigoroshi on Yujiro. 

Ishii then connected with a sliding lariat and the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin. 

Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI defeated Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato (13:11)

Naito took his time getting to the ring. He has been working for his own amusement on this tour. 

Honma and Wato attacked just before the bell. Naito used a jackknife cover to try to steal a pin on Honma, the same hold he pinned him with yesterday, but Honma kicked out. 

Wato and BUSHI got tags. Wato hit a series of kicks. Honma tagged in and began to work on BUSHI. BUSHI and Naito doubled up on Honma, then turned this into a brawl around ringside. Honma ended up being worked over in the LIJ corner. 

Honma came back on Naito with a vertical suplex. Wato and BUSHI got tags and the pace quickened. Wato hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. BUSHI hit a dropkick to the leg and started working on Wato’s right knee. They traded strikes. Wato ducked a rewind kick and hit a high kick. 

Honma tagged in and hit some chops. Honma missed a kokeshi. BUSHI tagged Naito. Naito hit a back elbow, a dropkick and a neckbreaker for a two count. Honma ducked a swing and hit a kokeshi. Honma and Wato doubled up on Naito. Honma hit a diving kokeshi for two as BUSHI saved. 

Wato and BUSHI brawled to the floor. Honma hit a DDT and a lariat for a near fall. Honma teased a Michinoku Driver. Naito escaped. BUSHI jumped in. Wato caught Honma with a kick by mistake. 

BUSHI hit a backstabber to Honma, then Naito used the jackknife cradle for the pin. 

Naito held the cradle for more than a minute after the three count, adding insult to injury. Wato and BUSHI had a quick pull-apart after the match. 

Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & SHO vs. SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi ended in a time limit draw (30:00)

This was a really good main event and easily the best thing on the show. 

Tanahashi and Shingo started with a quick chain wrestling sequence. SHO and Hiromu tagged in and had a brief, intense battle. SANADA and Ibushi got tags and slowed things down. They worked some holds. SANADA teased a dragon screw. Ibushi hit a dropkick and gave his team the edge at the 5 minute call. 

Tana tagged in and hit SANADA with a slam and an elbow drop. Tanahashi got a cobra twist applied. SHO tagged in and went after SANADA’s left arm. LIJ jumped in to save SANADA. After a brief brawl on the outside, SHO ended up cut off in the ring. 

Hiromu hit a dropkick for a two count. Shingo tagged in and stomped at SHO’s left leg. Shingo teased a cloverleaf to SHO to taunt Tana. Shingo went after Tana on the apron. SANADA tagged in and used the paradise lock. 

SHO hit a backstabber to Hiromu and a kitchen sink to SANADA. Tana tagged in and hit a dragon screw and somersault senton for a two count. Ibushi tagged in and hit a running mid kick and a standing moonsault. SANADA came back with a hurricanrana and a plancha for a near fall at the 15 minute call. 

SANADA used an O’Connor roll to set up a Skull End attempt. Ibushi escaped and hit a dropkick. SHO got a tag and got hit with a back suplex. Hiromu tagged in for a sequence with SHO. SHO hit a series of kicks and got a two count. 

SHO hit a vertical suplex. LIJ tripled up on SHO. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger. Tana saved for SHO. Hiromu blocked a SHO spear. SHO hit a German suplex and a spear. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Shingo and SANADA saved. Hiromu escaped another Shock Arrow attempt at the 20 minute call. 

Hiromu and SHO traded strikes. SHO got a kimura applied. Hiromu rolled through and hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad. SHO avoided Time Bomb. They traded lariats. Hiromu hit a belly-to-belly throw into the buckle. 

Shingo and Tanahashi got tags and traded strikes. They continued to trade at the 25 minute call. Shingo blocked a slingblade. Tana hit twist and shout. Shingo blocked another slingblade and hit his own twist and shout. Shingo escaped a dragon screw and hit a sliding lariat. 

Shingo hit a dragon screw. Shingo used a powerbomb and a single-leg crab. Ibushi saved. Ibushi and SANADA brawled to the floor. Tana hit two dragon screws and locked on a cloverleaf. Hiromu broke it up. 

Shingo blocked another slingblade. Tana hit slingblade for a two count. Tana hit Ace’s High. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick to Tana. SHO hit a jumping knee to Hiromu. SANADA hit SHO with a dropkick to the knee. Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick to SANADA. Shingo hit a German on Ibushi. 

Shingo and Tanahashi traded strikes. Tana hit a slingblade. Shingo hit a lariat for a near fall as Tanahashi kicked out at the 30 minute call. 

All six guys were down in the ring at the finish. 

Tanahashi and Shingo cut promos on each other after the match. 

NJPW Road to The New Beginning results: The tour continues

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Tomoaki Honma & SHO 
  • Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato vs. SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI 

Report —

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI defeated Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask & Yuya Uemura (10:06)

This was a fun brawl to kick off the show. The highlight was the interaction between Suzuki and Uemura. 

The Suzuki-gun side attacked before the opening bell. The babyface side was able to withstand the attack at first. Uemura and Suzuki brawled outside and Suzuki sold big for Uemura with his facial expressions. 

Tiger Mask got cut off in the ring after a pipe shot from DOUKI while the referee was distracted. Makabe got a hot tag and hit ten punches and a northern lights suplex on Suzuki. Suzuki used a Fujiwara armbar. The two traded strikes. 

Uemura and Desperado tagged in for the closing sequence. Uemura got a couple of near falls off quick cradles. Desperado used the ref as a distraction to set up his illegal right hand and a Pinche Loco for the pin. 

Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan went to a no-contest with Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (3:39)

This was a continuation of the finish of last night’s match between these two teams and more of an angle than a match. 

No Bea Priestley tonight for United Empire. 

O-Khan threw the ref out of the ring before Tenzan and Kojima had even entered. O-Khan and Ospreay attacked as Kojima and Tenzan made their way to the ring. 

All four brawled on the outside. The referee lost complete control. O-Khan and Tenzan got in the ring and traded chops. Ospreay entered with a chair and hit Tenzan. The ref waved off the match. It was ruled a no-contest for whatever reason rather than a DQ. 

Ospreay and O-Khan brought a stack of chairs into the ring. Kojima made the save for Tenzan with a chair and United Empire made a united retreat. 

EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo defeated Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (10:14)

This was practically the same middling undercard tag that some combination of opponents have had with this Bullet Cub trio on every night of the tour, only Bullet Club came away with a win tonight. 

Yujiro began with Goto and tried to get the advantage with biting. Okada and YH saved and they did some comedy. Togo and EVIL cleared the CHAOS apron. 

EVIL used YH’s staff as a weapon on Okada. Yujiro hit Goto with his pimp cane. Togo choked YH with a camera cable. Okada got a hot tag and made a comeback on Yujiro. EVIL and Yujiro cut Okada off. Okada hit a big boot to EVIL and tagged YH. 

Goto and YH hit some tandem offense on EVIL. EVIL took the ref. Yujiro jumped in with his cane. Togo choked YH with his ligature. EVIL hit Everything is EVIL and pinned YH. 

Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Tomoaki Honma & SHO (17:00)

If you’ve been watching the entire tour, then this match rewarded you for paying attention as it paid off the Naito/Honma interactions that have been going on. If not, enjoy the Hiromu/SHO stuff. 

LIJ immediately turned this into a brawl around ringside. Honma missed a kokeshi on Naito in the ring and Naito and Hiromu sent their opponents into the barricade repeatedly. Honma ended up cut off in the ring. 

Naito used a crucifix on Honma on the mat while Hiromu kept SHO away. Honma forced a break and hit a vertical suplex. SHO and Hiromu got tags and went a thousand miles an hour. SHO hit a spear and a series of lariats. The two had a long striking battle. Hiromu hit a pop-up powerbomb into a double down. 

Naito and Honma tagged in and brawled. Naito teased a top rope frankensteiner but Honma escaped. Hiromu entered for a double dropkick and a near fall. Honma hit a diving kokeshi to Naito. SHO and Honma doubled up on Naito and Honma hit a cannonball for a two count. 

The finish was unique. Naito hit a step-up enzuigiri. Hiromu jumped in to hit a thrust kick. Naito then used a jackknife cradle on Honma and pinned him. 

Naito and Hiromu did some goofing off after the match that was pretty entertaining. 

Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato defeated SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI (16:26)

This was a good main event that picked up steam as it went along after a slow start. 

Ibushi and SANADA began with a sequence of chain wrestling that was not particularly inspired. Both fought off attempts at the paradise lock. Ibushi hit a dropkick and tagged out. Wato knocked BUSHI off the apron and then hit a sloppy backbreaker on SANADA. 

Tanahashi tagged in to face SANADA. Shingo tripped Tana from the floor and the LIJ rout was on. All six brawled around ringside. Shingo and Tana ended up back in as the legal men. Tana was cut off in the LIJ half of the ring. 

Shingo and Tana traded strikes. Shingo got the upper hand. Tana hit a dragon screw but Shingo no-sold and tried a pumping bomber. Tana ducked and hit a second dragon screw and Shingo sold the impact of both. Shingo tagged out. 

Tana tried to cradle SANADA. Ibushi tagged in for a mid kick and a standing moonsault for a near fall o his next challenger. SANADA busted out the leapfrog dropkick and hit Ibushi with a plancha. Back in, SANADA used a TKO threat to set up a Skull End attempt. Ibushi hit a high kick and both fell down. 

Wato and BUSHI got tags. Wato used a dreamcast for a near fall. They traded kicks. BUSHI hit a rewind kick. Wato hit a jumping knee strike. They traded palm strikes. Wato hit another dreamcast before tagging Tana back in. 

Tana dispatched an interfering Shingo with a slap. Shingo and SANADA climbed back in to triple up on Tana. BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall. SANADA and Ibushi, Shingo and Wato brawled to the floor. 

Tana hit a twist and shout, slingblade, then used a cloverleaf. Shingo teased breaking the hold with a pumping bomber. Wato was supposed to hit him with a springboard forearm but slipped coming off the ropes. Wato saved as well as he could, then hit Shingo with a forearm and a 619. 

With the cloverleaf still applied, BUSHI tapped out. 

Tanahashi, Ibushi and Wato played air guitar to close the show.

NJPW Road to The New Beginning results: Six-man tag main event

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) vs. Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji 
  • Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, SHO & Master Wato

Report —

This was the quickest show of this loop at roughly 110 minutes. 

**********

Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji (8:36)

There was some good action in this one as Ospreay worked the bulk of the match for his team. 

Kojima and Tsuji attacked before the opening bell. Tsuji was quickly cut off when O-Khan grabbed an anaconda vice. O-Khan worked Tsuji over with his wacky offense. Ospreay tagged in and continued the attack. 

Kojima got a tag and hit machine gun chops to Ospreay. O-Khan blocked a top rope elbow attempt from Kojima. Ospreay hit Kojima with pip pip cheerio. Kojima blocked a Storm Breaker attempt and took Ospreay down with a cutter. 

Tsuji tagged in and hit a back bodydrop and a vertical suplex on Ospreay for a near fall. He followed with a splash for another two count as O-Khan made the save for Ospreay. O-Khan and Kojima exchanged Mongolian chops and rolled outside. 

Ospreay hit a bloody sunday on Tsuji. Kojima broke up the ensuing pin attempt. Tsuji connected with a spear to Ospreay. Ospreay blocked a slam attempt and hit a hook kick and an Oscutter for the pin. 

O-Khan did his United Empire roll call promo after the match. 

Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Gedo & Jado defeated Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (10:42)

This was the third garbage brawl between these teams in as many nights and the worst match of the bunch.  ELP’s loaded boot was again the story of the bout. 

Kanemaru fell victim to the loaded boot after Bullet Club attacked before the bell rang. Bullet Club isolated Kanemaru and worked over his abdomen. Suzuki tried to save but got sent outside by Gedo and Jado. 

ELP and Ishimori did a lot of their comedy offense. Kanemaru managed a low dropkick to Gedo and tagged Suzuki. Suzuki hit a penalty kick on Gedo for a near fall. 

Jado saved for Gedo. Suzuki put Jado in a Fujiwara armbar. ELP saved for Jado. Suzuki blocked a shot from ELP’s boot and put him in a kneebar. ELP rolled outside. Desperado tagged in and got hit with a kendo stick from the floor. 

Ishimori tagged in and hit a seated senton on Desperado. Kanemaru jumped in for a double team. ELP got a tag and stomped on Desperado with the loaded boot. DOUKI tagged in to set up the closing sequence. 

DOUKI hit Daybreak for a near fall, but Ishimori made the save for ELP. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Jado entered with a kendo stick. DOUKI brought his pipe into the ring. 

ELP hit a superkick with the loaded boot for the pin. 

Suzuki put Jado in an armbar on the floor after the match, just for giggles. ELP and Ishimori briefly posed with the IWGP Jr. Tag belts after the win. 

EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo defeated Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (11:51)

This was a fine little brawl. Goto looked especially good here. 

Bullet Club used a jumpstart attack and sent Okada and YH outside while they worked on Goto. Goto made a heck of a comeback and beat on all three Bullet Club guys. Togo tripped him from the outside to shift the momentum back in Bullet Club’s favor. 

They brawled around ringside. EVIL used a chair to choke Okada. Goto was worked over for several minutes. Goto and Yujiro hit simultaneous lariats into a double down. Okada got a tag and hit some signature offense on Yujiro. EVIL tagged in and got hit by an Okada air raid crash. 

YH tagged in. YH and Goto hit EVIL with some tandem offense, including a thrust kick into an ushigoroshi. The match broke down and everyone jumped in for a big move. YH used a lariat and a butterfly lock on EVIL. Togo jumped on the apron with a chair for the distraction save. 

EVIL hit a low blow and Everything is EVIL on YH for the pin. 

SANADA & Tetsuya Naito defeated Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma (13:07)

Ibushi and SANADA began by locking up. Ibushi broke cleanly against the ropes. Ibushi gained the advantage with a mid kick, then tagged Honma. Ibushi jumped back in for a double team. Honma and Ibushi missed a double kokeshi, allowing LIJ to take control of the bout. 

Naito tagged in and toyed with Honma. He hit a series of back elbows to the neck, softening up Honma for a later Destino. Naito and SANADA exchanged tags and kept the pressure on Honma. Naito used a kravate on the mat and hit a basement dropkick for a near fall. Honma came back with a diving kokeshi. 

SANADA and Ibushi got tags. Ibushi hit a back elbow and a standing moonsault for a near fall. SANADA hit a dropkick to Ibushi’s left knee. Ibushi tried a sunset flip, but found himself stuck in the paradise lock. SANADA used a dropkick for a near fall. 

Ibushi avoided a moonsault attempt and a TKO attempt, but SANADA hit a magic screw to reset the match. Naito and Honma got tags to set up the finish. 

Honma hit a vertical suplex for a two count. SANADA interfered. Honma hit a combination complete shot/DDT on both and used a kokeshi for a near fall. Ibushi entered to double up on Naito. Honma hit a lariat for another near fall. 

Honma teased a top rope kokeshi, but SANADA cut him off at the pass. Naito teased a reverse frankensteiner, but Honma blocked, thank goodness. SANADA and Naito hit double dropkicks on Honma. Ibushi tried to save but SANADA threw him out of the ring. 

Naito hit a step-up enzuigiri. Honma hit a headbutt. Naito blocked a lariat and hit Destino for the pin. 

Naito threw Honma into the barricade after the match. He legitimately seemed angry that he had to work with Honma on a third straight show. 

SANADA and Ibushi did some crowd work after the match. 

Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, SHO & Master Wato (14:45)

This was another fun main event. The finish was awesome and very creative as well. 

SHO and Hiromu started out. Hiromu hit an immediate shotgun dropkick. They traded tackles. SHO used two misdirection spots to hit another shoulder tackle. Tanahashi tagged in and used a cobra twist on Hiromu. 

SHO tagged in for a strike exchange. BUSHI entered for the illegal double team and LIJ took control of the match. They cut SHO off and all three worked him over. Hiromu tagged back in for another nice exchange with SHO. SHO managed a spear and a tag to Wato. 

Wato peppered BUSHI with kicks. They traded strikes. BUSHI hit a rewind kick and a swinging neckbreaker into a double down. 

Shingo and Tanahashi tagged in. Tanahashi avoided a combination of strikes and hit a second rope crossbody. Shingo fought off three dragon screw attempts. Tana ducked a sliding lariat. Shingo came back with his own dragon screw. Tana fought off a cloverleaf attempt, but Shingo answered with a sliding lariat. 

They traded strikes. Shingo blocked a slingblade and hit a suplex. Tanahashi popped up and hit slingblade into a double down. These guys are incredible. 

Wato got a tag and cleared the LIJ apron. Wato hit a dreamcast on Shingo. SHO jumped in for a double team. Shingo hit a double lariat. Wato ducked a short lariat. Shingo got the short lariat on his second attempt. 

SHO entered. Hiromu tried a hurricanrana on him, but SHO blocked and hit a lariat. BUSHI hit a step-up enzuigiri on SHO. Tanahashi hit a slingblade on BUSHI. Shingo hit a lariat out of the corner on Tanahashi. 

With the deck cleared, Shingo and Wato were set for the finish. Wato hit a crucifix bomb for a two count. Wato used another crucifix for a near fall. 

For the finish, Wato tried a dreamcast. Shingo caught the kick and plucked Wato out of the air, then hit Last of the Dragon for the pin. 

Shingo closed the show with a promo. 

NJPW Road to The New Beginning results: Tanahashi & Wato vs. LIJ

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI 

Report —

Just like last night, this show ran just under two hours, including a long opening video package and a brief intermission. They announced an attendance of 694 for Sunday’s show. No number has been announced yet for today’s show, but the building looked much more empty. 

The show itself was very much like last night’s, but with a few minor tweaks to the lineup. 

**********

Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Satoshi Kojima & Yuya Uemura (9:13)

A solid opener. 

United Empire attacked before the opening bell. Kojima and Ospreay fought outside while O-Khan and Uemura began as the legal men. Kojima recovered and helped Uemura double suplex O-Khan for a two count. 

Uemura quickly found himself cut off and being worked over in Empire’s corner. He made a comeback with palm strikes to the chest and a dropkick. O-Khan and Uemura tagged out. 

Kojima lit up both Ospreay and O-Khan with strikes. Kojima took the Flair press slam bump off the top rope from O-Khan, who stopped him from hitting an elbow. Kojima answered with DDTs to both. Ospreay teased a Storm Breaker. Kojima blocked and hit a cutter into a double down. 

Uemura tagged in and hit Ospreay with a flying forearm. He went for a double overhook suplex, but Ospreay blocked by biting his ear. Ospreay then hit a back suplex and tagged out. 

Ospreay and O-Khan double-teamed Uemura. Kojima broke up a pinfall after a what-a-maneuver by O-Khan. Ospreay took out Kojima with a hook kick. 

Uemura used two quick cradles for near falls. He teased a running forearm, but O-Khan hit a pump kick and Dominator for the pin. 

O-Khan did his United Empire roll call promo after the match. 

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI defeated Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Gedo & Jado (9:48)

Suzuki-gun made their intentions clear as soon as they stepped through the curtain — They were mad about losing last night to ELP’s loaded boot and they were here for revenge. 

They attacked as soon as they got into the ring and cut Gedo off. Jado used a kendo stick shot on DOUKI to turn the momentum in Bullet Club’s favor. A bad match ensued. 

Jado couldn’t get DOUKI up for a suplex then took a bad-looking bump on a DDT. Desperado, Kanemaru, Ishimori and ELP did their best to save the bout with a nice exchange. Gedo tagged in and immediately tried to drag the match quality back down. 

Desperado used a spinebuster on Gedo for a near fall, then used Numero Dos for the submission. 

Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo (13:05)

This was a fun house show six-man. 

EVIL and Togo began the match with an illegal double team on Okada. Yujiro tagged in and got nailed by an Okada elbow drop. Okada tagged out to YH. YH hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Togo kicked YH from the apron. 

YH fell victim to a hot shot across the top rope from Yujiro. Bullet Club turned the bout into a brawl around ringside. EVIL used a chair on Okada. Back inside, YH was isolated in Bullet Club’s half of the ring. Togo, EVIL and Yujiro used quick tags in working him over. 

YH hit a vertical suplex to Yujiro and tagged Ishii. Ishii ran wild briefly, before Yujiro used a face rake and a low dropkick to stop his momentum. Yujiro bit Ishii’s hand. Ishii hit a stiff forearm shot. Yujiro countered with an inverted DDT. 

EVIL tagged in and sent Ishii into an exposed turnbuckle. Ishii charged out of the corner and dropped EVIL with a lariat. Okada tagged in and hit a flapjack. Okada applied the Money Clip. EVIL broke the hold, by ramming Okada into the corner, then used his Darkness Scorpion. Okada forced a rope break. 

Togo tripped Okada from the floor, then raced to tag himself in. Bullet Club tripled up on Okada. EVIL hit a fisherman buster.Togo covered for a near fall. 

Everyone jumped in for a big move near the finish. Togo raked Okada’s eyes, but then ran right into a dropkick. Okada locked on the Money Clip and Togo submitted. 

SANADA, Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma & SHO (12:27)

This was a fine little match, but nothing you need to go out of your way to see. 

SHO and Hiromu began with a striking exchange. SHO got the upper hand. Naito intervened and hit an inverted atomic drop. The LIJ rout was on from there. 

SHO came back with a double spear to Naito and Hiromu. Ibushi and SANADA got tags. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Ibushi tried his best to engage the small crowd. 

SANADA turned a standing moonsault attempt of his own into a dropkick in a cool spot. Ibushi fought off a paradise lock attempt. SANADA fought off a paradise lock attempt by Ibushi, but then ran into an Ibushi dropkick. 

Honma tagged in. He hit a kokeshi on SANADA for a near fall. SANADA raked Honma’s face. Honma avoided a dropkick and hit a diving kokeshi. Hiromu broke up the pin, then hit a pop-up powerbomb on SHO. 

LIJ triple teamed Honma and hit a triple dropkick. SANADA teased Skull end, but Honma cradled him for a two count. SANADA hit a magic screw for a near fall. 

For the finish, SANADA locked on Skull End with a body scissors and Honma tapped out. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato defeated Shingo Takagi & BUSHI (14:06)

This has to be the first sub-fifteen minute NJPW main event in some time. 

Master Wato and BUSHI started out. Wato got a little bit of momentum going with some kicks, but Shingo tripped him from the outside and this quickly became a one-sided affair. BUSHI and Shingo worked on Wato. 

Shingo would take some shots at Tana on the apron when he was in working on Wato. Wato hit a jumping kick to Shingo, allowing Tanahashi to get his first crack at Shingo. 

Tana went for a cloverleaf on Shingo, but BUSHI broke it up. Tana took BUSHI out with a dragon screw, then hit a senton on Shingo. Shingo came back with a back suplex, then tagged out. 

BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. Tanahashi hit a second rope crossbody and tagged Wato back in.  Wato hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a series of kicks. Wato hit a dreamcast and recientemente for a near fall. BUSHI answered with a rewind kick and a backstabber. Both made tags. 

Shingo and Tana traded strikes, then traded twist and shouts. They are going to tear the house down in their singles match, they have great chemistry. 

Tana and Shingo traded more strikes, then traded slaps. Shingo went for a pumping bomber. Tana turned it into a slingblade. Shingo popped right back up and hit a lariat into a double down. 

BUSHI and Shingo doubled up on Tana. Shingo assisted in a BUSHI backstabber for a near fall as Wato saved. Tana blocked a swinging neckbreaker and hit a dragon screw, then used a cloverleaf. Shingo broke that up with a lariat. 

Shingo hit Tana with strikes. He tried a pumping bomber, but Tana ducked and Wato hit a springboard attack and a tornillo dive on Shingo. 

Tana then hit a slingblade and a High Fly Flow on BUSHI for the pin. A great main event. 

Tanahashi and Shingo had a brief face-off after the match. Tana then closed the show with a promo and an air guitar duet with Master Wato. 

NJPW announces six matches for Wrestle Kingdom 15

Posted on by Bryan Rose

More matches have been announced for both nights of Wrestle Kingdom 15.

Following the events of the Best of the Super Junior/World Tag League finals, Hiroshi Tanahashi will now face Great-O-Khan in a special singles match on January 4. Khan destroyed both Henare and Tanahashi following a tag team match, with O-Khan focusing on Tanahashi’s knee.

World Tag League winners Tama Tonga and Tanga Loga, the Guerillas of Destiny, will face Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP Tag Team titles.

After he had won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, Hiromu Takahashi challenged the winner of the following day’s Super J-Cup to a match. El Phantasmo defeated ACH to win the Super J-Cup back-to-back and accepted Takahashi’s challenge for January 4. Taiji Ishimori will be defending the IWGP Jr. title on January 5 against the winner.

SANADA and EVIL, meanwhile, will face each other on January 5. SANADA wildly attacked EVIL after Dick Togo choked out SANADA at ringside. The two ended up fighting all the way backstage. 

Shingo Takagi and Jeff Cobb will meet for the NEVER title on January 5. Cobb pinned Shingo during the World Tag League, eliminating Shingo and SANADA from the tournament. Cobb attacked Shingo during the Budokan Hall finals show and held the NEVER title up high, indicating he was next for a title match.

Here is what is currently announced for both Wrestle Kingdom cards, which will take place on January 4 and 5 at the Tokyo Dome:

January 4:

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan
  • Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Guerillas of Destiny for the IWGP Tag Team titles
  • Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo

January 5:

  • Winner of Naito-Ibushi vs. Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
  • SANADA vs. EVIL
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb for the NEVER Openweight title
  • Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu-ELP winner for the IWGP Jr. title

NJPW WTL results: Tanahashi & Henare vs. Shingo & SANADA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW continued their World Tag League tour today at the Beppu B-Con Plaza. Here are the results: 

Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma defeated Yota Tsuji & Gabriel Kidd (7:57)

Kojima pinned Tsuji after hitting a lariat. 

World Tag League: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (7:32)

Taichi pinned Owens after he and Sabre hit the Tensho Zack Driver. 

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (13:03)

Goto pinned Yujiro after a GYW. 

World Tag League: Juice Robinson & David Finlay defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (11:20)

Finlay pinned Yano with a Granby roll. 

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (15:53)

Tonga pinned O-Khan after hitting a Gun Stun. 

World Tag League: Shingo Takagi & SANADA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare (19:25)

Shingo pinned Henare after hitting Last of the Dragon. 

World Tag League standings —

  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay 10 points (5-3)
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano 10 points (5-3)
  • Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. 10 points (5-3)
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 10 points (5-3)
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 10 points (5-3)
  • Shingo Takagi & SANADA 10 points (5-3)
  • Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare 2 points (1-7) *eliminated*

NJPW WTL results: Shingo Takagi & SANADA vs. Goto & YOSHI-HASHI

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW continued their World Tag League tour today in Fukushima. Here are the results: 

Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma defeated Yuji Nagata & Yota Tsuji (9:18)

Kojima pinned Tsuji after hitting a lariat. 

World Tag League: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated Juice Robinson & David Finlay (9:03)

Fale pinned Finlay after hitting a Grenade. Fale and Owens picked up their first win of the tournament. 

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (13:03)

Henare pinned Yujiro after hitting Toa Bottom. Tanahashi and Henare also picked up their first win here. 

World Tag League: Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (12:10)

Yano pinned Loa with a schoolboy. 

World Tag League: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan (14:50)

Sabre pinned O-Khan after he and Taichi hit their Zack Mephisto finisher. 

World Tag League: Shingo Takagi & SANADA defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (17:20)

SANADA beat YH with Skull End. 

World Tag League standings —

  • Shingo Takagi & SANADA 8 points (4-1)
  • Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. 6 points (3-2)
  • Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb 6 points (3-2)
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano 6 points (3-2)
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 6 points (3-2)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 6 points (3-2)
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 4 points (2-3)
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay 4 points (2-3)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare 2 points (1-4)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 2 points (1-4)

NJPW WTL results: Shingo Takagi & SANADA vs. Taichi & Sabre

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW continued their World Tag League tour today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Here are the results: 

Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma defeated Yuji Nagata & Yota Tsuji (10:16)

Kojima pinned Tsuji after hitting a lariat. 

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (6:47)

Cobb pinned Owens after a Tour of the Islands. 

World Tag League: David Finlay & Juice Robinson defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare (11:18)

Finlay pinned Henare after FinJuice hit a Doomsday Device. 

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (8:36)

Loa submitted Yujiro with the OJK. 

World Tag League: Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (15:08)

Ishii pinned YOSHI-HASHI after a vertical drop brainbuster. 

World Tag League: Shingo Takagi & SANADA defeated Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (20:36)

Shingo pinned Taichi after hitting Last of the Dragon. 

World Tag League standings —

  • Shingo Takagi & SANADA 4 points (2-1)
  • Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. 4 points (2-1)
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 4 points (2-1)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 4 points (2-1)
  • Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb 4 points (2-1)
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay 4 points (2-1)
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano 4 points (2-1)
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 2 points (1-2)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 0 points (0-3)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare 0 points (0-3)

New champion crowned at NJPW Power Struggle

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Shingo Takagi has won the NEVER Openweight championship for the second time.

Takagi defeated Minoru Suzuki for the championship in a hard back and forth battle on this morning’s Power Struggle card in a match that featured plenty of stiff shots. The finish had Takagi go for the Last of the Dragon. Suzuki struggled, but Shingo held the advantage and landed his finish to win the championship for the second time.

Suzuki had held the title for 69 days, defeating Takagi during his first reign back at Summer Struggle in Jingu on August 29.

The two also met during the G1 Climax 30 tournament. It was here that Takagi picked up a win over Suzuki, setting up this morning’s title match.

In the other title match that took place on tonight’s show, Suzuki’s fellow Los Ingobernables de Japon member Tetsuya Naito defeated Minoru Suzuki to retain the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles.

NJPW G1 Climax 30 night 13 results: Okada vs. Shingo Takagi

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji 

Both tried for a ground-based advance in the opening moments. Uemura turned his attention to the arm of Tsuji. Tsuji employed a headlock which allowed him to take the match to the mat. Both men were on equal footing in this domain before Uemura regained arm control.

Uemura maintained arm control for some time before Tsuji was forced to slam him. A Tsuji splash followed, but yet again Uemura was able to slip into control of Tsuji’s arm. Tsuji interrupted the torment of his arm with a dropkick. 

Following the dropkick, Tsuji locked in the Boston crab. After a struggle, Uemura crawled to the ropes. Uemura again snatched the arm of Tsuji and hoisted him into a double arm suplex. Uemura then pinned Tsuji for the win. 

A fun opener with an excellent display of systematic dismantling, a la Jay White. There are few better ways to open a show. 

G1 Climax A Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Tomohiro Ishii 

A collar-and-elbow tie-up favoring Ishii started the match but the strength of Cobb allowed him to force Ishii into the ropes. The two then entered a feeling out series featuring ducks and some moderate striking.

An Ishii shoulder tackle left Cobb laying for just a moment. Ishii and Cobb started a strike exchange featuring many an Earth-shaking chop. Cobb was able to hook the leg of Ishii after falling to a chop. With the leg in hand, Cobb threw Ishii far into the air with an exploder suplex. A gargantuan backdrop followed.

Cobb tried for a couple of moves that met resistance and an eventual Ishii reversal in the way of a brainbuster. Ishii then started to unload strikes onto Cobb who was showing resistance only in emotion.

Cobb crumbled. The referee began to check on Cobb but Ishii still tried to follow up. After Ishii hoisted Cobb to his feet, Cobb caught Ishii with a German suplex. Ishii returned the favor.

Cobb then landed a ram-like headbutt to the lower jaw of Ishii sending both men crashing to the mat. 

Cobb hit a lariat and a standing moonsault that only yielded a two count. Ishii then connected with an enzuigiri to effectively reset the match.

A closed fist from Cobb drew the attention of the referee and allowed Ishii to land a giant lariat. A brief struggle on the mat led to an Ishii German suplex. Another lariat resulted in an Ishii near fall. 

Ishii slowly lifted Cobb for a brainbuster only for Cobb to slip out and land another toss. Ishii immediately powered back to his feet. Another headbutt left both men back on the mat.

Ishii and Cobb then entered another brief offensive exchange, but it was Cobb who would hit a pop-up powerbomb. He immediately followed with Tour of the Islands. Cobb folded Ishii up and secured the win.

This match was fast and uncompromising. If there ever was a match deserving of the car wreck metaphor, it was this one.  

G1 Climax A Block: Jay White defeated Yujiro Takahashi

Following White’s signal, Takahashi assumed the position flat on his back. White teased the pin a couple of times but Takahashi kicked out when White actually tried for one.

Takahashi then popped up to his feet and tried rolling White up. Takahashi tried the same thing again before hitting White with a forearm, a low blow, and Miami Shine. White kicked out from the pin attempt that followed.

Enter Gedo. A White low blow and a Blade Runner allowed White to secure the win.

**********

Post-match, White grabbed a chair and threatened to hit Takahashi, but Gedo talked him down from the cliff. 

I guess no one bothered to tell Takahashi he was eliminated from the tournament and that White is supposed to be the head of his faction. Oh well. 

**********

G1 Climax A Block: Will Ospreay defeated Taichi

Ospreay tried to bait Taichi into showing interest, but Taichi was not biting. Taichi, instead of engaging in the match, fixed his hair. Ospreay messed it up. This gave Taichi all the motivation he would need. A quick kick to the midsection from Taichi led to a rana from Ospreay. Taichi fell to the outside. Once both were outside, Taichi hit Ospreay in the gut with a hammer before choking him with its handle. 

Back inside, Taichi continued at the throat of Ospreay, pressing his hands across it. Ospreay eventually was able to use his speed to land a kick and gain some control.

Taichi rolled to the outside and was hit with the Ospreay special. An Ospreay flying palm, shooting star press, and 540 Corkscrew Senton Bomb followed. Taichi reset the match with an enzuigiri. 

Ospreay tried for the Oscutter but was caught with a Taichi suplex. The two climbed to the top rope and a brief struggle led to a Cheeky Nandos Kick from Ospreay.

Ospreay then ascended, dove for the 450, but was stopped by the knees of Taichi. A high kick and a powerbomb left Taichi with a near fall and without pants.

Ospreay immediately kicked Taichi in the back of the head. Ospreay tried for the Oscutter but was kicked mid-flight. 

Taichi hoisted Ospreay for Black Mephisto but lost control. Ospreay tried for Storm Breaker but suffered the same fate. A second Black Mephisto/Storm Breaker failed struggle occurred.

Ospreay hit the ropes and landed Oscutter only for Taichi to kick out. Ospreay hit the Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker for the pinfall victory. 

This match’s contents in no way justified its length. It lacked any sort of tangible tension and therefore was a hard watch.   

G1 Climax A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Minoru Suzuki

They approached each other with open hands, raised as if they were heading into pankration. Both men traded blows before Suzuki secured a takedown. Ibushi found the ropes before any harm could be done. Suzuki grabbed the arm of Ibushi but it was Ibushi who scored a takedown in retort.

Both men gained control of each other’s ankle from the mat and rolled in and out of pressure before finding the ropes. Instead of breaking, the two just began kicking each other. 

Ibushi sent Suzuki to the outside with a kick. While outside, Suzuki was thrown into the barricade. Ibushi then returned to the ring but Suzuki, instead of joining Ibushi, traveled to the top of the ramp and dared God to duel in no man’s land. Ibushi accepted and the two began beating each other down in front of the entranceway.

Suzuki won the exchange and returned to the ring mid-count. Suzuki stopped the count in time for Ibushi to return to the ring. 

Suzuki began to strike down Ibushi once back in the ring. A dropkick from Ibushi reversed the pace of the match.

Ibushi began to unload kicks onto a willing Suzuki. In the middle of the kick storm, Suzuki released a roar. Suzuki rose from his semi-seated position and dropped Ibushi with a single forearm. Suzuki waited for Ibushi to rise to his feet before the two began discharging strikes. 

With both men staggered, a laugh-filled barrage of back and forth forearms and slaps ensued.

Ibushi was then caught in the clutches of Suzuki’s sleeper and nearly a Gotch piledriver. Instead, Ibushi rolled through and tried for the Kamigoye. Suzuki caught Ibushi’s leg in a Boston crab. Ibushi fought free and hit a standing Kamigoye which he followed with another typical Kamigoye.

Ibushi then folded a smiling Suzuki up and pinned him in the middle of the ring. 

This was fantastic from bell to bell. Each act of the match was distinct yet still worked towards a central, integrated whole.  

G1 Climax A Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Shingo Takagi

They entered a typical, inconsequential feeling out process in the opening moments — waistlock, wristlock, collar-and-elbow, side takedown, etc.

Two Takagi shoulder blocks forced Okada to dig deep for a kick. Okada worked Takagi in the corner before a scoop slam. Takagi retreated to the outside and avoided an Okada plancha.

Takagi then hit Okada with a DDT on the floor, before driving Okada into every surface available to him. Takagi continued his offense for a considerable duration inside of the ring.

Okada began to fight his way back into the match following some taunting kicks from Takagi. A flapjack left Okada in a favorable position. A hip attack and DDT from Okada furthered his advantage.

This was short-lived as a struggle ensued, and it was Takagi who emerged from the chaos with a drop from the fireman’s carry. A similar scuffle followed almost immediately, but this time it was Okada who emerged from the fog with an air raid crash.

They traded forearms after both men returned to their feet. Okada, after being given an inch of space, landed a dropkick that sent Takagi crashing to the outside. Okada then took to seeking justice, driving Takagi into the outside elements before planting him into the floor via a DDT. 

Back in, Takagi was able to resist the advance of Okada, landing a lariat. Takagi tried hoisting Okada onto his back but was placed into the Money Clip. Takagi fought free and landed the Noshigami and a wheelbarrow suplex. Okada found the rope to break the pin attempt that followed. 

Takagi hit the ropes but was stopped mid-sprint with Okada’s dropkick. A tombstone piledriver immediately followed leaving Okada with a clear opportunity to lock in the Money Clip. Takagi crawled to the bottom rope to break the hold.

Okada climbed to the top rope and was cut off by Takagi. Takagi landed a superplex which he followed with a running lariat into the corner. Okada bounced from the corner with an attempt at recovery. Okada landed a dropkick and Takagi an elbow, leaving both men grounded. 

Okada tried hoisting Takagi up for the tombstone but Takagi fought free. Takagi then began leveling Okada with forearms but failed in delivering Made in Japan.

Okada tried for a quick pin and landed a tombstone after Takagi kicked free. Okada then locked in the Money Clip once more before landing a Rainmaker. Takagi powered up following the near finish and landed a Rainmaker of his own.

Takagi landed Made in Japan and nearly pinned Okada in the following attempt. A Pumping Bomber followed and yielded Takagi the same result.  

Takagi hoisted Okada up for Last of the Dragon but Okada fought free. Okada hit a lariat and locked in the Money Clip again.

Takagi fought and fought but eventually faded to the clutch of Okada. Okada’s Money Clip caused Takagi to pass out, leaving Okada victorious. 

Okada matches still struggle in the opening act due to the reduced input of the crowd. The match’s climax and falling action were great even with the lackluster opening. 

**********

G1 Climax 30 Standings —

A Block

  • Kazuchika Okada — 10 points (5-2)
  • Kota Ibushi — 10 points (5-2)
  • Jay White — 10 points (5-2)
  • Will Ospreay — 10 points (5-2)
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 6 points (3-4)
  • Shingo Takagi — 6 points (3-4)
  • Minoru Suzuki — 6 points (3-4)
  • Taichi — 6 points (3-4)
  • Jeff Cobb — 6 points (3-4)
  • Yujiro Takahashi — 0 points (0-7) *eliminated*

B Block

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

NJPW G1 Climax 30 night eleven results: Ibushi vs. Takagi

Posted on by Parker Klyn

Recommended Matches —

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

Report —

Yota Tsuji defeated Gabriel Kidd (7:13)

The Young Lions wrestled a little differently this time. There was almost no technical wrestling, as this was a battle of strikes and power moves.

Both men exploded out with strikes at the bell. Kidd took control and nailed some loud chops in the corner. More strikes led to some quick covers, but it was too early to pin Tsuji.

Tsuji took control with a corner lariat and a running splash, but Kidd hit a body slam. They fought each other, both trying to hit a suplex, but Kidd won the strength battle. Kidd went for the underhook suplex, but Tsuji fought out with forearms.

They traded forearms, a battle which Tsuji won. Kidd turned a shoulder tackle attempt into a standing dropkick. Tsuji fought back with an open-hand strike, a powerslam, and a spear for a near fall.

Tsuji applied the Boston crab. Kidd nearly reached the ropes, but Tsuji pulled him back to the center of the ring and deepened the hold, forcing Kidd to tap out.

G1 Climax A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yujiro Takahashi (15:28)

This was probably the best Yujiro match of this year’s G1, but if Ishii can’t get better than a decent match out of somebody, they probably don’t really belong in the tournament. I have no idea why this went as long as the Ibushi/Ospreay main event from a couple nights ago.

Yujiro attacked before the bell with a lariat. He brought Ishii to the ramp, went for Pimp Juice, but settled for a standard DDT. Back in, Ishii attempted to come back with a lariat but Yujiro turned it into a tilt-a-whirl slam.

Yujiro tried for the fisherman’s buster, but Ishii turned it into a vertical suplex. They exchanged strikes before Ishii leveled him with a headbutt. Yujiro escaped a suplex attempt with his bite spot and hit a seated dropkick.

Ishii went for a running move but Yujiro flapjacked him into the top rope. He no-sold some Yujiro firearms and hit a Saito suplex. Ishii attempted a suplex but Yujiro turned it into a fisherman’s buster.

A strange moment happened then as Ishii sold his wrist and neck like he’d been legitimately injured, and the official stopped letting Yujiro wrestle momentarily. It must have been selling because Ishii immediately hit a German suplex into the corner pad followed by a superplex for two.

Yujiro fought out of a powerbomb attempt and hit a spinebuster, a lariat, and what looked like an Olympic slam for two. He hit his twisting fireman’s carry slam for another near fall. Ishii escaped a Pimp Juice attempt and hit another German.

Ishii hit an enzuigiri and a lariat for two. He went for the vertical drop brainbuster, but Yujiro fought back multiple times and turned it into a brainbuster of his own. Ishii went for it again, but Yujiro turned it into an inside cradle for a good near fall.

Ishii exploded with a jumping headbutt and a sliding lariat for two, followed by the vertical drop brainbuster for three.

G1 Climax A Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Jeff Cobb (11:01)

This was a very enjoyable first-time meeting, if a bit short as NJPW are clearly sacrificing some of Okada’s great match quality to tell the story of not wanting to win with the Rainmaker. Cobb has looked quite impressive in these 10-12 minute sprints.

Okada showed off with his rope break spot right away. Cobb caught an Okada dropkick attempt out of midair and turned it into a vertical suplex in a great power spot. Okada avoided a corner elbow and hit a DDT.

Okada worked over Cobb’s head and neck. He went for a corner elbow of his own but Cobb moved out of the way and hit shoulder tackles followed by an overhead throw and a running back suplex.

They traded forearms before Cobb downed Okada with a lariat. We then got a ridiculous display of power as Cobb transitioned a gutwrench to both sides of his body, attempted a powerbomb, caught Okada’s escape attempt in midair, then hit a twisting back suplex.

Cobb went for a lariat but ran straight into a dropkick followed by a tombstone. Okada locked on the Money Clip cobra clutch and turned Cobb’s attempt to reach the ropes into a backslide for two. He went for another running move but Cobb hit a dropkick of his own. Cobb followed by stealing Okada’s Rainmaker pose.

Cobb attempted Tour of the Islands, but Okada turned it into a roll-up for two. A thrust kick sent Okada to the mat, but he locked on the same seated cradle as his win over Suzuki for the flash pinfall. 

***** Intermission *****

G1 Climax A Block: Will Ospreay defeated Minoru Suzuki via pinfall (14:34)

This was another very good first-time matchup. Suzuki was effective in picking apart Ospreay’s arm, and Ospreay’s selling was solid. The finish did seem a bit abrupt.

Ospreay hit a dropkick that sent Suzuki to the outside, followed by a plancha. He attempted Pip Pip Cheerio over the barricade but Suzuki turned it into a Fujiwara armbar. 

Suzuki continued to work over Ospreay’s arm on the outside. Back in, he continued the attack. Suzuki bullied and taunted Ospreay in the corner, daring Ospreay to fight back. Ospreay sold his arm every time he attempted a strike. Suzuki returned fire with chops and forearms.

One of the chops made Ospreay’s chest bleed, which was evident as Suzuki applied an octopus hold. Ospreay attempted a comeback but Suzuki turned Pip Pip Cheerio into another armbar.

Ospreay reached the ropes, but Suzuki leveled him with more forearms. Ospreay eventually fought his way back and finally hit Pip Pip Cheerio. They made their way to the top rope which led to a cool sequence where Ospreay attempted a 450, missed, rolled through, hit a high kick, then Suzuki hit a slap, and Ospreay hit a hook kick to win the battle.

Ospreay adjusted to his arm injury by switching arms for a forearm battle, which wasn’t enough to stop Suzuki’s strikes. Ospreay went for the handspring enzuigiri but Suzuki turned it into a sleeper, which Ospreay himself turned into a vertical suplex.

Suzuki avoided the Hidden Blade and turned a tilt-a-whirl into a sleeper. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri when Suzuki attempted the Gotch piledriver, then hit Stormbreaker for the win.

G1 Climax A Block: Jay White defeated Taichi (15:32)

While not a technical classic, this was about as fundamentally entertaining as a G1 match can get. Taichi had his second straight fantastic performance while White has just had a really great tournament overall. 

Switchblade and Taichi had a genuinely hilarious interplay at the start, which the crowd just loved. Taichi’s a heel but he was definitely playing babyface here. He would copy White every time he powdered and got back in the ring.

They both attempted a strike but Taichi escaped to the outside and drove White into the barricade. He choked White with an electrical cord, but Gedo provided a distraction by driving Taichi into the ring post and the barricade.

Back in, White hit a neckbreaker for two. White continued his beatdown, but Taichi eventually came back with an enzuigiri. He went for another enzuigiri, but White chop blocked his leg and hit a DDT. The Bladebuster followed for two.

White went for a backdrop driver, but Taichi hit an Axe Bomber to the back of his head. Taichi set up for the Last Ride, but White pancaked out of it, which led to Kawada kicks. Another attempt at the Last Ride was turned into a dragon screw.

Taichi missed another enzuigiri and White hit a German suplex, but Taichi popped right up and was met with a uranage. Taichi fired up again and hit a backdrop suplex for the double down.

They had a fighting spirit striking battle, with the catch being that when one would signal for the other to hit their chin, they’d hit something completely different. Taichi won the exchange with yet another enzuigiri. He locked on the Gedo clutch, but Gedo himself distracted the referee.

White went for a low blow, but Taichi stopped him before being shoved into the referee, who took a bump. Taichi dispatched Gedo with a low blow and hit a second on White, leading to the Gedo clutch for a super close near fall.

Taichi stacked White up with the Last Ride for two. The pants were off, but White moved the official in between him and Taichi before the buzzsaw kick. Taichi went for Black Mephisto, but White hit the Blade Runner out of nowhere for the pin.

G1 Climax A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Kota Ibushi (22:11)

These two men beat the hell out of each other, resulting in a fantastic main event which capped off a show in which each match was better than the last. They left enough on the table to leave people excited about the prospect of a rematch down the line.

This was our third first-time matchup of the night. Both men teased signature moves. A forearm exchange looked to give Shingo the advantage, but he ran into a dropkick and was sent outside.

Back in, Shingo regained the advantage by catching a springboard. He dropped Ibushi into the top rope before clotheslining him outside. Shingo beat Ibushi down using the barricade and ring and concluded the attack with a DDT.

Ibushi attempted a comeback but was leveled with a forearm. Multiple further Ibushi comebacks were easily foiled by Shingo. Eventually, a jumping hurricanrana bought Ibushi some time. His signature strike sequence and a moonsault got two.

Shingo rolled to the outside, leading to Ibushi hitting a plancha. Back in, Shingo fought his way out of a powerbomb and the two exchanged strikes before Shingo hit his own signature strike sequence.

Ibushi fought out of the Noshigami and turned into a Kamigoye attempt. Ibushi missed and Shingo finally hit the Noshigami for two. Shingo hit a backdrop suplex but Ibushi fired up and hit a half-and-half suplex for the double down.

They traded stiff slaps before Shingo transitioned into chops and Ibushi hit kicks. Ibushi flipped his way out of a German suplex and hit a great-looking buzzsaw kick. The Last Ride followed for two.

Shingo popped Ibushi up onto his shoulders and hit a DVD. He set up for Last of the Dragon, but Ibushi fought out and hit a jumping knee. Shingo countered the Kamigoye with a headbutt and hit Made in Japan for a good near fall.

Shingo hit two Pumping Bombers for another near fall. He set up for Last of the Dragon, but Ibushi fought out. Shingo leveled Ibushi with a lariat. Ibushi hit a huge lariat of his own followed by the Bomaye, but Shingo countered the Kamigoye into Last of the Dragon for the win.

Post-match, Shingo cut a promo addressing the Hiroshima crowd.

G1 Climax 30 Standings —

A Block

  • Kazuchika Okada — 8 points (4-2)
  • Kota Ibushi — 8 points (4-2)
  • Jay White — 8 points (4-2)
  • Will Ospreay — 8 points (4-2)
  • Tomohiro Ishii — 6 points (3-3)
  • Shingo Takagi — 6 points (3-3)
  • Minoru Suzuki — 6 points (3-3
  • Taichi — 6 points (3-3)
  • Jeff Cobb — 4 points (2-4)
  • Yujiro Takahashi — 0 points (0-6)

B Block

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

    NJPW G1 Climax 30 night seven results: Ishii vs. Takagi

    Posted on by Parker Klyn

    Recommended Matches:

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

    Korakuen Hall got its first look at G1 Climax Block A tonight, headlined by Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shingo Takagi in the main event.

    Report —

    Yota Tsuji defeated Yuya Uemura (7:53)

    Korakuen famously loves its Young Lion matches. This was the third meeting between these two on the tour, and I felt it was their best yet. 

    Tsuji won a test of strength with a Greco-Roman knuckle lock, but Uemura’s bridge was too strong to break. After more chain wrestling, Tsuji landed the first move of the match with a running shoulder tackle.

    A jumping body press got an early two for Tsuji, but Uemura had too much left in the tank for him to lock on the Boston crab. A dropkick allowed Uemura to make his comeback, followed by a running forearm for two.

    Uemura laid in strikes in the corner. After being whipped into the opposite corner, Tsuji exploded back with a spear, which finally allowed him to apply the crab.

    Uemura nearly reached the ropes to escape the crab, but Tsuji pulled back with a giant swing. After a longer-than-usual submission fight, Uemura was forced to tap.

    **********

    El Desperado joined the commentary team.

    **********

    G1 Climax Block A: Minoru Suzuki defeated Yujiro Takahashi (7:58)

    This was nice and compact action, but nothing special.

    They shoved each other around before the bell, and Suzuki quickly downed his opponent with a big boot. On the outside, Yujiro took the advantage by striking and choking with his staff.

    After more strikes in the ring, Suzuki snapped, sending Yujiro back outside. He smashed Yujiro with chair strikes and shoved down the official, then choked Yujiro with an electrical cord.

    Back inside, Suzuki applied a sleeper hold. Yujiro caught a soccer kick and hit a running dropkick, followed by a fisherman’s buster for two.

    They traded forearms, but Suzuki’s super-stiff forearm sent Yujiro to the mat. After firing back up with a lariat, Yujiro attempted his swinging fireman’s carry slam, but Suzuki escaped.

    Suzuki turned Pimp Juice into the rear naked choke, followed by the Gotch piledriver for a quick win. 

    G1 Climax Block A: Kota Ibushi defeated Jeff Cobb (10:44)

    I thought this was Cobb’s best performance yet, but the match ended just as it was getting great.

    They performed chain wrestling to start. After a big chop from Cobb, they went right into a striking battle. Ibushi hit his striking sequence, finishing with a moonsault for two.

    Ibushi ran the ropes but Cobb hit an impressive standing dropkick to take control. Ibushi fought back with a jumping hurricanrana and a plancha to the outside. He missed a springboard but avoided a spear and hit a double stomp.

    Cobb caught a mid kick and hit a back suplex. He ran in with his jumping uppercut in the corner, followed by his catching back suplex and a standing moonsault for two. 

    Cobb set up for a running lariat, but Ibushi turned it into another stiff striking battle, which Cobb won with a standing lariat. He then hit his series of gutwrenches, but Ibushi fought out of the powerbomb, so he turned it into an F5 for a near fall. 

    Ibushi fought out of Tour of the Islands and hit a high kick and a V-Trigger, followed by the Kamigoye for the win.

    ***** Intermission *****

    G1 Climax 30 Block A: Kazuchika Okada defeated Taichi (17:30)

    This started slowly with too much brawling, but it built to a really exciting finish. I thought this was better than their overlong New Beginning main even from earlier in the year. Okada’s back was heavily taped, and he just didn’t move as effortlessly as we’re used to seeing from him.

    Taichi attacked before the bell, and sent Okada into the barricade outside. El Desperado, who had been on commentary, distracted the referee while Taichi hit chair shots. I’m not sure why that was necessary considering Suzuki hit chair shots right in front of the exact same official earlier in the show.

    Back inside, Taichi beat Okada down with kicks. Okada rolled outside again, and Taichi shoved him into the ring apron. Back in, Okada was beaten down for a while before fighting back with a running forearm. 

    Okada hit his running back elbow and his corner DDT sequence for two, but Taichi fought out of the Money Clip cobra clutch. Taichi rolled outside once again, driving Okada’s back into the ring barricade. Okada finally got the best of the exchange with a DDT to the floor.

    Okada missed a missile dropkick which sent him crashing to the mat. Taichi hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and locked on a single-leg crab, but Okada reached the ropes.

    Okada fought out of the Last Ride, so Taichi was forced to hit Kawada kicks. Another Last Ride attempt was countered into the Air Raid Crash neckbreaker. Taichi avoided a corner lariat and hit an enzuigiri.

    Taichi ran the ropes but had the Okada dropkick scouted. He hit a buzzsaw kick, and the pants were off, but Okada hit his dropkick. Okada tried to apply the Money Clip but Taichi turned into a backdrop suplex. 

    Okada fought out of the Last Ride once again and hit a spinning tombstone piledriver, which allowed him to lock on the Money Clip. Taichi fought out with an illegal choke, but Okada hit a short Rainmaker and maintained wrist control. 

    Taichi pulled the official in front of a second Rainmaker attempt and used the Gedo Clutch for a great near fall.

    Another jumping enzuigiri led to a striking battle. Taichi finished it off with a Rainmaker of his own. 

    Okada fought out of Black Mephisto and locked on the Money Clip, but Taichi forced his way out. He tried for Black Mephisto one more time, but Okada hit a backbreaker with the Money Clip applied, leading to a referee stoppage. 

    G1 Climax 30 Block A: Will Ospreay defeated Jay White (18:49)

    This was fantastic, maybe White’s best match all year. They kept the Gedo interference to a minimum, and White’s timing in avoiding big moves is so perfect that it makes them all the more satisfying when they hit.

    Gedo joined Switchblade as always. His gimmick on this tour has been taunting the fans for being unable to chant. He powdered to the outside at the bell, and continued to do so for a few minutes. 

    Once inside, White beat Ospreay down in the corner. Ospreay fired back out with a huge chop, reminiscent of his massive chop against Okada during last year’s G1 Korakuen stop. 

    A lariat sent White to the outside, but Ospreay feinted on his space flying tiger drop attempt. Back in, White dispatched Ospreay with an overhead suplex from inside the ring to the apron, sending him crashing to the floor. 

    White maintained control during a long heat segment. Ospreay finally made a comeback with a handspring kick followed by a standing shooting star press for two. Pip Pip Cheerio followed, but White moved out of the way of the space flying tiger drop.

    Gedo grabbed Ospreay’s leg as they made their way back inside the ring, allowing White to take advantage once again. The Bladebuster got two for White. Ospreay tried to hit his backflip into an enzuigiri, but his leg gave out. Another distraction from Gedo gave White enough time to counter Pip Pip Cheerio into a German suplex.

    The two fought on the top rope, but Ospreay hit a springboard dropkick, forcing White into the tree of woe. White moved out of the way of the Coast to Coast and rolled outside, which allowed Ospreay to hit the space flying tiger drop.

    Back in, a springboard 450 splash from Ospreay got two. White avoided the Oscutter and hit a uranage for a double down. The Kiwi Krusher got two, but Ospreay fought out of the Blade Runner and hit a Liger bomb. 

    Ospreay fought out of another Blade Runner and hit the Oscutter for two. He set up for the Hidden Blade, but White collapsed out of the way. Ospreay laid in ground and pound to the back of White’s head, which forced the official to break it up.

    Ospreay continued his beatdown with Kawada kicks, but White tripped up the official on as he set up for the Stormbreaker. Gedo tried to use his brass knuckles, but Ospreay easily downed him with a forearm and foiled White’s attempt at a low blow.

    The Hidden Blade followed and Ospreay hit the Stormbreaker for the upset victory.

    G1 Climax 30 Block A: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Shingo Takagi (26:02)

    This was a rematch of many people’s match of the tournament from last year, and I’d say it mostly lived up to that expectation. I’d put it on the level of their match from earlier this year. These two absolutely killed each other, even more than you’d imagine. It didn’t truly pick up until the closing sequence, but these two have such a high floor when they’re in the ring together that even with a more muted crowd reaction, the match is still excellent. 

    They had a striking exchange right at the bell. Ishii gained the upper hand at the start with a shoulder tackle and a couple big chops. Outside, Shingo was sent into the barricade, but he fired up with a shoulder tackle and a lariat. 

    Back in, Shingo hit elbow drops and a leaping senton. The two hit big chops on each other, concluding with a massive two-hand chop from Shingo. Ishii regained the upper hand with a suplex.

    Ishii beat Shingo down in the corner with forearms and chops. He whipped Shingo into the other corner, but Shingo hit his signature strike combination followed by a lariat.

    They continued to battle with strikes. Shingo hit a wheelbarrow German suplex for two. He hit the Pumping Bomber, but Ishii popped up and the two hit lariats for a double down.

    They fought up top and Ishii hit a superplex. Ishii fought out of Made in Japan, but Shingo improvised and hit a gutbuster. Made in Japan and a Pumping Bomber each followed for two. 

    A short lariat downed Ishii. Shingo went for another Pumping Bomber but Ishii turned it into a backdrop suplex and hit a second for good measure. They traded strikes once more, and Ishii hit a powerbomb for two.

    Ishii attempted the Vertical Drop Brainbuster but Shingo popped him up into a DVD. Ishii fired back up and hit a lariat but Shingo kicked out at one, followed by a sliding lariat for two. 

    Shingo fought out of the brainbuster again and hit a sliding forearm smash. They domed each other with clunking headbutts which garnered audible groans from the crowd. That was brutal.

    They each hit a series of forearms, but Shingo trapped Ishii in the ropes and hit a GTR. A picture-perfect Pumping Bomber landed for a great near fall. Ishii fought out of Last of the Dragon and hit a DDT at the 25-minute mark.

    They traded lariats and Ishii hit a jumping enzuigiri and another big lariat, allowing him to hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for his first win.

    Post-match, they both sold like they didn’t realize the fight was over and continued to go after each other. 

    G1 Climax 30 Standings

    Block A

    • Jay White – 6 (3-1)
    • Will Ospreay – 6 (3-1)
    • Taichi – 6 (3-1)
    • Kota Ibushi – 6 (3-1) 
    • Minoru Suzuki – 6 (3-1)
    • Kazuchika Okada – 4 (2-2)
    • Shingo Takagi – 2 (1-3)
    • Tomohiro Ishii – 2 (1-3)
    • Jeff Cobb – 2 (1-3)
    • Yujiro Takahashi – 0 (0-4)

    Block B

    • Tetsuya Naito – 6 (3-0)
    • Toru Yano – 6 (3-0)
    • KENTA – 4 (2-1)
    • Juice Robinson – 4 (2-1)
    • EVIL – 2 (1-2)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. – 2 (1-2)
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi – 2 (1-2)
    • Hirooki Goto – 2 (1-2)
    • YOSHI-HASHI – 2 (1-2)
    • SANADA – 0 (0-3)

    NJPW G1 Climax 30 night five results: Ibushi vs. Ishii

    Posted on by Chick Fritts

    G1 Climax 30 made its last stop before arriving in Tokyo with a stacked card from the tournament’s A Block in Kobe.

    Report —

    Gabriel Kidd defeated Yota Tsuji 

    Kidd started the match by taking Tsuji to the mat. Tsuji was able to gain some ground by grappling in retort, but overall Kidd’s mat work left him in the driver’s seat early.

    The power of Tsuji was the main means of thwarting Kidd’s advance. A large shoulder block led to an extended showcase of Tsuji offense. Tsuji locked in a single leg Boston crab that forced a desperate rope break from Kidd. The rope break allowed Kidd to regain a semblance of control, but again Tsuji’s strength seemed to be too much.

    Kidd managed to withstand the storm and catch Tsuji off guard with a passion-filled sequence punctuated with a double arm suplex. Kidd then pinned Tsuji in the middle of the ring for his first win over Tsuji. 

    A fun match that was fundamentally sound. Kidd’s fervor really stood strong at the conclusion. A simple story executed well. 

    G1 Climax 30 A Block: Taichi defeated Yujiro Takahashi 

    This match started abruptly as Takahashi rammed his cane into Taichi as the opening bell sounded. Takahashi was disarmed but maintained the momentum until Taichi returned the favor with a hammer. Taichi took to assaulting Takahashi on the outside of the ring, driving him into the ring post and choking him with cables. Takahashi returned the favor of an environmental beating. 

    Takahashi’s offense inside the ring was short-lived as Taichi gouged for the eyes. A Taichi enzuigiri only cemented his rebound. Taichi kicked Takahashi in the temple before trying for a pin that Takahashi only just kicked out from.

    Taichi wasted no time as tried he tried to hoist Takahashi for a slam but Taichi’s hand found its way into the mouth of Takahashi. With Takahashi’s teeth pressed into his hand, Taichi again turned to raking the eyes of Takahashi, a cute moment in what had been a trivial match. 

    Takahashi won a striking victory and followed up with an Olympic slam. Taichi reset the match with a suplex of his own. Taichi landed a lariat, re-energizing him late in the match.

    After Takahashi kicked from the pin that followed Taichi’s breakaway pants were torn from his thighs in one fluid motion. Takahashi hit Miami Shine immediately after Taichi’s theatrics.

    Taichi was able to fight free from Pimp Juice and down the referee in the process. A low blow and quick rollup followed leaving Taichi with another win.

    This match was what one should expect with these two, nothing special. Some interactions were fun but not enough to carry them to a good match. 

    G1 Climax 30 A Block: Minoru Suzuki defeated Jeff Cobb

    Suzuki started the match by baiting Cobb to the mat. Cobb was able to hold his own against Suzuki’s ground game but Suzuki eventually forced Cobb into a rope break.

    Now that the two were standing, Cobb tried to crush Suzuki with his strength. Suzuki again was able to get the best of the situation. The two spilled to the outside of the ring. Suzuki and Cobb again seemed to be near equals, but even here it was Suzuki who proved to be ahead. 

    It was only by a collision of bodies that Cobb was able to pull ahead. Cobb was able to maintain his advantage in a striking exchange and subverted a Gotch piledriver. Cobb used his power to block almost every attempt at a Suzuki comeback. Suzuki’s wherewithal eventually proved to be too much even for Cobb’s power.

    A choke attempt from Suzuki seamlessly lead into a successful Gotch piledriver leaving Suzuki with a clean pin. 

    This match was fast-paced and well structured. In a test of brains versus brawn, Suzuki’s demanding presence gelled perfectly with Cobb tonight for an outstanding match. 

    G1 Climax 30 A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Tomohiro Ishii

    Following an intense staredown, Ibushi and Ishii entered a series of tie-ups. After the collapse of the felling out process, they entered an extended striking sequence. Ishii was unmoving for the sequence and was perpetually standing over Ibushi during any pause.

    Ibushi was able to withstand the strikes and ultimately end the first striking session with a rana. It wasn’t long after that the striking continued as if it had never stopped, but this time Ibushi had the edge. 

    An Ibushi slam and dropkick that would have dropped any other left Ishii standing. Before the shock of Ishii’s resistance could fully set in Ibushi was hit with a power slam. Ibushi this time refused to fall. The two then entered a test of will where no move could drop either man. 

    A tempo-resetting dropkick from Ibushi triggered an open palm brawl. Ibushi was able to drop Ishii for a moment, but Ishii rose with even more striking. 

    This awakened the beast in Ibushi.

    Ibushi punched the heart of Ishii before nearly kicking his head off. Ishii was then hoisted by Ibushi into a powerbomb which only yielded a two count.

    Ishii was not done fighting.

    Ishii and Ibushi entered another struggle. This time it was an Ishii headbutt that caused Ibushi to fall. An Ishii lariat resulted in a near fall for the Stone Pitbull, but again Ibushi continued to resist.

    Now on his last legs, Ibushi landed an enzuigiri followed by a brainbuster. Ibushi dropped his knee pads and landed a Kamigoye only for Ishii to kick out again.

    Ishii and Ibushi traded their final swings at this point. Ishii’s headbutts and knees, in the end, proved to be just short of enough as another Kamigoye left Ibushi the victor.

    What a match. These men beat the breaks off of each other. With everything left in the ring, topping this would be a real challenge. 

    G1 Climax 30 A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Will Ospreay 

    Ospreay’s speed met Takagi’s power as soon as the bell sounded.

    Ospreay and Shingo struggled for any advantage in a fantastic opening arrangement. Ospreay forced Takagi to retreat to the safety of the outside after his speed in combination with his new bulk proved to be too much. Takagi avoided any significant offense before dropping Ospreay with a Fireman’s carry takeover on the arena floor. 

    Takagi took his lead between the ropes, slowing the pace and overpowering Ospreay. Takagi landed a few elbows and a knee drop before taunting Ospreay. Ospreay responded with the initiation of a chop exchange which he left victorious. Ospreay’s offense picked up temporarily but was cut short by Shingo’s power. Shingo was just as unsuccessful in maintaining long-term sway as an unexpected stunner threw the match back in Ospreay’s direction.

    In the first prolonged offensive stint of the match, Ospreay landed a flying forearm and the Sasuke special. Ospreay positioned Takagi in the tree of woe once returning to ring, where he delivered a swift kick to the skull and a picture-perfect coast-to-coast dropkick. A bloody Sunday and moonsault failed to close the match for Ospreay. 

    Ospreay tried for a springboard variation but was caught by a ready Takagi. Takagi dropped Ospreay face-first on the mat. Takagi was experiencing offensive success in the match for the first time. A sit-down powerbomb from Ospreay cut Takagi’s hopes short. An Oscutter and near fall seemingly reset the match.

    Takagi and Ospreay began trading more and more impressive moves. Ultimately it was Takagi’s Made in Japan that left him ahead.

    A pumping bomber almost closed the match for Takagi. Instead of a victory, the move triggered Ospreay’s final efforts. A poison rana from Ospreay and a headbutt from Takagi again reset the match. 

    Both men were now left to slug it out. Forearms reigned in prior to a burst of speed. Ospreay landed a one-man Spanish fly, a lariat and a brutal forearm to set up for a finale.

    Takagi met Ospreay with a lariat of his own to subdue what would be the match’s end. Takagi then hoisted Ospreay onto his shoulders and dropped him from the second rope. Ospreay kicked out. Takagi landed a lariat. Ospreay kicked out.

    Finally, Takagi connected with the Last of the Dragon, pinning Ospreay for the win.  

    This pair brings out the best in each other and now a rubber match is necessary. They put on a great match with little room for improvement.

    G1 Climax 30 A Block: Jay White defeated Kazuchika Okada

    White journeyed to the outside as soon as the match started, as this match was going to be on his terms.

    Okada tried for his typical rope pat down but this match was at White’s pace. White actually was the one patting down Okada, which upset him greatly.

    Okada took to beating down White, but again, this was under White’s control. Gedo clubbed the back of Okada, gaining his attention long enough for White to regain advantage. 

    White began his systematic dissection of Okada’s back at this point, driving Okada back first into any rigid object at his disposal. Okada tried to fight free but his back was proving to be his weak point. Plenty of knees and forearms from White crashed into the spine of Okada. Whenever Okada showed signs of life, his back stopped him. 

    Okada eventually landed a facebuster on White and began a slow climb back into this match.

    Forearms, a hip attack and a DDT left Okada in control but for some unimaginable reason, Gedo became the center of Okada’s attention. A double DDT, ignoring the previously damaged back, dropped both White and Gedo. 

    Once in the ring again Okada’s back failed again. White regained advantage with a DDT of his own and once again the beating of Okada’s back continued.  

    Okada was able to catch a methodical White with a neckbreaker, resetting the match. The two traded forearms back and forth before White collapsed. Gedo tried to interfere again but was subverted by Okada. An Okada dropkick attempt was avoided, further punishing the back. 

    White tried the Rainmaker but Okada responded with a forearm. An Okada dropkick, piledriver, and Money Clip left Okada in control. Gedo entered the ring and found himself on the receiving end of a dropkick.

    Okada locked in the Money Clip again only for Gedo to grab at the leg of the referee. White landed a low blow before grabbing the wrist of Okada. Okada tried again for a desperation Money Clip, but White landed a suplex in retort.

    A transition into a Blade Runner allowed White to pin Okada.  

    **********

    White grabbed a microphone and thanked Okada for celebrating the two year anniversary of White’s and Gedo’s Chaos defection while simultaneously claiming Okada’s glory days are behind him. 

    If you still somehow need convincing of White’s brilliance, this match will do it for you. It is everything you should expect in a White showing — a complete dissection and change of scenery when compared to everything else in New Japan. This was a great match that was only held back by the overuse of Gedo. 

    **********

    G1 Climax 30 Standings —

    A Block

    • Jay White – 6 points (3-0)
    • Taichi – 6 points (3-0)
    • Will Ospreay – 4 points (2-1)
    • Kota Ibushi -4 points (2-1)
    • Minoru Suzuki – 4 points (2-1)
    • Kazuchika Okada – 2 points (1-2)
    • Jeff Cobb – 2 points (1-2)
    • Shingo Takagi – 2 points (1-2)
    • Tomohiro Ishii – 0 points (0-3)
    • Yujiro Takahashi – 0 points (0-3)

    B Block

    • Tetsuya Naito — 4 points (2-0)
    • Juice Robinson — 4 points (2-0)
    • Toru Yano — 4 points (2-0)
    • Hirooki Goto — 2 points (1-1)
    • KENTA — 2 points (1-1)
    • Zack Sabre Jr. — 2 points (1-1)
    • EVIL — 2 points (1-1)
    • YOSHI-HASHI — 0 points (0-2)
    • SANADA — 0 points (0-2)
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi — 0 points (0-2)