G1 Climax 2015 reflection: pro wrestling is beautiful

180 matches over the course of a month. It would have actually been 181 but there was the one forfeit loss Nakamura had to give up due to injury. Add to that all of the undercard tag team matches and the number shoots well into the two hundreds. Watching all or most of these go down is nothing in league to the mental and physical duress undergone by the wrestlers and other talent participating in these shows. But to such a large number of matches in that short span of time does take a certain level of commitment and does leave a mark. When the dust has settled, stepping back and reflecting is a must.

This was absolutely the case as the final show of the tournament drew to a close.  Here in New York, t would be 2 AM when I pried myself out of bed and started up my Macbook, having just had an hour’s sleep.  In the dark I laid back in a position conducive to falling back asleep as I proceeded to watch the show get underway on that modest screen. The rush of watching this action as it happened live across the gglobe would be such that staying awake was no problem.

The show breezed briskly by right up to the intermission, which gave an opportunity to gather reinforcements in the form of coffee and leftover pizza. As the 4 AM hour came and went the dark was gradually replaced by a mellow grey. And then the weird epiphany-like sensations hit. Tanahashi was celebrating his victory after an incredible match with Shinsuke Nakamura as outside my place, the most wondrous sunrise was taking shape in the sky. A radiant pinkish orange flooding the sky with a warm welcoming light. The light made a unique path through window shade and furniture to cast a warm neon rectangular panel against a wall in my living room. All I could think was how this spoke sufficiently of the wondrous moment occurring in Sumo Hall and as a result in my own personal space.

Filled with adrenaline there was nothing to do but chase that sunrise. A few moments later, feet were shoved into sneakers, headphones attacked to ipod and placed over ears, and I was stumbling out into the street.  Japanese post-rock band Mono’s song, ‘Pure As Snow (Trails Of The Winter Storm), a song I’d encountered when my fantastic film fanatic alter-ego mondocurry heard it in a new by Sono Sion movie, Tag (Real Oni Gokko) was selected to fill my ears. It’s a lush, majestic, sorrowful and hope-inspiring sonic creation… yes all of those things, it really is worthseeking out to give a listen. About midway down the long sloping hill my apartment sits at the top of I gave up, the sun reaching its more standard position. And as the world around me was wrapped in stillness and solitude, the irrational surge of energy brought on by that cathartic wrestling program was finally subsiding, leaving me with a most unlikely realization:  Pro wrestling is beautiful. More specifically, New Japan Pro Wrestling is beautiful.

This strange experience as night turned to day, touched by sadness and insecurity and brilliance and optimism, was not likely the intended effect of the show. IIt was planned with its local crowd in mind, arriving in a mid afternoon blaze of sun and filing out in the darkening evening, where perhaps snacks or suppers awaited before an exhausted sleep would take hold. But an effect of the New Japan World streaming service, now approaching its one year mark, was to open a portal transporting me to the show and the show to me and allowing me to view in tangent with this awesome natural phenomenon that I would have otherwise missed entirely, in the standard mode of Sunday morning slumber.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has been putting out nothing short of an amazing product, at least as long as their World service has been active, but probably a bit further as well. So it is not that large a leap to find this strange feeling of transgression occur at the end of one its shows. While the singular experience may not replicated any time soon, it served to make me consider how NJPW has been a form of solace for me on account of its consistent quality. It’s been something akin to a buoy, keeping at the very least this fan afloat. In a reality peppered with unreliabilities – tragic occurrences, uncertainties over the future, the sudden abandonment or change in personality of those you trusted in – this wrestling promotion has been a steady source of unwavering quality, the effort of many individuals working together to ensure the best or close to it is achieved. Even if there are some low points or head-scratching moments within the mix, a crescendo or ‘main event’ if you will is always there hitting the high water mark.  Not only is this level of quality consistently high, it always gives the sense of striving for something even greater.

I believe this can be accounted for on two major fronts. The first I believe, is an incredible talent pool who believe in what they do and are insistent on never phoning it in. The names Tanahashi, Nakamura, Okada, Styles, Ibushi, to name only some, have been delivering nothing short of ‘match of the year’ contenders when they get in the ring on the major stage. They always appear physically and mentally exhausted after the big shows they wrestle in because they have clearly given it their all. If something works great they may continue to use such a tool in their arsenal but they always  add something new to the equation the next time around.

The other thing that I firmly plays a large role in making NJPW so consistently good is its adherence to some core beliefs about how pro wrestling should be presented. While lack of change may be frustrating at times, it has ensured that when those big moments come in the critical matches of each major show, they are not disappointing. The most significant of points that are insisted on are that the most important story is the one inside the ring, and the force driving that competition in the ring is also to win inside the ring and be the best. Always. It is not because somebody kidnapped someone’s daughter, or the regime controlling the company is tyrannical and needs to be usurped, or a representative of another country is under orders to demonstrate that nation’s dominance over another. Those can be fun, and one could argue they have an important place in keeping pro wrestling somewhat relevant to the mainstream. But in the bubble that New Japan Pro Wrestling has created for itself, wrestling is real. Even if the competition is staged and predetermined, the effort put into making this a convincing, compelling athletic competition that suspends ones disbelief about what they are watching is 100 percent genuine. Thus you have a competition with results that feel real, and those presenting it have shown a tremendous commitment to making it so. And there you have the G1 Climax, where this commitment was adhered to on a scale as grand as a 181 match tournament. And of course that fits in to a bigger picture mapped out and connected together over time, but one could argue the G1 is its crowning achievement.

While NJPW has been doing well for a while, and I have witnessed some of it on video upload sites and the very occasional ippv purchase I feel it is worth focusing on this time period commencing with the inception of NJPW World because that has opened the promotion’s activity up to such a wider audience. The promotion and wrestlers in the promotion are most definitely aware of that and it no doubt has an effect. Its launch time was curious, right around the end of 2014 in time to build up a bit of momentum before the big culminating event Wrestle Kingdom occurred in January of 2015. It should be noted that although Wrestle Kingdom occurs in January it marks the conclusion of many stories that have occurred throughout the prior year. A lot of the company’s 9^th Wrestle Kingdom’s success could be attributed to the PPV push it got as Jeff Jarret worked very hard to promote it in tandem with his Global Force Wrestling project. Therefore, I am very interested in the next Wrestle Kingdom and see it as the first that is truly part of this  ‘NJPW World era.’ It is the first of these big events that will have had a year long build up told via this international streaming service. And a huge part of it has been the unfolding of the G1 Climax.

It may seem some faulty logic: that a wrestling show made available internationally leads to watching it end as a beautiful sun rise occurs leading to the belief that NJPW may be at the top of its game right now and is putting out the best wrestling there is in the world. Yet before you dismiss it, I strongly suggest you find your way to a bit of the G1 Climax, as much as you think you can handle, and see what it does for you.

 twitter: @mondocurrymark

G1 Climax 2015 Finals rundown

Here is what it’s all been building to: The finals of the G1 Climax tournament, the first held in the “NJPW World Era.” With some special attraction matches, frantic tag team matches building up feuds to be worked out down the line, and a massive main event, it was truly a show to be studied down the line for the many high points it hit. Here is how it went down.

A strange masked man, at least to most in attendance at Sumo Hall, stood in the center of the ring. This was Delirious, representative of Ring of Honor. Speaking in rudimentary broken English, a somewhat strange choice since his remarks would be translated (or perhaps he always works a Neanderthal gimmick?), he extolled the talent of NJPW and ROH talent. He then promised Ring of Honor would be making its way to Japan in 2016.

Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger, Sho Tanaka, and Ryohei Komatsu vs Ryusuke Taguchi, Mascara Dorada, and David Finlay

At one point, Liger hit a Baseball Slide to Finlay on the outside of the ring. Taguchi performed a caricature of Nakamura's gestures when he makes his ring entrance, then hit his own take on a bomaye on Komatsu, and pinned for 3. 

Taguchi, Dorada, and Finlay win.

Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Captain New Japan vs Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, and Jay White

Kojima and Nakanishi started the match. Kojima got Nakanishi in a headlock, then threw shoulder blocks that failed to knock Nakanishi down. Tenzan and Kojima double teamed Nagata with Tenzan firing off Mongolian Chops. CNJ wanted in the match, jumping up and down in the corner, as Tenzan and Kojima hit stomps on Nakanishi. He received a Lariat by Nakanishi.

Kojima lit up Nagata with Rapid Fire Chops in the corner. Nagata put Tenzan n the  fujiwara Armbar as Nakanishi held Kojima at bay in a Torture Rack; shades of their tag team feud from 15 years ago.  Jay white hammered away at Kojima and Tenzan, but then ran into their TenCoji Cutter double team maneuver. Tenzan locked in an Anaconda Vice submission for the tap out victory.

Kojima, Tenzan, and Captain New Japan win.

Michael Elgin vs YOSHI-HASHI

Elgin threw YOSHI-HASHI into a corner but YOSHI-HASHI came flying back with a Lariat. YOSHI-HASHI hung Elgin over the top rope and hit him with a Running Drop Kick.

Later, YOSHI-HASHI got hung up in the ropes, and Elgin hit him with a Discus Forearm to the back. Elgin Deadlifted YOSHI-HASHI into a German Suplex.

Elgin, from the second rope, Deadlifted YOSHI-HASHI back into the ring and into a Falcon Arrow. He pinned for 2. YOSHI-HASHI hit a left armed Lariat and pinned for two, almost 3. Elgin cut off a Swanton Bomb but YOSHI-HASHI nailed a Sunset Flip Powerbomb from the top rope. YOSHI-HASHI connected with the Swanton but Elgin kicked up from the pin. Elgin hit a Bucklebomb and rolled YOSHI-HASHI up and into an Elgin Bomb. Elgin pinned for 3.

Elgin wins.

This was a good match that gave Elgin the triumphant send off he deserves after putting on an extremely impressive performance throughout the G1. YOSHI-HASHI may seem like a strange choice for an opponent, but it was an interesting dynamic having the power house Elgin taking on a smaller and faster opponent with a very different style of attack than most of those in the tournament.

Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, and Kazushi Sakuraba vs ‘Bad Luck’ Fale, Takashi Yujiro, and Tama Tonga

Ishii started out against Yujiro. Ishii blasted Yujiro with forearms. Yano and Fale were tagged in. Yano went immediately to the ropes and called for break. Fale ran in to choke Yano. He battered Yano with lefts and rights in corner. Tonga skated around Yano on all fours and drop kicked him in the back. Yano pulled away the turnbuckle pad causing Yujiro to crash into the corner. Yano ducked a swing by Fale and hit him with the turnbuckle. Tonga splashed Ishii but Ishii pulled Tonga into Fale's path as he charged in next. 

Sakuraba caught Tonga in a Sleeper hold from the apron. He tossed a dazed Tonga toward Ishii who then hit a Brainbuster on Tonga and pinned for 3.

Team CHAOS, Ishii, Yano, and Sakuraba won.

This was an ok none-too-serious match that moved quickly enough. With the abundance of wrestlers at this low-to-mid level, some consideration may be in order of putting some pairs together for a focus on tag team competition.

Hiroki Goto, Katsuyori Shibata, and Kota ibushi vs Tetsuya Naito, Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma 

Ibushi and Makabe started the match. Ibushi tried a shoulder block but couldn’t budge Makabe. Ibushi took Makabe to the mat with a drop kick. Shibata tagged in, and stared down Naito. Honma tagged in for his team instead. Shibata and Honma tied up on the ropes. Both give a clean break, but from the apron Naito hit a forearm to the back of Shibata's head.

Goto tried for the ushikoroshi on Honma, Honma escaped, the two hit each other with Lariats and Honma knocked Goto off his feet. Naito tagged in, stepped on Goto and posed.  He turned his attention to the opposite corner. Meanwhile Goto back to his feet and Naito walked into a huge Lariat by Goto. Goto tagged in Shibata. The audience chanted LOUDLY for Shibata as he attacked Naito. Ibushi hit a Standing Moonsault on Makabe. Makabe came back and leveled Ibushi with a Lariat. 

Honma connected with the kokeshi on Ibushi. Shibata and Naito brawled on the outside. Shibata knocked Naito over the guard rail and choked El Ingobernable with his t-shirt. In the ring, Ibushi got a Jumping Powerbomb on Honma, followed by the Phoenix Splash. Ibushi pinned Honma for 3. After the match Makabe teed off on Ibushi with forearms. Ibushi fought back with a huge kick that sent Makabe down. Shibata sat in the ring waiting for Naito who decided to lie across the apron in lazily before heading to the back with a disgusted look on his face.

Goto, Shibata, and Ibushi win.

This was a good quick and chaotic melee that generated tension between a few pairs with conflicts during the tournament. It marks an interesting departure from the CHAOS vs NJPW program that lasted most of the first half of the year.

The camera pans to show veteran Genichiro Tenryu, a rather imposing figure, come toward the commentary table. He called out Gedo. They traded words inside the ring. Okada came ou, and among other things, agreed to face off against one other in November. 

**Intermission**

The Young Bucks vs reDRagon (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship defense)

Fish and Matt started out butMatt tagged Nick in right away. Nick slams Fish down but from the ground, Fish calls up to him to 'suck it.' O’Reilly jumped off the apron toward the Bucks on the floor but they caught him with a Double Super Kick. Cody Hall, who accompanied them to the ring, then lifted O’Reilly and carried him all the way to the back while the Bucks double teamed Fish. O’Reilly remained missing as Fish fought off both Bucks. O’Reilly would eventually comes back, ducking a Lariat from Hall to get back on the apron and tag into the match. Dragon hit the Backbreaker and Knee Drop from the second rope combination for a two count on Matt.

O’Reilly got draped on the bottom rope by Matt as Nick hit a 450 Degree Splash onto him. There was a pin for a 2 count. The Indietaker was interrupted by Fish yanking Nick onto the floor. O’Reilly hit Rolling Double Underhook Hip Tosses on Nick, and this went into the reDRagon Wheelbarrow Hold-Double Underhook DDT-Wheelbarrow suplex combination. There was a pin for 2.

Nick pushed the referee into Fish, and as Fish moved him aside, Nick kicked him in the crotch. The Bucks got the tag team championship belts and hit Fish and O’Reilly with them, garnering boo’s and real heat directed at the popular team. 

Hall held Fish and O’Reilly as the Bucks went for Super Kicks in stereo but Fish and O’Reilly escape and the Bucks nailed Hall instead. The action continued back and forth. Finally, on the outside of the ring, Fish and O’Reilly hit Chasing The Dragon on Matt outside the ring and pinned for the victory.

reDRagon win and are the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champions. 

This was an excellent match between teams that have faced each other often enough, the combination threatens to get stale. Not with these four wrestlers. They keep innovating and pushing each other, including new elements as they go such as incorporating Cody Hall into the match. The Bucks’ antics made for a clear heel vs babyface dynamic and added drama to the fight.

KUSHIDA vs Ricochet (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship defense)

The two tied up and KUSHIDA gave Ricochet a clean break in the corner.

KUSHIDA came off the ropes and shoulder blocked Ricochet to the mat but he jumped right back up. Both did a wild series of handspring and summersault attacks and dodges until KUSHIDA hit a Drop Kick from the top rope, not in the corner. Ricochet lifted KUSHIDA and spun him around into a Powerbomb. Ricochet leapt up over the post to hit a Tope Con Hilo onto KUSHIDA outside of the ring and some ways up the ramp.

Ricochet dove off the ropes but KUSHIDA caught him and applied a Cross Armbar in midair. Ricochet was able to lift KUSHIDA and slam him down to break the hold. Ricochet caught KUSHIDA in midair and hit a Front Headlock Suplex, held and rolls through into another, and then rolled through and hit a Suplex releasing KUSHIDA to the mat. This was amazing.

Ricochet caught KUSHIDA with a jumping double knee strike.

Ricochet did the Benadryller (a move similar to the GTS where his opponent is flipped from a Fireman’s Carry into a standing position and then kicked in the head). He pinned KUSHIDA but KUSHIDA grabbed the ropes. Ricochet missed a 450 Splash off the top rope. KUSHIDA locked in the Hoverboard Lock (fujiwara Armbar). Ricochet tried to escape to the ropes but KUSHIDA rolled him to the center of the ring. Ricochet tapped out.

KUSHIDA wins and retains the championship.

This was a very good match featuring dazzling high flying moves and a lot of reversals. It was somewhat lacking in dramatics but this was not a long built up feud. It’s a good example of NJPW’s capacity to fill out a card by maintaining strong relations to the best of the world’s independent wrestlers.

Kazuchika Okada and the Kingdom (Michael Bennett and Matt Taven with Maria) vs AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows

Okada started off against Anderson but Anderson suddenly tagged in Styles. The two chain wrestle til both reached a standing position. AJ extended his hand to Okada. Okada motions to take it and then forms the too sweet sign and pushes it into Styles' forehead. 

Taven Drop Kicked Gallows from the turnbuckle. Gallows answers with a Bicycle Kick. Gallows and Anderson hit a double team Reverse Neckbreaker on Taven. There was a pin for 1. As Anderson poured on offense, Maria got on the apron and began gyrating. Anderson, like a snake charmed by song, began slithering back and forth and moving toward her. Styles ran into the ring, tried to snap Anderson back into reality but Anderson got AJ to see his point of view and a hypnotized AJ also began moving toward Maria. Gallows joined them and berated them for their weak wills and threatens to take Maria out with a closed fist, causing Maria to jump back down to the floor and proclaim she was done with the seduction games.

Okada and the Kingdom hit big boots to all three Bullet Club members knocking them out of the ring. Okada hits a DDT on Styles and nipped up. He rolled through a bridge and hit the Neckbreaker over the knee. Okada missed with the Top Rope elbow. Gallows threw Taven off the turnbuckle into a Necknbreaker by Anderson.

AJ countered the Rainmaker into a Styles Clash, but Okada kicked his way out of AJ’s finisher and hit the Tombstone. He tried for the Rainmaker, but AJ dodged and after a number of counters, rolled Okada into the Styles Clash and executed it for a pin and 3 count.

The Bulllet Club, Styles, Anderson, and Gallows and are victorious. 

This was an overall very good match, especially due to the chemistry between Okada and Styles. The silliness involving Maria seems very unnecessary and takes me out of the match but it was an early spot that wasn’t crucial in the finish. Styles is making an art out of finding ways to come out of different positions to put opponents in the Styles Clash. His pin on Okada is to me significant of another confrontation between the two down the line.

Before the main event, both Muto and Chono came down to sit at the commentary booth. They have had a legendary feud back and forth and numerous wins in the G1. Their confrontations are absolutely worth tracking down and watching on NJPW World. In addition they both made appearances in the US in the late 90s as NWO members in the heyday of WCW. Their run here did not feature them getting to perform to the extent they are capable of, but are worth a look, accessible on the WWE Network. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shinsuke Nakamura (G1 Climax Finals)

The two locked up very carefully, then backed away from one another. Tanahashi worked on Shinskue's arm and Shinsuke pulled away guarding the previously injured limb.

Tanahashi shoulder blocked Nakamura down to the mat and did some cocky air guitar posturing signaling Tanahashi would be playing the role of the heel, at least early on in the match.

Tanahashi lead a focused attack on Nakamura’s leg hitting a chop block and then stomping on the bomaye weapon. Nakamura did a jumping kick to Tanahashi off the turnbuckle. Nakamura jumps and drives a knee into Tanahashi's chest. Nakamura flicked dismissive kicks to the side of Tanahashi’s head. Nakamura delivered knees to the chest of Tanahashi but Tanahashi came back with a Sling Blade.

Nakamura delivered a double dose of the electrified knee to Tanahashi in the corner, but Tanahashi pushed back and hit a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Tanahashi hit a High Fly Flow onto Nakamura on the floor. Nakamura avoided a High Cross Body into the turnbuckle and drove knees into Tanahashi's chest. He followed with the Back Cracker. Nakamura prepared to hit a bomaye but Tanahashi cut it off with a Dropkick to Nakamura’s knee. Tanahashi caught Nakamura’s Reverse Kick and hit another Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Then Tanahashi put Nakamura in the Lion Tamer. Nakamura rolled out of the way of a High fly Flow and hit a bomaye to the back of Tanahashi's head. Nakamura connecteed with a bomaye front the second rope. He went for a third but Tanahashi countered into a pinning bridge for a two count. Nakamura hit another bomaye. Tanahashi just managed to kick out before three. 

Tanahashi hit a Sling Blade. He went to the top for the High Fly Flow on a standing Nakamura. Tanahashi went up for another High Fly Flow, connected but Nakamura miraculously kicked out. Tanahashi slapped Nakamura, but Namakura answered with a right hand. Nakamura picked Tanahashi up and hit a Landslide. Both men laid motionless on the mat. Nakamura rose slowly to his feet. Tanahashi got up and the two exchanged forearms. Nakamura seemed to be losing consciousness but he came to and drove knee after knees into Tanahashi’s midsection. Nakamura tried to lock in the Cross Armbar but Tanahashi kept his hands locked together. Nakamura shifted the hold into a Triangle Choke. Tanahashi managed to step over Nakamura and break the hold but Nakamura came back with a bomaye. Tanahashi just managed to roll his shoulder up. Nakamura seated Tanahashi on the turnbuckle. Nakamura climbed up, and tried to set up for a Top Rope Landslide. Tanahashi fought his way out. Tanahashi let loose ai flurry of Forearms. Tanahashi then hit a High Fly Flow as Nakamura was still standing unsteadily on the second rope. Tanahashi hit a Full Nelson Suplex for a two count. Tanahashi hit the High Fly Flow onto a standing Nakamura and went back for one more, connected, and pinned for three.

Tanahashi wins the G1 climax. 

Afterwards the two long time rivals shook hands and Tanahashi celebrated with the trophy he was presented with.

This was an incredible event. For many, it was the first G1 Climax to watch unfold because of its greater accessibility through NJPW World. If this was meant as a first foot forward it was an amazing job that could be able to rally wrestling fans to tune in to New Japan in the weeks and months to come. The card slowly built to a match that absolutely stood as the crowning achievement of the tournament; there is no doubt it was the best match of the series. More reactions to come, but for now, I feel as though I witnessed a true landmark in the realm of pro wrestling.

Twitter: @mondocurry