With the G1 Climax tournament drawing to a close, here will begins an attempt to look at the results of each show a bit more closely. Some superb wrestling has been in effect throughout the tournament, and is no doubt going to increase in scope as the finals of the tournament approach.
I'll focus on the tournament matches, which on this show involved wrestlers in the A Block, with a quick overview of results in the undercard. More insight into the A and B Block wrestlers' paths that have unfolded already can be found in previous posts:
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Satoshi Kojima (A), Jushin 'Thunder' Lyger, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Ryohei Komatsu VS Yuji Nagata (A), KUSHIDA, Mascara Dorada, and David Finley
Kojima's team won when Ryusuke Taguchi hit his double arm hook slam finisher on David Finley.
Michael Elgin (B) and Jay White VS Karl Anderson (B) and Cody Hall
Elgin showed off his strength, holding Anderson up
in a Vertical Suplex for a long time, unphased when Cody Hall tried to break it
up. He would also hold a Boston Crab as Hall unsuccessfully tried to break up
the hold, yelling at Hall that he ‘ain’t shit’ and spitting at the rookie. The
Biz Cliz won the match when Anderson hit White with the Gun Stun.
Shinsuke Nakamura (B), Tomohiro Ishii (B), and YOSHI-HASHI VS Hiroki
Goto (B),Tomoaki Honma (B), and Captain New Japan
Nakamura, Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI of CHAOS won the
match after YOSHI-HASHI landed a Swanton off the top rope on top Captain New
Japan and picked up the pin fall victory.
Kazuchika Okada (B) and Gedo VS
Takashi Yujiro (B) and Toma Tonga
The Bullet Club’s Yujiro and Toma Tonga won the
match when Tonga hit his DDT finisher on Gedo. Yujiro continued to batter Okada
on the outside of the ring after the match, to build up heat around their B
Block tournament match the next day.
A BLOCK TOURNAMENT MATCHES
Kota Ibushi VS 'Bad Luck' Fale
Fale brought his attack on Ibushi to the outside early on, knocking the smaller opponent into a bank of chairs and slamming a huge section of guard rail on top of him. He continued to wear down Ibushi in the ring. Abut fought out of a Powerbomb position on the outside and hit a Moonsault onto Fale from the ring apron to the floor.
Ibushi escaped a Grenade (Samoan Spike) and reversed his position into a Sunset Flip for a near fall. Fale went for the Bad Luck Fall, which Ibushi nearly countered, but was repositioned for the variation on the Release Powerbomb again, allowing Fale to pick up the win.
Fale: 10 points
Ibushi: 6 points
Tetsuya Naito VS Toru Yano
Naito took his time with an extremely leisurely walk to the
ring. He was still standing fully donned in suit and ‘Doom’ mask when the ref
rang the bell. Yano put his own red jacket back on to a huge audience reaction,
and as Naito began to undo buttons, charged in for an attack. He choked Naito
with his jacket.
Naito later posed lazily in the middle of the ring, which
prompted Yano to lie down and imitate him on the ring aporn. Naito quickly took
advantage and hit a Baseball Slide Dropkick. Yano clandestinely removed a
turnbuckle pad, which Naito slammed into when he missed a charge at Yano.
Yano was complaining to the ref about the way Naito landed
an Atomic Drop when Naito kicked him low and then nailed his finisher, Destino, which is
looking better and better: The beginning a flip that recalls Sliced Bread and
then a slam that resembles a reverse DDT. Naito picked up the pinfall victory.
Afterwards he really played up his heelish persona, choking Yano on the mat
and then roughing up the referee. He called for the referee to reenter the ring
only to hit him ahain with a Baseball Slide.
Naito: 10 points
Yano: 4 points
AJ Styles Vs Tenzan
Tenzan started by cinching an Arm Bar in, causing AJ to
retreat to the ropes and call for a break. Tenzan would land hardhitting
Mongolian Chops. AJ missed a drop kick, which hit referee ‘Red Shoes.’ AJ
pushed him out of the way and yelled for him to get out of his way.
Styles hit a Calf Killer submission and the a Figure Four.
Tenzan began to stumble when tossed off the ropes, which AJ laughed at derisively.
AJ fought out of Tenzan’s Anaconda Vice submission hold and reached the ropes. He flipped
Tenzan into the Calf Killer again, this time getting the tap out victory.
AJ Styles did an excellent job selling the offense of the
veteran Tenzan. He also played heel very well, yelling often. He would taunt
the crowd and reject their support. Once when they were chanting for him, he
told them ‘Shut up, I know who I am!’ He yelled at the timekeeper to shut up
when he was counting AJ out of the ring too. It made for a very entertaining
match.
AJ Styles: 10 points
Tenzan: 2 points
Togi Makabe VS Doc
Gallows
This match turned into a brawl right away that quickly went
outside the ring. Gallows choked Makabe with the Never champ’s own trademark
chain, and then blasted him with it as it as wrapped around his fist. There was
more choking, this time with Gallows’ noose. Makabe barely beat a twenty count
to get back into the ring.
Gallows took the fight outside the ring again, dropping a
huge piece of guard rail and chairs down on Makabe. Makabe again struggled to
reach the ring in time to beat the count out.
Gallows continued to batter Makabe and got a near fall.
Makabe battled back getting the winning end of a few Lariat battles. Makabe hit
a big Lariat on a running Gallows and positioned him for the King Kong Knee
Drop off the top rope. This allowed Makabe to make the pin and pick up the
victory.
It was a great fight that emphasized brawling over technical
wrestling, which was fine. It played to their strengths and filled out the
card with a style of match different than the rest.
Makabe: 8 points
Gallows: 2 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS
Katsuyori Shibata
*This was an excellent match, very worth seeking out and
watching*
The two carefully felt things out for a tentative lockup.
Both got Headlocks cinched in on one another tight. A tie up ended with Shibata
going for a sudden Penalty Kick , which Tanahashi ducked.
Tanahashi locked in a submission that put pressure on the
legs of Shibata. The two spun around in a circle jockeying for position until
Shibata was able to successfully lock in an Abdominal Stretch. Shibata put
Tanahashi in a Figure Four. There was a vicious forearm exchange. Tanahashi cut
off a Running Dropkick by Shibata with a dropkick to Shibata’s knee. He hit a
Dragon Screw Leg Whip on Shibata. Outside the ring, he hit Shibata square in
the chest with a running Dropkick into the guard rail.
Shibata leveled Tanahashi in the corner with forearms.
Tanahashi reversed. In a crazy spot, Tanahashi ran at Shibata with a Baseball
Slide but Shibata jumped over it and landed a Double Stomp on Tanahashi’s head.
Tanahashi caught a Penalty Kick and retaliated with a Drop
Kick at close range right into Shibata’s knee again. He hit a Dragon Screw on
the same leg of Shibata. Tanahashi went for a High Fly Flow but Shibata Drop
Kicked him while on the turnbuckle. Tanahashi knocked Shibata off the top rope
in the middle of a Forearm exchange but Shibata Drop Kicked Tanahashi as he was
still on the top rope.
Tanahashi hit a Sling Blade. Shibata hit an FU and attempted
a GTS but Tanahashi blocked. He hit a High Fly Flow on a standing Shibata and
went for a second but Shibata got his knees up to counter. Tanahashi ducked
another Penalty Kick attempt and rolled up Shibata for a near fall. Tanahashi
maneuevered himself into a bridging position for another pin and this time got
the three count for the win.
This match was like fine music. There were so many dynamics,
and themes were pursued with each wrestler targeting a body part and continuing
a logical and painful looking assault. I cannot wait to see these two wrestle
each other again.
Tanahashi: 10
Shibata: 8
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This was an excellent round of tournament matches that
covered the gamut from brawls to more traditional matches where the heel keeps
the baby face down til he mounts a dramatic comeback. Then there was the main
event that featured amazing technique and impassioned exchanges. There were no
dull spots.
Each combatant has 3 matches ahead of him. With Styles and Tanahashi facing each other
right before the finals, it stands to reason they will enter their match with an
equal number of points, the winner of the match being the winner of the A Block
and going on to the finals. I think this will be Tanahashi in order to secure a
rematch at Wrestle Kingdom with Okada. Tanhashi would want the belt, while
Okada would need the rematch victory after losing at last year’s Wrestle
Kingdom. One has to keep an eye on Naito as a dark horse possibility for
victor, who has been on an impressive role since his character change and has
the ability to beat any of the opponents in his path ahead.
What do you think?
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