As the G1 Climax approaches its end run, another show was unleashed on viewers, the third in a run of three straight in a row. This time B Block participants were in action. This show solidified how, compared to the A Block, there is less flash and diversity yet there are solid Strong Style battles happening across the card. As a solid segment of the 5 match card is losing relevance due to competitors not having enough points to have a chance at reaching the finals, there are crucial confrontations sprinkled throughout each show. There are also classic battles being staged, regardless of the outcomes, between wrestlers who bring out the best in each other. Here then, after a quick overview of the undercard, is a run down and discussion of the most recent B Block section of the tournament.
‘Bad
Luck’ Fale (A) and Toma Tonga VS Jay White and David FInley
‘Bad Luck’ Fale and Toma Tonga won when Tonga hit his DDT
finisher on Finley.
Kota
Ibushi (A) and Mascara Dorada VS Toru Yano (A) and YOSHI-HASHI
Yano and YOSHI-HASHI won when YOSHI-HASHI hit a Swanton off
the top rope on Mascara Dorada followed by a pin for the win.
AJ
Styles (A), Doc Gallows (A), and Cody Hall VS Tetsuya Naito, Ryusuke Taguchi,
and Captain New Japan
This was an interesting match, with only some of the
following show’s combatants being directly pitted against one another. The
heelish Naito along with two baby faces not long for picking up high profile
wins took on a united Bullet Club. To add to the awkwardness of the match,
Taguchi came out mocking the attire and movements of his own partner Naito.
Taguchi started out with a startling number of ‘Funky
Weapon’s to AJ Styles. Naito worked an extremely fast pace against Doc Gallows,
began to cinch in an ankle submission hold, and then walked away apparently
losing interest and tagged in an eager Captain New Japan. This did not have
stellar results and soon after, Gallows hit Captain New Japan with a two-armed
Choke Slam into a Sit Down Slam* (proper name currently being researched) for
the Biz Cliz victory.
Katsuyori
Shibata (A), Togi Makabe (A), and Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger VS Hiroshi Tanahashi
(A), Tenzan Hiroyoshi (A), and KUSHIDA
The decision to put Shibata and Tanahashi on opposing sides,
even though Shibata will face Tenzan and Tanahashi will face Makabe on the next
show, was a smart one. After their close match on the previous show, there is
still a lot of intrigue in a fight between the two of them. Tanahashi, Tenzan,
and KUSHIDA won after KUSHIDA kicked out of pin that followed Liger’s Running
Palm Strike, and bridged into a pinning position to get the three count for his
team.
Tournament Matches
Karl
Anderson VS Michael Elgin
Anderson made a few attempts to knock Elgin off his feet but
was unable to. Elgin caught Anderson for a Power Slam where he held him in a
horizontal position and just dove forward. He then held Anderson up for a long
Suspended Vertical Suplex.
Anderson hit a Gun Stun dropping Elgin’s neck against the top
rope and landed a big running boot to knock Elgin to the floor. Anderson hit a
Sit Out Powerbomb for a 2 count. He then jumped off the top rope into a big
boot by Elgin.
Elgin hit an impressive Code Breaker, jumping from the top
rope. He hit Anderson with a Dead Lift German Suplex. Elgin later Dead Lifted
Anderson over the top rope into a slightly spinning Driver off the top rope for
a very near fall.
After some distraction from outside, Elgin lifted Anderson
and hit a Powerbomb that sent Anderson over the top rope into his Bullet Club
pals on the floor. This was an AMAZING spot that puts fans firmly in Elgin's
corner. As Elgin lifted Anderson for another Powerbomb, Anderson suddenly
reversed it into a Gun Stun for the win.
This was a great match that showed off Elgin’s strength and
continued gaining the ROH wrestler fans in Japan. Elgin can continue to have an
aggressive demeanor while wrestling as a baby face against factions like the
Bullet Club. It also continued to tell the story of Anderson being able to pull
wins out of thin air by hitting the RKO, err I mean the Gun Stun out of
nowhere.
Anderson: 10
Elgin: 8
Yuji
Nagata VS Satoshi Kojima
The two veterans with numerous past battles fought against
each other tied up, reached the ropes, and then Nagata shoved Kojima away for
the break. They began exchanging forearms and slaps.
Nagata was knocked to the outside and had trouble recovering.
Kojima dropped to the floor to chop Nagata and throw him into the guard rail.
Attendants outside the ring knelt down to check if Nagata was able to continue.
Nagata was knocked down by strikes from Kojima and started clutching
his chest, but came back with kicks on Kojima in the corner. Nagata hit a Magic
Screw on Kojima, as Kojima was draped on the top rope.
Kojima missed a Lariat and put into an Arm Bar by Nagata,
bringing out Nagata’s kamisama eyes
rolling back to reveal only the whites.
Kojima hit a Brainbuster. Nagata recovered and hit a sudden
Backdrop Bomb to get a 3 count for the victory..
It seemed as though both Kojima and Nagata were feeling the
very real effects of injuries compacted over the course of the tournament, and
were unable to take the usual amount of moves they normally would. Nagata was
icing his ribs after the match, showing that he was clearly hurt. Kojima did a
good job adjusting to a slightly more ruthless style, even though he usually
moves the crowd to rally behind him, because it took some of the attention away
from Nagata’s limitations. Just two more matches left…Plus the tag team bouts
on the A Block shows…Let’s rally for these guys to make it through!
Nagata: 4
Kojima:4
Kazuchika
Okada VS Takashi Yujiro
Yujiro came out to the ring with Mao for this high profile
match.
Mao took a seat beside the commentary booth and had attention
heaped upon her by the commentators. Okada got Yujiro against the ropes, and I
would like to account for his patented clean break, but the cameras were busy
showing Mao sitting in a chair. The match soon spilled outside. Yujiro slams
Okada into the guard rail. Mao was harped on to say something nice about Yujiro,
to which she responed ‘kakoi’
(‘cool’).
As Yujiro distracted the referee ‘Red Shoes’, Cody Hall took
shots at Okada and hit Gedo when he tried to come to Okada’s aid.
Okada countered a kick and hit a big boot of his own to Yujiro’s
head. He hit a big Dropkick to Yujiro who was seated on the turnbuckle.
Yujiro was booted over the guard rail on the outside. Okada
then threw Cody over the rail after him and followed with a running Cross Body
over guard rail onto both for the match’s WOW spot.
Yujiro hit a Powerbomb sending Okada into the turnbuckle
followed by the Miami Shine but could only pin the champ for a 2 count. Okada
fought back with his Over The Knee Neckbreaker.
Yujiro pulled ‘Red Shoes’ into the way of a Shoulder Block,
allowing Hall to come in for a double team assault. The ref was then thrown
into position to count a near fall on Okada.
The double team resumed but while Hall held Okada, Gedo
pulled Yujiro outside the ring to help turn things around. Okada landed the big
drop kick. Then the Tombstone. Then the Rainmaker. Okada wins.
Afterwards Gedo joined CHAOS buddy Yano on commentary.
This was an okay match, bolstered by a few big spots and fun
interactions involving Gedo and Hall. Mao is beautiful and I understand a
moderate amount of attention being paid to her; but the attention given to her
is over the top. Some ‘valet 101’ lessons from US promotions ought to be considered
to make her a more compelling character, if in fact New Japan is interested in
having her have a more regular presence. It was a good move to schedule this
match midway through the card. There is a tendency to put the match with the
biggest star on last, regardless of the opponent, but the match that headlined
was far more exciting than this one.
Okada: 12
Yujiro: 4
Shinsuke
Nakamura VS Tomoaki Honma
The two tied up, with Honma being backed against the ropes.
Nakamura applied his signature ‘drooping head’ clean break against Honma’s
chest, and then drooped his head on ‘Red Shoes’ for good measure.
Honma landed chops on Nakamura. Outside the ring, Shinsuke
dumped Honma on the guard rail in a nasty looking spot. He hit the Running Knee
to Honma as he was draped over the guard rail.
Honma landed a kokeshi
Head Butt on a fallen Nakamura. A Bomaye was
blocked by Honma who then hits a Lariat and a Brainbuster for a near fall.
Nakamura landed a 2nd rope bomaye.
Another bomaye was
attempted but dodged as Honma hit a Diving Head Butt to Shinsuke’s back, followed
by another kokeshi to Shinsuke on the
mat. Honma hit a Jumping Piledriver and pinned for 2.
Honma missed with a kokeshi
from the top rope. Nakamura hit a running bomaye
but only got 2. Honma successfully hit a big Diving kokeshi to Nakamura but Nakamura came running back with another bomaye, this time for the three count.
This was a good match, in which both wrestlers attempted
their signature striking moves multiple times.
Nakamura: 10
Honma: 0
Hiroki
Goto vs Tomohiro Ishii
The two tied up and there was a break, but not before Ishii
laid in a big chop to Goto’s chest. They traded forearms in a very long
exchange that had no end in sight. Goto gained a momentary advantage but Ishii
chopped him down to the mat.
Ishii tried a leaping charge that bounced off an immovable Goto. Ishii
hit a Brainbuster from the top rope, but Goto kicked out. Ishii did a
German Suplex.
After a series of Running Lariat attempts, Goto hit the ushikoroshi Backbreaker.
Ishii would hit a Head Butt to Goto’s shoulder to cut off a Lariat.
Ishii hit Goto's own signature ushikoroshi, followed by a Lariat to Goto as he was seated on the
ground. He went for the pin but only got a 2 count. Goto put Ishii on the top
rope, and then executed a spinning ushikoroshi.
Ishii kicked out before the count of 3.
They battled back and forth with Head Butts, with Goto
getting the better of the exchange. Goto then hit the shouten kai for the win.
This was an extremely hard fought match, emphasizing the
Strong Style elements of New Japan Pro Wrestling. Moves were more often hit
than they were dodged. Exchanges went back and forth with a challenge thrown
out to one’s opponent every time they landed their offense. Both wrestlers
looked great, showing
Goto: 10
Ishii: 8
This was a solid show, which again, was marked by somewhat
of a standard format running throughout each match, at least compared to the A
Block cards, especially recent ones. The top 3 of the tournament are shaping up
only two matches for each participant remain before the finals. Okada is in the
lead, and Nakamura, Anderson, and Goto all have enough points for a tie for 2nd
place not far behind first. With Okada and Nakamura facing off the night before
the finals, I still believe it will be between the two of them to determine who
will be in the finals. And while it’s good to be the king, or in this case
champ, it leaves less to prove than for those fighting to become champion; so I
maintain my belief that Nakamura will go to the finals. Third place is no
slouch though, and determines who will be in the second to last match of the
last G1 show, right before the finals. It is a prime spot that could mean big
things for the participant from either or both blocks fighting in the match.
This is especially the case when wrestlers holding titles have the potential to
be involved.
I also still think
Nakamura, or whoever is destined for the B Block win will face Tanahashi, who
will win and challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight title at the next Wrestle
Kingdom. This may very well make for a historic rematch.
There is a day off before the next A and B Block shows
follow. And it is a much needed break! Look out for an analysis of where things
may go from here.
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