Destination Philly

Back in May, I had the thrill of hitting the I95 and driving down from New York City to Philadelphia for the second of the two night stand War of the Worlds event put on by Ring of Honor, and featuring members of the New Japan Pro Wrestling roster. Being a huge proponent of NJPW, and having had an absolute blast when the two promotions' top talent locked up at last year's first incarnation of the event at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom, I was going to go to great lengths to check this out. While I would've preferred to see this meeting of wrestling worlds go down in New York City again as opposed to its smaller yet extremely wrestling-centric neighbor to the south, it's always good to have an excuse to jet down to Philadelphia for a cheesesteak...or two...and other fine eats, some record store rummaging, and taking in the vibe of a generally more laid back hostility-free scene.

So, day off from work sorted out, I loaded up the war machine and, as it's never a good idea to venture into the Wasteland alone, made room for Chocko, also known as the 'Underboss' of the Mondoverse, who held things together on a lot of fronts: navigator, photographer, food wrangler, enforcer. The eater of sandwiches and I quickly made our way down to Old City to try the cheesesteaks at Sonny's Famous Steaks, and pick up some entrance theme music options at the charming a.k.a music. From there we made our way toward South Street, then further off the grid for an obligatory recharge and re-caffeination session at vegan cafe Grindhouse, where the thrash and death metal background music also helped get the blood pumping. This has become an unlikely but obligatory pro wrestling pilgrimage stopover spot, originally stumbled upon when an exhibition of photos by Zia Hiltey featuring El Generico and Chikara Pro activity was being held there. Finally it was over to the strip of auto shops and warehouses, which were definitely on the edge of something if not 'town', where the ECW Arena stood in wait.

This was definitely Road Warrior territory. If not Fury Road, perhaps Fury Row, which is a slightly less unsettling part of town than Muffler Row (link to FOTpedia). With the line of warehouse structures on one side, there is a view across the way to a dim industrial expanse. The street that fills the gap in between had become a jagged jamming together of parked cars in an arrangement that ever so slightly tipped its hat at organization by the time we arrived. Standing around and on top of the vehicles were wrestling fans aplenty, many of which were wearing Bullet Club t-shirts, most of whom were White. Essentially the ECW Arena resembled a strip club from the outside, and an emptied out warehouse space inside. Once inside, after 2 or 3 laps around the venue, we determined the narrow sliver of seats that was our section, where indeed nobody was sitting, and got to watching the show.

Wrestling

The unannounced opening match put the masked Latin Lover against recent new prospect turned House of Truth member J Diesel. The heel claimed a moderately hard fought victory for Team Truth.

Next up was the official opener of the show: The Decade's Adam Page taking on NJPW via New Jersey star Watanabe. Adam Page was accompanied by newly christened Decade young boy Colby Corino, which is important to note because the most memorable moments of the match involved him interfering and getting blasted by Watanabe. First, he received a 'Holy Shit' chant inducing German Suplex on the floor. Afterwards, as the victorious Adam Page, who won with his Inverted Backdrop Pile Driver finisher, was leaving the ring, Colby was pulled in by Watanabe for a lariat. Hitting a kid with the build of a scrawny teenager did not do much to put Watanabe over as a baby face, nor would I say it added much value to the ROH brand when Moose would destroy Colby with repeated power bombs outside the ring in their confrontation at Global Wars a few days later.

ROH's Michael Elgin took on NJPW's junior heavyweight KUSHIDA next. It was a dynamic match with KUSHIDA hitting a lot of high spots and Elgin landing some brutal looking throws and slams. KUSHIDA's manner was plenty aggressive, slapping away a handshake as the match started, and charging straight into the fight with the physically overbearing Elgin. Despite some intense back and forth sequences, Elgin defeated the small opponent.

The next match pit legitimate NJPW major player Tetsuya Naito against reDRagon's Kyle O'Reilly. While O'Reilly was in effect representing ROH, it pleased me that this was a match that could have appeared right on the bill of a not-so-typical NJPW show in Japan, since reDRagon have a consistent presence in the promotion's Junior Heavyweight division.  The match incorporated a lot of humorous elements, and the heel/face dynamic seemed to shift during the match, adjusting according to audience reactions. As Naito is much less widely known than a Hiroshi Tanahashi or Shinsuke Nakamura, a lot of those in attendance didn't know what to make of him or what to expect. He and O'Reilly pantomimed powering down and up in reaction to the chants of their own or their opponent's name. Naito seemed to enjoy playing up a goofy villainous persona, exaggerating his shining eye gesture arrogantly, and O'Reilly received a 'Sleazy Kyle' chant as he started strutting around the ring, something I believe he started doing to mock rivals The Addiction. In the end, Naito won the match with his Stardust Press finisher off the top rope. The two shook hands amicably afterwards.

The next match would be the seemingly suddenly placed 4 Corner Survival match between Mark Briscoe, Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, Jay Lethal, and Shinsuke Nakamura. I don't think fans expect this one to appear so early on the card. It might've been done strategically to send a few more people to the autograph area during intermission to get a picture with Nakamura, but it also ended up leaving me and perhaps several others a bit exhausted as the second half of the evening approached. Nakamura was by far the most over individual on the card that night. I stress 'individual' because the collective of The Bullet Club, and maybe even the Bullet Cub's not so secret weapon, The Young Bucks, got a reception that rivaled or surpassed the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion's. But the crowd was roaring as Nakamura came out to the ring and as he wrestled.  The match was fun without generating any overly heated interactions between participants. Lethal and Nakamura danced around one another a bit, working taunts. At one point there was collusion between Mark Briscoe and Lethal as the two double teamed Liger in one of the corners, but Lethal, true to form, knocked Briscoe from the turnbuckle to underhandedly take out his peer. In the end Nakamura took the victory with a running bomaye knee to Liger.

At intermission time, the audience was urged to purchase 'Okada bucks' to throw during his ring entrance. As the break drew to a close, the ROH's svelte resident underdog Cheeseburger hyped the crowd with t-shirts being launched into the crowd til he was interrupted by veteran Brutal Bob. He ran down his former tag team partner, took a t-shirt for himself and knocked Cheeseburger out, setting up for a feud that would play out in a match appearing on ROH television not long after.

The first match after the intermission was a hot one, putting ROH regular Rodderick Strong VS NJPW ace Hiroshi Tanahashi. This extremely competitive bout was a definite highlight of the night, and from accounts I've heard, of the entire series of joint shows in both Philadelphia and Toronto. The drama was heightened when Rodderick was cut, his facing quickly covered by a slick layer of blood. The injury seemed unintentional but seeing Strong fight through whatever additional damage must have been incurred was riveting. Both combatants had loud cheers from the crowd going in their favor. Toward the end of the match Tanahashi hit signature moves in his arsenal: a Dragon Screw Leg Whip and a Sling Blade. Strong pulled out his running Drop Kick blast dubbed The End of Heartache and covered Tanahashi for a convincing near fall. Tanahashi would win the match with a High Fly Flow Splash off the top rope.

The Addiction, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian, came out next to defend the Ring of Honor Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against CHAOS duo Kazuchika Okada and Gedo. The match was an excellent showcase of  Daniels' and Kazarian's work as a heel tag team. They hit a multitude of impressive double team maneuvers. They also continually trash talked their overseas opponents without missing a beat. Unsurprisingly the match was built around The Addiction double teaming Gedo and keeping him isolated, though the veteran and now behind the scenes maven of NJPW did fire off some impressive offense of his own, until he got the hot tag to Okada who blasted through both Daniels and Kazarian. It would not be enough, though, and the reigning ROH tag team champs would pick up the victory with Gedo being pinned. Afterwards, however, Okada ran back in and took out the celebrating heels, leaving Daniels laid out by a big Rainmaker Lariat.

The penultimate match had ROH Heavyweight Champion Jay Briscoe defending his title against reDRagon's more experienced half, Bobby Fish. The match was fighting an uphill battle in a few respects. It was drawing near to the end of a long show, but not quite the main event; it had a fairly predictable outcome; and just as the early match between Naito and O'Reilly could have been part of a typical NJPW show, this one could have easily been featured along the route of your average ROH tour.  Which has far less exotic implications. There was also some pretty strong anti-Briscoe sentiment in the crowd. I don't know if he's been a polarizing figure throughout his title run or if a particular contingent of jerky smart-mark fans in Philly were intent on creating friction. No matter, the two put on an excellent match. Fish was as credible a challenger to the Heavyweight title as anyone, which I hope NJPW officials took note of. While neither he nor O'Reilly are booked for the upcoming G1 Climax Tournament (they did make a huge mark during the Best of the Super Juniors series), they could easily hold their own in competition against NJPW's heavyweight roster members. There were some deadly looking maneuvers executed on the ring apron. Eventually Briscoe won with the Jay Driller Driver finisher to retain the title. The action was not quite over yet, as Moose made his way to the ring. There was an exchange of words leading to Moose leveling the champ with a spear. Jay would then pick himself up and, not carrying himself with the diplomacy of a John Cena, give the hostile audience a piece of his mind before making his way to the back.

It was now time for the main event: The Bullet Club, represented by IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles and the Young Bucks Matt and Nick Jackson, who currently hold the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles VS The Kingdom: Michael Bennet and Matt Taven, in current possession of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles and only just returning to action Adam Cole, all of whom were accompanied to the ring by Maria Kanelis. The match would be a hair raising, crazy affair of flying bodies and intricately laid out spots throughout. I was not disappointed by the in ring action in the least. That this match itself was booked, and as the main event, left me a little cold for reasons I'll explain below. In the meantime as far as what I could actually keep track of during the match, there was an ongoing tease of the Young Bucks offering the 'too sweet' salute to Adam Cole, who would contemplate it to the shagrin of his presumably less cool pals in The Kingdom. In an extremely meta move, Taven and Bennet had a Young Buck locked up in the corner with Cole sauntering over, and then taking things further than the Bucks' unceremonious back rake and simply did nothing, dismissing the tangled up foe. An attack on Maria Kanelis was hinted at many times, and after one too many interjections into the match she received a triple Super Kick from the Bucks and Styles. AJ did hit the Styles Clash to come close to finishing the match but Taven and Bennet managed to make the save and clear the ring, with somebody's championship belts in hand, allowing for Cole to get a cheap and dirty roll up pin on Matt for the Kingdom to emerge victorious. Matt Jackson was really the ring general in this match, with AJ just holding his own. It gives credence to Matt's nickname, The Indietaker. But at the same time, for my money I would've liked to see AJ in a singles match, or at least defending his title against 2 or 3 other opponents. He is just too good in my opinion to see somewhere in the mix of a multi-man tag team match.

The reason for my feeling less than enthused about the match has a lot to do with my general warming over on the Bullet Club. No bones about it, ROH did know their audience and booked a finale that would have their core audience in this city eating it up, but I would go so far as to suggest a better program could easily out there and could potentially raise the stakes of the game. Essentially you had the bunch of jerks taking on the bunch of jerks that are cooler. No real faces to get behind, no heroes, just the guys in school you would be more afraid to get a swirly from. So who does that make the better performers? The villains that get received as villains or the ones that everybody wants to get a high five from?

Naturally the fans get behind the cool jerks. I'm not saying there is no place for this sort of program in wrestling at all. It is a great hallmark of this modern period of pro wrestling. It does have its limits, though, and I think the Bullet Club has definitely maxed out its intrigue level. At least to a wrestling audience that one hopes to expand. Beyond a bunch of jerky white guys in cool t-shirts...who look up to a wrestling group made up of a bunch of white guys who started the cool t-shirt. OK, that all sounds very preachy delivered from high atop the soap box and I'm not trying to be entirely like that. I am well aware pro wrestling isn't nor has it ever been a bastion of progressive thinking or social change, nor should it be entirely. But can it show some leanings in that direction? I don't think it is necessarily that unthinkable a notion. For one thing, playing on the fact that this is an international show highlighting international talent from NJPW, I would've liked to see that talent elevated into the highest slot on the card. Perhaps instead of warring heel groups, a situation where unlikely teammates become strange bedfellows to engage in competition with their rivals from within the opposing company.

This leads back to my eventual wish that the show had been held back at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Or somewhere else in New York City. Convenience aside, there is the fact that New York City has a lot more diversity and it stands to reason you would get a more diverse audience attending t the show. Again, I don't mean to come off as spouting a bunch of bleeding heart anti-White guy rhetoric. I am one, after all. But I definitely feel more comfortable in a mixed crowd than one where the vast majority looks and acts the same. Even leaving ethnicity out of the picture, I feel that New York City would bring a greater diversity of fan opinions and break up, even if just a little, that Bullet Club 'Boy's Club' in such full force at the ECW Arena. One thing I know to be a fact is that in New York City there is a huge Japanese population. And, as evidenced by the War Of The Worlds show last year, people in that community will come out to see the New Japan stars perform in person. I understand the Hammerstien has probably become cost prohibitive, but if another venue could be found within the 5 boros, I am confident the Japanese fans would find it and change up the crowd landscape a bit.

But if all this sounds like a whole lot of complaining, I really don't mean it to be. It was a fantastic show, and as our backs edged ever closer to the exit during the heel VS heel main event, we exited a bit ahead of the crowd so we could make a quick stop at Tony Luke's around the corner for a roast pork and provolone sandwich to go. That and the hilarity of The Best Show podcast, hosted by Tom Scharpling served as rocket fuel to get us back to New York City unscathed.

Meanwhile, I am pleased to have just found out NJPW wrestlers Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, and KUSHIDA will return to the east coast in late August for another ROH taping in Philadelphia right before ROH stages their second show at the MCU in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Perhaps some Japanese fans will flock to the distant fringe of the popular boro. Maybe ROH will get it a bit more right and push these guys to very important spots on the shows, and if the Bullet Club is still being presented as a major attraction, then maybe they will have them do something a bit more important. If fans really want a rehash of the NWO takeover era, then maybe they will actually play at taking over instead of hanging out.



'til then.


Several photos provided by Chocko (planetchocko.com)

Me on twitter: @mondocurrymark

Chocko on twitter: @njmisfit

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

G1 Climax 2015 A Block August 14 Results and Reaction

This was the first of three tremendous shows held in a row to close out the G1 Climax tournament. The show chronicled here would determine the A Block competitor to enter the finals. The next day’s show will do the same for the B Block. Meanwhile, a plethora of talent that has passed through the ranks of NJPW have been called upon to round out a card of super show proportions throughout these 3 shows. As intense as this show was, the next two are sure to follow suit with the possibility of outdoing what came before. Here is a rundown of the undercard, which holds the goal of building up suspense for the B Block tournament matches the next day, followed by the last round of A Block matches.

Undercard

Satoshi Kojima (B), Tomoaki Honma (B), and Mascara Dorada VS Karl Anderson (B), Takashi Yujiro (B), and Tama Tonga

At one point the heels in the Bullet Club hard Honma in peril, with all three of them stomping away on Honma in the center of the ring. Kojima got Anderson lying across the top turnbuckle and fired away at him with rapid fire chops.

After a lot of highflying offense from Mascara Dorada, Tama Tonga hit the luchador with his Headshrinker finisher (Double Uunderhook DDT) for the Biz Cliz to pick up the win.

Michael Elgin (B) and reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) VS Cody Hall and the Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson)

Before the match Hall’s towering physique is emphasized as the Bucks jump up to give him a ‘Too Sweet.’

Nick Jackson parades around the outside on Hall’s shoulders yelling ‘suck it.’ Fish gives Matt Jackson a ‘suck it’ taunt of his own and evades a Baseball Slide from Matt, which crashes into Hall and Nick. Elgin hit a huge cannonball to the outside of the ring onto the Bucks and Hall. Elgin would deadlift Matt into a suplex position, and maintained the hold even after Nick Jackson and Hall kicked him to break. reDRagon and Elgin coordinated, with Elgin lifting both Bucks, and Fish and O’Reilly both lifting Hall for suplexes to everyone on Team Biz Cliz.

The Young Bucks hit Elgin with a double Super Kick but he shrugged it off and Clotheslined both. Elgin then hit Hall with a Powerbomb, rolled him up and lifted him into a Sitdown Powerbomb and pinned him for his team to win. This was a solid match with some very fun interactions between Elgin and ROH compatriots reDRagon. It made Elgin look strong going into his B Block fight the next day with the very well matched Ishii, and built anticipation for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team match between the Young Bucks and reDRagon on the 16^th.

Yuji Nagata (B), Ricochet, and Manabu Nakanishi   VS   Hiroki Goto (B), KUSHIDA, and Captain New Japan

Goto and Nagata, whose B Block tournament match is tomorrow, started off with forearms back and forth. The old timer Nakanishi teed off on Captain New Japan with a double chop. Captain New Japan and Goto tried to get Nakanishi up for a Suplex but he reversed the throw on the two of them. Ricochet attacked KUSHIDA with a jumping clothesline and hit a huge elbow on the Junior Heavyweight champion from the top rope. KUSHIDA and Ricochet dodged one another’s kicks til Ricochet landed kick to the head, which KUSHIDA answered with a Pele Kick.

As his partners held off any interference, Nagata locked the Armbar in on Captain New Japan to make him tap out and give Nagata, KUSHIDA, and Nakanishi the victory. Afterwards, KUSHIDA and Ricochet shook hands, showing the two have a mutual respect for each other going into their title match on Sunday. One is left to wonder if the increasingly dangerous looking Arm Bar of Nagata will come into play in the match between him and Goto on the next show.

Shinsuke Nakamura (B), Tomohiro ishii (B), Kazushi Sakuraba, and YOSHI-HASHI VS Okada (B), The Kingdom (Bennet and Taven), and Gedo

Ishii, whose next B Block opponent Michael Elgin fought in an earlier match, started off against the Kingdom’s Michael Bennet. After a brief exchange Taven entered the ring for the Kingdom to double team Ishii, but Ishii countered with a Lariat and Powerslam.

YOSHI-HASHI draped Bennet on the top rope and hit a running Drop Kick to his back. Bennter tagged Taven and the two hit Enzugiri kicks to YOSHI-HASHI, Taven’s off the top rope. Okada and company isolated and worked over YOSHI-HASHI, with Gedo driving and twisting his heel into his face.

Nakamura drove his Electrified Boot into Okada’s chest in the corner. Okada and Nakamura had a forearm exchange, and then Okada hit Nakamura with the Neckbreaker over his knee. Sakuraba hit kicking strikes to Gedo’s side. Gedo rolled up Sakuraba but couldn’t get the pin. Sakuraba cinched in a Sleeper Hold but Maria got on the apron to cause a distraction. Gedo reversed Sakuraba into a clutch but Sakuraba countered and put Gedo in an Armbar to make him tap out for Nakamura’s team to win.  

Okada and Nakamura both looked strong going into their all important match the next day. It was an interesting premise that could have been called a match among CHAOS and friends, as Sakuraba and The Kingdom do not have official ties to the group but have often fought side by side with them.

Tournament Matches

Katsuyori Shibata vs Doc Gallows

Shibata tried to go down to the mat to take Gallows down via his legs and narrowly avoided a stomp. Shibata applied a Figure Four Leg Lock. In the corner, Shibata drove his foot into the face of Gallow, twisting it back and forth over his right eye. Gallows was able to fight his way p and push Shibata back.

Gallows hit a devastating looking Chokeslam to Shibata on the ring apron. Shibata narrowly beat the 20 count to get back in the ring. Shibata avoided a charge and locked in a Sleeper but Gallows escaped to the ropes. Shibata ran into a fist and was lifted by Gallows into a huge Sitdown Powerbomb for a two count. Gallows hit the Gallows Pole (Chokebomb) but Shibata grabbed hold of his arm for an Anaconda Vice submission. He couldn’t keep it locked in, though. Shibata ran into kick after kick. Finally, Gallows lifted him for another Gallows Pole to pick up the pinfall victory.

Though the result disappointed me, it was in fact a great match. I would love to see Shibata rocketed to the top of the card with his great early showing, especially against Tanahashi. But it could do well to make Gallows into more of a serious threat. This could lead into a program between the two, with Shibata struggling to get a win along the same lines as Okada’s program with Fale earlier this year.

Gallows: 6 points

Shibata: 8 points

Toru Yano vs ‘Bad Luck’ Fale

As Fale entered, Yano crotched him on the ropes. He then got a bottle rigged to shoot a stream of water in Fale’s face. An enraged Fale swung wildly at Yano, but Yano ducked and hit Fale in the back of the head with the DVD case he always waves around to promote CHAOS merchandise. Fale took control, stomping on Yano on the outside of the ring. He whacked Yano on the head with the same tape and handed it off to Tama Tonga to tear up. Yano would join his peers and get back in the ring just in time to avoid being counted out.

Fale tossed Yano to the floor, where Tonga chocked him. As the count started, Fale teased a Bad Luck Fall to Yano on the commentators’ table but the CHAOS prankster escaped. As the count continued, Yano hit low blows on both Fale and Tonga. He then climbed into the ring to escape the count out, leaving the Bullet Club on the outside. Toru Yano won by count out. The match was OK, moving briskly enough and showing that this kind of antic-filled match, if used sparingly, can be a good break up in the flow of a strong card of more serious wrestling.

Yano: 6 points

Fale: 10 points

Tetsuya Naito vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan 

Tenzan charged in while Naito still had his suit on. He bashed El Ingobernable into the ring post outside. Naito rolled back in and then right back out of the ring. He threw Tenzan into guardrails and a bank of chairs outside. After taking off his suit, Naito blasted Tenzan off the apron and then ran the ropes only to stop in the middle of the ring to do his lying down pose. 

Naito stepped down on Tenzan’s jaw while posing arrogantly. He hit Tenzan with Tenzan’s own Mongolian chops, pausing to smirk and get a reaction from the audience. Naito continued his demeaning assault, slapping Tenzan’s head. Tenzan turned the tide with a big head butt. 

Naito blocked a Suplex and hit a Drop Kick from the top rope. When Naito was down, ‘Red Shoes,’ having suffered constant physical abuse at the hands of Naito, got a kick in on him and urged Tenzan to get on the attack. 

Tenzan cinched in the Anaconda Vice. Naito elbowed his way out it and hit a German Suplex for a pin attempt. Naito locked in the Pluma Blanca (head scissors) submission but Tenzan hit Head Butts to escape. Once more Tenzan knocked down Naito with Head Butts and locked in the Anaconda Vice to make Naito tap out. Tenzan wins.

This was a good match of conflicting styles, with Naito’s conniving ways not putting him on top in the end. There is always potential for him to make a comeback, perhaps even inserting himself in an important match down the line to upset a result and create a heated feud with one of his peers.

Tenzan: 6 points

Naito: 10 points

Kota Ibushi vs Togi Makabe

The two stood nose to nose in the center of the ring. Makabe unleashed big forearms to Ibushi’s head. Ibushi answered with a flurry of kicks and chops. Ibushi kicked away at Makabe’s thigh and knee with Makabe goading him on. Makabe then caught Ibushi with a Lariat.

Ibushi escaped punches from the the top turnbuckle and hit a Pele Kick to nail Makabe as he was on the second rope. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault. Makabe ducked a kick, missed one Lariat but hit a second Lariat with his left arm. Makabe executed a Powerbomb and pinned for a count of two.

Makabe put Ibushi on the top rope and went for the Spider German Suplex. Ibushi flipped out of it and landed on his feet. He dragged Makabe off the turnbuckle and landed an Asai kick. Ibushi went up to the top rope for a Phoenix splash, nailed it, and pinned Makabe for the win.

This was a good showing for Ibushi, highlighting his agility and durability in the face of a stronger opponent like Makabe. The way he came out of spots like the one involving the Spider were exciting to behold.

Ibushi: 8 points

Makabe: 8 points

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs AJ Styles

There was a tie up that took the two into the corner. AJ slapped Tanahashi's cheek condescendingly and gave him the clean break. Tanahashi's slapped AJ’s face and hit an Arm Drag to take Styles to the mat.

With AJ in the corner, Tanahashi slid to the outside and slammed AJ’s leg against the post repeatedly. He continued attacking the leg with a Standing Splash directly onto it. Styles tried to toss Tanahashi out of the ring, Tanahashi skins the cat, but Styles caught him and tossed him all the way over and out. Styles attacked Tanahashi's leg with kicks and wrenched it against the bottom rope.

Tanahashi hit the High Fly Flow from the top rope to AJ on the outside of the ring. Styles struggled to make it back in the ring at a count of 19. Styles flipped off the second rope for a Moonsault and followed through into a Reverse DDT.  Tanahashi hit a Running Splash onto AJ in the corner. ‘Red Shoes got pulled into its path. With the ref down, AJ hit a low blow. He signaled for the Styles Clash but Tanahashi stopped it with his own low blow. 

AJ rolled Tanahashi into the Calf Killer submission. Appearing to be in excruciating pain, Tanahashi was able to suddenly pull himself to the ropes for a break. Tanahashi reversed a Bloody Sunday into a Magic Screw (also called a Dragon Screw Neck Whip). Styles hit a Styles Buster (Facebuster) for a near fall. Tanahashi refused to go up for the Styles Clash, and hit a Sling Blade. Tanahashi tried for the Styles Clash. AJ slipped out and reversed it into an Ankle Lock. Tanahashi escaped by driving Styles into the turnbuckle. Tanahashi lifted AJ away from the corner and this time, successfully hit the Styles Clash. AJ Kicked out of a pin. Tanahashi went for the High Fly Flow but AJ got the knees up.

Styles hit his own High Fly Flow. Tanahashi kicked out of a pin. Styles hit the Bloody Sunday. He grabbed Tanahashi but Tanahashi countered and hit another Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Both wrestlers slowly climbed to their feet. AJ went for a Pele Kick but Tanahashi caught it and hit another Dragon Screw. Tanahashi hit a High Fly Flow to a standing Styles. Then he hit it again on Styles as he was lying on the mat. Tanahashi pinned for the win, and his spot in the G1 finals. 

This match started out good and slowly turned into something incredible. When submission holds entered the equation there was so much legitimate suspense over who would get the win. It is the mark of pro wrestlers who work together so well, each time they face each other in the ring promises to be better than the next time.

Tanahashi: 14 points

Styles: 12 points

This incredible show is even more remarkable for the fact that two more shows in the G1 Climax remain, and have the potential to be even better. Meanwhile, Tanahashi is now in the finals and is still poised to win, as I predicted (hey in this business, you’ve got to put yourself over), most likely in a match with Shinsuke Nakamura who one could make a valid case for winning this year’s tournament finals too. AJ Styles is now in a prominent spot, with the second biggest point total on the A Block, putting him in the second to last match on the card. Til tomorrow’s show.

Twitter: @mondocurrymark