Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 1) Review 7.18.16

Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 1) Review 7.18.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Block A Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 14:10 via pin [****]
– Block A Match: Togi Makabe defeated Tama Tonga @ 10:38 via pin [**]
– Block A Match: Hirooki Goto defeated Bad Luck Fale @ 9:27 via pin [**¾]
– Block A Match: SANADA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi @ 19:30 via submission [****¼]
– Block A Match: Naomichi Marufuji defeated Kazuchika Okada @ 19:02 via pin [****½]

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– NOTE: Like last year, I will be focusing on the tournament matches during my reviews.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tomohiro Ishii: One of the best parts of the G1 is the fact that you get way less fucking around, and without that you get some really inspired sprints and matches that just get to the meat of things. That’s what this was, as once the bell rang it was a battle to see who could dish out the most punishment the fastest. Tenzan was really aggressive and even shoved the ref aside at one point so that he could continue his assault on Ishii. Ishii finally fired up and started a comeback, just pummeling Tenzan with chops and forearms in the corner. Tenzan would fight back, countering a superplex and hitting the flying head butt for a near fall. Ishii fought off the anaconda vice, but Tenzan hit the anaconda driver, and that got a great near fall. Ishii stopped the moonsault, almost lost Tenzan, but hit a running powerbomb to counter. Ishii then laid into him with lariats as Kojima screamed for his teammate to keep fighting, they had a great crowd as Ishii tried to do everything he could to put Tenzan away. They then just started to head butt each other like a pair of rams; Tenzan hit the lariat, slam and then the moonsault to finally put Ishii away. That was awesome and exactly the match they needed to work. The crowd was invested and loved the Tenzan victory, they are into the warrior looking for one final big win story, if Tenzan can hold up, his stuff could provide some great drama as the tournament goes on. That was an excellent start to the tournament matches.

Togi Makabe vs. Tama Tonga: Tonga is a guy that needs a great tournament, not necessarily wins, but some great performances. He had some momentum, and then the tag team with his brother was beyond a flop and killed all of his heat. He got next to no reaction during his entrance here tonight. Tonga attack ked before the bell, and controlled right away. Makabe finally connected with a lariat, and started to put together a comeback with some suplexes and even scored a near fall. No one really cared as Tonga hit a sloppy flapjack for a near fall. They tried to do the big back and forth striking exchange, and again even with the fire up and kick out at 1 spots added in, the level of apathy was pretty sad. They aren’t doing anything to pull me in and make me care, this all feels like a collection of moves that are ok, but this feels dead. Makabe battled for his spider suplex, finally hit it and the king kong knee drop finally ended it. That was a match, one that was ok, but felt about twice as long as it actually was.

Hirooki Goto vs. Bad Luck Fale: Fale tried to se his power early, so Goto grounded him and tried to break him down and out wrestle him. Fale would overcome, and send Goto to the floor, where he started to favor his knee. Fale would repeatedly slam Goto to the barricades, and we got a countout tease. After a short heat by Fale, they did a double down spot after several lariats. Goto put some offense together, scoring with an elbow off the top for a near fall. Fale would hit the grenade, but that only got a near fall. Goto escaped the bad luck fall, looked to take control and got a sleeper on the big man. Fale struggled, dropped to the mat and Goto hit the GTR for the victory. On one hand I am surprised that Fale lost, because they tend to want to make him look like a monster out of the gate. Instead, Goto got to survive, worked the smarter match and picked up the victory. That was an overall pretty good outing, with an invested crowd, especially down the stretch

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA: The early story saw Tanahashi outwrestle SANADA, constantly staying one step ahead of the youngster. SANADA would finally get something rolling as he caught Tanahashi as he tried to get back in the ring; they went to the floor, where SANADA sent him to the barricade and then targeted the previously injured arm. After the Gedo-mandated countout tease, SANADA took the heat and maintained his focus on the arm. Tanahashi put together a good comeback, hitting the senton off the ropes (but only posing with the one arm) and then attacking the knee of SANADA. Tanahashi is in full G1 mode, hitting the high fly flow to the floor. Tanahashi then started to destroy the knee with dragon screw leg whips while SANADA was trapped in the ropes. He then worked the cloverleaf, which I was not a fan of due to the previous arm work by SANADA. SANADA escaped and hit a desperation missile dropkick but couldn’t follow up, a she clutched his knee. They traded strikes, with SANADA attacking the arm of Tanahashi to slow him down. SANADA finally hit a cutter for a good near fall and then got the dragon sleeper and dropped to the mat with it. Tanahashi struggled and tried for the ropes and finally got them. SANADA missed the moonsault and tweaked his knee. Tanahashi then got the sling blade and then an arms trapped German for a near fall. he went for the high fly flow and jumped into the cutter for a SUPER close near fall. SANADA then followed with a moonsault for a near fall, hit another and then got the dragon sleeper once again center ring and Tanahashi tapped! That was a HUGE win for SANADA, who will benefit hugely from it, and it was clean as can be on top of that. This was excellent work from both guys, as SANADA stepped up big time and Tanahashi was in pure G1 form here. This works because not only did they establish SANADA’s finish as legit, but it also plays off of Tanahashi coming back from injury. This was excellent, and will go a long way in SANADA’s rise; it’s exactly the kind of match he needed to have here.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji: They did some nice counter work early, which led to teases of their respective finishes in the early moments of the match. Marufuji hit a double knee strike to the arm of Okada, sending him to the floor. He followed and then posted Okada, trying to take away the rainmaker with the attack on the arm. Marufuji then trapped the arm of Okada in the barricade and attempted to crush it, maintaining that focus on the arm. Marufuji continued to dominate when they returned to the ring, working the arm and keeping the champion on defense and beating him down with chops. Okada put a good comeback together, trying to shake off the pain in the arm, but Marufuji leveled him with a lariat. They went back to the floor, where Marufuji again attacked the arm. It’s a simple and well-executed gameplan from Marufuji. Gedo’s facials on the floor, selling the pain for his man, were also well done and added to the work as he was doing everything he could to motivate his man to fight back. Okada kept trying to fire back, but there was nothing on the strikes and he kept clutching his arm. Marufuji then kept chopping him down, and Okada’s chest was really beaten up. Marufuji’s work has been nearly flawless here, dissecting the champion; he hit the coast-to-coast dropkick, but Okada managed to counter sliced bread with the neck breaker. Okada managed the top rope elbow drop, but still was selling the arm. Marufuji then lit him up with kicks, but Okada again managed to counter the sliced bread. Marufuji fought out of the tombstone, but ran into the dropkick. Rainmaker gets countered, but Okada gets a German. The rainmaker is again countered with strikes to the arm, a series of kicks and then hit the modified emerald flowsion to pick up the win. They had a tough act to follow, but not only were they able to follow, they exceeded the previous match. This was a rather amazing match, with both men performing well, but Marufuji especially locked in and performing as if he had something to prove. Everything worked, the crowd was completely invested, and they went home at the right time to maximize everything they did. I loved everything about this match, and it sets up a fresh title match down the line if they so choose.

BLOCK A STANDINGS
* Togi Makabe (1-0)
* Hiroyoshi Tenzan (1-0)
* Hirooki Goto (1-0)
* SANADA (1-0)
* Naomichi Marufuji (1-0)
* Kazuchika Okada (0-1)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi (0-1)
* Bad Luck Fale (0-1)
* Tomohiro Ishii (0-1)
* Tama Tonga (0-1)

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.2

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Night one was a great kick off to the 2016 G1, with three top tier matches that are well worth your time. I don’t think you could ask for much more from night one. There are always “upsets” and unexpected losses, but both Okada and Tanahashi losing came off as big news, especially considering their opponents and how they lost.