Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 17) Review 8.12.16

Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 17) Review 8.12.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Block A Match: SANADA defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan @ 12:22 via submission [***½]
– Block A Match: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Togi Makabe @ 12:40 via pin [****]
– Block A Match: Tama Tonga defeated Bad Luck Fale @ 8:57 via pin [**¾]
– Block A Match: Hirooki Goto defeated Naomichi Marufuji @ 13:17 via pin [****¼]
– Block A Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada went to a draw @ 30:00 [*****]

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

Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. SANADA: Even with the poor booking of Tenzan in the tournament (there’s no way he should have been bottom of the block, and with the way they booked it they could have had him in contention to sell the story more) the crowd is still into his last ride. Unless something drastically changes this is his final G1 match. Tenzan used his power early, chopping down SANADA and sending him to the floor. Tenzan followed, Gedo special and SANADA worked him over with the bat. SANADA worked over Tenzan as they worked back into the ring. Tenzan battled back as they worked more of a back and forth; SANADA never really got a dedicated heat on Tenzan. SANADA worked for the dragon sleeper, but Tenzan slid out, fired up and then ran right into the cutter for a near fall. SANADA up top and missed the moonsault, but ht the German for a near fall. SANADA locked in the dragon sleeper again, but Tenzan escaped and hit the Tenzan driver for a near fall. Tenzan then missed the moonsault, SANADA attacked but Tenzan fired up and delivered chops and head butts. Tenzan hit a pair of lariats, but SANADA survived. He locked in the anaconda vice and then the anaconda slam for a near fall. SANADA then locked in the dragon sleeper with the body scissors, but Tenzan survived and made the ropes. SANADA hit the moonsault (came up a little short) but Tenzan kicked out. SANADA locked in the dragon sleeper again with the body scissors and Tenzan had to tap. They told the story of the old warrior going out on his shield, losing to the younger, stronger and faster performer. If this is Tenzan’s final G1 match, and it really should be, he did well for himself. He and Kojima had an emotional embrace post match. All the feels.

Who’s cutting onions? pic.twitter.com/aMqnLUIMu6

— AmplifiedtoJosh (@AmplifiedtoRock) August 12, 2016

Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii: neither man can win the block, but this will not stop them from beating the piss out of each other. And that is what they did here, the first two minutes or so was them trading strikes with reckless abandon.

#g126 pic.twitter.com/jsfGGaOo8f

— DTAM (@DeathToAllMarks) August 12, 2016

Ishii then repeatedly chopped Makabe in the throat, and Makabe demanded that Ishii keep hitting him. Makabe fought back and worked over Ishii with lariats and was mostly overpowering him. Makabe had the advantage as they worked strikes again, forcing Ishii to drop to a knee, but he came back and then kept walking into Makabe’s strikes and generally not giving a fuck. Ishii then hit the delayed superplex for a near fall. Ishii then hit a series of suplexes, which Makabe somehow popped up from; they then traded shots center ring, just brutalizing each other. Makabe finally hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Makabe hit a series of lariats, but Ishii kept getting up; Makabe then hit a bridging German for a near fall. Ishii’s selling is pretty amazing here. Makabe almost killed Ishii with the spider suplex, but Ishii rolled out of the way of he king kong knee drop. Sweet baby Jesus, the amount of brutal strikes here was sick. The beatings will continue until morale improves! Ishii finally hit the brainbuster to put Makabe away. It was an ass kicking Makabe vs. Ishii match that’ll put hair on your chest. Ishii may not win the tournament, but he’s likely the tournament MVP.

Bad Luck Fale vs. Tama Tonga: Fale is still in contention to win the block, but has to win here. Page, Takahashi and Loa are all at ringside. Tonga teased laying down for Fale, but he then tricked Fale and scored a near fall off of a cradle. Bullet Club at ringside was surprised. Tonga then laid down again and refused to stay down, so Fale started to beat his ass. Fale then hit the bad luck fall onto the Bullet Club members at ringside. We got our countout tease, and then Fale continued to dominate Tonga. Tonga is clearly in the face role here, taking the big beat down but constantly fighting back and getting support from the crowd. Good fire from Tonga on the comeback, Fale cut him off and went for the grenade but Tonga escaped and started to use his speed and went for the gun stun, but ate a spear for a near fall. Tonga escaped he bad luck fall, did his wacky rope running spot and then caught Fale with the DDT for a near fall. he then hit the gun stun and picked up the win. This was a pretty good match overall, Tonga’s performance was strong here, and the story was well done as it felt as if they were testing Tonga in the face role. They played nice post match, but it will be interesting to see what they do with this moving forward.

Hirooki Goto vs. Naomichi Marufuji: Goto needs a win and a draw in the main event to win the block. Marufuji needs the win, got the Fale loss he needed, but would need an Okada win to take the block. They started off fast, brawling to the floor for the Gedo special. This allowed Marufuji to take control early. They traded chops, with Marufuji breaking down Goto. Good control by Marufuji here, hitting the corner elbow but Goto fired back with a kick to finally slow Marufuji. Goto started to put some offense together, went up top and hit the elbow drop for a near fall. The speed of Marufuji was a key early, countering Goto and hitting a big dive to the floor. Back in Marufuji hit a springboard missile dropkick, which got a near fall and got the crowd more into the action. Marufuji started to light up Goto with chops and kicks, but Goto scored with a desperation neck breaker and they did a double down. Marufuji then rocked Goto’s world with a sick knee strike in the corner, but Goto countered sliced bread, only to eat a series of kicks. Goto managed to cut him off with a head butt to the face and the ushigoroshi for a near fall. Marufuji countered the GTR, hit a series of kicks and a knee strike for another great near fall. Goto countered the sliced bread into a sleeper, Marufuji fought but Goto held on and Marufuji was fading. GTR by Goto and he picks up the win. That was another great match, with good action and some very good drams down the stretch. Goto seemed like the easy pick here, but they did an excellent job of making you think Marufuji could win.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada: The winner here takes the block, but if there is some form of draw, Goto wins. They went slow early, both teasing one another and then Tanahashi slapped the shit out of Okada. This fired up the champion, hit the neck breaker and top rope elbow. Went for the rainmaker, but Tanahashi got a near fall off of a roll up. Great sequence there. Okada kept control, hitting the slingshot senton and then working a pendulum submission. Tanahashi escaped, and then attacked the knee of Okada. Corino is talking about the draw A LOT here, I hope he’s not giving away the finish. Tanahashi continued his attack on the leg, looking to slow Okada. Okada made the ropes as Romero did a great job of discussing how Tanahashi always attacks the knees of Okada, and wondering how long Okada can take the abuse. Okada fired back with a series of elbows, and then planted Tanahashi with a DDT. Okada took control, grounding Tanahashi after a good, but slowed comeback due to the knee. Tanahashi rebounded out of the corner to hit a flying forearm; they then traded forearm strikes center ring, which led to Okada hitting the corner dropkick and sending Tanahashi to the floor. Okada looked to work over Tanahashi on the floor, but Tanahashi fought back and worked Okada’s knee on the steel barricade. Tanahashi opted not to try for the countout and hit a high fly flow to the floor! It looked as if we were getting the countout tease, but Tanahashi foolishly went to the floor and Okada scooped him up and hit a desperation tombstone on the floor. They did the double countout tease, and with Goto’s situation that worked well. Okada struggled to go up top, but missed the missile dropkick and Tanahashi went right back to attacking the knee and working for the cloverleaf, but Okada got the ropes. Okada tried to battle back, but Tanahashi hit the arms trapped bridging German for a near fall. Tanahashi up top, but Okada cut him off with an uppercut. They battled up top, both fighting for position and Tanahashi sent Okada to the mat and then MISSED the high fly flow. Okada hit a pair of dropkicks and is not really selling the knee. Come on brother. Tanahashi hit the sling blade to counter the rainmaker and we got a double down. They fought to their feet, Tanahashi to the apron and trading forearms with Okada. The crowd is into every strike, Tanahashi caught a kick and stunned it off the ropes and then slammed it off of the apron. Tanahashi then got the cloverleaf locked in, Okada fighting as Tanahashi pulls him center ring but he manages to power to the ropes. Tanahashi looks totally frustrated here, looks to follow up and avoids the dropkick and hits a reverse sling blade. HIGH FLY FLOW CONNECTS! ANOTHER try but he eats knees. They worked to their feet, Okada fought off a suplex and then they did the tombstone reversal spot and Tanahashi planted Okada! Neck breaker by Tanahashi, up top. HIGH FLY FLOW countered by a dropkick! Rainmaker countered, GERMAN by Okada, rolls and Tanahashi slaps him to counter the rainmaker. Okada holds on and hits a rainmaker, but then Tanahashi hit s a dragon suplex for an INSANE near fall. Gotch style tombstone by Okada gets another near fall. Shit is getting real here kids, this is insane. Tanahashi counters the rainmaker, hits sling blade and then up top for the HIGH FLY FLOW. Back up top and Tanahashi hits another AND THE BELL RINGS AT 2 for the time limit draw! This was an absolutely amazing match; they played the time limit draw perfectly. The match beautifully built all the way to the finish, with great drama and the finish is awesome (a great play off of one of my favorite finishes between Windham and Flair). The emotion was off the charts and the crowd was insane for this, really adding to he great work from both. Okada had some lackluster performances in the tournament, also delivered two of the tournament’s best matches. I love the wrestling.

* – The Gedo special is when a match starts; they work a very short period of time, and then go to the floor where they usually work a countout tease.

BLOCK A STANDINGS
* BLOCK A WINNER – Hirooki Goto (6-3)
* Kazuchika Okada (5-3-1)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi (5-3-1)
* Naomichi Marufuji (5-4)
* Bad Luck Fale (5-4)
* SANADA (4-5)
* Tomohiro Ishii (4-5)
* Togi Makabe (4-5)
* Tama Tonga (4-5)
* Hiroyoshi Tenzan (2-7)

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

9.0

The final score: review Amazing

The 411

This is a must see show with two great undercard matches and the tournament’s second five star match.