wrestling / Columns

Csonka Ranks The NJPW G1 Climax 27 Matches

August 16, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
NJPW G1 Climax

– Welcome back to column time with Larry. I thought that I would go back, and rank the NJPW G1 Climax 27 matches from worst to first, creating a play list or sorts if you don’t have an insane amount of hours to invest into the entire thing. I hope that you enjoy, and feel free to share your favorites from the tournament. The only rules are “have a take, be respectful of other’s opinions and don’t be a dick.” We all have opinions, we’re going to disagree, just be cool about it.

– 90. From Night Twelve 8.02.17: Toru Yano defeated Michael Elgin @ 3:03 via DQ [DUD]
– 89. From Night Six 7.25.17: Kenny Omega defeated Toru Yano @ 10:11 via countout [DUD]

– 88. From Night Ten 7.30.17: EVIL defeated Toru Yano @ 1:43 via pin [NR]

– 87. From Night Fourteen 8.05.17: Toru Yano defeated Tama Tonga @ 3:30 via pin [*]
– 86. From Night Ten 7.30.17: Minoru Suzuki defeated Tama Tonga @ 10:27 via pin [*]

– 85. From Night Four 7.22.17: Toru Yano defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 9:20 via pin [*½]

– 84. From Night Eighteen 8.12.17: Toru Yano defeated Minoru Suzuki @ 7:08 via pin [**]
– 83. From Night Twelve:Minoru Suzuki defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 10:22 via pin [**]
– 82. From Night Eight 7.27.17: SANADA defeated Toru Yano @ 4:39 via countout [**]
– 81. From Night Sixteen 8.08.17: Juice Robinson defeated Toru Yano @ 4:16 via pin [**]
– 80. From Night Five 7.23.17: Bad Luck Fale defeated Tetsuya Naito @ 12:33 via pin [**]
– 79. From Night Two 7.20.17: Kazuchika Okada defeated Toru Yano @ 10:29 via submission [**]

– 78. From Night Fifteen 8.06.17: Bad Luck Fale defeated Hirooki Goto @ 9:42 via pin [**½]
– 77. From Night Eight 7.27.17: EVIL defeated Minoru Suzuki @ 9:11 via pin [**½]
– 76. From Night Two 7.20.17: Kenny Omega defeated Minoru Suzuki @ 21:10 via pin [**½]

– 75. From Night One 7.17.17: Bad Luck Fale defeated Togi Makabe @ 9:39 via pin [**¾]
– 74. From Night Eleven 8.01.17: Tetsuya Naito defeated Hirooki Goto @ 13:30 via pin [**¾]
– 73. From Night Twelve 8.02.17: Kazuckika Okada defeated Tama Tonga @ 11:39 via pin [**¾]
– 72. From Night Eleven 8.01.17: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Bad Luck Fale @ 10:21 via pin [**¾]
– 71. From Night Nine 7.29.17: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 13:52 via pin [**¾]

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~THE GOOD~


– 70. From Night Fifteen 8.06.17: Tetsuya Naito defeated Togi Makabe @ 11:55 via pin [***]
– 69. From Night Seventeen 8.11.17: Togi Makabe defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 11:25 via pin [***]
– 68. From Night Eighteen 8.12.17: Tama Tonga defeated SANADA @ 12:15 via pin [***]
– 67. From Night Fourteen 8.05.17: Michael Elgin defeated Minoru Suzuki @ 11:15 via pin [***]
– 66. From Night Thirteen 8.04.17: Hirooki Goto defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 12:02 via pin [***]
– 65. From Night Thirteen 8.04.17: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Togi Makabe @ 12:04 via pin [***]
– 64. From Night Ten 7.30.17: SANADA defeated Michael Elgin @ 15:15 via pin [***]
– 63. From Night Sixteen 8.08.17: Tama Tonga defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 10:32 via pin [***]
– 62. From Night Twelve 8.02.17: SANADA defeated Juice Robinson @ 13:39 via pin [***]
– 61. From Night Ten 7.30.17: Kenny Omega defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 16:46 via pin [***]
– 60. From Night Seven 7.26.17: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Bad Luck Fale @ 9:18 via pin [***]
– 59. From Night Three 7.21.17: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Bad Luck Fale @ 11:05 via countout [***]
– 58. From Night Five 7.23.17: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 11:41 via submission [***]
– 57. From Night Nine 7.29.17: Bad Luck Fale defeated Ibushi @ 11:39 via pin [***]
– 56. From Night Nine 7.29.17: Togi Makabe defeated Yuji Nagata @ 10:55 via pin [***]
– 55. From Night Two 7.20.17: Tama Tonga defeated Michael Elgin @ 14:00 via pin [***]
– 54. From Night Six 7.25.17: EVIL defeated Tama Tonga @ 10:43 via pin [***]
– 53. From Night Seventeen 8.11.17: Hirooki Goto defeated Kota Ibushi @ 11:06 via pin [***]
– 52. From Night Seven 7.26.17: Togi Makabe defeated Kota Ibushi @ 13:35 via pin [***¼]
– 51. From Night Nine 7.29.17: Hirooki Goto defeated Zack Sabre Jr.@ 10:12 via pin [***¼]
– 50. From Night Thirteen 8.04.17: Bad Luck Fale defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 11:55 via pin [***¼]
– 49. From Night Four 7.22.17: Minoru Suzuki defeated SANADA @ 11:24 via pin [***¼]
– 48. From Night Eight 7.27.17: Tama Tonga defeated Juice Robinson @ 10:40 via pin [***¼]
– 47. From Night Six 7.25.17: Minoru Suzuki defeated Juice Robinson @ 12:30 via pin [***¼]

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~THE VERY GOOD~


– 46. From Night Three 7.21.17: Tetsuya Naito defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 22:19 via pin [***½]
– 45. From Night Eighteen 8.12.17: EVIL defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 14:31 via pin [***½]
– 44. From Night Fifteen 8.06.17: Kota Ibushi defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 14:35 via pin [***½]
– 43. From Night Seven 7.26.17: Tetsuya Naito defeated Yuji Nagata @ 15:29 via pin [***½]
– 42. From Night Four 7.22.17: Kenny Omega defeated Tama Tonga @ 12:07 via pin [***½]
– 41. From Night Three 7.21.17: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Togi Makabe @ 15:50 via pin [***½]
– 40. From Night Five 7.23.17: Togi Makabe defeated Hirooki Goto @ 17:05 via pin [***½]
– 39. From Night Eleven 8.01.17: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Togi Makabe @ 9:30 via submission [***½]
– 38. From Night Sixteen 8.08.17: Michael Elgin defeated EVIL @ 11:25 via pin [***½]
– 37. From Night Sixteen 8.08.17: Kenny Omega defeated SANADA @ 15:03 via pin [***½]
– 36. From Night Eighteen 8.12.17: Juice Robinson defeated Michael Elgin @ 11:53 via pin [***½]
– 35. From Night Fifteen 8.06.17: Yuji Nagata defeated Zack Sabre Jr. @ 15:28 via pin [***½]
– 34. From Night Thirteen 8.04.17: Kota Ibushi defeated Yuji Nagata @ 15:50 via pin [***½]

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~THE ALMOST GREAT~


– 33. From Night Six 7.25.17: Michael Elgin defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 13:01 via pin [***¾]
– 32. From Night Four 7.22.17: EVIL defeated Juice Robinson @ 11:53 via pin [***¾]
– 31. From Night Seven 7.26.17: Tomohiro Ishii defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 15:50 via pin [***¾ ]
– 30. From Night One 7.17.17: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Yuji Nagata @ 16:33 via pin [***¾]
– 29. From Night Twelve 8.02.17: Kenny Omega defeated EVIL @ 23:37 via pin [***¾]
– 28. From Night Thirteen 8.04.17: Tetsuya Naito defeated Zack Sabre Jr @ 14:23 via pin [***¾]
– From Night Two 7.20.17: SANADA defeated EVIL @ 15:50 via pin [***¾]
– 27. From Night Fourteen 8.05.17: Satoshi Kojima defeated SANADA @ 12:00 via pin [***¾]
– 26. From Night Seventeen 8.11.17: Bad Luck Fale defeated Yuji Nagata @ 11:00 via pin [***¾]

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~WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE~


– 25. From Night Seven 7.26.17: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Hirooki Goto @ 17:20 via pin [****]
– 24. From Night Ten 7.30.17: Kazuchika Okada defeated Juice Robinson @ 20:40 via pin [****]
– 23. From Night Nine 7.29.17: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Tetsuya Naito @ 21:09 via pin [****]
– 22. From Night Two 7.20.17: Juice Robinson defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 11:58 via pin [****]
– 21. From Night Six 7.25.17: Kazuchika Okada defeated SANADA @ 21:30 via pin [****]
– 20. From Night Five 7.23.17: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Yuji Nagata @ 15:00 via pin [****]
– 19. From Night Three 7.21.17: Kota Ibushi defeated Zack Sabre Jr @ 15:52 via pin [****]
– 18. From Night Eight 7.27.17: Kazuchika Okada defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 15:28 via pin [****]
– 17. From Night Fourteen 8.05.17: Juice Robinson defeated Kenny Omega @ 15:30 via pin [****]
– 16. From Night Seventeen 8.11.17: Zack Sabre Jr defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 15:30 via submission [****]

15. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 3) 7.21.17 – Hirooki Goto defeated Yuji Nagata @ 15:02 via pin [****¼]: And this is why Nagata is getting one last run in the G1. This was an outstanding performance, one that smartly built throughout the match and never overstayed its welcome. Nagata was so great here, they had an awesome crowd that added a ton to the match and at the end of the day, Goto was able to overcome and put the legend away after a great, hard fought match. Nagata putting on performances like this, even in loss, adds an extra special feeling to the G1; yes it’s a great match, but the atmosphere is just amazing.

14. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 15) 8.06.17 – Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 23:33 via pin [****¼]: This was a great main event match, that not only delivered, but will play into the story of the Naito vs. Tanahashi match to determine the block A winner. Naito has had an easier road and Tanahashi has been through hell, working through the legit arm injury and has issues standing here post match, selling the onslaught of Ishii and the sheer amount of punishment he took throughout the match. When he faces Naito again to determine the block, he’ll have to overcome the odds in order to stop Naito from making a WrestleKingdom repeat performance. They did a great job of constantly escalating the drama and intensity in this match, with Ishii getting some great and believable near falls, giving enough believability that he could win. I wanted him to pull out the win badly, but the old ace was just too much for him.

13. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 1) 7.17.17 – Hirooki Goto defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 15:40 via pin [****¼]: This as an absolutely great back and forth match between two evenly matches opponents. The presentation was great, because while both are members of CHAOS, there was no weird booking bullshit, just two dudes fighting to see who the alpha was as they both looked to gain their first points of the G1. It was nothing more, nothing less and didn’t have to be anything else to get across the story that they were fighting for pride and points. Great stuff here, working the exact match you want them to, which separates them from the others because no one else in their block will work such a hard-hitting and violent match.

12. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 1) 7.17.17 – Zack Sabre Jr defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi @ 17:35 via submission [****¼]: This was the perfect match to book as Sabre’s G1 debut, with the established injury to Tanahashi’s arm, it allowed Sabre to play his game and not only establish his style but also pick up a HUGE win out of the gate. Tanahashi loses nothing in loss, because he’s Tanahashi and also injured. It also allows you to book the two in a rematch post G1 for the IC Title. This was the best possible way to kick off Sabre’s G1 run, filled with smart, clean and crisp work from both. Sabre’s dedication to the arm, including ripping off Tanahashi’s protective wrapping at the end to finally help put him away was perfect. This was on the level of Ishii vs. Goto, but was a completely different match, which I liked slightly more.

11. From G1 Climax (Night 11) – Kota Ibushi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi @ 20:45 via pin [****¼]: We can argue all day about Tanahashi’s highly questionable decision to work the G1 with a major tear in his arm, but the one thing that cannot be argued is the fact that he has brought his A game the entire time. This was an absolutely great main event, with Tanahashi again playing the subtle heel role as the crowd was very pro-Ibushi, it worked very well in the Nagata match and worked again here, also giving some freshness to his matches. Ibushi was really great here, and I am not sure if it’s just me, but it seems as if we’re watching a much more matured (as a performer) Ibushi here in what possibly is a preview ahead of a big main event run in the company. Also, what I love about Tanahashi’s losses so far is that they weren’t wasted on guys like Makabe or Fale, who don’t need them. Sabre and Ibushi needed the wins to help legitimize their inclusion in the G1 and it also gives us two IC Title matches to look forward to.

10. From G1 Climax (Night 17) – Tetsuya Naito defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi @ 26:45 via pin [****½]: While not quite at the level of their previous two matches (I had both at ****¾), this was another awesome installment in their series and a fitting way to close out the A block. They have great chemistry; the crowd was locked in the entire time and played well off of their previous matches, with Naito having to dig deep this time to overcome the leg work from Tanahashi. He did that this time, picking apart the injured arm of Tanahashi and continuing his distain for “the ace” en route to winning the A block. It feels like it’s finally Naito’s to fully rise and main event the dome. This ended up better than I hoped for considering the real live injury issues.

9. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 4) – Kazuchika Okada defeated Michael Elgin @ 25:50 via pin [****½]: This was an excellent main event, and large Michael continues to put in some of the best losing efforts in wrestling. While he was not exactly hot coming into the G1, his work here was so good that the fans bought into him and completely believed that he not only had a chance, but they were with him for almost the entire second half of the match, trying to rally him and buying into all of his big near falls. Okada again puts in another top tier performance, but it was also another performance where he was taken into deep waters, as they were pushing the 30-minute time limit. You have to wonder how much longer he lasts as champion (in storyline) after being taken to the limit by guys like Omega, Suzuki, Shibata and Elgin. I think that’s an important part of the story and matches that many are overlooking. Anyway, this was excellent and after day four, is easily one of the best matches of the tournament so far. This was great work from both guys, with a great layout and a great crowd.

8. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 5) 7.23.17 – Kota Ibushi defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 17:20 via pin [****½]: This was an absolutely excellent match, with a beautiful build throughout the match and into the homestretch and finish. Ibushi delivered big against Naito and had a great match with Sabre, and those were generally expected. But having a match like this against Ishii, a violent match where he survived all of Ishii’s punishment is the sort of match I feel he needed to silence some of his critics he still has that look at him as more of a junior that can’t hang with the heavy hitters. He not only survived, but he thrived here. It’s the G1. Ishii is killing it as usual and Ibushi is delivering in very non-Ibushi like matches, which is fun to see.

7. From G1 Climax (Night 11) – Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yuji Nagata @ 13:59 via pin [****½]: This was an absolutely amazing match with the old warrior giving it all against the bad ass, Nagata gave everything he had here, and almost pulled it off and had the crowd believing that he was about to pick up his first win, which was vital to the success of the match. The near falls and crowd reactions were awesome, the work was top notch and they told a wonderful story with Nagata coming ever so close before finally falling. Some may find it depressing to see him shut out so far, but Nagata’s final G1 has been something special to watch.

6. From G1 Climax (Night 14) – EVIL defeated Kazuchika Okada @ 22:47 via pin [****½]: Watching the evolution of EVIL has really been a fun thing to watch, as he has consistently been growing as a performer. You could really see it last fall in his matches with Shibata, and that has continued through 2017, He’s had a really strong G1 so far but this signature win was something he really needed to put him over the top. He’s matured so much as a performer, and I feel a lot have slept on him, due to Naito being “the guy” in LIJ, Takahashi having an amazing year and also because SANADA has that “next big thing” hype behind him. As for the match, it was absolutely excellent with the crowd completely engaged and adding to the great near falls, EVIL stepping up his game and taking Okada out of his comfort zone. Also, as I have repeatedly talked about, Okada’s vanity/ego in always having to prove he is the best and driving that point home in a repetitious way in how he ends matches completely bit him in the ass here, as EVIL avoided the kill shot and picked up the win to an amazing reaction. The win should secure EVIL a title match in the fall.

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~AND~

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5. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 1) 7.17.17 – Tetsuya Naito defeated Kota Ibushi @ 24:53 via pin [****¾]: Sweet baby Jesus, that was amazing. Naito welcomes Ibushi back with a more than fitting main event, and if Ibushi had to lose his first match that was the way to do it. They had the crowd locked in to everything they did from the opening bell, and were never in fear of losing them. This was a hugely pro-Naito crowd, no matter what was happening, they were with him and it added to the overall atmosphere of the match. This was absolutely everything you want from a G1 level main event, great action, great drama, great work and a molten hot crowd that is into everything the guys are doing. The best part about Ibushi taking time away is that he feels super fresh and like Sabre, is bringing something new to the NJPW table and its coming at the best time of the year.

4. From G1 Climax (Night 8) 7.27.17 – Michael Elgin defeated Kenny Omega @ 26:00 via pin [****¾]: So much for “there’s no doubt that Okada and Omega will go undefeated until they face off.” I get why people though that so it was nice to have a curveball thrown here. Elgin has had quality performances in the tournament, but needed the win here and got it in an excellent main event, and in one of the tournament’s best matches. This was oh so very great, with both men doing a great job of playing off of past encounters. They work so well together, and do a great job of starting off and then constantly building throughout the match and delivering a strong finish. Elgin had to dig deep, and not only survived Omega’s best, but picked up a huge win that was needed. The win is also he as not only did Elgin really need a big win, but it should set him up for a IWGP US Title shot down the line.

3. From G1 Climax 27 (Night 16) 8.08.17 – Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki ended in a time limit draw @ 30:00 [****¾]: This was an absolutely great match, there was no fucking around, it was all action, all drama and the final five minutes were simply spectacular. Everything that people didn’t like about their first match earlier this year, they did the opposite of that and just waged war in the ring, with Suzuki more than willing to kick the shit out of Okada; to his credit Okada survived the brutal onslaught of Suzuki, but as it has been discussed many times before and during this tournament, Okada is slowly breaking down, the wars and long title defenses are breaking him down. He lost to EVIL, he didn’t have enough here to put Suzuki away and now has to face off with a man in Kenny Omega that he’s battled for over 100-minutes in two matches so far this year. The tie is important, because Omega HAS to beat Okada to win the block, Okada doesn’t have to beat him. The visuals in the final few minutes, the two men trading strikes, sweat flying, the crowd getting more and more invested was a great culmination to the match.

2. From G1 Climax (Night 18) 8.12.17 – Kenny Omega defeated Kazuchika Okada @ 24:45 via pin [*****]: They did it again, delivering an absolutely amazing match that was completely different than the previous two, with great drams and an excellent sense of urgency. Omega’s gameplan was perfect in attacking the neck of Okada, focusing on that weakness and it was in that where Okada fell as the toll of his great 2017 performances really caught up with him here. You could see him breaking down as we got deeper into the tournament, the loss to EVIL (where he “injured the neck”) and then the brutal draw with Suzuki. He was ripe for the pickings, and Omega’s tremendous focus and the fact that the pacing was so amped up was just too much for Okada to overcome this time around. It was a great story, laid out since January, and paid off in what I feel was the best match of the tournament so far with one last match to go. This also gets us to a rematch from last year, where Omega beat Naito, so we’re coming full circle, as Naito looks to complete his redemption story. I love the wrestling.

1. G1 27 Finals: Tetsuya Naito defeated Kenny Omega @ 34:33 via pin [*****]: They had a lot to live up to after the match that they put on last year and they more than lived up to that match and delivered a al time classic and one of the very best G1 finals matches ever. (I’ll redo my list later). I thought that they worked an absolutely excellent match, with the focus of both men being on the neck and or back, which fits into both men’s finishers. They went long, but kept an amazingly brisk pace and also worked with the sense of urgency you want to see in a match situation like this. This isn’t just any other match, this is the G1 finals. This had great action, a molten crowd, amazing near falls and a great and dramatic build to the finish. They did an excellent job of making you believe that either man could win, which not only made for amazing crowd reactions, but also kept the energy at an extremely high level. I loved the focus on the neck, not only because it played into both men’s finishers, but because over the years, big time NJPW matches have focused on leg work, so this made this one feel different and fresh, which isn’t always easy to do. This was top notch work from both men and the perfect way match wise to close things out, and the right man won. I am thrilled that Naito won, although to be honest with you, I always imagined him main eventing the dome after challenging the briefcase winner and being the first guy to win it that way, but this was amazing. Finally, when you consider the grind of the tournament, this performance from both men is even more impressive. Omega is certainly really banged up and Naito has been working through a major shoulder injury. This was special not only due to the in ring, but due to the reaction Naito got for winning. It was special, it was amazing, it was a flat out classic way to close out the 27th G1.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

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