Csonka’s G1 Climax (Night 8) Review 7.27.17

Csonka’s G1 Climax (Night 8) Review 7.27.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Block B Match: Tama Tonga defeated Juice Robinson @ 10:40 via pin [***¼]
– Block B Match: SANADA defeated Toru Yano @ 4:39 via countout [**]
– Block B Match: EVIL defeated Minoru Suzuki @ 9:11 via pin [**½]
– Block B Match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 15:28 via pin [****]
– Block B Match: Michael Elgin defeated Kenny Omega @ 26:00 via pin [****¾]

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* NOTE: Like in past G1s and the BOTSJ, I will be focusing on the tournament matches only. Due to that, the final score for the show is only based on those matches.

Juice Robinson vs. Tama Tonga: Robinson is limping to the ring, selling the accumulated damage he’s suffered so far during the G1. I am hoping by the final day he’s wrapped up like a mummy. We get some grappling, with both men looking to ground each other to gain the early advantage. Tonga then goes after the knee of Robinson, taking early control and then beating him down in the corner. Robinson hits a desperation full nelson slam, cutting off Tonga. Tonga would escape the suplex attempt, floating over and chop blocking the leg. Robinson then gets placed in the tree of WHOA, and Tonga rips of the tape on his knee and continues to attack. Tonga then busted out a variation on cross Rhodes, but Robinson hit a desperation lariat. Tonga fought off the powerbomb, attacking the knee. Tonga keeps going for gun stun, but Robinson fights it off. Tonga hits the headshrinker, and finally is able to hit the gun stun to put Robinson away. Tama Tonga defeated Juice Robinson @ 10:40 via pin [***¼] This was a good match, nothing fancy or elaborate, just good work by Tonga, great sling by Juice (who is becoming one of the best babyfaces going today), some good teases at the end and a clean and decisive winner. I have often talked about the G1 as not only a chance for guys to break out, but as a set of shows that can really help a performer grow and evolve. We’re watching that with Juice here. He worked hard and improved and earned a shot in the G1, and he’s making the most out of his big chance and you can see him getting better and better by the performance; the crowds love him.

SANADA vs. Toru Yano: SANADA attacks Yano before the bell as he wants no part of his bullshit. Yano uses his robe to blind SANADA, getting a near fall. Yano then mists SANADA with water, and cradles him for a near fall. They brawl to the floor, Yano tried to get the tape, but SANADA stops that. Back in the ring, SANADA misses the moonsault and gets sent to the exposed buckle. Yano counters skull end into a cradle for 2. Yano cuts off the baseball slide, and he has tape again, but SANADA stops that. SANADA takes Yano up the ramp, ties him up in the paradise lock and tapes him up to win via countout. SANADA defeated Toru Yano @ 4:39 via countout [**] Short, solid and fun. My only complaint is why are we protecting Yano with countout losses? That still makes no sense to me. I appreciate that they are really working to establish that countout s are a thing that will be more than teases, but Yano is here to be amusing and get pinned when he loses.

Minoru Suzuki vs. EVIL: Desperado is out with Suzuki, Desperado charges EVIL before the bell and we get the big floor brawl early. Suzuki is in his usual surly mood. We go back to the ring and EVIL fires up with strikes and lariats. They spill right back to the floor; EVIL takes out Desperado and then hits his baseball swing chair spot on Suzuki. They work back into the ring, EVIL looks for the banshee muzzle, but Suzuki counters by trying to rip off EVIL’s thumb and then works an arm bar. And then we get a ref bump, Desperado attacks EVIL but BUSHI arrives and takes him out with a dive. Taichi arrives and hits EVIL with a chair, Takahashi arrives and clears out Taichi. Suzuki hits EVIL with the chair, the ref sees it (WHAT THE FUCK DOES IT TAKE TO GET A DQ?) and takes it away allowing EVIL to attack. Suzuki locks in the sleeper, but EVIL escapes and hits the STO for the win. EVIL defeated Minoru Suzuki @ 9:11 via pin [**½] The win should give EVIL a NEVER title shot post G1, which is cool. I was really enjoying the match and though we were on the way to a very good outing. And then we got the ref bump, the run in parade, the chair shots, and the ref looking like an idiot. On paper it’s a big win for EVIL, but mans a lot less due to the bullshit surrounding it. I hate when a match is going really well and gets ruined by interference that did NOT need to be there. I hope the rematch can be done without all of the shenanigans, because it has potential to be great.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Satoshi Kojima: Okada attacks at the bell to the jeers of the crowd. They fight back and forth, teasing lariats and rainmakers before Okada dropkicks Kojima to the floor. Kojima is really heeling it up, the crowd hates him here and he attacks Tenzan and rolls him into the ring. New Japan Dad Tenzan stands his ground, but doesn’t engage, instead he checks on Kojima, who slides back in. Okada continued his attack, and looks on at Kojima with complete disrespect. Kojima fires up with the Tenzan Mongolian chops, and then cuts off Okada with a neck breaker. Rapid fire chops in the corner follow as Kojima looks to beat some respect into Okada. The DDT follows for Kojima. Okada quickly fights back, hitting the neck beaker over the knee and top rope elbow drop. They battle up top, Okada tries to shove him to the mat, but Kojima pops up and lariats Okada to the floor. Okada makes it back in, but eats a bunch of Kojima forearm strikes and chops. Kojima goes rapid fire with the chops again, hits the corner charge and heads up top. Okada cuts off the top rope elbow, but Kojima hits the koji cutter off the ropes for a near fall. Brainbuster by Kojima gets a good near fall. Okada avoids the lariat, hits the German and Kojima KILLS Okada by countering the rainmaker with a sick lariat. Tenzan is trying to rally his best friend as the crowd is also behind him. Okada comes back with the dropkick, Kojima avoids the rainmaker and lays in forearms. Okada then hits the tombstone, the rainmaker and Kojima is finally done. Kazuchika Okada defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 15:28 via pin [****] This was really great, I love when guys like Okada and Tanahashi will flip the script a but and work subtle heel. Tanahashi did it with Nagata and Okada did it here, and in both cases, it was the right call ad the crowds were behind the NJ Dads and it added to the match structure and atmosphere. Kojima was really great here, giving his all and going out on his shield against the younger, faster champion.

Kenny Omega vs. Michael Elgin: Omega is a dick here, slapping around Elgin and raking the eyes. This only serves to piss off large Michael, who fires up with strikes and hits the delayed suplex. Elgin then sends Omega to the floor with a lariat, and follows him out to continue his assault. Elgin hits the overhead belly to belly on the floor, and back in gets caught up top. They trade strikes; Omega counters out of the powerbomb and hits a superkick and Kotaro Krusher. Elgin battles back, but misses the slingshot splash. Omega hits the Finlay roll but misses on the moonsault attempt, apparently large Michael can escape. Elgin connects with the powerslam, and then lights up Omega with chops. A big German follows, and then corner clotheslines by Elgin. Elgin then catches Omega on the high cross and hits a swinging side slam for 2. Elgin escapes the snapdragon suplex, allowing Omega to RANA him to the floor. Omega looks for rise of the Terminator, but Elgin cuts him off, they do a great series of counters, with Omega hitting the snapdragon suplex and a great looking tope. Back in and Elgin fires up with big forearm strikes, but Omega cuts him off and hits a V trigger. He tries to pull Elgin to his feet and eats a huge lariat. They trade big time strikes center ring, Elgin hits a sick sounding spinning backhand that drops Omega and follows with another big lariat. Elgin hits the buckle bomb, and then a reverse RANA and lariat. Elgin then hits a blackout powerbomb for the near fall. They battle to the apron, Omega hits a V trigger and then peels the mats on the floor back, he looks for a RANA, but BIG MIKE SAYS FUCK YOU and hits an apron powerbomb. Back in and they battle up top, Elgin looks for a powerbomb but Omega counters into a RANA off the ropes. Omega then connects with two V triggers, and then spikes Elgin with a butterfly piledriver for the near fall. Elgin keeps fighting, but takes another V trigger and a reverse RANA for the near fall. Elgin with one last flurry, hits a pop up powerbomb buckle bomb and Elgin bomb but Omega kicks out at 2! Elgin fights out of the burning hammer, but Elgin hits a German and follows with a Saito suplex for a near fall. Elgin finally hits the burning hammer and Omega is done! 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.

OH MY WORD @KennyOmegamanX #G127 #NJPW #NJPWWORLD pic.twitter.com/mp3J1DnIB2

— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) July 27, 2017

BLOCK A STANDINGS
– Zack Sabre Jr: 3-1 (6pts.)
– Tetsuya Naito: 3-1 (6pts.)
– Hiroshi Tanahashi: 3-1 (6pts.)
– Bad Luck Fale: 2-2 (4pts.)
– Hirooki Goto: 2-2 (4pts.)
– Tomohiro Ishii: 2-2 (4pts.)
– Togi Makabe: 2-2 (4pts.)
– Kota Ibushi: 2-2 (4pts.)
– YOSHI-HASHI: 1-3 (2pts.)
– Yuji Nagata: 0-4 (0pts.)

BLOCK B STANDINGS
– Kazuchika Okada: 4-0 (8pts.)
– Kenny Omega: 3-1 (6pts.)
– EVIL: 3-1 (6pts.)
– Tama Tonga: 2-2 (4pts.)
– Minoru Suzuki: 2-2 (4pts.)
– SANADA: 2-2 (4pts.)
– Michael Elgin: 2-2 (4pts.)
– Toru Yano: 1-3 (2pts.)
– Juice Robinson: 1-3 (2pts.)
– Satoshi Kojima: 0-4 (0pts.)

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

The Rest of My G1 Coverage Will Be Dedicated To The Loving Memory of Daryl Takahashi

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

Night 8 of the G1 was a good show overall with a great co-main event and an excellent main event. Omega suffers a surprising loss, Kojima put in a great effort and EVIL picked up a big win that will likely lead to him getting a NEVER title match down the road.