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Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 15) Review 8.06.17
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Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 15) Review 8.06.17
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Block A Match: Yuji Nagata defeated Zack Sabre Jr. @ 15:28 via pin [***½]
– Block A Match: Kota Ibushi defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 14:35 via pin [***½]
– Block A Match: Bad Luck Fale defeated Hirooki Goto @ 9:42 via pin [**½]
– Block A Match: Tetsuya Naito defeated Togi Makabe @ 11:55 via pin [***]
– Block A Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 23:33 via pin [****¼]
* 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.
– Follow all of my reviews at this link.
Yuji Nagata vs. Zack Sabre Jr.: We get some nice back and forth to begin, Sabre takes it to the ground and they both look for knee bars. They work to a stalemate and Desperado tries to distract Nagata, but fails as Nagata takes control with kicks. Unfortunately for him it doesn’t last long as Sabre attacks the arm. Sabre is again avoiding a lot of the fancy busy work he’d usually do in favor of getting right to work and being a complete asshole as he woks the arm. Nagata fires up, going back to the kicks and hitting the running corner boot and XPLODER for 2. Nagata cuts him off, going back to the arm. They trade strikes, and b works the sleeper and transitions to a crossface. He then transitions to a ring of Saturn and then cradles Sabre for 2. Kicks follow as Nagata is getting more and more pissed. Nagata then works into a hanging kimura, and then drags Nagata to the mat and works the double arm submission but Nagata makes the ropes. Sabre then locks in the am bar, and transitions to the triangle. Nagata fades, but then manages to transition to the arm bar and the eyes roll back as he looks to rip off Sabre’s arm. They both start attacking the arm, trading kicks and Nagata hits the rolling kick to take Sabre down. Sabre counters the Saito suplex into the octopus, stars to manipulate the arm but Nagata makes the ropes. Nagata then lays in knee strikes and hits the brainbuster for a near fall. Sabre avoids the enziguri and gets the European clutch for 2. He lays in kicks, but Nagata fires up and hits the backdrop driver for a near fall. Nagata is fired the fuck up, knee strike and backdrop driver and Nagata is on the board! Yuji Nagata defeated Zack Sabre Jr. @ 15:28 via pin [***½] This was a very good match, more of a ground based match, which worked well for both as they played will off of each other. The pro Nagata crowd was finally rewarded as Blue Justice finally picks up a win and Sabre is mathematically eliminated; both guys continue to deliver.
Kota Ibushi vs. YOSHI-HASHI: They work a basic back and forth until Ibushi cuts HASHI off with a kick to the chest, but HASHI trips him up and drags him to the floor. He sends Ibushi to the barricade a few times to take control and follows with chops. They work the countout tease, but Ibushi makes it back in and HASHI hits a suplex right away to maintain control. HASHI grounds the action, until Ibushi lays in forearms. HASHI goes back to the chops, but runs into the dropkick. Ibushi picks up the pace with rapid-fire strikes, kicks and the standing moonsault for 2. HASHI cuts off the comeback, hitting a running blockbuster, but Ibushi counters the powerbomb with a RANA and follows with the moonsault press to the floor. Back in and Ibushi hits the springboard missile dropkick. HASHI fires back with a lariat, the slam and swanton for 2. He then transitions into the butterfly lock, Ibushi fights but HASHI locks in a guillotine. Ibushi to his feet, hits the knee strike but HASHI is game and they trade strikes. Ibushi then stomps away at HASHI, but HASHI counters the knee strike into the powerbomb and we have a double down. HASHI looks for karma, but Ibushi escapes and they trade strikes and slaps. It breaks down into a brawl; Ibushi hits a kick and takes HASHI down. HASHI blocks the big kick, hits a superkick and then a backstabber and cradles Ibushi for 2. HASHI looks for karma, countered and Ibushi hits the head kick, and the last ride then gets a near fall. HASHI is somehow alive. MDK knee strike by Ibushi follows and HASHI is done. Kota Ibushi defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 14:35 via pin [***½] This was another very good match, worked in a completely different style than the opener. HASHI got in a lot more and made it more competitive than I had anticipated and it went from a strong back and forth match to the crowd buying into the late HASHI near falls, a credit to both guys.
Hirooki Goto vs. Bad Luck Fale: Fale looks to use his power to begin, but Goto cuts him off with kicks. Fale had enough of that quickly and sends Goto to the floor. Fale works him over and then slams Goto’s knee off of the post. Back in and Fale continues to attack the leg, and yes, Fale is doing limb work; HE IS EVOLVING, showing that he wants to be a grapple lad. Fale eventually gets a bit ahead of himself, missing a corner charge and allowing Goto to make a comeback, leveling Fale with a lariat. Kicks follow, but Fale fights off the ushigoroshi and hits the corner splash and then misses the splash to the fallen Goto. Goto follows with the Saito suplex for 2. Fale fights off the GTR, follows with a clothesline and then hits another nearly turning Goto inside out. The splash follows for a close 2. Goto escapes the back luck fall, but Fale hits the grenade for the win. Bad Luck Fale defeated Hirooki Goto @ 9:42 via pin [**½] This was an overall average match, that did little to interest me. I didn’t find anything painfully wrong with it, it was the usual style Fale match, solid, unspectacular and just there. I believe that puts Goto out as well.
Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe: they brawl at the bell and that leads to the floor brawl deep into the crowd. After a bit they return to ringside, with Naito taking control and then bringing the action back into the ring. The neck breaker follows as Naito keeps control of things. Naito beats on Makabe, but Makabe starts to fire back and hits the powerslam for 2. Mounted rights in the corner follow, but Naito fires back and hits the corner dropkick combo. Makabe fights off the tornado DDT and about murders Naito with a lariat. The powerbomb follows as Makabe covers for 2. Naito counters a lariat and hits a draping neck breaker and then sets Makabe up top. The RANA follows for 2. Makabe keeps fighting, and catches Naito with a German for 2. Makabe takes Naito up top, posts him a few times and follows with the spider German; the king Kong knee drop MISSES. Naito then hits the rolling kick, flying forearm and then Makabe counters destino and hits another big lariat. Naito manages to hit destino to counter a slam, and then hits another destino and Makabe is done. Tetsuya Naito defeated Togi Makabe @ 11:55 via pin [***] This was a good match, with enough back and forth and fun counters to keep it interesting. Makabe is out and Naito has control of the block for now.
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi: If Tanahashi loses, Ibushi, Fale and Ishii all remain in contention to possibly win. Ishii attacks with strikes and shoulder blocks early. Chops follow, but Tanahashi comes back with a high cross. He then misses a corner charge and Ishii lariats him to the floor. Back in we go, and Ishii follows with head butts. Tanahashi tries to fire back, but Ishii cuts him off and hits a delayed suplex for 2. They trade strikes and chops, but Ishii goes back to the head butts. Tanahashi hits a flying forearm off the ropes, slams Ishii down and hits the senton off the ropes, covering for 2. Tanahashi starts to lay in strikes, but Ishii will have none of this and starts to light up Tanahashi in the corner and yells at Tanahashi. Tanahashi then takes out the knee, but runs into a powerslam. Ishii follows with the Saito suplex, covering for 2. Ishii takes Tanahashi up top, but Tanahashi slides out. Ishii fights him off but Tanahashi hits the dragon screw leg whip off the ropes. Tanahashi looks for the cloverleaf but Ishii makes the ropes. They trade strikes center ring, Ishii fires up and just absorbs the strikes of Tanahashi and then lays into Tanahashi and drops him. Ishii follows with a German, and hits the powerbomb for 2. Tanahashi hits a German, but Ishii hits a dragon suplex. Tanahashi fires back with sling blade and we get a double down. Tanahashi lays in strikes but again, Ishii fires back and hits a lariat, but that only fires up Tanahashi who hits the straight jacket German for 2. Tanahashi up top, but MISSES the high fly flow. Sliding a lariat by Ishii, but Tanahashi counters with a cradle for 2 and then goes back to the attack on the leg. Tanahashi locks in the cloverleaf, and sits down on it. Ishii struggles for the ropes, but Tanahashi pulls him away. Ishii digs deep and makes the ropes after a long fight. Tanahashi hits another dragon screw leg whip, but Ishii answers back with one of his own. Ishii then dropkicks the knee and hits a knee breaker, and locks in the sharpshooter. He then transitions to a half crab, but Tanahashi makes the ropes. Ishii hits another dragon screw on Tanahashi, but Tanahashi counters the Saito suplex into a sling blade. Ishii answers with the a lariat, and now gets the sharpshooter full on. He traps Tanahashi center ring, but Tanahashi manages to get the ropes for the break. Tanahashi to the apron and hits a dragon screw in the ropes to stop the attack of Ishii. Tanahashi up top but Ishii cuts that off and follows him up top. They battle for position and Ishii hits the superplex, covering for a good near fall. Ishii follows with the sliding lariat for another good near fall. Tanahashi hits rolling neck breakers and a German for a near fall. They trade strikes and head butts, Ishii kicks out of sling blade at 1, hits a lariat but Tanahashi kicks out at 1 and hits another sling blade. Tanahashi up top, high fly flow cross body, back up top and the regular high fly flow hits and Ishii is done. 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.
HIGH FLY FLOW!!!!! @tanahashi1_100 WINS!!! #G127 #NJPW #NJPWWORLD pic.twitter.com/SPZbpznGPi
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) August 6, 2017
– According to NJPW Guru Chris Charlton, it is officially down to Naito and Tanahashi on Friday to determine the block.
1/Naito Tanahashi 12
——–
3/Ibushi Fale Ishii 10
6/Sabre Goto 8
8/Makabe 6
9/YOSHIHASHI 4
10/Nagata 2 #g127 A block— chris charlton (@reasonjp) August 6, 2017
BLOCK A STANDINGS
– Hiroshi Tanahashi: 6-2 (12pts.)
– Tetsuya Naito: 6-2 (12pts.)
ELIMINATED
– Kota Ibushi: 5-3 (10pts.)
– Bad Luck Fale: 5-3 (10pts.)
– Tomohiro Ishii: 4-4 (8pts.)
– Zack Sabre Jr: 4-4 (8pts.)
– Hirooki Goto: 4-4 (8pts.)
– Togi Makabe: 3-5 (6pts.)
– YOSHI-HASHI: 2-6 (4pts.)
– Yuji Nagata: 1-7 (2pts.)
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
The Rest of My G1 Coverage Will Be Dedicated To The Loving Memory of Daryl Takahashi, A Sweet Young Lad Who Left Us Too Soon… FUCK YOU FALE
