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Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 18) Review 8.13.16
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Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax (Night 18) Review 8.13.16
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Block B Match: Tomoaki Honma defeated Yuji Nagata @ 10:30 via pin [***¼]
– Block B Match: Toru Yano defeated YOSHI-HASHI @ 3:58 via pin [*]
– Block B Match: EVIL defeated Katsuyori Shibata @ 9:42 via pin [***]
– Block B Match: Katsuhiko Nakajima defeated Michael Elgin @ 17:02 via pin [****½]
– Block B Match: Kenny Omega defeated Tetsuya Naito @ 27:09 via pin [*****]
– NOTE: Like last year, I will be focusing on the tournament matches during my reviews.
Yuji Nagata vs. Tomoaki Honma: Honma was a dick early, slapping the shit out of Nagata on a break and taking control and being more aggressive than usual. But you do not fuck with Blue Justice because he will rip off your protective tape and destroy your injured ribs. Honma was selling the ribs well, he got he hope spots in and even landed a falling kokeshi early, but Nagata would go back to the ribs and cut him off. They went back and forth, did a double down and then worked into a back and forth striking battle. Honma landed a ton of chops, but Nagata countered into the arm bar; Honma made the ropes. Nagata then hit the backdrop suplex for a near fall. He went for another, but Honma hit the running kokeshi, went up top and Nagata cut him, off. Super XPLODER off the top from Nagata, but Honma survives and fights off the backdrop suplex. After slapping the hell out of each other for 30 seconds or so, Nagata hit a German but then Honma managed to hit the jumping kokeshi and sitout tombstone for a near fall. Honma then hit the kokeshi off the top and picked up the win! That was a lot of fun and a good way to kick off tonight’s tournament matches. Both guys were obviously slowed on this final night of the block, but they did work really hard and the crowd was into them both, which added to the match.
Toru Yano vs. YOSHI-HASHI: They went back and forth, HASHI had control and they were looking to work a regular match. Yano then quickly tried a sneaky roll up and tried to remove the buckle pad. He did so, and HASHI crashed in the corner. Yano ripped off another buckle pad and then hit Yano with it. HASHI then did the same to Yano. They teased a ref bump, Yano scored wit the low blow and won. It was a Yano special.
Katsuyori Shibata vs. EVIL: Shibata can make the finals if Elgin and Naito lose and he wins here. He went for the sleeper and PK in the first minute, but EVIL avoided and they worked to the floor for the Gedo Special. EVIL worked the injured arm, using a chair to inflict maximum damage. EVIL took the heat, working the shoulder and Shibata eventually called him on and challenged him to keep attacking, and he got pissed off and started to kick the shit out of EVIL. Shibata’s selling of the arm was way too spotty here, constantly sing uppercuts and suplexes where he was clutching his hands with no issue. He scored with the running corner kick and the dropkick. Shibata laid in a series of kicks, EVIL caught one and tried to attack but Shibata got the sleeper. EVIL used the injured arm of Shibata as his exit, hit a suplex and did the double down spot. EVIL started to use the arm injury of Shibata to his advantage, and then connected with a half and half suplex. They teased a stoppage, Shibata fired up but EVIL hit the sit out EVIL bomb for a near fall. The STO followed and EVIL picked up the win. EVIL picks up the big win, playing spoiler and helping Naito, and also putting himself into the mix for a NEVER title shot. They worked very well together here and I am all for a program between the two. Where the match suffers is the selling by Shibata. The finish was completely based on the fact that Shibata’s shoulder was fucked and that his am was close to falling off. Basically he was beaten down and EVIL picked the bones like a vulture. But the selling through out was extremely lacking, which was disappointing. Overall, EVIL came out of the tournament looking stronger than when he went in.
JESUS!!!#g126 #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/rolq8g5nQ9
— Deno (@DeathByEIbow) August 13, 2016
Michael Elgin vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima: They set the power vs. speed dynamic early, working a really good pace to get you involved early. We got the Gedo Special, as Nakajima worked the arm and shoulder of Elgin, who’s taped up and working through a pec injury. Back in the ring Nakajima laid in no less than 12 kicks to the shoulder and pec area of Elgin, and then immediately worked an am bar. Really smart and focused work by Nakajima so far. Elgin fought back with a German into the corner, and then a powerslam for a near fall. Elgin was slowed as he tried to work the deadlift German, he countered out and then started to attack the legs of Elgin. Corino and Romero did a good job of explaining why Nakajima was attacking both levels (to ruin Elgin’s power game and base). Nakajima worked a good heat, with every time Elgin went to make a comeback or got a hope spot he was basically too slowed to take advantage of his chances, and Nakajima would cut him off. Elgin finally fired up and leveled Nakajima with a lariat, only to run into a dropkick and eat a PK. Elgin countered the brainbuster and hit rolling suplexes, set Nakajima up top and they battled for position. Nakajima sent him to the mat, went for a missile dropkick and Elgin about killed him with a powerbomb for a near fall. Elgin then went up top but missed the top rope splash. They fought to their feet trading strikes and kicks. Elgin then destroyed Nakajima with a series of forearm strikes and a sick lariat, which got a great near fall. Elgin then hit the deadlift super falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL) for a great near fall. Buckle bomb by Elgin, but Nakajima counters the Elgin bomb into a sunset flip and near fall. Sweet Jesus this has turned into an amazing match here. Nakajima fired back with a series of kicks for a near fall, went for the brainbuster and just BARELY got Elgin and picks up the spoiler filled victory. Wow, excellent match here with both guys working to their strengths and doing a very good job of escalating the action and violence to a great climax. This was so, so good. We need a rematch; actually we need Nakajima in fulltime here.
Nakajima just hit Big Mike with a delay brainbuster! How? That was great. Nakajima must stay in NJPW #g126 pic.twitter.com/zkf5MnKJIj
— John Stevens (@DK1105) August 13, 2016
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega: If Naito wins or draws with Omega, he wins the block. Omega has to win here to win the block. Omega was fired up early but Naito was like, “nah, trquilo brah” and posed. Naito then attacked the knee of Omega, looking to set for the heel hook. Omega pulled Naito tot the floor and went for a plancha, but Naito sidestepped him and while Omega landed on his feet, it bothered the leg and Naito again went on the attack. Omega slammed Naito to the barricade and then slammed him off of the apron. This allowed Omega to take control, he worked to ground Naito ands lowed the pace as he kept trying to shake out the knee, even stretching at times to get it to work better. Omega hit the Finlay roll, but when he popped up to go for the moonsault the leg slowed him down so much that Naito was able to cut him off. Naito then out together a run of offense for the first time in a while, hitting the corner dropkick combo and scoring a near fall. Naito then went back to the leg and worked a modified figure four. Omega made the ropes, but Naito made sure to work the full count. Omega managed a bulldog and he wanted to charge, was slowed, but hit a dropkick to send Naito to the barricade. Omega then powered Naito up and powerbombed him over the railing and through a table! Sweet Christ Omega then followed with a springboard over the barricade and onto Naito!
OMG, what the hell?!?! #NJPW #G126 @KennyOmegamanX pic.twitter.com/BAcqnV5Ckf
— LARIATOOOOO!!! (@SenorLARIATO) August 13, 2016
They did the countout tease; Omega hit a dragon suplex on the apron and another in the ring for a near fall. This has escalated quickly. Naito then countered a powerbomb into a DDT and both men were down. They traded strikes center ring, Omega hit a jumping knee strike but Naito came back with the tornado DDT. Naito then set Omega up top, worked elbows to the knee and went for the RANA but Omega rolled into a sunset flip for an insane near fall. Omega kept battling back, countered a lariat and then countered a suplex but his leg buckled on him. Naito was slow to take advantage, and Omega leveled him with a lariat. Another nee strike by Omega, One winged angel countered into the heel hook by Naito! Omega fought, clawing for the ropes but Naito pulled him back center ring and Omega teased tapping but he made one last desperation lunge for the ropes and made it. Naito hit the Flair knee breaker; Omega countered the second try and hit a German and then a gut wrench powerbomb for a near fall. Omega hits a knee strike, one winged angel countered into Destino but both men are down. We’re in the final five minutes here as Naito sets Omega up top; he follows and hits the SUPER REVERSE RANA for a super close near fall. THIS FUCKING MATCH! Destino countered into a reverse dude buster for the near fall as the crowd is going ape shit. Short knees by Omega, one winged angle try but the knee buckles on Omega. They slap the shit out of each other, enziguri by Naito and then Omega hit a knee as Naito goes for the lariat. Omega then gets the German and a running knee for the near fall. One winged angel FINALLY connects and Omega wins! This was an absolutely amazing main event match; awesome action, tremendous drams and they played not only the knee work perfectly but also the tease of the draw. On back-to-back nights, closing out the blocks, we get two five star matches. This was a simply amazing effort from both men, I thought it would be good, maybe even great, but this was next level and may have surpassed Ishii vs. Okada as my top match for the tournament. I am a bit shocked they didn’t go wit the predictable Naito win, but I still think Naito beats the tournament winner later on to take the case and main events WrestleKingdon.
* – 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 B STANDINGS
* BLOCK WINNER – Kenny Omega (6-3)
* Tetsuya Naito (6-3)
* Michael Elgin (5-4)
* Katsuyori Shibata (5-4)
* Katsuhiko Nakajima (4-4)
* Toru Yano (5-4)
* EVIL (4-5)
* YOSHI-HASHI (3-6)
* Tomoaki Honma (3-6)
* Yuji Nagata (3-6)
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
