wrestling / TV Reports
Sambus’ NJPW G1 Climax 36 Finals Review 08.16.26
Image Credit: NJPW
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Location: Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Ryogoku Sumo Hall
Commentators: Walker Stewart & Chris Charlton
Yuto-Ice, OSKAR & Daiki Nagai vs United Empire (HENARE, Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman)
Yuto-Ice and HENARE start trading blows before the bell has even rung. Yuto-Ice gets HENARE down in the corner but O-Khan holds the legs to prevent the Bomboclaat knee. HENARE with a senton for 2. Newman fakes out Yuto-Ice, looking to hit his own version of the Bomboclaat knee, but stops short and spits in Yuto-Ice’s face instead. O-Khan holds Yuto-Ice back for a kick from HENARE. OSKAR takes it to both HENARE and O-Khan, with a big spinning body slam to HENARE. Mat return and an elbow drop, OSKAR covers O-Khan for 2. Berlin Fall attempt, O-Khan stomps on the feet, enziguri by Newman. Newman tags in and delivers a running knee for 2. He looks for Prince’s Curse, can’t get it, OSKAR comes back with a big boot. Nagai tagged in, hits the elevated dropkick in the corner. Misses a double stomp though, and Newman knocks him down with a big boot. Yuto-Ice eats some strikes from United Empire, OSKAR comes in for a double clothesline. Spinning forearms by Newman, Nagai with a HUGE satellite DDT! Cover, 1, 2, no.
Nagai tries for a powerbomb perhaps but Newman avoids it, delivers the Prince’s Curse over the knee, 1, 2, NO. Nagai with a hurracanrana, 1, 2, NO! Another attempt at the powerbomb, but Newman hits a lariat and the Make Way for the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: United Empire
Time: 11:52
Rating: *** – Nagai looked tremendous here, and the pop from the crowd on that nearfall after the hurracanrana was great – he’s clearly got a connection with the crowd already.
Yano and Makabe attacks Yuto-Ice and OSKAR from behind after the match, raising the tag titles. Both teams get into it and continue fighting all the way backstage.
HENARE and O-Khan head backstage too….and out of nowhere, Callum Newman starts attacking Daiki Nagai at ringside. He tosses him into the railings hard before bringing him back in the ring. Excalibur! Newman soaks up the boos before he takes a SWORD!? He holds it to the throat of Nagai before Gedo steps in the ring and tells him to calm down. Gedo says he knows Newman is strong, but why is he bullying this boy? Newman needs to fix his attitude. Gedo says ‘this’ man can fix his attitude for him.
IT’S JEFF COBB! Jeff Cobb has returned to New Japan! Newman and Cobb butt heads. Newman gives him one chance to kiss the crown…and Cobb shoulder tackles Newman to the mat. Cobb says he’s made his choice, and as Newman rolls to the outside, Cobb makes the Unbound Company pose with Gedo. Jeff Cobb is no longer United Empire…he’s Unbound Company!
Unbound Company (Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi) vs Gabe Kidd & Wheeler Yuta
Kidd and Moloney are face to face as the bell rings. Lariat from Kidd, Shingo with a blind tag and responds with a lariat of his own. Yuta with a rebound into a German, eats an enziguri from Moloney. Drilla Killa attempt on Kidd is denied, Wrecking Ball dropkick connects though. Fighting on the outside, Moloney looks for Drilla Killa on the stairs! Kidd reverses though and hits a PILEDRIVER on the stairs!
Kidd and Yuta work over Shingo in the ring. Kidd with a Giant Swing in a shout-out to his stablemate Claudio Castagnoli, and Yuta is there for the dropkick to the head as he swings round. Shingo comes back with a sliding bomber on Yuta as we see Drilla clawing his way back to the ring. DDT by Shingo, and he makes the tag to Moloney. Corner Gore, Moloney up top, Kidd gets kicked away, Moloney misses a dive but delivers a spinebuster anyway. Backdrop suplexes traded, Moloney with a superkick, Gore is denied and Kidd hits a brainbuster, 1, 2, no. Moloney with a Death Valley Driver, and now both men are down. Respective tags on both sides, corner lariat and Shingo with jabs and chops. Nice seatbelt suplex from Yuta, cover for 2. Hammer and anvil elbows now, looks for Cattle Mutilation but Shingo avoids it. He catches Yuta and suplexes him overhead, covers for 2. Combo offense from Shingo and Moloney, now the Death Riders have their fun, tombstone on Shingo and Kidd launches Yuta for the rocket launcher splash, 1, 2, broken up by Drilla. Pop-up powerbomb on Yuta, sliding bomber to the back of the neck, and Unbound Company are on fire. War Dragon, 1, 2, NO! Kidd breaks it up at the last second. Moloney with a huge leaping kick to Kidd, superkick to Yuta, pumping bomber, and the Drilla Killaaaaa! Right into Last of the Dragon! 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Unbound Company
Time: 13:33
Rating: ***1/2 – Really good tag here, felt like they all turned it up a notch. Finish was really fun as Unbound Company just went full-on MDK in destroying Yuta.
Konosuke Takeshita, Taichi & Satoshi Kojima vs House of Torture (Ren Narita, SANADA & Shun Skywalker)
And here we have the official NJPW in-ring debut of Shun Skywalker. All of House of Torture are out at ringside which doesn’t bode well. Takeshita and Skywalker start us off. Ah, but Shun tags out to Narita instead. Nope, Shun attacks Takeshita from behind. Takeshita with a big boot to SANADA, Narita rakes the eyes. Double big boot from Takeshita and Taichi. Mongolian chops from Kojima on Narita, Takeshita covers for 2. Taichi with Mongolian chops now, feeling the Tenzan love. HoT remove the turnbuckle padding, and Taichi gets whipped into it before the whole squad start stomping him down on the floor. Now Skywalker tags in, kick to the gut on Taichi. SANADA in, dropkick to the knee, big boot in return from Taichi. Takeshita in for a running forearm in the corner, misses a Powerdrive knee, flying forearm connects. Narita rakes the eyes but eats a hurracanrana, and Takeshita goes for the tope con hilo but Shun sweeps the legs and pulls him to the outside. Dick to Dick Contact on Takeshita as Togo gets involved.
Shun with a big boot to Takeshita, just a 1 count from that. Double Cross is avoided but Narita hits an exploder on Takeshita, Takeshita straight back up for an exploder of his own. Kojima and Skywalker face off, bicycle kick from Shun, Kojima chops in the corner. Chops to SANADA too. DDT to Shun, Narita in for a big boot but Taichi shoves him into the exposed turnbuckle. Big boot from Shun but Takeshita hits a Blue Thunder on Skywalker, and Kojima follows up with a Koji Cutter! Southpaw lariat, 1, 2, no. Kanemaru spits the whiskey in the eyes, Takahashi with the cane, and Skywalker hits an impressive moonsault knee drop for the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: House of Torture
Time: 10:54
Rating: **1/2 – Shun Skywalker is in theory presented as a Big Deal, and it’s good that he got to pick up the win for his team, but I can’t help but feel he’s very quickly going to become ‘just another guy’ in House of Torture. Still, with all the interactions between Takeshita and Skywalker, it looks like they’re teasing a TV title match between them which could be sweet.
Hirooki Goto & YOH vs Yota Tsuji & Taiji Ishimori
Goto and Tsuji lock up as we get underway. Goto with an armdrag and a shoulder tackle, YOH tags in to assist with a double shoulder tackle. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on YOH as Taiji Ishimori tags in. Snapmare and a neck crank before locking in a modified triangle with YOH’s own arm wrapped around his throat. Dragon screw legwhip from YOH on Tsuji, Goto tags in, spinning wheel kick in the corner followed by the back suplex for a 2 count. Tsuji Combo connects as he curb stomps Goto’s head into the mat. Marlowe Crash attempt is avoided, bicycle knee hits though. Reverse GTR and a lariat from Goto! Tags to Ishimori and YOH, bridging half hatch suplex gets 2 for YOH. Cartwheel driver and a thrust kick, Ishimori covers for 2, kickout and Taiji goes right for the Bone Lock. Goto and YOH with lariats in the corner, ushi-goroshi, and YOH hits a Falcon Arrow for 2 until Tsuji breaks it up. Tsuji eats an ushi-goroshi too. Superkick from YOH is blocked, La Mistica right into the Bone Lock but YOH struggles to the ropes, Ishimori rolls back to the center. Backslide right into the Bloody Cross! 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Yota Tsuji & Taiji Ishimori
Time: 8:20
Rating: ***1/4 – With Ishimori pinning the IWGP Jr Heavyweight champion, it looks like we have our next challenger set. Good action in this one, with the Juniors bringing the speed and putting in the bulk of the work.
*Hiroshi Tanahashi steps into the ring and introduces Hiroyoshi Tenzan to the Japanese commentary desk for our main event.
G1 Climax 36 Finals: Yuya Uemura vs Ryohei Oiwa
As the bell sounds, the crowd begin chanting for both men, possibly slightly more vocal for Oiwa. Uemura is the first to go to a side headlock, perhaps trying to play some mind games with Oiwa who has been favoring the side headlock all tournament. Oiwa tries to shrug him off but Uemura grounds him with the headlock, keeping it in tight. Suplex attempt to escape, again Uemura holds on. Just as Oiwa works out of it, Uemura slips through his grasp and locks it back in. They trade holds a little before Uemura goes back to the side headlock. Oiwa finally lands some shoulder tackles before getting his own side headlock. Senton by Oiwa, 1, 2, no. And at the kickout, Oiwa goes back to the side headlock. Uemura with an armdrag and now an armbar as he changes up his gameplan. Oiwa begins to build a head of steam but one armdrag and Uemura goes back to the armbar. Wristlock applied, Oiwa uses a snapmare to get out of it but Uemura holds on. They trade snapmares and wristlocks, Uemura maintaining control throughout.
Oiwa rolls to breaks the hold, Uemura holds on, and they keep rolling, jockeying momentum. Oiwa has a moment to dive for a side headlock but Uemura simply ducks it and transitions with the arm into a hammerlock. Oiwa manages to swing Uemura round into the buckles, Uemura comes back for another attempt but Oiwa grounds him and applies a headscissor. Uemura works himself out of it, Oiwa goes right back to it. Uemura lifted to the apron, Oiwa gets a sideheadlock on again, and drags Uemura over the top rope to take a seated position. Cravate hold from Oiwa, cover for 2, and Uemura grabs the arm for a quick arm wringer and a dropkick. Armdrag and a crossbody from Uemura, followed up with a dropkick and the Heat Storm is back in control.
Half hatch suplex, 1, 2, Oiwa kicks out, but Uemura ties up the arm and cranks it with his feet. Deadbolt attempt, Oiwa counters with a sideheadlock and then a DDT. Backslide by Oiwa for 2, Doctor Bomb! 1, 2, no. Uemura delivers a back suplex, Oiwa comes right back with a Tenzan suplex. Both men flat out on the canvas now.
They both look for armdrags and meet in the middle of the ring, swinging each other round. Dragon suplex attempt from Uemura, Oiwa breaks it but the German from Uemura connects. Oiwa back up for a German of his own. Uemura with the Dragon suplex, bridging pin, 1, 2, NO. Uemura up top, High Fly Flow, 1, 2, kickout! Uemura has the arm, Deadbolt is denied, belly to belly suplex from Oiwa! And he goes right into the side headlock. Uemura tries to shrug him off in the ropes, but Oiwa flattens out in the center of the ring. Back suplex from Uemura, but NO, Oiwa still keeps the side headlock engaged! Red Shoes may be about to call it…but Yuya gets to his feet somehow. Yuya fights it, and breaks the hold, headbutt from Oiwa, enziguri from Uemura! DEADBOLT SUPLEX! LION ELBOW CONNECTS! Uemura goes to the top rope once more…Lion Shiner misses, SIDE HEADLOCK RE-APPLIED BY OIWA! Discus lariat, Uemura HOLDS ON TO THE ARM, CROSS-ARMBREAKER!!! HOLY SHIT WHAT A COUNTER! Oiwa rolls into a cover for 2. Uemura with the wristlock again, Oiwa rolls through, and we’ve hit 30 minutes now. Lariat by Oiwa, Yuya still has the wrist, but finally lets go. Oiwa tries for a sideheadlock, Uemura snatches the wrist for the wristlock again.
Crowd is molten for Oiwa! Body slam but NO, Uemura STILL holds on to the wristlock. GERMAN SUPLEX WITH A BRIDGE, 1, 2, Uemura kicks out! Still with the wristlock, Oiwa manages a Tenzan suplex and Yuya has to release it finally. Oiwa sets up for The Grip, Yuya ducks and tries for the Deadbolt but Oiwa nails The Grip!! Side headlock again, Yuya shrugs him off, Oiwa goes for the Grip lariat again and it connects! 1, 2, NOOOOO.
Back to the side headlock, Yuya tries to roll into a cover, just a 2 count. Uemura gets a firm grip around the waist, but no, Oiwa tightens the hold, wrenching back…and Yuya gives out, Red Shoes calls for the bell!!
Winner: Ryohei Oiwa
Time: 35:11
Rating: ***** – Excuse the swears, this was FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC. Oiwa and Uemura are the best; strap a rocket to ‘em, Gedo! This was the culmination of the story being told all G1 long – that basic holds can be absolute killers when applied properly and effectively, both in kayfabe terms but also in how a crowd buys into them. The crowd were going nuts for Oiwa when he was stuck in the wristlock, and I have to give props to both guys for selling it wholeheartedly. This was sublime from the get-go, with a strong opening section where both men traded control, showing their technical equality and focusing on a defensive strategy. That’s important, as the only time momentum truly shifted was when one of them made a desperation move and it backfired. Also…Uemura’s counter of the discus lariat into the cross-armbreaker…UNBELIEVABLE! Executed to perfection. Super hot finishing stretch makes this one of the better G1 Finals, probably the best since 2019’s Ibushi/White classic.
*After the match in his celebratory promo, Oiwa confirmed that he is taking his title shot in October, forgoing the Tokyo Dome main event. It worked well for Zack Sabre Jr and Konosuke Takeshita, so Oiwa will be looking to capture that magic at King of Pro Wrestling in just two months. And with that, Oiwa heads off into the crowd to celebrate with the fans, and the G1 Climax 36 comes to a close. Thanks for tuning in folks – hope to see you again soon!
