Sambus’ NJPW G1 Climax 36 Night Two Review 07.18.26

 

Hey folks! Night Two of the NJPW G1 Climax 36 is here, and the big news coming out of last week’s Chicago show was that Shota Umino has been placed under concussion protocol and has had to pull out of the rest of the tournament. As such, all B Block competitors have gained 2 points as an automatic victory over Umino, save for Zack Sabre Jr who remains with his existing 2 points, having beaten Umino last week.

Tonight, we have one B Block match in Drilla vs Gabe Kidd, and the rest of the card will see A Block tournament matches, capped off by Yota Tsuji vs Hirooki Goto. Let’s go!

 

Location: Hokkaido

Venue: Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center

Commentators: Walker Stewart & OSKAR

 

[B Block] Drilla Moloney [2] vs. Gabe Kidd [2]

This could/should be interesting as former War Dogs go up against each other. Kidd flips off the canvas, saying ‘Fuck this company,’ but Drilla folds Kidd’s finger up, taking issue with the disrespect. They spill out into the crowd early on, Kidd whipping Moloney into the chairs. Kidd takes the mic and goes for the cheap heat by saying ‘AEW ichiban!’

Strikes and chops exchanged for quite some time before Drilla drops Kidd throat-first over the barricade. Kidd comes back and tosses a chair in the face of Moloney. Back in the ring, a dropkick gets a 1 count for Gabe. Moloney gets a desperation thrust kick to the jaw, and both men take a breather on the canvas. Moloney is busted open, not sure where that came from? Headbutts and heavy shots in the corner ensue, and the ref creates space between them. Big forearm by Kidd, and a receipt from Moloney. Dropkick from Moloney, right hook from Kidd, and Drilla comes right back with a Gore. Kidd’s busted open, too, at this point. Powerbomb is reversed into a German suplex from Kidd, and he goes for another, but is denied. Back elbows from Moloney, chops exchanged, rebound lariat from Kidd. Brainbuster! 1, 2, NO. Kidd keeps up the pressure, one more brainbuster delivered, 1, 2, NO. A third brainbuster, 1, 2, NO! Kidd places Moloney on the top rope, climbs up looking for an avalanche brainbuster, but Drilla headbutts him away. Go To Hellbow connects, followed by the pop-up powerbomb. GOOOORE! 1, 2, NOOO! Kidd with a GORE of his own! He looks for a Drilla Killa, but Moloney escapes and nails a German. Running knee from Moloney, thinks about a piledriver, and he connects! DRILLA KILLA! 1, 2, 3!

Winner: Drilla Moloney

Time: 15:46

Rating: ***1/2 – They spent a long time in the crowd early on simply exchanging strikes, which was a little uninspired, but then it changed its tune once they got back into the ring, and it became more about throwing bombs. Closing stretch was neat, with both guys looking for the mental edge by stealing each other’s moves, and this ultimately felt like a significant win for Moloney.

 

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[A Block] SANADA [0] vs. Great-O-Khan [0]

Both of these men lost their opening contest last week, so they’ll be looking to get on the scoreboard here. O-Khan attacks SANADA just before the bell rings to gain an early advantage. Dropkick to the knee from SANADA, O-Khan spills to the floor, and calls for SANADA to follow. He does so and gets driven into the steel barricade. O-Khan bounces a steel chair off the back of SANADA, and the ref is very lenient due to the tournament conditions. Back inside the ring, O-Khan trips SANADA up and finds it hilarious. SANADA back up to deliver some dropkicks, and he pulls the turnbuckle padding off, whipping O-Khan into the exposed hooks.

Paradise Lock applied, SANADA grabs another turnbuckle padding and uses it to smack DAT ASS of O-Khan. SANADA up top, looking for the moonsault, but O-Khan rolls out of harm’s way. Dragon screw over the middle rope as SANADA continues to work over the leg. He goes for a crossbody to the outside, but O-Khan takes a page out of Samoa Joe’s playbook and NOPES out of it, walking away. Back in the ring, Iron Claw is applied. SANADA flips out of it, tilt-a-whirl into the Skull End. He drops O-Khan down, leaps to the top rope, but O-Khan nudges the ref into the ropes to crotch SANADA. O-Khan tries a Tenzan tombstone, but SANADA counters with a shining wizard. And another! Cover, 1, 2, kickout. Rounding body press moonsault connects! They head outside. O-Khan misses a swing with a chair, so SANADA hits him in the gut with it and delivers the Magic Screw from the apron to the floor. To the aisle, SANADA sits O-Khan on the chair and takes a run-up, but O-Khan gingerly trips him into the chair. They trade attempts at moves on the floor while the ref continues counting. TTD on the floor by O-Khan! O-Khan races back into the ring at 19, and SANADA loses by countout.

Winner: Great-O-Khan

Time: 11:11

Rating: ** – While technically ‘fine’, this was honestly just rather bland and boring. SANADA is not bringing much to the table in 2026, and O-Khan can do well when with the right opponent…SANADA was not that kind of opponent.

Post-match, O-Khan continues the assault, bringing SANADA back into the ring and teeing him up for the golf swing chairshot to the head, which connects. SANADA has been laid out cold.

 

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[A Block] Jake Lee [2] vs. Konosuke Takeshita [0]

Jake Lee conducts the crowd in some chanting. Takeshita looks for a flying forearm, but Lee sidesteps, low bridges to send Takeshita to the floor, and hits a running kick along the apron. Back inside, Lee delivers knees to the gut until Takeshita finally lands the flying forearm. Exploder connects, Lee spills to the floor, and Takeshita thinks about a tope con hilo, but Lee moves away, so Takeshita thinks better of it. Takeshita meets Lee on the floor and delivers a DDT. Takeshita brings a white towel into the ring with him and starts furiously wiping the face of Lee, wiping off the clown makeup. Lee is understandably pissed off, so they begin trading strikes. Knee lift from Lee knocks the wind out of Takeshita, and he repeats it with a couple more. Back suplex, 1, 2, and the Alpha kicks out. Lee misses the FBS, Takeshita powers him up, and hits a one-armed powerbomb out of the corner! Powerdrive knee is caught! Roundhouse kick from Lee lands flush. Another knee strike from Lee, 1, 2, no. Chokeslam! 1, 2, NO. Takeshita comes wildly out of the corner with a leaping knee, followed by the Powerdrive knee, 1, 2, NO! Raging Fire attempt, but Lee reverses with a brainbuster! 1, 2, no. Front chancery applied by Jake, into some strikes, running knee from Takeshita. Raging Fire! 1, 2, 3!

Winner: Konosuke Takeshita

Time: 8:53

Rating: ***1/4 – Surprisingly short, but this was a fun sprint, and I thought Lee performed well here, getting in his character moments while also meeting Takeshita in a hard-fought back-and-forth contest.

 

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[A Block] Yuto-Ice [2] vs. Boltin Oleg [0]

Yuto-Ice with a big boot as the bell sounds. They grapple on the mat early on until Oleg drives Yuto-Ice into the corner. Side slam connects, followed by a scoop slam and a flying body sausage for 2. Oleg locks in a Boston Crab, but Yuto-Ice muscles up to claw his way towards the ropes to break it. Yuto-Ice dodges an attack in the corner and delivers a swift kick to the chest. A kick to the back of the leg knocks Oleg down. Bomboclaat knee in the corner connects, 1, 2, no. Another knee to the face, and Oleg is going to be spending his weekend glued to an ice pack. PK, but Oleg gets right back up! Slap from Yuto-Ice, and Oleg responds with some hard forearms. Knife-edge chop knocks Yuto-Ice down, and he drives him head-first into the turnbuckle padding, stomping on his downed body as the ref tries to pull him away. Nice aggression here. Dropkick to the head didn’t quite hit snug, but Oleg covers for 2 anyway. Yuto-Ice goes for the eyes to create some space and delivers kicks to the hamstrings. Roundhouse kick from Yuto-Ice wobbles Oleg! Another! 1, 2, strong kickout from Oleg. He fires himself up, lariat, forearm, and Yuto-Ice comes back with slaps. Oleg catches a kick, doesn’t catch the next. Oleg tries a pop-up forearm, which doesn’t quite work, then delivers the Boltin-to-belly suplex. Kamikaze attempt is countered, and Yuto-Ice looks for the running boot to the back of the head, which connects. He goes for another, but Oleg muscles him up, Kamikaze! 1, 2, NO. Powerbomb is countered, and Oleg catches the punch. The Verdict! Powerbomb connects, 1, 2, NO! Oleg lifts Yuto-Ice up for repeated deadlift powerbombs…he doesn’t even need to go for the cover; the referee stops the match!

Winner: Boltin Oleg

Time: 15:01

Rating: *** – Some of it felt a little drawn out, but I very much enjoyed seeing a more aggressive Oleg here, playing even more into his size and making him look more of a beast than he has in a while. Strong victory for Oleg which kept Yuto-Ice looking good in defeat.

 

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[A Block] Shingo Takagi [0] vs. Ryohei Oiwa [2]

Looking forward to this! Test of strength to start, which Oiwa gets the advantage with and switches to target the arm and shoulder. Shoulder blocks traded, Oiwa misses the senton, and Shingo knocks him down with a shoulder tackle. Oiwa comes back with an armdrag takedown followed by an arm scissor. More shoulder blocks, and Oiwa connects with the senton this time for a 2 count. Shingo shortly follows up with a senton of his own. Back elbow, jab, DDT combo from Takagi. He brings Oiwa to the top rope, climbs, and Oiwa goes for the arm once more. Shingo shrugs it off and delivers the top rope superplex, holding on for a Twist & Shout.

It’s Takagi Time as Shingo rallies the crowd, and he thinks about Made in Japan, but it is denied. Oiwa catches a lariat attempt and looks for an armbar, then, with a go-behind, lifts Shingo up for a Tenzan suplex. 1, 2, no. Oiwa goes up top for a biiiig splash and covers for another 2 count. German with a bridge, 1-count kickout by Shingo, locking in a hammerlock. Shingo transitions into an armbar of his own and snaps the arm back. Mongolian chops from Shingo, blocks a discus lariat and delivers his own. Oiwa with Mongolian chops now!  They trade lariats, neither man going down. Discus lariat countered right into a backdrop driver! LARIAT by Shingo knocks Oiwa the F out. Both men catch their breath on the canvas.

Takagi up, straight into Made in Japan! 1, 2, NO. Series of strikes from Shingo, Oiwa ducks one and rolls through to deliver a Chaos Theory for 2. Oiwa wrenches back with the arm wringer, and now looks for that Ark Clutch (London Dungeon) again, like he used in Chicago last week. Doctor Bomb connects, 1, 2, Shingo kicks out. Cradled Lariat from Shingo gets 2. Oiwa backs up, targeting the arm. Shingo uses the other arm for a lariat. Oiwa gets him down, stomps on the arm, and applies a sleeper. He pulls him up for something, but Shingo rolls through into a 2 count and delivers a sliding lariat. Last of the Dragon!! But Shingo doesn’t follow up with a pin just yet. Oiwa to his feet, Pumping Bomberrrrrrr! 1, 2…NO!! Headbutts, and he hoists Oiwa up for the BURNING DRAGON!!! 1, 2, 3!

Winner: Shingo Takagi

Time: 16:37

Rating: ***3/4 – I’ve always been a huge Shingo mark as he has a high benchmark in terms of his ‘standard workrate’, and Oiwa is quickly proving himself to be a valuable young member of the NJPW roster, so this had all the ingredients you could want. Oiwa focused on the arm, but alas for him, Shingo is ambidextrous with the lariats, and was able to seal the deal with that sick Burning Dragon. Lovely stuff here.

 

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[A Block] Hirooki Goto [2] vs. Yota Tsuji [2]

These guys had a BANGER during the 2024 New Japan Cup and also during the G1 in the same year, and the stakes are certainly higher here. Lockup to start, neither man getting the advantage, until Tsuji backs Goto into the ropes and unleashes a swift, hard chop. Shoulder block ensues, arm drag is blocked, and Goto takes his opponent down with a lariat and a kick to the spine. Tsuji gets the head-trap double stomp in the corner and then dropkicks Goto to the outside. Tope suicida connects!

They make their way back inside the ring, where Tsuji struggles for a Boston Crab and can’t get it. Snapmare and a neck twist from Tsuji. Goto tries to mount a comeback, but Tsuji shuts it down. Only for Goto to come back with a desperation lariat! Spinning wheel kick in the corner, and Goto delivers the back suplex for a 2 count. Corner splash from Tsuji, and he sets up for the Marlowe Crash, but rolls through as Goto is up. Reverse GTR, but Tsuji comes right back with the faceplant and curb stomp. Even Stevens from these guys! Tsuji again goes for the Boston Crab, locks it in this time. Tsuji sits back to apply more pressure, and Goto is in trouble. Goto has been in it a while, but finally makes it to the ropes, so Tsuji relents.

Tsuji is fully in control at this point, knocking Goto to the canvas repeatedly with hard forearms. To their feet, both men exchange forearms now, HUGE slap to the chest from Tsuji, my GOD! Damn, that destroyed Goto’s chest. Goto fires up, but a palm strike from Tsuji shuts it down once more. Curb stomp! 1, 2, NO. Gene Blaster is denied as Goto gets him up for the ushi-goroshi! Falcon Arrow from Tsuji connects for another 2 count. Rising knee in the corner, and he sits Goto on the ropes. Goto fights back, slaps exchanged…Goto has Tsuji poised…GOTO SUNSETBOMB from the top!! 1, 2, NOOO.

Goto with a kick to the chest, Tsuji fires up, but Goto takes him down with a lariat. GTW! 1, 2, noooo. GTR countered, running knee from Tsuji caught too. Superkick and a headbutt knock Goto down, and Tsuji hits the pump-handle Blue Thunder for a 2 count. Goto catches the Gene Blaster attempt. SHOTEN KAI!! Both men down as Goto can’t cover. Goto sets up for the GTR again. They struggle back and forth, a big headbutt from Goto! More headbutts now, chop to the back of the neck, and Tsuji goes down. Goto runs the ropes, but Tsuji catches him with a GENE BLASTER! 1, 2, NO! Tsuji picks him up…SPINNING WHEEL KICK to block the Gene Blaster! GTR!!! Goto picks him up, GTR again! 1, 2, 3!!!!

Winner: Hirooki Goto

Time: 22:35

Rating: ****1/4 – Goto is superb at garnering sympathy from the crowd, and he had them rooting for him early on with an underdog performance. That meant when he finally turned the tables and started mounting a comeback, the crowd was right there with him, coming alive for all of his offense. Goto takes the early lead for A Block, and no doubt earns himself a future title shot with that pinfall victory over the IWGP champion.

 

 

[A Block]

Hirooki Goto – 2-0-0 [4 points]

Yota Tsuji – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Ryohei Oiwa – 1-0-0 [2 points]

Jake Lee – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Yuto-Ice  – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Great-O-Khan – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Konosuke Takeshita – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Boltin Oleg – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Shingo Takagi – 1-1-0 [2 points]

SANADA – 0-2-0 [0 points]

 

[B Block]

Aaron Wolf – 2-0-0 [4 points]

OSKAR – 2-0-0 [4 points]

Callum Newman – 2-0-0 [4 points]

Drilla Moloney – 2-0-0 [4 points]

Zack Sabre Jr – 1-0-0 [2 points]

HENARE – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Ren Narita – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Yuya Uemura – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Gabe Kidd – 1-1-0 [2 points]

Shota Umino – 0-1-0 [0 points]

 

 

 

 

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was predominantly about getting almost everyone in A Block onto a level playing field, with most at 2 points (apart from that loserrrrr SANADA) and Goto creeping ahead into the top spot for 4 points. SANADA/O-Khan was the only entirely skippable match, with Oiwa/Shingo having an awesome contest, and a banger of a main event between Goto and Tsuji nudging this firmly into Good territory.