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1 Climax Day 5, Fukushima Big Palette, July 25:
YOSHI-HASHI defeated David Finlay
This was pretty quick. Finlay got to hit some uppercuts and a few of his big moves before YOSHI won with the Butterfly Lock.
Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Katsuyori Shibata defeated Juice Robinson, Michael Elgin, Tiger Mask IV, KUSHIDA & Ryusuke Taguchi
Elgin & Shibata face on Day 6, so we had a preview of that. Shibata hit the corner dropkick on Elgin. This could be yet another match of the tournament contender. This was the usual NJPW tag. Robinson hit a jackhammer on Kojima before Kojima hit a Koji Cutter and Lariat to pick up the win.
Yujiro Takahashi & Kenny Omega defeated Captain New Japan & Tomoaki Honma
This was a preview of the Day 6 match between Omega & Honma. There wasn't much to this. Yujiro vs Captain was as enthralling as you'd imagine. Yujiro pinned Captain with the low DDT, which just isn't much of a finisher.
BUSHI, EVIL & Tetsuya Naito defeated Gedo, Toru Yano & Katsuhiko Nakajima
This was a good fun six man tag. There was lots of comedy from Yano & Gedo. EVIL & Nakajima got stuck in. Their match on Wednesday should be as stiff as hell. BUSHI pinned Gedo after a diving Codebreaker. After the match LIJ laid out everyone with EVIL hitting the STO on Nakajima.
Block A: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Bad Luck Fale
This was really impressive. Ishii had to fight from underneath to survive the much larger Fale. Ishii was able to hit a German suplex, which was amazing looking. Fale hit lots of clubbing blows and a couple of big lariats. He got a big near fall with the Grenade. Ishii continued to chop down Fale with lariats and headbutts until he managed to weaken him enough to hit a Brainbuster. A full on Brainbuster, even holding Fale in the air for a couple of seconds. That's something you need to see.
Togi Makabe defeated SANADA
This was a fine match. Nothing anyone will remember in a few days, but solid for what it was. SANADA is insanely athletic and is turning into one of the breakout stars of the tournament. Makabe got some decent near falls after some lariats and a German suplex. SANADA hit a TKO for a near fall, but couldn't get Cold Skull. Makabe won after he cracked SANADA's head on the ringpost, hit the Spider German followed by the King Kong Knee Drop. Makabe is now 3-0.
Naomichi Marufuji defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan
This was great! Marufuji chopped Tenzan so much that his chest was starting to bleed. Marufuji was on here. He hit so many kicks and knee strikes. Tenzan fired back with some power moves. The Anaconda Vise wasn't enough. Marufuji also kicked out of a Tombstone Driver. Marufuji dished out kick after kick, but Tenzan blocked a knee with a headbutt. Marufuji hit the knee for a great near fall. Tenzan went for the moonsault and missed. Marufuji won after he used more kicks to set up the Shiranui to hand Tenzan his first loss. This is worth watching.
Tama Tonga defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
What a shocker this was. Tama Tonga picked up the biggest win of his career in what is the biggest upset of the G1 so far this year. Both guys went in looking for their first win. Tonga worked over the shoulder here. This was a very good match. There was a really nice sequence with Tonga hitting the ropes until he was caught with a Slingblade. Tonga got the knees up off the High Fly Flow for a fantastic near fall and then hit a Gun Stun to shock the crowd when he pinned Tanahashi cleanly. Tanahashi showed frustration after the match as the story of Tanahashi struggling to find his form after injury continues. When he finally gets a win it should be a great moment.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Hirooki Goto
This was an awesome main event. The story between these two goes back to last years G1 when Goto beat Okada. That led to Goto hitting a slump and having Okada invite him to join CHAOS. This was their first meeting as team mates. Goto had a hell of a showing and there were many moments where it looked like Goto would take down the IWGP champion. Goto & Okada have always had excellent chemistry together. There was a great series of reversals with Goto managing to block a couple of Rainmaker attempts. Goto hit Ushigoroshi for a good near fall. He set up for the finish, but Okada hit two dropkicks and went for the Rainmaker again, but Goto countered into a GTR attempt, which Okada turned into a Tombstone. Okada then hit the Rainmaker to get the three count. Okada is one of the best match finishers anywhere.
This wasn't a blow away show, but it was solid. Marufuji/Tenzan and Okada/Goto are both worth your time, as is witnessing the Ishii Brainbuster. The show is on NJPWWorld.com now.
Day 6 takes place on Wednesday morning:
- Togi Makabe, Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi
- Hirooki Goto & Naomichi Marufuji vs. SANADA & BUSHI
- Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV & Captain New Japan
- Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo vs. Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Yujiro Takahashi
B BLOCK : Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. EVIL
B BLOCK : Tomoaki Honma vs. Kenny Omega
B BLOCK : Yuji Nagata vs. YOSHI-HASHI
B BLOCK : Katsuyori Shibata vs. Michael Elgin
B BLOCK : Toru Yano vs. Tetsuya Naito
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