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G1 Climax Day 3, September 23rd
A Block
Jeff Cobb defeated Shingo Takagi. I consider this an upset. I never really expected Cobb to win as the match progressed and was just waiting for Shingo to hit his finish, but it never came. This was a really good match with lots of hard strikes and suplexes. Cobb had the power advantage, Shingo had the striking advantage. Shingo hit Noshagami followed by the Pumping Bomber for a near fall, and a again another with Made in Japan. Cobb used his size and power to counter out of Last of the Dragon and hit a rebound German Suplex. He followed it up with Tour of the Islands to send Shingo to two defeats in a row. If you like a good heavyweight clash, this is a match for you.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Yujiro Takahashi. No matter what Yujiro did, I couldn’t buy for a second that he had any chance. He dominated the match and got many near falls, but he just isn’t believable in this tournament. Parts of the match dragged and felt like they were in slow motion. It picked up in the final minute or two as Okada had countered for all of Yujiro’s big moves. He hit a spinning lariat and locked on the Money Clip for the submission win. He seems to have given up on the Rainmaker for now and is determined to get the submission over, and I’m really not sure if it’s working. This is skippable.
Taichi defeated Minoru Suzuki. This was a major upset, as Taichi scored one of the biggest wins of his career over the leader of the Suzuki-Gun faction. Despite being team mates, they literally went for each other throats as soon as Suzuki got in the ring. Chairs were flying, the brawled around ringside and Taichi used his mic as a weapon. The ref seemed for spend more of the match lying down than he did standing. Suzuki began blasting Taichi with elbows, but Taichi hit a back drop driver, landing Suzuki on his head. Suzuki sold his ass off for Taichi, and was very generous to his protege. Suzuki looked to have the match sealed after a struggle to get into the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Taichi countered and hit Black Mephisto and pick up the win. This could put Taichi in line for a shot at Suzuki’s NEVER Openweight title down the line. After the match, Taichi had a look on his face that read “what the hell have I just done”. Really fun brawl.
Will Ospreay defeated Tomohiro Ishii. This was a CHAOS battle, and a clash of styles that made for an amazing match. This was outstanding. Ospreay began by trying to play Ishii’s game, but it just pissed off the Stone Pitbull. Ospreay began taking to air. He used the guard rail to hit an OsCutter to the floor. There was one sensational sequence that saw them countering each others strikes in lightning speed, like something from a ninja movie. Ishii was able to blast Ospreay with a couple of stiff lariats. Ospreay was able to counter another into a powerbomb in one motion, something that doesn’t sound possible, but it happened. Ospreay countered a Brainbuster into a stunner. He went for Stormbreaker, but Ishii held on, so Ospreay turned it into an insane double underhook piledriver. He then nailed him with a sick looking Hidden Blade and hit Stormbreaker to score a major win. This is match of the tournament so far.
Jay White defeated Kota Ibushi. This was an excellent main event, and just a fantastic performance from Jay White. He does so many little things that others just don’t do, and is a really great old school heel. Ibushi tweaked his knee, which allowed White to take control. He hit one slick moved after another and went to the knee anytime Ibushi would try to get back into the match. Ibushi battled his way back in and hit some hard strikes, something that White couldn’t match. White used the inverted figure four, but Ibushi survived. Ibushi hit a series of strikes and a Last Ride for a near fall, then more strikes, but Gedo got involved just as Ibushi looked to finish the match. White hit a low blow and a Regal Plex, but Ibushi survived again and struck a running knee strike. He went for Kamagoye, but Switchblade countered into Bladerunner in one swoop and won the match. White is undefeated so far.
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