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From the Hamamatsu Arena, in Shizuoka Japan:
1 - Bad Dude Tito and JONAH vs. Aaron Henare and Jeff Cobb
Henare pins Tito after a Streets of Rage.
Solid match. This was a tease of Cobb vs. JONAH in the A Block, which should be a fun big man match. Henare also is kept strong by getting the pin.
2 - TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. and Lance Archer vs. Dick Togo, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi and EVIL
SHO pins TAKA after hitting him with his wrench.
3 - BUSHI, Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito vs. El Phantasmo, Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale
Owens pins BUSHI after hitting a Package Piledriver.
4 - YOSHI-HASHI, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada vs. Gedo, Juice Robinson and Jay White
YOSHI-HASHI forces Gedo to tap out to the Butterfly Lock.
G1 Climax Matches:
Lance Archer joins Kevin Kelly on English Commentary.
5 - B Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Great O-Khan
Both men grappled on the mat and attempted submissions. Great mat wrestling! They both went for leg bars. They started trading shots. Ishii hit his big moves and went for a brainbuster. O-Khan powers out. They reverse out of each other’s finishers. O-Khan drops Ishiibon his head with a TTD and hits an Eliminator.
O-Khan pins Ishii.
Great O-Khan earns 2 points.
6 - A Block: Toru Yano vs. Tom Lawlor
Royce Isaacs at ringside, pulled out two DVD’s. He gave them to Lawlor. They were copies of Sister Act and Sister Act II movies. He wanted to trade both for a copy of Yano’s DVD. Yano accepted the trade and Lawlor opened Yano’s DVD and it was empty. Lawlor was upset. Kevin Kelly said Yano’s DVD has not been released yet.
They started having a clap off. Both getting the crowd to clap. Yano pulled Lawlor’s hair for a quick take down and pin. But Lawlor was wearing a wig! Lawlor rolled up Yano for a pin. Two count. Yano with a roll up. Two count. Both started grappling on the mat. They go to the floor. Yano pulls out tape and tapes Isaacs to the guardrail. Lots of more comedy spots.
Yano pushes the referee down. Yano throws a low blow. No effect. He throws another. No effect. Lawlor hits knee to Yano’s face. He spins Yano around and hits NKOTB.
Lawlor pins Yano.
Tom Lawlor earns 2 points.
Lawlor pulls out an cup out of his trunks.
Funny match. Tom Lawlor was great in the match and hilarious. Isaacs was a great compliment to Lawlor. This pairing with Yano was quite entertaining. Lawlor is a great asset for New Japan. He is a real fighter and grappler but he can do comedy when he needs to. Very similar to Kurt Angle during the Attitude Era.
7 - B Block: Tama Tonga vs. SANADA
Quick paced match. Both men used their speed and aerial attacks. They exchange signature moves. Tama with a Death Valley Driver and a Supreme Flow. SANADA kicks out at two. SANADA blocks a Gun Stun and hits a Springboard Drop kick. SANADA hits a TKO. Two count. SANADA goes for a moonsault but Tama gets his knees up. Tama goes for a Gun Stun but SANADA traps him in Skull End. Tama gets to the ropes. They exchange elbows. Tama hits Villano. Two count. SANADA blocks a Gun Stun. SANADA rolls out of a Tongan Twist. SANADA with an O’Conner Roll. Two count. Tama finally hits a Gun Stun.
Tama pins SANADA.
Tama Tonga earns 2 points.
8 - C Block: Hirooki Goto vs. KENTA
Brutal stiff match. Both men have a history with each other. Goto goes for a GTR but KENTA pushes him into the referee. KENTA goes for Goto’s Bo Staff. Goto takes it away and KENTA runs. KENTA hits a low blow on Goto and throws him into the referee. KENTA grabs the Staff again. Goto tries for a GTR but KENTA hits Goto in the face with the Staff. KENTA smashes Goto in the head with the Staff. KENTA hits a double stomp. Two count. Goto avoids a GTS but KENTA smacks him with open handed slaps. Goto picks up KENTA on his shoulders for a ushigaroshi, but KENTA knees him in the head. KENTA with a Psycho Knee. Two count. KENTA hits GTS.
KENTA pins Goto.
KENTA earns 2 points.
Good brutal match. Go watch these two wrestle on New Japan World. You won’t be disappointed.
9 - D Block: David Finlay vs. Will Ospreay
Finlay brings the IWGP U.S. Title to the ring. Both men tear into each other at the bell. Another stiff match. Ospreay goes after Finlay’s left arm. Pace picks up. Both men moving so fast and talking trash. Ospreay hit an Oscutter on the ring apron. Damn! Finlay is almost counted out. Ospreay hits another Oscutter. Two count. Ospreay missed a Hidden Blade but hits a Hook Kick. Ospreay goes for another Oscutter but Finlay catches him and hits a Stunner. Two count. Finlay with an Acid Drop. Two count. Ospreay with a Hook Kick. Finlay with a Lariat. Ospreay with a crucifix pin. Two count. Ospreay hits a knee strike. Finlay counters a Hidden Blade and hits a Trash Panda.
Finlay pins Ospreay.
David Finlay earns 2 points. More importantly Finlay pinned the IWGP U.S. Champion. Finlay is in line for that title now. Finlay has beaten Ospreay and Juice Robinson in the G1, the last two men who held the title.
Damn great match! Go watch this match too on New Japan World. I expect these two to battle for the U.S. Title in the coming months.
Finlay cut a promo saying no one expected him to win. He now sits atop the D Block with 6 points.
Lance Archer was GREAT on commentary. He gave great insights as a wrestler in both Japanese and American ring styles. He told cool stories about his interaction with other wrestlers outside of the ring.
|
A BLOCK |
Record |
Current Point Standings |
|
Kazuchika Okada |
3-0 |
6 |
|
JONAH |
1-1 |
2 |
|
Toru Yano |
1-3 |
2 |
|
Lance Archer |
1-2 |
2 |
|
Tom Lawlor |
1-2 |
2 |
|
Jeff Cobb |
2-1 |
4 |
|
Bad Luck Fale |
2-2 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
B BLOCK |
Record |
Current Point Standings |
|
Jay White |
3-0 |
6 |
|
Tomohiro Ishii |
1-3 |
2 |
|
Tama Tonga |
2-1 |
4 |
|
Taichi |
1-1 |
2 |
|
SANADA |
2-2 |
4 |
|
Great O-Khan |
1-2 |
2 |
|
Chase Owens |
1-2 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
C BLOCK |
Record |
Current Point Standings |
|
Hiroshi Tanahashi |
2-1 |
4 |
|
Hirooki Goto |
2-1 |
4 |
|
Tetsuya Naito |
1-2 |
2 |
|
Aaron Henare |
1-2 |
2 |
|
EVIL |
1-1 |
2 |
|
KENTA |
1-2 |
2 |
|
Zack Sabre Jr. |
2-1 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
D BLOCK |
Record |
Current Point Standings |
|
Will Ospreay |
2-1 |
4 |
|
Shingo Takagi |
1-2 |
2 |
|
Juice Robinson |
1-2 |
2 |
|
Yujiro Takahashi |
1-2 |
2 |
|
YOSHI-HASHI |
1-1 |
2 |
|
David Finlay |
3-1 |
6 |
|
El Phantasmo |
1-1 |
2 |
Thank you for reading.
James Kurokawa
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