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From Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:
1 - Masatora Yasuda, El Desperado, Taichi and Yuya Uemura vs. SHO, DOUKI, SANADA and Ren Narita
SANADA is back with House of Torture and he is wearing his flamboyant gear again.
DOUKI pins Yasuda after hitting a Dodon Ju Jitsu.
2 - Tatsuya Matsumoto, Hirooki Goto, Aaron Wolf and Boltin Oleg vs. Daiki Nagai, Yuto-Ice, Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji
This is Boltin Oleg's return match after having surgery.
Oleg hits a Kamikaze on Nagai and gets the pinfall win.
3 - Jado and Tiger Mask vs. Gedo and Taiji Ishimori vs. Dick Togo and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kanemaru spits whiskey into Tiger Mask's eyes and pins him with a Victory Roll.
Tiger Mask retires tomorrow after wrestling two matches against Black Tiger IV and Tom Billington.
4 - G1 B Block Play-in Match: OSKAR vs. Yujiro Takahashi
House of Torture interferes. Yuto-Ice interferes as well. OSKAR and Yuto hit K.O.B. on Takahasi. OSKAR pins Takahashi.
OSKAR enters the B Block of the G1 Climax 36.
5 - G1 A Block Play-in Match: El Phantasmo vs. Ryohei Oiwa
Oiwa hits The Grip on ELP and gets the pin.
Ryohei Oiwa enters the A Block of the G1 Climax 36.
6 - IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Shota Umino vs. Gabe Kidd
Kidd attacks the referee with a shotgun dropkick before the match. He gets in Hiroshi Tanashi's face. Umino attacks Kidd and gets him away from Tanahashi. They brawl into the Korakuen crowd. Umino is thrown against the concrete steps and is bleeding from the forehead. Kidd grabs the Global Title belt, in front of Hiroshi Tanahashi, at ringside and throws it into the aisle. Kidd spits in Tanahashi's face and calls him a "p***y". Umino fights back with lariats. Umino hits a brainbuster on the floor. They continue to brawl in the ring. Kidd hits a piledriver. Umino kicks out. Kidd hits another piledriver on the floor in front of Tanahashi. Kidd spits again in Tanahashi's face. Kidd hits a package piledriver in the ring. Umino kicks out again. Kidd hits a Death Rider on Umino.
Kidd pins Umino.
Gabe Kidd wins the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
After the match, Tanahashi presents the belt to Kidd. Kidd shoves the belt to the ground and demands Tanahashi put the belt on him. Kidd punches Tanahashi in the mouth. Kidd throws the IWGP Global Title to the ground, disrespecting the President of the company and New Japan as a whole.
Normally, a new champion should not lose the belt in his first defense on a "house show". However, this was a great angle to set up Gabe Kidd as a new champion who hates the New Japan company, and praises his new company AEW. His disrespect of Tanahashi and the Global Title was good too. As we head into G1, this should make Kidd the number one heel wrestler and all participants are now potential challengers to his Global Title and fighting for their company. Also, this angle gives Shota Umino something to fight for in the G1 Climax. He might not win the tournament, but he will fight for the honor of Tanahashi and New Japan, which fans will appreciate (and hopefully pay to see).
7 - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: YOH vs. Francesco Akira
YOH plays to the crowd and does his comedic shtick. Akira fights back and goes for the Ground Tarantula and YOH quickly gets to the ropes. They trade strikes and nearfalls. Akira powerbombs YOH through a table on the floor. Akira hits an Italian Press, a powerbomb and Speedfire. Two count. Akira goes for Crown Fall, but YOH blocks it, and Akira hits a knee to the gut. They trade reversals and YOH hits a hard lariat. Akira applies the Ground Taratula. YOH reverses into a crucifix. Akira hits a Fireball. Two count. Another Fireball. Two count. YOH applies the Anaconda Vice. Akira reverses out, but YOH hits a Direct Drive. YOH pins Akira.
YOH retains the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship.
Tomorrow will be Tiger Mask's retirement. On July 11, G1 Climax begins in Chicago on New Japan World.
The G1 Climax 36 Block Participants:
A Block:
Konosuke Takeshita
Yota Tsuji
SANADA
Shingo Takagi
Jake Lee
Boltin Oleg
Hirooki Goto
Great O-Khan
Yuto-Ice
Ryohei Oiwa
B Block:
Callum Newman
Zack Sabre Jr.
Shota Umino
Yuya Uemura
Ren Narita
Drilla Moloney
Gabe Kidd
HENARE
Aaron Wolf
OSKAR
There are no major surprises in this G1 Climax from wrestlers from outside companies. This is a grueling tournament in terms of traveling, wrestling and staying healthy. All of these wrestlers in the tournament should be used to this pace. In the past the winner of the G1 Climax got a World Title match at Wrestle Kingdom. In recent years, the winner have gotten their title match early in the Fall and won the World Title. I would expect the winner of this G1 to challenge Yota Tsuji by October, then build to a new challenger by Wrestle Kingdom.
Thank you for reading.
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