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9/29/21 B Block Results from New Japan's G1 Climax 31 from Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:
G1 Climax B Block Matches:
Taichi, with Miho Abe vs. EVIL, with Dick Togo
Taichi kicks Dick Togo in the face before the bell. EVIL attacks Taichi and they go to the floor. Taichi throws EVIL into the barricade. Togo hits Taichi the back and EVIL takes the advantage in the match. EVIL and Togo use their usual heel shenanigans to distract the referee and beat down Taichi. Taichi fights back with a choke and kicks EVIL off the apron into the timekeeper's table. EVIL gets back in the ring and Taichi hits him with kicks and goes for an Ax Bomber. EVIL reverses and hits Darkness Falls. Two count. Taichi lands an Ax Bomber and goes for a super kick. Both men trade reversals on their finishers. Taichi goes for an attack, but EVIL pulls the referee in the way. Taichi pushes the referee aside and EVIL tries for a low blow. Taichi blocks it. Taichi kicks EVIL in the groin. EVIL drops to his knees. Taichi traps EVIL in a Gedo Clutch. Togo distracts the referee who cannot make the count. Taichi hits a Double Ax Bomber on EVIL and Togo. Taichi gets stunned after EVIL throws him into an exposed turnbuckle. EVIL tries for Everything is Evil but Taichi reverses and hits a high kick to EVIL's face. Taichi hits a Dangerous Backdrop. Close two count.
Togo grabs Miho Abe and threatens her. Taichi gets distracted. EVIL hits a low blow on Taichi. EVIL hits Everything is Evil on Taichi. EVIL does not go for the pin, but decides to apply the Darkness Scorpion. Miho Abe was screaming for Taichi, but Togo holds her back. Taichi does not move. The referee calls the match as Taichi is out.
EVIL wins and earns two points.
Taichi had to be helped from the ring by young lions. Taichi tried to attack the referee.
The interference by Togo was a bit much. Togo threatening Miho Abe (or any woman) is cheap heat and should never be done in wrestling. EVIL had to rebound after losing to Okada in the last B Block event. EVIL does not need to cheat to win because he is a good wrestler. The cheating devalues EVIL's wins and the G1 Climax. However, EVIL choosing to not pin Taichi and go for the Darkness Scorpion should enhance the image of the "House of Torture". This is a positive in terms of storyline building.
SANADA vs. Chase Owens
Early in the match, Owens got a leg takedown and tried to apply the Paradise Lock on SANADA. He wrapped up his arms and flipped him over. Owens cheered and posed to the crowd. SANADA simply stood up which showed that Owens did not apply it correctly. SANADA tosses Owens to the floor. Owens trips up SANADA on the ring apron and SANADA takes a hard bump on the edge of the ring. SANADA is thrown into the guardrails. Back in the ring, Owens uses punches and chokes on SANADA's neck. Owens follows up with a series of neckbreakers. SANADA fights back and puts Owens in a real Paradise Lock. Pace picks up. Owens hits a Last Shot. Two count. SANADA counters with a TKO. Two count. SANADA misses a moonsault but applies a Dragon Sleeper. Owens is able to escape and nails a Shining Wizard. Owens goes for a Jewel Heist but SANADA reverses out and goes for a rolling cradle pin with a bridge. During this sequence, Owens grabs the referee and throws him to the mat. SANADA goes to check on the referee. Owens and SANADA trade strikes. Owens hits a high knee and goes for a Package Piledriver. SANADA breaks free. Owens tries for his own rolling cradle pin with a bridge, but SANADA reverses into Skull End. Owens is fading. SANADA releases the hold and hits a top rope moonsault.
SANADA pins Owens.
SANADA gets the win and earns 2 points.
Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb
Cobb uses his power early on to attack the back of Goto. Goto had trouble on offensive as his back was in pain. Cobb had several near falls as Goto kept fighting and kicking out of pins. Goto flipped Cobb on his back with a Judo throw, then went for an arm submission. Cobb got the rope break. Cobb picked up Goto for an Oklahoma Stampede, but Goto slid off his back and applied a Sleeper. Cobb reversed out and hit a Spincycle. Cobb followed up with a deadlift German suplex. Damn! Cobb tried for a Tour of the Islands, but Goto slid out and hit a reverse neckbreaker, with a pin attempt. Two count. Goto hits a reverse GTR, which stunned Cobb. Goto hit a lariat. Two count. Goto went for another GTR. Cobb punches his way out. Goto holds onto the wrist of Cobb and throws a headbutt into Cobb's face. Cobb throws a headbutt of his own and connects under the chin of Goto. Goto drops to the mat in a daze, still holding onto Cobb's wrist. Cobb pulls Goto off the mat, catches him and hits Tour of the Islands.
Cobb pins Goto.
Jeff Cobb wins and earns 2 points. Cobb is the first man to reach 6 points and leads the B Block.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tama Tonga, with Jado
They began with headlocks and armbars. Tama went for two Gun Stuns early but Tanahashi blocked them. Tama got frustrated and began brawling with punches and forearms. Tama went for a chin lock to wear Tanahashi down. Tanahashi fought back with strikes and elbows. Tama applied the Tongan Death Grip to Tanahashi's neck, an homage to his dad, Haku. Tanahashi with a Dragon screw leg whip. Tanahashi tried to apply the Texas Cloverhold. Tama fought back with the Tongan Death Grip. He forced Tanahashi into a corner, and the referee admonished Tama. Tanahashi tried for a Slingblade, but Tama reversed it into a Tonga Twist. Two count. Tanahashi was clutching his head. Tama hit his own Slingblade and climbed to the top rope. He hit a Frog Splash on Tanahashi. Two count. Tama sets up for a Gun Stun, but Tanahashi counters into a Twist and Shout. Tanahashi with a Slingblade. Tanahashi hits Aces High. Tanahashi goes for High Fly Flow but misses. Tama finally connects with a Gun Stun. But he is slow to cover. Two count. Tanahashi rolls Tama into crucifix pin.
Tanahashi pins Tama Tonga.
Hiroshi Tanahashi earns 2 points and is in a 4 way tie for second place in B Block.
Really good match. Tama Tonga has looked awesome in the G1. Tama has spoken of his respect for Tanahashi on his podcast, so I expected a good match between both men. Jado, again, was not involved in the match. The two participants in the match told the story in the ring, without outside forces controlling the final decision.
Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
YOSHI-HASHI came to the ring with his left arm heavily taped up. He took a beating from Jeff Cobb in the last B Block event. YOSHI-HASHI has had problems with his shoulder in the past.
Both men trade headlocks in the early moments. The match goes to the floor and Okada hits a DDT. YOSHI-HASHI almost gets counted out. YOSHI-HASHI is opening and closing his left hand, trying to get blood flowing in the left arm. Okada hit another DDT on YOSHI-HASHI in the ring. Okada is focused on YOSHI-HASHI's head and neck. They both start throwing elbows. YOSHI-HASHI gets the upper hand after hitting a Headhunter, which stuns Okada. YOSHI-HASHI hits a Blockbuster from the top rope. Okada is clutching his neck. Two count. YOSHI-HASHI applies the Butterfly Lock submission, putting pressure on Okada's neck. Okada gets a rope break. Okada applies the Money Clip. YOSHI-HASHI gets to the ropes. Okada flips YOSHI-HASHI back into the middle of the ring and re-applies the Money Clip. YOSHI-HASHI looks like he is about to pass out, but he lunges and gets to the ropes. Okada hits an elbow from the top rope. Okada does the Rainmaker poses, suggesting the end is near. YOSHI-HASHI ducks the Rainmaker and counters with a chop. Okada grabs YOSHI-HASHI's wrist and hits two lariats. Okada winds up for a Rainmaker but YOSHI-HASHI hits first with his own lariat. YOSHI-HASHI hits a Dragon Suplex. Okada tries for a dropkick but misses. YOSHI-HASHI hits a running double knee into Okada's face. Two count. YOSHI-HASHI drops Okada with a lariat and plants him with a Kumagoroshi. Okada kicks out at two. YOSHI-HASHI applies the Butterfly Lock again. YOSHI-HASHI transitioned to a Sleeper Hold, then went back to the Butterfly Lock. Okada almost got to the ropes, but YOSHI-HASHI put the Sleeper back on. YOSHI-HASHI tried for Kharma. But Okada reversed out of the move and picked up YOSHI-HASHI for a tombstone.
Okada misses a Shotgun dropkick and YOSHI-HASHI hits a lariat. YOSHI-HASHI goes for a top rope flipping senton but misses. Okada connects with a dropkick. Okada goes for a Rainmaker, and YOSHI-HASHI ducks and rolls Okada into a cradle pin. Two count. Okada goes for another Rainmaker, but YOSHI-HASHI hits a superkick. YOSHI-HASHI goes for Kharma again, but Okada reverses and hits a sitdown tombstone. Okada finally hits the Rainmaker.
Okada pins YOSHI-HASHI.
Kazuchika Okada earns 2 points and is now in a tie for the lead with 6 points along with Jeff Cobb.
Another good match. Despite his 0-3 record, YOSHI-HASHI performed well in this match. Okada had to earn his win here. YOSHI-HASHI's performance built to the climax of the match to Okada finally hitting his finisher. YOSHI-HASHI was unable to hit his Kharma finisher, so one would wonder whether if had hit it, could have beaten Okada.
B Block Standings as of 9/29/21
YOSHI-HASHI - 0
EVIL - 4
Jeff Cobb - 6
Chase Owens - 0
SANADA - 4
Tama Tonga - 2
Hirooki Goto - 0
Taichi - 4
Hiroshi Tanahashi - 4
Kazuchika Okada - 6
B Block action returns on Friday October 1.
Thank you for reading.
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