PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

OKADA VS. SANADA: NJPW CLIMAX 31 REPORT FROM KORAKUEN HALL IN TOKYO

10/4 B Block Results from New Japan's G1 Climax 31 from Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:

This event is FREE on New Japan World.   Please check it out!

Kevin Kelly made the comment that the COVID count is less than a 100 in Tokyo.   

G1 Climax 31 - B Block Matches:

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens

Owens comes to the ring wearing a "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton T-Shirt.   

Both men began the match on the mat.  Owens drop kicks the knee of Tanahashi and focuses his attack on that body part.   Tanahashi fights back and hits a flipping senton off the ropes.   Tanahashi tries for a Slingblade, Owens avoids it and rolls up Tanahashi in a small package.   Two count.   Owens with a series of lariats.  Tanahashi tries for a Dragonscrew, but Owens reverses and hits a Jewel Heist.  Two count.  Owens goes for a Package Piledriver.   Tanahashi gets to the ropes.  Tanahashi hits a Dragonscrew, then a Slingblade.  Tanahashi hits Aces High.   Tanahashi goes for High Fly Flow but Owens gets his knees up.   Owens grasps at his knees after taking Tanahashi's full body on his legs.  Tanahashi was clutching his stomach.  Owens goes for a school boy pin with his feet on the ropes.   Two count.  Owens with a backslide pin.  Two count.  Both men throw combination strikes.  Tanahashi bounces off the ropes and Owens follows with a V-Trigger to the face.  Owens hits a second V-Trigger.   Owens hits the Package Piledriver.   

Owens pins Tanahashi.

Chase Owens earns 2 points and pulls off an upset in the G1 Climax.  More importantly, Chase Owens should earn a shot at Tanahashi's IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title.

Owens picks up both the Texas Heavyweight belt and the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight belt.   He respectfully places Tanahashi's belt on his chest.   Owens tells the camera, he cannot wait to check the internet.  He continues to say that he only has two points but he beat Hiroshi Tanahashi and no one can take that away from him.

Usually in the G1 Climax there is a few wrestlers who finish with zero points or only 2 points.   Essentially, a "jobber" within the tournament.   However, even if this is Chase Owens' only win, this sets up a storyline with Tanahashi, which they could take to New Japan Strong and battle for the title in the United States.  Or perhaps a Title match at Wrestle Kingdom.   Really good booking here.

EVIL, with Dick Togo vs. Tama Tonga, with Jado

All four men do the Two Sweet Salute.

EVIL offers a handshake then tries to hit Everything is Evil.   Tama avoids it and hits a chop to the chest of EVIL.   Tama goes for a Stinger Splash.  EVIL moves and rips off the turnbuckle and Tama hits the metal bolt.  EVIL takes the upperhand in the match.   Togo tries to help EVIL cheat but Jado stops him from interfering.  EVIL works over Tama and tries for a Darkness Scorpion.   Tama applies the Tongan Death Grip.  EVIL lets go of the hold.  Kevin Kelly points out that it is not a choke hold, but a nerve hold.   Tama lets go of the Death Grip and traps EVIL in the Darkness Scorpion.   EVIL gets to the ropes.  EVIL hits a Magic Killer.   Two count.   EVIL applies the Darkness Scorpion but Tama gets the rope break.  Tama with a Tonga Twist.   Tama blocks a low blow by EVIL.   Tama hits a spinning Death Valley Driver.   Tama hits a massive splash from the top rope.   Two count.  Tama is about to hit a Gun Stun.   The lights go out.   Lights are back on and Togo is choking out Tama.  Jado hits Togo with the kendo stick.  Tama chokes out Togo.   EVIL hits Tama with a low blow, then hits Everything is Evil. 

EVIL pins Tama Tonga.

EVIL earns 2 points and shares the lead, for now, with Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada.

SHO comes to ringside and gives Togo a Two Sweet Salute.   They said SHO was the reason for the lights going out.  

Taichi, with Miho Abe vs. Jeff Cobb

Taichi gets Cobb to the floor and throws him into the guardrail and chokes him with cables.   Taichi attacks with strikes, trying to avoid the power of Cobb.  Cobb blocks a kick, picks up Taichi in a body slam position and throws him over his head and across the ring.   Holy. Crap.   Cobb pounds on the lower back of Taichi.  Cobb stands on the back of Taichi and pretends to surf.  Taichi tried to fight back with kicks.  Cobb picks up Taichi and runs full speed into three turnbuckles, further attacking Taichi's lower back.  Cobb hits a big shoulder block.  Taichi is able to hit a thrust kick to Cobb's head.   Cobb is stunned and Taichi follows up with more kicks.   Cobb misses his running European uppercut and Taichi connects with a high kick.   Cobb counters with a dropkick.  Two count.   Taichi tries for an Ax Bomber, but misses and Cobb hits a lariat.  Cobb throws Taichi with a Spincycle.  Two count.  Cobb with a standing moonsault.  Two count.   Taichi avoids a Tour of the Islands and tries for a Dangerous Backdrop.   But his lower back is in pain.  Cobb goes for another Tour of the Islands but Taichi grabs his throat in a choke.   Taichi hits a Dangerous Backdrop and Cobb lands on his neck.  Ouch!    Cobb kicks out at two.   Cobb blocks a Taichi superkick and hits one of his own.  Taichi with an Ax Bomber.  Taichi with a high kick.   Taichi with a Gedo Clutch.  Two count.  Taichi goes for Black Mephisto but cannot lift Cobb.  Cobb knocks Taichi into daze with right punch.  Another Tour of the Islands by Cobb, but Taichi hits an Ax Bomber.  Taichi goes for another Black Mephisto but cannot lift Cobb.   Cobb hits a deadlift German suplex.  Cobb finally gets a Tour of the Islands.

Cobb pins Taichi.

Cobb gets the 2 points and the first in B Block to reach 10 points.  

Really good match.  Taichi has been awesome with both headlining the Tag Division, and having good matches within the G1.  He has helped to build  Jeff Cobb really well.   After his series of matches with Kazuchika Okada and his run in the G1, Jeff Cobb looks to be a headliner in New Japan.  Hopefully, he gets a chance at a major singles title.   

Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI

Both men are co-holders of the NEVER Openweight 6 man titles and members of CHAOS.   

YOSHI-HASHI attacked aggressively at the bell.  They both hammered each other with elbows and slaps.   They both battled on the floor.   YOSHI-HASHI focused his attacks on the neck and back of Goto.   YOSHI-HASHI dominated the early moments of the match.  They know each other so well, that they are reversing each other's moves.  Goto caught YOSHI-HASHI and hit an ushigaroshi.   Goto followed up with a reverse GTR.   YOSHI-HASHI picked up Goto in a Shotenkai.  Both men lay on the mat for a while, exhausted.   They get to their feet and exchange blows.  YOSHI-HASHI drops Goto with a headbutt.  Double knee attack from YOSHI-HASHI.  YOSHI-HASHI with a Kumagaroshi.  Two count.  YOSHI-HASHI applies a sleeper.  He goes for Kharma but Goto reverses out.   Goto with a headbutt.  Goto hits a GTW.  Two count.   Goto hits a Shotenkai.  Goto hits a GTR.

Goto pins YOSHI-HASHI.

Hirooki Goto gets his first 2 points in the B Block.

Great match.   YOSHI-HASHI looked great in this match.   He attacked with purpose and determination.   This made Goto's win look even more impressive as he had to fight from behind.   Similar to Chase Owens, despite his poor record, Goto leaves this match looking strong.  

Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA

Good mat wrestling from these veterans to start the match.  Both men focused their attack on the neck.  The pace of the match was fast.  Both men battled on the floor.  Okada hit a DDT on the floor.  SANADA was stunned and the referee checked on him.  SANADA makes it back to the ring before a count out.  Okada applies a Money Clip.  SANADA reverses out.  Okada takes SANADA to the corner.   SANADA backflips off the ropes and lands on his feet, but he falls holding his leg.  Perhaps a hyperextension.   Okada attacks the leg of SANADA, then applies the Money Clip.   SANADA gets a break in the ropes.  Okada with a top rope elbow.   Okada with the Rainmaker pose.  Okada misses a Rainmaker.  SANADA hits a TKO.  Two count.   SANADA traps Okada in Skull End.  SANADA goes for a moonsault but tweaks his knee on the way down.  Okada goes for an attack but SANADA traps him again in Skull End.   Okada gets out.   Okada with a dropkick.  Okada goes for Rainmaker, but SANADA hits a pop up TKO.  SANADA with a moonsault.   Two count.   SANADA goes for a Dragon Sleeper.  Okada punches his way out.   Okada with a spinning tombstone.   Both men did a bunch of reversals on their finishers.  Okada hit a sit down tombstone.  Okada followed up with a Rainmaker.

Okada pins SANADA.

 Kazuchika Okada gets 2 more points and is in a tie with Jeff Cobb for the lead in B Block.

Another great match.  The pairing of Okada and SANADA will always result in a fun wrestling match.  The collision between Okada and Cobb will be the climax of B Block.

B Block Standings as of 10/4/21

YOSHI-HASHI - 2

EVIL - 8

Jeff Cobb - 10

Chase Owens - 2

SANADA - 4

Tama Tonga - 2

Hirooki Goto - 2

Taichi - 4

Hiroshi Tanahashi - 6

Kazuchika Okada - 10

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet