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8/9 NJPW G1 CLIMAX REPORT FROM HIROSHIMA, JAPAN

?From Hiroshima, Japan:

1 - Kosei Fujita and Tomohiro Ishii vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi

BUSHI taps out Fujita with a Boston Crab.

Takagi and Ishii brawl after the match.   They are not in the same Block so they could be setting up for feud after the G1.

2 - Royce Isaacs and Tom Lawlor vs. TAKA Michinoku and Zack Sabre Jr.

Lawlor comes to the ring with his hair spiked to mimic TAKA.  Hilarious.

Lawlor pins TAKA after an NKOTB.

A future singles match between Zack Sabre Jr. and Tom Lawlor would be awesome.

3 - Aaron Henare, Great O-Khan, Jeff Cobb and Will Ospreay vs. Dick Togo, SHO, El Phantasmo and EVIL

United Empire attacked at the bell.   Henare went nuts attacking Bullet Club.  

Henare tapped out Togo with Ultima.

United Empire still continue to look strong despite their records in the G1.

4 - Hirooki Goto, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada vs. Gedo, Bad Luck Fale, Juice Robinson 

Jay White was held out of this match due to health concerns.   Kevin Kelly said he was negative for COVID, but kept out of the ring as a precaution.

Goto pins Gedo after a GTR.

Goto and Tanahashi build the drama for their Block match, as they have words after the match.  

G1 Climax Matches:

El Phantasmo joined Kevin Kelly on English commentary.  

5 - D Block:  YOSHI-HASHI vs. Yujiro Takahashi, with Pieter

YOSHI-HASHI has his right shoulder heavily taped up.  Yujiro hits YOSHI-HASHI with a chair and gets the early advantage.   YOSHI-HASHI has to fight Fromm behind in this match.  He locks on the Butterfly Lock.  SHO comes to ringside.   YOSHI-HASHI blocks a low blow by Yujiro.   YOSHI-HASHI takes out SHO.  YOSHI-HASHI hits a Blockbuster.   Two count.   YOSHI-HASHI with a super kick and a release Dragon suplex.  SHO hits YOSHI-HASHI with a chair and Yujiro follows with Pimp Juice.   Two count!   Yujiro is shocked.   They reverse out of each other’s moves.   Yujiro distracts the referee.  SHO hits YOSHI-HASHI with a wrench.    Yujiro hits Big Juice.  

Yujiro pins YOSHI-HASHI

Yujiro Takahashi gets to 6 points and tied with David Finlay in the D Block.  

6 - B Block:  SANADA vs. Chase Owens

This was a great match back and forth.  Owens made the mistake of trying to copy SANADA’s Skull End and moonsault.  SANADA trapped Owens in Skull End.  The referee checked on Owens who was struggling for the ropes.  The referee stops the match when Owens does not respond.   

SANADA wins and earns 2 points.  He is in second place in the B Block behind Jay White.  This was Owens’ final match in the G1.

Great match.  SANADA can bring out the best in most wrestlers, including Owens.  

7 - B Block: Tama Tonga vs. Taichi, with Miho Abe

Taichi brings the Iron Finger to the ring.   Tama and Taichi tease using it in the match.   Kevin Kelly says it has mystical powers.  Taichi and Tama avoid using the Iron Finger and they exchange reversals.

Tama pins Taichi after hitting a Gun Stun.

Tama earns 2 points getting to 6 points.  He is tied for second in the B Block behind Jay White.

Another good match.  Taichi and Tama have a history of good matches  when Tama was still with Bullet Club.  

8 - A Block:  JONAH vs. Lance Archer

Both men traded shots at the start.  Archer has a height advantage and is able to weaken JONAH.  Archer goes for an EBD Claw. JONAH blocks it and headbutts Archer.   Archer goes for a Pounce but JONAH hits a Body Splash.   JONAH goes to top rope.  Archer crotches him on the top rope.  Archer tries a German off the top but JONAH elbows him in the face.  Archer hits an elbow and tries a Black Out.  JONAH wiggles out and hits a lariat.   JONAH hits a Black Forest Bomb.  JONAH goes to the top rope.  Archer gets up and hits a knee strike.  Both men tumble to the mat.  They battle on the floor.  Archer goes for a Cannonball and Bad Dude Tito takes the full force. JONAH hits a spear on Archer.  JONAH hits a lariat on Archer, and he falls into the ring.  The referee is counting.   Archer hits a lariat on JONAH sending him into the guardrail.   JONAH gets counted out.

Lance Archer wins and earns 2 points.  He is in a three way for the lead in the A Block.  

This was a great big man match with a disappointing ending.   A count out keeps both men strong, and builds drama toward Archer vs. Okada.

9 - C Block:  Tetsuya Naito vs. KENTA

Naito tried to play mental games with KENTA but he was not playing games.  The match became a striking fight.  Pace picks up and they exchange reversals and submissions.   KENTA locks Naito in an STF.   Naito gets to the ropes.  KENTA hits a DDT.  Naito counters with a Tornado DDT.   Naito hammers KENTA in the neck with elbows.   Naito with Gloria.  Two count.   Naito with a Spinebuster.  KENTA with a Green Killer from the top rope.  KENTA with a running Mafia Kick and a drop kick.  KENTA hits a double stomp from the top rope.  Two count.  Naito hits a neck breaker and follows with Esperanza.   KENTA counters with a Psycho Knee.  KENTA goes for a GTS but Naito counters into a modified Destino.  Both men are exhausted on the mat.   

They exchange elbows.  KENTA lays open hand slaps to Naito’s face.  Naito hits an elbow and goes for Destino.  KENTA with a small package.  Two count.  KENTA throws Naito into the open turnbuckle.  Roll up for a two count.  Naito is bleeding from the bridge of his nose.  KENTA with another Psycho Knee.   Two count.  Naito hits Valencia and follows with Destino.

Naito pins KENTA.

Tetsuya Naito earns 2 points and in a tie for first place in the C Block.

Great stiff match.  Both men beat the crap out of each other and have the blood to show for it.

A BLOCK	Record	Current Point Standings
Kazuchika Okada	3-1	6
JONAH	3-2	6
Toru Yano	1-4	2*
Lance Archer	3-2	6
Tom Lawlor	2-2	4
Jeff Cobb	2-2	4
Bad Luck Fale	2-3	4
B BLOCK	Record	Current Point Standings
Jay White	4-0	8
Tomohiro Ishii	1-4	2*
Tama Tonga	3-1	6
Taichi	2-2	4
SANADA	3-2	6
Great O-Khan	1-3	2*
Chase Owens	2-4	4*
C BLOCK	Record	Current Point Standings
Hiroshi Tanahashi	3-1	6
Hirooki Goto	2-2	4
Tetsuya Naito	3-2	6
Aaron Henare	1-4	2*
EVIL	2-2	4
KENTA	1-3	2
Zack Sabre Jr.	3-1	6
D BLOCK	Record	Current Point Standings
Will Ospreay	2-2	4
Shingo Takagi	2-2	4
Juice Robinson	2-3	4
Yujiro Takahashi	3-2	6
YOSHI-HASHI	2-2	4
David Finlay	3-1	6
El Phantasmo	1-3	2

*mathematically eliminated 

Thank you for reading.

 

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