Other than drinking coffee, I've been listening to Break the Contradictions by Men on a Mission, the G1 Climax 28 Theme, to get hyped for these last few shows. They say the cream rises to the top. Well, starting today, the cream of each conference will start rising in each block as we near the final events.
Today is the 6th show in the A Block, and here are the standings before this show starts:
A Block Standings After Night 9
EVIL (8 Points)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (8 Points)
Jay White (6 points)
Minoru Suzuki (6 points)
Kazuchika Okada (6 points)
Bad Luck Fale (4 points)
Michael Elgin (4 points)
Togi Makabe (4 points)
Hangman Page (2 points)
YOSHI-HASHI (2 points)
Here are the A Block matches scheduled for today:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Michael Elgin
Minoru Suzuki vs. EVIL
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yoshi-Hashi
Jay White vs. Hangman Page
Togi Makabe vs. Bad Luck Fale
Who will be in the lead after tonight's show? Could several of the bottom feeders of this block find themselves effectively eliminated after today? And how fast will it take the Tongans to get themselves DQed today? Let's find out. HERE WE GO!!!!!
Undercard Notes
- It is announced that in B Block, Tama Tonga and Juice Robinson are both eliminated from contention. But they can still play spoiler to anyone else still in contention.
- Kevin Kelly with a hard sell for getting people to buy NJPW World on August 1st in order to get the final few nights of the G1. I can vouch for waiting until August 1, unless you like being billed double within 24 hours. August 1st is billing, period, with this promotion.
- The Guerrillas of Destiny wrestle against Ishii and Sho. So we're getting Ishii vs. Tonga in B Block on Wednesday. Can you say TONGAN SHENANIGANS?! I'd like to see Ishii maul all three of them. It won't happen, but I'd love to see them have Ishii do it. STONE PITBULL!!!! (By the way, you will never hear me call Loa's finisher by its name on here. Sorry, not sorry. It's a shoulder driver.)
- Sanada and Naito face Toru Yano and Gedo. It's announced that Sanada will face Juice in the B Block Wednesday, and Naito will be facing Yano that night as well. That could actually be interesting. Gedo's beard continues to be the target of these pre-show matches. Fun spot with Gedo's beard being pulled while he pulled on Naito's hair. (Like I've always said, if you are going to have long hair or facial hair, it should be a focus of attack in any sport. But then again, this is a bald guy saying this. So take that for what it's worth.)
Yano unties the corner again when tagged and smacks Naito with it. Naito responds with the corner slingshot dropkick. Yano whips Naito into the exposed corner. By the way, Yano, of all people, is still mathematically in contention in the B Block, but he hasn't wrestled Naito or Omega yet. So, that won't last long. Gedo and Sanada are going to finish this match out. This may be my favorite of the undercard tag matches so far this whole tournament. Sanada gets the win for his team with Skull End on Gedo. A big side story going on here is that Naito and Sanada are not doing their typical fist bump after the match. They are slowly building up interest to their G1 match. Also, another fun spot is after the match when Naito wants his hand raised. The referee distances himself from Naito to avoid the eye rake, holds his hand up for a moment, and bails out of the ring. Naito then gets out and calmly walks all around the ring and even into the audience after the referee, but there will be no eye rake tonight.
- Zack Sabre Jr. and Taka Michinoku take on Kenny Omega and Chase Owens. The "Crown Jewel of Jobbers" may not see his shoulders pinned to the mat tonight. Then again, Sabre might just twist his arms off and throw them in the audience instead. Lol. All kidding aside, I'm looking forward to the Sabre vs. Omega match on Wednesday. Two diverse styles are going to collide. WHAT?! OWENS WINS! OWENS! OWENS! OWENS! Owens pinned Taka!
- Kota Ibushi and Yujiro Takahashi team up to face Hirooki Goto and YOH. (At least YOH doesn't have to worry about being thrown under the bus by his partner tonight.) This is a preview for Goto vs. Ibushi. I don't expect that to reach the Ishii/Ibushi level, but Goto has been doing well this year himself. So, I expect it to be a very good match as well.
(Side Note: I like Rocky a lot more as a commentator than I ever have watching him wrestle. That's not a knock. He's just very good as an English commentator. If Callis ever leaves for good, Romero would be a good replacement for him. (Callis is another really good commentator as well. I still have the "HOOK THE LEG!" call from Dominion stuck in my head.)
And now the G1 THEME is playing, meaning it's time for the A BLOCK to take center stage!
A Block Matches- Night 11
1) Bad Luck Fale (w/ Tanga Loa) vs. Togi Makabe- You smell that? That's the smell of TONGAN SHENANIGANS!!!
Fale has yet to be pinned or submitted in the tournament up to this point. But he's only got 4 points to show for it. Fale chases the announcer away, and Loa graces us with an introduction for The Underboss. Fale tells the ring announcer that's how it's done. Makabe is here, and the bell rings.
Both men collide in the center of the ring. Makabe presses the attack early on with heavy punches, but Makabe gets tripped up by Loa and pulls him out to the floor for a beatdown. Fale gets Makabe and throws him into the rails at ringside. And they're going into the crowd. A weak throw by Fale to Makabe into the chairs at ringside. Makabe sells it for all its worth, getting back into the ring at the count of 14. Fale attacks Makabe when he rolls back in. (Note: This formula was fun at first. But after seeing it 5 times, I'm getting bored with it.)
Fale continues to press the attack by stepping on Makabe on the mat. Makabe gets on his knees and tells Fale to bring it. Fale answers with forearms, and Makabe asks again and again. Makabe stands up and psyches up to hit Fale with his own forearms. Fale gets slinged into the corner and suffers a standing ten count punches by Makabe. Makabe tries to suplex Fale and fails. Both men collide with clotheslines. Makabe knocks down Fale with a clothesline around the 5 minute mark for a 2 count. Shoulder tackle by Fale. SPLASH into the corner by Fale followed by the splash on the mat for a 2. Makabe chant from the crowd as Fale signals for the grenade. Blocked by Makabe. Colliding clotheslines again. Left and right lariats by Makabe. The referee gets pulled out, and Loa, BELIEVE IT OR NOT FOLKS, interferes in the match and starts beating down Makabe. Makabe with a double clothesline to both men. Where's Tonga? Where's Tonga? Makabe gets on the top rope for the knee drop but Loa holds his foot. Fale throws him off the top and grabs Makabe's chain. Clothesline with the chain by Fale. Fale covers Makabe and gets the 3 count.
Winner: Bad Luck Fale (6 Points)
Match Grade: F-. This was just awful in every sense of the word. The schtick has gotten old quickly, and neither man did much to make me get invested. With Fale's matches, they are all in the same style regardless of who he's wrestling: Loa gets involved. Fale comes out and throws the opponent around the ringside area and into the chairs (which was done horribly today, for the record). Fale steps on his opponent when they get back in. Opponent makes comeback. Loa pulls the referee out. Tongans interfere. Even by that standard, this match was an utter failure as it was the least interesting of the 6 times they've done this now. I actually like Fale, but this has just become tedious to watch every A Block show. Worst match of the tournament thus far.
2) Hangman Page vs. Jay White- White continues to play mindgames by using the ropes to his advantage to get the opponent to back up. Back elbow and huge chop by White. But coming off the ropes, White eats a big boot from Page. Page chases White to the outside. White throws a Young Lion into Page and begins the attack. Page is thrown back in, but while White is talking to the announcers, he turns around to a Page DIVE through the ropes. Page with chops of his own now against White on the guard rail. White avoids the Shooting Star Press off the apron from Page and executes a Saito Suplex on the floor on Page. Saito Suplex into the edge of the ring frame now by White. The count is on from the referee in the ring. Page gets in the ring at 11 to get stomped in the back repeatedly by White.
Pumphandle Backbreaker for a 2 by White. White pulls Page outside and executes his trademark whips to the guardrail and ring frame on Page. Rocky: YOU TRYING TO TAKE OUT THE EQUIPMENT AGAIN?! Both men get back in the ring as 5 minutes have expired. Page tries to fight back but eats a chop and Irish whip into the corner from White. White executes another whip into the corner, but Page hits a desperation clothesline. Chops and Elbows now by Page. Standing Shooting Star Press for a 2 by Page. Page has only one win (a DQ) so far in this tournament. Deadlift Fallaway Slam by Page for a 2, but he's selling the back once he gets up. Both men exchanging chops. Buckshot Lariat countered into a Flatliner and a Deadlift German by White. White with a head and arm suplex on Page x2, switching the legs like Eddie Guerrero. Page trying to fight off White. White suplexes Page onto the apron, and Page goes for the Buckshot Lariat but can't due to his back. Chops and strikes by White with Page's arms tied up in the ropes. White runs off the ropes, but Page executes the BUCKSHOT LARIAT. Ten Minutes Have Passed.
Page goes for the Rite of Passage, but White avoids it. White is on the floor now. Page runs over the corner onto the apron but is driven face first by White. White goes for the Deadlift German on the edge of the ring. Page is fighting it. Both men on the top with White looking to throw Page back to the floor. Page punches White off to the floor. Page climbs up and executes the top rope moonsault to the floor. Page rolls White back in the ring. Running dropkick into the corner by Page. He's going for another moonsault, but White throws the referee into the ropes and catapults Page off the top rope with his back hitting the edge of the ring!!! Ouch.
White now has pulled out multiple chairs while the referee is checking on Page. White grabs a chair and throws it in the ring to get the referee away while he hits Page in the back with another. White gets a 2 count. Twisting Brainbuster for a 2 on Page. 15 minutes have passed. White gets another chair and brings it into the ring. Referee is fighting over the chair with White and gets it out. Page gets up and hits a rollup for 2. Page with a superkick now. He's going for the Rite of Passage, but White goes for Blade Runner. Page spits in White's eyes to get out of the move. White swings the chair, but he eats a Superkick into the chair. Page goes for the chair shot, but the referee stops him. LOW BLOW BY WHITE. Blade Runner by White. 1-2-3. Page is now mathematically eliminated in this tournament now.
Winner: Jay White (8 points)
Match Rating: C+. This match never seemed to get into the next gear, but it was a good enough match to get a pass. White's wins have had a similar pattern, but unlike Fale, he's had a couple matches in this tournament that have broken that mold. Page again impresses even in a loss. I thought he'd be doing a lot better in this tournament than 2 points though.
3) Minoru Suzuki (w/El Desperado) vs. EVIL- This is my match to watch tonight. It's going to be brutal in the best way. Suzuki stares into the camera for a second like he's about to torture the cameraman just because he can. EVIL comes down to the ring, removes his robe and mask outside the ring, gets in the ring, and IT'S ON!!!!!
Suzuki throws EVIL to the floor, but EVIL fights back and whips Suzuki into the guard rail. EVIL with forearms and chops to Suzuki. Suzuki rolled back in the ring. EVIL going after Suzuki with forearms and chops in the ring. Suzuki locks in an armbar over the ropes until the 4 count. Suzuki pulls EVIL out and runs him into the rail and bounces his head off the table at ringside. Suzuki nails EVIL with a chair to the back. Now SUZUKI throws the gate on EVIL and smashes a chair against the rail with EVIL's head trapped between that and the table. Electrical cable now being used to choke EVIL. Kevin Kelly talks how Red Shoes is being very lenient in the tournament as he wants a decisive win. EVIL whipped into the guard rail chest first, and Suzuki kicks EVIL's leg to boot. Long count, but EVIL gets back in around 17-18.
Suzuki with strikes and kicks at EVIL's body. Knees and kicks by Suzuki. Chops by EVIL to fight off Suzuki, who just laughs it off. Suzuki goes to kick EVIL, but EVIL uses the referee to hold Suzuki's leg and kicks the quad. EVIL runs into the corner with a clothesline. Running seated senton into the corner by EVIL for a 2. 5 minutes have passed, and it's already been glorious. EVIL is putting his foot on Suzuki's head to antagonize him. Suzuki is PO'ed. Knee to the gut by Suzuki and a massive forearm by Suzuki. Running PK Kick by Suzuki for a 2. Armbar by Suzuki on EVIL now, with The King of Darkness trying to clasp the hands to reduce the pain. He fails, but he gets to the ropes. EVIL is screaming in pain! Wow.
Both men on the outside. Suzuki is crawling over the guard rail and wrestles a chair over the top, using it to hit EVIL in the gut. Suzuki nails EVIL's arm with a chairshot against the ringpost. Suzuki gets another chair, but EVIL gets out of the way and flings a chair in Suzuki's face. Suzuki has the chair wrapped around his neck, and EVIL SWINGS FOR THE FENCES with the other chair! I'm loving this! Suzuki rolled back into the ring. EVIL slashes at Suzuki's throat, but Suzuki grabs the thumb and begins twisting at it. Both men standing now, and they are exchanging forearms now telling the other to bring it. Forearms are rapid now. 10 minutes have passed. Fast exchanges are met with seconds of break. EVIL now has an advantage in the duel, again telling Suzuki to bring it. Suzuki WALLOPS EVIL with a forearm. Back and forth, back and forth, but EVIL gets a final forearm to Suzuki to knock both men down. They are getting back up and going at it again with strikes!!!!! EVIL goes for both of his finishers, but Suzuki gets out. Rapid exchanges and reversals by both men. Suzuki catches him with the rear naked choke into a takedown. GOTCH STYLE PILEDRIVER!!!! 1-2-3!
Winner: Minoru Suzuki (8 points)
Match Grade: B. It wasn't the best match of this tournament, but I loved it for the utter brawl that it was. EVIL and Suzuki went to war with both men hitting their trademark shenanigans outside and inside the ring. Suzuki was just able to escape EVIL's best finishers and come up with the win. After losing two straight to begin the tournament, Suzuki has won 4 straight.
4) YOSHI-HASHI (Jobber Extraordinaire) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi- What? That's not YOSHI-HASHI's nickname. Well, it should be. Meanwhile, here comes THE ACE!!!! GO ACE! (How can anyone not like Tanahashi at this point in his career? The Ace is still performing at a high level in his 40s and was partly responsible for NJPW staying in business during a real down time in the company.)
Tie up with both men working on the other's arm. Arm drag by HASHI countered by an arm bar by Tanahashi. Hammerlock by The Ace leads to a rope grab by HASHI. HASHI tries to kick Tanahashi, but The Ace counters with an attack on the knee. Mid-Rope Crossbody by The Ace followed by his signature Air Guitar. Jumping Elbow does not connect for Tanahashi. He tries again and misses.
Tanahashi dumped over the ropes, but he skins the cat. HASHI catches him with a dropkick on the way back up, and he sends Tanahashi to the floor. Both men back in, with HASHI continuing the attack. The announcers discuss how Tanahashi was dumped on his head during the tumble to the floor. Headlock by HASHI which is broken up by Tanahashi's foot on the ropes. HASHI going for a suplex now and nails a delayed vertical suplex for a 2 count. 5 minutes have passed.
Tanahashi whipped into the corner and eats a chop by HASHI. Tanahashi comes out aggressively with chops of his own, and The Ace eventually nails a flying forearm. Tanahashi continuing to hit HASHI with forearms, gets HASHI down in the corner, and hits the mid-rope senton splash for a 2. SLINGBLADE avoided by HASHI, who nails his Head Hunter neckbreaker. The Ace escapes the powerbomb attempt and nails a Dragon Screw on the leg of HASHI. Cloverleaf avoided by HASHI and follows up with a back heel kick and backstabber. Running Liger Bomb by HASHI for a 2. HASHI climbs the ropes and hits a Swanton Bomb for a 2. HASHI goes for Karma, but Twist and Shout neckscrew is hit instead by Tanahashi. The Ace gets up and eats a clothesline. They are exchanging shots, and HASHI nails him with a clothesline. Fisherman Suplex into a brainbuster by HASHI for a 2. Ten minutes have passed now.
HASHI goes for Karma, but Tanahashi fights out with elbows and a roll-through. SLINGBLADE by Tanahashi for a 2. Dragon Suplex into a Straight Jacket Suplex by Tanahashi for a 2. He's climbing up. HIGH FLY FLOW hits the mat, but NO ONE IS THERE! Tanahashi lands hard on his knee. HASHI with the double knee pin combination, but Tanahashi kicks out at 2.8. Butterfly Lock by HASHI, but Tanahashi executes a rollup out of it. 1-2-3!!!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi (10 Points) (Sole leader of A Block)
Match Grade: C+. This was another ok HASHI match, but he lost again. They gave HASHI an out by making him look good and getting caught for the loss rather than outright beat. Still, I'm not a huge fan of the guy. As for Tanahashi, this was not one of his better matches either. But he's Hiroshi Tanahashi. And his average is still better than most wrestler's best efforts.
5) Michael Elgin vs. Kazuchika Okada- Will Okada smack Rocky with the balloon tonight? Nope. He leaves Rocky alone tonight. The bell rings, and our main event is under way.
Tie up early on with Okada doing the trademark clean break. Okada tries to shoulder tackle Elgin, but he has no effect. Big Chop by Elgin. Series of reversals and maneuvers by both men which ends when Elgin reverses a rollup attempt into a delayed vertical suplex. Both men on the outside now. Okada rams Elgin's back into the rail and tosses him back in. But Elgin gets right up when Okada is on the apron, nails an enziguri to Okada, runs to the ropes, and nails a huge dive to Okada on the outside. Okada is rolled back in, and Elgin goes for a slingshot splash only to eat the knees to the gut by Okada. Okada tries a slingshot of his own, but Elgin rolls out. He has Okada in the Electric Chair position, but Okada gets out and nails a huge DDT on the floor. Elgin is tossed into the rails and eats a big boot by Okada that sends him over the rail. Drapping/Hanging DDT onto the floor by Okada to Elgin. 5 minutes have passed.
The count is on by the referee. Elgin gets in at 19. Elgin tries to fight off Okada with a punch, a forearm, and an uppercut, but Okada gets Big Mike down and nails a sliding dropkick. Okada snapmares Elgin down and goes for the chin lock with a knee to Elgin's back. Elgin with punches and a chop to get Okada off him. Okada goes for a suplex, but Elgin is able to eventually take Okada down with a powerslam. Elgin gets Okada with a back elbow and a backbreaker. Okada gets to the corner and eats another enziguri. Elgin with a snap suplex and holds on to execute an overhead back suplex for a 2. Elgin has Okada on the top rope. Elgin climbs up on the top rope as ten minutes have officially passed. Okada sends Elgin to the mat and goes for the crossbody, but Elgin catches him and climbs the top rope. Okada escapes, catches Elgin coming off the ropes, and nails a flapjack. DDT by Okada for 2.
Neckbreaker countered into a German Suplex by Elgin. Elgin connects with a second German Suplex. But Okada is finally able to get distance. Okada runs at Elgin, but Elgin catches him and nails a THIRD German Suplex. Elgin climbs the ropes and misses a big splash off the top rope. Crash and Burn. Elgin gets Okada up on the top rope, hits a chop, and nails an enziguri. Elgin climbs the top rope and NAILS ONE HELL OF A SUPERPLEX! 1-2-Kickout. 15 minutes have passed. Elgin is going for the Buckle Bomb, and it connects. Okada comes out with a strike on Elgin. He escapes another bomb attempt with a dropkick to the back of Elgin. Elgin nails an Enziguri as Okada went for Rainmaker. Saito Suplex by Elgin, but he gets dropkicked while running towards Okada. Rainmaker ducked by both men, and Elgin gets Okada with a massive CLOTHESLINE off the ropes for a 2. Good match here, folks.
Elgin hits another Buckle Bomb on Okada. Elgin goes for the powerbomb, but Okada flips Elgin over for a rollover attempt. Elgin charges Okada and connects with a clothesline into the corner. Elgin places Okada back on the top rope. He's going for Splash Mountain!!! BUT OKADA SPINS AROUND ELGIN AND NAILS AN ARM DRAG OFF THE TOP ROPE! Tombstone attempt by Okada. Thrust kick and Roaring Elbow by Elgin, followed by a MASSIVE forearm. Elgin goes for the powerbomb, but Okada gets out. Okada tries to get Elgin with a dropkick, but Elgin turns it into a PowerBomb!!! Elgin gets Okada up for Splash Mountain and CONNECTS! 1-2-KICKOUT!!!!!!!! WHAT A MATCH!
Elgin gets Okada up, and again, he's placing Okada back on the ropes. 20 minutes have passed. (Not many matches in this tournament have gone this long this year.) He gets Okada up on his shoulders to nail the Burning Hammer, but Okada gets out and tries a tombstone. Elgin reverses it, and Okada reverses the reversal! Tombstone!!!! 360 Rainmaker! Another RAINMAKER!!!! 1-2-3! Okada wins this war!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada (8 points)
Match Grade: A-. This is probably the best A Block match thus far in the tournament. Elgin and Okada both looked awesome in this, with Okada looking like the classic Okada we all know and love. Elgin loses nothing in this as he's made to look extremely tough. More importantly, I bought that Elgin could get the win here. They made me believe it could happen, and that's what counts. Okada is now tied for 2nd along with Suzuki and EVIL. By the way, those are the next two men he's facing in the tournament before facing Tanahashi in the A Block Finals. Okada lost his first two matches and has won the last 4 (just like Suzuki). Meanwhile, Elgin is the opposite as he won his first two matches and has now lost 4 straight.
Show Rating: B. A very solid A Block show with Elgin and Okada living up to its main-event status. EVIL and Suzuki had a great brawl on the show as well. I hated the Fale/Makabe match, while White/Page and Tanahashi/HASHI were average at best. Those drag down the score for the overall show, but, in the end, it was still one of the better A Block shows this tournament.
A Block Standings After Night 11
Hiroshi Tanahashi (10 Points)
EVIL (8 Points)
Jay White (8 points)
Minoru Suzuki (8 points)
Kazuchika Okada (8 points)
Bad Luck Fale (6 points)
Michael Elgin (4 points)
Togi Makabe (4 points)
Hangman Page (2 points)
YOSHI-HASHI (2 points)
The G1 is off until Wednesday where the B Block will take center stage. Be sure to comment on this with any thoughts on the show or on the commentary I provided here.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
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