This may be the biggest night in the B Block throughout the tournament. There may be 3 men still alive in it, but the results today could tell the tale of who is more likely to win at the end of this.
Here are the B Block Standings after Night 12:
Kenny Omega (12 Points)
Tetsuya Naito (10 Points)
Kota Ibushi (8 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr. (6 points)**
Sanada (6 Points)**
Ishii (4 Points)**
Hirooki Goto (4 Points)**
Tama Tonga (4 Points)**
Juice Robinson (4 points)**
Toru Yano (2 Points)**
** Eliminated from possible victory in the block.
Here are your matches for today:
Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Juice Robinson
Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
Sanada vs. Toru Yano
Of these matches, only two are crucial to the tournament. If Kenny Omega beats Ishii, he rises to 14 points and is in a position to put the block away in his next block match (vs Yano). If Ishii wins, he stops Omega's win streak, keeps Omega at 12 points, and guarantees himself a future IWGP Heavyweight Championship match after the G1.
But there's also the Naito vs. Ibushi match which could prove just as important. If Ibushi loses, he's eliminated from winning the tournament. In that scenario, if Omega loses and Naito wins, Naito ties Omega in points overall but loses the tie breaker. HOWEVER, if Ibushi wins and Omega loses, Naito and Ibushi will be tied for 2nd place with Ibushi having the tie breaker against Naito. It also further makes the matches both men have afterwards that much more important, especially Naito vs. Sanada the next night of B Block action and Omega vs. Ibushi on the last night of B Block.
Sabre vs. Juice is important as well because if Juice loses, he has yet ANOTHER possible contender for his title.
A lot to consider here as we prepare for the G1's 14th night. Without further ado, HERE WE GO!!!!
Undercard Notes
- THE UNDERBOSS!!!! Here comes Bad Luck Fale and Tanga Loa as they prepare to beat some people up. Fale chases off the ring announce again. And the Jobber-Extraordinaire YOSHI-HASHI is out with SHO, meaning we're getting HASHI vs. Fale tomorrow. Something has to give. Will Fale continue to just throw away matches, or will HASHI continue to do what he's been doing best: lose? Tongans win with Loa hitting his finisher (Rikishi-Driver that he's calling something else).
- Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado face Hangman Page and Chase Owens. Poor Owens as you can see the writing on the wall here.
Good preview for their match in A Block tomorrow. Owens takes the pinfall loss to the Gotch Piledriver of Suzuki.
- Jay White and YOH come out for their tag match against Makabe and Hanare. Makabe vs. White could be ok tomorrow. White continues to directly harass the English commentators by doing the attacks near the guard rail in front of their table. Kevin Kelly's complaints about what White is doing really helps put over how much of a bastard White's been in this tournament. White wins the match by pinning Henare. And he continues his attack on Makabe with a chair after the match.
- Here comes BIG MIKE Michael Elgin teaming with David Finlay against Shota Unimo, one of the Young Lions, and The Ace of New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi. GO ACE! GO ACE! GO ACE! (Side note: I know people love his original theme, but I prefer the "Love and Energy" theme Tanahashi switched to.). Another really good preview for tomorrow's A Block. Elgin vs. Tanahashi promises to be a battle of injuries. Tanahashi will have to protect his arm and knee, while Elgin has the torn bicep of his own to protect. Finlay wins with the Stunner (which apparently Steve Austin approved according to an earlier comment by Kevin Kelly). They also did a good job making Shota Unimo look good even while taking the pin.
- EVIL and Bushi face Okada and Gedo in our final match of the undercard. Okada returns to the site of his loss to Kenny Omega at Dominion back in June. EVIL and Bushi win, but the announcers tell the story that EVIL has Okada's number in G1 matches. We'll see how that holds up tomorrow.
G1 Theme plays.... and here we go!!!!
B Block Action (Night 14)
1) Sanada vs. Yano- Yano jumps Sanada from behind during Sanada's entrance. He's going for the Paradise Lock on Sanada on the floor. No... He's Hog Tied him with his shirt! The referee is starting the count. Sanada is hoping to ringside. Sanada gets in at 19. Yano goes for the corner pad, but Sanada stops him. Yano gets a quick series of takedowns and rollups for CLOSE 2 counts. Rolling series of rolling cradles by Sanada results in a 2 count. Yano is outside dazed and confused. Yano is tied up in the Paradise Lock. Sanada just rolls in the ring. Rocky gets out of the commentary position and helps Yano get out of the lock by 18. Yano smacks Sanada with the corner pad. Unique spot with Yano charging Sanada with the pad. Sanada leapfrogs him twice and dropkicks him. Now both men are outside. Wild action. Sanada jumps over the ropes and dives on Yano. Skull End. Paradise Lock on Yano using the guard rail and Sanada uses Yano's tape to tape him up to the separated rail AND the ring post. Rocky gets up to help Yano, but Sanada puts Rocky in a Paradise Lock!!!! LOL!!!!! Rocky: "Help me. Somebody help me get out of this damn thing!" Yano is counted out!!!!
Winner: Sanada (8 points)
Match Grade: B-. I know this is still stupid Yano stuff, but it was hilarious especially the end with Rocky on commentary being tied up in the Paradise Lock. That puts it over the top for me. Yano
2) Tama Tonga (w/Tanga Loa) vs. Hirooki Goto- Something tells me to expect more TONGAN SHENANIGANS in this match. Tanga Loa gives us our intro for Tama.
Bell rings. Tie up by both men. Clean break fake by Tonga, but Goto catches him with a headlock. Tonga tries several times to throw Goto off, but he won't let go. He finally gets Goto off but eats a shoulder tackle. Hip toss by Goto. Goto working on Tonga in the corner now. Goto climbs up the ropes and gets Tonga away from him, but as the referee is distracted, Loa pushes him over the top to the floor. Tonga follows outside and throws Goto into the guard rail. Goto's head gets thrown to the ringpost. Tonga goes back inside, while Loa clotheslines Goto on the floor. More shenanigans. Goto gets back in at a 14 count. Tonga with a back elbow to a running Goto followed by a knee to Goto's throat on the mat. 5 minutes have passed.
Goto with chops on Tonga, but Tonga answers with a flurry of strikes. Goto urges Tonga to hit him, and after a few other strikes from Tonga, Goto nails him with the clothesline. Running side kick and Saito Suplex for a 2. Goto gets thrown into a corner, but Tonga misses the Stinger Splash. Big clothesline in the corner by Goto puts Tonga down. Tonga is placed on the top rope. Goto climbs up for a Yushi Garoshi, but Tonga gets off the ropes and goes for a powerbomb. Goto fights off. Tonga dropkicks Goto and goes for a splash but Goto catches him with a clothesline for a 2. Yushi Garoshi attempt, but Loa distracts the ref. Tonga throws Goto into the referee. And here comes Tanga Loa. Powerslam by Loa. (Same old, same old here) Magic Killer blocked by Goto. Goto is fighting off both men. Yushi Garoshi again avoided by Tonga. An excellent series of misdirections by both men avoiding big strikes from the other, but Goto gets Yushi Garoshi. Both men are down at the 10 minute count.
GTR by Goto. 1-2-Fale pulls out the referee and whips him into the guard rail. The DQ is declared. Goto wins. Wait. The referee never called the bell. Match continues. Grenade by Fale. Tonga thrown on Goto. Fale throws the referee in. Red Shoes (the ref) looks down at the pin, but he looks at the Tongans, flips them off, and calls for the bell. That was a cluster at the end of the match. The time keeper definitely jumped the DQ a minute earlier than they should have. But the result is the same.
Winner: Hirooki Goto (6 points)
Match Grade: D. Tongan Shenanigans and awkward final minute aside, I liked the actual series of moves Goto and Tonga put into the match. The multiple misdirection spot gets them a pass from me as it was great to see.
3) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Juice Robinson- It's Zack Sabre Time, according to Taka. Juice, JUST TAP OUT!!!! HE IS ZSJ, HE IS ZACK SABRE JR.!!!!! IWGP US Heavyweight Champion Juice Robinson, COME OVER HERE!!! Juice comes out still dressed as if Elton John was going to be in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Hey, if the dude can get away with it, more power to him. Gotta love Juice for being Juice.
The bell rings. Sabre and Juice go through the early match motions. They play up the hand early on with Juice trying to avoid a test of strength with it, but in the next exchange, Sabre gets the hand and starts working on it. Juice gets out and to the ropes. Juice chops Sabre hard. Both men walking around. Sabre with a series of uppercuts to Juice. Big forearm by Juice sends Sabre back off. Juice: "COME ON ZACK COME ON!!!!" More uppercuts by Sabre, but a big forearm again sends Juice down. Sabre catches Juice in a cobra twist, which Juice hip tosses out of. Sabre catches Juice on a senton splash with a submission hold and then stomps on Juice's hand once the hold is broken. Juice rolls out of the ring for a break. Juice rolls back in. Sabre presses the attack with more uppercuts. Juice Box countered into an arm twist using the legs by Sabre, torquing the hand. Sabre provokes Juice with slaps. 5 minutes have passed, and so does Sabre with a clothesline by Juice.
Juice with the fist strikes and blistering chop to Sabre. Clothesline by Juice into one corner and another. He goes for the cannon ball, but when Sabre rolls out, Juice catches him with a flying dive over the ropes. Juice rolls him back in. Spinebuster countered by Sabre into a guillotine wristlock by Sabre. Juice is trying to power out, and he gets him up for a suplex attempt. Sabre gets a sleeper instead. Juice breaks it up by ramming Sabre into the corner. CANNON BALL!!!! (I yell that like Ron Burgundy whenever he does that. Just saying... Stay classy out there.) Juice picks up Sabre for a powerbomb, but Sabre goes for the wristlock. Juice picks him up and gets a jackhammer instead for a 2. Both men are up. Sabre goes back to work on the arm. Juice gets him off for a second, but Sabre gets on his shoulders and goes for a arm/finger submission. Juice picks him up for that and hits the Juice Box (Double Knee Gutbuster) for a close 2 count. Very good match here. Ten minutes have passed now.
Juice: ALL RIGHT BABY!!! He goes for Pulp Friction, but Juice gets caught in an arm triangle. Sabre continues to work over the hand in the submission. Juice gets up and deadlifts Sabre up for a powerbomb!!! Juice undoes the tape on his injured hand, giving Sabre a lot of time to recover. Left hand connects to Sabre, but Juice is crying in pain, holding the hand. He goes for Pulp Friction, but Sabre wrenches the hand instead. Juice tries to counter into a pin, but Sabre now has Juice's arms caught. He is bending on the hand and pulling it back towards the mat. Now, he's grabbing the foot. He's completely trapped. Juice's leg is now touching his own head while his arms are still being twisted. Juice FINALLY submits.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr. (8 points)
Match Grade: B+. This was an excellent match. Both men continue to impress in this tournament with Sabre's submission style meshing well with Juice's charisma and unique style. This is definitely a match I want to see again, and it looks like we're going to see it.
After the match, Sabre holds the championship up, making it known that he wants the title. Kelly puts over the fact that Sabre wants to win the title on American soil. This is basically a hard sell for an upcoming match at Long Beach in September.
4) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega- This is going to be amazing. These two have had some great matches in the past. And Ishii has beaten Omega in the past. Kevin Kelly puts over the fact that the last time Kenny Omega wrestled in Osaka for G1 action, he suffered the biggest point differential loss in G1 history.
The bell rings. Tie up. Omega breaks up the tie up and provokes Ishii by playing drums on Ishii's bald head. He does it again a second later. Now Omega is striking Ishii, and Ishii is no-selling it. Ishii headbutts Omega. Ishii tried to go under Omega, but it looked like he lost his footing. Omega chops Ishii in the corner twice. He strikes the back of Ishii. But Ishii charges at Omega with a shoulder tackle. Fast series of counters and strikes by both men. Brainbuster by Ishii. Omega is slow to get up. Ishii now playing drums on Omega's golden locks. HARD CHOPS by Ishii! More work by Ishii into the corner. Eye rake by Omega to get momentum back. HARD DDT by Omega!!!! 2 count only. You Can't Escape by Omega connects perfectly for 2. Long chin lock by Omega. He loses the grip at the 5 minute mark.
Omega kicks at Ishii, who says "BRING IT!" Ishii gets up and chops Omega in the throat multiple times. Omega with a hard chop back to Ishii! Big powerslam by Ishii sending Omega back into the corner. Chops and elbows by Ishii in the corner. Big Saito Suplex by Ishii for a 2. Ishii tries to powerbomb Omega but loses his footing. Ishii gets a Snap Rana from Omega, sending Ishii to the floor. RISE OF THE TERMINATOR connects to Ishii to the floor. Omega is clutching his heel, but he gets back up. Ishii rolled back in and eats a Kataro Crusher for a 2. (Ishii hasn't looked good since the DDT spot. This has been abnormally sloppy overall.)
Ishii with hard chops in the corner to Omega. Omega answers back with a THUNDEROUS chop, but Ishii wants more. More punches and strikes by Omega, but Ishii sends Omega back with one blow. Ishii with a German Suplex back into the corner! ishii puts Omega on the top turnbuckle. Ishii climbs up. Ten minutes have passed. Top Rope Brainbuster suplex for a 2 by Ishii. Omega catches Ishii with a running and jumping DDT. Snap Dragon blocked by a back headbutt by Ishii. V Trigger to the chin of Ishii. German suplex by Ishii a second later. Clothesline by Ishii followed by a sliding lariat for a 2.
Ishii picks up Omega and goes for the brainbuster, but Omega gets down. Ishii gets Omega up for One Winged Angel but Omega escapes. Kenny has Ishii in the corner. V-Trigger to the back of Ishii's head in the corner!!! Ishii is limp on the mat. Omega gets Dr. Wily Bomb on Ishii for a close 2 count! "Ishii" chants from the crowd. Omega with sick looking short knees to Ishii now. But the third one wakes up Ishii!!!! Ishii is awake but he eats a V-Trigger! And another one!!! Snap Dragon, but Ishii gets up!!! Ishii runs into a clothesline for another close 2!!! Omega picks up Ishii. Ishii gets out of One Winged Angel. Snap Dragon by Ishii. Powerbomb counter by Ishii to another Omega Snap Rana. 15 minutes have passed. Wow!
Both men continue to exchange blows. Omega with forearms trying to get Ishii down. HARD chop just awakens Ishii!!!! Backwards Reverse Rana by Omega sending Ishii head first into the mat! Both men are down! Omega gets up. V-Trigger!!!! Ishii is sent onto the apron outside the ring. Omega hits a double stomp to the outside on Ishii sending both crashing to the floor! Ishii rolled back in by Omega. Omega climbs the ropes and nails a dropkick to the back of Ishii's head. Omega hits the fireman's carry to a knee to the back of the head for a 2. Ishii up for One Winged Angel, but he fights out. Series of counters. V-Trigger countered. German countered by Omega into V-Trigger! 2 count. Jay Driller/butterfly piledriver by Omega!!! Ishii kicks out at 2.9!!!!! Now, this is getting good.
Kenny pulls down the knee pad. V-Trigger!!!! 2.9 count again on Ishii!!!! 20 minutes have passed now. Omega picks up Ishii, but Ishii gets out of One Winged Angel! Crucifix Pin by Ishii for a 2.9999999 count on Omega!!!! I'm serious! How was that not a 3?! WOW!!!! Ishii is getting himself back up and is headbutting himself in the corner. Forearm strikes by Ishii to the back and the front of Omega's head. V-Trigger!!!! Both men are dazed on their feet. Headbutt by Ishii!!! Another one!!! BIG CLOTHESLINE!!! 1-2-KICKOUT AGAIN BY OMEGA!!!! Ishii is going to go for the finish! Omega gets the brainbuster. But Ishii KICKS OUT AT !!!!! Omega runs into a lariat!!!! Omega gets out of the brainbuster. Both men fighting, Omega BLEEDING FROM THE MOUTH!!! Ishii with an enziguri!!! Ishii catches him with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster! 1-2-3!!!! Omega has FINALLY been defeated in the G1!!!!!! Omega is a bloody damn mess! His lip is barely hanging on. (I replayed the finish. Omega's shoulder was off the mat from what I could tell at that finish.) Ishii just got himself a title shot in October, folks!!!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (6 points) (Basically guaranteed #1 Contender for title shot now)
Match Grade: A. A few minor botches at the beginning of this match aside, this was freaking awesome!!! Ishii and Omega have had wars before, but this reached another level with tonight's performance. It was clear to me Ishii got rocked by that DDT spot early in the match, but Ishii was obviously able to finish the match. Omega got busted open in the mouth somewhere in the match as well, which added more drama to the match. Ishii is still my G1 MVP so far. Matches like this against Omega, Ibushi, and Goto should awaken the world that Ishii is amazing! RESPECT THE STONE PITBULL!!!!
5) Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi- Oh my God! This is next?! I completely forgot after this last match. (It's already the best night of the tournament going into this match.) This is a must win for Kota Ibushi. Otherwise, it's a two person block going into the last nights of B Block action. For Naito, this is likewise a big match. If he wins, he ties Omega at the top and has to hope for an Omega loss in one of the last two nights.
The bell rings. Tie up by both men early on. (No pausing or playing around by Naito tonight.) Arm wrench by Naito. Ibushi rolls through into an armbar of his own. Naito takes the advantage though and gets Ibushi in the corner. Ibushi and Naito duck a bunch of offensive moves. Naito rolls through and does the Tranquilo pose in the middle of the ring during all this. Ibushi just looks annoyed. Naito rolls to the outside and walks around ringside. Naito refuses to get in unless Ibushi gives him room. Naito gets back in and charges Ibushi. Ibushi leapfrogs, drops down, and hits the dropkick to a running Naito. Naito goes outside. Naito and Ibushi fighting on the ring frame. Naito dropkicks Ibushi's leg. Naito takes Ibushi's leg, puts it on the top part of a rail, and kicks the leg while it's tied up. Naito takes Ibushi over to the commentator's position and attacks Ibushi. He throws Ibushi onto the tables and runs into the ring. 5 minutes have passed, and the count is on.
Ibushi gets in at 11 only to get tortured by Naito. Naito targets the leg more, stomping the back of the knee into the mat. Naito continues putting the pressure on Ibushi with forearms in the corner and stomping the knee on a sitting Ibushi. More back elbow shots now in the corner. Reverse DDT neckbreaker by Naito followed by a running low dropkick to the back of Ibushi for a 2. Naito now kicking at Ibushi's head and SPITS at the audience, getting a lot of boos. Ibushi gets up and starts hitting Naito with forearms. Naito kicks the knee, but when he goes for another low dropkick, Ibushi hits the double stomp. Forearms traded by both men. Ibushi gets a kick in and hits a flying mid-kick. Standing moonsault for a 2 by Ibushi. Naito reverses a corner dropkick. Ibushi fights off Naito and hits a Snap Rana, sending Naito to the floor. Ten Minutes have passed.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE (springboard moonsault to the floor) connects!!!! The count is on. 15 count is when Naito and Ibushi get back in. Ibushi climbs the ropes, but Naito charges at the corner stopping him. He gets Ibushi on the top rope and attacks the knee. Naito climbs up. Ibushi is fighting him and dumps Naito over the top. Ibushi is on the bottom rope and grabs Naito on the apron. He's going for the Deadlift German, but Naito trips up Ibushi, sending him back onto the mat. Naito jumps up to the top rope and nails a big dropkick. Corner springboard dropkick by Naito connects. Inverted Figure Four by Naito. They are slapping each other while in this submission hold. Ibushi pulls himself to the ropes. DDT blocked by Ibushi, but Naito gets the forearm in. Gloria is flipped out of by Ibushi. Half and Half Suplex by Ibushi. Both men are down. Another great match here. 15 minutes have passed.
Both men continue to attack the other while on their knees with forearms. Both get up on their feet and continue the attacks. Kicks by Ibushi to Naito's knee now. Naito returns the kicks with some of his own to Ibushi. Naito grabs Ibushi's leg and SPITS in his face. Ibushi gets a big combination in. He catches Naito in a wheelbarrow, but Naito reverses it into his own sending Ibushi straight down neck first into the mat. Gloria connects onto the back of Ibushi's head. Naito gets Ibushi laying on the top rope and nails an elevated top rope neckbreaker for a 2. Ibushi is laying flat on the mat and the referee gets Naito off to check on him.
Destino attempt blocked by a big kick to the back of Naito's head. Ibushi is trying to get up, as is Naito. Ibushi runs at Naito, but Naito sends him over his head and right into the corner chin first. Naito hits an enziguri. Now, Naito is on the top rope, but Ibushi gets him with a backflip kick to the face. Naito is still sitting on the top rope, and Ibushi is NOW bleeding from the mouth just like his Golden Lovers partner Kenny Omega did tonight. 20 minutes have passed. Ibushi is now on the ropes with Naito in the corner. Ibushi is trying to get Naito off the corner with a piledriver maybe. Yes he is, but Naito blocks it!!! Trading forearms now. Naito gets the advantage. Naito positions himself behind and goes for the Reverse Rana OFF THE TOP ROPE, but Ibushi flips over onto his feet!!!!! BIG LARIAT by Ibushi!!! And both men are down! And yes, Ibushi's bottom lip is looking nasty at the moment.
Ibushi goes after Naito. Naito is on the apron. Ibushi is on the middle rope. He deadlifts Naito over the top and hits a DEADLIFT GERMAN SENDING NAITO DIRECTLY ON HIS FRIGGING HEAD!!!!!! 1-2-Kickout!!!!! Oh my God! Ibushi hits the Last Ride Sitting Powerbomb, but Naito kicks out at 2.8. "Naito" chants from the crowd now. (They were booing the hell out of him 5 minutes ago. Now, he's the hometown hero. Lol.) Kamigoye avoided by Naito. Destino blocked. Destino connects!!!! 1-2-Kickout by Ibushi!!!! Naito is going for another one! Destino blocked into a Brainbuster Tombstone by Ibushi (I guess that's what you call it?!) sending NAITO AGAIN ON HIS FRIGGING HEAD!!! Ibushi gets up and hits the Bombaye/Kinshasa!!!!! 1-2-Kickout by Naito!!!! 25 minutes! Kamigoye!!!! 1-2-3!!! IBUSHI WINS!!!! WOW!!!!! What a match!!!! It's a whole new tournament now!!!!
Winner: Kota Ibushi (10 points)
Match Grade: A. Another excellent match tonight with Naito and Ibushi beating the holy hell out of each other. Naito will be lucky to walk after this one, folks. He landed on his head too many times for my taste (1 being too much in my opinion). But the match was just intense with Naito doing everything he could to keep Ibushi down, but Ibushi finding that extra something to come back and beat Naito.
Show Rating: A+. This was an awesome show from start to finish with the final two matches each being match of the tournament contenders. Add to that a great Juice vs. Sabre match, a fun Yano vs. Sanada match, and a passable Goto vs. Tonga match, and this was just freaking awesome. SEEK OUT THIS SHOW!
B Block Standings (After Night 14)
Kenny Omega (12 Points)
Tetsuya Naito (10 Points)
Kota Ibushi (10 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr. (8 points)**
Sanada (8 Points)**
Hirooki Goto (6 Points)**
Ishii (6 Points)**
Tama Tonga (4 Points)**
Juice Robinson (4 points)**
Toru Yano (2 Points)**
** Eliminated from possible victory in the block.
I'll be back tomorrow for A Block action. Good luck to those guys trying to follow this one up. Check out the rest of the G1 Climax reviews on my website's Table of Contents, along with all the other reviews and posts I've done since starting this in June.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness!!!!
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