Here we go folks! We're now officially in the HOME STRETCH of this whole thing. Here's where we're at going into this:
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)
Today's A Block Matches
- Okada vs. Suzuki
- Tanahashi vs. EVIL
- Elgin vs. Fale
- Page vs. Makabe
- White vs. YOSHI-HASHI
Okada vs. Suzuki should be a war. They've drawn a couple times in the last year. So, it is a possibility. Then, there's Tanahashi vs. EVIL. EVIL could use a big win, but Tanahashi is probably going to be in the top tier of the block for his match with Okada. So, who knows? It makes it fun this late into the tournament. Without further ado.... HERE WE GO!!!!
Undercard Notes
- Yano gets tonight's irrelevant undercard match as he is not wrestling his opponent (Sanada) tonight in a tag team match.
- Unfortunately, for Hirooki Goto, he has the task of wrestling Tama Tonga tonight and in block action Saturday. I mean it's unfortunate because he has to work that style of match when he's been having very good matches in the G1 this year. But that comes to a crashing halt on Saturday.
- Juice Robinson and David Finlay face Taka Michinoku and Zack Sabre Jr. A Sabre/Juice match can be good, and you just have to know Sabre's target is going to be the left hand of Juice. Is it possible to hit Orienteering with Napalm Death to someone's arms/hands? It's not like Sabre doesn't have 999 other holds in his repertoire. (Still 4 holds less than Chris Jericho.)
- And next is a preview of a match I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow: Ishii vs. Omega. Ishii and SHO vs. Kenny Omega and Chase Owens is our tag match. Ishii has beaten Kenny Omega before, and it would not surprise me to see Ishii get the upset tomorrow. If Omega runs the gauntlet of the next four matches, he'll definitely be remembered as one of the great IWGP Heavyweight Champions even after only having the belt for 2 months. But the amount of credible challengers he will have will be diminished due to running through half of them during the G1.
- Finally, we get Sanada/Naito vs. Ibushi/Yujiro. Tomorrow is going to be another great match in the G1 with Naito facing Ibushi. If Ibushi wins, he's tied with Naito on the leaderboard. Ibushi has to run the table to stay alive in the tournament. Naito likewise can't afford a loss being this close to catching up to Omega. Something has to give tomorrow. Omega needs to lose for anyone to have a chance. If Ibushi faces Omega being 2 points behind him, Ibushi can beat Omega and outright win the block due to a tie breaker. Also, consider this: if Sanada beats his LIJ partner Naito in the G1 after he loses to Ibushi, it's over for Naito! Tomorrow will be HUGE.
The G1 Climax Theme Hits... And We're Going to Start Block Action
A Block Matches (Night 13)
1) Bad Luck Fale (w/ Tanga Loa) vs. Michael Elgin- Stop me if you've heard any of this before. Fale chases off the ring announcer, and Tanga Loa does the ring introduction for Fale. Big Mike is wrestling with a torn bicep, and he's working with two (possibly three) Tongans (Note: Fale is an "Honorary" Tongan to the others. So, I'm correct.). Bell rings.
Big Mike stares up at Fale. Shoving starts and Elgin starts us off with punches. But Fale works on the arm. Elgin goes after Fale with a big forearm, but he can't capitalize as Loa trips his leg up. Elgin gets Fale on the ropes but runs to the other side to dive at Loa. Elgin climbs the ropes but dives into a shoulder block by Fale. And we're outside. I think you know what comes next. Barricade shot by Fale followed by twisting the bad arm over the top of it. Fale throws Elgin into another guard rail. Fale comes in and stands on Elgin once he rolls back in the ring. More arm wrenching by Fale. BIG SPLASH TO THE BAD ARM by Fale. Referee asks him if he gives up, but he doesn't. More arm wrenching by Fale. Elgin is powering out, but Fale begins striking him. Fale runs into a boot and eats an enziguri to the back as 5 minutes has passed. Running forearms and standing forearms followed by a springboard back elbow from the corner by Elgin.
Elgin gets a sitting Fale with a low kick to Fale's chest for a 2. Elgin goes for the suplex, but his arm can't do it. Fale splashes Elgin in the corner and in the center of the ring for a 2. Fale signals for the Grenade but misses. Elgin squashed in the corner, but Elgin gets another series of kicks to the big man. Running clotheslines to Fale only to be met with a big forearm. Thrust kick by Elgin followed by a clothesline for a 2. "Elgin" chant from the crowd. He's going for the Buckle Bomb, but he can't get him up. Elgin tries again but no luck in getting the big man up. He runs into a Samoan Drop by Fale for a 2 count. Fale going for Bad Luck Fall, but Elgin escapes. GERMAN SUPLEX BY ELGIN! Big Roaring Elbow by Elgin that only gets a 2 count. Ten Minutes have passed.
Elgin tries to German Suplex Fale out of the corner, but Fale uses his size to propel Elgin off, sending both Elgin and the referee flying. (I think you get the picture of what is going to happen next.) Yep. TONGAN SHENANIGANS STRIKE AGAIN!!! Loa starts the attack on Elgin. Elgin pushes Loa off and to Fale, and he gets Loa up for a suplex. Bodyslam by Elgin to Fale. Loa is on the outside. The referee is back up. Elgin climbs the top rope. Here comes Tama Tonga, and he nails Elgin with a chair for a DQ. Continued shots with the chair by Tonga. Direct chair shot to the injured arm of Elgin. The Young Boys run in and get pulverized with the chair. Tonga continues with chair shots to Elgin.
Winner: Michael Elgin (6 points)
Match Grade: F-. I can't even at this point. This goes beyond being entertaining. It's rinse and repeat. It's cheap heat. Add to that the fact that the match itself was just there more or less with no real drama. I am beyond done with the whole Tongan storyline in this tournament.
2) Hangman Page vs. Togi Makabe- This match basically means nothing at this point, but Page could sure use the points to save some face. The bell rings.
Makabe tells Page to come at him with running shoulder blocks, which ends with Makabe knocking Page down and to the outside. Makabe sends Page into a guard rail and into another. (These rails are too loose.) Makabe rolls Page into the ring but eats a big boot from Page sending him back down. Page dives through the ropes to Makabe on the outside. Page whips Makabe chest first into the guard rail and back into the ring. Stomps in the corner by Page along with a vocal middle finger at Makabe. Makabe charges into a corner at Page, but he misses. This allows Page to hit a running dropkick into the corner which gets a 2 count. Deadlift Fallaway Slam for a 2 by Page!!! (Makabe is a big dude. So this was impressive.) Makabe gets on his knees and tells Page to bring it. Page continues to punch at him, but Makabe gets up on his feet again saying "bring it." They are trading punches and kicks, but Makabe catches him with a powerslam. Makabe runs into the corner, hits the clothesline, and does the standing punches on Page's head. Northern Light Suplex for a 2. German Suplex blocked by Page. Forearm shots by Page. 5 minutes have passed.
Both men trade forearms, but Page catches Makabe for a German for a 2. More forearms and chops by Page, but Makabe drills him with a left arm clothesline at the throat of Page. Clothesline into the back of Page in the corner. Spider Suplex attempt by Makabe. Page is fighting it, but Makabe nails a belly-to-belly suplex off the top instead. Makabe is going for the King Kong Knee Drop, but Page avoids it as Makabe crashes and burns. Both men get up. Big clothesline by Makabe and Page, each telling the other to bring it. Collide over and over again, sending sweat into the air. Page gets knocked down first, but Page gets a superkick a few seconds later. The elbow pad gets thrown down by Page. But he runs right into a clothesline! Page is on the apron. Makabe with a big lariat to Page who holds on the ropes. Makabe runs from the ropes, but he runs right into the Buck Shot Lariat. RITE OF PASSAGE BY PAGE!!!! 1-2-3! PAGE GETS HIS FIRST PINFALL VICTORY OF THE TOURNAMENT!!!!!
Winner: Hangman Page (4 points)
Match Grade: C. This wasn't a great match by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't the worst match either. It was about the standard for a TV match on American television, but the big story here is that they FINALLY gave Page a straight-up win in this tournament.
3) Jay White vs. "Jobbing Ain't Easy" YOSHI-HASHI- I wonder if NJPW would think about bringing Al Snow to the promotion to start a J.O.B. Squad sect within CHAOS with YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano, Gedo, Jedo, and Chase Owens.
Jay attacks before the bell rings. Bell rings now. White with vicious chops in the corner. HASHI runs him down with a shoulder tackle. HASHI goes on the attack with kicks and forearms shots. White with a Saito Suplex sending HASHI over the top rope and to the floor. And here starts the ramming of HASHI's back against the guard rail in front of the English Commentators and to the ring frame. And HASHI's thrown into another rail. Kelly: "ENOUGH OF THIS! YOU'VE KNOCKED US OFF THE AIR THREE G_______ TIMES!!!!" Wow. HASHI and White are back in the ring. HASHI is knocked down with a chop and is locked into a Float Over STF. HASHI gets to the ropes, but White holds on until almost a 4 count. White goes back outside and grabs chairs from underneath the chair. The crowd is booing White. Dropkick to the face by HASHI into the chair White was holding. Back in the ring, HASHI hits White with the jumping neckbreaker. White is tied up on the ropes now, and HASHI nails him in the back with a dropkick. HASHI climbs up the top rope and nails the Head Hunter from the top rope for a 2. 5 minutes have passed by now. HASHI gets caught in the Flatliner followed by the Deadlift German for a 2 by White. White gets a spinning brainbuster for a 2. Blade Runner signaled by White, but HASHI gets a roll-up for a 2. White with a combo of strikes on HASHI who responds with a clothesline. HASHI nails a powerbomb/jackknife pin combo for a 2. HASHI climbs up, but White uses the referee as a screen and causes HASHI to saddle the top turnbuckle. White and HASHI fail to hit finishers. HASHI is thrown into the corner where the referee is. The referee crouches down, and White... you guessed it... low blows HASHI. We've seen this multiple times this tournament. White gets the referee up and goes for Blade Runner. But HASHI avoids it and hits a series of kicks at White. HASHI gets the Backstabber on White. HASHI hits the Fisherman Buster on White but only gets a 2. HASHI goes for Karma, but White turns it into BLADE RUNNER for the 3. I mean, did you actually expect YOSHI-HASHI to win a match? Come on now.
Winner: Jay White (10 Points)
Match Grade: D+. This was so by the book that it was boring as hell. We knew going in that HASHI wasn't going to win, but they did little to nothing to make me believe he had a shot. If you've seen one Jay White match during the tournament, you've seen it all.
White apologizes to Rocky Romero at ringside, but he says these people in the faction don't learn. And tough love is the only way things can be taught sometimes.
4) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL- HERE WE GO! Will The Ace prevail and maintain his lead, or will Darkness Fall on the A Block? Let's find out in what is truly the first big match of the evening.
The bell rings, and this is on!!!! Loud "Tanahashi" chants from the crowd early on. EVIL goes to work early on with a shoulder tackle on The Ace, but The Ace hits an arm drag a second later. Tanahashi with a head lock. EVIL chases Tanahashi to the ropes, but he lands on the apron, grabs Tanahashi's arm, and pulls it down as EVIL goes to the floor. EVIL runs back in and works on The Ace's arm. The commentators put over the fact that Tanahashi never had surgery on his torn bicep. Now, it's impossible due to the scar tissue that's built up. So the arm will always be a weakness for The Ace. EVIL sends Tanahashi arm first into the corner. EVIL continues with an arm twist. He knocks The Ace down and LANDS A SICK LOOKING SENTON on Tanahashi. Well, he got all of that around the lower part of Tanahashi's torso and body. Tanahashi gets out of a pin attempt at the 2 count. An armbar by EVIL now followed by a Butterfly Lock on Tanahashi's arms and back. The Ace gets up and tries to power out of the hold. After failing a few times, he nails a Kangaroo kick to break it up at the 5 minute mark.
Flying Forearm by Tanahashi. Elbow drop and somersault senton for a 2. Tanahashi bodyslams EVIl in the corner. EVIL stands up and clotheslines Tanahashi over the top rope to the floor. EVIL's going out after him. EVIL sends Tanahashi into the guard rail and delivers a clothesline. EVIL back in the ring. Tanahashi slides down at 14 before getting back in the ring at 17. EVIL hits the running seated senton in the corner for a 2. EVIL going for Darkness Falls, but then... well, I'm letting this tweet explain it.
Eventually, EVIL and Tanahashi get out of that, and EVIL hits a misdirection clothesline for a 2. Big Fisherman Buster by EVIL for a 2. EVIL slashes Tanahashi's throat with his thumb, but Tanahashi hits a rollup for a 2. EVERYTHING IS EVIL countered into TWIST AND SHOUT! The Ace is back up! SLING BLADE connects for a 2. Ten minutes have passed. Tanahashi is on the apron and nails EVIL with a Dragon Screw sending EVIL's leg bouncing off the second rope. Tanahashi hits HIGH FLY FLOW off the top. He climbs back up. HIGH FLY FLOW HITS NOTHING BUT MAT!!!!! He's grabbing the arm around the elbow. EVIL rolls through, picks up Tanahashi, and nails DARKNESS FALLS for a 2 count! EVIL signals for the end. He hits a huge RUNNING LARIAT for a 2 count!!!! EVIL is stunned. Now, he's signaling for the end. Evil's finish is escaped by The Ace, but The Ace hits EVIL with EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!!! He's climbing back up!!!! HIGH FLY FLOW!!!!!! 1-2-3!!!! EVIL IS DONE IN THIS TOURNAMENT NOW!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi (12 points)
Match Grade: B. Very good match between Tanahashi and EVIL today. EVIL targeted the arm of Tanahashi in a logical manner, while Tanahashi caught EVIL several times in mistakes that ultimately caused The King of Darkness the match. Now, the story continues with Tanahashi's body crumbling before our very eyes. But he keeps finding a way to win. He's still the leader of the A Block going into its last two shows before the finals.
5) Minoru Suzuki (w/ El Desperado) vs. Kazuchika Okada- This will be awesome! You couldn't ask for more different entrances: Suzuki with his dark towel coming to the ring like a complete badass; Okada with his balloons running around ringside. As soon as Okada got into the ring, Suzuki attacked. We're off to the races!!!!
Suzuki chases Okada to the ringside area and goes to work. Guard rail throw by Suzuki. Okada is in the crowd, and Suzuki throws guard rails and chairs on Okada. Choke by Suzuki using the chair now. Red Shoes tries to stop Suzuki, but Suzuki threatens him with the chair. Red Shoes picks up a chair to defend himself. Suzuki charges at him, with even El Desperado trying to get in the way. Okada gets in and starts fighting Okada even deeper into the audience! Okada's head bounces off the bottom bleacher. Suzuki tells the fans to move out of the way and throws Okada into the chairs on the floor! Suzuki with a chair to the gut and back of Okada. Suzuki finally starts walking back to the ring, even motioning a chair shot to fans along the way. Okada is crawling out of the wreckage! The referee is counting Okada out as Suzuki waits for him with a chair at ringside. Okada gets back through the barricade and takes several chair shots to the gut and back. 19 count by Red Shoes, but Okada gets back in. WOW!
Suzuki with a triangle lock on Okada's arm over the top rope. He lets go and charges Okada with a big boot, sending Okada flying back into the guard rail at ringside! Ow! Okada gets back in at 19 after taking a couple seconds for a break. 5 minutes have passed as the referee checks on Okada. Suzuki puts his foot on Okada for good measure to wake him up. Suzuki takes Okada's shirt and starts choking him with it. Suzuki with forearm hits to Okada who is getting angry. They are trading forearms now. Suzuki charges at Okada in the corner but eats a dropkick. Okada nails a neckbreaker in the ring. Spinning back elbow and flying elbow into the corner by Okada. DDT for a 1.75 count for Okada. Suzuki gets in an armbar into Okada trying to lock in the legs of Okada. Okada gets to the ropes quickly. Running boot into the corner by Suzuki. PK KICK by Suzuki followed by an armbar again by Suzuki. He's trying to push Okada's arms together behind him. Okada gets to the bottom rope. Suzuki play kicks at Okada's head. Okada gets up and eats a forearm. Ten minutes have passed.
Suzuki raining elbows on Okada in the corner. Red Shoes breaks it up, and Okada uses the second to hit a running dropkick on Suzuki. Okada's smiling and telling Suzuki to hit him in the face. Suzuki smiles, looks at the crowd, and says "Ok." They are trading forearms back and forth now, taking each other's best shot. Suzuki is loving this!!!! He does The Rainmaker pose in Okada's face. They continue to forearm and play mind games with each other. Big slap by Suzuki now. SWEAT FLIES AS BOTH MEN HIT BIG FOREARM SHOTS ON THE OTHER!!! Both men are laughing!!!!! THEY'RE STILL GOING AT IT! PALM STRIKE BY SUZUKI! That was a solid 2 minutes of nothing but strikes. Okada gets a rollup for a 2. Dropkick by Okada. Suzuki now with fast striking combinations!!!! Uppercut by Okada x3. BIG SLAP by OKADA. You could see the sweat FLY off that one!!!! Running Dropkick by Suzuki!!!! Is this wrestling or MMA? With Suzuki, you have to wonder sometimes! Lol.
Suzuki gets back up and continues combination strikes at Okada. Knee to Okada sends Okada to his knees. 15 minutes have passed. Standing Guillotine by Suzuki. Okada tries to counter, but he gets hooked into the standing choke hold by Suzuki. Okada is fading, but he gets out. Suzuki with a slap to Okada! A palm strike now. Abdominal octopus stretch by Suzuki is reversed into a TOMBSTONE by Okada! WHAT A MATCH! Rainmaker blocked by Suzuki. Okada with a choke on Suzuki!!! He's going for the Gotch Piledriver on Suzuki!!!! Suzuki counters it into a Tombstone attempt. Okada reverses it into a GOTCH STYLE TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!!!! 1-2-Kickout by Suzuki. Suzuki blocks another Rainmaker, but Okada hits a SPINNING RAINMAKER! Another Rainmaker!!! 1-2-3! Okada wins a hell of a match.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada (10 points)
Match Rating: A-. This was a damn war. This was a great mix of hardcore, strong style, and toughman that you expect from a Suzuki match. And it was a great performance by Okada as well who played up to Suzuki's standards and then some. This may be the best match in the A Block since Night 1.
Show Grade: B-. The final two matches on the show carry the grade up for me. At this point in the tournament, very few of the matches are going to truly matter. But still, I hate the continued Tongan interference story and the use of YOSHI-HASHI as a block jobber. Still the show overall was solid. And I can't give it anything less than a B-.
A Block Standings After Night 13
Hiroshi Tanahashi (12 Points)
Jay White (10 points)
Kazuchika Okada (10 points)
EVIL (8 Points)**
Minoru Suzuki (8 points)**
Bad Luck Fale (6 points)**
Michael Elgin (6 points)**
Togi Makabe (4 points)**
Hangman Page (4 points)**
YOSHI-HASHI (2 points)**
** Eliminated from contention of winning the block.
The tournament returns on Saturday with B Block action. We're getting close to the end folks. If you want a refresher of what's happened, check out the NEW Table of Contents page on the website which has every G1 Climax show and the big posts from this page's history listed for you to check out.
Please share with any wrestling friends, follow me on Twitter at cdub1898, and be sure to give me any feedback that you may have. Until next time, you know the drill. Take care of yourselves. And spread some awesomeness.
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