Here we go folks! The home stretch is here: 4 shows in 5 days!!! 6 men are still alive as I start this show with you. But who knows? We could see Sanada eliminate his own faction leader today.
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.
Here are the matches for today's show
Sanada vs. Tetsuya Naito
Kenny Omega vs. Toru Yano
Kota Ibushi vs. Tama Tonga
Juice Robinson vs. Ishii
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hirooki Goto
HERE WE GO!!!!
Undercard
- Michael Elgin and Shota Unimo face Togi Makabe and Toa Henare. Elgin vs. Makabe should be a good way to finish the G1 for both men. Makabe and Henare win their tag match when Hanare pins Unimo.
- Hangman Page and Chase Owens wrestle YOSHI-HASHI and Sho, to set up Page vs. HASHI tomorrow. If Page loses that match, I riot violently as in tipping my card table over and cursing to myself in an unprofessional manner. Page pins Sho after the Rite of Passage.
- Tanga Loa and Bad Luck Fale face Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado. What's going to happen when Tongan Shenanigans go face to face with Suzuki-Gun? Bad Luck and Suzuki show that Friday's match is going to be a wild brawl, in case you didn't get the idea.
- EVIL and BUSHI face Jay White and YOH. I'm predicting EVIL is going to play spoiler for Jay White in the A Block Finals on Friday. BUSHI pins YOH after a jumping Codebreaker from the corner.
- Tanahashi and Finlay face Okada and Gedo. This is going to be epic Friday as Tanahashi and Okada never have below a 4 star match. Finlay pins Gedo with the stunner (Stone Cold Approved). After the match, both Tanahashi and Okada start punching at each other. Okada climbs up the English commentary table to play to the crowd. Not to be outdone, Tanahashi climbs up the Japanese commentary table and plays to the crowd as well.
The G1 Climax Theme plays, meaning it's time for some B Block Action!
B Block Matches- Night 16
1) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Juice Robinson
Juice goes after Ishii to start off the match. Both men collide into the other, but neither goes down. Juice FINALLY knocks down Ishii with a shoulder tackle after a solid 30 second trade off between the two with shoulder tackles. Big chops in the corner by Juice. Ishii says "BRING IT." Ishii switches Juice into the corner and delivers chops of his own. "COME ON!" Juice says. Chops and jabs traded by both men until Ishii is finally knocked to his knees in the corner. Ishii shoulder tackles a running Juice. Big vertical suplex by Ishii followed by some heavy chops. Forearms by Juice, but Ishii gets him with a throat chop. Ishii is jabbing at Juice. Now they are trading headbutts. Fast exchange of reversals leads to a Full Nelson Bomb by Juice.
Juice removes his cast from his left hand and begins jabbing at Ishii. Ishii fires back, but Juice fights back with faster punches. Clothesline in the corner by Juice x2. 5 minutes have passed. CANNON BALL!!!! Juice goes to the top rope. Big crossbody dive off the top rope gets a 2 for Juice. Powerbomb attempt by Juice, but Ishii backdrops him over. Juice gets back on the attack with hard chops. Ishii and Juice start exchanging chops over and over and over and over. Powerslam by Ishii. Juice is placed on the top turnbuckle. Ishii gets a sloppy looking suplex off the corner. Juice gets Ishii up for Juice Box and connects after a 2nd attempt. Big powerbomb by Juice, but he only gets a 2. Both men exchange blows, and Juice hits him with the injured left hand. Juice gets a lariat in for a 2. Ten minutes have passed.
Juice signals for Pulp Friction. Ishii tries to fight it, slips out, and hits a sliding lariat for a 2. Ishii is up waiting for Juice to get up as well. German suplex to Juice, but Juice gets right back up. He eats an Ishii clothesline for a 2. Ishii gets Juice up for the brainbuster, but Juice gets up. They exchange headbutts. Big enziguri by Ishii followed by the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for a 3 for Ishii!!!!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (8 points)
Match Grade: B-. This wasn't either man's best performance in this tournament, but they both continue to look great coming out of it for multiple reasons. Ishii has wins over three champions in the G1, giving him multiple title opportunities. For Juice, he's continuing to show that he can work big time matches.
2) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hirooki Goto- Taka does our introduction for Zack Sabre Jr.
Sabre attacks out of the gate with kicks and uppercuts. Both men exchanging forearms. Sabre goes after Goto with more blows, but Goto chases him off with a Saito Suplex. Outside the ring now, Goto throws Sabre into the guard rail 2 times. He goes for a 3rd one, but Sabre gets him in a wrist lock and continues working on Goto's arm with a twisting hammerlock. The count is on. Goto gets in at 18, and Sabre continues to stomp and twist at Goto's arm. Sabre now works on Goto's legs by trapping them with his. It allows Sabre to continue locking in the arms until Goto gets to the ropes. Another arm twist with a stomp by Sabre. Kick to the chest caught by Goto who grazes Sabre with a clothesline.
5 Minutes have passed. Spinning kick into the corner by Goto followed by a Saito Suplex for a 2. Sabre grabs Goto's arm and gets in a headlock, but Goto gets it reversed into a suplex. Clothesline with the bad arm by Goto into the corner. Goto climbs the top rope and goes for an elbow drop. But Sabre catches him and gets an arm breaker on Goto. He's locked in Goto's other arm to the mat, but Goto gets his foot on the ropes. More kicks by Sabre to Goto. PK caught by Goto. Double misdirection running by both men, but Octopus Lock is locked in to Goto. Sabre now twisting at Goto's fingers, but Goto gets him up for ushigaroshe. GTR attempt reversed into a series of kicks by Sabre and a rollup for 2. Ten minutes have passed.
Another sick twisting arm lock by Sabre. Headbutt by Goto to Sabre. Reverse GTR by Goto. Goto goes for GTR. But Sabre gets him with the European Clutch rollup for a 3
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr. (10 points)
Match Grade: C+. It felt to me like this match never got to that next gear and was frankly a disappointment given how awesome both men have been this year. Sabre now has a win over the NEVER Openweight and U.S. champions. So, he's likely due for a title shot at either one of them coming out of the tournament.
3) Kota Ibushi vs. Tama Tonga- Tama Tonga goes through the crowd before Ibushi is coming down to the ring. Tonga comes in behind Ibushi and attacks from behind (ala last year when he wrestled Minoru Suzuki). Ibushi is thrown to ringside. Tonga continues to mock and attack Ibushi. He throws Ibushi chest first into the barricade and stomps on his throat. Ibushi is finally thrown into the ring. Tonga continues to target the head of Ibushi. Running back elbow by Tonga. Ibushi gets caught floating over Tonga, who delivers a powerslam to him. Reverse Chinlock by Tonga. Ibushi takes a few seconds, but he gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Tonga continues to strike at Ibushi with headbutts in the corner. Ibushi finally comes back with a jumping dropkick at the 5 minute mark.
Ibushi and Tonga exchange forearms. Fast kicks and strikes by Ibushi followed by a running kick and standing moonsault for a 2. Back elbows by Ibushi, but Tonga gets a misdirection dropkick in. Stinger Splash into the corner by Tonga. Bunch of reversals of Tongan Twists and reverse DDTs before Ibushi gets him with a half and half suplex. Golden Triangle avoided by Tonga who runs in and punches Ibushi off the ropes. They are both outside again and going through the audience. Ibushi smashes Tonga's head against the wall. Ibushi goes up to the second level of the auditorium. He tightropes the rail on the edge and nails a MOONSAULT OFF THE WALL ONTO TONGA AND A BUNCH OF YOUNG BOYS! Ten minutes have passed, and they are coming back to ringside.
Tonga is thrown back in the ring. Ibushi is going for the top rope move, but Loa runs in and stops him while Tonga recovers. Tonga gets on the corner with Ibushi and goes for a Samoan Drop(?), but Ibushi rolls out to the mat. Jumping neckbreaker by Tonga. Jumping DDT by Tonga on Ibushi for a 2. Gun Stun blocked. Knee up to the jaw of Tonga. Ibushi calls for Kamigoye, but Loa grabs his leg from outside the ring. Gun Stun blocked again, but the referee gets hit by Tonga. Kick by Ibushi, but here comes Fale. Big clothesline by Fale. Here comes Kenny Omega. V-Trigger on Fale. Big clothesline on Omega by Loa. Midkick by Ibushi. Tonga gets clotheslined as well. Ibushi lowers his knee pad. Kamigoye avoided. Pop-Up Gun Stun! 1-2-3.
Winner: Tama Tonga (6 points)
Match Grade: C. Well, that pretty much does it for Ibushi in this tournament. Typical Tongan Shenanigans, but the match was at least good while it lasted.
After the match, Kenny Omega gets double powerbombed by Fale and Loa. They almost do the same to Ibushi, but they are chased off by the rest of the Golden Elite. The Young Boys drag Ibushi to the back while Omega is still down on the mat. They ask Kenny if he wants to continue, and Kenny is still laying motioning that the match goes on.
4) Kenny Omega vs. Toru Yano- Yano is getting in the ring and telling the referee to ring the bell. The bell rings. 1-2-kickout by Omega. Yano unties a corner pad and another one. He unties a 3rd pad and a 4th one. Omega stops him on the fourth one but gets thrown into the three other exposed corners. Yano unties the 4th one. Now all four corners are exposed. Yano goes to throw Omega into the 4th, but Chase stops it. He goes to do it again, but Chase gets the pad up. When Yano charges, Kenny and the pad move exposing the corner for Yano. Yano is thrown into the opposite corner. Yano goes to low blow Kenny, but Kenny grabs and stomps his hand. Atomic Drop by Yano. Yano collects the pads in the middle of the ring and eventually suplexes Kenny on the mats. But Omega is unfazed. Yano grabs a mat. Omega grabs a mat. They trade shots with the mats against the other man. Eventually Yano goes for the rollup and gets a 2. Omega goes to hit Yano with a pad, but Yano Dragon Screws the mat sending Omega to the outside. Omega is sent into the rail. He tries to tie up Omega with the tape to the rail. Both the referee and one of the Young Boys are tied up together. He puts the Young Boy over the rail, acting as a weight to stop Kenny from getting in. 19 count, but both are in the match. Yano works on Omega, but the referee is down while Yano runs into a clothesline by Omega and the Young Boy. Omega finally gets himself untied from him and hugs him. Yano throws Omega into him and rolls him up for a 2. Yano hits a Belly to Belly and a rollup for 2. V-Trigger. Pin attempt revered by Yano for a 2. Snap Dragon by Omega. Omega goes for V-Trigger. NAILED IT! Yano grabs the ref to avoid One Winged Angel, but he accidentally low blowed the referee. Omega is down. Here comes the Tongans again. Gun Stun to Yano. Gun Stun to Omega. Yano thrown on Omega. The referee comes to. 1-2-3. For bleep's sakes.
Winner: Toru Yano (4 points)
Match Grade: F. Seriously, do I even need to explain this? Tonga puts his hands around a fan's throat legitimately. NJPW says they are going to "discipline" him. Still, they go through with making him pin Ibushi and still costing Omega the match with Yano. There's so many other ways they could have done this. While this may have had some great tournament matches, this is officially a step or two below last year's G1. There were much less shenanigans in that one than this year.
5) Tetsuya Naito vs. Sanada- The bell rings. They go for the first bump. Fast series of reversals and attempted dives by both men until a pause happens. (I can't call all these moves, folks. Sorry.) Sanada goes into his corner allowing Naito to get back in the ring. Series of hammerlocks and wristlocks applied and reversed by both men. Flips and reversals by Sanada. Naito looked to get a tranquilo pose in after doing some flips to counter Sanada, but Sanada gets him with a low dropkick. Sanada and Naito fight and exchange forearms in the corner. Sanada rakes the eyes. Sanada goes for a moonsault, but Naito gets a reverse DDT in. Both men go outside. 5 minutes have passed.
Sanada rammed into the railing x2. Naito drags Sanada up the ramp. Both men exchanging forearms. Naito hits a reverse DDT neckbreaker followed by a running dropkick to Sanada. Naito walks back to the ring, and the count begins. At 16, Sanada gets back in only to eat another neckbreaker. 1 count for Naito. Naito now scraps Sanada's head with his boot. Sanada gets up and fires back with forearms. Both men spit in the other's face. Naito misses a flying forearm in the corner, and Sanada gets him with a back suplex. Double Leapfrog by Sanada, followed by a dropkick and a dive to the outside seconds later. Sanada throws Naito back in and misses a springboard clothesline. Corner slingshot dropkick by Naito. Gloria attempt by Naito blocked. Springboard Dropkick by Sanada after a second delay at 10 minute mark.
Sanada and Naito exchange some big moves that are avoided. Sanada lands on his feet during a German suplex attempt, but he can't avoid a spinning DDT by Naito. Naito gets Sanada on the corner and hits a Frankensteiner off the top. Gloria connects for Naito for a 2. Destino attempt countered, but Naito gets an enziguri in. Running Destino attempt caught. Naito is placed on the ropes and nailed with a hanging Dragon Neckscrew. Sanada gets up and nails a missile dropkick to Naito followed by a Tiger Suplex for a 2. Skull End by Sanada is rolled through by Naito. Naito gets a running Sanada with a boot in the corner. He goes for Destino again, but it's blocked. Sanada gets Skull End but Naito gets out again. Destino blocked. Sanada goes for a TKO, but Naito reverses into DESTINO. 1-2 Kickout. Destino NAILED BY SANADA!!!! 1-2-KICKOUT by Naito. 15 minutes have passed.
Skull End is locked in on Naito, and Sanada finally gets Naito down on the mat with the move locked in. Naito keeps trying to get out, but Sanada gets it locked in again and again. He's going for the moonsault, and he misses as Naito rolls in towards the corner. Forearms exchanged by both men in a trade off. Sanada gets slapped hard. Big flying forearm by Naito. Destino again blocked by Sanada. Sanada moonsaults into Skull End. Reversals by both men. O'Connor Roll by Sanada ALMOST gets Naito at 2.9. Sanada goes back for the attack, but Naito catapults Sanada into the top turnbuckle. German Suplex just wakes up Sanada. Sanada goes for Skull End, but Naito reverses it into DESTINO. 1-2-3.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito (12 points)
Match Grade: B. This was not as good as I wanted it to be. There were some botches by Sanada in this match that kinda threw off the rhythm. After what happened earlier in this show, I had a hard time believing that Naito wasn't going to win this tournament.
After the match, EVIL and BUSHI come to the ring. EVIL brings Hiromu's ring jacket to the ring to represent him as Hiromu is out for a year (at least) with a bad neck injury. Naito says LIJ is still together and stronger than ever. And hopefully, Hiromu will be back ASAP.
Show Rating: C. This was easily the worst B Block show so far. The show was tailor made to get Tonga over and to get Naito in position to win the block. Should we just crown Naito G1 winner at this point? I think it's obvious what they're setting up, barring Chris Jericho costing Naito the match on Saturday.
B Block Standings (After Night 16)
Kenny Omega (12 Points)
Tetsuya Naito (12 Points)
Kota Ibushi (10 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr. (10 points)**
Sanada (8 Points)**
Ishii (8 Points)**
Hirooki Goto (6 Points)**
Tama Tonga (6 Points)**
Juice Robinson (4 points)**
Toru Yano (4 Points)**
** Eliminated from possible victory in the block.
Scenarios for Victory
Omega: Must win his match or tie Ibushi (If Naito loses earlier)
Naito: Beat Sabre Jr. and hope for a tie between Ibushi and Omega (totally within the realm of possibility)
Ibushi: Beat Omega and hope that Naito loses to Sabre Jr. (I doubt Sabre beats Naito unless Jericho makes a surprise return and costs Naito the match. He beat Naito by surprise once in the New Japan Cup. He isn't doing it twice.) Ironically, for Ibushi to make it to the finals, 4 men will need to be tied at 12 points atop the block: Omega, Naito, Sabre Jr., and himself.
Well, that does it for the taped coverage of the G1 Climax 28 this year. I'll be back on Friday morning at 5:00am to cover the A Block Finals LIVE. Until then, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
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.
Here are the matches for today's show
Sanada vs. Tetsuya Naito
Kenny Omega vs. Toru Yano
Kota Ibushi vs. Tama Tonga
Juice Robinson vs. Ishii
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hirooki Goto
HERE WE GO!!!!
Undercard
- Michael Elgin and Shota Unimo face Togi Makabe and Toa Henare. Elgin vs. Makabe should be a good way to finish the G1 for both men. Makabe and Henare win their tag match when Hanare pins Unimo.
- Hangman Page and Chase Owens wrestle YOSHI-HASHI and Sho, to set up Page vs. HASHI tomorrow. If Page loses that match, I riot violently as in tipping my card table over and cursing to myself in an unprofessional manner. Page pins Sho after the Rite of Passage.
- Tanga Loa and Bad Luck Fale face Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado. What's going to happen when Tongan Shenanigans go face to face with Suzuki-Gun? Bad Luck and Suzuki show that Friday's match is going to be a wild brawl, in case you didn't get the idea.
- EVIL and BUSHI face Jay White and YOH. I'm predicting EVIL is going to play spoiler for Jay White in the A Block Finals on Friday. BUSHI pins YOH after a jumping Codebreaker from the corner.
- Tanahashi and Finlay face Okada and Gedo. This is going to be epic Friday as Tanahashi and Okada never have below a 4 star match. Finlay pins Gedo with the stunner (Stone Cold Approved). After the match, both Tanahashi and Okada start punching at each other. Okada climbs up the English commentary table to play to the crowd. Not to be outdone, Tanahashi climbs up the Japanese commentary table and plays to the crowd as well.
The G1 Climax Theme plays, meaning it's time for some B Block Action!
B Block Matches- Night 16
1) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Juice Robinson
Juice goes after Ishii to start off the match. Both men collide into the other, but neither goes down. Juice FINALLY knocks down Ishii with a shoulder tackle after a solid 30 second trade off between the two with shoulder tackles. Big chops in the corner by Juice. Ishii says "BRING IT." Ishii switches Juice into the corner and delivers chops of his own. "COME ON!" Juice says. Chops and jabs traded by both men until Ishii is finally knocked to his knees in the corner. Ishii shoulder tackles a running Juice. Big vertical suplex by Ishii followed by some heavy chops. Forearms by Juice, but Ishii gets him with a throat chop. Ishii is jabbing at Juice. Now they are trading headbutts. Fast exchange of reversals leads to a Full Nelson Bomb by Juice.
Juice removes his cast from his left hand and begins jabbing at Ishii. Ishii fires back, but Juice fights back with faster punches. Clothesline in the corner by Juice x2. 5 minutes have passed. CANNON BALL!!!! Juice goes to the top rope. Big crossbody dive off the top rope gets a 2 for Juice. Powerbomb attempt by Juice, but Ishii backdrops him over. Juice gets back on the attack with hard chops. Ishii and Juice start exchanging chops over and over and over and over. Powerslam by Ishii. Juice is placed on the top turnbuckle. Ishii gets a sloppy looking suplex off the corner. Juice gets Ishii up for Juice Box and connects after a 2nd attempt. Big powerbomb by Juice, but he only gets a 2. Both men exchange blows, and Juice hits him with the injured left hand. Juice gets a lariat in for a 2. Ten minutes have passed.
Juice signals for Pulp Friction. Ishii tries to fight it, slips out, and hits a sliding lariat for a 2. Ishii is up waiting for Juice to get up as well. German suplex to Juice, but Juice gets right back up. He eats an Ishii clothesline for a 2. Ishii gets Juice up for the brainbuster, but Juice gets up. They exchange headbutts. Big enziguri by Ishii followed by the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for a 3 for Ishii!!!!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (8 points)
Match Grade: B-. This wasn't either man's best performance in this tournament, but they both continue to look great coming out of it for multiple reasons. Ishii has wins over three champions in the G1, giving him multiple title opportunities. For Juice, he's continuing to show that he can work big time matches.
2) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hirooki Goto- Taka does our introduction for Zack Sabre Jr.
Sabre attacks out of the gate with kicks and uppercuts. Both men exchanging forearms. Sabre goes after Goto with more blows, but Goto chases him off with a Saito Suplex. Outside the ring now, Goto throws Sabre into the guard rail 2 times. He goes for a 3rd one, but Sabre gets him in a wrist lock and continues working on Goto's arm with a twisting hammerlock. The count is on. Goto gets in at 18, and Sabre continues to stomp and twist at Goto's arm. Sabre now works on Goto's legs by trapping them with his. It allows Sabre to continue locking in the arms until Goto gets to the ropes. Another arm twist with a stomp by Sabre. Kick to the chest caught by Goto who grazes Sabre with a clothesline.
5 Minutes have passed. Spinning kick into the corner by Goto followed by a Saito Suplex for a 2. Sabre grabs Goto's arm and gets in a headlock, but Goto gets it reversed into a suplex. Clothesline with the bad arm by Goto into the corner. Goto climbs the top rope and goes for an elbow drop. But Sabre catches him and gets an arm breaker on Goto. He's locked in Goto's other arm to the mat, but Goto gets his foot on the ropes. More kicks by Sabre to Goto. PK caught by Goto. Double misdirection running by both men, but Octopus Lock is locked in to Goto. Sabre now twisting at Goto's fingers, but Goto gets him up for ushigaroshe. GTR attempt reversed into a series of kicks by Sabre and a rollup for 2. Ten minutes have passed.
Another sick twisting arm lock by Sabre. Headbutt by Goto to Sabre. Reverse GTR by Goto. Goto goes for GTR. But Sabre gets him with the European Clutch rollup for a 3
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr. (10 points)
Match Grade: C+. It felt to me like this match never got to that next gear and was frankly a disappointment given how awesome both men have been this year. Sabre now has a win over the NEVER Openweight and U.S. champions. So, he's likely due for a title shot at either one of them coming out of the tournament.
3) Kota Ibushi vs. Tama Tonga- Tama Tonga goes through the crowd before Ibushi is coming down to the ring. Tonga comes in behind Ibushi and attacks from behind (ala last year when he wrestled Minoru Suzuki). Ibushi is thrown to ringside. Tonga continues to mock and attack Ibushi. He throws Ibushi chest first into the barricade and stomps on his throat. Ibushi is finally thrown into the ring. Tonga continues to target the head of Ibushi. Running back elbow by Tonga. Ibushi gets caught floating over Tonga, who delivers a powerslam to him. Reverse Chinlock by Tonga. Ibushi takes a few seconds, but he gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Tonga continues to strike at Ibushi with headbutts in the corner. Ibushi finally comes back with a jumping dropkick at the 5 minute mark.
Ibushi and Tonga exchange forearms. Fast kicks and strikes by Ibushi followed by a running kick and standing moonsault for a 2. Back elbows by Ibushi, but Tonga gets a misdirection dropkick in. Stinger Splash into the corner by Tonga. Bunch of reversals of Tongan Twists and reverse DDTs before Ibushi gets him with a half and half suplex. Golden Triangle avoided by Tonga who runs in and punches Ibushi off the ropes. They are both outside again and going through the audience. Ibushi smashes Tonga's head against the wall. Ibushi goes up to the second level of the auditorium. He tightropes the rail on the edge and nails a MOONSAULT OFF THE WALL ONTO TONGA AND A BUNCH OF YOUNG BOYS! Ten minutes have passed, and they are coming back to ringside.
Tonga is thrown back in the ring. Ibushi is going for the top rope move, but Loa runs in and stops him while Tonga recovers. Tonga gets on the corner with Ibushi and goes for a Samoan Drop(?), but Ibushi rolls out to the mat. Jumping neckbreaker by Tonga. Jumping DDT by Tonga on Ibushi for a 2. Gun Stun blocked. Knee up to the jaw of Tonga. Ibushi calls for Kamigoye, but Loa grabs his leg from outside the ring. Gun Stun blocked again, but the referee gets hit by Tonga. Kick by Ibushi, but here comes Fale. Big clothesline by Fale. Here comes Kenny Omega. V-Trigger on Fale. Big clothesline on Omega by Loa. Midkick by Ibushi. Tonga gets clotheslined as well. Ibushi lowers his knee pad. Kamigoye avoided. Pop-Up Gun Stun! 1-2-3.
Winner: Tama Tonga (6 points)
Match Grade: C. Well, that pretty much does it for Ibushi in this tournament. Typical Tongan Shenanigans, but the match was at least good while it lasted.
After the match, Kenny Omega gets double powerbombed by Fale and Loa. They almost do the same to Ibushi, but they are chased off by the rest of the Golden Elite. The Young Boys drag Ibushi to the back while Omega is still down on the mat. They ask Kenny if he wants to continue, and Kenny is still laying motioning that the match goes on.
4) Kenny Omega vs. Toru Yano- Yano is getting in the ring and telling the referee to ring the bell. The bell rings. 1-2-kickout by Omega. Yano unties a corner pad and another one. He unties a 3rd pad and a 4th one. Omega stops him on the fourth one but gets thrown into the three other exposed corners. Yano unties the 4th one. Now all four corners are exposed. Yano goes to throw Omega into the 4th, but Chase stops it. He goes to do it again, but Chase gets the pad up. When Yano charges, Kenny and the pad move exposing the corner for Yano. Yano is thrown into the opposite corner. Yano goes to low blow Kenny, but Kenny grabs and stomps his hand. Atomic Drop by Yano. Yano collects the pads in the middle of the ring and eventually suplexes Kenny on the mats. But Omega is unfazed. Yano grabs a mat. Omega grabs a mat. They trade shots with the mats against the other man. Eventually Yano goes for the rollup and gets a 2. Omega goes to hit Yano with a pad, but Yano Dragon Screws the mat sending Omega to the outside. Omega is sent into the rail. He tries to tie up Omega with the tape to the rail. Both the referee and one of the Young Boys are tied up together. He puts the Young Boy over the rail, acting as a weight to stop Kenny from getting in. 19 count, but both are in the match. Yano works on Omega, but the referee is down while Yano runs into a clothesline by Omega and the Young Boy. Omega finally gets himself untied from him and hugs him. Yano throws Omega into him and rolls him up for a 2. Yano hits a Belly to Belly and a rollup for 2. V-Trigger. Pin attempt revered by Yano for a 2. Snap Dragon by Omega. Omega goes for V-Trigger. NAILED IT! Yano grabs the ref to avoid One Winged Angel, but he accidentally low blowed the referee. Omega is down. Here comes the Tongans again. Gun Stun to Yano. Gun Stun to Omega. Yano thrown on Omega. The referee comes to. 1-2-3. For bleep's sakes.
Winner: Toru Yano (4 points)
Match Grade: F. Seriously, do I even need to explain this? Tonga puts his hands around a fan's throat legitimately. NJPW says they are going to "discipline" him. Still, they go through with making him pin Ibushi and still costing Omega the match with Yano. There's so many other ways they could have done this. While this may have had some great tournament matches, this is officially a step or two below last year's G1. There were much less shenanigans in that one than this year.
5) Tetsuya Naito vs. Sanada- The bell rings. They go for the first bump. Fast series of reversals and attempted dives by both men until a pause happens. (I can't call all these moves, folks. Sorry.) Sanada goes into his corner allowing Naito to get back in the ring. Series of hammerlocks and wristlocks applied and reversed by both men. Flips and reversals by Sanada. Naito looked to get a tranquilo pose in after doing some flips to counter Sanada, but Sanada gets him with a low dropkick. Sanada and Naito fight and exchange forearms in the corner. Sanada rakes the eyes. Sanada goes for a moonsault, but Naito gets a reverse DDT in. Both men go outside. 5 minutes have passed.
Sanada rammed into the railing x2. Naito drags Sanada up the ramp. Both men exchanging forearms. Naito hits a reverse DDT neckbreaker followed by a running dropkick to Sanada. Naito walks back to the ring, and the count begins. At 16, Sanada gets back in only to eat another neckbreaker. 1 count for Naito. Naito now scraps Sanada's head with his boot. Sanada gets up and fires back with forearms. Both men spit in the other's face. Naito misses a flying forearm in the corner, and Sanada gets him with a back suplex. Double Leapfrog by Sanada, followed by a dropkick and a dive to the outside seconds later. Sanada throws Naito back in and misses a springboard clothesline. Corner slingshot dropkick by Naito. Gloria attempt by Naito blocked. Springboard Dropkick by Sanada after a second delay at 10 minute mark.
Sanada and Naito exchange some big moves that are avoided. Sanada lands on his feet during a German suplex attempt, but he can't avoid a spinning DDT by Naito. Naito gets Sanada on the corner and hits a Frankensteiner off the top. Gloria connects for Naito for a 2. Destino attempt countered, but Naito gets an enziguri in. Running Destino attempt caught. Naito is placed on the ropes and nailed with a hanging Dragon Neckscrew. Sanada gets up and nails a missile dropkick to Naito followed by a Tiger Suplex for a 2. Skull End by Sanada is rolled through by Naito. Naito gets a running Sanada with a boot in the corner. He goes for Destino again, but it's blocked. Sanada gets Skull End but Naito gets out again. Destino blocked. Sanada goes for a TKO, but Naito reverses into DESTINO. 1-2 Kickout. Destino NAILED BY SANADA!!!! 1-2-KICKOUT by Naito. 15 minutes have passed.
Skull End is locked in on Naito, and Sanada finally gets Naito down on the mat with the move locked in. Naito keeps trying to get out, but Sanada gets it locked in again and again. He's going for the moonsault, and he misses as Naito rolls in towards the corner. Forearms exchanged by both men in a trade off. Sanada gets slapped hard. Big flying forearm by Naito. Destino again blocked by Sanada. Sanada moonsaults into Skull End. Reversals by both men. O'Connor Roll by Sanada ALMOST gets Naito at 2.9. Sanada goes back for the attack, but Naito catapults Sanada into the top turnbuckle. German Suplex just wakes up Sanada. Sanada goes for Skull End, but Naito reverses it into DESTINO. 1-2-3.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito (12 points)
Match Grade: B. This was not as good as I wanted it to be. There were some botches by Sanada in this match that kinda threw off the rhythm. After what happened earlier in this show, I had a hard time believing that Naito wasn't going to win this tournament.
After the match, EVIL and BUSHI come to the ring. EVIL brings Hiromu's ring jacket to the ring to represent him as Hiromu is out for a year (at least) with a bad neck injury. Naito says LIJ is still together and stronger than ever. And hopefully, Hiromu will be back ASAP.
Show Rating: C. This was easily the worst B Block show so far. The show was tailor made to get Tonga over and to get Naito in position to win the block. Should we just crown Naito G1 winner at this point? I think it's obvious what they're setting up, barring Chris Jericho costing Naito the match on Saturday.
B Block Standings (After Night 16)
Kenny Omega (12 Points)
Tetsuya Naito (12 Points)
Kota Ibushi (10 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr. (10 points)**
Sanada (8 Points)**
Ishii (8 Points)**
Hirooki Goto (6 Points)**
Tama Tonga (6 Points)**
Juice Robinson (4 points)**
Toru Yano (4 Points)**
** Eliminated from possible victory in the block.
Scenarios for Victory
Omega: Must win his match or tie Ibushi (If Naito loses earlier)
Naito: Beat Sabre Jr. and hope for a tie between Ibushi and Omega (totally within the realm of possibility)
Ibushi: Beat Omega and hope that Naito loses to Sabre Jr. (I doubt Sabre beats Naito unless Jericho makes a surprise return and costs Naito the match. He beat Naito by surprise once in the New Japan Cup. He isn't doing it twice.) Ironically, for Ibushi to make it to the finals, 4 men will need to be tied at 12 points atop the block: Omega, Naito, Sabre Jr., and himself.
Well, that does it for the taped coverage of the G1 Climax 28 this year. I'll be back on Friday morning at 5:00am to cover the A Block Finals LIVE. Until then, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
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