What's up everyone?
THIS IS IT! Today, we find out the winner of the B Block. Here's where we are at....
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 OR Tie 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.
The winner will face Hiroshi Tanahashi in the G1 Climax 28 Finals, which I will be covering LIVE Sunday morning at 2:
Per POST Wrestling. (postwrestling.com), here is the card for today's action
Elgin and Finlay vs. Henare and Umino
Page and Owens vs. Loa and Fale
Roppongi 3K and Jay White vs. The Young Bucks and Marty Scurll
Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado vs. EVIL and BUSHI
Tanahashi, Makabe, and Honma vs. Okada, YOSHI-HASHI, and Gedo
B Block Matches
Tama Tonga vs. Toru Yano
Juice Robinson vs. Hirooki Goto
Ishii vs. Sanada
Naito vs. ZSJ
Omega vs. Ibushi
HERE WE GO!!!!
** Note: If the Tongans interfere in the B Block matches, they will be fined and suspended for 3 months individually.
Undercard Notes
1) Michael Elgin and David Finlay vs. Toa Henare and Shota Umino
- This is for the fictitious C Block Championship between Henare and Finlay. I have to be honest: This is one of the stupidest storylines NJPW has done in some time. The trophy is literally a thumb.
- Elgin gets a huge chop in on Umino.
- For his part, Umino continues to be impressive in these opening tag matches, even though he's jobbing.
- Finlay gets the win with the Stunner. And he's going to Smokehouse, apparently. Let's all move on.
Winner: David Finlay and Michael Elgin
2) Hangman Page and Chase Owens vs. Tanga Loa and Bad Luck Fale
- PAGE AND OWENS JUMP THE TONGANS before the match.
- Fale was left laying on the floor on ringside, but he gets back in after Loa took a Buckshot Lariat from Page.
- Loa gets Chase with Ape... (Rikishi Driver) for the win. Loa continues the attack, but Page chases him off with a chair.
Winner: Tanga Loa and Bad Luck Fale
3) Roppongi 3K and Jay White vs. The Young Bucks and Marty Scurll
- Scurll is OVER in Japan with a bunch of Woop Woops early on from the audience.
- Is there a better hot tag in wrestling than Nick Jackson? The answer: No.
- Scurll does the Gory Special on SHO with Woop Woops. Then he catches YOH in a Boston Crab at the same time he's still got the hold on SHO! The Bucks come in and do their double pose.
- SUPERKICK!
- Scurll goes to break the fingers of White, but YOH breaks it up to a chorus of boos.
- YOH runs into White accidentally. White walks off. Scurll locks in the Chicken Wing on YOH while Cease and Desist is put on YOH by Nick Jackson. White runs back in the ring, and he just walks off. Tap out by YOH.
Winners: The Bucks and Scurll. WOOP WOOP!
4) EVIL AND BUSHI vs. Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado-
- KAZE NI NARE!!!!!
- This is going to be a war. EVIL takes off the entrance attire, and he and BUSHI run in the ring to start the attack. Of course, it goes to the outside, and EVIL and Suzuki are at it.
Hard chops by EVIL are met with a throw into the guard rail and chair shots to the back by Suzuki.
- Now there's an actual tag match going on here. BUSHI attacks Suzuki, but Suzuki just laughs it off. Suzuki fakes a PK on BUSHI and just straight up kicks EVIL in the face on the apron. BUSHI gets Suzuki with a kick, and he tags in EVIL. Typical moves by EVIL here, including the kick to the gut and the senton splash. Suzuki and EVIL are now trading blows in the center of the ring. 5 minutes have passed, and Suzuki is laughing off EVIL's strikes. Great exchange of reversals and blocks here. Can we get an EVIL vs. Suzuki rematch?
- Suzuki goes to piledrive EVIl, but BUSHI breaks it up. BUSHI gets Suzuki on the floor, and for El Desperado, EVERYTHING IS EVILLLLLLL!!!!!!!
Winners: EVIL and BUSHI
Suzuki kills Young Boys with a steel chair after the match. Suzuki throws a chair in the ring, and EVIL just tells Suzuki to bring it. The announcers remind all of us that Suzuki is the British Heavyweight Champion in Rev Pro. So there could be a match for that title in that promotion.
5) Tanahashi, Makabe, and Honma vs. Okada, YOSHI-HASHI, and Gedo
- The A Block is apparently now The ACE Block. Tanahashi apparently has always wrestled in the block, and he won it this year. AND WE'RE GETTING OKADA AND TANAHASHI TO START THIS MATCH!!!
- Can we get Tanahashi vs. Okada in an Ironman Match?
- Honma gets tagged in, and he's a crowd favorite. Okada avoids the headbutt, and the crowd absolutely boos Okada out of the building. Okada goes for the move, but Honma catches him coming down. The crowd again is BOOING Okada heavily.
- Honma takes about 4 minutes of a beatdown before Makabe gets tagged in and starts working on YOSHI-HASHI in the ring.
- King Kong Knee Drop on Gedo gets the win for Makabe, Honma, and Tanahashi.
Winners: Makabe, Honma, and Tanahash
Honma is crying like crazy soaking in the adulation from the fans after returning from paralysis and injury.
All right folks! It's time for the FINAL B Block show of 2018.
1) Tama Tonga (w/Tanga Loa) vs. Toru Yano
- Tama cuts a promo on Dave Meltzer of all people, saying he doesn't need stars. The crowd is silent as he comes out and boos him once his name is said by the ring announcer. Interesting.
- The crowd is still somewhat silent for Yano too. Yano is still selling merch.
- Yano getting the crowd to chant GO AWAY at Loa. The referee sends Loa to the back.
- Rollups at the beginning of the match for Yano who only gets a 2. Yano whipped into the corner. He unties it, but Tonga attacks him. He whips him into another one, but he unties that. Both men take back first smacks into the exposed corners. Tonga goes on the attack, throwing Yano outside the ring. Whip into the rail by Tonga to Yano. Yano gets in at 15, but Tonga throws him right back out. Choking by Tonga on the outside. Tonga rolls back inside, as does Yano after a few seconds. Attack again by Tonga with chokes and stomps Tonga throws the referee down and away. Belly to belly by Yano. Tackle from behind by Yano. Here come the Tongans and a bunch of officials. Yano is distracted. Tonga attacks from behind and starts choking Yano. Tonga throws the referee outside. Another referee gets Gun Stunned. DQ. The Tongans are being escorted back by officials and Young Boys.
Winner: Toru Yano
Match Grade: F. This wasn't even a good match. This wasn't even a match. It was just terrible. I'm done with this whole storyline.
2) Juice Robinson vs. Hirooki Goto-
- Cool moment where Juice gives a fan down the aisle his pirate hat and glasses. The poor kid's head had a hard time keeping the glasses up. Lol.
- If Juice uses the cast, it's a DQ. So The Tongans can commit murder, but Juice can't use the cast. Well, never mind: Juice is unwrapping the cast in order to use his hand. Well, that's that.
- Tie-Up. Juice gets Goto on the ropes for the clean break. Goto does the same a few seconds later. Shoulder tackle by Goto. Juice gets on the apron, and he pulls Goto's arm down over the top rope. Back in the ring, he knocks Goto down in the corner and hits CANNON BALL!!!! He continues to work on Goto's arm with throws and attacks with the elbow. Overhead Hammerlock by Juice, but Goto gets to the ropes. Juice headbutts and hits Goto, but Goto just gets angry. Jab and Chop by Juice, but a mid kick by Goto sends Juice to the mat. Goto now with a series of kicks to Juice. Spinning kick into the corner and Saito Suplex for a 2 by Goto. 5 minutes have passed.
- Chops by both men. Juice with the jabs followed by a spinebuster. Juice is climbing the ropes. Flying crossbody off the top on Goto for a 2. Goto fights out of a powerbomb. Both men collide in the middle of the ring. Double lariat, but Juice stays up. But Goto gets Ushigoroshe! Goto goes to capitalize, but Juice gets Juice Box (Double Knee GutBuster). Juice is getting hyped up. Pulp Friction countered. GTR countered. Suplexes by both men countered. Reverse GTR after Juice takes a headbutt to his injured left hand. Goto is selling his right arm. GTR reversed. 10 minutes.
- Sleeper by Goto. Juice rolls out of it. Pulp Friction thrown off by Goto. Big Midkick caught. LEFT HAND. PULP FRICTION!!!! 1-2-3. JUICE WINS!
Winner: Juice Robinson
Match Grade: C+. Decent good match here. It felt like both men were going through the motions, but they did end up putting on a solid effort. Juice gets a nice win for his career though by beating Goto and avoiding another loss in this tournament. Goto loses nothing in this.
The Bullet Club Old Guard/Tongans HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT OF THE BUILDING, according to the ring announcers. (Why do I have a bad feeling they are going to come through the audience later on?)
3) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Sanada
- The announcers call ISHII the MVP of the tournament. I couldn't agree more.
- Tie-Up. Sanada and Ishii early on try to work on the other's arm. Ishii with power, Sanada with flips and aerial techniques. Big chops by Sanada, but they are no match from one big chop from The Stone Pitbull. Headbutt by Ishii. Chops by Ishii, but Sanada tells him to bring it. Several chops by Sanada but Ishii gets one in to knock him down. Sanada brings more chops, and Ishii gets one in. Double leapfrog into a dropkick and dive by Sanada. Both men are outside now (as if the dive didn't give that away). Ishii is rolled back in. Sanada follows and locks in a chinlock. Ishii sells passing out, but he eventually gets to the ropes with his foot. 5 minutes have passed.
- Elbow strikes and forearms by both men. Ishii is on the ropes, telling Sanada to bring it. Sanada continues to strike at Ishii, but Ishii is just getting warmed up. Sanada repeatedly hits Ishii, and Ishii says "BRING IT FOR REAL!" Ishii is leaning into the forearms and knocks Sanada back into the corner with one of his own. Ishii puts Sanada in the corner and gets a stalling brainbuster off the ropes in the corner for a 2. Ishii swats away a dropkick. Both men missing moves, and Sanada gets a Frankensteiner/hurricanrana in. Springboard Dropkick by Ishii. TKO countered by Ishii into Skull End by ISHII. Sanada gets out and hits one of ISHII's sliding lariats for a 2. Moonsault into Skull End. Ishii tries to reverse, but Sanada gets a hanging neckbreaker and a TKO on Ishii for a 2. Ten Minutes have passed.
- SKULL END is locked in. Ishii fights out. Saito Suplex by Sanada, but Ishii shakes it off. Sanada takes one himself, and he shakes it off. Headbutt sends Sanada down. Uppercut by Sanada gets checked with a lariat. LAST RIDE POWERBOMB for a 2 for Ishii. Sliding Lariat connects for Ishii for a 2. Vertical Drop Brainbuster blocked twice by Sanada. Skull End blocked. Lariat by Sanada. SKULL END with the hooks by Sanada. Ishii tries to get out, but Sanada locks it back in. Ishii moves out of the way for a moonsault. CHOP BLOCK LARIAT to the back of Sanada's knee. OUCH! Forearms by Sanada followed by a couple uppercut. Spinning back kick by Sanada followed by a Tiger Suplex for a close 2. WOW! 15 minutes. Sanada misses a moonsault. SHINING WIZARD by Ishii! This is awesome!!!
- Ishii is up. Lariat misses. Skull End locked in. Brainbuster countered. Skull End by Ishii. Enziguri by both men. Pop-up headbutt by Ishii. Lariat by Ishii. Sanada fights through. Big series of strikes and a lariat by Ishii!!! SANADA KICKS OUT AT 2. Vertical Drop Brainbuster by Ishii FINALLY puts Sanada away.
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii
Match Grade: A-. This may be a high grade, but OH YEAH, THIS WORKED!!! Sanada had one of his best matches of the tournament possibly here, with only the Omega and Ibushi matches rivaling this. And Ishii is the frigging man when it comes to this tournament. He delivers time after time after time. The only bad match I can think of him having was with Tama Tonga.
4) Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr
- Kevin Kelly said Zack Sabre told him earlier today that it was his life's mission to beat Naito tonight.
- BIG ovation for Naito here. If Naito wins this, I think he wins the block.
- Sabre charges him early and throws Naito outside. Both men play games with the other sliding in and out of the ring. Sabre is losing it on the outside as Taka tries to calm him down. Naito tells him to get in the ring. Series of runs and misses by both men. Tranquilo pose gets an ARM BAR by Sabre. Naito gets to the ropes. Sabre now tells Naito to get in the ring. Naito slowly gets back in, but Sabre pounces once Naito gets in with an immediate headlock. Armdrags by Naito working on Sabre's arm now. Reversal into a head scissors and now a standing twist on the arm by Sabre. Sabre with an STF Butterfly Lock?! Naito gets to the ropes out of that monstrosity. Both men trade blows. Another standing twist on Naito's arm. Naito goes for the slingshot dropkick, but Sabre trips up Naito sending him to the floor. 5 minutes have passed.
- Naito gets back in at 15. Submissions now locked in at random order by Sabre all focusing on the arm. Naito gets a head scissor in, but Sabre transitions out and stands on Naito's neck. Naito with a neckbreaker and a running dropkick to the back of Sabre. Naito chants. SNAP RANA by Naito followed by the slingshot dropkick in the corner. Naito with an inverted atomic drop. Sabre kicks Naito in the face multiple times in the corner, but Naito spits in his face and hits a pair of neckbreakers. Wheelkick by Naito countered into an STF. Naito gets to the ropes. 10 minutes have passed.
- Sabre now provoking Naito with light kicks to the chest. Naito hits a couple shots on Sabre. Sabre answers with an uppercut. Back elbow by Naito. This is getting hotter. Spin DDT by Naito. Gloria countered into a triangle choke by Sabre. Naito bridges into a pin, but Sabre kicks out and nails a PK. Zack Driver reversed into a Reversed DDT. Sabre is selling his right arm hurting. They are trading HARD shots on each other. Gloria for a 2 by Naito. DESTINO countered. Octopus Hold by Sabre in the middle of the ring. 15 minutes have passed.
- Sabre now powers the bicep back of Naito, locking the arms behind Naito. Naito gets to the ropes, but both men collapse in the ring. Another hard kick by Sabre. Kick caught by Naito. German Suplex and a flying forearm by Naito. Destino countered into a European Clutch for a close 2. Another rollup by Sabre for a CLOSE 2. Enziguri by Naito. DESTINO countered once, but he gets it the second time. ZACK DRIVER!!! 1-2-3!!!!!! NAITO IS OUT!!!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr! HOLY BLEEP!
Match Grade: B+. Not either man's best match in this tournament, but the result... WOW!!! Sabre just played spoiler in a HUGE way. Now, the story is Naito can't shake Sabre Jr. Sabre has Naito's number.
5) Omega vs. Ibushi
- It's clear folks. Ibushi HAS to beat Omega. Otherwise, Omega's in the finals. Plus, The Golden Lovers collide here.
- Omega with a new variant on his usual big match ring attire. The Young Bucks are at ringside to support both men.
- Both wrestling on the ground to start the match, jockeying for position. Ibushi gets Omega on the ropes. Shoulder tackle by Omega met with a kip up by Ibushi. Dropkick by Ibushi. Omega answers with a HARD chop. HARD CHOP again by Omega. Kick by Ibushi. Omega runs into another kick. Ibushi lands hard missing a Springboard Dive. Omega smacks Ibushi against the rail and ring frame at ringside. Ibushi rolled back in by Omega. Kotaro Crusher by Omega for a 2. Kick to a kneeling Ibushi followed by a dropkick. Ibushi flips Omega and kicks his back. Snap Mare and more kicks by Ibushi to the head. Fast strikes by both men. Push kick to Ibushi into the corner. Powerslam by Ibushi. Omega counters a moonsault with knees. 5 minutes. Wow.
- You Can't Escape countered by knees by Ibushi. Snap Rana by Omega which is answered by one by Ibushi. Omega rolls out. Omega avoids Golden Triangle. Ibushi tries to avoid a Snap Dragon on the apron. Ibushi gets out of One Winged Angel. But he gets trapped in a package tombstone piledriver on the apron!!!! Ibushi rolled back in by Omega. Dropkick by Omega to the side of the head followed by the Fireman's Carry Knee to the Back of the head. V-Trigger Avoided once, but Ibushi takes one to the back of the head. One Winged Angel turned into a German by Omega for a 2. V-TRIGGER! Jumping DDT by Omega sending Ibushi to the outside. Rise of the Terminator connects sending Ibushi back into the guardrail by the English Announce position. 10 minutes have passed.
- Ibushi rolled back in. Omega climbs up the corner. Backflip kick by Ibushi. Ibushi climbs up. Springboard Hurricanrana by Ibushi for a 2. Omega is outside. GOLDEN TRIANGLE FROM THE TOP ROPE TO OMEGA ON THE OUTSIDE!!!! WOW!!!!! Omega rolled back in. Ibushi caught springboarding. Omega almost gets the One Winged Angel, But Ibushi gets out. He gets a kick to knock Omega down. STANDING MOONSAULT WITH DOUBLE KNEES by Ibushi for a 2!!!! DEAR GOD!!!! Backflip Kick again by Ibushi. Knee lift by Omega. Spinning Back Wheel Kick by Omega. V-TRIGGER IN THE CORNER by Omega! They are killing each other!!! Omega takes Ibushi up to the top of the corner. He's going for the Snap Dragon off the corner. 15 minutes have passed. Ibushi lands on his feet. Double lariat. V-Trigger!!! German by Ibushi x2. HUGE LARIAT by Ibushi! Sweet God!
- LAST RIDE SITDOWN POWERBOMB by Ibushi for a 2. Kamigoye!!! 1-2-KICKOUT by Omega!!! Ibushi now pulls down the kneepad. Omega grabs the leg. Omega gets up and fires elbows at Ibushi. Ibushi still holds the wrist and won't let go. Back and forth elbows exchanged. Headbutt finally by Omega. HIGH KNEE by Omega to the jaw. Ibushi is back up. Strikes by Ibushi. RUNNING V-TRIGGER BY OMEGA!!!! Omega runs for another one but takes a headkick by Ibushi. GEEZ!
- Ibushi climbs up for the Phoenix Splash and misses!!! V-TRIGGER TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD! JAY DRILLER (BUTTERFLY PILEDRIVER)! 2 Count only1 20 minutes have passed.
- Omega is back up. V-TRIGGER!!!!!!! One Winged Angel denied! Ibushi goes for a reverse rana, but Omega drops him on his head!!!! 1-2-Ibushi kicks out!!! Omega is going for another V-Trigger!!! IT CONNECTS! Omega climbs the corner to do One Winged Angel from the top! Ibushi trying to fight out. DOUBLE STOMP TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD OF OMEGA FROM THE TOP WHILE OMEGA IS STILL ON THE TOP OF THE CORNER!!!!!
- Ibushi climbs back up. TIGER DRIVER from the TOP ROPE BY IBUSHI! OMEGA KICKS OUT AT 2!!!! HOLY GOD!!!!
- KAMIGOYE!!! 1-2-3!!!! IBUSHI WINS!!!!! DEAR GOD!!!!
Winner: KOTA IBUSHI!
Match Grade: A+. ANOTHER CLASSIC Match from this weekend's shows. This was intense and insane. They both absolutely killed each other in this match. And it was such a great story told.
After the match, Ibushi is announced as the winner of the block. Omega congratulates Ibushi in the middle of the ring. The Bucks hold up Ibushi. Tomorrow, it's Ibushi vs. Tanahashi for the G1 Climax 28 trophy. They leave the ring for Ibushi to celebrate his win.
Ibushi thanks Kenny and the rest of the Bullet Club. He thanks all the wrestlers. His G1 isn't over yet. Tomorrow, he's going to win. And I'm going to win! He leaves with The Bucks and Omega hand in hand.
Show Rating: A. Despite the opening match in block action being another Tongan disaster, the other four matches were all very good with Omega vs. Ibushi being insane. How they are still walking is a miracle with some of those bumps they took. Now, we have Tanahashi vs. Ibushi (which I called before this tournament happened) in the finals.
B Block (FINAL SCORE) **FINAL SCORE IN BOLD**
Kota Ibushi (12 Points) **WINNER**
Kenny Omega (12 Points)
Tetsuya Naito (12 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr. (12 points)
Ishii (10 Points)
Sanada (8 Points)
Hirooki Goto (6 Points)
Tama Tonga (6 Points)
Juice Robinson (6 points)
Toru Yano (6 Points)
Kota Ibushi (12 Points) **WINNER**
Kenny Omega (12 Points)
Tetsuya Naito (12 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr. (12 points)
Ishii (10 Points)
Sanada (8 Points)
Hirooki Goto (6 Points)
Tama Tonga (6 Points)
Juice Robinson (6 points)
Toru Yano (6 Points)
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