It's time for the B Block to take the stage in the G1 Climax 29 tournament. But can they actually meet the high standard set by the A Block on their first night? Let's find out...
Undercard Results
1) LIJ (BUSHI, Evil, and Sanada) vs. Will Ospreay, Kota Ibushi, Yuys Uemura
Tomorrow is Ibushi vs. Evil and Sanada vs. Ospreay tomorrow. And keep in mind that both sets of partners will have to face off against each other later in the tournament (July 18th for Ospreay vs. Ibushi and Evil vs. Sanada). Ibushi's injured ankle becomes the focus of the early part of the match with LIJ working on it. Ibushi eventually gets the tag to Ospreay. Ospreay and Sanada get a moment to go at it and show how awesome the next A Block show should be. Bushi and Uemura get tagged in. Uemura gets massacred by LIJ. Ospreay and Ibushi prevent a pin after a triple-team sequence, but they can't stop the pin after Bushi gets a lungblower on Uemura.
After the match, Evil bends Ibushi's ankle around the ringpost.
2) Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. Lance Archer and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Archer and Fale start off the match after destroying each other's partners. That lasts about 15 seconds as Owens gets the tag to return to the match. Archer dominates for a few moments. Then he tags in Kanemaru. Again, both Fale and Archer destroy the other's partners. Then, it's the fight into the crowd. The match continues in the ring. Fale and Archer continue to go at it in the ring. Kanemaru and Owens are the legal men. Owens gets the Package Piledriver for the win.
After the match, Fale and Archer yell things at each other. Godzilla will face King Kong tomorrow.
3) KENTA, Karl Fredericks, Clark Connors vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Unimo, and Ren Narita
KENTA teams with the LA Dojo Young Lions to face Tanahashi and the Japan Dojo Young Lions. They are shoving each other before the match even starts. The Young Lions basically dominate the early goings here by going at it tooth and nail. KENTA gets tagged in eventually and beats down Unimo. A nice series of tags from the LA Dojo side allowing for a legal Triple Team. Tanahashi eventually gets the tag, and we get the preview for KENTA vs. Tanahashi. Tanahashi gets the Dragon Screw and Cloverleaf on KENTA. Connors gets Tanahashi off KENTA. Fredericks and Narita get tagged back in and start going back at it. Narita gets the Boston Crab on Fredericks and Belly to Belly Suplexes Connors. Fredericks gets a spinebuste on Narita and applies his own Single-Leg Boston Crab. Tap out. KENTA and the LA Dojo Young Lions win.
4) Zack Sabre Jr. and Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazuchika Okada and YOSHI-HASHI
Sabre and Okada start off the match. But as predicted, once Suzuki gets tagged in, he decimates Yoshi-Hashi and starts beating the hell out of him around ringside. And any Young Lion that gets in the way must suffer!!!!! Back in the ring, Suzuki tortures Hashi. Then he tags in Sabre to continue the arm/shoulder torture. Frequent tags by Suzuki -Gun continuing to torture Hashi. Hashi starts fighting back and gets a clothesline on Suzuki. Tags to Okada and Sabre. Okada starts getting his offense going, but Sabre gets some of his holds in eventually. Sabre is relentless, but a dropkick allows Okada to tag in Yoshi-Hashi. Okada holds off Suzuki on the floor for Hashi to continue working on Sabre. But eventually, Sabre gets the armbar in on. Tap out. Sabre and Suzuki win.
B Block Matches
1) Shingo Takagi vs. Juice Robinson
The bell rings. Feeling out process to start the match with both men looking to take the advantage over the other. Leg Lariat knocks Shingo down and to the floor. But a DDT on the floor turns things around for Shingo as he now takes advantage of the match. Back in the ring, Shingo has got full control. Shoulder tackle, suplex, and head/neck locks for The Dragon. Shingo propels Juice over the top to the floor.
But Juice hits a spear through the ropes back into the ring on Shingo to get back in the match. Spinebuster. Flying Crossbody gets a 2 for Juice. Full Nelson Bomb again gets a 2 for Juice. Shingo gets a lariat on Juice. Later on, Juice misses the Cannonball in the corner. Wheelbarrow Suplex gets a 2 for Shingo. Juice Box for Juice followed by the CANNONBALLLLLLL!. Juice keeps up the pressure with a Jackhammer. Pulp Friction is avoided. Slide Lariat by Shingo.
Shingo and Juice trade blows. Saito Suplex by Shingo which Juice no-sells. Lariat by Juice. Pulp Friction is countered by Shingo into one of his trademark moves (Gory Special Bomb). Lariat by Shingo gets a 2. Juice rolls up Shingo for 2. Left Hands of God to Shingo. Pulp Friction!!!!!! 1-2-3!
Winner: Juice Robinson (2 points)
Match Grade: B. Very good match here for the opening of the tournament for B Block. But this wasn't nearly the classic that the commentary team tried to make it. Some nice exchanges between Juice and Shingo here and a good progression towards the finish of the match.
2) Taichi (w/ Miho Abe) vs. Jon Moxley
Moxley comes through the crowd (which is something I wish he would do for AEW). He's having Shota Unimo bring the U.S. Championship with him. Taichi jumps him in the crowd. Taichi assaults Moxley on the floor. The match hasn't started yet. So, this is all legal in pro wrestling terms. The bell has finally rung despite the fact that both men continue to fight on the floor. Chair to the back of Moxley. Moxley gets in at 18. Buzzsaw Kick. 2 count. Taichi goes for the superkick, but he misses. Jumping Enziguri to Moxley. Moxley now starts beating down Taichi with punches, elbows, and a hard lariat out of the corner. Moxley knocks Taichi to the floor and hits a Suicide Dive to him on the floor. Moxley brings a table out from under the ring. Rock Bottom/Uranage through the table.
Back in the ring, Moxley goes for Dirty Deeds, but he gets thrown into the referee. Taichi knocks Moxley down and gets the steel chair. He pie faces Taichi with the chair. Gedo Clutch gets a 2 for Taichi. Death Rider (Elevated Double Arm DDT). 1-2-3.
Winner: Jon Moxley (2 points)
Match Grade: C+. A solid if unspectacular match. There's only so much you can do for a Taichi vs. Moxley match. And this wasn't exactly what I would call on the higher end of what it could have been either. Still, it didn't suck. Moxley looked like a star throughout all of this.
3) Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
Naito is playing mind games with Yano taking his good old time taking his trademark suit off. Yano is moving around impatiently making the crowd laugh with his complaints and mannerisms. The bell rings. Naito and Yano play mind games until Yan goes for the corner pads. He gets one off. Now, Naito goes to remove a corner pad and mocks Yano's rope taunt. Naito goes for Combinacion Cabron, but waits for Yano to lower his guard to hit the dropkick. Naito gets the corner pad. He tries to swing, but the ref stops him. Multiple rollup attempts for Yano. YANO PULLS A SHIRT OVER THE REF'S HEAD AND NAITO'S HEAD! LOW BLOW TO NAITO! ROLL UP! 1-2-3!!! UPSET!
Winner: Toru Yano (2 points)
Match Grade: C+. I was entertained. But there's no excuse for a Tetsuya Naito to lose this type of match this early in the tournament. Ugh. So, I'm giving this a middle-of-the-road grade. Naito is the odds-on favorite to win this block (and the tournament in my opinion). So this likely will mean next to nothing in the end.
After the match, Naito gives the referee a piece of his mind.
4) Jeff Cobb vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Battle of the bulls here with both men looking to knock the other down first. Cobb gets the shoulder tackle to knock down Ishii first. Cobb continues to blast Ishii with multiple shots (chops, elbows, punches). Ishii reverses and just punches and chops the hell out of Cobb for about 40 seconds. Cobb crumbles. Ishii wants Cobb to fight back. Cobb starts punching back at Ishii. Ishii responds with big chops in the corner.
At 5 minutes, a HUGE BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX to Ishii by Cobb. Twisting Back Suplex by Cobb. Ishii gets up. And we're trading forearms and punches again. This goes on for another 45-50 seconds. Ishii backs up Cobb with some blows, but a right hand knocks Ishii back into the corner. Vertical Suplex by Ishii. Cobb floats over Ishii! Cobb and Ishii go back and forth. Vertical Suplex and Standing Moonsault by Jeff Cobb. 2 count. Cobb and Ishii contiune to punch each other. They go on the corner. Superplex by Ishii! Running lariat by Ishii has no effect. Lariat by Cobb. Now Cobb hits a Superplex of his own!!! 2 count only.
They go back at it in the center of the ring. Big headbutt by Cobb knocks Ishii down. Piledriver to Ishii! 2 count only! Ishii teases Vertical Drop Brainbuster. Cobb gets out. Backdrop Suplex to Cobb! 15 minutes have passed. Ishii and Cobb continue to go at it. Powerslam by Ishii. German Suplex by Ishii. Cobb gets back up!!! Uranage Suplex by Cobb. Lariat by Ishii! Sliding Lariat is caught by Cobb! DRAGON SUPLEX BY ISHII!!! Running Lariat by Ishii gets a 1 ONLY! German Suplex by Cobb gets a long 2 count!
Big blows by Cobb. Enziguri by Ishii. Sliding Lariat by Ishii. 2 count only. Headbutts by both men! ISHII GETS THE VERTICAL DROP BRAINBUSTER! 1-2-3!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (2 points)
Match Grade: B+. I can't quite put this into the A level, but this was a really good heavyweight brawl between two monsters. They built up the match nicely leading to what was a very fun final 8 minutes of the match.
Main Event
Hirooki Goto vs. Jay White
Jay White goes to the floor. He gets a chair for Gedo, and he puts it next to the commentary tables. He tells him to just sit and watch. White runs into the ring trying to catch Goto off guard, but Goto isn't having it. Back out on the floor, Goto whips White into the barricade. Back in the ring, Goto AGAIN knocks White to the floor. Gedo is chased out of the ringside area by Goto, but Gedo ends up holding Goto's leg in the ropes. This allows White to get the advantage. Face-First Suplex to Goto on the edge of the ring. White now rams Goto into the edge of the ring and into the railing multiple times.
White continues to press the advantage in the ring on Goto. Goto tries to fight back, but White continues to press the advantage, disrespect Goto, and get the crowd riled up. Goto gets a spinning lariat on White. Goto starts fighting back. Saito Suplex gets 2 for Goto. Goto attacks White in the corner as we cross the 10 minute mark. DDT by White stops Goto's momentum. White continues to beat down Goto with several connected suplexes with a final into the corner. Bladebuster gets a 2 count for White. Moments later, White's head gets snapped back across the knee of Goto.
Goto and White trade blows in the middle of the ring. 15-20 seconds of ducking moves by both men ends with a Saito Suplex by White. Lariat by White. White now slaps Goto across the face multiple times as we have crossed 15 minutes. Elevated Uranage by White. Goto plays dead while White mocks him. The referee tries to get White off of him. Goto gets a big lariat on White. Ushigaroshe by Goto. White now plays dead. Goto kicks him. White is smiling right at the commentary team as he is playing possum to deny Goto his big offensive moves. The referee now pulls Goto off of White. White attacks, but he gets met with a big headbutt by Goto after a few second exchange. Reverse GTR gets 2 for Goto.
White avoids GTR and goes for Blade Runner. They trade counters of each other's moves. White's hair is pulled to avoid Blade Runner. Headbutts by Goto to White. Final Cut by Goto. Gedo is in the ring now to distract Goto. He had Brass Knucks. Blade Runner avoided. A Suplex into a Side Effect gets a 2 for Goto. Goto gets another Ushigaroshe into a Final Cut. 2 count. Mid kick by Goto. GTR. 1-2-3. I am surprised.
Winner: Hirooki Goto (2 points)
Match Grade: C+. It's nice to see Goto get a win like this early in the tournament. This wasn't the most electric main event match in the entire world, but the work was solid if nothing else. This wasn't White's best performance as a main event heel either, though the sequence of laying down on purpose was clever.
Goto says some words to the crowd before heading back.
Show Grade: C. This was not exactly the best opening night for a block that this side of the tournament could have asked for. None of the matches met the expectations set by the A Block on Night 1. Hopefully, the level of match quality will increase as the night goes on. Obviously, this was a night of building up the wrestlers that are deemed underdogs by the majority of fans who watch NJPW. I doubt anyone thought Yano and Goto would win. Heck, I'd be surprised if many people had Juice winning against Shingo. So here's hoping this is leading to something for this block where truly anyone can win at any time.
B Block Standings
Juice Robinson (2 points)
Jon Moxley (2 points)
Toru Yano (2 points)
Tomohiro Ishii (2 points)
Hirooki Goto (2 points)
Shingo Takagi (0 points)
Taichi (0 points)
Tetsuya Naito (0 points)
Jeff Cobb (0 points)
Jay White (0 points)
Again, this is a reminder that I will be returning to G1 Coverage around 7/22-7/23 when I return from break. I will go back and review those shows that I missed before continuing on with the daily reviews of the remainder of the tournament. (By the way, that goes for AEW Fight for the Fallen and WWE Extreme Rules as well.)
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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