NJPW G1 Climax 28 is an annual tournament that this year takes place from July 14 to August 12. Wrestlers are split into 2 Blocks of 10 and fight each person in their allocated Block. 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 for a loss. The two wrestlers at the top of Block A and Block B will face each other in the NJPW G1 Climax 28 Final, August 12 in Tokyo at the Budokan.
Below are the results from the day 18 of the tournament and final Block B standings:
Michael Elgin & David Finlay defeated Toa Henare & Shota Umino
Bad Luck Fale & Tonga Loa defeated Hangman Page & Chase Owens
Marty Scurll, Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson defeated Jay White, Sho & Yoh
EVIL & BUSHI defeated Minoru Suzuki & El Desperado
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma defeated Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo
NJPW G1 Climax 28 B Block
Day 18
Final Round
Toru Yano & Tama Tonga
Toru Yano shouted for Tonga Loa to get set to the back, as Tama was protesting the trickster rolled him up and nearly go the three! Yano tried more tricks, untying the turnbuckle pads after getting whipped to the corner. But it all backfired after the Bad Boy reversed a Yano whip attempt, sending the Chaos man into the exposed turnbuckles.
Tama Tonga then took the fight to the outside and drove Yano into the barricades, wearing him down before taking things back to the ring. However the Tongan couldn’t contain his anger, he started choking Yano down under ropes and the referee struggled to break him away. Eventually Tama let go and Yano hit an actualy wrestling suplex move!
Which was when Bad Luck Fale & Tonga Loa came down the ramp, surrounded by referees shouting at them to go back. Tama Tonga threw the match official out of the ring and went back to straight up choking Yano. A second official came in and the only way he could break Tama off was to pull him back with his hair! Bad mistake ref, one Gun-Stun later and all the officials were called to ringside. Men in suits – one of which was Harold Meij – came down to eject the Tongans, including Tama Tonga who had been disqualified.
The Tongans were dragged to the back by officials, as Yano slowly climbed to his feet.
Winner: Toru Yano (3 Wins 6 Losses = 6 Points)
Juice Robinson vs Hirooki Goto
Juice immediately unwrapped the cast on his injured hand, before locking up with Goto in a somewhat respectful start. The US Champ wisely targeted Goto’s taped up right arm, which helped keep him on top for most of the match. Goto back in when Juice went for bigger moves, but the flamboyant one pretty much had the momentum for a lot of the match. With Goto hitting the big impact moves to try and fight back in.
Goto really did damage with one hell of an Ushigoroshi, meaning when Juice hit the Juicebox the American wasn’t able to capitalise like he normally would. The match went very even, with Juice attempting Pulp Friction, Goto reversing and after counter after counter, Goto headbutted Juice and took him down with Reverse GTR. However, when Goto went to end things Juice struck back and we went into a back and forth.
Until Juice struck with one hell of a right hand and was eventually able to hit the Pulp Friction for the win.
Winner: Juice Robinson (3 Wins 6 Losses = 6 Points)
After the match an announcement was made that the Bullet Club OGs had been escorted out of the Budokan.
Tomohiro Ishii vs SANADA
SANADA took it to Ishii, but one does not fare well when striking with the Stone Pitbull. The Cold Skull kept getting backup and throwing chops of his own, but Ishii’s just in another league when it comes to both taking and inflicting pain. SANADA soon realised that this wasn’t the way he was going to win and he switched to utilising his agility instead. With a dropkick sending Ishii to the outside, SANADA finally got on top of this match.
SANADA had true control, until he made a huge mistake in taunting the downed Stone Pitbull. Ishii got to his feet in face of the elbows from SANADA, politely asking for more until blocking with a headbutt and taking the LIJ man down. He whipped SANADA into the corner and quickly after dropped him down with a Brainbuster from the ‘goddamn’ top rope.
Ishii was top, however SANADA used his agility to get back in once again. Dropping Ishii on his head with a headscissors, the following up with a springboard dropkick. Then the Cold Skull locked in Skull End. But not for long as as soon as Ishii was down SANADA hit him with a sliding lariat. Ishii’s own move!
After that SANADA stayed on top, but struggled to lock in the Skull End submission. Ishii blocked yet another lock in attempt and SANADA retaliated with a Saito suplex that dropped the big man right on his head. And Ishii immediately bounced right back up onto his feet! Saito suplex from Ishii and SANADA also got straight back to his feet!
The LIJ man charged at Ishii with elbows, only to immediately crumble thanks to a stiff headbutt. SANADA tried to fight back, but Ishii was straight up grounding him with one strike every time. Eventually Ishii went for the bigger moves: a Powerbomb and sliding lariat both ended in just a two count.
SANADA was able to counter a brainbuster attempt however, Ishii slipped out of another Skull End attempt the Cold Skull met him with one stiff lariat. Then he finally got the Skull End locked in! Ishii was out, SANADA climbed to the top rope and the opponent rolled out the way. SANADA landed on his feet but tweaked his left knee, Ishii saw this and immediately targeted it by chopping him down.
However SANADA still had his agility and stiff kicks to ground the Chaos man. With Ishii down he channelled his teaches from Keiji Muto and went for the moonsault, but missed and Ishii hit him with a Muto-esque shinning wizard! SANADA kicked out and Ishii went to run off the ropes, however he got caught in an Honour Roll into the Skull End. Reversed by Ishii into the Brainbuster, back into Skull End, then back again, SANADA lifts up Ishii, Ishii goes to lock in Skull End, reversed again, and again.
Eventually SANADA used his agility to break free and hit an Enziguri. To no effect! Ishii hit his own Enziguri and the two traded strikes unable to fully ground the other. Finally Ishii almost decapitated SANADA with one hell of a lariat and was able to hit the Brainbuster for the three.
Yet another incredible match from Ishii.
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (5 Wins 4 Losses = 10 Points)
Tetsuya Naito vs Zack Sabre Jr
ZSJ immediately came out the gate, not giving any chance for tranquilo. When Naito broke free ZSJ went mental outside and TAKA tried to calm his man down. Which must have worked as when Naito tried some tranquilo again ZSJ trapped him in a submission and only broke free with the luck of proximity to the ropes.
Naito tried to use the power of the tranquilo to goad ZSJ in before utilising his agility to work on the Brit. However, Sabre Jr has so many ways to counter into hold. It wasn’t long before Naito was once again trapped in a sequence of painful looking submissions. On top of that, the Suzuki-Gun man seemed to have answers to all of Naito’s signature moves. When Naito went for the slingshot dropkick to the corner, when he jumped to the apron ZSJ swept the leg and sent the LIJ man crashing to the outside.
Zack Sabre Jr was in full control, but he got cocky and started to taunt the LIJ leader. This just angered Naito, who brought the chops and strikes and finally found a way to ground ZSJ. The Englishman had enough taken out of him that Naito was able to hit the slingshot dropkick, then follow up with two neckbreakers.
Naito seemed to finally have a footing in this match, but the danger of Sabre is his ability to lock something in in a flash. He grounded Naito again with yet another submission, but ZSJ himself was calmer. Taking his time and perfectly happy to kick at Naito for a bit before going for the next submission. However, no one out tranquilos the Ingobernable leader.
Naito picked his spot and snapped ZSJ onto his head with a spinning DDT. He went for Gloria, but as I said, Sabre Jr had his signature moves scouted. He locked in a Triangle Lock and grounded Naito. The tranquilo one fought back, won out a striking exchange and was eventually able to drop ZSJ on his head with Gloria. But he wasn’t to capitalise and not long after ZSJ had him trapped in the Octopus hold, wrenching back on the arm and forcing Naito to use all of his energy to make it to the ropes.
The 15 minute mark was announced and ZSJ get to his feet to strike his opponent with some stiff as hell kicks. Sabre Jr had his kick caught, but Naito was maybe a bit too desperate to end the match. He went for Destino and just like with all his other signature moves, Sabre Jr had it scouted and countered into the Octopus Hold. Naito slipped out and hit the Destino! ZSJ landed right on his head, Naito then went to follow up with a second Destino. But Sabre Jr reversed into the Zack Driver! 1, 2, 3! Sabre Jr wins and Omega vs Ibushi is now for the crown of the B Block.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr (6 Wins 3 Losses = 12 Points)
Kenny Omega vs Kota Ibushi
When the ball rang the Budokan erupted with the names of Omega and Ibushi. There was a case of both guys switching things up to beat a guy who knew their offence so well, but also of two opponents who cut off any attempt at a signature move early on. Omega knew the importance of the match and didn’t hold back, pushing Ibushi into the barricade and slamming him back first onto the apron.
Omega’s drive to beat Ibushi let the Golden Star back in. As I said, the two knew each other so well that they were countering each other and returning the favour with an attempt of their own. Ibushi went for a moonsault and was greeted by the knees of Omega, then the IWGP Heavyweight champ himself went for the You Can’t Escape and met Ibushi’s knees. Both guys hit Huricanranas on each other, Omega rolling out the ring. This was the last of the nice back and forth.
Omega once again showed his desperateness to prove he can beat Ibushi, whilst also knowing how much that was actually going to take. Ibushi went for the Golden Triangle Moonsault, Omega stopped him and attempted a Dragon Suplex onto the apron. When that was blocked he tried for a One Winged Angel! Luckily that was blocked and Ibushi went to suplex his amigo back in. That was also blocked, Omega grabbed his opponent in a Tombstone, then hooked the legs and sat down driving Ibushi’s head into the apron.
Back in the ring Omega drove Ibushi’s head down onto his knee, shortly followed by a backchop to the head after the Golden Star was back to his feet. Then a V-Trigger to the back of the head, Omega was not holding back. The champ went for the One Winged Angel again, but it was still way too early and Ibushi stopped him with punches to the head. Omega’s drive wasn’t going to stop though, he hoisted Ibushi down and threw back into a Strap German.
Another V-Trigger from Omega! The champ was viscious and was hitting all of the offence, including a mighty Terminator dive to the outside. Ibushi seemed reluctant to truly go after Omega, but he was still able to get back into the match via a backflip kick to a top rope perched Omega and finally seemed to realise he had to go for broke. Ibushi climbed to the top rope and hooked Omega for what looked like a Piledriver. Omega managed to power out and Ibushi quickly sprang back up with a Springboard Frankensteiner, flipping The Best Bout Machine down to the mat.
Omega kicked out and Ibushi rolled him to the outside, then soon followed up with a Golden Triangle Moonsault off the top rope! Ibushi was finally bringing it, but when he went to springboard back in Omega caught him on the ropes and into the One Winged Angel. Ibushi hit his friend in the head with stiff elbows, slid out, hit him with a combination, stiff kick and standing moonsault. Oh shit! He landed the moonsault knee first onto Omega’s chest. Ouch! The gasp from the crowd watching the replay said it all.
Ibushi lifted Omega off the mat for the Kamigoye, as the champ shook his head pleading for his friend not to do it. The Golden Star took slightly too long and Omega was able to side step an- back flip kick from Ibushi! Omega was rocked and Ibushi went for the Last Ride. Omega slipped out and went for the V-Trigger, which Ibushi blocked, but Omega fully connected with the second. A spinning back kick then sent Ibushi into the corner, aka the perfect position for one hell of a V-Trigger!
Omega lifted Ibushi to the top and went for a Dragon Suplex! Ibushi fought out, Omega instead lifted Ibushi to the top rung and flipped him backwards with a Dragon Suplex off the top. But Ibushi landed on his feet!
Omega couldn’t believe it and the two collided into each other throwing stiff forearms. Omega blocked the third forearm swing and clocked Ibushi with a V-Trigger, but when he went to follow up with a Dragon Suplex Ibushi reversed into one of his own. Omega got straight back to his feet so Ibushi sent him back down with as second Dragon. The champ got up again, but this time he was groggy. So Ibushi pulled him up and absolutely clobbered him with a charged up lariat. Jesus, my God that was something else.
Last Ride from Ibushi, 1, 2, Omega kicked out. Ibushi didn’t hesitate and quickly went for the Kamigoye. The knee connected with force and Omega crumbled down. 1, 2, kick out again! Ibushi was in shock, sat looking at the ref in disbelief. The two slowly climbed to their feet and exchanged stiff elbows, the entire time keeping hold of their opponent’s wrist with their spare hand. They exhausted themselves, throwing elbow after elbow but never letting go.
Eventually Kenny switched to the headbutt and Kota reacted with a stiff kick to the leg. But Kenny saw the high kick coming, ducked and rocked Ibushi with a V-Trigger. Kenny was too exhausted to follow up and Kota was able to get to his feet hit Omega with a combination of chops. Kota had Omega up against the ropes, so he ran back to rebound but Omega followed him flew with a V-Trigger! Omega ran to rebound for another and Ibushi met him the middle with a high kick. Both men collapsed to the mat.
The crowd chanted for Ibushi as the Golden Star climbed to his feet and then to the top rope. Phoenix Spla- no! Omega rolled out the way and Ibushi crashed down hard onto the mat. Kenny rose to his feet and called for another V-Trigger, Kota had no chance and was truly taken out by the knee. The Bullet Club leader hooked the arms and drove him down head first with one hell of a Jay Driller Piledriver. 1, 2, Ibushi kicks out again!
Omega stood in wait for Ibushi to get up off the ground, as soon as he did a V-Trigger flew right into his head. With no hesitation Kenny lifted him up for the One Winged Angel, but Ibushi denied him again. Ibushi flipped back for a reverse rana, Omega stopped him and sat down, driving the neck and head into the mat. Ibushi slowly got up and Kenny drove yet another V-Trigger into his head.
Kenny then lifted Kota up into another One Winged Angel in the corner, however he then started to climb up the ropes. Ibushi met him yet again with stiff elbows, then followed up with a double stomp to the back of Omega’s head!
Ibushi climbed back up, hooked Omega’s arms and Tiger Driver from the top rope!! 1, 2, Omega kicked out again and Ibushi looked up in disbelief once more. Breathing hard, Ibushi grabbed the arms of Omega one final time and Kamigoyeee. 1, 2, 3! Ibushi beats Omega again.
Winner: Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 CLimax 28 B Block Final Standings
Kota Ibushi (12 points) – wins because he beat Omega, Naito & ZSJ.
Kenny Omega (12 points)
Tetsuya Naito (12 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr (12 Points)
Tomohiro Ishii (10 Points)
Hirooki Goto (6 Points)
Juice Robinson (6 Points)
SANADA (6 Points)
Tama Tonga (6 Points)
Toru Yano (6 Points)
G1 is back Monday August 12 for the G1 Climax 28 Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi.
Full results of the show will be posted here on LOP shortly after.
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 17 (Aug 10 2018) – A Block Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 16 (Aug 8 2018) – B Block Naito vs SANADA
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