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 14 of the tournament and updated Block B standings:
Tonga Loa & Bad Luck Fale defeated YOSHI-HASHI & Sho
Minoru Suzuki & El Desperado defeated Hangman Page & Chase Owens
Jay White & Yoh defeated Togi Makabe & Toa Henare
Michael Elgin & David Finlay defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota
EVIL & BUSHI defeated Kazuchika Okada & Gedo
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 14
Block B
Round 7
Toru Yano vs SANADA
Yano snuck up and attacked SANADA on the ramp during the LIJ member’s entrance. He tried to tie the Cold Skull up in his very Paradise Lock, but couldn’t figure out how to do it so ended up tying his legs together with a shirt. SANADA had to hop to ring an only just beat the 20 count.
SANADA then repaid the favour and when the match inevitably went to the outside, he tied Yano up in the Paradise Lock and pissed off back to the ring for a count out victory. Yano stayed there unable to break free, shouting, “Rocky! Rocky!” until Rocky Romero ran to his aid the English commentary booth.
Back in the ring Yano tried to use his turnbuckle pad tricks, but SANADA had him beat and avoided every swing before nailing a dropkick. The Cold Skull then took Yano ringside again, broke off a section of the barricade and tied the trickster up in the Paradise Lock in the barricade! Knowing Yano’s level of wits, he also tied the barricade to the ring post with duct tape.
Yano screamed again for Rocky to come to his aid, but when the Roppongi man did he was caught by SANADA and tied up in a Paradise lock as well. Both Chaos members lay there shouting for help as the referee counted to 20 and SANADA won via count out.
After the match Rocky shouted for Milano, “He’s the only one who’s got the key!” It took a good couple of minutes, but eventually the Japanese commentator came to their aid.
Winner: SANADA (3 Wins 4 Losses = 6 Points)
Hirooki Goto vs Tama Tonga
No points in guessing how this one played out. Tama seems to be wrestling a proper match, but as soon as things start to not go his way Loa interferes and the cheating/launching into barricades begins. Goto’s whole thing is that he’s a warrior that will keep on fighting to the end, that warrior heart. So it was going to take more to keep that fighter down.
Which was when Tama pushed Goto into the referee, once again as things start going against them, the Tongans immediately resort to cheating. Tonga Loa came in to help his brother, however warrior Goto quickly disposed of him and was once again one on one with the Bad Boy. Tama tried to confuse Goto with his darting runs, but it was ineffective and Goto was able to catch and nail him with a GTR.
Which was when Bad Luck Fale came down, pulled out the referee and threw him into the barricade. The bell ringer rang even though the match hadn’t been thrown out, hey even NJPW staff make mistakes. The Tongans beat down Goto, then pulled Tama on top and called for the substitute ref to come down and count. However that ref turned out to be Red Shoes! Who after assessing the situation gave The Tongans two middle fingers to suck on and called for the DQ.
Winner: Hirooki Goto via DQ (3 Wins 4 Losses = 6 Points)
Juice Robinson vs Zack Sabre Jr
Sabre Jr immediately goes after Juice’s injured hand, but the US Champ quickly forced the rope break. After which the entered a striking exchange, both guys calling each other to bring it with their next strike/chop. The affair evolved into actual wrestling moves, however whenever Juice tried anything ZSJ countered into a hold targeting that broken hand.
It didn’t matter what Juice went for, ZSJ was just too wise, too quick. However the Suzuki Gun member got a little too cocky and started toying with his opponent, which wasn’t wise at all. Sabre Jr couldn’t escape the flow of Juice that followed, even rolling to ringside wasn’t enough as he was hit by a crossbody over the top rope. That said, Juice using his energy to hit that crossbody gave ZSJ enough time to recover and counter Juice into a chokehold. Resulting in the US Champ having to use a lot of energy to get Zack down and hit a cannon ball in the corner.
Juice went for the Juice Box Gutbuster, but Sabre Jr countered into an Octopus Stretch and started to wrench back on the injured hand. Before any real damage could be done, Juice countered back into the Juice Box! Kick out at two. Juice went for a Powerbomb, but ZSJ transitioned into a triangle and again wrenched back on the hand. The damage this time was down, however Juice was able to lift up the Brit and broke free slamming him down with the Powerbomb.
Juice took off his cast and rocked ZSJ with the hand. The flamboyant one fell to mat in pain, but forced himself up to finish things. But with the hand unprotected Sabre Jr targeted it with unrelenting force, he countered Juice and grounded him, wrenching back the arm. However Robinson refused to give up, so ZSJ wrenched back even further. Then grabbed and countered both of the US Champ’s legs so he couldn’t make the ropes and wrenched even further.
Still Juice refused to give up! ZSJ pulled back harder and harder and eventually Juice had no choice but to give up.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr (4 Wins 4 Losses = 8 Points)
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega
Well this was a war, was it ever going to be anything else? The contest started out even, however Omega made the huge mistake of taunting Ishii and rubbing his bald head. Multiple chops followed, but Omega was more than up to the task. The IWGP Heavyweight Champ stunned Ishii with a stiff DDT and followed up with the You Can’t Escape rolling Senton and Moonsault combo.
Omega soon again began to taunt Ishii, this time the Stone Pitbull responded with chops to the throat. The champ through his own stiff chop that rocked the Chaos man a second, however a quick suplex later and Ishii was on top again. More chops and suplexes came Omega’s way, but he was able to avoid the Powerbomb. Omega had some time on top, however once again entering a striking battle Ishii was his downfall. He tried to play Ishii at his own game and ended up getting suplexed all over the ring.
That stiff DDT saved Omega once again, but the match was almost completely even. Omega knocked everything out of Ishii with a standing V-Trigger, but was immediately met with a stiff lariat and German suplex. Ishii then went for a One Winged Angle! Taunting the opposition backfired once again and Omega, nailed a heel kick to the back and followed up with a V-Trigger. Sit Down Powerbomb from Omega and Ishii just survived.
V-Trigger to Ishii, Omega wanted a second and nailed it. But Ishii was unaffected! Another V-Trigger and Ishii was still standing, and another and another! Eventually Omega hit the V-Trigger and swiftly grounded Ishii with a snap Dragon Suplex. But Ishii got back to his feet at rocked the champ with a lariat!
Ishii went for a Powerbomb and Omega countered with a Rana. Both out of it, the two guys slowly got to their feet and entered an exchange of stiff forearms. One of which rocked Ishii and Omega hit the Reverse Rana! Omega slowly got back to his feet and crushed the Stone Pitbull with a V-Trigger, however Ishii fell through the ropes so the Champ followed up with a double stomp to the outside.
The Best Bout Machine then hit move after move on Ishii’s head, with the last being one hell of a Jay Driller Piledriver but the Pitbull kicked out again, and again and again. Omega was on top and Ishii was somehow surviving the onslaught, yet the Chaos man as able to counter the One Winged Angel every single time. With Ishii finally getting back into the match reversing the move into a Crucifix.
Ishii rocked Omega with stiff shots, but the champ wasn’t going down easy. Each guy starting hitting just as hard as their opponent rocked them, neither guy relented and soon both guys were bleeding from the mouth. Ishii went to hit a Brainbuster but Omega reversed into one of his own. Kick out at 1! Omega was shocked, hit another standing V-Trigger and Ishii responded with a pop up headbutt. And another headbutt!
Now it was Omega’s turn to keep kicking out. Finally both guys countered each other back and forth, until Ishii was finally able to hit the Brainbuster and got the three! Blood pouring from Omega’s busted bottom lip and Ishii bleeding himself. Both guys completely exhausted. What a match.
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (3 Wins 4 Points = 6 Points)
Tetsuya Naito vs Kota Ibushi
The Omega loss really opened the door for both of these guys, the tension was in the air as suddenly this match meant even more. That didn’t stop Naito wrestling his Tranquilo style however, the perfect counter to Ibushi trying to quicken the pace. Naito targeted Ibushi’s leg, wearing him down throwing the Golden Star into the barricades and bashing him off the English commentary desk. Before throwing him back in the ring and doing more work on the leg.
Naito then went to his more normal tact of wearing down the head/neck area. Ibushi fought his way back in, but Naito’s tranquilo ways meant he was calm enough to stay on top. However, when Naito did enter the quicker pace to try and stop Ibushi that way, the Golden Star was able to get the better of things and grab back some momentum. A dropkick to the chest, a standing Moonsault, Naito’s chest started to be on the end of some real punishment,
The match then went back and forth, when one guy started to get in some offense the other found a way back in and the momentum shifted. Naito went to work on Ibushi’s neck again, but the athletic man countered with a rana and followed up with a dive to the outside. Back in the ring Naito got back in and put Ibushi on the top rope, who dumped the tranquilo one to the apron. The Golden Star climbed to the second rope and went to German suplex Naito back in, however the LIJ leader slipped out and took out Ibushi’s legs.
Finally someone was able to maintain momentum, Naito relentlessly went after Ibushi and his neck. Slingshot dropkicks, DDTs, neckbreakers, the tranquilo one was on top. Ibuhsi eventually found his way back in increasing the pace once again and the two exchanged forearms. Ibushi switched to kicks, so Naito repaid him in the same manner. Which was where the work on the leg earlier helped.
Naito showed Ibushi some disrespect, spitting in his face and smiling at the Osaka crowd after every big move instead of covering the opponent. But Naito was doing some real work on Ibushi’s neck, driving him down with a reverse neckbreaker draped off the top rope. Ibushi looked out, however he nailed a desperate, wild swing with his leg. Immediately sending Naito down to the mat.
Ibushi was back in, but the match turned into the question of whose tactic was going to pay off. Naito and his tranquilo stance or Ibushi’s quickening of the pace? Ibushi went for a second rope piledriver from the corner, but Naito stopped him and Super Reverse Rana. Ibushi landed on his feet! Then kicked Naito right in the noggin as the two collapsed to the mat.
Ibushi again went for the German from the apron, this succeeded and dropped Naito right on his head! Kick out at two. Last Ride from Ibushi, kick out again! Naito was not going down easy. Kamigoye reversed into a Destino reversed into a Kamigoye reversed into Destino. 1, 2, kick out! Naito went for a second Destino, but was stopped mid air and Ibushi hit the most vertical buster I’ve ever seen. Then the Golden Star followed up with the Bomaye! 1, 2, kick out! Ibushi immediately signalled for the Kamigoye and the knee struck Naito with force. 1, 2, 3! Ibushi wins in a 25 minute classic.
Winner: Kota Ibushi (5 Wins 2 Losses = 10 Points)
Block B Standings
Kenny Omega (12 points)
Kota Ibushi (10 points)
Tetsuya Naito (10 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr (8 Points)
Hirooki Goto (6 Points)
SANADA (6 Points)
Tomohiro Ishii (6 Points)
Juice Robinson (4 Points)
Tama Tonga (4 Points)
Toru Yano (2 Points)
G1 is back Monday August 5 for the Block A round 8 match ups: YOSHI-HASHI vs Bad Luck Fale, Hangman Page vs Minoru Suzuki, Togi Makabe vs Jay White, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Michael Elgin and Kazuchika Okada vs EVIL.
Full results of the show will be posted here on LOP shortly after.
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 13 (Aug 2 2018) – A Block Kazuchika Okada vs Michael Suzuki
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 12 (Aug 1 2018) – B Block Goto vs Ibushi
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