– NJPW’s G1 Climax 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 fourth day of the tournament and updated Block B standings:
Yoh & Jay White defeated Ren Narita & Michael Elgin
El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki defeated Sho & YOSHI-HASHI
BUSHI & EVIL defeated Toa Henare & Togi Makabe
Tonga Loa & Bad Luck Fale defeated David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi
Chase Owens & Hangman Page defeated Gedo & Kazuchika Okada
NJPW G1 Climax 28
Block B
Round 2
SANADA vs Tama Tonga
The battle of who’s got the better leather pants. Lots of slithering about in this one.
The end came with the referee down, Fale & Loa interfered resulting in a Powerbomb with force from Tonga Loa. Yet SANADA somehow kicked out! Tonga went to close things with the Gun Stun, but SANADA countered, then both countered each other until SANADA rolled up with one impressive looking bridge for the surprise three. In spite of the odds, the Cold Skull fought through three men to hit that roll up.
Winner: SANADA (2 points)
Toru Yano vs Zack Sabre Jr
Yano really wanted to wrestle, but ZSJ just countered every attempt he made into a submission. Until suddenly Yano became the greatest wrestler in the world and somehow had the power to not only counter Sabre Jr, but reverse the holds into submissions of his own. Those bursts don’t last long and Sabre got back into things, but the fella keeps on trying.
However ZSJ tried a different tactic, he beat up Yano on the outside, then jumped back in the ring last second in attempt to win via count out. Toru Yano always found a way to just make it, frustrating Sabre Jr even more. Seeming to lose his head, ZSJ couldn’t keep a submission on Yano or stop the man from kicking out.
In the end the expert DVD salesman and ZSJ countered each other over and over. In the final sequence Yano went for a cheeky low blow, only to be block by Sabre Jr closing his legs (the genius). But Yano instead rolled him up, only to be countered back into an armbar by ZSJ, who was then countered yet again into another roll up for the… 2! Frustrated himself, Yano then accidently gave Sabre Jr the room to finally hit that amazing pin where he rolls back and balances on his head. 1, 2, 3!
Such a fun match, pure enjoyment. I won’t lie, I was smiling throughout the whole affair.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr
Juice Robinson vs Kota Ibushi
Kota Ibushi impressively showed off his athleticism, but Juice had his signature moves like the Golden Triangle scouted every time. That was until Ibushi hit a Standing Headscissors off the apron, shortly followed by a Moonsault of the ring post! After that the Disco Pirate really struggled to maintain any momentum for a long enough period to keep Ibushi down.
Both guys had a lot of respect for each other, but in yet another great showing Juice just came up short. The broken hand proving to be the factor, rendering him unable to counter at the most important time of the match.
Juice avoided Ibushi’s first attempt at the Kamigoye, but he couldn’t hit Pulp Friction and Ibushi finally hit a straight jacket, maintained wrist control and beautifully transitioned back into another Kamigoye for the win.
Winner: Kota Ibushi (4 points)
Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito
On this day Ishii brought the chops and Naito brought his chest. Chop after chop after chop after chop from Ishii turned Naito chest as red as hell itself. Naito returned the favour, but Ishii just retaliated with one hell of a chop. Stiff strikes from both, but neither man got knocked off their feet. Naito then started using his agility to get the better of Ishii.
Naito made a huge mistake slapping Ishii right in the face, who was pissed as hell and responded with multiple, vicious chops to the throat! No more Mr Nice Guy from the Stone Pitbull.
Ishii threw everything at Naito, but the tranquilo one simply kept kicking out. Even after countering the Destino into a clothesline from hell, Naito still powered out. However Ishii showed similar resilience, kicking out when Naito reversed a Brainbuster into a Destino. It may not have finished the bout, but Ishii was rocked and Naito hit a second Destino for the win. A hell of a battle with neither man willing to stay down.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito (2 points)
Kenny Omega vs Hirooki Goto
A lovely revisit to the 2016 G1 Climax Final. The twol brawled into the audience, Omega suplexed Goto and he landed onto the edge of the wooden seating area. Painful! Then as the poor man was get up Kenny Moonsaulted off a railing onto him and the unfortunate Young Lions keeping the fans at bay. Omega channelling his inner Ibushi?
Back in the ring Omega had the advantage and was in the driver’s seat, however he didn’t capitalise and Goto fought his way back in. Truly equalling things and turning the match into an unpredictable, fantastic back and forth contest. Goto came close to winning after a Code Red from the top rope and later via nailing Omega with a Shouten. But Kenny once again showed why he’s the champion, somehow fighting back and finding a way.
The match continued evenly back and forth, until Omega hit one hell of a flying V-Trigger on a stood, but groggy Goto. Followed by a second V-Trigger, the NEVER Openweight champion was practically out. Omega finally secured his two points with the One Winged Angel and the 3.
Winner: Kenny Omega (4 points)
Block B Standings
Kenny Omega (4 points)
Kota Ibushi (4 points)
Hirooki Goto (2 Points)
SANADA (2 Points)
Tama Tonga (2 Points)
Tetsuya Naito (2 Points)
Tomohiro Ishii (2 Points)
Zack Sabre Jr (2 Points)
Juice Robinson (0 Points)
Toru Yano (0 Points)
G1 is back Friday July 20 for the Block A round 3 match ups: Michael Elgin vs Jay White, YOSHI-HASHI vs Minoru Suzuki, Togi Makabe vs EVIL, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Bad Luck Fale and Kazuchika Okada vs Hangman Page.
Full results of the show will be posted here on LOP shortly after.
Day 1 Results – NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 1 Results (July 14 2018) – Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada
Day 2 Results – NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 2 Results (July 15 2018) – Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito
Day 3 Results – NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 3 Results (July 19 2018) – Jay White vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
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