– 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 fourth day of the tournament and updated Block B standings:
Today’s G1 Climax show is free to watch on NJPWWorld.com
Zack Sabre Jr & TAKA Michinoku defeated Toa Henare & Shota Umino
Kota Ibushi & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Toru Yano & Gedo
Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Juice Robinson & David Finlay
Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa defeated Kenny Omega & Chase Owens
Tomohiro Ishii & Sho defeated Hirooki Goto & Yoh
NJPW G1 Climax 28
Block A
Round 3
Michael Elgin vs Jay White
Elgin tried to show that he’s not just power, but just as agile as the smaller guys. A fast pace, suicide dives, a high flying splash from the top rope. It appeared as if keeping up that pace had worn down Elgin, with the lighter Jay White looking have the better things.
However Elgin very quickly out muscled and out danced the “Switchblade”, once again using his power to counter his opponent’s offence. Realising he was in trouble, this was when White pulled the referee by the shirt when Elgin attempted a Buckle Bomb. Same old Switchblade, always cheating.
One low blow and one Blade Runner later, Jay White secured his two points.
Winner: Jay White (6 points)
YOSHI-HASHI vs Minoru Suzuki
YOSHI-HASHI brought it to Suzuki not waiting for the bell. Which was indeed brave, but equally as stupid. Brawling to outside, the Suzuki-Gun leader quickly got to beating the crap out his opponent and launched the CHAOS member into the ringside seats before taking control in the ring.
Suzuki may have had control for a while, but YOSHI-HASHI got back in wisely by targeting his opponent’s troubled neck. With Suzuki paying back the favour by going after the taped shoulder, both guys working down the other’s weakness. YOSHI-HASHI appeared to be getting back into things, until an inch perfect, incredible flying kick from Suzuki completely rocked him. Realising he had his opponent groggy, Suzuki quickly hit the Gotch Style Piledriver and got the win.
Winner: Minoru Suzuki (2 points)
Togi Makabe vs EVIL
Right out of the wheelhouse of a hard hitting NEVER Openweight Championship affair, early on EVIL took control after almost decapitating Makabe with a chair! After the 20 count was nearly reached the Ungovernable One rolled back out ring and took his opponent into the crowd for a proper brawl. Which was a huge mistake, no one out brawls King Kong Makabe!
Back in the ring EVIL was able to get back into things, but the match was a lot more even now. This was when the match descended into the kind of affair I was fully expecting. Big lad chops, big lad forearms, big lad clotheslines and big lad suplexes. With EVIL getting the better of the big lad stand off and hitting the Everything Is Evil STO for the win.
Winner: EVIL (4 points)
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Bad Luck Fale
Winner: With Tonga Loa at ringside, Tanahashi was always up against the numbers. However he did a great job if keeping the big man centered in the ring, working on the legs to weaken the larger opponent. With the caveat of the Ace always being in danger from Fale’s ability to take him down with own swing or crush him with one splash.
Which is exactly what Mr Bad Luck was able to do, he even nearly won the match without the need of Tonga Loa’s help, if it wasn’t for Tanahashi’s ability to counter the biggest moves at the last second. Twice Tana countered the Bad Luck Fall, with second impressively into a Swingblade! Followed by a High Fly Flow and Tanahashi picking up the- NO! Loa pulled the ref out of the ring at the last second, then got in the ring and beat down Tana with the big man. Tanahashi isn’t one to go down easy though, he fought off the two guys and seemed to be back in with a cha- GUN STUN from Tama Tonga! Tanahashi was out.
Fale crawls over the beaten down opponent, the ref looks around slowly goes to count… but then gives Fale and the Tongans the middle finger and shouts, “F*** you!” He calls for the bell and disqualifies Bad Luck Fale!
After the match the Firing Squad beat on Tanahashi some more, they go mental shouting and cursing. On their way out they swear some more down the English commentary mic about how the refs are siding with New Japan and it’s not fair. Fale declared, “F*** em!” before the three storm off.
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi via DQ (4 points)
Kazuchika Okada vs Hangman Page
Hangman is pissed at the state of the Okada he’s facing, for the greater part of the match all the greater offence came from Page. The Rainmaker got in his punches, but all the biggest hits came from the way the Hangman. With the biggest of all being a swinging neck breaker from the top rope, shortly followed by a moonsault to the outside and a quick roll back into the ring for slingshot lariat.
With Page seemingly going for the kill, Okada was able to narrowly escape via a reversal each time. The momentum of the match took a swing when Okada countered one of those said big moves with a Tombstone. Page was still getting in the harder hitting offence, but Okada’s counters evidently were having a greater impact. The Hangman was hitting strong, just not strong enough. Eventually Okada countered with a rolling lariat and followed it up with a Rainmaker clothesline with force. 1, 2, 3!
Okada’s losing streak officially ends and he’s off and running in the G1. This Block isn’t Jay White’s quite yet.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada (2 points)
Block A Standings
Jay White (6 Points)
EVIL (4 Points)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (4 Points)
Michael Elgin (4 points)
Togi Makabe (4 points)
Bad Luck Fale (2 Points)
Hangman Page (2 Points)
Kazuchika Okada (2 Points)
Minoru Suzuki (2 Points)
YOSHI-HASHI (0 Points)
G1 is back Saturday July 21 for the Block B round 3 match ups: Toru Yano vs Kota Ibushi, SANADA vs Zack Sabre Jr, Juice Robinson vs Tetsuya Naito, Kenny Omega vs Tama Tonga and Hirooki Goto vs Tomohiro Ishii.
Full results of the show will be posted here on LOP shortly after.
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 1 Results (July 14 2018) – Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 2 Results (July 15 2018) – Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 3 Results (July 16 2018) – Jay White vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
NJPW G1 Climax 28 Day 4 Results (July 19 2018) – Kenny Omega vs Hirooki Goto
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