NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 11

NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 11

August 5th, 18:30 from APIO Cultural Centre, Itawe

Today’s show is topped by a very promising Ibushi vs. Naito match. The rest aren’t so great, but Shibata, Styles and Tanahashi have been doing a sterling job all tournament at carrying their opponents and I expect that’ll continue. This is A Block’s first single-camera show.

A Block – Current standings

• Katsuyori Shibata – 8
• Bad Luck Fale – 6
• Kota Ibushi – 6
• Togi Makabe – 6
• Tetsuya Naito – 6
• A.J. Styles – 6
• Hiroshi Tanahashi – 6
• Doc Gallows – 2
• Hiroyoshi Tenzan – 2
• Toru Yano – 2

Here we go…

A Block – Round Six

Bad Luck Fale vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Fale won with the frog splash. Ain’t nobody kicking out of that. The crowd got into it late on when Tenzan had the Anaconda Vice locked in and, yeah, that’s it. You were never going to read a full play-by-play of this, were you? *1/2

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Toru Yano

Have I mentioned how much I like Shibata’s entrance music? It’s like a cut-price One by Metallica, and that’s alright by me. Shibata goes after Yano straight away delivering kicks and a corner dropkick before Yano tries to sneak a roll-up. Yano tries the ‘Break!’ tactic, but Shibata just kicks him off the apron. Outside, Yano twice manages to whip his opponent into the barrier and procedes to remove a turnbuckle cover before Shibata returns to the ring. Shibata doesn’t enjoy being whipped into the exposed turnbuckle and comes back with elbows. He grabs the sleeper, but Yano makes the ropes. The Penalty Kick is ducked, so Shibata goes for the armbar, but is rolled-up with the Akakiri Cradle for the three-count! Holy shit, Yano beat Shibata! Quick, run away Yano. An entertaining five minutes plus the most shocking result of the tournament. **

Doc Gallows vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi has control early on with a side headlock before Gallows catches him off a charge, puts him on the top rope and big boots him to the floor. Gallows does some damage on the outside and Tanahashi makes it in at sixteen. Doc clubs away then grabs a chinlock. A legdrop gets two. A middle rope elbow drop misses (but Gallows nearly lands on Tanahashi anyway) and our hero makes the comeback with a dragon screw, low dropkick and a jawbreaker. Tanahashi skins the cat and hits the jumping elbow strike. Standing senton gets two. Gallows catches Tanahashi off a High Fly Flow (in theory) and a chokeslam gets a close two-count. Twisting gutbuster gets another two. Hangman’s Noose is blocked. Slingblade! Only two. Gallows gets his knees up on a High Fly Flow attempt. Jackhammer for a near fall. Tanahashi avoids the Hangman’s Noose once more, spinning on top of Gallows’ shoulders and scoring the pin with a victory roll at 12 minutes. I think it’s safe to say Gallows is the worst competitor in A Block. Not only is he rubbish, he’s borderline dangerous. Anyhow, Tanahashi did well to get a decent match going here, working the crowd at every opportunity. **3/4

Togi Makabe vs. A.J. Styles

Styles gets a great reaction as he comes out. ‘Oohs!’ for Styles’ dropkick and they head outside. A.J. avoids the barrier once, but eventually gets whipped over it and then rammed into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Styles turns the tide with a tornado DDT then works a cravate. A big jumping kneedrop hits and Makabe invites Styles to hit him with elbow strikes, which he ends up regretting. Stinger splash misses and Makabe hits a back suplex. Corner clotheslines and mounted punches follow. A northern lights suplex gets two. Lariat gets another two. Styles’ springboard reverse DDT is nowhere near, but it’s sold anyway (why does he still do it?). The Styles Clash is avoided and Makabe hits a powerslam. Up top, Makabe goes for the spider suplex, but Styles blocks it and hits his springboard elbow strike for two. Another lariat from Makabe turns Styles inside out! Two-count only. King Kong Knee Drop misses! Pele kick, Styles Clash, and A.J. gets the win at 12 minutes. This was decent. **3/4

Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito

It takes Naito approximately five minutes to get down to his ring gear, by which time he’s choking Ibushi with his trousers. Neckbreaker on the apron follows and Ibushi is twice whipped into the barrier. Back in, Naito hits a seated dropkick and stands on Ibushi’s head whilst posing. Nonchalant neckbreaker gets two and Naito pushes Referee Unno. Ibushi catches Naito with a double stomp and follows with elbows and a kick flurry. Standing corkscrew moonsault gets two. Rope-assisted tornado DDT gets Naito back into things, and the diving dropkick and slingshot corner dropkick earn a two-count. He spits on Ibushi and gets immediately frankensteinered to the outside. Triangle asai moonsault! Ibushi continues with kicks, but Naito stops the rot with an enziguri. Atomic drop, STO, and the Pluma Blanca is locked in! Ibushi makes the ropes. Ibushi attempts a top rope dragon suplex(!), but Naito fights out and (sort of) hits an inverted hurricanrana for two. That looked nasty. Gloria from Naito! Two-count only. German suplex from Ibushi. Naito tries a victory roll but it’s blocked and turned into a piledriver! Only two! Sit-out Last Ride for two! Phoenix Splash… misses. Main event elbow battle. Slaps. Koppu kick, dragon suplex, two-count! Destino! Naito wins at 16 minutes. A good main event once it got going. ***3/4

Post-match, Naito attacks Ibushi and Red Shoes Unno and does his ‘LOS INGOBERNABLES!’ schtick.

A Block standings after Round Six

• Bad Luck Fale – 8
• Tetsuya Naito – 8
• Katsuyori Shibata – 8
• A.J. Styles – 8
• Hiroshi Tanahashi – 8
• Kota Ibushi – 6
• Togi Makabe – 6
• Toru Yano – 4
• Doc Gallows – 2
• Hiroyoshi Tenzan – 2

Final thoughts: A good main event and a shock result aside, there wasn’t much to this show, but it was pleasant enough. The A Block is getting tighter by the round, with five guys now sharing the lead. Gallows and Tenzan are out, but Yano can still win this thing!

Eleven down, eight to go. Back on Friday.