NJPW G1 Climax 26: Day 11

August 3rd, 18:30 from Kagoshima Arena, Kagoshima

We’ve broken the back of this tournament, and although everyone’s still mathematically in it, today’s show will likely put some competitors out of the running. We’re back with A Block for a strong card that features Ishii vs. Tanahashi, SANADA vs. Marufuji, and joint block leaders – Okada and Makabe – facing off. Let’s get to it!

The story so far: Primer, Day 1, Day 2, Days 3 & 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

A Block – Current Standings

• Makabe – 8
• Okada – 8
• Marufuji – 6
• Fale – 4
• Goto – 4
• Ishii – 4
• SANADA – 4
• Tanahashi – 4
• Tenzan – 4
• Tonga – 4

Here we go…

A Block – Round Six

Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Bad Luck Fale

Fale pushed the ring announcer down, as is his wont, and Tenzan’s cupping therapy bruises have all but disappeared. There you go, you’re up to speed. Tenzan started well, delivering Mongolian Chops and clotheslining Fale over the top, but a brawl on the floor put the Underboss back in charge. He did some stuff, but missed a splash, and back came Tenzan who was over with the crowd. The Mountain Bomb connected, then Tenzan applied the Anaconda Vice, but Fale powered out. Chops and headbutts from Tenzan, and he signalled for the Western Lariat, but Fale hit a big boot. The Bad Luck Fall was blocked and Tenzan headed up top, only to miss the moonsault. Big splash from Fale for two. Spear for two. The Grenade connected, and that was enough for the three-count. This was a must-win match for both guys, and unfortunately means Tenzan is eliminated. I was enjoying the “Tenzan’s Final G1” story and am disappointed it’s come to an end, particularly in such limp fashion. There was drama to be milked and they could have stretched it out for a couple more shows at least. The match was what you’d expect. **

Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga

Tonga showed a little sass here, and it was good to see. Some brawling and a count-out tease led to Tonga slowly beating on Goto, but Goto fought back with kicks and a plancha before landing a diving elbow for two. The Samoan drop flapjack brought Tonga some respite and an Alabama Slam earned a two-count. Ushigoroshi from Goto for a double down, then an unearned elbow battle. The GTR was reversed to a spinning neckbreaker and moments later the Headshrinker DDT connected for a near-fall. Tonga copied Randy Orton’s mat-thumping before a blocked Gun Stun, then an amusing rope-running sequence culminated in Goto blocking the Gun Stun once again to hit the GTR for the win. Tonga eliminated, but on the plus side he can go into the underwear business full-time to sell his Long-Jocks (patent pending). This was fine. **1/2

Naomichi Marufuji vs. SANADA

A couple of really nice exchanges led to a stand-off and duelling chants, then Sanada reneged on a handshake and took the fight to the floor. He received absolutely no admonishment from the referee for using a baseball bat. Back in for a moment, then Marufuji dropkicked Sanada out and followed with a running plancha. Sanada invited Marufuji’s chops by removing his vest and nailed the leapfrog dropkick before avoiding Marufuji’s numerous kick attempts and connecting with the springboard dropkick. Tiger suplex from Sanada for two, then he caught Marufuji out of the corner to deliver a TKO. Dragon Sleeper locked in, but Marufuji quickly made the ropes. A missed moonsault allowed Marufuji to strike a jumping knee, then a sequence of kicks brought the near-fall. The Shiranui connected and Marufuji got the win. Post-match, Sanada refused the handshake, probably because that loss eliminates him too. They’re falling like dominoes here. The match was good, with the sense that Marufuji needed to get his kicks in in order to end it. With more time this could’ve been something special. ***3/4

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Ishii delivered some rarely seen limb-work early on, using a Dragon Screw and low dropkick in-between the chops and elbows, then he gave Tanahashi shit for his weak strikes, and Tanahashi tried to reply with a headbutt (which didn’t go well for him). Dragon Screw from Tanahashi, then a flipping senton from the middle-rope, and again he tried match Ishii with elbows. Ishii was rightly insulted and stomped away in the corner. Slap battle and a maddened Tanahashi finally made a breakthrough with the strikes. A clothesline out of the corner put Ishii back in control, then they battled up top. Tanahashi was knocked to the apron, but he caught a Dragon Screw over the middle-rope. Up top again, and this time the vertical superplex from Ishii connected. They fought up from the mat and the elbow battle was on! Ishii would not be broken and leaned into the shots before landing a headbutt and powerbomb for a two-count. Lariat – two-count only. Dragon suplexes from both men, then an arm-trap German from Tanahashi for a near-fall. The Sling Blade connected but the High Fly Flow did not, and Ishii nailed the seated lariat for a very, very near-fall! Tanahashi slipped out of a brainbuster to hit another Dragon suplex for two. Sling Blade again, High Fly Flow crossbody, High Fly Flow! One, two, three! Great stuff. There aren’t many better at delivering a big match feel than these two and this was on par with the very best of the tournament so far. ****1/2

Togi Makabe vs. Kazuchika Okada

An even back-and-forth in the opening minutes gave way to dominance from Okada as he dropkicked Makabe to the floor, beat him down on the outside, then got on a run back in the ring. He applied the straightjacket chinlock then was refused a count from the arrogant cover. Makabe hit a powerslam off a charge, then fired away with mounted punches and the Northern Lights suplex got two. Clothesline for another two-count, then Okada hit the DDT and a jumping uppercut for a two-count of his own. Okada was thrown from the top-rope and clotheslined once more, then it was time for the Main Event Elbow Battle. European Uppercuts from Okada, reverse neckbreaker, scoop slam, and the diving elbow connected. Makabe wouldn’t stay down, however, and the kneeling powerbomb and Death Valley Driver both earned two-counts. The spider suplex was setup and Okada fought out, but Makabe managed a top-rope belly-to-belly instead. The King Kong Knee Drop missed and once both men were up, it was back to strikes. The Dropkick was avoided and Makabe delivered a German suplex for two, then The Dropkick connected at the second time of asking, and the tombstone piledriver and Rainmaker followed to give Okada the hard-earned win. Good match, certainly Makabe’s best of the G1, and Okada goes to the top of the pile. ****

Post-match promo from Okada (and Gedo) and we’re out.

A Block standings after Round Six

• Okada – 10
• Makabe – 8
• Marufuji – 8
• Fale – 6
• Goto – 6
• Tanahashi – 6
• Ishii – 4
• SANADA – 4
• Tenzan – 4
• Tonga – 4

Final thoughts: Skip the first two matches and you’re in for a good time. Hot crowd all the way through. Tanahashi vs. Ishii was arguably the best match we’ve had so far and leaves Ishii hanging by a thread, whilst SANADA, Tonga and Tenzan are all done. As I said, I feel Tenzan’s elimination at this stage is a missed opportunity. There was money to be made in one final title shot against Okada. Speaking of whom, the champ finally tops the block and now has to be considered the favourite for the whole thing.

Back tomorrow for the next B Block show which features Shibata vs. Omega and Nakajima vs. Naito. See you then.

Eleven down, eight to go.