NJPW G1 Climax 28 Night 2: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Night 2 of the NJPW G1 Climax saw Kenny Omega wrestling against Tetsuya Naito.

Naito and Omega were in the finals of last year’s G1, so this rematch is one that NJPW fans have been looking forward to since. Kota Ibushi also took on Zack Sabre Jr. in a rematch from their New Japan Cup match that saw ZSJ getting the submission win.

Shota Umino & Michael Elgin vs. Bullet Club Elite (Chase Owens & Hangman Page)

This wasn’t too bad. Standard opening tag fare that previewed Elgin vs. Page, and saw Umino getting a little offence in to help him learn from the veterans. Owens got the win with a Jewel Thief.

Result: Bullet Club Elite

Rating: 2.25 stars out of 5

CHAOS (SHO & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI & EVIL)

This match started quick, and EVIL nearly killed YOSHI-HASHI by sending him over the guardrail. EVIL and BUSHI had some slick tag team offence, seeing EVIL hitting a superkick and BUSHI hitting a back stabber. BUSHI hit an MX on SHO, and EVIL made him tap out with a Banshee.

Result: LIJ

Rating: 2.25 stars out of 5

Toa Henare & Togi Makabe vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki)

Suzuki started the match taking it right to Makabe and they brawled all around ringside. Makabe tried his best to keep on top of Suzuki and Desperado. Sadly, it did not work all that well. Suzuki hit a big Gotch Style Piledriver on Henare and got the pinfall.

Result: Suzuki-gun

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

CHAOS (Gedo & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Bullet Club Firing Squad (Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale)

Tanga Loa and Bad Luck Fale got the heat on Okada initially. Okada just looks so different without the title, and he’s taking every chance to sell it. Loa hit an inverted piledriver on Gedo for the pinfall.

Result: Firing Squad

Rating: 2.25 stars out of 5

David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. CHAOS (YOH & Jay White)

White didn’t want to start the match with Tanahashi. YOH was tagged in, and he started with David Finlay. White ended up attack Finaly from behind and driving him face first into the turnbuckle in a brutal looking, but safe spot. Tanahashi got in there and went straight for White, but White went after the knee. Tanahashi eventually blocked a kick and hit a dragon screw. White then hit a Saito Suplex, driving Tanahashi to the mat.

YOH hit a big superkick on Finlay, but Tanahashi made the save. White grabbed a chair and hit Tanahashi. He then encouraged YOH to use the chair on Finlay, but he refused. Finlay hit a stunner on YOH and got the pinfall. Good storytelling in this one.

Result: David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

I’m really enjoying the story they are telling with White here. He’s becoming truly unlikable, and a totally sociopathic heel.