New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 29 Night 2: Results and Analysis

Toru Yano vs Tetsuya Naito

Unlike in last year’s G1, there has been no promise from Toru Yano to play by the rules and keep things clean throughout this year’s tournament. Still, though, the Sublime Master Thief found himself outraged by the comical amount of time it took Naito to disrobe before the match.

In fact, Yano became so enraged that Naito decided to keep his t-shirt on that he put his own shirt back on as he paced around the ring. Raising the ire of Yano even more, Naito began to steal some of the trickster’s own moves including, but not limited to:

• Removing the turnbuckle pads
• Shrugging
• Bouncing back and forth against the ropes
• Yelling

Not to be outdone by showing up his opponent, Yano is apparently one of a very select few who have found a way to stop the Cabron Combinacion – by putting his arms up to block the dropkick. Unfortunately, as soon as he put his arms down Naito hit the dropkick anyway. Good try, though!

Turning the Yano Factor up to 11, Yano pulled referee Red Shoes’ shirt over his head before pulling Naito’s shirt over his head as well. One low blow and spear later and Yano rolled Naito up to the sounds of a three-count from an unstuck Red Shoes!

This is now the first time in NJPW since 2014 that Toru Yano has won his first match in the G1 Climax, and it comes at the expense of the current IWGP Intercontinental Champion. This puts Yano in line for a shot at the gold once the tournament concludes which could throw a wrench into Naito’s plans to become the first double champion in NJPW.

Tomohiro Ishii vs Jeff Cobb

Do you enjoy beefy boys doing beefy boy things? Then, you’re in luck! NJPW in Dallas was a perfect preview of what was to come between these two as they prepared to collide like a pair of wrecking balls swinging at top speed.

Cobb was the first to find an advantage with a massive shoulder block to a charging Ishii. That advantage was brief, though, as the two would go on to pound the ever-loving crap out of one another from corner to corner.

While this was going on, Rocky noted on commentary that the smart strategy against Ishii was to target his neck. I found this interesting because you’d need a map to find the Stone Pitbull’s neck as he has the body type of his head connected directly to his torso. I’m still not convinced Ishii actually has a neck.

Nevertheless, Cobb did keep to that suggested game plan as he drilled Ishii with a pretty great piledriver. For a split second, it looked like we were heading into Ganso Bomb territory which both terrified and titillated me.

There couldn’t be two men more closely matched in this block than Cobb and Ishii. These two brutes traded suplexes, slams, and various strikes with neither one slowing down or staying down. Eventually, though, Cobb saw enough of an opening to take down the straps of his singlet. You know that means business.

Unfortunately for Cobb, Ishii was able to block the Tour of the Islands and crushed him with the seated lariat for the two count. One vertical drop brainbuster later, though, and Ishii found himself with his first points of the tournament.

Cobb is going to have a rough run of things. His next match is against Moxley which is going to test him in a much different way than Ishii did. For Ishii, his next challenge is Jay White who is also looking to prove himself after losing the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Cobb may be hard-pressed to come up with more than 6 points when all is said and done.