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

Hirooki Goto vs Jay White

Jay White hasn’t been shy in regards to his feelings on Hirooki Goto. When Tanahashi returned at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku and set his sights on the IWGP Heavyweight Title, The Switchblade informed Tana that he was at the back of the line, “behind Goto, even!”

Goto has had his ups and downs in NJPW. He’s not quite YOSHI-HASHI levels of being the bumbling sidekick who never catches a break, but he has been dogged time and time again throughout his NJPW career. He can never seem to close the deal when the stakes are highest and Jay White knows it.

Leading to this bout, White continued to preach his gospel – that he would win the G1, that Goto would disappoint everybody again, and that he would prove that he was the true top contender to the IWGP Heavyweight Title.

With his track record, it’s hard to disagree with or ignore White’s claims.

Keeping in line with his attempts to play down Goto’s abilities, White spent a little bit of time goofing around to avoid Goto in an attempt to throw him off of his game. This time around, though, it didn’t quite work out so well.

Goto was able to eventually get his hands on White and take a quick and decisive early advantage. It was only when Gedo got involved and grabbed the leg of Goto that White was able to swing things his own way.

Despite Goto looking a bit more trim than the last time we saw him (thanks to Shibata and the LA Dojo), White had an answer for every single bit of the Fierce Warrior’s standard offense. It looked like White would continue to dominate, as promised, until his own hubris caught up with him.

After shoving the referee to the mat, Goto rocked White with a lariat and Ushigoroshi. After a reverse GTR, Goto picked up a close near fall. White and Goto would lock themselves into attempts at their signature moves and counters with White trying repeatedly for the Blade Runner.

Proving that he’s willing to bend the rules himself, Goto grabbed the hair of White while locked in the Blade Runner to bend his opponent over backward to reverse their positions. Following a series of headbutts, Goto dropped an elbow across the chest of the prone White.

Seeing the writing on the wall, Gedo charged into the ring in a last-ditch effort to buy White some time. It worked – sort of. Goto chased Gedo out of the ring quickly, but when White went for another Blade Runner, Goto turned it into the Shouten Kai for a two count!

Perhaps knowing that he needed to go somewhere White wasn’t expected, Goto lifted the Switchblade onto his shoulders for a combination GTR/Ushigoroshi to another close call. Finally, with White on Dream Street, Goto buried a kick into his chest and hit the GTR proper for the well-deserved victory.

Goto needed this win. He’s been the punching bag of Jay White and others for far too long and couldn’t have gone on much longer without some form of redemption. To be the first one to steal points from White in the tournament while also coming off more refreshed and determined than ever is crucial for Hirooki Goto. Fingers crossed he can carry this momentum forward as he battles Jay White on July 15.