NJPW G1 Climax A-Block Finals: Results, Grades, and Analysis
It all comes down to this. After a month of action, the NJPW G1 Climax has finally reached its final three days. Who will walk out the A-Block Champion and walk into the finals on August 12?
NJPW has the battle of their #1 wrestler in Kazuchika Okada and Kota Ibushi over who goes to the finals of the G1 Climax on August 12. Who walked out the winner of the A-Block? Read on to find out. The whole show can be seen on NJPW World.
Shooter Umino & Jon Moxley vs. Ren Narita & Juice Robinson
Moxley and Juice started the match, and Mox went right after Juice and both men started exchanging chops. Juice hit a clothesline, and Mox no sold it and got in Juice’s face. Juice then hit a spinebuster for a near fall and several big punches in the corner before both men exchanged more strikes ending with Juice hitting a leg lariat.
Both young lions were tagged in and they started exchanging forearms. Narita hit a massive overhead belly-to-belly and a big vertical suplex for a near fall. Narita did a roll to bring Shota back to the middle of the ring, and locked on a submission, but Moxley broke it up. Shota hit a big dropkick that sent Narita to the mat. Juice sold his knee throughout this match, which will play into tomorrow’s main event.
Moxley and Shota hit a Hart Attack on Narita, and then Shota hit a fisherman’s suplex on Ren for the pinfall victory. Moxley hit a chop block on Juice after the match and locked on a figure four. Shota tried to keep Moxley from doing it, but Moxley shoved him away. The damage was done, and it looks like tomorrow’s match is going to be very personal between these two.
Result: Shooter Umino & Jon Moxley
Rating **3/4 (2.75 stars)
Toru Yano (CHAOS) & Tomoaki Honma (Great Bash Heel) vs. Jeff Cobb (ROH) & Toa Henare
Honma and Henare started the match with some hard-hitting offence, as expected from both. Cobb and Henare got the heat for a little bit, but Honma fought back against the Henare and made the hot tag to Yano. Yano proceeded to do a Greco Roman Eye Rake, a Greco Roman Turnbuckle Removal, and a shoulder tackle that Cobb no sold. Yano then screamed in fear and tried again.
Yano tagged Honma, who then hit a headbutt on Cobb. Honma tried to clothesline Cobb more than once, but Cobb overpowered him. Cobb hit a big spinning back suplex, but Honma kicked out. Cobb hit a Tour of the Islands and got the pinfall.
Result: Jeff Cobb & Toa Henare
Rating: **1/2 (2.5 stars)