NJPW G1 Climax A-Block Finals: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Bad Luck Fale (6 points) (Bullet Club) w/ Chase Owens & Jado vs. SANADA (8 points) (Los Ingobernables de Japon)

Chase Owens distracted SANADA right at the start, and Fale took advantage of it. Jado hit SANADA with the kendo stick, and Fale decided to interview SANADA at the announce table by taking the ringside mic and choking SANADA with the cable around it. Fale got the heat on SANADA for the next few minutes, but SANADA was finally able to start to get some momentum by hitting the ropes and hitting a dropkick to Fale’s knee.

SANADA hit another dropkick, then a clothesline that sent Fale to the floor. SANADA hit a tope, driving Fale to the floor, then hit a tope on Jado, then hit a dropkick and tope on Chase Owens to a roar from the crowd. SANADA is showing a lot more personality now and stands out as one of the top young stars in NJPW. It seems that he’s finally learning to show some charisma outside of his silent killer stuff.

Fale got back in and crushed SANADA when he went for the TKO. He hit a big splash for a near fall and then the Grenade for a near fall. SANADA slipped out of the Bad Luck Fall and slammed Fale! SANADA followed it up with the TKO, but Fale kicked out. SANADA tried to lock on Skull End on the bigger an and managed to crank it on the mat!

Chase Owens pulled the referee out of the ring as Fale tapped, so the ref missed it. SANADA then locked the Paradise Lock on Owens and Jado in the corner and hit a springboard legdrop on Fale before going for a moonsault, but Fale rolled out of the way. SANADA went for the Skull End again, but Fale rolled him up with a small package and got the pinfall! Fale wins with a small package?!

Result: Bad Luck Fale (8 points)

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Fale has claimed he’s the Wrestling General now, and it looks like he might be after that.