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

Kota Ibushi (12 points) vs. Kazuchika Okada (CHAOS) (14 points)

Okada and Ibushi started this must win match where winner takes all a bit slowly. Both exchanged some basic wrestling in an attempt to get a feel for each other. Ibushi was put on the top rope, and Okada hit a dropkick that sent Ibushi to the floor. Okada hit a DDT on the floor, dropping Ibushi right on his head and neck.

Okada dropkicked him in the head as Ibushi sat up on the mat. Ibushi kicked out at 2. Okada locked on a chinlock. Ibushi eventually broke out and hit a snap hurricanrana and then a standing moonsault for a near fall. Okada rolled to the outside and Ibushi hit a flying tope on Okada. Ibushi’s hurt ankle caused problems, but he was still on top.

Okada hit the ropes back in the ring and nailed Ibushi with an elbow. Okada hit a huge DDT that sent Ibushi crashing to the mat for a 2 count. Okada slammed him and went for a flying elbow, but Ibushi stood up and got out of the way. Okada jumped over Ibushi and hit the ropes, and Okada ate a high kick to the arm from Ibushi. Ibushi was targeting the arm Okada used for the Rainmaker.

Ibushi tried to hit a butterfly suplex off the top rope, but Okada sent him to the apron. Ibushi decided to springboard from the apron into a hurricanrana on Okada, but he hurt his ankle in the process. Ibushi hit a sit out powerbomb, but Okada made the ropes. Ibushi went for the Kamigoye but Okada countered and went for the Rainmaker. Ibushi ducked, but Okada went behind and hit a huge German Suplex.

Okada went for the Rainmaker again, but Ibushi slipped out, hit the ropes, and Okada fired off an incredible dropkick. Okada went for the tombstone, but Ibushi countered and hit an inverted piledriver on Okada! Both men are down. Both men exchanged strikes while on their knees, barely able to stay upright.

Ibushi hit a series of forearms that sent Okada back into the corner, but Okada bounced out with a shotgun dropkick. Ibushi rolled through and stood right back up to hit a massive lariat that drove Okada to the mat. Ibushi tried to lawn dart Okada into the corner, but after a series of reversals into a backslide, Okada managed to hit a Rainmaker!

Okada maintained wrist control while slapping himself to try and wake up. Okada hit a second Rainmaker but didn’t go for the pinfall! That might be his downfall. Okada took off his elbow pad and went for one more, but Ibushi ducked and hit a straight jacket suplex and held on for a Kamegoye, but Okada countered and hit a dropkick to the back of the head. He sent Ibushi into the ropes, but Ibushi countered a dropkick with a powerbomb! Oh my goodness.

Ibushi called for a Boma Ye from Okada’s mentor, Shinsuke Nakamura! Okada dropkicked Ibushi and went for another Rainmaker, but Ibushi ducked and kicked him in the head. Ibushi went for a Kamegoye, but Okada countered and tried to pin Ibushi, but Ibushi kicked out. Okada went for the spinning Rainmaker but Ibushi hit a V-Trigger on Okada! He used Kenny Omega’s move! Ibushi then hit a Kamegoye, but Okada kicked out! Ibushi picked him up and hit one more and finally got the pinfall!

Result: Kota Ibushi (14 points)

Rating: ****** (6 stars)

Kota Ibushi has advanced to the G1 Climax finals! He looks to win his first G1 Climax on early Monday morning in the Eastern Time Zone.

Show Rating: ***** (5 stars)

This was an incredible show that saw 3 of my favourite matches of the year in a row. Kazuchika Okada is the greatest wrestler of all time. Kota Ibushi isn’t far behind. NJPW knows what they are doing, and you can bet that NJPW is going to deliver in the B-Block finals tomorrow. This whole show was a ton of fun, and absolutely delivered to the standard we expect from the G1.

NJPW has a lot of stories setup here heading into the fall and towards Wrestle Kingdom in January, and as tomorrow’s show finishes, we will start to have a very clear picture of what the next few months, including Wrestle Kingdom, is going to look like. I can’t wait. NJPW consistently puts on the best big shows in wrestling, and this was no exception. Between this and NXT we had a great day of wrestling on Saturday. The weekend continues tomorrow with the NJPW G1 Climax B-Block Finals and WWE SummerSlam! Stay tuned to Daily DDT for all the updates!