NJPW G1 Climax 31: Results for night seven of the tournament

After the injury to Tetsuya Naito in the opening Block A main event against Zack Sabre Jr., the block has really opened up. By the end of the fourth round of Black A in this year’s G1 Climax, we would see six men all within two points of each other. Who is going to make it to the final of NJPW’s biggest tournament? Honestly, we’re still no closer to finding out after tonight.

This is the second night in a row we are in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. We’ll be back as well on Monday, Oct. 4 for Block B action after a trip to Hamamatsu and Aichi on Friday and Sunday respectively.

Results for Night 7 of the 31st G1 Climax

*Yujiro Takahashi defeats BUSHI by pinfall

*Tomohiro Ishii defeats Tanga Loa by pinfall (Block A)

*Zack Sabre Jr. defeats Great-O-Khan by submission (Block A)

*Kota Ibushi defeats Toru Yano by pinfall (Block A)

*Shingo Takagi defeats KENTA by pinfall (Block A)

Yujiro Takahashi v BUSHI

“The Tokyo Pimp” was set to face his old tag team partner from No Limit tonight but with Tetsuya Naito out injured it was Naito’s LIJ stablemate BUSHI stepping up to the task in a non-block match. BUSHI of course comes out with another awesome mask and ridiculously cool suit while Yujiro is accompanied by the lovely Pieter as always.

BUSHI starts quickly with a dropkick and the fight heads to the outside. A good back and forth match ensues, but Yujiro has tricks up his sleeve, including using Pieter as a human shield. Eventually, Yujiro hits Big Juice for the win over the junior heavyweight.

Tanga Loa v Tomohiro Ishii (Block A)

This wasn’t a match for the faint of heart, as both Loa and Ishii were determined to pick up their first in-ring win of this year’s G1 Climax.

Lots of heavy strikes and forearms in the opening segment of the match and Loa looked like he may get the win when he hooked in Operation Jado Killer but “The Stone Pitbull” reached the ropes.

After a bit more brawling, Ishii would land his Vertical Drop Brainbuster for his first earned two points. A great outing for one-half of Guerrillas of Destiny however even if the points were not so forthcoming.

Great-O-Khan v Zack Sabre Jr. (Block A)

Although this was the match before the intermission, this may have been the biggest match of Block A so far. Both men were unbeaten but Great-O-Khan was two points ahead by virtue of his free two points due to Tetsuya Naito’s injury, ironically thanks to Zack Sabre Jr. A win here would have sent “The Dominator” four points clear at the top of Block A.

What we got was an absolutely tremendous match and one of my favourites of the tournament so far. This might have been Great-O-Khan’s best singles outing since his return from Revolution Pro Wrestling almost a year ago.

ZSJ put his extensive British catch wrestling knowledge up against Khan’s background in amateur wrestling, MMA and martial arts and we were rewarded by one of the best pure technical wrestling matches I’ve seen in years.

Both men exchanged and reversed holds on the mat in an attempt to one-up each other. The exchange gave Khan a bloody nose but he would come out on top of when the match became a strike exchange.

Suzuki-gun’s “Submission Master” would target Khan’s left arm throughout the match, however, and would eventually wriggle into an armbar forcing Khan to tap out to give ZSJ his fourth straight submission win in this year’s G1 Climax. An absolutely must-see match.

Toru Yano v Kota Ibushi (Block A)

A potential banana skin of a match for the reigning two-time defending G1 Climax champion: Kota Ibushi. Yano almost got the quick win when he shoved a bag over Ibushi’s head and got a couple of quick rollups for two counts. He then took Ibushi outside and wrapped him up in the ring skirt to almost get the count-out win, but the “Golden Star” made it in at 19.

More shenanigans would ensue from Yano as he attempted to tie up Ibushi’s legs. Ibushi would hit a Kamigoye to the back of the “Sublime Master Thief” but Yano would roll up Ibushi when he tried a regular Kamigoye. Ibushi would then use Shinsuke Nakamura’s Bomaye and then the Kamigoye to pick up the win in around five minutes.

KENTA v Shingo Takagi (Block A)

Tonight’s main event was an absolute belter as two men who made their name’s outside of NJPW (KENTA in Pro Wrestling NOAH and Shingo in Dragon Gate) tore down Korakuen Hall.

The two battered each other with strikes early, with KENTA seemingly getting the better of them. The injured right arm of Shingo became KENTA’s primary target, however. “The Dragon” also found himself rammed into the exposed buckle and suffered a Green Killer from the ring apron to the floor of Korakuen Hall.

The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion escaped a couple of attempts at the Go 2 Sleep forcing KENTA to change tact. He then pulled the referee into an on running Shingo Takagi and used a low blow before going outside and getting some chairs. He then battered Shingo’s injured arm with a couple of steel chairs.

With the referee recovering, KENTA would put Shingo in Game Over but “The Dragon” managed to make the ropes. Shortly afterwards, Shingo used the exposed turnbuckle himself and dropped KENTA with Last of the Dragon for a battling win.

Block A standings after night seven (including Naito’s forfeited points):

8 points: Great-O-Khan and Zack Sabre Jr.

6 points: Toru Yano, Kota Ibushi, KENTA and Shingo Takagi

4 points: Yujiro Takahashi and Tomohiro Ishii

2 points: Tanga Loa

0 points: Tetsuya Naito