Block B finally delivered a night worth remembering and represented for what was supposed to be the better Block of the tournament. Michael Elgin put on his best performance yet against Tomoaki Honma and Hirooki Goto had a great match with Kazuchika Okada as well. Goto’s win also setup a huge main event for later on in the year and also capped off a great show.
What can Block A do to match that? While none of the pairings for this night are sexy, like they have been for the previous ones. We could get some surprises with Shibata vs. Fale and Tanahashi meeting his big rival of 2015, Toru Yano. So far, The A Block has provided the much more memorable outings. Let’s see if that continues tonight.
We are back to the no commentary or dubbed music shows, but at least the multiple camera angles were kept for this show.
New Japan Pro Wrestling: G1 Climax 25 Night Nine Review
Location: Nagoya, Aichi, Japan inside the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
Match 1: 6-man Tag Team Match: Ryusuke Taguchi, (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion) KUSHIDA, & Satoshi Kojima vs. David Finlay Jr. (Young Lion), Mascara Dorada & Tomoaki Honma
Winners: Ryusuke Taguchi, KUSHIDA, Satoshi Kojima (After KUSHIDA makes Finlay Jr TAP OUT to the Hoverboard Lock)
Tiger Mask IV was removed from the match due to a neck injury. This means that Yohei Komatsu was also removed and it became a six man tag match. This match was built well around Honma and Kojima’s interactions. There was a lot of it and similar to the Okada and Goto one, maybe bordering on too much. The chop battle was fun for sure though. Everyone else got some spots in there with Taguchi hilariously trying to do a Kokeshi at one point. Dorada getting his Rope Walk Spot and Moonsault to the outside. KUSHIDA got the hot tag and came in at the end to basically finish the match out. This was a nice opener, but nothing special really. ** ½ *
Match 2: Jay White (Young Lion) & Michael Elgin (ROH) vs. Cody Hall & Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club)
Winners: Team Bullet Club (After Yujiro Hit Tokyo Pimps on Jay White)
Michael Elgin looked really good in this doing his stalling suplex spot, the double Samoan Drop, the Rolling Front Flip even. There was even a Michael Elgin chant from the crowd as well. Jay White also keeps improving and though it was just basic stuff, he’s getting really good. Cody Hall is also getting better, but Yujiro was terrible in this match. He was really going through the motions and it was personified by the finish where he hit a terrible looking Tokyo Pimps to end it. Honestly, unless you really wanna hear an Elgin chant, this is totally skippable. **
Match 3: 6-Man Tag Team Match: Captain New Japan, Yuji Nagata, & (IWGP Intercontinental Champion) Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii, & Shinsuke Nakamura (All CHAOS)
Winners: YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii, & Shinsuke Nakamura (After YOSHI-HASHI hits CNJ with Swanton Bomb)
This was a lot more fun and had great interactions from the four participants in the G1. Nakamura surprisingly not only started the match, but also took punishment to the elbow from Nagata. This would play into some great stuff between Ishii and Nagata that saw Ishii just stomping the crap out of Nagata in the corner. Then Nagata gets in the White Eyes Armbar, but it is broken up eventually. Just some intense stuff from those two. Nakamura and Goto got to renew their rivalry with a short interaction as well. There was some nice tag stuff in here, as both teams combined to let Captain New Japan and YOSHI-HASHI respectively get near falls. CNJ made one last ditch effort with a roll-up, but it was YOSHI-HASHI once again getting the last laugh. ** ¾ *
Match 4: Gedo & (IWGP Heavyweight Champion) Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga & (IWGP Tag Team Champion) Karl Anderson (Bullet Club)
Winners: Tama Tonga & Karl Anderson (After Tama Tonga hits Headshrinker DDT on Gedo)
This was fun for the most part, with Anderson doing his comedy bits and Gedo actually being serious, which was weird. Anderson tossed a chair into the ring at one point, just so he could sit in it and do the Rainmaker pose. Okada worked over Anderson to start, but the interactions from then on were sort of sporadic. Okada got to have one big comeback flurry, but that was about it. Gedo and Tonga were involved a lot. Gedo did probably more than anyone else in this, as he knocked both Anderson and Tonga down with Superkicks and hit a nice DDT on Tonga too. This one screamed Bullet Club winning, especially since Anderson isn’t winning his match against Okada. This was on par with the previous match pretty much. ** ½ *
Before we get to the G1 matches, this would be a good time for a reminder of the participants in each block…
A Block Participants: AJ Styles (2nd consecutive appearance), Bad Luck Fale (2nd consecutive appearance), Doc Gallows (IWGP Tag Team Champion, 2nd consecutive appearance) (All Bullet Club) Kota Ibushi (2015 New Japan Cup Winner, 2nd appearance), Toru Yano (CHAOS, 10th appearance), Togi Makabe (G1 Winner in 2009, NEVER Openweight Champion, GBH, 12th consecutive appearance), Hiroyoshi Tenzan (G1 Winner in 2003, 2004, & 2006, NWA World Champion, 20th appearance), Hiroshi Tanahashi (G1 Winner in 2007, 14th consecutive appearance), Katsuyori Shibata (3rd consecutive appearance), Tetsuya Naito (G1 Winner in 2013, 6th consecutive appearance, Los Ingobernables)
B Block Participants: Kazuchika Okada (Defending G1 Champion, also won in 2012, IWGP Heavyweight Champion, CHAOS, 4th consecutive appearance), Shinsuke Nakamura (G1 Winner in 2011, CHAOS, 12th appearance), Tomohiro Ishii (CHAOS, 3rd consecutive appearance), Karl Anderson (IWGP Tag Team Champion, Bullet Club, 6th consecutive appearance), Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club, 6th consecutive appearance), Tomoaki Honma (GBH, 2nd consecutive appearance), Michael Elgin (ROH, first appearance), Satoshi Kojima (G1 Winner in 2010, 14th appearance), Yuji Nagata (G1 Winner in 2001, 17th consecutive appearance), Hirooki Goto (G1 Winner in 2008, IWGP Intercontinental Champion, 8th consecutive appearance)
G1 Climax 25 Matches: All A Block
Match 5: (NWA World Champion, 3-Time G1 Winner) Hiroyoshi Tenzan (2 points) vs. Kota Ibushi (4 points)
Winner: Kota Ibushi (After Hitting Phoenix Splash)
This wound up getting interesting by the end, but there was a nice story told throughout of the old veteran teaching the young one how to take care of business without all the theatrics. Tenzan gave Ibushi everything, had a counter for everything, but it was Ibushi’s athleticism that won him the match in the end. Tenzan didn’t do anything special, but he was on point and delivered his second pretty good match of this tournament. Ibushi flipping out of the Anaconda Buster was pretty cool. Considering the shape Tenzan is in, Ibusi sold for him and made this better than it should have been. *** ¼ *
Match 6: Katsuyori Shibata (6 points) vs. Bad Luck Fale (6 points) (Bullet Club)
Winner: Katsuyori Shibata (After Sleeper Hold & Penalty Kick)
This was pretty short and sweet. Fale was able to use his size well to really prevent Shibata from gaining any momentum. He dominated a lot of the match and Shibata had to do what he could to get some blows in there. After Fale whipped Shibata into the barricade and beat him down out there it looked like doom for Shibata. However, Shibata came back in at 19 and was able to change the situation. He eventually got in a Basement Dropkick, while Fale kept beating him down. Shibata tried twice for the Sleeper Hold, but Fale countered both by going into the corner. A Bad Luck Fall counter into the Sleeper did the trick though, and Shibata takes the points lead. I thought they worked a good big man and smaller man style here. Shibata had to change up his normal strategy to win and he did. Fale didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, but it all worked for this match.*** ¼ *
Match 7: AJ Styles (4 Points) (Bullet Club) vs. Doc Gallows (2 points) (Bullet Club)
Winner: AJ Styles (After Bloody Sunday DDT)
This was another short match, but at least these two worked hard. Doc Gallows actually seemed motivated here. Aside from the very audible spot calling by AJ, AJ came from underneath most of the time. Gallows dominated a lot of the match and tried to keep on the offensive so AJ couldn’t use the Calf Killer. Gallows hit his two big moves and a nice looking apron Chokeslam too. AJ really didn’t do a whole lot offensively, especially since he wasn’t going to be able to hit the Styles Clash on Gallows. AJ tricked Gallows into the corner, got in the Calf Killer and was able to weaken Gallows for the Bloody Sunday and the win. I won’t say this was entertaining, but they managed to keep my attention and it never lulled. ***
Match 8: (NEVER Openweight Champion, 2009 G1 Winner) Togi Makabe (4 points) vs. Tetsuya Naito (6 points)
Winner: Togi Makabe (After King Kong Knee Drop)
It took a long while for the action to pick up in this match. Naito was in full heel mode for this one, as he would not let up on Makabe. Makabe didn’t like Naito was taking too long to take off clothes. So, Naito takes him on the outside and rams him into the barricade. Naito kept delivering a variety of different blows and submissions to the neck. He wouldn’t let Makabe enter the ring. Then when Makabe did, Naito got out of the ring and wouldn’t go in either. Finally Makabe was able to react and start giving Naito Lariats. Makabe got all of his usual spots in and Makabe was able to take advantage of Naito getting too over-confident as well. Makabe smashed Naito’s head into the top of the pole and Naito had a big gash above his eye from being busted open hard way. Spider German Suplex and King Kong Knee Drop did Naito in this time. This match was all about furthering Naito’s heel character and they really accomplished that here. The story was told, the match worked, I was surprised Makabe picked up the win, but it makes sense based on how the match was booked. I really liked it and it might be the best match of the whole night.*** ¾ *
Match 9: MAIN EVENT: (2007 G1 Winner) Hiroshi Tanahashi (4 points) vs. Toru Yano (2 points) (CHAOS)
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi (After High Fly Flow)
Yano really tried to pull everything he could out of his hat here to beat Tanahashi. If you don’t know, these guys have been feuding ever since Yano beat Tanahashi and then pointed and laughed at him in March at the New Japan Cup. Tanahashi beat him in what was the end of the feud at Dominion about five weeks ago in a pretty good match. So, looks like this is just one of those “one more time for the memories” kinda thing. These two showed they know each other from the opening bell as Yano goes for his break routine and Tanahashi decides to use that to put Yano in a leg submission anyway. Tana tosses Yano over the ropes, but Yano holds on and horribly tries to skin the cat in a pretty funny scene. Tanahashi SLAMS Yano’s head into the steel pole on the outside, not only reopening Yano’s head wound, but also leaving him there for a Running Crossbody, but Yano moves at the last second and Tana Crossbodies the steel pole instead. Yano exposes the turnbuckle at this point and whips Tana four different times into that exposed corner, which must be really hurting Tanahashi’s back. Yano gets a nice stalling suplex for a 2 count, Tana gets Yano to go into the exposed turnbuckle and Yano goes outside. Tana goes for a High Fly Flow to the outside, but he decides maybe not, as Yano runs under the ring to avoid it in a hilarious spot, as then he does his taunt and Tana hits him with a Baseball Slide and Plancha over the ropes to the outside for being silly. Both guys stay down so long, they have to hilariously try to beat each in the ring so they both don’t get counted out. Yano also got to hit his Powerbomb, he got a roll-up for 2, and a countered Backslide with some referee help for a very close near fall. Red Shoes almost gets put into a Double German Suplex spot, but is then sent over the ropes and down to the floor, taking him out until the end of the match. They do have one call back, which is the funny both guys do an Inverted Atomic Drop and have to do something with their groin hurting. Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade, but misses the High Fly Flow. Yano gets his chair, referee takes it away, but Tanahashi Dragon Screws Yano and the chair hits Red Shoes taking him out again. Tanahashi hits the Swing Neckbreaker, a Sling Blade onto the chair, and gets the High Fly Flow for the win. Sorry if this one felt like a report, but I just wanted to point out that they tried to do a lot of new tricks to make this interesting and I felt they accomplished that. Yano gets done in by his own arrogance and his own chair to boot. Tanahashi is now firmly done with Yano and gets a big two points to keep him contention with all the other big names in the A Block. *** ½ *
Here are the standings after nine nights of action…
A Block: Katsuyori Shibata (8 points), Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, AJ Styles, Togi Makabe, & Bad Luck Fale (6 points), and Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Doc Gallows (2 points)
B Block: Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson and Tomohiro Ishii (6 points), Shinsuke Nakamura, Michael Elgin, & Yujiro Takahashi (4 points), Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima (2 points) Tomoaki Honma (0 points)
Final Rating: 7.0 There was nothing blow away on this show and I would say there really wasn’t anything that reached the nomenclature of “great” on this show either. Naito vs. Makabe got the closest, but that isn’t what matters in the grand scheme of night nine. The undercard continued the theme of the weekend and was once again middle of the road. However, even though there wasn’t anything stand out, all of the matches were fun to watch, they had a story in them, and none of them overstayed their welcome or tried to go long to make it feel epic when they didn’t need to be. Shibata can legit beat anyone, even someone much bigger than him like Fale, Ibushi had to be an athlete against the veteran like Tenzan, Makabe took a lot of Naito’s crap, but he wound up being the smart one in the end, AJ beat a stablemate, and Tanahashi can finally say goodbye to Toru Yano. I think night nine proves that the A Block is the one to go to for everything in this tournament. This was one the night I was worried could totally bomb, but they managed to pull out another collective solid performance.
The tournament takes a night off and then returns for two successive nights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday night sees them travel to Sendai, while Wednesday they go to Iwate for the third single camera show of the tournament. I’ll be back at some point on Tuesday with a review of Night 10, where we will also be more than halfway through the G1 Climax 25 as well.
