Day 14 of NJPW G1 Climax 35 was bannered by the B Block with high-stakes matches that will shape the playoff picture. Here’s everything that went down and what the block looks like after day 14:
NJPW G1 Climax 35 Day 14 Card:
- Main event: B Block – Shota Umino def. Konosuke Takeshita
- 8th match: B Block – Shingo Takagi def. Ren Narita
- 7th match: B Block – Zack Sabre Jr. def. Drilla Moloney
- 6th match: B Block – El Phantasmo def. YOSHI-HASHI
- 5th match: Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura def. Gedo & David Finlay
- 4th match: Dick Togo & EVIL def. Katsuya Murashima & Hiroshi Tanahashi
- 3rd match: Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji def. Jakob Austin Young & Callum Newman
- 2nd match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Sanada def. Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.
- 1st match: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg def. Masatora Yasuda & Taichi
Umino Reaches 10 Points, Skips to Second Place
Shota Umino got a big win in the main event of day 14 against Konosuke Takeshita. He not only reached 10 points, but he also took Takeshita’s spot at second place in the B Block.
Another benefit of this massive victory is having a better chance to enter the playoffs with a semi’s bye, should he be able to take the top spot of the block, which currently belongs to previous tournament winner Zack Sabre Jr., whom he beat on day four. On the other hand, Takeshita is now in third place, still with a chance to enter the playoffs by securing a quarterfinal berth.
ZSJ Beats Moloney, Holds on to Top Spot
IWGP World Heavyweight champion Zack Sabre Jr. defeated fellow Brit Drilla Moloney to reach 12 points and keep the top spot in the B Block. The win also makes his case for securing a semifinals bye in the playoffs much stronger.
Meanwhile, Moloney is still at eight points, but can still make the top three. However, it will be difficult, as his fate relies on the results of the final day of B Block competition on August 13.
Takagi Spoils Narita
Even if Shota Umino won in the main event, Ren Narita would have been in second place if it weren’t for Shingo Takagi. The Rampage Dragon thwarted him in the show’s semifinal, raining in his parade.
Takagi, who is already eliminated from playoff contention, now has eight points. Meanwhile, Narita dropped to fourth place and is in a must-win situation against his final block match against Konosuke Takeshita for him to make the playoffs.
In the other B Block match, NJPW World TV champion El Phantasmo got a second straight win when he beat YOSHI-HASHI. This loss puts YOSHI-HASHI’s playoff hopes in even more danger, as he is also in the same boat as Moloney and will have to rely on the results of the other matches on August 13.
Tournament action will resume on Sunday, August 10, the last day of A Block competition, headlined by the match-up between Yuya Uemura and David Finlay.
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