Andrew’s G1 Climax 28 A Block Ratings & Review: Day 5

The third night of G1 A block competition, which means everyone sitting at 0-2, desperately needs to figure it out. Like I said in the last article, 3 losses is kind of that breaking point. 12 points have won the block in the past, but anything less than that, you’d need some odd stuff to happen.

With that said, YOSHI-HASHI, Suzuki and Okada, you gotta figure it out boys. Or your tournament is over before it really begins.

Jay White vs Michael Elgin

The only battle of undefeated wrestlers on this show, so someone will take an early block lead. Elgin tends to be the ‘different type of match’ for a lot of rising stars. He’s a former NEVER and Intercontinental champion, so it makes sense that he is seen as a force. Does Jay White continue his Eddie Guerrero impression, by lying, cheating and stealing victories?

We saw an awkward match. An early chop exchange was botched a bit, as well as a Kiwi Crusher on the apron, where both men just fell off. This was just hard hitting, but the flow and excitement never really got going.

White does however, find interesting ways to grab or hit referees mid move. After hitting a Tiger Driver for a near fall, Elgin looks to go for his Buckle Bomb/Elgin Bomb combination, but before he gets thrown into the turnbuckle, Jay manages to grab the referee, so they both go careening into the corner.

It was this delay and lack of referee supervision, that gave White the chance to hit a low blow and Blade Runner, for the pinfall victory.

Switchblade is the first to 6 points, and continues to look clever as his persona comes more and more to the forefront.

Winner: Jay White via Blade Runner

Rating: ** 3/4

Minoru Suzuki vs YOSHI-HASHI

Both men are scoreless, and right at that point where another loss almost puts them dead in the water already. Suzuki has been putting on sadistic clinics but getting caught at the wrong times. Whereas YOSHI-HASHI, he’s been doing his…umm…best? YOSHI needs to not be in this tournament.

HASHI started off quickly before the introductions. Tried to take the fight to Suzuki, took him to the outside and that’s where he lost the momentum. After balking on a chairshot, Suzuki goes on his murdering spree.

Eventually the broken pieces of YOSHI try to mount some comeback after hitting Head Hunter (it’s a Blockbuster) and applying the Butterfly Lock a few times.

Suzuki struggled mightily while in the Butterfly Lock, so we were supposed to buy in, but come on, YOSHI-HASHI is awful. If Suzuki lost to him, I think there’s a rule to retire and commit seppuku immediately.

So Minoru wins with the Gotch Piledriver, gets on the board finally, and HASHI still sucks.

Winner: Suzuki via Gotch Piledriver

Rating: ** 1/2

EVIL vs Togi Makabe

Togi, the other undefeated coming into today against someone that’s been considered a dark horse since his break out year, last year. Will EVIL keep the block close, or will Makabe join Jay White at 6 points?

This was a hard hitting match as one would expect. EVIL did his wrap a chair around Makabe’s head and swing for the fences spot. He also had a nice callback to his stablemate Hiromu Takahashi, by taking Makabe into the bleachers and going for a big running maneuver. Makabe manages to block the Running Lariat unfortunately, and rides the wave of momentum for a little bit.

We get the corner head punches with the signature Makabe laugh with a lot of trading lariats and shoulder tackles. EVIL manages to sink in the Banshee Muzzle a couple times, but Makabe shows some resilience.

But when push came to shove, a well timed lariat from EVIL set up nicely for Everything is Evil, and a pinfall victory. So this leaves Jay White alone at the top, and quite a few people cluttering up second place at 4 points.

Winner: EVIL via Everything is Evil

Rating: ***

Bad Luck Fale vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

Bullet Club OGs, or Firing Squad, whatever you want to call them are bringing the old heel vibe back. Tanahashi hasn’t had a very productive tournament so far. A miracle win against Suzuki and loss to Jay White doesn’t bode well for the Ace of the Universe. Should be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Tanahashi hits a dropkick into the corner as soon as the bell rings and his aggression is very high. Chop Blocks on Fale’s knees and a lot of working over the body parts leads you to believe Tanahashi is on the fast track to a win.

But being such a huge force and large man in general, Fale fights back. Leaning his weight on Tanahashi at different times, hitting a Grenade, and nearly landing the Bad Luck Fall before getting that countered.

Tanahashi hits High Fly Flow, but Tanga Loa pulls Red Shoes out and the heel tactics hit in full force. Fale accidentally lariats Loa, so it all looks good for the Ace, but Tama does his best Randy Orton impression and hits a Gun Stun out of nowhere.

Fale drapes and arm over the Ace, but Red Shoes assess the situation, flips off the Tongans and disqualifies Fale. So DQs are usually rare in the G1, and Fale’s already been disqualified twice in 3 matches.

Hiroshi moves to 4 points, Fale stays stuck at 2 and we might get new items on Fale’s “Fuck ’em” list. I wonder if it’s as infamous as the Disco List…

Winner: Tanahashi via DQ

Rating: *** 1/4

Hangman Page vs Kazuchika Okada

Well I’ll be completely honest, I was not a fan of Page during his early time in ROH. When he joined the Bullet Club I just shrugged and forgot about him, much like most people forget about Chase Owens. But this year he’s shown a lot of growth, and in only 3 G1 matches, he’s shown to be more deserving then a few other members of the field. Then there’s Okada…ugh. Broken, Shattered, Rainman, Gone Fishing, whatever you want to call this Okada, it’s definitely left an awkward taste in people’s mouths. Does Okada get on the board finally or continue down the rabbit hole?

Page keeps striking at Okada to try and snap him out of this new persona, all while Okada just grins like an idiot and invites more attempts. Page gets frustrated and dumps Okada out with a lariat and then goes for a dive through the middle rope, which looked like a tornillo elbow drop since Okada was laying on the ground. Hangman was heated this match, constantly calling out, ” This is Okada now!” and pulling off numerous athletic/entertaining spots, including a Buckshot Lariat over the barricade.

Numerous Moonsaults, Standing Shooting Star Press, two connected Buckshot Lariats, and even taking a move from Kenny Omega with the Package Piledriver. All of these were impressive, but still Okada kicked out. Never quite breaking out of vacation mode, but at least showing some of that old resiliency.

The crowd was interesting as well because they were fairly vocal for Page at different points and then it would split to 50/50, but Okada never won over the crowd completely. It ended with Okada countering Rite of Passage into a Tombstone and then Rainmaker.

It should be noted, Okada did not do the ‘3 Things’ promo after the win and instead thanked the crowd for bearing with his losing streak and even feigning crying. I don’t know what to make of this Okada still, but I don’t totally hate it…it’s just odd.

Winner: Okada via Rainmaker

Rating: **** 1/4

A Block Standings:

Jay White: 3-0 (6 Points)
Togi Makabe: 2-1 (4 Points)
Michael Elgin: 2-1 (4 Points)
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 2-1 (4 Points)
EVIL: 2-1 (4 Points)
Hangman Page: 1-2 (2 Points)
Minoru Suzuki: 1-2 (2 Points)
Bad Luck Fale: 1-2 (2 Points)
Kazuchika Okada: 1-2 ( 2 Points)
YOSHI-HASHI: 0-3 (0 Points)

Thoughts:

When it came to quality of matches, this day was kind of forgettable save for the main event. We saw Red Shoes stand up to the Tongan shenanigans, and Jay White take sole possession of first place in the Block. But aside from that, it was kind of an uneventful day.

Happy to see Suzuki and Okada finally get a check in the winner’s column, but still, had to assume it was gonna happen eventually. A Block has yet to really blow me away, even though I do admit the storytelling has been really damn good. The G1 has been all about B Block so far, but maybe it’s a slow burn like the AJPW Champion Carnival was.