Andrew’s G1 Climax 31 Day 2 Results & Match Ratings: 9.19.2021

First night of B Block for the G1! Can the Ace of the Universe brave the rain? Don’t honorable warriors bow to Holy Emperors? Let’s find out who gets those early points!

We get the worst possible match up of the block out of the way early! YOSHI-HASHI vs EVIL – the battle of who will suck the least! Aside from that we also get Tama Tonga vs SANADA which should be really fun given both men’s ability for technical wrestling.

On paper this is really solid, aside from the first match. Let’s see what happens!

Ratings:

• EVIL w/Dick Togo vs YOSHI-HASHI: EVIL wins via Everything is Evil @17:15 – ** ¼
• Jeff Cobb vs Chase Owens: Cobb wins via Tour of the Islands @12:11 – ***
• Tama Tonga vs SANADA: SANADA wins via Japanese Leg Clutch @19:04 – *** ½
• Taichi vs Hirooki Goto: Taichi wins via Black Mephisto @18:30 – ****
• Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada: Okada wins via Rainmaker @29:36 – **** ¼

Results:

EVIL w/Dick Togo vs YOSHI-HASHI

You know, the last time I really enjoyed EVIL’s work was in the New Japan Cup last year when he just dismantled YOSHI-HASHI. Hopefully we get more of that, because I’m never gonna understand the fascination people have with YOSHI-HASHI beyond just that underdog sad puppy kind of pity. If YOSHI-HASHI finds a way to win, it will give him a ton of momentum since the Japanese crowd seem to Kayfabe hate EVIL while the Western fans just hate EVIL. If EVIL wins, well then, it is YOSHI-HASHI, so no one is shocked.

EVIL dominates early with a little bit of a misleading tactic from Dick Togo and going after the ring bell guy multiple times, as is tradition. YOSHI-HASHI makes his comeback and the crowd is behind him. EVIL and Togo have to cheat a bit more, Darkness Scorpion on the outside, but the crowd is still supporting YOSHI-HASHI well. YOSHI unveils a new move, like a Pumphandle Backbreaker, he even transitions from the Butterfly Lock to a Sleeper Hold.

HASHI fights off Togo a few times, blocks a low blow, blocks the Everything is Evil, but EVIL counters Karma. HASHI does pull off a Flying Armbar that he transitions into a Cradle, but Togo is in the ring distracting the referee. HASHI gets basically a 6 count, then he goes to complain and EVIL finally gets the Low Blow. HASHI then succumbs to Everything is Evil.

Speaking of as is tradition, HASHI gave it a shot, had his hope moments, and failed. I am not surprised nor upset because HASHI is a waste of roster space to me.

Jeff Cobb vs Chase Owens

Chase tries to go right after Cobb at the bell, which was the wrong answer. So Chase starts using his head and he manages to navigate himself into a position to focus on Cobb’s legs and even a little bit of neck work. But given the power difference, going after the legs is smarter.

There was definitely a strategy from Owens, but for a good chunk of the match, Chase was just used like a sandbag. Chase had some great flashes, catching Cobb with V Triggers, Low Dropkicks and even using the ropes more than usual. Chase hit a Missile Dropkick followed by a Kip Up, which I don’t think we’ve ever really seen him do either. Cobb goes for Tour of the Islands but Chase counters it twice. Has a nice flurry, even hits a great Corkscrew Pump Kick, but Cobb is just too much. He shrugs things off a little, hits a Super Kick and knocks Chase into the ropes he stumbles back into Cobb’s arms and takes a tour.

Much better match than expected if we’re being honest.

Tama Tonga vs SANADA

Tama starts with the gamesmanship early, with offering a handshake, then going through a lengthy spot which ended in a Dueling Dropkick where no one had the advantage. In a turn we don’t usually see, Tama takes off his vest and the fans and SANADA are even impressed. So Tama smiles and takes the time to pander and preen, offer SANADA a handshake again, but SANADA is pensive. Tama then goes to the corner to play to the crowd, allows SANADA to go to the other corner (as SANADA is want to do), then after a little showing off, Tama attacks before SANADA turns off the corner.

SANADA is on the outside, beats the count, then Tama takes him back out and they brawl a little. We see a Paradise Lock, Tongan Twist, TKO, Stinger Splash and Magic Screw! The Magic Screw usage from SANADA is interesting since Tama has a billowing feud with The Good Brothers, so any Magic Killer/Gun Stun references are obvious shots. Speaking of that, Tama tries the Gun Stun and SANADA just catches him, falls back and goes into the Skull End.

Tana fights, SANADA reapplies, Moonsault attempt gets countered and Tama pulls out a Butterfly Piledriver which I have never seen him use before. Gun Stun attempt again, backfires, O’Connor Roll into the Japanese Leg Clutch and SANADA barely steals the two points!

Taichi vs Hirooki Goto

Taichi is doesn’t a great job at being a walking AJPW reference. Not only does he take from his mentor Toshiaki Kawada, he’s started transitioning his Choke Hold into a Nodo Otoshi Chokeslam ala Akira Taue. As clean as Taichi has wrestled lately, we still see those Suzuki-Gun tendencies where he uses the guardrail and the camera cables to gain a few advantages.

Goto however doesn’t know how to quit. Goto fires back with a choke of his own, then we get a small comedy spot where both are choking one another simultaneously. There are plenty of signature moves that get traded, Taichi with the Gamen Giri and Axe Bomber; Goto pulls off many of his cooler moves. Ushigoroshi, Shouten Kai, most of the high impact moves not named GTR.

This really came down to who could hit their homerun move first. Goto blocked the Superkicks often, even after Taichi took his pants off. Goto breaks out of the Black Mephisto, lands a headbutt, Taichi reels back with a Rolling Elbow and finally hits Black Mephisto! Holy Emperor wins!

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada

Fight number 15 between the face of the last generation and the current generation! Okada is leading the count at 6-5-3. Can Tanahashi even things up again?

The early goings are very much a chess match. Simple moves like Arm Drags, Headlocks and Head Scissors. Okada’s arrogance does spark Tanahashi a little, so that’s when we start seeing the Dragon Screws even the bad knee game. As the action goes to the outside, Okada feigns Tombstoning Tanahashi off the apron, but Tanahashi slips out and Dragon Screw again! Then we see the Flying Crossbody on the outside (I do like Kevin Kelly calling the non-Finisher version Aces High).

Tana goes for a High Fly Flow in the ring, Okada gets his knees up and turns it into a Money Clip. Tana gets out of the Money Clip, then we start seeing Okada pick up the pace. Commentary really starts reminding everyone that the 3 draws all came in the G1, so they have a history of drawing in the G1. Okada hits the Elbow Drop, does the classic Rainmaker pose with the zoom out, but Tana ducks the Rainmaker. Sling Blade, the off the ropes Sling Blade…and now we get to the desperation spots. They both have a waistlock in and jockey for Tombstone control. Okada gets the best of it, Jumping Tombstone but Tana refuses to quit.

Okada almost steals the win with that craft Double Leg Cradle, but not quite. Classic Million Dollar Dropkick, leads to a Rainmaker Tana can’t dodge and we see The Rainmaker start strong!

Overall Score: 8/10

All in all, a better tournament day than Day 1. Hell, YOSHI-HASHI vs EVIL wasn’t complete crap and the fact the fans were really into does once again remind us why EVIL is a thing. None of the matches were really bad, unlike Day 1 (here’s looking at you KENTA vs Yano).

Tama looked great, Chase looked surprisingly good, Tana and Okada showed up while Taichi is still doing the Lord’s work.

B Block:

1. Taichi / 1-0 / 2 Points
2. Kazuchika Okada / 1-0 / 2 Points
3. Jeff Cobb / 1-0 / 2 Points
4. EVIL / 1-0 / 2 Points
5. SANADA / 1-0 / 2 Points
6. Tama Tonga / 0-1/ 0 Points
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi / 0-1/ 0 Points
8. Chase Owens / 0-1/ 0 Points
9. Hirooki Goto / 0-1/ 0 Points
10. YOSHI-HASHI / 0-1/ 0 Points