So we have the 3^rd A Block match day! Shingo gets the fill in match, but the main event is Kota Ibushi vs Zack Sabre Jr! Let’s see if anyone slips from the top!

This is an interesting day. O-Khan has a very winnable match against Yujiro, which would get him to 8 points, so effectively 2 wins away from being able to sniff the Finals since 12+ points is usually the marker. Speaking of markers, Tomohiro Ishii has a problem. KENTA is a tough match up and if he loses, then he’ll drop to 1-3, and 3 losses are right at that bubble. More than 3 losses and you’re eliminated basically, exactly 3 and you need some mathematical help.

Does Ishii save himself from bubble purgatory? Can O-Khan keep at the top thanks to the free Naito points?

Let’s get to the day!

Ratings:

• Yuji Nagata vs Shingo Takagi: Shingo wins via Last of the Dragon @16:51 – *** ¼
• Yujiro Takahashi vs Great-O-Khan: O-Khan wins via Eliminator @14:15 – ***
• Tanga Loa vs Toru Yano: Yano wins via School Boy @10:46 – ** ¼
• KENTA vs Tomohiro Ishii: KENTA wins via Exposed Corner Roll-Up @21:08 – *** ¾
• ZSJ vs Kota Ibushi: ZSJ wins via Yes! I am a Long Way From Home @19:55 – ****

Results:

Yuji Nagata vs Shingo Takagi

As we’re aware now, it seems like at least for these first few shows, Yuji is the alternate non-tournament opponent to take Naito’s place. Nagata came in with a plan as he didn’t want to stand up with the Dragon, he decided to delve into his box of multiple Nagata Locks. Nagata Lock 3, 2 and even the White Eyes Fujiwara on Shingo’s banged up arm made for a bunch of believable near falls. Some may question how Nagata is more believable than YOSHI-HASHI to me, and it’s simple. Nagata was known as Mr. NJPW, he’s a two time former IWGP Champion, if New Japan was in a pickle they could always give him a surprise win and force a defense for Shingo. And trust me, Nagata getting a title shot would draw in Japan.

All that said, Shingo remains stubborn and continues to try and shake off the pain and fire Pumping Bombers, Made in Japan and tons of power moves. Great fight, Nagata kicked out of two hellish Pumping Bombers, then ate the Last of the Dragon, so our World Champion gets back on the winning train.

Yujiro Takahashi vs Great-O-Khan

O-Khan starts off the match by referencing Antonio Inoki. He falls on his back and calls for Yujiro to attack him while he’s in that position, the same way Inoki stayed on the ground to avoid Muhammed Ali’s prowess. Yujiro manages to get snatched in a Leg Lock but gets to the ropes and then takes advantage of the fact O-Khan has to reposition. So Yujiro evens the playing field with his Pimp Cane and Pieter distracting the referee.

Yujiro slows down the pace, but every counter punch from O-Khan seems twice as effective as anything Yujiro does. O-Khan hits Tree of Woe Mongolian Chops, and starts talking smack to Yujiro which fires him up pretty well. Nice Lariats, nice fire, Yujiro sped up and showed a level of effort again. Apparently he named his Lifting DDT “Big Juice” but couldn’t find an opportunity to hit it. Yujiro took a page out of YOSHI-HASHI’s book for the moral victory, the difference is Yujiro usually doesn’t try, so this is surprising.

Tanga Loa vs Toru Yano

We know what we’re getting with Yano matches, and part of the amusement was understanding half of it. Loa is always good for things he says during the match and that definitely helped the goofiness. Even if it was more clean than usual, we saw Loa get the best of a hockey fight, put Yano’s shirt over his head and tried for the Count Out, but Yano remembered how shirts work and beat the count.

Then Yano grabbed the turnbuckle pad and tried to clock Loa with it, but he was unfazed…it is a pad afterall. Yano went for a Low Blow, the referee stopped him, Loa shoved Yano into the ref, Jado comes in they try a double team, but it goes awry. Yano even pulls a little Eddie Guerrero and hits Loa in the back with the kendo stick and then throws it to Jado. So Loa asks Jado why, everyone is looking at Jado, Yano hits the Low Blow, School Boy, 2 points.

KENTA vs Tomohiro Ishii

Ishii and KENTA have some history here, but the big challenge is KENTA needs to figure it out. Ishii is usually the anchor of his blocks where he ends with 8 or 10 points and loses most of his bigger matches in impressive bouts.

We see a nice balance of KENTA’s heel tactics and the old striking demon he used to be in NOAH. Ishii manages to fire up KENTA in between a few heel shortcuts including a return to removing the turnbuckle pad. KENTA hits the Stun Gun, Green Killer, Double Stomps and Busaiku Knee. Ishii tries to stay resolute and fire back up hitting the Superplex, Sliding Lariats and getting close, but never close enough. KENTA pushes Ishii into the exposed corner, Ishii bounces off the metal and KENTA rolls him up with a high stack and possibly grabbing the weight belt for leverage.

ZSJ vs Kota Ibushi

These two have a crazy history where they were basically 50/50 up until Ibushi went on his recent G1 tear. Ibushi has started to pull ahead in their head to head matches thanks to being 3-0 against Zack in the G1. Will ZSJ continue his momentum, or is even a recovering Golden Star too much for him?

ZSJ falls into the usual trap he tend to when facing Ibushi, and he tries to strike with him early. But eventually ZSJ starts to bring things to the ground and work, but sprinkling in some fun moves including a Powerbomb. Ibushi hits a lot of his leg strike offense, Bomaye into a Kamigoye attempt, but we see ZSJ counter it and start wrapping him up. A Flying Octopus, gets grounded, Stretch Muffler add on and I’m pretty sure this is what he’s calling “Yes! I Am a Long Way From Home”, but the important thing is that Ibushi verbally submits pretty quickly.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Well now it was this day’s turn to be a little lackluster. Nothing was overtly bad, but it really didn’t come off like a day that mattered. Shingo being in a filler match, Ibushi still “recovering” and less than interesting match ups before Intermission (even though they were decent enough matches) really had this day drag more than RuPaul.

I can say we got the correct outcome in the Main Event and O-Khan getting a push along with Jeff Cobb is a good way to keep United Empire relevant in Japan, especially with its expansion in the west with Aussie Open and TJP. There’s a few days until the next G1 day, so let’s see the current A Block standings and let it all sink in.

A Block:

1. Great-O-Khan/ 4-0 / 8 Points
2. Zack Sabre Jr/ 3-0 / 6 Points
3. Toru Yano/ 3-1 / 6 Points
4. KENTA/ 3-1/ 6 Points
5. Shingo Takagi/ 2-1 / 4 Points
6. Yujiro Takahashi/ 2-2 / 4 Points
7. Kota Ibushi/ 2-2/ 4 Points
8. Tanga Loa/ 1-2/ 2 Points
9. Tomohiro Ishii/ 1-3/ 2 Points
10. Tetsuya Naito/ 0-9/ 0 Points (Eliminated Injury)