Is the NJPW landscape shifting?

The top of A Block has been shaken up! Will Shingo Takagi, Great-O-Khan or Zack Sabre Jr. make a recovery to head back for the top of the G1 Climax?

NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kota Ibushi VS Tanga Loa w/ Jado; Ibushi wins.
• Zack Sabre Jr. VS Yujiro Takahashi w/ Pieter; ZSJ wins.
• Toru Yano VS Shingo Takagi; Takagi wins.
• Tomohiro Ishii VS Great-O-Khan; Ishii wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Zack Sabre Jr: 4-1, 8 points
Kenta: 4-2, 8 points [has special singles by]
Great-O-Khan: 4-2, 8 points
Kota Ibushi: 4-2, 8 points
Shingo Takagi: 3-2, 6 points
Toru Yano: 3-2, 6 points
Tomohiro Ishii: 3-3, 6 points
Tanga Loa: 2-3, 4 points
Yujiro Takahashi: 2-3, 4 points

Kota Ibushi VS Tanga Loa w/ Jado!

The Golden Star slayed The Dragon in last round’s main event! Will he continue his comeback and shine in the Sun Plaza? Or will the Silverback go Ape Shit on him and bring Ibushi back to earth?

Jado and Loa Low Sweet and fans cheer. The bell rings and fans rally up, “I-BU-SHI! I-BU-SHI!” as he and Loa circle. They approach, feel things out, and then back away. They approach, tie up, and Loa puts Ibushi on the ropes. The ref calls for the ropebreak and Loa lets of clean, which fans cheer. Jado gives some Loa some coaching and fans rally back up as Loa circles with Ibushi again. They tie up, Ibushi gets a headlock, Loa pulls hair then powers out, but Ibushi rams shoulders. Neither falls and fans cheer as things speed up. Loa drops, hurdles and dropkicks! Loa gets a headlock takeover and he grinds Ibushi down. Fans rally up as Ibushi gets to his feet.

Loa grinds the headlock harder, Ibushi powers out, but Loa runs him over with a shoulder. Loa wags his finger, speeds things up, and Ibushi hurdles to dropkick back! Fans fire up and rally as Loa bails out. Ibushi aims and roars into the PLANCHA! Direct hit and down goes Loa! Ibushi grabs at Loa but Loa resists. Ibushi gets Loa up, whips him hard into railing, and then runs in, into a SPEAR! Loa and Ibushi are both down and the fans fire back up. A ring count starts, but it’s 5 of 20 before Loa sits up. The count is 10 of 20 before Loa stands up and brings Ibushi around. Loa throws a forearm, Ibushi staggers about, Loa bounces him off the apron at 15 of 20.

Loa gets Ibushi up, APRON BACK SUPLEX! Loa slingshots in at 19 of 20 for a senton! And then hits a STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Loa is frustrated but fans fire up seeing his agility. Another cover, TWO! Loa clamps on with a chinlock and grinds Ibushi into the mat. Ibushi endures, fights and kicks his way around, and gets the ropebreak with a foot! Loa lets go, to CHOKE Ibushi! The ref reprimands, Loa lets off and he drags Ibushi up. Loa ROCKS Ibushi with a forearm, headbutts him in the back, then whips him corner to corner to clothesline! Loa whips back the other way and clotheslines again! Then he reels Ibushi in for a T-BONE SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!

Loa argues with the ref but the count is fair. Fans rally, Loa paces and he brings Ibushi up. Ibushi throws a forearm but Loa throws it forearm back! Ibushi throws another, but Loa gives it back again. Ibushi fires off several forearms then eggs Loa on. Loa kicks low and suplexes, but Ibushi slips out to waistlock. Loa elbows free, runs but into a BOOT! He roars and runs in again, into another boot! Loa rebounds to boot, Ibushi comes back with a JUMPING KICK! Both men are down, fans rally up and Ibushi stands. Ibushi fires off fast hands and a sobat! Loa falls over, Ibushi aims as he gets to a corner. Ibushi runs in but into a BOOT! Ibushi staggers, wobbles, but manages a POWERSLAM!

Ibushi somersaults to the corner, MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Ibushi wags his finger now. Ibushi drags Loa up and half nelsons. Loa resists the suplex, elbows free, wrenches and kicks to knee and ENZIGURI! Then a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Ibushi survives and Loa is beside himself! Loa gets Ibushi back up and reels him in, but Ibushi slips out of the bomb to kick low. Ibushi reels Loa in now and lifts, SIT-OUT BOMB! Cover, TWO! Loa survives but Ibushi vows to end this. Fans rally, “I-BU-SHI!” as he gets the wrists. Ibushi sits Loa up, but Loa blocks. Loa reels Ibushi into a fireman’s carry but Ibushi slips out to get both wrists!

Ibushi kicks Loa’s legs out, but Loa powers up to block the Kami-Goye! Loa turns things around, and STEALS THE BLINDSIDE KAMIGOYE!!! Fans are thunderous as both men are down again! Loa gets himself to ropes, drags himself up, and goes back to Ibushi. Loa reels him in, gets him up, SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi survives and Loa can’t believe it! Ibushi crawls to a corner and slowly gets up. Loa storms in, waistlocks and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Ibushi rises?! Ibushi dodges Loa to GERMAN SUPLEX! But Loa stands back up, too! And he BLOCKS the V-Trigger! Loa spins Ibushi around to POISON-RANA!! How is he doing this?!

But Ibushi is right up to POISON-RANA, TOO!! Ibushi’s wasn’t as clean but fans are still thunderous over it! Ibushi and Loa slowly rise, and Ibushi aims from a corner. He calls upon the powers of Strong Style, runs in, BOMAYE! But he’s not done there! He gets the wrists, sits Loa up, but Loa SPEARS POINT BLANK!! And he gets Ibushi up, scoops, APE- NO! Ibushi slips off, gut wrenches and TOMBSTONES! Then he gets the wrists, KAMIGOYE!! Cover, Ibushi wins!

Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Loa earns 0)

Gold still beats silver as Golden Star outshines Silverback! Will Loa be stuck near the bottom of the G1? Will Ibushi find his way back to the finals?

Zack Sabre Jr. VS Yujiro Takahashi w/ Pieter!

The Submission Master tried but failed to make the Stone Pitbull #JustTapOut, but one loss is not enough to derail him. Will the Tokyo Pimp look to add to ZSJ’s woes? Or will he simply be used to get ZSJ back up?

Pieter and Yujiro Low Sweet and the bell rings. Yujiro talks a little smack but ZSJ gives it back as fans rally up. The two circle, feel things out, and Yujiro shoots in but ZSJ quickly gets around to a waistlock. Yujiro tries but can’t get away, ZSJ high stacks but Yujiro keeps his shoulders up. ZSJ floats to a lateral press but Yujiro moves around. ZSJ forces Yujiro to a lateral press this time, gets the cover, ONE! Fans cheer as the two reset and go again. They feel out a grapple, Yujiro waistlocks then shoves ZSJ at the ref! ZSJ stops himself, and blocks the low blow! ZSJ wrenches the arm and has the wristlock but Yujiro gets the ropebreak. Fans cheer as ZSJ lets off cleanly.

Yujiro gets back up, he and ZSJ circle and the two feel things out again. ZSJ waistlocks, Yujiro grabs at the ref but ZSJ blocks his low blow mule kick to an ANKLE LOCK! Yujiro scrambles and gets the ropebreak! ZSJ complains about the low blow attempts but he does let Yujiro go. Yujiro bails out to check on his leg, then gets up on the apron. ZSJ runs in but Yujiro blocks the boot to ROCK ZSJ with a forearm! Yujiro then shoulders in, but ZSJ catches him to a KIMURA! The ref counts because they’re in the ropes, ZSJ lets go at 4. Yujiro flops back to the floor and ZSJ goes out after him. ZSJ drags Yujiro up, and wrenches the arm to then bend the wrist and elbow.

ZSJ brings Yujiro around, RAMS the arm into the apron, then puts Yujiro in. ZSJ slides in, then BOOTS the bad arm! Yujiro sits up but ZSJ BOOTS the bad arm again. Fans rally, ZSJ kicks but Yujiro stays up. Yujiro blocks the boot, and BITES the foot?! Is that even doing anything with the shoe on? Yujiro still throws ZSJ down and runs to basement BOOT! ZSJ bails out now to check his face but Yujiro goes out. Yujiro drags ZSJ up, RAMS him into railing, and then Pieter sneaks Yujiro his pimp cane. Pieter distracts the ref and Yujiro stands ZSJ up to CANE SHOT him down! Yujiro puts the cane down and gets back in the ring, the ref unaware of what happened.

The ring count starts while ZSJ is down on the ramp. The count reaches 10 of 20 before ZSJ sits up. ZSJ stands, hurries over and slides in at 13. Yujiro storms up to him, snapmares ZSJ and throws forearms to keep him down. Yujiro sits ZSJ up and runs to basement BOOT! Cover, TWO! ZSJ goes to a corner, Yujiro brings him up and ROCKS him with a forearm! And KNEES him low! Yujiro whips corner to corner and runs in to BOOT ZSJ down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Yujiro brings ZSJ up to back suplex! Cover, TWO! ZSJ rolls away to ropes but Yujiro stalks him. Yujiro SLAPS ZSJ, so ZSJ gets up to EuroUpper! And again! And again!

Yujiro kicks low, whips, but ZSJ reverses to get the arm and TWEAK it! Yujiro kicks low again, fisherman but ZSJ fights out to wrench and WRING Yujiro out! Fans rally while Yujiro writhes and ZSJ gets the arm again. ZSJ bends Yujiro’s arm, going after the elbow. ZSJ wrenches and wrenches to double wristlock and STOMP the arm! Yujiro grits his teeth and clutches the elbow but ZSJ gets the arm again. ZSJ has a hammerlock, traps it, then pulls the other arm, recliner cradle! TWO, but ZSJ hammerlocks and TWISTS the bad arm! ZSJ sits on the arm, has a modified Disarmer but Yujiro gets a ropebreak with his foot. ZSJ lets go but kicks Yujiro all the way to the corner.

Yujiro stands, ZSJ runs in but Yujiro BOOTS him! ZSJ returns, Yujiro dodges, ZSJ goes up to tornado, but Yujiro denies the DDT. Yujiro hooks the leg but ZSJ wrenches out, only for Yujiro to duck the clothesline and reel ZSJ into a REVERSE DDT! Fans fire up as both men are down and Yujiro clutches his bad arm. Yujiro stands as fans rally and he drags ZSJ up. Yujiro puts ZSJ against the ropes to BOOT him down! Yujiro then brings ZSJ back up, fireman’s carries, but ZSJ turns that into a GUILLOTINE! But Yujiro powers up to power out, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Yujiro keeps focus as he pushes ZSJ around.

Fans rally, Yujiro stands ZSJ up and reels him in, but ZSJ arm-drags to then ghost pin, TWO! Double wristlock and STOMP! Yujiro clutches his arm, ZSJ runs but Yujiro blocks the Penalty Kick! Yujiro throws ZSJ down, runs, but ZSJ avoids the boot! Yujiro blocks a boot, waistlocks but ZSJ wrenches out. Yujiro reverses the whip to INCOLLE SLAM! Fans fire up as both men are down again. Yujiro gets feeling in the bad arm, crawls over to ZSJ and brings him up. ZSJ ROUNDHOUSES the bad arm! Yujiro CHOPS with the good arm. ZSJ ROUNDHOUSES the bad arm, Yujiro CHOPS with the good arm! ZSJ ROUNDHOUSES, Yujiro CHOPS, repeat! Yujiro CHOPS again, ZSJ drops to a knee!

ZSJ comes back with a EuroUpper but Yujiro throws a forearm. ZSJ EuroUppers, Yujiro forearms, repeat, faster and faster! ZSJ wobbles and Yujiro fires off more forearms! Yujiro roars but ZSJ blocks to reel him in! IRON OCTOPUS! Yujiro powers out to a fireman’s carry! MIAMI SHINE!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and Yujiro can’t believe it! Fans rally up, Yujiro fires up and he stands ZSJ back up. ZSJ slips out of Pimp Juice, Yujiro forearms but ZSJ wrenches to PELE the bad arm! But Yujiro LARIATS with the good arm! Yujiro gets ZSJ back up and reels him back in, but still no Pimp Juice! ZSJ hooks for the backslide but Yujiro turns that around on him!

ZSJ rolls through, into PIMP JUICE!! Cover, TWO?!! Fans are fired up while Yujiro is shocked! Yujiro gets ZSJ back up, BIG- WRENCH! ZSJ has the Fujiwara, but Yujiro rolls through! ZSJ shifts position, KIMURA HEADSCISSORS! Then an INVERTED TRIANGLE! Yujiro taps, ZSJ wins!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by submission (gains 2 points; Yujiro earns 0)

The Tokyo Pimp could not outlast the vegan fueled Dangerous Tekker! Is Yujiro going to end up on the bottom of the block? Will ZSJ find himself right back on top again?

Toru Yano VS Shingo Takagi!

The Producer had his bye against Bushi and got himself a win, but the Dragon fell to the Golden Star! Will Yano add on and get a huge win over THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion? Or will Takagi oddly get himself a shot at the KOPW 2021 trophy?

Yano’s long introduction is done, and Yano is impatient about the referee’s check. Takagi tells Yano to quit it already as he puts his jacket and world title belt aside. The bell rings and Yano quickly gets his baggie! Yano brings out another bag from within that bag, and it literally has Takagi’s name on it. Yano tosses the bag to Takagi and Takagi catches it. Is Yano trying to make this into a blindfold match? Takagi looks at the bag, and throws it away. Fans rally up, “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” and Yano even puts his bag on! Yano waits on Takagi, Takagi says Yano better not try anything. Takagi turns away to put his bag on, and Yano takes his off! Yano rolls Takagi up, TWO!

Takagi takes the bag off and CLUBS Yano! Takagi makes Yano wear the blindfold and runs to run Yano over! Cover, TWO! Yano bails out and Takagi goes after him. Takagi kicks and clubs Yano, then whips. Yano reverses and sends Takagi into railing! Yano gets the bag off then sprays Takagi down! Yano also sprays the inside of the bag, making sure everything is disinfected. Then he puts the bag back on Takagi’s head, and then puts Takagi under the ring! The ring count is 5 of 20 as Yano goes back in and cheers. Takagi finds his way back out at 13 of 20, but he realizes he’s going into railing. He tries to find the ring, gets the blindfold off, and hurries in at 19!

Takagi stares Yano down, so Yano unties a buckle pad! Takagi attacks, whips Yano corner to corner, but Yano stops himself and unties that buckle pad! Takagi gets the other, and we have a standoff! Each man is “armed” with a pad, the ref tells them both to put those down, but Takagi dares Yano to bring it! The buckle pads clash, then Takagi disarms Yano! Takagi tosses his to Yano now, then hits him with a LARIAT! A Padded Bomber, if you will. The ref clears the ring of the loose pads and Takagi bumps Yano off the red corner. Takagi RAMS his shoulder in, then again. Takagi CHOPS then CHOPS then JABS! The ref counts, Takagi lets off, then brings Yano around.

Takagi scoops, SLAMS, and drops elbow after elbow! BACK SENTON! Cover, TWO! Takagi keeps his cool and fans rally up. Takagi drags Yano up, puts him against ropes and KNEES him low. The ref reprimands, Takagi lets off, and he whips Yano to ropes to KNEE him again! Then he suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi wraps on a chinlock and he grinds Yano into the mat. Yano fights, kicks around, but Takagi leans his weight on him. Yano reaches out and gets a ropebreak with a foot. Takagi gets Yano up, snapmares him back down, and drives elbows into the shoulder again and again. Takagi then stands on Yano’s head as fans rally up.

Takagi stomps Yano, kicks him around, then brings him up. Yano gets mad and they start shoving. Takagi forearms, Yano gives it back! Takagi likes that and hits Yano again. Yano hits back, the forearms keep flying and fans rally up. Takagi gets the edge but Yano ROCKS him! Yano runs and rams shoulders but Takagi stays up! Takagi swings, but into Yano’s Belly2Belly! Fans fire up while both men are down. Yano stands and gets Takagi up but Takagi LARIATS! Yano stays up, rebounds, into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- Hair pull! But Takagi pulls hair, too! The ref reprimands them both, but only Takagi lets go! Yano knees and whips Takagi, but Takagi reverses! Yano hits bare buckles!

Takagi wants to run in but Yano uses the ref as a shield! Yano shoves the ref at Takagi, who pushes the ref aside, but then Yano dodges and Takagi runs into bare buckles! Roll up, TWO!! Yano swings, Takagi gets around but Yano grabs the ref! LOW BLOW! M U!! TWO!! Takagi narrowly escapes and Yano can’t believe it! Yano shoves the ref again, then runs, but Takagi uses the ref back! PUMPING BOMBER!! Takagi drags Yano back up, puts his shirt over his face as a blindfold, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Yano survives but he can’t see as Takagi fires up, “OI! OI! OI!” Fans clap along, Takagi pump handles and torture racks, LAST OF THE DRAGONS!! Cover, Takagi wins!

Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Yano earns 0)

To add insult to injury, Takagi puts the blindfold on Yano’s head, with the shirt still up and over. And then he blows snot into the one with “Takagi” on it! So much for Yano’s gift. Will Yano have to worry about the Dragon coming for his KOPW trophy? Or will Takagi focus more on being the third-ever top champion to win the G1 finals?

Tomohiro Ishii VS Great-O-Khan!

The Stone Pitbull took a bite out of the Submission Master and his G1 win streak, but he’s still hungry for more! However, the Dominator was furious after Fang Revived beat him then tried to embarrass him. Will Khan’s wrath end Ishii’s attempt to #TurnItAllAround? Or will Ishii break through the iron claw?

The two stare down even before the bell but Red Shoes has them back away to their corners. The bell rings and fans cheer as the two tie up. They’re in a deadlock, going around in a circle at center. Khan has height but Ishii has width. Every step Khan pushes Ishii, Ishii pushes Khan back. Khan ends up getting the edge and he puts Ishii on ropes. Khan lets off but then bops Ishii on the head. Ishii shrugs that off to tie up again. Ishii headlocks and grinds Khan down, but Khan fights up. Khan powers out, Ishii rams shoulders but Khan doesn’t fall. Ishii goes again, another ram and it’s Ishii who staggers! Khan runs, rams Ishii but Ishii roars and fires a forearm!

Ishii runs, rams Khan again and again and again! Ishii keeps going, but Khan goes sideways to run Ishii over! Fans rally, “I-SHI-I!” “GREAT-O-KHAN!” as Khan stomps Ishii around. Khan kicks Ishii but Ishii gets up. Ishii choke grips but Khan forearms. Ishii forearms right back, and fans rally as the two go faster and faster! Ishii backs Khan down as they go then DECKS him! Fans cheer while Ishii leans on ropes to rest his arm. Ishii brings Khan up, CHOPS him, but his arm is bothering him. Ishii CHOPS Khan again but Khan grits his teeth. Ishii CHOPS again and Khan sits down! Ishii drags Khan up by his ponytail, but Khan grabs both ears!

Red Shoes reprimands, Khan kicks Ishii out of the ring. Khan goes out to CLUB Ishii on the back, then wrench and whip him into railing! Ishii falls in a heap and Khan goes over. Khan stands on Ishii’s head and digs his heel in as he shakes the railing! Khan lets off, a ring count starts, and Khan leaves Ishii outside. Ishii gets his bad arm moving and stands at 10 of 20. Ishii gets in at 12, Khan stomps him in the corner. Ishii eggs Khan on so Khan CHOKES him! Red Shoes reprimands, counts, and Khan lets off with his hands, only to use his knee to choke Ishii now. Red Shoes counts again, Khan lets off and fans rally back up.

Khan drags Ishii up by his ear, bumps him off buckles, then sits on top of Ishii. But Ishii slips out! So Khan hits DIVING MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Cover, ONE! Khan keeps his cool as he grabs the bad arm for a top wristlock. Ishii resists, Khan drags him around and has a modified Fujiwara! Ishii endures as Khan then traps the arm in leg scissors! Khan drives elbows into Ishii’s side then pulls on the arm. Ishii still endures, moves around, fights up and rolls to get free! But Khan gets the arm again in a double wristlock! Ishii rolls again and gets the ropebreak! Red Shoes counts, Khan lets go, but he STOMPS the bad arm!

Khan paces while Ishii clutches the elbow. Khan gives toying kicks now as fans rally. Ishii gets mad and eggs Khan on. Ishii leans into the kicks to then CHOP Khan! Khan knees low, whips Ishii to a corner, but Ishii comes back to RAM Khan! Khan stays up, runs and rams Ishii, but Ishii returns to run Khan over! Fans fire up as Ishii shakes out the bad arm. Ishii kicks Khan around now, then brings him up in a corner. Ishii CHOPS, forearms, CHOPS, forearms, repeat! Fans rally as he builds up speed sits Khan down! Ishii mockingly asks what’s wrong and fans cheer. Ishii drags Khan up, suplexes, and stalls for a few seconds before the SLAM! Cover, TWO!

Ishii keeps cool and he builds speed, but Khan arm-drags the lariat down! Fans fire up again as both men are back down. Khan drags Ishii back up, throws forearms, then Mongolian Chops in the corner. Khan whips corner to corner, then clotheslines from behind! Khan puts Ishii up top, Mongolian Chops him on the back, and has Ishii in the Tree of Woe! Khan digs his boot in, then goes corner to corner to hit the three point stance. Khan comes back to SLIDING BOOT! Ishii is still stuck in the Tree but Red Shoes works to free him. Khan paces and Ishii is finally out of the Tree, so he comes back to get the legs. Khan has the modified O’Conner, TWO!

Khan stomps Ishii, drags him up by his ear again, then whips him into the corner. Khan turns Ishii around and hops up top to sit on him after all. Khan literally rubs it in but hops off as Red Shoes counts. But Ishii steps up and COHPS Khan again! Khan shrugs it off? Khan CHOPS back, Ishii snarls and CHOPS again! Khan CHOPS, Ishii CHOPS, it’s becoming a CHOP fight! Ishii CHOPS, Khan CHOPS back, and Ishii takes a breath before he CHOPS again. Khan CHOPS, Ishii CHOPS, fans rally up as the CHOPS keep coming faster and faster! Ishii CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS and has Khan reeling, but then Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! And again! But then Ishii gets around, BACK SUPLEX!

Fans rally back up as both men are down. Ishii stands first, drags Khan up by his ears, but Khan throws a forearm. Ishii shakes his head so Khan forearms again. Ishii dares him to put some power into it and Khan throws more forearms, but still Ishii stays put! Ishii then ROCKS Khan with one! Khan roars back and puts his hands back! Ishii throws another forearm but Khan leans into them, much like Ishii would! Khan backs Ishii down and fans are thunderous! Khan then DECKS Ishii with one! Ishii slides down the buckle pad to flop to the mat! Fans rally up as Khan drags Ishii to his feet and puts him on the top rope.

Khan CHOPS Ishii again, climbs up to join him, and brings Ishii up. Ishii resists the superplex, throws body shots, then headbutts! Ishii adjusts and sunset flips for a RUNNING POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Khan survives but Ishii drags him back up. Ishii runs, but Khan catches the sliding lariat into the KATAGATAMI! Ishii fights with elbows, but Khan hits an STO! Khan squeezes tight but Ishii clasps hands to relieve pressure. Fans are thunderous as Ishii fights and Khan leans all his weight on the hold. Ishii loses his grip and is starting to fade, but he clasps hands again! Khan keeps squeezing, and hops around to put more and more pressure on Ishii’s head and neck!

Ishii scrambles, Khan gets him with a double wristlock. Ishii wrenches through to ARMBREAKER DDT! KIMURA!! Ishii has the double wristlock!! Khan endures so Ishii makes it a CROSS ARMBREAKER! Khan scrambles and gets a ropebreak with his foot! Ishii lets go fast and now things are even between their arms! Fans rally up again as Khan beats his bad arm into working again. Khan and Ishii rise, Ishii dares Khan to bring it. Ishii then runs in to clothesline Khan against ropes! Ishii runs, Khan swats his lariat away, but Ishii holds off the iron claw! Ishii headbutts and Khan wobbles! Khan headbutts back but Ishii shakes his head!

DOUBLE HEADBUTT! And again! And again! Ishii HEADBUTTS Khan right down!! Fans are thunderous as Ishii roars and shakes out the cobwebs. Ishii wobbles but he sits Khan up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Khan is still in this but Ishii fires up again. Ishii drags Khan back up, reels him in, suplexes, but Khan fights free! Khan boots but Ishii blocks to LARIAT! Fans fire up with Ishii and he gets Khan up again, but Khan suplexes for the GOURD BUSTER! Fans are thunderous again as both men are down! Khan goes to a corner, watches Ishii rise, and pounds the mat as he fires up. Khan runs in to FLYING NECKBREAKER!

Khan drags Ishii back up, for a stalling back suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans continue to rally as Khan gets back up. Khan drags Ishii up, but Ishii fires boxing elbows! Ishii ROCKS Khan but Khan CLOBBERS Ishii! Ishii roars back to his feet and runs in to LARIAT! Khan gets up, blocks a lariat and has the KITSUJIGOROSHI! Ishii endures the iron claw standing crossface combo, and fans rally up, but he starts fading! Khan scoops for a TENZAN TOMBSTONE DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Ishii survives Khan’s take on the TTD and fans are electric! Khan staggers up, prepares the claw and clamps onto Ishii’s face! Khan drags Ishii up, ELIMINI- NO! Ishii elbows free, but Khan UPPERCUTS!

Ishii dodges a boot to GERMAN SUPLEX! But Khan is up to BOOT! Khan roars and fans fire up again as he staggers back to Ishii. Khan drags Ishii up with an iron claw to the back of the head! ELMINATOR into buckles! Khan runs, into a LARIAT from Ishii! Cover, ONE?!?! Khan is up but he flops right back down!! Maybe he really IS a Jiangshi! Khan and Ishii stir, Ishii flounders to ropes and gets his bad arm moving. Ishii slaps some sense back into himself, then waits on Khan to rise. Ishii runs but Khan ducks and LARIATS back! Khan roars, drags Ishii up with the claw, ELIMINA- NO! Ishii slips out, spins him, but Khan fights the suplex to wrench, shoot in, and iron claw!

Ishii breaks free to ENZIGURI! But Khan stands again! Ishii runs to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!?!? More like 2.99!! Ishii roars, his rage boiling over, and the fans are electric again! Ishii stands Khan up, suplexes, for the BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, Ishii wins!!

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Khan earns 0)

The Stone Pitbull shocks the block! He just brought Khan down and could be an outside shot! How will the last three rounds bode for A Block’s beefy underdog?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

Zack Sabre Jr: 5-1, 10 points
Kota Ibushi: 5-2, 10 points
Shingo Takagi: 4-2, 8 points
Kenta: 4-2, 8 points [won special singles by]
Tomohiro Ishii: 4-3, 8 points
Great-O-Khan: 4-3, 8 points
Toru Yano: 3-3, 6 points
Tanga Loa: 2-4, 4 points
Yujiro Takahashi: 2-4, 4 points

My Thoughts:

A really good, really fun round for the G1 here. Ibushi VS Loa was great stuff, and I almost thought we were going to see another shocking upset. But at the same time, Loa did pull out some wild stuff and perhaps had his best match of this G1, including stealing Ibushi’s finisher. But Ibushi breaks his roller coaster streak and is back up towards the top of the block. Yujiro also got to give a great showing against ZSJ, but I figured ZSJ was winning. ZSJ having that win over Ibushi from earlier means that if it comes down to the two of them at the top, ZSJ goes in without question.

Yano VS Takagi was a lot of fun with the blindfold bag gag, but of course Takagi won. Takagi beat Kenta before so he has the tiebreaker there, but Kenta could still rise up. Khan VS Ishii was an awesome match, but I am really surprised Ishii won here. He now brings Khan into the middle of the pack and has the tiebreaker on him, but I’m pretty sure Ishii just plays spoiler to others instead of being a finalist himself. And Ishii just leaving without having a show closing promo is pretty much his style, so that trimmed off some time on the show.

My Score: 9.1/10