Will things stay tranquilo?

As NJPW prepares for another big weekend, Tetsuya Naito must be on guard for every trick Evil might throw at him in their main event showdown!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• HENARE & Konosuke Takeshita VS Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima; Henare & Konosuke win.
• El Phantasmo & Jado VS Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano; Oleg & Yano win.
• Yuya Uemura & Taka Michinoku VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
• David Finlay & Gedo VS Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Ren & Kanemaru win.
• Hirooki Goto & Tomoaki Honma VS Yota Tsuji & BUSHI; Yota & Bushi win.
• G1 Climax 34 A Block: Shingo Takagi VS Callum Newman; Callum wins.
• G1 Climax 34 A Block: SANADA VS Gabe Kidd; Sanada wins.
• G1 Climax 34 A Block: Shota Umino VS Great-O-Khan; Shota wins.
• G1 Climax 34 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Jake Lee; ZSJ wins.
• G1 Climax 34 A Block: Tetsuya Naito VS EVIL; Evil wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Zack Sabre Jr: 3-0, 6 points
Evil: 3-0, 6 points
Shingo Takagi: 2-1, 4 points
Gabe Kidd: 2-1, 4 points
Tetsuya Naito: 1-2, 2 points
Jake Lee: 1-2, 2 points
Sanada: 1-2, 2 points
Callum Newman: 1-2, 2 points
Shota Umino: 1-2, 2 points
Great-O-Khan: 0-3, 0 points

Here are the current B Block standings!

Yuya Uemura: 3-0, 6 points
Konosuke Takeshita: 2-1, 4 points
Henare: 2-1, 4 points
Ren Narita: 2-1, 4 points
Jeff Cobb: 1-2, 2 points
David Finlay: 1-2, 2 points
Boltin Oleg: 1-2, 2 points
Hirooki Goto: 1-2, 2 points
El Phantasmo: 1-2, 2 points
Yota Tsuji: 1-2, 2 points

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Shingo Takagi VS Callum Newman!

The Rampaging Dragon dominated The Dominator, Great-O-Khan, and the Prince of Pace was put in his place by The Front Man, Zack Sabre Jr. Will Takagi continue to soar towards the Climax? Or can Callum make a comeback here in Nagasaki?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two circle, the fans cheer on “TA-KA-GI!” as he and Callum feel things out. They back off, go again, and knuckle lock for a Test of Strength. Takagi wrenches and wristlocks, but Callum spins, slips through, and waistlocks. Takagi switches, Callum wrenches out to hammerlock then headlock. Takagi endures the grind, powers up and out, and Callum RAMS him! Takagi rebounds to RUN Callum over! But Callum kips up! The fans cheer and Takagi might be getting flashbacks to Ospreay. The two step up and Callum shoves Takagi. Takagi shoves Callum back, so Callum kicks!

Callum whips, Takagi reverses but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds speed! Takagi avoids the boot to kick and whip but Callum reverses. Now Takagi ducks ‘n’ dodges to build speed! Takagi RAMS Callum, Callum BOOTS, and then the two RAM shoulders again! The fans fire up as both men stay standing. Callum kicks, Takagi ducks to throw him down. Callum avoids the sliding lariat, Takagi cucks the buzzsaw to GERMAN SUPLEX! Callum lands out, ROUNDHOUSE, but just a glancing blow. Callum elbows and springboards, OSC- NO, Takagi stops the cutter and shoves Callum away! The fans cheer as the two reset.

The two step up, and Takagi offers a handshake. Callum takes it, and then Takagi reels him in! Callum fights free, runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up and Takagi says he’s that smart. Takagi then LARIATS Callum up and out of the ring! Callum flounders by the ramp, the fans rally up, and Takagi goes out to fetch Callum. Takagi drags Callum up to wrench and then whip Callum hard into railing! Callum slums against commentary, and Takagi CLUBS Callum down. Takagi drags Callum back up, SMACKS him off the apron, then fireman’s carries. SNAKE EYES!

Callum staggers, Takagi kicks low, DDT to the floor! Callum writhes, Takagi poses, and fans applaud. Takagi takes a moment to catch his breath, and the ring count starts. Callum sits up at 4 of 20, Takagi storms over at 7, and he CHOPS Callum at 8! Takagi brings Callum around, and puts him in the ring at 10 of 20. The fans applaud, and Takagi drops a BIG elbow! Callum sputters, so Takagi SENTONS! Callum coughs and sputters more, then Takagi drags him up. Five minutes in, and Takagi suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi points to the camera, but then wags his finger. Not just yet.

Takagi eggs on Callum, and hears the fans cheer, “Newman kakui!” Oh? What about Takagi? The fans cheer Takagi, and he pie faces Callum. Callum fires forearms, but Takagi ROCKS him! Takagi paces, Callum sahkes his head as he stands back up. Callum fires forearm after forearm on Takagi and the fans rally up. Takagi JABS, JABS and JABS again! Then he CHOPS Callum down! Callum kips up to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up and Callum stands. Callum whips, Takagi reverses but Callum slides to trip him up, and then DOUBLE STOMPS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. Takagi goes to the apron while Callum rises.

Callum gets the fans rallying, but Takagi RAMS into him. Callum stops the buckle bump to give a buckle bump, and he runs side to side to SHOTGUN Takagi down! Fans fire up, Callum goes up and up and ASAI MOONSAULTS from the second rope! Direct hit on Takagi and the fans fire up again! Callum takes a moment, puts Takagi in, and then goes up top, to PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Callum brings Takagi up. Takagi swings, Callum dodges to SOBAT! KICK! LARIAT! The fans cheer and Callum PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Takagi stays in this, and Callum keeps cool.

The fans rally as Callum rises, and Callum calls his shot. But Takagi waistlocks! Callum elbows free, KICKS, then springboards, OSC- NO, Takagi catches Callum to a Gory Especial! NOSHIGAMI! And then a KNEE DROP on Callum’s head! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, and Takagi looks for a camera. “TOKI GA KITA! <IT’S TIME!>” The fans fire up and Takagi rises again. Takagi sits Callum up, for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! The fans fire up with each shot, then Takagi runs, SLIDING- NO, Callum dodges, to BUZZSAW! But Takagi tanks it!? Takagi stands, Callum fires a forearm! Takagi JABS, HEADBUTTS, and SLIDING LARIATS! Cover, ONE?!?

The fans are thunderous, we hit 10 minutes, and Takagi runs, into a ROUNDHOUSE! He just rebounds to PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives again and the fans fire back up! Takagi shouts “OI! OI! OI!” and the fans join in. Takagi drags Callum up, pump handles, but Callum fights with elbows. Takagi LARIATS Callum, the fans fire back up, and Takagi fires boxing elbows! “OI! OI! OI!” and then Callum ROCKS Takagi! ROLLING ELBOW! JUMP KNEE! Takagi falls over and the fans fire up! Callum rises, roars, runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT! Takagi keeps moving, but runs into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!!

Callum fires up and the fans are with him! DREAMCAST KICK! Springboard, OSC- BLINDSIDE LARIAT!! Takagi has had it, and he hauls Callum up again. Takagi winds up, POINT-BLANK PUMPING!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and Takagi roars! The fans fire up again and Takagi pump handles. Torture rack, LAST OF- NO, Callum pops up! Callum throws hands, but Takagi lets him down so he can go up, POISON-RANA!! Callum staggers up, but he ducks Pumping Bomber! But ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint to DDT! Callum handsprings through!? And springboards, to OSCUTTER!! Cover, CALLUM WINS!?

Winner: Callum Newman, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Takagi earns 0)

Callum continues to follow in Ospreay’s footsteps, because he, too, has found a way to slay the Rampaging Dragon! Is this a sign that the Prince of Pace is about to become the King of the Climax? Is there still time for Takagi to make it into the top three and go to the playoffs?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: SANADA VS Gabe Kidd!

The Cold Skull got cheated by Evil, but who hasn’t? Even the Mad Man lost to the King of Darkness, but he rebounded at the expense of the Roughneck, Shota Umino. Will Gabe stay #WarReady and win again? Or will Sanada bring him to a Skull End?

Gabe tells the fans to shut up as they cheer on Sanada, but they just get louder. The bell rings and Gabe promises to mess up Sanada’s right arm bicep like his left arm’s. The two circle, feel things out, and Gabe shoots around to waistlock. Sanada switches, Gabe switches, they go around and around, and Gabe wrangles Sanada down. Sanada fights up, spins around to facelock and he grinds Gabe down. Gabe fights up, grabs a leg, then waistlocks. Sanada switches, Gabe slips away and the fans cheer. Sanada points to his left arm, knowing Gabe wants it. The two reset, feel things out, and they clinch.

Sanada keeps his left arm away so Gabe BITES Sanada’s ear! The ref reprimands, but Gabe wrangles Sanada by the arm! DOUBLE WRISTLOCK on the left arm! Sanada endures while he scrambles, reaches out with a foot, and has the ROPEBREAK! Gabe lets go to kick Sanada out. Gabe UPPERCUTS the bad arm, then whips Sanada hard into railing! Sanada flounders by English commentary but Gabe drags him up. Gabe CHOPS, whips Sanada into more railing, and Sanada falls back in a heap. Gabe then brings out chairs! The ref reprimands, but Gabe still drags Sanada up and opens the gate to No Man’s Land!

The fans rally, Gabe shoves the ref away, and then JAMS Sanada with the chair! Gabe CHUCKS the chair into Sanada’s left arm! Sanada falls and the fans are torn while Gabe tells the ref to start the ring count. The ref goes back to the ring first, and then Gabe grabs a segment of railing! Gabe lifts it up, but then drops it to flip everyone off. He isn’t gonna do the hardcore stuff when he knows that’s what they want. The ring count starts while the fans boo, but Gabe drags Sanada up. Gabe brings Sanada all the way to the back to whip him into a wall! The count is now 10 of 20 and Gabe heads back! Gabe slides in at 15!

Sanada crawls, hurries to his feet, and runs for it! 18! 19! Sanada slides in safe at 19.5! Gabe is annoyed, so he drags Sanada up, wrenches and WRINGS the left arm, then UPPERCUTS! Sanada falls back, Gabe has a cocky cover, ONE! Gabe taunts the fans rallying, but there are fans chanting for “GABU! GABU!” Gabe mocks them for it, then drags Sanada up. Gabe WRINGS Sanada’s left arm again, then covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Gabe is annoyed. Gabe drags Sanada up, hoists him onto the ropes, but Sanada fights back. Sanada CLUBS Gabe away, but Gabe comes back to CHOP! Gabe eggs on Sanada, but Sanada pokes him in the eye!

The fans cheer as Sanada gives Gabe just a bit of his own medicine. Sanada whips but Gabe blocks to YANK the bad arm! Gabe BITES Sanada’s forehead! The ref counts, Gabe lets off and Gabe argues about the eye poke. Gabe whips, Sanada dropkicks the legs! And then he DROPKICKS Gabe down! The fans fire up and Gabe bails out. Sanada stands, and he PLANCHAS Gabe down! The fans fire up again, and Sanada encourages them to get louder. Nagasaki obliges and Sanada goes back to Gabe. Sanada drags Gabe up, puts him in the ring, then clinches for a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Sanada shakes out his arm.

Sanada drags Gabe up, fireman’s carries, but Gabe pries at the bad arm! Gabe has the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK, then he WRISTLOCK SUPLEXES Sanada into buckles! Gabe hurries to haul Sanada up, SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Sanada stays in this but Gabe stays on him, BONE LOCK!! Gabe shouts out Bullet Club as he pushes down on Sanada’s head and arm! Sanada endures, reaches out, and the fans rally up for him! Sanada reaches out as Gabe pulls way back! Sanada still finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Gabe lets go in frustration. Gabe stomps Sanada right on the bad arm! Gabe then drags Sanada up and says this one’s for the young lady looking at him.

Gabe reels Sanada in but Sanada fights the lift! Gabe DOUBLE CLUBS Sanada, and that just makes Sanada mad! Sanada fires forearms, but Gabe CHOPS! Sanada UPPERCUTS, but Gabe roars! Sanada ENZIGIRIS! Gabe rebounds, Sanada gets under and suplexes, and then with the ropes, MAGIC SCREW! The fans fire up while both men are down! Gabe stirs, Sanada kips up! The fans fire up, and Sanada aims from a corner. SHINING- NO, Gabe ducks under! HAYMAKER! HEADBUTT! YUKON LARIAT! Gabe reels Sanada in, but Sanada back drops free! Gabe comes back and around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Sanda lands out! SHINING WIZARD!

The fans fire up and Sanada drags Gabe back up. Clinch and- NO, Gabe spins that around, PILEDRIVER!! Gabe crawls to the cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and the fans fire up again! Gabe sits up cross-legged, tells off Henare on English commentary, and brings up that scar on his head. Gabe then drags Sanada back up, reels him back in, but Sanada RANAS free! Gabe BOOTS, Sanada goes to a corner. Sanada BOOTS back, then QUEBRADAS, and dragon sleepers! SKULL- NO, Gabe rolls back to inverted suplex! But Sanada turns it back to SKULL- NO! Gabe fights that to suplex! Sanada fights, so Gabe DOUBLE WRISTLOCKS!

Sanada endures, slips around and clinches, DEADFALL!! Cover, SANADA WINS!

Winner: Sanada, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Gabe earns 0)

Gabe was a dog with a bone when it came to the bad arm, but Sanada perhaps used that to his advantage in the end. The Cold Skull just got a win off the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion, will he be red hot for the rest of the run?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Shota Umino VS Great-O-Khan!

The Roughneck lost to Gabe Kidd, the Dominator lost to Shingo Takagi, so someone has to rebound tonight! Will #SHOOTER take down the KOPW Champion? Or will he be conquered for the glory of the United Empire?

The bell rings and Shota runs up to fire forearms with Khan! The fans fire up as they go back and forth again and again! Shota eggs Khan on and the forearms keep going! Khan eggs Shota on now, and the forearms just keep going! They slow down as the shots hit harder, then Shota slaps Khan! Khan fires a forearm, Shota fires another! Khan ROCKS Shota, so Shota ROCKS Khan! The heavy shots keep going back and forth, and then Shota scuffs Khan. Khan fires back, so Shota UPPERCUTS! Khan falls and the fans fire up! Shota stands Khan up, but Khan fake-out claps! Khan then gets up and under to run and TOSS Shota out of the ring!

The ref reprimands but Shota is down on the outside already. Khan goes out to stomp away on Shota, then drags him up. Khan whips Shota hard into railing! Shota hobbles away, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Shota writhes but Khan drags him up. The ref wants this in the ring, so Khan throws Shota in. The fans applaud, and Khan rolls in . Khan drags Shota back up to scoop and SLAM! Khan has a cocky cover, ONE! The fans cheer and Shota goes to a corner. Khan storms up but Shota kicks from below! And again! Shota eggs Khan on so Khan stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Khan lets off, but he drags Shota up again.

Khan whips corner to corner hard, runs in, but into a BOOT! Shota runs up, but into the HEAD ‘N’ ARM! Shota endures the katagatame as Khan drags him down to the mat! Shota kicks and kicks, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! Khan lets go cleanly while fans cheer. Khan drags Shota in with a facelock, then shifts to headscissor squeeze! Khan even grabs a leg to add a Half Crab element! Shota endures this hybrid hold, so Khan rolls to a cover, TWO! The fans cheer but then Khan KICKS Shota in the back! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer again but Khan still stays on Shota, HAYAGOSHI THROW! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer as Shota stays in this, but Khan kicks him around. The fans rally, Khan scuffs Shota but Shota gets mad. Khan fires a forearm, and another, but Shota fires back! Shota ROCKS Khan again and again, but Khan Mongolian Chops! Khan runs, into a DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Khan crawls to a corner, Shota fires up, and the fans rally behind him. Shota runs in to UPPERCUT at the corner! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Shota isn’t quite perfect but he drags Khan up. Shota clinches but Khan facelock counters! Shota wrenches out, swings, but misses!

Khan BOOTS Shota in the back! Khan then runs but Shota drop toeholds him onto ropes! Shota slingshots, APRON DDT! The fans fire up and Shota shakes railing! Shota gets the fans more fired up while the ring count climbs. Shota drags Khan up at 10 of 20, puts him in at 12, then goes right up a corner. The fans cheer, Shota aims, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Then he brings Khan up for an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Shota half nelsons, but Khan switches! GERMAN SUPLEX! A hard landing up high for Shota and both men are down again. The fans rally, both men stir, and they both slowly rise.

Shota glares as he crawls over to Khan and they go forehead to forehead. Khan fires a forearm, Shota hits back! Khan sits up to forearm Shota! Shota ROCKS Khan! Shota and Khan slowly stand, Khan fires another forearm! Shota fires the fans up then fires a forearm! Khan fires back, and the fans rally as the two go back and forth again! Shota ROCKS Khan, then scuffs him. Khan puts his arms behind his back and eggs Shota on! Shota nods and winds up to ROCK Khan again! And again! And again! Khan staggers away, but he fires back up! Shota eggs Khan on now, and also puts his arms back! The fans cheer, and Khan winds up to ROCK Shota!

Khan ROCKS Shota again, and again, but Shota just comes back for more! Shota fires a forearm, Khan Mongolian Chops! Shota squats but stays on his feet, so Khan stands him up. Khan has the wrist, and the forearms fly back and forth again. Shota fires up to ROCK Khan! Khan drops to a knee and the fans fire up! We pass 10 minutes, Shota brings Khan up, and Shota winds up, but Khan hits a SAYANAGI! Khan runs up, into a HALF NELSON SUPLEX! Khan gets up to KNEE Shota! Khan runs, into a POP-UP KNEE! But Khan BOOTS! Shota fires a forearm, a ROLLING ELBOW, but Khan IRON UPPERCUTS!

Shota ENZIGIRIS, runs, IGNITION! The fans fire up and Shota underhooks, but Khan wrenches out! IRON RIGHT!! The ref reprimands but both men fall anyway! The fans fire up again and Khan sits Shota up. KATAGATAME, but then a REVERSE LEG SWEEP! And then a gut wrench for a GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! But back into the KATAGATAME!! Shota scrambles around but Khan stays between him and ropes! Khan squeezes tight, Shota flails and fans rally! Khan puts all his weight on the hold! Shota still fights around, but he’s fading! The ref checks, and Khan adds a straitjacket element to the hold!

Shota kicks and kicks and finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Khan lets go. Khan drags Shota up, IRON CLAW SLEEPER, into the Bow ‘n’ Arrow Rack! Khan spins around, for the SPINNING SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives but the Monster Rage boils up! Khan drags Shota up again, but then Shota swings! Khan slips around, F G O PLEX! And then IRON CLAW, for the DOM- NO, Shota slips free, backslides, and then clinches! Lift, and ELEVATED DEATH RIDER!! Shota crawls to the cover, TWO!! Khan survives and the fans are thunderous! Shota pounds the mat, fires up, and the fans are with him!

Shota aims at Khan as he slowly sits up. It’s 15 minutes and BLAZE BLADE hits! Then underhooks for DEATH RIDER!! Cover, Shota wins!

Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Khan earns 0)

The KOPW Champion falls again to be the ONLY man at 0-4! Is this just not Khan’s year? As for Shota, is he about to bring that Paradigm Shift all the way to the Climax?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ Kosei Fujita VS Jake Lee!

TMDK’s Front Man made Callum Newman #JustTapOut with his technical prowess, but now he’s up against one Smart Bastard. Will ZSJ still be able to bring the giant gentleman down? Or will he be hit by the Madness Dark Side?

The bell rings and the fans cheer as the two stare down. The “ZAKU! ZAKU!” cheers outweigh the “JAKE LEE!” chants, but then Jake gets them all to hush with a wave of his hand. The two circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. They go around, break, then try again. Jake twist a wrist but ZSJ works to chinbar. Jake shrugs that off, then slips around to waistlock. ZSJ wrenches out, waistlocks back and wrangles Jake, then floats to a facelock. ZSJ keeps moving, and holds Jake back with a leg guard. Jake still fights around to go for the headlock. ZSJ slips around, Jake cartwheels over, but ZSJ fights off the facelock!

ZSJ keeps moving around but Jake is there to waistlock, then to facelock. ZSJ slips away and the fans applaud the standoff. Jake puts his hair up and circles with ZSJ. They feel things out, Jake grabs a leg, but ZSJ goes for an arm. ZSJ tries to body scissor Jake down, but Jake stays up. ZSJ goes for a leg, but then has to use a leg guard to keep Jake back. Jake lets off, and he sits down. ZSJ and Jake fight leg guard with leg guard and knuckle lock with knuckle lock. ZSJ floats, Jake body scissors, but ZSJ slips around to facelock. They end up on ropes and the fans cheer the exchange. ZSJ has Jake put his hands down, then lets off.

The fans applaud and ZSJ copies Jake’s bow. Jake wags his finger, and ZSJ asks for instruction. Jake puts ZSJ’s arms down, brushes his shoulders, and there you go. Then Jake kicks and CLUBS ZSJ! Jake stands on ZSJ’s head and takes a bow. The fans cheer, Jake kicks ZSJ more then whips. ZSJ reverses to wrench and PELE the arm! ZSJ runs up, Jake puts him on the apron, but ZSJ catches Jake to a HANGING ARMBAR! The fans cheer, Red Shoes reprimands and counts, and ZSJ lets go at 4. The fans cheer while Jake falls over. ZSJ says “Iine. <Nice.>” ZSJ steps in, grabs Jake’s arm, and he twists the wrist then bends the fingers!

The fans cheer, Red Shoes reprimands, but ZSJ puts the arm down. To STOMP it! The fans cheer and Jake goes to a corner. ZSJ storms up to bring Jake out. Jake fights the suplex, and then he suplexes ZSJ to hang him out to dry. Jake KNEES ZSJ and ZSJ falls all the way to the floor! The fans are torn but Jake goes out to fetch ZSJ. Jake drags ZSJ up, brings him around, and RAMS him into railing! ZSJ falls back, Jake storms up, and Jake SMACKS ZSJ off the apron. ZSJ staggers away towards the ramp but Jake pursues. Jake drags ZSJ up again, and then mockingly cheers ZSJ on before he KNEES low! And then again!

ZSJ staggers away, and Jake sets up in a three point stance. Jake comes running in to kitchen sink KNEE ZSJ down! Jake then takes a bow and the fans applaud. Jake leaves ZSJ behind to go into the ring, and Jake mockingly applauds while he rests. The ring count starts, Fujita coaches ZSJ, and ZSJ sits up at 7 of 20. ZSJ manages to stand at 10, but Jake goes out after ZSJ! Jake brings ZSJ around to throw into the ring! The fans applaud, and Jake pushes ZSJ down for a cover. ONE, but Jake pushes ZSJ back down. Jake grabs ZSJ’s legs, to STOMP his stomach! Knuckle lock cover, TWO as ZSJ gets an arm up. Jake tries again, TWO as ZSJ gets the other arm up.

So Jake CHOKES ZSJ! Red Shoes reprimands but Jake laughs until he lets off at 4. The fans rally but Jake puts ZSJ into the body scissors! ZSJ endures the squeeze, and he pulls on Jake’s foot! Jake puts more pressure into the squeeze, but ZSJ hooks Jake’s leg with his legs. Jake rains down elbows and then squeezes! ZSJ endures, grabs Jake’s hand and pulls fingers! ZSJ then rocks side to side, and rolls things to the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts, Jake lets off, and the fans rally again. Jake mocks the fans cheering ZSJ, “Zaku, Zaku. URUSEN DE  YO!” The fans cheer more, and ZSJ stands to fire forearms!

Jake is unbothered, and he kicks ZSJ low! ZSJ drops to his knees, Jake steps over and stretches ZSJ before he stomps him again. Jake brings ZSJ around at 10 minutes, but ZSJ fights the suplex. Jake still tries, and he powers ZSJ up, only for ZSJ to drag him down! GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Jake fights up, powers out, but ZSJ suplexes Jake first! The fans fire up while both men are down! Fujita rallies the fans, and ZSJ grabs Jake’s arm. ZSJ bends fingers, isolates the arm, and STOMPS it! The fans cheer, ZSJ steps over that arm, and traps it for a TWIST! Jake writhes and the fans cheer again.

ZSJ brings Jake up, wrenches and wrenches, but Jake ROCKS ZSJ! Jake brings ZSJ around to back suplex, but ZSJ lands out! ZSJ jumps on, COBRA TWIST! Jake powers out with a hip toss! But ZSJ rolls and grabs a leg! ZSJ runs around to trip Jake up, and then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Jake is still in this and he stands right up! ZSJ also stands, and he steps up to Jake. Jake fires a forearm, but ZSJ comes back with a forearm. Jake forearms again and ZSJ steadies himself. ZSJ fires another forearm, so Jake fires another! ZSJ staggers from that one, and Jake eggs him on. The fans rally, ZSJ returns and UPPERCUTS!

Jake wobbles, so ZSJ UPPERCUTS again and again! Jake BODY BLOWS! Then Jake whips, but ZSJ wrenches, ELBOW BREAKERS, wrenches, and jumps on for an ARMBAR, but Jake stays up! Jake lifts ZSJ but ZSJ BOOTS him! Jake rebounds to KNEE ZSJ low! The fans fire up while both men are down! ZSJ crawls to ropes, Jake storms over, and Jake stands ZSJ up. Jake whips, KNEES low again, then whips for another KNEE! ZSJ sputters, Jake snapmares him, then runs to fake the kick! SLEEPER! ZSJ fights up, pries at the hold, and he UPPERCUTS that arm! ZSJ whips, Jake reverses to KNEE!

Jake has a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! We reach 15 minutes as ZSJ is practically out on his feet! Red Shoes checks on ZSJ, but ZSJ steps back and finds the ROPEBREAK! Jake holds until Red Shoes counts 4, and the fans rally up again. Fujita also coaches ZSJ, and ZSJ slowly sits up. Jake laughs like the villain he is, and brings ZSJ up for another knee! ZSJ drops to his knees, but Jake wags his fingers. Jake goes to a corner, but ZSJ runs in to UPPERCUT! The fans fi reup as ZSJ fires off fast and furious palm strikes and slaps! Jake shoves ZSJ back but ZSJ BOOTS him! ZSJ reels Jake in but Jake fights the scoop to CLUB, KNEE, and BIG back suplex!! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up as ZSJ survives that sudden combo. Jake aims and powers up the hand. Jake choke grips but ZSJ breaks to KICK, KICK and KICKS! Jake ELBOWS ZSJ! ZSJ drops again, and Jake drags him back up. Choke grip, CHOKE- TRIANGLE HOLD!! ZSJ has Jake caught but Jake powers free! Jake slips around, REAR NAKED- NO, ZSJ rolls free of the body scissors to go for an arm! Jake clasps hands, but ZSJ bends a finger! Jake loses his grip. ZSJ has the ARMBAR! Jake hurries to roll but ZSJ shifts to have CLARKY CAT! ZSJ pushes on the arm, JIM BREAKS ARMBAR!! Jake QUITS, ZSJ wins!!

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

The Submission Master got the Smart Bastard to #JustTapOut! Jake is dropping down the block, is he going to miss out on the playoffs? As for ZSJ, The Mighty Don’t Kneel and he stands tall at 4-0! Is ZSJ going to go all the way to the Climax at this rate?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Tetsuya Naito VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!

The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion was in the A Block main event last round and won big over Jake Lee. However, he faces someone he is all too familiar with in The King of Darkness. Will Naito be able to stay tranquilo? Or will he have to admit that Everything is Evil?

As usual, Naito takes his time with the entrance attire. Evil is patient as he knows the trick, but then a fan heckles him and he tells that guy to shut up. Naito finally puts the pants aside, the bell rings, and the fans rally up. They cheer “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” far more than Evil, and Red Shoes confirms it. Evil says whatever, and he stares down with Naito. The two slowly circle, but Dick is there to swipe at Naito! Naito runs Dick off but Evil CLUBS Naito from behind! Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Bushi are part of commentary for this match, guess who is cheering who. Evil stomps away but Red Shoes counts.

Evil lets off to bring Naito up and wrench. Evil whips, Naito reverses and sends Evil out! He also DECKS Dick, then builds speed! Evil & Dick get outta there, but Naito fakes them out to tranquilo. Evil is mad that he fell for that old trick, and he gets annoyed with fans chanting Naito’s name. Naito dares someone to get in the ring, but Evil goes looking for plunder. Evil doesn’t find anything so he rushes in, only for Naito to bail out! Naito goes around the way, Evil eggs him on, so Naito takes his time going to the apron. Naito then decides no, not yet. Evil gets more upset, but Naito of course tells him to tranquilo.

Evil and Naito stare down, Naito rolls in, but then Naito rolls out! Evil gets mad and slides back out. Naito goes around the way but Dick is there, with a chair! Evil catches Naito and RAMS him into the timekeeper! Abe-san goes down and Evil smirks. Evil grabs a mic to talk trash on Naito, then kicks him. The fans boo but Evil CLAWS Naito on the back. Evil leaves the mic behind so he can bring Naito into the crowd! Young Lions hurry to clear fans out, but Evil still BOWLS Naito into chairs! Not quite a strike, and a fan almost gets wiped out! Evil CHOKES Naito with a chair! Red Shoes reprimands and Evil leaves Naito behind.

The fans rally for Naito while he’s down among the chairs. Evil tells the fans to shut up, and he gets the mic back to tell Red Shoes to count already. The fans boo but Evil soaks it all up. Naito crawls, the fans rally behind him, and he rises to his feet. The count is climbing, we’re at 10 of 20 as Naito hobbles his way to the aisle. We hit 15 before Naito’s back from No Man’s Land! Naito hurries as we hit 18 and he rolls in safe. The fans cheer, and Evil whips Naito into bare buckles! The Bullet Club Special appears by surprise, and Kanemaru likes it while Bushi protests. Evil covers, TWO! Evil is annoyed but he stands on Naito’s head.

The fans rally but Evil stands on Naito’s back now. Evil then drags Naito up, but Naito fires forearms! Evil knees low, TOSSES Naito out, and Dick is there with the chair! Dick SMACKS Naito off the chair! The fans boo but Dick gets away with that one. Dick puts Naito back in, Evil covers, but Red Shoes says no! He senses the shenanigans! Evil gets mad, but Red Shoes pretends to be double checking the red corner buckle pad. Evil kicks Naito around, taunts him, taunts the fans, but then Naito fires body shots! Naito ROCKS Evil, so Evil CLAWS Naito’s face! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, but Evil turns Naito around.

But then Naito fishhooks Evil to turn the neckbreaker back around! Evil powers Naito back around, but Naito elbows free! Naito then catches Evil to NECKBREAKER and basement DROPKICK! Now Bushi cheers and Kanemaru complains. The fans also cheer, and Naito slowly rises. Naito brings Evil up, fires forearms, then kicks, then CLUBS him. Naito whips, Evil reverses but Naito holds ropes. Naito BOOTS back, slips around, and shoves to ELBOW and basement DROPKICK! The fans cheer more and Naito whips Evil to a corner. Naito then ELBOWS Evil, hoists him up into the ropes, and dragon sleepers! DRAPING NECKBREAKER!

Naito then hauls Evil up, turns him, holds him, and then hits the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Naito stays cool, and he brings Evil up. Naito hammerlocks then half nelsons, but Evil pulls hair! Red Shoes reprimands, but then Naito pulls hair! Red Shoes still reprimands, but Naito kicks. Naito whips, Evil reverses, and then Evil blocks a kick! Evil puts Naito in ropes for a WOE STOMP! Evil complains to Red Shoes about the hair pulling, then goes back to Naito. Evil taunts the fans as he brings Naito up. FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and we pass 10 minutes. Evil continues to tell the fans to shut up.

Evil drags Naito up, but Naito fights free! Naito throws heavy elbow after elbow! Dick is up to something, though! Naito fires more heavy elbows, but then Dick gets on the apron. Red Shoes argues with him, Evil grabs the blue buckle pad! But Naito dodges and kicks Evil! Naito has the pad, and he SMACKS Evil with it! Red Shoes hears that but Naito throws the pad to Dick before Red Shoes turns around! Dick defends his innocence which he actually has this time, but then Naito shoves Evil into him! Then roll up on Evil, TWO! Naito hurries to atomic drop, Evil falls, and Naito ROLLING JACKKNIFES! TWO!!

Evil escapes, blocks a kick, and he CLAWS Naito’s eyes! Evil trips Naito, covers, TWO, and Evil falls on Red Shoes! Then Kanemaru goes right after Bushi!! Was The House of Torture just waiting for this moment!? Kanemaru goes to the ring and Evil grins. The fans boo as The House stomps away on Naito! The fans tell them all to go home, but Evil puts one out on Naito. The mugging continues, and then they whip Naito to a corner. Dick ELBOWS, Kanemaru ELBOWS, and Evil LARIATS! Snapmare, and then they set Naito up! Dick climbs, and DICK CHOPS! Naito writhes, Evil calls for the ref and Kanemaru puts Red Shoes in. Red Shoes counts the cover, TWO!!!

The fans fire up as Naito survives, but Kanemaru gets up in Red Shoes’ face! The fans boo more but Evil & Dick lift Naito for MAGIC KILLER!! Kanemaru lets Red Shoes count the cover, TWO!!! Naito survives again and the fans cheer! Evil is mad but he slashes his throat. Evil vows to finish this, and he hauls Naito up. EVERY- NO! Naito fights with elbows! Evil CLAWS Naito’s eyes, shoves Red Shoes, then runs. But Naito pops Evil up for a LOW BLOW! The House freaks out but fans fire up while both men are down! Dick & Kanemaru try to snitch, but then Bushi SMACKS them with the buckle pad! The fans fire up as Bushi coaches Naito!

Naito and Evil slowly stir, and Naito stands while Evil tries to tell Red Shoes what happened. Naito brings Evil up, Evil kicks and whips, but Naito reverses! Evil hits the bare buckles! Naito ENZIGIRIS, then TORNADO DDTS! The fans fire up, Naito roars, and Naito brings Evil up at 15 minutes. But then Evil shoves Naito into Red Shoes! Red Shoes goes down, Evil catches Naito, and Dick runs in! But Naito slips free, POCKET SAND hits Evil! Naito kicks Dick, has him by the neck, but Kanemaru runs in! Naito dodges, WHISKEY MIST hits Dick!! Bushi gives Kanemaru BLACK MIST! Kanemaru tumbles out, Bushi DIVES onto him!

The fans are thunderous as LIJ has evened things with The House! Naito runs up, CORRIENDO SHIKI DESTINO!! Cover, TWO?!? Evil survives but Naito just fires up! The fans fire up with him and he drags Evil up. Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, DEST- NO! EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, EVIL WINS?!

Winner: Evil, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Naito earns 0)

Just as there was light at the end of the tunnel, The King of Darkness snuffs it out! Naito, THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, has dropped to 1-3 in the block. Is he going to miss out on the playoffs at this rate?

As for Evil, he grabs to say, “Oi, Naito… What a shame, ya jerk!” The fans boo but Evil mockingly says Naito looks all beat up. Naito’s just “heavy luggage” for Evil’s company! Maybe Naito should take a long leave of absence. The fans boo and Evil says, “Is that what you thought I’d say? I’ll end things for you with one more match, right now! Ring the bell!” What? Dick rings the bell and Evil puts Naito in a SHARPSHOOTER! Abe-san rings the bell to signal this does not count, and Young Lions rush in, but Dick and Kanemaru beat them up for it! Evil finally lets go of Naito, and he goes back to the mic.

“Oi, Naito. Don’t think you’ve escaped. You can’t take time off in my company! You’ll work forever as my underling! You understand? Remember it! Now, get the hell outta here!” Evil mockingly uses the same “go away” chant the fans do, and the fans boo. Evil tells the “Nagasaki idiots” to remember this, too: “Only one guy is going perfect to win this G1. If you don’t like it, try and stop me. You don’t stand a chance! Understand? Remember it!” Evil tosses the mic away, will nothing stop him and the House of Torture taking over NJPW?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

Zack Sabre Jr: 4-0, 8 points
Evil: 4-0, 8 points
Sanada: 2-2, 4 points
Gabe Kidd: 2-2, 4 points
Callum Newman: 2-2, 4 points
Shingo Takagi: 2-2, 4 points
Shota Umino: 2-2, 4 points
Tetsuya Naito: 1-3, 2 points
Jake Lee: 1-3, 2 points
Great-O-Khan: 0-4, 0 points

Here are the current B Block standings!

Yuya Uemura: 3-0, 6 points
Konosuke Takeshita: 2-1, 4 points
Henare: 2-1, 4 points
Ren Narita: 2-1, 4 points
Jeff Cobb: 1-2, 2 points
David Finlay: 1-2, 2 points
Boltin Oleg: 1-2, 2 points
Hirooki Goto: 1-2, 2 points
El Phantasmo: 1-2, 2 points
Yota Tsuji: 1-2, 2 points

My Thoughts:

Another great round for the G1, with some moderately surprising outcomes. Great-O-Khan being the only 0-3 and now the only 0-4 is surprising, but he sure has quite the line-up of KOPW Championship contenders at this point. I don’t see Khan going 0-9, though, so maybe Khan gets a great win to be a spoiler for someone. Callum getting that win over Takagi was rather surprising, too, but clearly great for Callum as he moves up the overall ranks in NJPW. Sanada VS Gabe was great stuff, too, and great win for Sanada to stay afloat at 2-2.

ZSJ VS Jake Lee was a great match on the technical aspect, and I’m just a touch surprised ZSJ got this one. However, ZSJ going 4-0 along with Evil, that is building their eventual match to be something special. Evil VS Naito was a great main event that of course ended up overbooked. I just knew the moment Kanemaru was on commentary, he’d come into play. Naito going 1-3 is itself a big deal, he could end up very busy for the Destruction tour, maybe even Royal Quest and Power Struggle 2024 to buff up those cards. Maybe that’s part of getting the most out of Naito’s title run before he loses at WrestleKingdom 19, if that’s something they’re thinking of doing.

My Score: 8.9/10