Another former LIJ member faces the Uncontrollable Charisma!

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Tetsuya Naito, is in rough shape this G1 Climax. At 1-3 going into the fifth, does he have a shot at the playoffs? Or will he run into a Skull End?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current 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: 3-1, 6 points
Konosuke Takeshita: 3-1, 6 points
Henare: 2-2, 4 points
Jeff Cobb: 2-2, 4 points
David Finlay: 2-2, 4 points
Boltin Oleg: 2-2, 4 points
Ren Narita: 2-2, 4 points
Hirooki Goto: 2-2, 4 points
El Phantasmo: 1-3, 2 points
Yota Tsuji: 1-3, 2 points

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Callum Newman VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!

The Prince of Pace pulled off a shocker when he slayed The Rampaging Dragon. Can Callum add another former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion to the list? Or will the King of Darkness resort to more of his tricks and cheat Callum like he did THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion?

Oh OF COURSE Dick attacks! The Spoiler gets the drop on Callum at the ramp, and then Evil storms up to join in. They mug Callum on stage while the fans boo, and then hoist him up, MAGIC- NO! Callum kicks Dick and then suplexes Evil onto the ramp! The fans fire up as Callum turns the tide! Callum drags Evil up to ROCK him, and Evil staggers down to ringside. Callum puts Evil in the ring, the bell sounds, and DREAMCAST KICK! Callum springboards, but Evil gets outta there! Callum lands safe while Evil avoids the cutter. Callum dares Evil to come back, and the fans rally, but Evil tells everyone to shut up.

Evil takes his time returning, then slides in, only for Callum to stomp him down! Callum ROCKS Evil, whips him, but Evil reverses. Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds speed, but Dick trips him up! Evil blocks the ref’s view while fans boo. Evil kicks Callum to the apron, CLAWS his face, but lets off as the ref counts. Evil stalks Callum, whips him hard into railing, and Callum sputters. Evil whips Callum hard into more railing! And then whips again, but Callum reverses! Only for Evil to reverse back! Callum hits railing hard again, right in front of English commentary. Evil taunts Cobb with crowns up while standing on Callum’s head.

The fans boo, Evil leaves Callum behind and taunts Bushi on Japanese commentary. Evil offers a shirt to Bushi, but then tada! Middle finger! Evil steps into the ring and the ring count starts. Callum stirs, rises up at 9 and rolls in at 10, but Dick drags Callum back out! The ref doesn’t know, Evil is in his face! The count keeps going past 15! Callum uses the railing to springboard his way into the ring at 19! The fans fire up and Dick can’t believe it! Evil is annoyed but he drags Callum up. FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Evil covers again, TWO! Evil covers again and deep, TWO! Evil argues with the ref but the fans cheer.

Evil kicks Callum around, taunts the fans, and then mockingly chants “CAL-LUM-MU! CAL-LUM-MU!” Evil slaps Callum around, but Callum stands. Evil CHOPS him and Callum staggers to ropes. The fans rally and Callum eggs Evil on. So Evil CHOPS again! Callum fires up and the fans fire up, but Evil CHOPS! Callum storms up, Evil pokes him in the eyes! Then CHOPS him down! Callum kips up to ENZIGIR! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Callum rises, the fans rally, and he brings Evil up. Callum fires forearms, whips, but Evil reverses. Callum goes up the ropes and springboards but Evil dodges.

Evil runs up, Callum ELBOWS him! Then Callum puts Evil in the ropes, runs and SHOTGUNS Evil in the back! Cover, TWO! Evil is still in this but Callum grabs the legs. Evil scrambles and grabs the ROPEBREAK! Callum lets go to then KICK Evil in the corner! Evil stands but Callum KICKS again! The fans fire up, Callum goes corner to corner and UPPERCUTS! Callum rolls, and he forearm SMASHES! But wait, Dick is untying the buckle pad! Callum grits his teeth and keeps moving, but tada! Bare buckles! Callum stops himself in time, dodges Evil, and then trips Evil up! DOUBLE STOMP! The fans fire up and Callum grabs the legs!

Callum turns Evil for a BOSTON CRAB! The fans cheer as Evil endures! But then Evil drags the ref down, and Dick gets in! Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER on Callum! The fans boo but Callum pries the choker away! Callum THROWS Dick, then SUPERKICKS him! Evil shoves the ref at Callum! Callum pushes the ref aside, but Evil kicks low! Evil reels Callum in, but Callum suplexes and uses the ref for MAGIC KILLER! The fans fire up while everyone is down! Callum calls to the ref, covers Evil, TWO! Evil survives and flounders away. The fans rally for Callum and he feeds off the energy. Callum rises, runs in at Evil, and DROPKICKS!

Callum pushes Evil down, goes up, and DIVING- NO, Evil moves! Evil runs up, into a BUSAIKU KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but Callum drags him right up! Callum calls his shot, but Evil reels him! EVERYTHING- NO, Callum slips around, full nelsons, but Evil fights free! But Callum HOOK KICKS! Callum OSC- NO, Evil catches him and shoves him into bare buckles! Callum still comes back! But Evil sends him back into the buckles! And then EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, Evil wins!

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

The King of Darkness trumps the Prince of Pace! He’s at 5-0, will there be no stopping him now? Can Callum still rise up in the second half of the round robin?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Great-O-Khan VS Jake Lee!

The Dominator is not looking so dominant as he is the only man at 0-4 in this year’s G1. However, he’s still only a step behind the Smart Bastard. Can Khan conquer this War Dog for the United Empire? Or will the KOPW Champion take a Face Break Shot in the fifth?

The bell rings and the fans rally for Jake. Jake and Khan circle, feel things out, and clinch. Khan throws Jake down by the bad arm and wants a double wristlock. Jake fights up, Khan shifts his grip and then CLUBS the arm. Khan whips, Jake reverses and KNEES low! Jake then THROWS Khan out of the ring! Jake pulls the tape off his elbow and does pushups because surprise, that arm is just fine! He was just tricking Khan into going for a target! Jake goes out, stomps Khan, then brings him up. Jake whips Khan hard into railing! Khan falls and Jake mockingly applauds. Jake then hears the ring count, and he brings Khan up.

Jake puts Khan in at 12 of 20, covers, TWO! Jake drags Khan up, brings him around, and cravats for a neck wrench. Khan endures, Jake puts on the pressure, but Khan fights around to a ROPEBREAK! Jake lets go, the fans cheer, and Khan sputters. Jake stomps Khan, Khan pounds the mat in frustration, but Jake just stomps him more. Khan CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Jake kicks the legs out, scoops Khan, and then SLAMS! The fans fire up and Jake covers, TWO! Jake paces around while Khan writhes. The fans rally up, Jake scuffs Khan, and then mocks the “O-Khan! O-Khan!” chant. Khan snarls and rises up.

Khan fires forearm after forearm, but Jake kicks low! Jake whips, KNEES, then whips again for another KNEE! Jake snapmares, runs, and fakes the Penalty Kick to clamp on a SLEEPER! Khan endures, the fans rally up, but Khan is fading! The ref checks, Khan grabs at Jake, but Jake leans on the hold! Jake pushes Khan to a cover, TWO! So Jake PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Khan survives and the fans fire up! Jake stays cool and he waits on Khan. Khan rises, into the choke- NO, Khan holds back Jake’s hand! Khan IRON- NO, Jake blocks Khan’s hand! The fans fire up, Jake kicks low, and Jake runs, but Khan grabs a leg!

Khan DRAGON SCREWS the leg, then KICKS it! The fans rally, Khan clamps onto the foot, and he mule kicks the knee! Jake writhes, Khan ties up the legs and an arm, to KNEE away at the hip! Then Khan KNEES the knee! Jake writhes but the fans fire up! Khan storms back over to Jake, grabs the bad leg, and twists it around in a modified toehold! Khan traps the other leg, too, so Jake has to crawl with just his arms! Jake reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Khan lets go of the legs, then scuffs Jake. Khan drags Jake up by his hair, then whips. Jake reverses, but Khan blocks the knee! DRAGON SCREW, and ANKLE LOCK!

Jake endures, reaches out, but rolls free! Khan ducks a boot, double leg takedown and ANKLE LOCK! Jake tries to reel Khan in, but Khan fights it off and drops into a KNEEBAR! The fans fire up while Jake endures again! Khan shifts to a HEEL HOOK, then back to KNEEBAR! Khan thrashes that leg around, then grabs an arm! Jake only has his left arm to crawl his way over with! Khan puts as much pressure as he can on the leg, but Jake still gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Khan lets go, and Jake clutches his knee again. Khan stomps Jake, drags him up, and has the leg. Jake fights the knee breaker, then KNEES free!

Khan wobbles, but comes back to BOOT! Jake roars, Khan Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian Chops! Jake ROCKS Khan, Khan IRON RIGHTS in return! Khan runs in, into a KNEE!! Jake roars, drags Khan up, and hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Khan survives and the fans fire up again! We hit 10 minutes, Jake aims from a corner! FACE BREAK- NO, Khan dodges the FBS to waistlock! Jake flails, but Khan GERMAN SUPLEXES! The fans fire up while both men are down! Jake and Khan stir, the fans rally up, and they stand. Jake clamps onto Khan, but Khan pries Jake’s hand away! Khan kicks the bad leg! IRON CLAW!

Jake pries the Iron Claw away!? And KNEES low again! But Khan roars! They both claw the other! Jake KNEES again, and CHOKE- NO, HITSUJIGOROSHI, COMPLETE SHOT! And then the IRON CLAW, ELIMINATOR!! Cover, KHAN WINS!!

Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Jake earns 0)

Finally, the Dominator has points on the board! Is this the start of a crazy comeback from Khan? Is Jake going to miss out on a spot in the playoffs because of this?

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

The Roughneck brought down The Dominator last round, but no one’s been able to bring The Front Man down yet! Will #SHOOTER find a way to make The Mighty kneel? Or will he #JustTapOut?

The bell rings and the fans rally while the two stare down. They slowly circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ quickly wrenches, wrenches, and wristlocks, but Shota rolls, slips through but ZSJ slips away. The fans cheer that opening exchange, and the two tie up. ZSJ waistlocks, Shota wrenches, then Shota wristlocks. ZSJ rolls, bridges, spins and drop toeholds. ZSJ has the standing toehold but Shota rolls free. The fans cheer this second exchange, and the two reset again. They feel out another knuckle lock, go forehead to forehead, but Shota puts pressure on the hands. ZSJ stands on Shota’s hand, then pulls on the other!

ZSJ shifts to have a motorcycle stretch! Shota powers things around onto ZSJ and the fans applaud. ZSJ powers through but Shota spins it right back around! ZSJ flips, kicks, and is free. The fans cheer as the two stand off again. They circle, feel things out, and then Shota shoots in. Shota grabs an arm, wrenches to wristlock, but then ZSJ wrenches back. Shota counters but ZSJ rolls to boot him away! The two stand and the fans fire up again. ZSJ shakes out his arm, then resets with Shota. They tie up, Shota headlocks, but ZSJ powers up and out. Shota runs ZSJ over! The fans cheer while Shota flexes.

Shota stomps ZSJ, but ZSJ rises up. Shota CLUBS him, then ROCKS ZSJ in a corner. ZSJ goes to another corner but Shota follows. Shota whips corner to corner, ZSJ reverses but Shota goes up and over. ZSJ runs up but Shota avoids the dropkick. Shota scoops ZSJ, DROPS him, then runs to SHOTGUN! The fans fire up with Shota while ZSJ checks his nose. ZSJ goes to ropes, Shota waits on him to stand. Shota then slingshots, but ZSJ moves back! ZSJ sweeps the legs! Shota falls then stumbles into railing! Shota falls over, clutches his leg, but ZSJ goes out to fetch him. ZSJ drags Shota around to KICK him in the leg! And again!

ZSJ leaves Shota behind while the ref checks Shota. The fans rally, the ring count starts. Shota sits up at 3 of 20, grits his teeth, and the fans rally up. Shota stands at 10, hobbles over, and rolls in at 12. ZSJ drags Shota to have a toehold, and he twists Shota’s ankle! Shota endures but then ZSJ drops a knee on the knee! Shota writhes, the fans cheer, and ZSJ spaces. ZSJ grabs Shota’s leg, digs his knee into the knee, then pulls on the foot! ZSJ traps the leg in a toehold, and digs his elbow into the knee. Shota tries to fight back with a chinlock but ZSJ pulls on the leg! Shota reaches out, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go and the fans cheer.

Shota crawls to a corner, ZSJ drags him back up. ZSJ UPPERCUTS and Shota staggers away. ZSJ storms up, UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS again! Shota growls, fires forearm after forearm, but ZSJ KICKS Shota’s leg! ZSJ runs, into a DROPKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up! ZSJ checks his nose again while Shota slaps his bad leg into working. The fans rally as both men stand, and then Shota runs corner to corner to UPPERCUT! Shota reels ZSJ in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Shota as he brings ZSJ up again. ZSJ fights the clinch, kicks the leg then BOOTS Shota’s face!

ZSJ runs, Shota drop toeholds him onto ropes! Then slingshot, APRON DDT!! ZSJ flops to the floor while Shota clutches his leg, and the fans fire up again! The ref checks ZSJ and he’s apparently okay to continue. The ring count starts, Shota fires up and the fans are with him. Shota drags ZSJ up at 7 of 20, puts him in at 8, then goes to the apron. Shota goes up a corner, takes aim, MISSILE DROPKICK! And then EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Shota brings ZSJ into the dragon sleeper. ZSJ slips free to have a SLEEPER! Shota snapmares free, both men go to corners then run in, ZSJ dropkicks Shota’s legs out!

The fans fire up while both men are down! The ref checks Shota’s leg, the fans rally up, and ZSJ catches his breath. ZSJ stands, he grabs Shota’s leg and we reach 10 minutes. ZSJ manages a HALF CRAB, but then shifts to hook up the legs! ZSJ grabs at the arms, Shota resists, so ZSJ STOMPS the knees! Shota writhes and the fans rally up again. ZSJ KICKS Shota’s leg, then KICKS him again! Shota sits up, ZSJ PENALTY- NO! Shota blocks that kick! Shota stands, ROCKS ZSJ, but ZSJ kicks the bad leg! ZSJ kicks again but Shota blocks again! Shota ROCKS ZSJ, dragon sleeper, TEST DRIVE! Both men are down and the fans fire up!

The fans rally up as Shota rises. Shota brings ZSJ up, dragon sleepers, for TRIDENT! Cover, TWO! ZSJ is still in this but Shota aims from a corner! IGNITION!! The fans fire up more and Shota reels ZSJ in! But ZSJ rolls to get a leg! ZSJ trips Shota, steps through, but Shota cradle counters! TWO!! ZSJ escapes, runs up, but into a pop-up ELEVATED DEATH RIDER!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives but Shota just loads up in the corner! Shota runs in, BLAZE- ARMBAR!! ZSJ catches Shota in time, but Shota moves! ZSJ makes it a TRIANGLE HOLD! ZSJ holds on, shifts back to the ARMBAR, but Shota fights up!

Shota stacks but ZSJ shifts, KNEEBAR!! ZSJ grapevines the leg, drags Shota from ropes, but Shota still endures! Shota fights around to go the other way, but ZSJ again drags him to center! DOUBLE HEEL HOOK!! Shota endures, ZSJ ties him up in a TRAILER HITCH HEEL HOOK COMBO!! Shota fights forward, ZSJ drags him back again, and the fans are thunderous! Shota pushes up and the fans duel as hard as ever! Shota goes to his left, claws forward, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer again as ZSJ lets go. Shota clutches his legs while ZSJ watches. We reach 15 minutes, and ZSJ KICKS Shota! Shota eggs ZSJ on!

ZSJ KICKS again! And again! Shota snarls, UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Shota back and he staggers away! Shota shakes his head, goes back to ZSJ, and UPPERCUTS! ZSJ walks that off, comes back, and UPPERCUTS! Shota shakes his head again, and he comes back to UPPERCUT! ZSJ says that was okay, and he UPPERCUTS again! Shota UPPERCUTS, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ wobbles! Shota fires more UPPERCUTS, but then ZSJ SLAPS him! Shota swings, ZSJ hooks him but then spins him to scoop! Shota slips free to waistlock!

ZSJ mule kicks the bad leg, fakes out the dropkick, and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again! ZSJ drags Shota up, KICKS him, then sits him back up. ZSJ KICKS, sits Shota up, and KICKS again! Shota huffs ‘n’ puffs as he stands up, and he ROCKS ZSJ with a forearm! ROLLING ELBOW! ZSJ grabs a leg but Shota ENZIGIRIS! And then BLAZE BLADE to the front!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives but Shota is all fired up! Shota reels ZSJ in, underhooks, but ZSJ flips forward, traps the arms, and pops Shota into a sunset flip! TWO, and ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Shota SHOT- NO, ZSJ blocks the dropkick!

ZSJ rolls, ANKLE LOCKS, then reels Shota in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! But Shota’s right up! BLAZE BLADE to the back!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives again and the fans fire back up! Shota stalks ZSJ, pump handles, and POWERSLAMS! Then underhooks for DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!!

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

The Front Man fought as hard as he could, but he could not break Shota’s fighting spirit! Will ZSJ be able to hold onto a playoff berth like this? Is #SHOOTER about to bring the Paradigm Shift to the Climax?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Shingo Takagi VS Gabe Kidd!

The Rampaging Dragon and the Mad Man both fell last round, but they’re not out of the running yet. Will “the liveliest old man” still be able to teach this whelp a few things? Or will Gabe prove he is NJPW Strong?

The bell rings and the two run up! Gabe BOOTS, fires forearms, then runs, but Takagi BOOTS him! Takagi fires forearms, the two go forehead to forehead, then Gabe shoves Takagi. Gabe runs to BOOT Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to BOOT Gabe! Gabe rebounds to BOOT Takagi, Takagi rebounds to BOOT Gabe! Gabe BOOTS again, runs, but Takagi dodges! Only for Gabe to RUN him over! But Takagi’s right up to run Gabe over! Gabe stands, they go to corners and come back to RAM shoulders! The fans fire up while the two are forehead to forehead. Gabe fires a forearm, then eggs Takagi on.

Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe fires back, and fans rally up. Gabe ROCKS Takagi, but Takagi shakes that off. Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe eggs him on. Takagi fires more forearms, but Gabe HAYMAKERS! And CHOPS! Gabe LARIATS in a corner, then CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOSP! Takagi turns things around to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Gabe laughs as he CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Takagi JABS, CHOPS, and repeat! Takagi CHOPS again, but Gabe BOOTS! Takagi blocks, to DOUBLE CHOP! Gabe falls and Takagi catches his breath but the fans fire up. Takagi rises, stomps Gabe, then stalks him.

Takagi brings Gabe up, KNEES him against ropes, then whips to ropes for another KNEE! And then Takagi reels Gabe in, but Gabe suplexes first! Then Gabe looks around for cameras, and he says “My time coming, F YOU, B*TCH!” The fans are torn but Gabe kicks Takagi around. Gabe eggs Takagi on, drags him up, but Takagi fights the suplex! Takagi suplexes, Gabe fights it, so Takagi TWIST ‘N’ SHOUTS! The fans rally and Takagi watches Gabe go to a corner. Takagi runs in, but blocks a boot to LARIAT! Takagi reels Gabe in to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi fires up, and tells Nagata… NO, he has to duck Gabe’s cheap shot first!

Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! And YUKON LARIATS! The fans fire up, and now Takagi looks to camera! “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up and join in on “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi kicks Gabe in the side, drags him back up, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s face! Red Shoes reprimands, but Gabe CHOPS Takagi. Takagi comes back to get face to face with Gabe. Then Takagi CHOPS! Gabe snarls, and he CHOPS back! Takagi nods, and he CHOPS again! Gabe staggers to ropes, but he seethes and shakes his head. Gabe comes back to CHOP, Takagi CHOPS, the fans rally as the CHOPS keep going! But Gabe wobbles! Takagi CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS!

Takagi eggs Gabe on, so Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Takagi JABS, JABS and fakes the chop to BITE Gabe’s head! Red Shoes reprimands, Takagi lets off and spits, Gabe doesn’t taste good. But then Gabe clinches Takagi for an EXPLODER! The fans rally while both men are down. Takagi and Gabe slowly stir, then Gabe stands. Gabe drags Takagi up, but Takagi fights the clinch with elbows! Gabe swings, into a clinch! EXPLODER! But Gabe’s up to SAIDO! And then Gabe runs, COMEBACKER- SAIDO! Gabe staggers back up, runs in, and he RUNS Takagi over! The fans fire up while both men are down again!

Takagi and Gabe stir, and they crawl to opposite ends. The fans rally, Takagi goes to a corner, and Gabe sits up cross-legged. Takagi headbutts the buckles to fire up! The fans fire up, Gabe shouts at Takagi, “OI!” Takagi glares at Gabe, and they run in! DOUBLE LARIATS! Neither falls, so they DOUBLE LARIAT again! And again! And again! Then again! The fans fire up while both men grit their teeth, to LARIAT point blank again and again, and again and again! They lean on each other, but Takagi fires off RIDGE HANDS! Then a LARIAT! Gabe drops to a knee, but he shakes his head. Gabe stands to LARIAT back!

Takagi staggers, Gabe eggs him on. Takagi stumbles, lariats, but there was nothing behind it! Gabe CLUBS, LARIATS, repeat, and then Takagi falls! Gabe looms over Takagi at the ropes, drags him up, and runs, only for Takagi to follow! LARIAT at ropes! Takagi runs, Gabe steps forward, DOUBLE LARIATS at center! Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, but Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS! Gabe UPPERCUTS! Takagi JABS and YUKON LARIATS! Cover, ONE!! Gabe LARIATS! Cover, ONE!! The fans are thunderous and both men rise up! Gabe runs in, Takagi dodges, but then Gabe dodges! PUMPING BOMBER hits!!

The fans are thunderous as Takagi roars! Takagi storms over to Gabe, drags him up and pump handles, torture rack, but Gabe slips free! PILEDRIVER!! Takagi’s up!? SLIDING BOMBER!! Gabe rises?! PUMPING BOMBER CRADLE!! TWO!!! Gabe survives, and this is just the 10 minute mark! The fans rally up while both men stir. Takagi rises with “OI! OI! OI!” The fans join in, and Takagi sits Gabe up. Takagi HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS away on Gabe! Takagi drags Gabe up, though he’s a ragdoll, and pump handles! Torture rack, but no, Gabe slips free! SHOTEI! Gabe snarls, and he SLAPS, SLAPS and SLAPS again!

Gabe fires off more slaps, “F YOU!” Takagi SLAPS back! Gabe drops to his knees, and the fans rally up! Takagi fires boxing elbows, but Gabe withstands them all! He eggs Takagi on, Takagi fires more shots, Gabe again says “F YOU!” Takagi JABS, then HEADBUTTS! Gabe sits down, SLIDING PUMPING BOMBER!! Gabe is right back up!? Gabe runs, dodges, and COMEBACKER!! Both men flounder after that impact and the fans are thunderous! There are “GABU! GABU! GABU!” chants emerging over the “TA-KA-GI!” Red Shoes checks both men, they’re both okay to continue, and the fans continue to rally.

Gabe sits up cross-legged again. Gabe drags Takagi up, storms around, and he copies Takagi by headbutting buckles! Gabe reels Takagi in, but Takagi fights the driver! Takagi wrenches, Gabe CLUBS the arm. Takagi HEADBUTTS! Gabe SHOTEIS! Takagi ROCKS Gabe! Gabe falls over and the fans fire up again! Takagi roars and the fans fire up even more! Takagi drags Gabe up by his ears, but Gabe HEADBUTTS! Then PILEDRIVER!! Gabe holds on?! And he PILEDRIVERS again!!! Cover, GABE WINS!!!

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

The Mad Man avenges his loss over the NEVER Openweight Championship, and he is moving up the ranks! Will Gabe be NJPW Strong all the way until he’s conquered the G1?

Wait, Gabe has them cut his music? He stands at the center of the ring, and he bows in respect to Takagi!! The fans cheer, and then Gabe has them calm down. Gabe offers a handshake? Gabe says be a man and take it. Takagi  struggles to even sit up, so Gabe goes over to him. Gabe puts the icepack on Takagi’s shoulder, and still offers the handshake. Takagi manages to stand, and fans applaud in encouragement. Takagi shows respect back by shaking Gabe’s hand. But then Gabe kicks Takagi low! The Mad Man is still a War Dog, will he do what he wants to who he wants? As for Takagi, will he make sure to fight that much harder to redeem himself?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Tetsuya Naito VS SANADA!

Well, the Uncontrollable Charisma took on former LIJ member, Evil, just last round, and was cheated out of a main event moment. Now another former LIJ member is here to face the champion. The Cold Skull is much more honorable than the King of Darkness, but will he still steal the spotlight? Or can Naito keep things tranquilo?

Again, Naito takes his time with the entrance attire. But again, Sanada is former LIJ, so he is patient. The pants are put aside and the bell rings. The fans rally up, “NA-I-TO!” “SA-NA-DA!” Red Shoes assesses things, and Naito’s side is leading, but Sanada is sure it isn’t by much. The two circle, tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Sanada waistlocks but Naito wrenches out. Naito hammerlocks, Sanada slips out to waistlock, but Naito drop toeholds. Naito floats to a headlock, but Sanada fights up. The fans rally, Sanada pries at the hold, and he tries for a top wristlock. Naito fights, but Sanada trips him! But Naito headscissors!

Sanada tries to kip free but Naito holds on tight. Sanada endures, fights around, and headstands to then trap Naito’s legs and pop out. Sanada leaps for a headlock, but Naito rolls him and has the headlock instead. Naito pulls on Sanada’s head, but Sanada fights up. Sanada puts Naito on ropes, Red Shoes calls the break. but Naito lets go slowly. Then Naito puts Sanada on ropes! Red Shoes reprimands but Naito lets off slowly again. He pats Sanada on the shoulders, the fans cheer, but then Naito SPITS at Sanada. Sanada sighs, then he kicks low and throws Naito out! Sanada builds speed, but Naito slides in!

Sanada tumbles up and over to the apron, Naito DECKS him! Naito builds speed, but he fakes Sanada out to tranquilo! But Sanada dropkicks him! Again, Sanada knows the tricks. Naito goes to the apron, Sanada storms over and scrapes Naito out of the ring. Sanada goes out, then he whips Naito hard into railing! Naito slumps down, crawls away, but Sanada stalks him. Sanada brings Naito up, fireman’s carries, and SNAKE EYES off railing! Right in front of Bushi on commentary! The fans rally, Sanada brings Naito up, headlocks and brings him around, for an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Naito writhes but Sanada pushes him into the ring. Sanada covers, TWO!

The fans cheer and Sanada stays cool. Sanada drags Naito up, CLUBS him on the neck, and Naito staggers. Sanada brings Naito back around to CLUB him again. Sanada whips, then he catches Naito to a SLEEPER! Naito flails, but Sanada sits him down and leans on the hold. The fans rally as Naito endures, but Sanada grinds Naito down. Naito reaches out, kicks around, and finds his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Sanada lets go. Sanada drags Naito up but Naito fires forearms! Sanada reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Sanada brings Naito into the dragon sleeper!

But Naito spins things around! BACKBREAKER, to basement dropkick! Both men are down and the fans rally again. Naito sits up first, then stands. Naito drags Sanada up to whip, arm-drag, and then ELBOW! Basement DROPKICK! Naito then brings Sanada up to whip to a corner, and ELBOW! Naito puts Sanada in ropes, DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Then Naito stands Sanada up to turn him, hold him, and NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Naito covers, TWO! Sanada stays in this and the fans rally again. Naito drags Sanada up, cravats and neck wrenches. Sanada fires body shots, but Naito CLUBS him!

Naito snapmares Sanada into the LEG HOOK NELSON! Sanada endures while Naito puts on the pressure. Sanada kicks around, reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, but Naito “needs help.” Red Shoes helps undo the hold, and Naito brings Sanada up. Naito reels Sanada in to hammerlock and half nelson, but Sanada resists the lift. Sanada clubs at Naito, but Naito CLUBS Sanada. Naito whips, Sanada reverses and hurdles, hurdles, and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while Naito bails out and we hit 10 minutes. Sanada PLANCHAS and down goes Naito! The fans fire up and Sanada has them get louder.

Sanada storms over to Naito, brings him up, and puts him in the ring. Sanada stalks Naito, brings him up, and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Sanada stays cool, and he drags Naito up. Sanada fireman’s carries, but Naito fights free! Sanada runs, but Naito ELBOWS him! Sanada rebounds, Naito spins him and NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Naito rises up, hobbles over, and he drags Sanada up. Naito throws heavy elbow after elbow! Sanada falls to all fours, and the fans rally up again. Naito brings Sanada up, to throw more heavy elbows!

Sanada again falls over, and the fans rally up more. Sanada clutches the right shoulder, but Naito drags him up, for more heavy elbows! Naito puts Sanada up top, climbs up after him, and SUPER STEINERS! The fans fire up as Sanada flounders! Naito aims from the corner, runs up, but Sanada dropkicks the legs! Naito still swings, but into a suplex, for MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Sanada grits his teeth as he rises up, and he goes up a corner! ROUNDING BODY- NO, he has to land out as Naito moves! Sanada runs up, but Naito wrenches and TORNADO- NO, Sanada stops the DDT!

Sanada runs up, Naito avoids the Shining Wizard! Sanada comes back but Naito SPINEBUSTERS! Naito hauls Sanada up to wrench and tilt-o-whirl, but Sanada stops Destino! Fireman’s carry, T K O!! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! We hit 15 minutes, and the fans rally again. Sanada stirs, as does Naito. Sanada kips up! Naito slowly sits up, into the SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then goes up top, to ROUNDING BODY PRESS!! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives and the fans fire up as Sanada says one more time! Sanada clinches, but Naito spins free! Naito suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER!

Naito hurries to haul Sanada up, and he wrenches to tilt-o-whirl, but Sanada slips free! O’Conner Roll BRIDGE! TWO!!! Naito escapes, but a SHINING WIZARD hits again!! Sanada roars, and he brings Naito up again! Clinch, DEAD- NO, Naito slips free, ripcord and DESTINO!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Sanada survives and shocks the fans! But Naito just drags Sanada back up! Another wrench, another tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO~!!! Cover, NAITO WINS!!

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

A powerful battle worthy of that IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, but it was the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion who comes out on top! Will Sanada have to try even harder if he wants to take the title back?

As for Naito, he catches his breath, stands back up, and has his hand raised. Red Shoes brings him his baseball cap, and after refreshing with some water, Naito gets the mic. “Buenas noches, Fukuoka~!” The fans cheer, and Naito says, “This was our second night of G1 in Fukuoka. Thank you to you all for coming. Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer again, and Naito asks if they enjoyed these hot two days of action. The fans cheer because they did! Naito says it has been awhile since the G1 was in the Kyushu region, so he enjoyed it, too. Naito notes he is 2-3 now, and as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and defending G1 winner… “That’s a bad record.”

But Naito says he will get more and more wins and move into the positive so as to win his second G1 in a row. The fans cheer in hopes of seeing that. And Naito knows they know what’s next. This will be their first roll call in Fukuoka since May of 2016! Eight years and two months! Are they ready? The fans cheer, and Naito says that the only way to close out the G1 in Fukuoka is of course… “Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!” The fans cheer, but will Naito be able to pull off back to back Climaxes? Or will he fall short of such an achievement?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

Evil: 5-0, 10 points
Zack Sabre Jr: 4-1, 8 points
Gabe Kidd: 3-2, 6 points
Shota Umino: 3-2, 6 points
Callum Newman: 2-3, 4 points
Shingo Takagi: 2-3, 4 points
Tetsuya Naito: 2-3, 4 points
Sanada: 2-3, 4 points
Great-O-Khan: 1-4, 2 points
Jake Lee: 1-4, 2 points

Here are the current B Block standings!

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

My Thoughts:

Another great round for the G1, and they keep on giving us some rather surprising outcomes. Well, Evil beating Callum was the one clear move, and Evil was still going to cheat even then. However, he’s also the only one going 5-0 now and that seems real bunk to me. Shota is great and all but I wanted to see ZSJ keep pace with Evil going into their match. But they’ll face off on August 6th, so maybe by then, Evil will have lost a match and they’ll have equal records anyway. Khan bringing down Jake Lee to get his first win was great, and that could very well be the spoiler win for Khan, keeping Jake outside of the top three.

While Gabe VS Takagi wasn’t the main event, it was probably the best match of the night. Great intensity, and Gabe winning out was somewhat surprising. As was Gabe’s swerve of showing respect just to get a cheap shot. Gabe’s win over Shota might also come in handy when it comes to determining the third seed. Gabe would have to lose one more than Shota and they’d swap in the block. Naito VS Sanada was still a great main event, and I almost thought Sanada was getting it, but Naito would be shockingly 1-4 so that wasn’t happening. Naito himself might start moving up the block from here, and he’s up against Gabe next, so that’ll be a crucial match.

My Score: 9/10