Who is truly tranquilo?

Once teammates in Los Ingobernables de Japon, Shingo Takagi and Sanada do battle in order to move towards the top of A Block! Will it be a Rampaging Dragon or Cold Skull that takes the spotlight?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

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

Here are the current B Block standings!

David Finlay: 4-2, 8 points
Jeff Cobb: 4-2, 8 points
Henare: 3-3, 6 points
Yota Tsuji: 3-3, 6 points
Yuya Uemura: 3-3, 6 points
Ren Narita: 3-3, 6 points
Hirooki Goto: 3-3, 6 points
Konosuke Takeshita: 3-3, 6 points
Boltin Oleg: 2-4, 4 points
El Phantasmo: 2-4, 4 points

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Great-O-Khan VS Callum Newman!

The United Empire’s Jeff Cobb and Henare just battled it out in B Block, and now we see it happen in A Block! The Dominator and the Prince of Pace are both at the back of the pack, on the bubble, but who ends up dead last with one more loss?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. It sounds like Callum has the majority and Khan even encourages the fans to get louder. The two shake hands and the fans cheer. They feel things out, Khan grabs a leg, and he flips Callum! Callum lands on his feet, ducks ‘n’ dodges to build speed! Khan dodges the boot, Callum dodges a boot! Khan swats Callum’s kick, but Callum trips Khan! Khan avoids the double stomp! Khan trips Callum, waistlock and roll to a cover, TWO! IRON CLAW, spin and ELIM- NO! Callum slips free, springboards, but Khan catches him! Khan pops Callum around to a GERMAN SUPLEX, but Callum lands out!

Callum runs up, Khan dodges the kick, Callum jumps the sweep! SHOTGUN KICK! The fans fire up as Callum stands tall! Callum drags Khan up, but Khan CLAPS then RAMS Callum into a corner! Khan Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian Chops! And feints the chops to UPPERCUT! Khan has Callum in a corner, and he goes up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands, but Khan pulls Callum’s arms! The ref counts, Khan lets go at 4, but then pulls the arms again! The ref counts more, Khan jumps down to CHOP Callum on the back! Fireman’s carry takeover, cover, TWO, but into the KATAGATAME!

Callum endures the head ‘n’ arm triangle, even as Khan leans all his weight on the hold. Callum fights around, reaches out, but Khan keeps him from the ropes. Khan squeezes tight, and Callum is turning red! Callum still kicks around, and finds the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Khan lets off, but then he brings Callum into a chinlock. Callum fights up but Khan makes it an IRON CLASW SLEEPER! And then the ELIM- NO, Callum knees free! Callum trips Khan again, and DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans fire up while both men are down. Callum and Khan stir, and Khan rolls to a corner. Callum rises and the fans rally up.

Khan drags himself up with ropes, Callum rolls back and springs up! Callum runs in to UPPERCUT! Callum rolls, runs back in and GAMANGIRIS! Snapmare and PENALTY KICK! Cover, ONE!! Callum just PENALTY KICKS again! And STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Khan survives and Callum keeps cool while the fans rally up. Khan headbutts the mat to fire himself back up, and Callum storms over. Callum chicken wings the arms but Khan fights the lift. So Callum ROCKS Khan in the back, chicken wings again, but Khan RAMS him into a buckle! Callum DREAMCAST- SAYANAGI! Both men are down again!

The fans rally, Khan crawls his way over and he drags Callum into a SLEEPER! Callum endures, fights up, but Khan IRON CLAW SLEEPERS, and then torture racks, but Callum slips free! Khan BODY BLOWS! Khan runs, into a JUMPING METEORA! The fans fire up as both men are down once more! Khan rolls to a corner, Callum goes to the other, and the fans rally up. Callum runs Around the World to DROPKICK! Callum then goes up and up and FLYING DOUBLE STOMPS Khan on the back! Callum goes to ropes, but Khan catches him first! Callum fights the suplex, but Khan shoves. Callum springboards to sunset flip! TWO!

Khan runs up, Callum ROCKS him first! And ROLLING ELBOW! And HEEL KCIK! And DREAMCAST KICK! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up but Callum shakes his head. Callum calls his shot, springboards, OSC- NO, Khan catches Callum again! HITSUJIGOROSHI, into FLATLINER, and then ELIMINATOR!! Cover, Khan wins!

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

The Prince of Pace tried, but he could not overcome Khan! But out of respect, Khan holds the ropes open for Callum, and then Callum returns the favor. Khan’s Eliminator eliminates Callum from playoff contention, but will the KOPW Champion carry the United Empire’s banner all the way to the Climax?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Gabe Kidd VS Jake Lee!

Now the Bullet Club War Dogs are fighting each other! The Mad Man and the Smart Bastard have been quite the team in the background of this tournament, but who withstands the heat in these dog days of summer?

But being War Dogs, Gabe strikes first as he BOOTS Jake off the apron during his entrance! Gabe then goes out to grab a chair from under the ring! The fans are torn, the ref reprimands, but Gabe JAMS Jake, then SMACKS him on the back! Gabe grins, pushes the ref aside, and he pursues Jake around the way. Gabe SMACKS Jake in the face! Jake wobbles, Gabe shoves him over, and then Gabe gets a mic to say, “Hey, Jake. Welcome to War Dogs, mother effer!” Gabe then goes looking for more while the fans fire up. Gabe brings out a TABLE! Korakuen Hall fires up, Jake stands, and Gabe takes aim! Gabe CHUCKS the table!

Jake dodges, the table hits railing, and then Jake GIANT KILLER KNEES Gabe low! Gabe sputters, Jake throws off his War Dogs baseball jersey, and he brings a chair over for himself! Jake JAMS Gabe, SMACKS him, and that’s payback! Gabe staggers into the crowd, Jake pursues and CLUBS him! They brawl out there, the fans all fired up! They hop into the orange bleachers! The lights come up so fans can see, and Young Lions tell other fans to get out of the way! Gabe and Jake brawl right into the row of seats! The fans go wild as they move up to the higher section! Gabe fires forearms with Jake back and forth!

Gabe ROCKS Jake, flips Jake off, then gets space. Gabe grins, “I’m a MAD MAN!” Gabe runs, but into a GIANT KILLER KNEE! The fans are thunderous as Jake stands tall! Jake roars and Korakuen roars with him! Jake drags Gabe up, brings him along, CLUBS him on the neck, but Gabe hits back! Jake kicks low, CLUBS Gabe again, and Gabe staggers down the steps. Gabe RAMS into Jake but Jake kicks Gabe again. Gabe goes to ground level, Jake storms up but Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Jake kicks low, and he SMACKS Gabe off an open seat! The fans cheer and Jake goes back for that table!

Jake sets Gabe’s table up against railing, then goes back for Gabe. Jake brings Gabe around, and runs him right into the table! The fans are thunderous while Gabe is dazed! Jake puts Gabe in the ring, the fans applaud, but Gabe comes back to LARIAT! Now it’s a match as Gabe covers, TWO!! The fans fire up while both men are down! The chants of “GABU!” “JAKU!” duel but Gabe roars! Gabe reels Jake in, but Jake fights the lift. Jake back drops Gabe, but Gabe is right up! Gabe UPPERCUTS, whips, but Jake reverses to KNEE, then FACELOCK GUILLOTINE! Gabe wrenches out to UPPERCUT!

Jake ROCKS Gabe in return! Gabe CHOPS, then JABS! Jake ROUNDHOUSES! Gabe falls over, Jake leans on ropes, and the fans fire up again. Both men go to corners, and Gabe runs up, but into a GAMANGIRI! Cover, ONE!??! Jake doesn’t fret, he just choke grips, to GIANT CHOKE SLAM!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and now Jake is shocked! The fans are thunderous as Jake goes back to the corner and aims again. Gabe rises, Jake runs in, FACE- LARIAT!! Gabe hits Jake but both men are down! The fans rally, and Gabe sits up, and so does Jake! Gabe and Jake both grin, they’re having fun now! They go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm!

The fans rally and Gabe stands up. Gabe dares Jake to stand, so Jake stands! The forearms go back and forth again, faster and faster! The fans rally with every shot! Gabe SLAPS, SLAPS, and SLAPS! Then ripcord and SLAP!! Jake drops to his knees then his face! Gabe leans on ropes to stay up, but Jake rises. Gabe runs up, Jake dodges and BOOTS Gabe against ropes! Gabe flounders out, Jake falls back and the fans rally again. The ring count starts on Gabe while he stirs. Gabe rises at 6 of 20, stands at 8, but Jake’ son the apron! Gabe blocks the kick to CLUB the leg! Gabe brings Jake off but Jake fights the bomb!

Gabe gest around to GERMAN SUPLEX to the floor! The ring count is now 15 of 20! Gabe rises, as does Jake! Gabe runs at Jake! Drop toehold into railing!! Jake gets in the ring! Gabe springs up but misses the ring! JAKE WINS!

Winner: Jake Lee, by count-out (gains 2 points; Gabe earns 0)

Gabe is pissed, but he got outsmarted in the end! But even so, there’s respect as Gabe gives Jake the Too Sweet. Will these two just have to go another round in the future? Will Jake find his way to the playoffs with his outside shot?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ Kosei Fujita VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!

This may not be the main event, but this could be the most critical match in the tournament! If The Front Man wins, he has a crucial tiebreaker in his back pocket. If The King of Darkness wins, he pulls far out ahead and practically clinches the playoffs. Who will lead A Block into the homestretch?

Wait, the music is playing but where is ZSJ? ZSJ and EVIL are fighting right out of the entrance! Evil & Dick are mugging ZSJ! They put him in the ring! The fans boo but Dick distracts the ref so Evil can stomp ZSJ more! Evil drags ZSJ up, Dick uses POCKET SAND! Evil & Dick hit MAGIC KILLER!! Evil tells the ref to get this going, and the bell rings! Cover, TWO!! Another cover, TWO!! A third cover, TWO!!! Evil tries a knuckle lock cover, TWO as ZSJ gets an arm up! Evil puts that arm down to try again, TWO as ZSJ gets the other arm up! Evil tries a prawn hold, TWO!! ZSJ has the sunset flip, ZSJ WINS!!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Evil earns 0)

The King of Darkness cannot believe it! His attempt to steal this one completely backfired! And now with the fastest win in this G1, maybe one of the fastest all time, is The Front Man going to be the top seed? Or is there still time to show Everything is Evil?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Shota Umino VS Tetsuya Naito!

The Roughneck was just in this spot, the penultimate match of the night, and he fell to the Cold Skull. Will he fall again going against the Uncontrollable Charisma? Or will he manage to bring down THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion?

As usual, Naito takes his time with the entrance attire, and Shota waits patiently. Naito tests just how patient, even taking his time with the belt. Finally, the pants are put aside, and Naito adjusts his wristbands. The bell rings and Shota SHOTGUNS! Shota fires off on Naito, then whips. Naito reverses but Shota holds ropes. Naito runs up, Shota drop toeholds him into ropes, and then slingshots for the APRON DDT! Naito is stuck upside-down and the fans fire up! Shota gets some space, runs back up, and he DRIVE-BY DROPKICKS! Shota drags Naito off the apron, to TORNADO DDT to the floor!

The fans fire up with Shota and he hurries to bring Naito back up. Shota puts Naito in the ring, goes to a corner, and the fans rally as Shota climbs. Naito slowly rises, into the MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota waits on Naito. Shota then runs, for IGNITION! Cover, TWO! Naito is still in this but Shota fires up again! The fans rally, Shota underhooks, but Naito RAMS Shota into the corner! Naito ELBOWS Shota, then atomic drops! Naito puts Shota up top, then drags him out for a DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Both men are down and the fans fire up more! Red Shoes checks his son, but he’s okay to continue.

Naito rises and kicks Shota to the apron. Naito then joins Shota on the apron, drags him up, and hits an APRON NECKBREAKER! Shota writhes, Naito drags Shota out from the apron, DRAPING NECKBREAKER to the floor! But he isn’t done! Naito stands Shota up for a NECKREAKER to the floor! Four different neckbreakers and Naito leaves Shota behind! Red Shoes checks, Shota clutches his neck and shoulder but he’s somehow still in this. The ring count climbs, Shota’s left arm is shaky, and he is still down at 10 of 20! And at 15! Shota uses his good arm to drag himself up, 18! He flounders at 19!! Shota springs in at 19.5 and the fans cheer!

Naito is right on Shota, cravats for a neck wrench, then whips. Naito ELBOWS Shota, down, then basement dropkicks! Naito then stands Shota up, holds him in place, and hits another NECKBREAKER! The fans cheer while Naito poses. Naito then covers, TWO! Shota is still in this, but Naito stays cool. Naito drags Shota up, cravats for another neck wrench, but Shota endures. Shota fights up to throw body shots, but Naito thrashes him! Naito snapmares to have the neck wrench grind into the mat. Shota still endures, even as Naito pulls on the neck. Shota fights around, rises up, and he fires body shots!

Naito ROCKS Shota, KICKS and CLUBS him, then runs. But Shota DROPKICKS! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! The fans rally more, and Shota roars as he rises! Naito stands and Shota fires forearms! Shota whips Naito to the corner, then runs in to UPPERCUT! FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but impressive with all the damage Shota’s neck has taken. Naito is dazed, the fans rally up and duel, and Shota drags Naito to his feet. Naito fights the clinch, so Shota UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Naito SPITS at Shota, so Shota UPPERCUTS again! And then EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!

Naito stays in this but the fans rally up again. Shota drags Naito up in the dragon sleeper, but Naito fights it around! NECKBREAKER, then LEG LOCK NELSON! Shota endures, kicks around, and the fans rally more. Naito puts on the pressure, but Shota still fights his way over. Shota reaches out, but Naito puts on even more pressure! The fans still rally, Shota still fights around, and he kicks his way forward, little by little! Naito slows Shota down by leaning back, but Shota still fights! The fans rally as hard as they can for Shota, and he kicks, scoots, and reaches out for the ROPEBREAK! Naito again claims he needs help with this hold.

Red Shoes pries the nelson apart, Naito lets off, and we hit 10 minutes. Naito drags Shota up, hammerlocks then half nelsons, but Shota fights off Gloria! Shota CLUBS away on Naito, so Naito throws those heavy elbows! Shota eggs him on! So Naito fires more elbows! And even MORE elbows! Shota drops to the mat and the fans fire up! Naito paces, then he stands on Shota’s neck. The fans duel, and Naito drags Shota up. Naito throws more of the heavy elbows! Shota dodges to ROCK, ROLLING ELBOW, and- ENZIGIRI from Naito! But Shota comes back to BLAZE BLADE!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again!

Red Shoes checks, and both men are still in this. Shota rises, roars, and the fans rally again. Shota drags Naito up, dragon sleepers, but Naito fires hands from below! Shota holds on, to TEST DRIVE! Then he deadlifts Naito for TRIDENT!! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives and the fans are thunderous! Shota fires up, he brings Naito around, but Naito fights the lift to suplex, and BRAINBUSTER! Not quite Valentia but good enough for Naito! He tilt-o-whirls, but Shota blocks the Destino! Shota pops Naito around, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Not quite Death Rider but good enough for Shota! Cover, TWO!!

Korakuen Hall is thunderous while both men are down again! Shota rises, goes to a corner, and he takes aim as Naito stirs. Naito sits up, into BLAZE BLADE!! And then, underhooks and swinging DEATH RIDER!! Cover, TWO!!! Naito survives, but Shota won’t stop! Underhooks, but Naito wrenches out! DESTIN- NO!! Underhooks! Naito wrenches again! DESTINE CRADLE!! Naito wins!!!

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

Naito was in dire straits, but he again snatches victory from the jaws of defeat! Is there still a chance for the Stardust Genius to pull off back-to-back G1 Climaxes?

G1 Climax 34 A Block: Shingo Takagi VS SANADA!

The Rampaging Dragon and the Cold Skull. Former allies within LIJ, former teammates for World Tag League, and both were big winners just last round. But now, clashing like fire and ice, only one can stand tall! Will Takagi’s flame die out? Or will Sanada melt down this close to the Climax?

The bell rings, the fans rally, and Red Shoes assesses that “TA-KA-GI!” outdoes “SA-NA-DA!” by a wide margin. But then Sanada encourages his fans, and they start to even out the volume. The two circle, they feel things out, and they knuckle lock. Takagi waistlocks, Sanada switches, but Takagi switches back. Sanada wrenches out, wristlocks, but Takagi drop toeholds and floats to a headlock. Sanada fights up, but Takagi wrenches him to wristlock. Sanada rolls, wrenches, hammerlocks, and then headlocks. Sanada hits a takeover, Takagi headscissors, but Sanada kips free. The fans cheer as the two stand off and reset.

Takagi and Sanada slowly circle, and the dueling chants continue. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, but Takagi finds a point of leverage to put Sanada on ropes. Red Shoes counts the break, Takagi lets off slowly, and he pats Sanada on the shoulders. The fans cheer the clean break and the two reset. They tie up again, and now Sanada puts Takagi on ropes. Sanada lets off cleanly, but then he takes a swing! Takagi dodges, Sanada dodges, then Sanada kicks low. Sanada headlocks, Takagi powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Takagi rebounds to RUN Sanada over! The fans cheer, things speed up, and Sanada leaps, into a fireman’s carry! GUTBUSTER!

The fans rally while Takagi stands Sanada up against ropes. Takagi throws a KNEE, then another KNEE! Takagi whips Sanada to ropes, then KNEES him again! Takagi keeps moving, but Sanada dropkicks a leg! Then he DROPKICKS Takagi down! The fans fire up while Takagi bails out and Sanada builds speed! Sanada tumbles up and out to fake Takagi out, but Takagi YANKS Sanada down! Seems Takagi remembers that trick. Takagi drags Sanada up, then snap suplexes him on the floor! Sanada writhes, the fans rally and duel, and Takagi drags Sanada up again. Takagi brings Sanada around the way, to RAM into the apron!

Takagi RAMS Sanada into the apron again, then wrenches him to whip hard into the railing! Red Shoes reprimands but the fans cheer. Takagi shakes out his legs, then he storms over to Sanada. The ring count climbs, Takagi kneels on Sanada’s back while he lets it climb. Takagi then drags Sanada up and puts him in at 13 of 20. Takgi drops a BIG elbow, then covers, ONE!! Takagi SENTONS! We hit five minutes but Takagi waits on Sanada. Sanada sputters, so Takagi KNEES him in the back. Takagi drags Sanada up, and RAMS him in a corner, going after the back! Red Shoes counts but Takagi RAMS one more time.

Takagi eggs Sanada on, then CHOKES him on ropes! Red Shoes counts, Takagi lets off, and Sanada sputters. But then Takagi stands on Sanada’s chest! Takagi eggs Sanada on, Red Shoes counts, and Takagi lets go of the ropes, to then DOUBLE STOMP! The fans continue to rally and duel while Sanada writhes. Takagi taunts Sanada, gives him scuffing kicks, then drags him up with a cravat. Sanada endures the neck wrench, throws body shots, but Takagi JABS, JABS and CHOPS! Sanada falls, the fans rally up, and Red Shoes reprimands about closed fists. Takagi was sure he was using palm strikes.

Takagi drags Sanada up but Sanada fights the suplex. Takagi fires body shots, suplexes, but Sanada slips free! Sanada waistlocks but Takagi elbows free. Takagi whips, Sanada reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. The fans rally as the two stir, and Sanada stands. Sanada brings Takagi up but Takagi KNEES, CLUBS and CHOPS! Takagi whips, Sanada reverses to hurdle, hurdle and DROPKICK! Takagi bails out, Sanada PLANCHAS! Down goes Takagi and the fans fire up again. Sanada encourages them to get louder so the fans oblige. They chant “SA-NA-DA!” and he nods.

Sanada drags Takagi up, puts him in the ring, the reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! The fans rally again while Sanada paces. Sanada stands Takagi up, but Takagi fights the fireman’s carry with elbows. Takagi runs but Sanada ducks ‘n’ tilt-o-whirls, to dragon sleeper! But Takagi turns it around! Only for Sanada to turn it back! SKULL END, but Takagi pops free and arm-drags Sanada away! Sanada comes back into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint and DDT! The fans fire up as Takagi says he’s smarter than that. We pass 10 minutes and Takagi drags Sanada up. Takagi suplexes high and hard again! Cover, TWO!

Takagi tells Korakuen, “My time is coming! TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up and Takagi storms back up on Sanada. Takagi drags Sanada up, pump handles, but Sanada fights the lift. Sanada fires elbows, but Takagi catches him to spin him and suplex! Sanada fights it so Takagi SWINGING NECKBREAKERS! Takagi then watches Sanada go to a corner while the fans rally up. Takagi runs in but he blocks a boot! And he LARIATS through! The fans fire up with Takagi and he reels Sanada in. Takagi suplexes, but Sanada kicks off the ropes! Sanada suplexes Takagi and hits MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans fire up!

Takagi rolls away to center, but Sanada kips up! The fans fire up with Sanada and he aims from a corner. Takagi rises, Sanada runs in, but Takagi ducks the Shining Wizard! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- NO, Sanada blocks it! Takagi spins through but Sanada fireman’s carries him! T K O! The fans fire up while both men are down again, and Sanada rises. Sanada puts Takagi in the drop zone, goes up top, and ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to roll through as Takagi moves! Sanada storms back up but into a BOOT! Takagi runs in but Sanada avoids the Pumping Bomber! Sanada waistlocks, Takagi switches and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Sanada lands out!

Sanada BLINDSIDE SHINING WIZARDS Takagi down! The fans are thunderous, and Sanada goes back to a corner. Sanada aims again, for a SHINING- NO, Takagi swats it! Takagi SLAMS the leg off the mat! Takagi grits his teeth, stands back up, and he brings Sanada around. DRAGON- NO, Sanada slips through the screw, to SHINING WIZARD! Sanada goes right up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS!! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives but Sanada shakes out the legs. Sanada rises again, and the fans are thunderous. Sanada clinches, but Takagi powers out to pop-up DEATH VALLEY BOMB!! Both men are down again!

The fans rally as hard as they can, and we pass 15 minutes! Takagi fires back up, and the fans echo, “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi powers up, runs in, LARIAT! Then Takagi puts Sanada up top, climbs right up to join him, and from the very top, SUPER DUPER PLEX!! The fans are electric from that crash landing! Takagi sits Sanada up to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and the fans are erupting for “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi feeds off that energy, drags Sanada up, but Sanada fights the pump handle! Takagi still lifts, but Sanada slips free! Clinch and- NO, Takagi pump handles through! MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO?!?

The fans are erupting again as Sanada survives! Takagi rises, with the fans as loud as they can be behind him! Takagi stands, drags Sanada to his feet, and pump handles. Sanada fights the torture rack lift! So Takagi wrenches out to RIDGE HAND over and over and over! Then he short arm LARIATS! Sanada drops to his knees, the fans rally, and Takagi brings Sanada up again. Pump handle, torture rack, but Sanada slips free! Takagi fires elbows, but Snada UPPERCUTS! Sanada roars, runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT! Takagi keeps moving, Sanada sidesteps! O’Conner Roll BRIDGE, TWO!!! The fans cannot believe Takagi escapes!

The fans are erupting all over again as Takagi takes aim from a corner! Sanada staggers up, turns around, but he RAN- NO! Takagi stops the rana to SLIDING ELBOW!! Takagi drags Sanada back up, fires off boxing elbows, and the fans chant, “OI! OI! OI!” Sanada roars, Takagi JABS! HEADBUTTS! But Sanada ENZIGIRIS! Takagi steals the SHINING WIZARD!! But Sanada roars right to his feet! Takagi PUMPING BOMBERS!! Cover, ONE!?!?! No one can believe it, but Takagi shrugs it off. Takagi just runs to PUMPING BOMBER!!! And then he drags Sanada up, pump handle and rack, but Sanada slips free! DEAD FALL!!! Cover, SANADA WINS!!!

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

Just short of 20 minutes, this instant classic comes to an end! The Rampaging Dragon drops down a step, does he still have a chance of rising up into the playoffs?

As for Sanada, after catching his breath, getting an icepack, and having his hand raised, he then talks with Takagi. There is still respect here between the former teammates, and they even low five and fist bump! Takagi takes his leave, and Sanada grabs the mic. “To everyone who came here tonight, to everyone watching at home on NJPW World, and to Shingo Takagi, AKA TKG… Thank you!” The fans cheer that, and then chant for “SA-NA-DA!” He gets the fans to chant “T K G! T K G!” And now, time for G1 Climax 34’s first “gift.” The fans cheer that! The “stars” are coming out as the house lights dim.

Sanada says, “By beating TKG in this A Block match, now I’m looking to take first place.” The fans like the sound of that! Sanada stands to say he has one more thing to say. “Unfortunately, I can’t say that I like Korakuen Hall best of all Japan.” EH!? “But besides that, I do like the G1 Climax the most!” The fans cheer that! “OI, KORAKUEN! See you tomorrow.” The Cold Skull is looking to fire up, but will he blaze a trail all the way into the playoffs?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

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

Here are the current B Block standings!

David Finlay: 4-2, 8 points
Jeff Cobb: 4-2, 8 points
Henare: 3-3, 6 points
Yota Tsuji: 3-3, 6 points
Yuya Uemura: 3-3, 6 points
Ren Narita: 3-3, 6 points
Hirooki Goto: 3-3, 6 points
Konosuke Takeshita: 3-3, 6 points
Boltin Oleg: 2-4, 4 points
El Phantasmo: 2-4, 4 points

My Thoughts:

Another awesome round for G1, and I like how the block is shaping up. Khan VS Callum and Gabe VS Jake were great same-faction matches. And I like that you get the feel for both factions watching those matches. United Empire has an honorable, straightforward match, while The War Dogs go after even teammates with aggression and a sort of backhanded respect. Khan and Jake winning were great moves, and that makes for some spoiler chances this Thursday when A Block is back in action.

I was expecting ZSJ VS Evil to be an epic to determine first place, but I didn’t think it’d be epically short! At the same time, that was hilarious and I love that they compounded all the cheap shots and cheating into that small window, and ZSJ still wins out. I really do hope ZSJ is a finalist this year, he’s been so good for so long that I don’t know what NJPW is expecting in order to make him a top title contender. Shota VS Naito was very good, but like all of Naito’s matches since like Forbidden Door, it was kinda slow, Naito got dominated, and then Naito pulls out the win. I don’t know much more Naito can do this without it getting boring for fans.

But hey, Sanada VS Takagi then turned it up and had what was practically a title match. Great win for Sanada, and he’s up against Khan next. Khan could believably pull off the upset, but I would think Sanada stays in the running until the ninth round, leaving it up to those final results to determine if he’s in or out. In fact, ZSJ is his final opponent, that would be an awesome match to help set up the playoffs.

My Score: 9/10