G1 Play-Ins and title matches in the Budokan!

While the G1 Climax blocks are being finalized, Hiroshi Tanahashi has one last match with Gabe Kidd for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship! Will the Ace trump the Mad Man?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Zane Jay; Time Limit Draw.
• Kickoff – Shoma Kato & Masatora Yasuda VS Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai; Murashima & Nagai win.
• 10 Man Tag: Hontai VS The House of Torture; Hontai wins.
• Six Man Tag: Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS The United Empire; Hiromu, Takagi & Tsuji win.
• Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Yuya Uemura & Boltin Oleg VS TMDK; Desperado, Uemura & Oleg win.
• G1 Climax 35 A Block Play-In: Satoshi Kojima VS Ryohei Oiwa; Oiwa wins and advances to the G1 Climax.
• G1 Climax 35 B Block Play-In: Chase Owens VS YOSHI-HASHI; Hashi wins and advances to the G1 Climax.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: SHO, Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi VS YOH, Master Wato & Toru Yano; Yoh, Wato & Yano win and become the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Gabe Kidd VS Hiroshi Tanahashi; Gabe wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

G1 Climax 35 A Block Play-In: Satoshi Kojima VS Ryohei Oiwa!

The final spot in A Block must be filled, and the winner of this generational battle will have their chance at the Climax! Will the King of Bread Style have one more shot at the crown? Or will The Mullet get a grip on the G1?

The bell rings and the fans rally and duel already as “KO-JI-MA!” and “OI~WA! OI~WA!” circle. They tie up, Oiwa grabs an arm but Kojima waistlocks. Oiwa switches, but Kojima wrenches free to a wristlock. Oiwa rolls, wrenches, then hammerlocks, but Kojima reaches back to headlock. Oiwa powers out to have his own headlock, but Kojima fires body shots. Kojima powers up and out, but Oiwa comes back to RUN Kojima over! Things keep moving, Oiwa jumps the dropdown but runs into a HIP TOSS! Kojima runs to RUN Oiwa over! The fans fire up and Koima makes the pecs dance! Kojima then follows Oiwa to a corner.

Kojima CHOPS, CHOPS, and MACHINE GUN CHOPS! But Oiwa stops it! The fans rally, and Oiwa hits an ARMBREAKER BULLDOG! Kojima bails out and clutches that elbow while the fans rally up. Oiwa goes out and kicks Kojima low! Then Oiwa whips Kojima into railing! Oiwa wraps the bad arm around the railing! The ref reprimands and counts, but Oiwa KICKS the railing to jam up the arm! Kojima staggers away but Oiwa grabs that bad arm, and he RAMS Kojima into the post! Oiwa puts Kojima in, covers, TWO! Kojima stays in this and the fans applaud. Oiwa drags Kojima up to wrench the arm, and hits an ELBOW BREAKER!

Oiwa grabs the arm again, wrenches, and hits another ELBOW BREAKER! Oiwa CHOPS Kojima, whips him to ropes, but Kojima reverses to HIP TOSS! But Oiwa has the arm! He wrangles Kojima into a top wristlock! Oiwa pulls on the elbow pad and elbow wrap, then drops a leg on the arm! Oiwa traps the arm in a short arm scissor, then pushes up to put on the pressure. Kojima endures so Oiwa lets go. Oiwa stomps the arm, paces, then eggs Kojima on. Kojima stands to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Oiwa wrenches and YANKS the bad arm! Oiwa CHOPS Kojima to a corner, whips corner to corner, then runs in, only to miss!

Kojima CHOPS, but he has to shake out the arm. Kojima CHOPS, CHOPS, then MACHINE GUN CHOPS! The fans fire up as Kojima finishes unloading the clip! But the arm is hurting so perhaps that was a little double-edged. Kojima whips corner to corner, runs in, and forearm SMASH! Kojima shoves Oiwa down and the fans join in with “ICHAUZO, BAKAYARO!” Kojima climbs, aims, and COZY ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives but the fans rally behind Kojima. Oiwa slowly rises, Kojima is on him with a flurry of forearms, and then a ROLLING ELBOW! Kick and DDT! The fans cheer and Kojima rises back up.

Kojima brings Oiwa up, clinches, but Oiwa fights the cutter with body shots. Oiwa then GUT WRENCH PLEXES! The fans cheer as Oiwa rises, and Kojima goes to a corner. Oiwa runs in and DROPKICKS! Then he scoops and SLAMS Kojima, to then SENTON! Cover, TWO! Kojima survives and the fans cheer. Oiwa fires up and the fans rally again. Oiwa brings Kojima up but Kojima fights the Tenzan lift! Kojima CLUBS away on Oiwa, then Mongolian Chops! Kojima shouts out his tag partner with those repeated Mongolian Chops! Kojima reels Oiwa in, but Oiwa suplexes first! The fans rally as Oiwa brings Kojima up again.

Oiwa tries, and he hits the TENZAN PLEX! Cover, TWO! Kojima survives, he knows Tenzan well. Oiwa stomps Kojima’s bad arm, then drags him up into a top wristlock! Kojima endures, fights to his feet, but Oiwa wrenches, only for Kojima to SOUTHPAW LARIAT! The fans fire up and Kojima cravats for the COZY CUTTER! Kojima then hurries to bring Oiwa up again, COZY BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives and the fans fire up again! Kojima throws his elbow pad away, brings Oiwa up to whip, but Oiwa UPPERCUTS Kojima down! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Kojima stays in this but Oiwa fires up again!

Oiwa stands Kojima up, gut wrenches and DOCTOR BOMBS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Kojima survives, but Oiwa is right on him with a SLEEPER! Kojima fights up, reaches out, but Oiwa brings him away from the ropes! Then Oiwa spins Kojima for THE- COZY LARIAT!! Kojima hits first and the fans fire up again! Kojima falls to the cover, TWO!! Oiwa survives and the fans fire up more! They rally and duel as Kojima rises. Kojima fires up and runs again, but Oiwa blocks the lariat! Kojima comes back, Oiwa hooks that arm, spins Kojima, and hits THE GRIP!! Cover, Oiwa wins!

Winner: Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall (advances to the G1 Climax)

It was a real shootout here, but in the end, the young gun takes down the grizzled legend! Will Oiwa make good on this win and make G1 Climax 35 mighty?

G1 Climax 35 B Block Play-In: Chase Owens VS YOSHI-HASHI!

A very familiar showdown, but both sides have been through a change. The Crown Jewel left Bullet Club for the House of Torture, and Chaos is now part of Hontai. But will Chase still pull off a heist? Or will the Headhunter still have his prey?

Chase doesn’t like the ref checking him, but that’s because he still has a spur on one of his cowboy boots. Chase takes that off so now it’s fine. But then he pushes past the ref and tries to attack Hashi using the spur! But Hashi is ready and he fires fists first! Hashi whips, Chase reverses, but Hashi UPPERCUTS Chase down! The fans fire up and Chase bails out! The ref confiscates the spur, the bell rings, and Hashi rushes out after Chase. Chase slides in, but then Hashi avoids his counterattack. Hashi trips Chase, drags him out, and whips him, only for Chase to reverse! Hashi hits railing, but he comes right back to CHOP!

The fans fire up as Hashi reels Chase in, and Hashi snap suplexes Chase to the floor! The fans cheer more while Chase writhes. Hashi stalks Chase as he goes around the corner, then they go inside the ring. Hashi CLUBS Chase on the neck, but Chase powers Hashi to the ropes. The ref counts, but Chase has Hashi in the ropes to HOTSHOT him! The ref reprimands but Chase drags Hashi up. Chase CHOPS Hashi to a corner, then he mocks the fans cheering Hashi. Chase headlocks to throw sneaky punches! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Chase whips corner to corner. Chase runs in, forearm SMASH, then short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer as Hashi stays in this, and Hashi goes to the outside. Chase pursues, and he brings Hashi around to HOTSHOT BULLDOG on railing! Chase bullies Chris Charlton on commentary, then he walks back to ringside. Chase rolls into the ring, but only to refresh the count. Chase aims from the apron, to FOLEY ELBOW DROP! Hashi coughs and sputters while the fans rally up. The ring count starts again, Chase hobbles a bit but he walks it off. Chase puts Hashi in the ring, drops an AX HANDLE, then covers, TWO! Hashi toughs it out, but Chase is pulling away the tape on Hashi’s back! The fans boo but Chase says shove it!

Chase CLUBS Hashi on the neck! Then he whips Hashi to ropes, and catches him into a SLEEPER! Hashi endures, throws elbows, then runs, but Chase reels him back in! SLEEPER! Hashi runs and he SLINGS Chase out to the floor! Chase staggers up, hurries to the apron, but Hashi BLASTS him down! Chase hits railing then the floor! The fans fire up with Hashi and he goes out after Chase. Hashi brings Chase around, and whips him hard into railing! The fans fire up and Hashi brings Chase around again. The fans cheer as Hashi whips Chase into more railing! And then Hashi whips Chase into even more railing!

Chase runs back up on Hashi, but Hashi kicks low! And turns him for a NECKBREAKER to the floor! The fans fire up with Hashi but the ref wants this in the ring. Hashi drags Chase up, puts him in the ring, and then climbs the corner. Chase stands, into the BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Chase survives but Hashi has the fans on his side. Hashi rises, brings Chase up, and reels him in for the fisherman. Chase fights the lift, fires body shots, then goes to a corner. Hashi runs up, blocks a boot, but Chase reels Hashi in for a KICK! Chase ROLLING- NO, Hashi ROCKS him first! The fans fire up as Chase stumbles back to the corner.

Hashi runs back in, but Chase gets around to lift and bump Hashi off buckles! Then he hits a BIG back suplex! The fans rally while both men are down! Chase sits up, drags himself up with the ropes, and then hobbles his way over to Hashi. Chase drags Hashi up, Hashi takes a swing, but Chase blocks, hammerlocks, and JEWEL- NO, Hashi ducks! SNAP DRAGON! Hashi roars and runs, but into a C-TRIGGER! Chase runs, hits the ropes to HOTSHOT Hashi with them, then LARIATS! Then he stands Hashi up, wrenches, and HIGH NOON!! Cover, TWO! The former Jewel Heist lariat still isn’t enough to keep Hashi down!

The fans rally up while Chase grows frustrated. Chase locks ‘n’ loads and aims from the corner. Hashi rises up, Chase says BANG! C- NO! Hashi blocks the knee! Chase fires forearms, but Hashi LARIATS! And then pump handles, spins, KARM- NO, Chase fights free, rolls, but Hashi ROCKS him again! The fans fire up and Hashi brings Chase around! Hashi reels Chase in, but Chase fights off the lift! Hashi changes that to hit a DESTROYER! Cover, TWO! Chase survives but the fans rally behind Hashi even more. Hashi rises while Chase is dazed. Hashi aims as Chase slowly stands, SUPERKICK!

Chase falls, the fans fire up, and Hashi brings Chase up. KARM- NO, Chase fights with elbows, and then he CLAWS Hashi’s eyes! SPIN BACK ELBOW! But Hashi BACKDROPS Chase away! Chase is up to BLINDSIDE C-TRIGGER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Chase runs from the corner, C-TRIGGER to the front! Cover, TWO!?! Hashi survives and the fans fire up even more! Chase huffs ‘n’ puffs, reels Hashi in, and tucks the arms. But Hashi fights the lift! Chase lets the arms go so he can lift Hashi, PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives but Chase brings him right up! POINT-BLANK C-TRIGGER!

Chase tucks the arms, lifts Hashi up, but Hashi slips free! CODE BREAKER! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Hashi rises, Chase follows, and Chase flips Hashi off. Hashi says F Chase, and Chase fires a forearm! Hashi fires back! The fans rally as Chase stumbles. Chase comes back to ROCK Hashi! Hashi ROCKS Chase back! The forearms go back and forth, Hashi gets the edge, then he roars! But Chase ROCKS Hashi with a right hand! Hashi BOOTS Chase down! Cover, ONE!?!? Hashi CHOPS Chase as he stands, then SUPERKICKS! Hashi runs and LARIATS Chase inside-out! The fans fire up and Hashi full nelsons!

Hashi then spins Chase to the pump handle, KARMA!! Cover, HASHI WINS!

Winner: Yoshi-Hashi, by pinfall (advances to the G1 Climax)

Another shootout finishes but with a big winning shot! Will Hashi use this momentum to finally reach the top of NJPW?

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: SHO, Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi VS YOH, Master Wato & Toru Yano!

With help from Douki, The Murder Machine stole the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships from “Direct Drive of the Grandmaster,” and had been lording it over them ever since. But then as payback, Yoh, Wato & The Clown Prince literally stole those belts! Can Hontai win true ownership of the belts now? Or will the House of Torture cheat their way into getting the belts back?

As Hontai makes their entrance, Yoh is carrying the burlap sack with the belts inside. And then the House attacks! The fans boo as Sho stomps Yoh, Narita stomps Yano and Yujiro stomps Wato! The House drags Hontai to the ring, stomp them some more, and then Sho SMACKS Yoh off the apron. The ref reprimands but this isn’t a match yet. Sho puts Yoh in the ring, the bell finally rings, and Sho goes right for the back. Sho dumps out the belts so they can finally be put in the House’s corner, and then he stomps Yoh. Yoh stands, fires forearms, and the fans fire up. But then Sho CLAWS Yoh’s eyes! Sho whips, Yoh reverses, then Yoh drops and bypasses to drop toehold!

Yoh runs and basement DROPKICKS! Narita CHOKES Yoh, puts him on the ropes, but the ref counts. Narita stops choking to run, but Wato slides in, Yoh & Wato DOUBLE ELBOW Narita down! Yujiro runs in but Yoh & Wato kicks them low! They send Yujiro to Yano for an atomic drop! The fans fire up while Yujiro flounders away. Yoh stalks Sho, stomps him down, then brings him up. Yoh kicks Sho again and again and again, then whips. Sho grabs ropes then bails out! The fans boo, but Narita sneaks in and CLOBBERS Yoh! Narita shoves Yoh out of the ring, then BLASTS Wato off the apron! Sho sends Yoh into railing!

The fans boo again but Sho drags Yoh up to wrench the arm for an ELBOW BREAKER! Sho brings Yoh into the crowd and SMACKS him off chairs! The fans boo as Sho uses a chair to GRIND Yoh’s arm! The ref reprimands, Sho stops, and Sho puts the chair back to drag Yoh up. Sho bends Yoh’s fingers, brings him back to ringside, but he wraps the bad arm around railing! Sho BOOTS the railing to jam up the arm! Yoh drops to his knees but Narita is there to put him in the ring. Narita tags in, he drags Yoh back up, and Narita whips Yoh to ELBOW him down! Cover, TWO! Narita drags Yoh up, bumps him off buckles, then SCRAPES his face off ropes!

The fans boo but the ref is busy with Yano & Wato. The ref finally sees what Narita is doing and reprimands. Narita stops, but then drops an AX HANDLE on Yoh! Cover, TWO! Yoh stays in this but Narita stays on Yoh. The fans rally but Narita bumps Yoh off Yujiro’s boot! Narita tags Yujiro in and he stomps Yoh. Yujiro stomps Yoh to the ropes, then brings him up to snapmare and FALLING HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! Yujiro keeps Yoh down with a chinlock! Yoh endures, the fans rally up, and Yujiro fishhooks Yoh’s nose! The ref reprimands, Yujiro lets go, but then he CHOKES Yoh! The ref counts, Yujiro stops, and claims he was going for a cover.

Yujiro drags Yoh up, tags Narita in, and they mug Yoh. Yoh fires a forearm and kick, but Narita CHOKES Yoh! The ref counts, Narita stops, but then Narita suplexes Yoh high and hard! Cover, TWO! Narita has Yoh’s arm for a FUJIWARA! Sho BLASTS Wato & Yano off the apron! The fans rally, Yoh reaches out, and he kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Narita lets go at 4. Narita stomps Yoh, tags Sho, and Sho drags Yoh up. The fans rally, Sho wrenches Yoh’s arm to a wristlock, then hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Sho puts Yoh in the ropes, then brings him to the corner.

Narita traps Yoh’s arm against the buckles, and Sho runs to RAM into the arm! The fans boo while Yoh falls to the floor. The ref reprimands, and he makes sure Yujiro leaves Yoh alone. The ring count starts, and it climbs to 5 of 20 while Yoh shakes out his bad arm. Yoh rises up at 11, and rolls in at 13! The fans cheer but Sho kicks Yoh around. Sho digs his heel into the bad arm, then steps off so he can stomp Yoh. Sho stomps Yoh against the ropes, but Yoh fires forearms on the whole House! The fans fire up but Sho YANKS Yoh’s arm! Sho hammerlocks, scoops, but Yoh slips free! Yoh dodges Sho to BLAST the House! Yoh blocks Sho’s kick to DRAGON SCREW!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Sho stirs but Yoh hot tags Wato! The fans fire up as Wato fires forearms on Sho! Wato whips, Sho reverses, but Wato CLOBBERS him! But Narita & Yujiro kick Wato! They double whip, then Yujiro runs in. Wato dodges but Narita kicks Wato! Narita runs, but into Wato’s DROPKICK! Wato has Sho but Sho kicks low! Sho runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Wato as he brings Sho up. Wato wrenches, hooks Sho up, but Sho fights the lift! Sho bends fingers! The ref reprimands, but Sho CLUBS Wato’s hand! Wato SOBATS, runs, but the ref is used as a shield!

Sho runs, but Wato shoves the ref at him! Sho stops short, Wato runs, and both Sho and ref duck! Wato sunset flips over them both! Cover on Sho, but then into VENDEVAL!! Sho flails, endures, but DOUKI rings the bell!? Douki appears just to mess with Wato! Wato lets Sho go but realizes now it was a trick! Sho reels Wato in for a waistlock! Wato fights free, runs, but into a cheap shot from Yujiro! Sho SPEARS Wato down! Sho tags Yujiro, Narita BLASTS Yano off the apron! The House mugs Wato, then double whip. But Wato grabs ropes! Wato BOOTS Sho, TOSSES Narita, then slips around Yujiro!

Wato sends Yujiro into Sho, then hits a ZIGZAG! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Wato crawls, reaches out, hot tag to Yano! Yano undoes the white buckle pad! The fans fire up but Yujiro CLUBS Yano! Yano CLAWS Yujiro’s eyes! Yano runs, but Douki is there with his Death Pipe! Yano stops short and the ref reprimands Douki. But Narita CHOKES Yano with the pushup bar! Then he snapmares Yano, holds him up, Yujiro hits the FALLING HEADBUTT down low! Cover, TWO!! Yano survives and the fans fire up! Narita argues with the ref, and that lets Yujiro grab the pimp cane! Yujiro aims, but Yano dodges! Yoh SUPERKICKS Yujiro!

Wato YANKS Narita from the apron, then he and Yoh DOUBLE SUPERKICK Sho & Douki! Then they DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go Murder Machine & Japones Del Mal! Yano powers up and the fans fire up! Yano has Yujiro up, but wait! Here comes Yoshinobu Kanemaru!! Narita distracts the ref so that Kanemaru can LOW BLOW Yano!! Kanemaru takes a big swig, but Yano ducks! Kanemaru stops himself, but then Yano LOW BLOWS Kanemaru! WHISKEY MIST hits Yujiro!! The fans fire up as Yano sends Yujiro into Kanemaru, then DOUBLE LOW BLOWS! Yoh puts the bag on Yujiro’s head, then Yano rolls him up! HONTAI WINS!!!

Winners: Yoh, Master Wato & Toru Yano, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

The House busted out a lot of their tricks, but all of them failed because Yano is the trick master! These titles now go home with Hontai, but will this grudge between Sho and Yoh never end?

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Gabe Kidd VS Hiroshi Tanahashi!

The Mad Man defied President Ace, only because he wants NJPW to feel like NJPW again. At the same time, The Ace Final Road is entering the second half, with just six months until the finish line at WrestleKingdom 20. Will Tanahashi pave that path with some gold? Or will he not be as ready as #WarReady?

Gabe gets in Tanahashi’s face during the introductions but Red Shoes has him stand down. The title is raised, but we see who brings it down the road!

The fans applaud as Tanahashi takes off the jacket and shows off the abs. The bell rings and the fans rally up. Red Shoes sees the dueling is rather even between Tanahashi and Gabe, and the two slowly circle. They feel things out, knuckle lock then clinch. Gabe powers Tanahashi onto the ropes, then lets off slowly with pats on the shoulder. The fans applaud Gabe playing nice, and the two reset. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, and are in a deadlock! The fans rally as Gabe eggs Tanahashi on even now, and Tanahashi digs his heels in so he can push Gabe back. Tanahashi lets off slowly, and he pats Gabe on the shoulders.

The fans applaud again and the two circle. They knuckle lock, but then Gabe wrenches and wristlocks. Tanahashi wrenches to wristlock, then headlocks. Gabe pushes against the hold, wrenches free, and they fight for top wristlock control. Gabe eggs Tanahashi on, but Tanahashi arm-drags him down! Gabe headscissors to bring Tanahashi down, but Tanahashi endures the squeeze. Tanahashi moves around, ties up Gabe’s legs, but Gabe fights the Cloverhold! Gabe backstrokes and has the ROPEBREAK! Tanahashi holds until Red Shoes counts, then Gabe bails out. The fans rally while Gabe takes a breather.

Tanahashi dares Gabe to get back in the ring, and Gabe slides in. They reset, circle, and the fans rally again. They tie up, Gabe waistlocks and SLAMS Tanahashi down, then holds him down. Tanahashi endures the squeeze, but Gabe pulls on a leg. Gabe flips Tanahashi to a cover, ONE! Gabe stays on Tanahashi with a top mount, but Tanahashi pushes against him. Gabe fights his way to a lateral press but Tanahashi still finds space. Gabe floats to the other side, tries another top mount, but Tanahashi gets his arms in the gap. Gabe eggs Tanahashi on as they grapple on the mat. Gabe shows punch but then lets off.

The fans applaud Gabe showing some sportsmanship. Gabe brings up Tanahashi saying he promised “Nisen percento (200%),” but Gabe says this feels more like 10! Then he SLAPS Tanahashi! And DECKS him! Gabe eggs Tanahashi on, then stomps away at the ropes! Red Shoes counts but Gabe shoves Red Shoes away! The fans are torn but Gabe drags Tanahashi back up. Gabe hits a SAIDO! Tanahashi tumbles away and Red Shoes reprimands Gabe about the shoving. Gabe goes to cover Tanahashi but Red Shoes says no, because of the shoving. Gabe snarls, stands Tanahashi up, and CHOPS him against the ropes! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, then LARIATS!

Tanahashi slumps down, Gabe covers and now Red Shoes counts, TWO! Tanahashi toughs it out and the fans rally up again. Gabe encourages it as he brings Tanahashi up, and he TOSSES Tanahashi out! Tanahashi goes to the railing and Gabe storms up on him, to CHOP! Gabe RAMS Tanahashi into the railing, then CHOPS again! Gabe whips Tanahashi hard into railing and Tanahashi slumps down! Gabe goes to the corner to mock the air guitar. The fans are torn, Gabe shrugs, nothing can be done about the audience’s tastes. The ring count starts, Tanahashi is still down at 10 of 20. Gabe air guitars more but Tanahashi rolls in at 12.

Gabe walks over and stomps Tanahashi, but Tanahashi eggs Gabe on. Gabe stomps more, kicks more, but Tanahashi grabs the leg! Gabe HEADBUTTS free! Both men stagger back, and Tanahashi ends up in a corner. Gabe storms back up on Tanahashi, brings him around, and he HEADBUTTS again! Tanahashi falls and Gabe stumbles to the ropes. “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” Gabe barks, some of the fans join in, and Gabe clamps on the headlock. Gabe grinds Tanahasho into the mat, telling Tanahashi he has to give up. Gabe tells Tanahashi he should just retire now so someone can start carrying this company forward.

Gabe pushes up into a BULLY CHOKE! Tanahashi endures, the fans rally, but Gabe keeps saying Tanahashi has to give up! Tanahashi fights around instead, and he reaches out! Gabe then mockingly encourages Tanahashi with “Gambate! Gambate! Koi yo!” Tanahashi makes it to the ROPEBREAK! Gabe lets go and the fans rally up again. Gabe tells Tanahashi that the fans want him to get up so get up. Gabe stands Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi JAWBREAKERS! Tanahashi fires forearms on Gabe, ROCKS him, then whips him. Gabe reverses, but Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS! Gabe is up, but Tanahashi blocks the kick to DRAGON SCREW!

Gabe is down and the fans rally up as Tanahashi stands. Tanahashi scoops Gabe, SLAMS him into the drop zone, then he goes up. SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! The fans rally with “GO ACE! GO ACE!” as Tanahashi rises. Tanahashi runs, but Gabe ducks the slingblade to waistlock! Tanahashi switches but Gabe ELBOWS free! Tanahashi ducks a lariat to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi then hurries to the apron, and climbs the corner from the outside! But Gabe ROCKS him, then CHOPS him! Gabe climbs up from the outside, and he’s aiming for the floor!? The fans rally, Red Shoes reprimands, but Gabe hoists Tanahashi up. Tanahashi facelocks in return!

Gabe fires body shots, Tanahashi fires forearms, so Gabe fires forearms and a HEADBUTT! But Tanahashi DECKS Gabe! Gabe falls to the apron then the floor! The fans fire up as now Tanahashi adjusts position! Tanahashi aims to SUPER DUPER HIGH FLY ATTACK!! The Ace was definitely high on that one, but was it worth the landing? The fans rally up even harder as Tanahashi grits his teeth and rises from the floor. Tanahashi huffs ‘n’ puffs and fires back up. Tanahashi stands Gabe up to whip him hard into railing! Tanahashi fires hands, then whips Gabe into more railing! Gabe hits so hard that he tumbles up and over!

The fans rally as Tanahashi rises again. Tanahashi storms over that way, drags Gabe up from No Man’s Land, but Gabe BOOTS, only for Tanahashi to block! Gabe panics a bit, and Tanahashi DRAGON SCREWS into the railing! Gabe falls and clutches the leg while Tanahashi huffs ‘n’ puffs again. Red Shoes checks Gabe and he’s able to continue, so a ring count begins. The fans rally and Tanahashi leaves Gabe behind. Tanahashi is in the ring but Gabe is still down at 10 of 20. Gabe crawls his way over, stands at 13, and he slides in at 14! Tanahashi stomps Gabe around, then kicks him to the apron.

Tanahashi stands Gabe up, has the bad leg again, and he has it in the ropes! Tanahashi taunts Gabe a bit before he DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS! Gabe falls into the ring and clutches the knee while fans rally up again. Tanahashi grabs the legs, ties them up, and works to turn Gabe over. Gabe fights, gets a leg free, and he KICKS at Tanahashi until Tanahashi lets go. Gabe rises, and he eggs Tanahashi on again. Tanahashi fires his strike combo, but Gabe CHOPS! CHOPS! And CHOPS! Gabe eggs Tanahashi on, blocks the Dragon Palm, then clinches for an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Gabe slaps his leg into working.

Gabe reels Tanahashi in, then suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up more and Gabe dares Tanahashi to stand. Tanahashi rises, the fans duel, and Gabe runs, to steal the SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up, and Gabe goes up the corner!? Gabe steals HIGH FLY FLOW but FLOPS as Tanahashi moves! Gabe tries to show up The Ace and crash lands for it! The fans rally harder as both men stand. Tanahashi runs up and he dropkicks Gabe’s legs out! Tanahashi then grabs a leg, but Gabe kicks with the free one. Tanahashi GROUND DRAGON SCREWS Gabe! Gabe writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up again, and he turns Gabe over! TEXAS CLOVERHOLD!!

Gabe endures as Tanahashi bends him back and pulls on the legs! Tanahashi sits deeper, but Gabe fights up! The fans rally as Gabe claws his way forward, but Tanahashi puts on the pressure again! Tanahashi sits way back on the hold! Gabe reaches out, flails, and he finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Tanahashi lets go. Tanahashi waits on Gabe to rise, and the fans rally up again. Tanahashi runs, SLINGBLADE! But Gabe rises?! And COMEBACKER- NO, Tanahashi ducks the lariat, full nelsons, but Gabe breaks that, only to end up in a STRAITJACKET GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!!

The fans rally and Tanahashi rises. Tanahashi goes up, out, and then up the corner! Gabe is still down, and the HIGH FLY FLOW hits!! Cover, TWO!!! Gabe survives and the fans are stunned! Tanahashi is surprised, too, but he just hurries back up! Tanahashi reloads, HIGH FLY FLOW FLOPS as Gabe moves now! The fans rally again with both men down! Gabe brings his kneepad down, then stands up in the corner. He calls his shot, O-KNEE!! Cover, ONE?!?! Tanahashi survives the Oni knee and Gabe is furious! Gabe runs, COMEBACKER LARIAT!! Cover, ONE?!?!?! Tanahashi shakes his head, his fighting spirit refusing to die!

Gabe reloads again, O-KNEE!!! And then the PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!??!?! The fans are thunderous and Gabe is shocked that Tanahashi survives! The fans rally as hard as they can for Tanahashi, and Gabe shakes his head. Gabe tells Tanahashi he has to stop. Tanahashi shakes his head, he won’t stop! Not yet! Gabe CHOPS Tanahashi on the back! Tanahashi just gets mad! Gabe SLAPS, SLAPS, and fires boxing palm strikes! Gabe shouts, “KOI, SACHOU! (C’MON, PRESIDENT!)” DRAGON PALM! Gabe wobbles, staggers, and Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS again! Gabe still eggs Tanahashi on, so Tanahsahi DRAGON PALMS again!

Gabe falls, Tanahashi roars, and the fans are thunderous! Gabe rises up, Tanahashi builds speed, but Gabe avoids the slingblade to SAIDO! But Tanahashi’s right up!? And he gets around to DRAGON SUPLEX! Both men rise, SLINGBLADE hits first!! Tanahashi goes up top, takes aim, but Gabe stands! HIGH FLY ATTACK into a SHOTEI!! Gabe then reels Tanahashi in for the LEG TRAP PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, GABE WINS!!

Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)

Even with the passion, aggression, animosity and anger shown in this match, Gabe also shows deep respect and adoration to Tanahashi here in the moments immediately after the finish. Tanahashi took a gamble at the end there and perhaps that is what cost him. Will Tanahashi’s Final Road to WrestleKingdom still be on track? Can he rise up to meet the expectations that he has on himself?

As for Gabe, he gets the belt back, as well as the mic, and he says, “I need to talk about something. I need to talk about something personal.” In Japanese, Gabe says “<2022, I went through a very, very difficult time mentally.>” The fans applaud in support, and Gabe says that he was in a very sick, very dark point. And for one or two hours every day, Tanahashi would FaceTime with him, talk with him, and Gabe wants Tanahashi to know that if not for that, he might not be here today. So in this match, Tanahashi’s final Tokyo Budokan show, this Final Road means the world to Gabe. The fans applaud while Gabe fights back the tears.

Gabe tells Tanahashi that six months are left on Tanahashi’s wrestling career, so he wishes Tanahashi all the best. Tanahashi gives a thumbs up, and Gabe promises that NJPW is in good hands with Gabe. Gabe also adds, “Tanahashi-san… AISHITE MASU!!” Tanahashi tears up now, and Gabe takes a deep bow to show that adoration and respect. Gabe then tells the fans that there is still a long way to go, there are still a lot of obstacles in the way, but Gabe’s body is ready, his life is on the line for NJPW! He gives 100, 200, 300%! Because NJPW is the best!! The fans cheer, and Gabe says he’ll be in the G1, he’ll make it in the finals, and he’ll be the G1 Champion!!

The fans fire up for Gabe’s declaration, and the streamers fly! The Global Heavyweight Champion wants it all, will he have it all? Will all of NJPW soon be #WarReady?

My Thoughts:

Another great night for New Japan Soul. Great G1 Climax qualifiers, with great wins for Oiwa and Hashi. In sadder news, Hirooki Goto’s elbow injury is keeping him out of the G1, so he can’t even do the comeback story to go after ZSJ and the world title. But NJPW skillfully pivoted to make a “Last Chance” gauntlet match with Tomohiro Ishii, Taichi, Satoshi Kojima and Chase Owens. With that, who knows who makes it into the tournament, but I feel like it should be Taichi. Callum Newman praised Taichi in their match, I hope NJPW sees what the others in the locker room sees.

Great Six Man title match, and I’m actually a little surprised the Faces won here. I wonder if this is an indication that the House of Torture will keep the junior tag titles. And then an awesome main event from Tanahashi and Gabe. With Tanahashi retiring, it makes sense he wouldn’t win the title, but Gabe is also doing great work so he deserves to hold the title. Gabe opening up about how much Tanahashi helped him, that’s such a powerful story that really speaks to the man Tanahashi is and why NJPW made him president. Gabe will definitely make a run at the G1 finals, not sure he makes it, but he is definitely proving himself worthy of all these opportunities.

My Score: 9/10