One step from the finish line!

The G1 Climax 35 semifinals are here, and Zack Sabre Jr. is looking for back-to-back finals! Will Konosuke Takeshita keep him from it?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Togi Makabe, Tiger Mask & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Shoma Kato, Masatora Yasuda & Zane Jay; Makabe, Tiger Mask & Matsumoto win.
• 10 Man Tag: Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura, YOSHI-HASHI, El Desperado & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Taichi, Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato & Satoshi Kojima; Shota, Yuya, Hashi, Desperado & Taguchi win.
• Boltin Oleg & Tomoaki Honma VS Don Fale & Yujiro Takahashi; Fale & Yujiro win.
• Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, El Phantasmo & Katsuya Murashima VS The United Empire; The United Empire win.
• Shingo Takagi & Daiki Nagai VS David Finlay & Gedo; Takagi & Daiki win.
• “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Taiji Ishimori VS SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sanada & Kanemaru win.
• Six Man Tag: TMDK VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• G1 Climax 35 Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Evil wins and advances to the finals.
• G1 Climax 35 Semifinals: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Konosuke Takeshita; Konosuke wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

G1 Climax 35 Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo & Don Fale!

The Gene Blast got through the Roughneck and is ready to lead NJPW into the future with his own strength. However, we all know The King of Darkness never does anything the right and just way, and he cheated every match just to get a first round bye. Will that deck still be stacked to the rafters? Or will it all fall apart like a house of cards?

Well, seems “the unaffiliated” planned ahead! Yota is bringing Shingo Takagi and even Daiki Nagai with him to ringside! Will the Rampaging Dragon and their new Young Lion help counter The Spoiler & The Rogue General? There is a tense stare down between the two sides during introductions, but the ref convinces everyone to stand down. But then Evil attacks anyway! The bell rings, the fans boo, but Evil wraps Yota’s leg around ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Evil stops, and Evil soaks up the heat. Evil laughs at Yota, then wrenches and whips him into the corner. Evil runs up, but Yota BOOTS him!

Evil runs back in, he blocks Yota’s boot this time, but Yota reels Evil in for a STOMP! The fans rally and Yota shakes out the leg. Yota brings Evil around to suplex, but Evil fights free. Yota kicks low, whips, but Evil reverses, only for Yota to RANA! The fans fire up as Evil bails out, and Yota takes aim! Yota builds speed, but Dick trips him! The fans boo but Dick drags Yota out and shoves him into railing! Evil hurries over that way, then RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Down goes Abe-san! The fans boo but Evil grabs the mic and CHOKES Yota with the cord! Evil talks trash on Yota, saying that Yota should just call Evil the G1 Climax Champion already!

The fans boo as Evil shoves Yota down, and Evil goes back to the ring. The ref checks Yota, he’s able to continue, but there can’t be a count without Abe-san! Takagi & Daiki help Abe-san up, then they make sure Dick & Fale stay back. Yota returns to the ring and the fans applaud. Evil storms over but Yota fires forearms! Evil KNEES low, Evil runs, but Yota BODY SHOTS! Yota trips Evil, runs, and SPLASH- FLOP as Evil moves! Evil then gets the legs for the INVERTED FIGURE FOUR! The fans rally as Yota endures, and he reaches out, only for Evil to put on the pressure! Yota crawls, claws at the mat, and manages the ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer but Evil holds on. The ref counts, Evil lets go at 4, and Yota shakes the legs. Evil says the ref should just call it, but Yota crawls to a corner. Evil steps on Yota’s leg, but they’re in the ropes! The ref counts, Evil steps off, and Evil whips Yota corner to corner. Evil runs in, but Yota BOOTS him again! Yota goes up the corner to MISSILE- POWERBOMB! Evil turns things around on Yota! Evil stands on Yota for a cocky cover, TWO! Yota still just barely gets up, and the ref has Evil back off. Evil acts as if he’s already won, but Yota refuses to let things end like this. Yota rises up, the fans rally behind him, but Evil brings Yota around.

Evil suplexes, Yota fights it, but then Evil blocks Yota’s suplex. Evil tries another suplex, but Yota fights that, and suplexes after all! The fans cheer while both men are down! Evil rolls away towards a corner and Yota rises to his feet. The fans rally again and Yota runs corner to corner, STINGER SPLASH! Yota reels Evil in, scoops, and SLAMS! Then Yota runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yota fires up and the fans are with him! Yota winds up and CHOPS! Evil is stinging already, but Yota CHOPS again! Yota CHOPS again, and Evil CHOPS in return! Yota CHOPS, Evil falls, and the fans fire up! Yota powers up, but Evil wants mercy?

But then Evil just pokes Yota in the eyes! Evil throws Yota out, then RAMS Yota back into Abe-san! The fans boo again but then Evil sends Yota into railing in front of commentary! Evil whips Yota again but Yota reverses, only for Evil to reverse back! Yota hits railing again, then Evil LARIATS Yota up and over! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Evil tells the ref to just count! Evil rests in the ring while Yota is down, and the ring count does start. The House wants it to go faster but the pace is fair. Yota stirs at 8 of 20, rises at 13, and the fans cheer him on! Yota climbs over the railing, but Dick KICKS the railing to jam him up!

The fans boo, Takagi runs Dick off, but Yotra is down at 17! Yota hobbles, then sprints! Yota leaps into the ring at 19.99!! The fans are thunderous but Evil is furious! Evil drags Yota up, and RAMS him into bare buckles! Then he FISHERMAN BUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Yota survives but Evil steps right through! SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Also, it sounds like there’s something going on outside! Did Dick & Fale just wipe out Takagi? Yota endures and the fans rally up, but Evil puts on the pressure! Yota still pushes up off the mat, crawls his way forward, but Evil leans back! The fans rally even harder as Yota is so close! Yota pushes up, reaches out, and he makes the ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer and the ref counts. Evil lets go at 4 and grows frustrated. Evil vows to end this, and he drags Yota up. Evil fireman’s carries, but Yota fights free! Yota clinches, BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! STOMP!! The Gene Combination hits, but Yota drops to the mat. Yota clutches his leg, catches his breath, but he has the fans rallying behind him. Yota rises again, the fans cheer more, but Evil also sits up. Yota drags Evil up, hoists him to the top rope, and then climbs up after him. The fans cheer Yota on as he goes to the very top! Yota brings Evil up to join him, SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!!

Yota doesn’t stop, he just suplexes, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives again but Yota gets the bad leg moving. Yota roars, the fans are with him, and Yota aims from the corner! Evil rises, but he throws the ref in the way! Yota brushes the ref aside to ROCK Evil! Yota runs again, but Evil again puts the ref in the way! Yota again brushes the ref aside to GENE TRIGGER! And SUPERKICK! But Evil ROCKS Yota, then ROLLING ELBOWS! Yota swings, but into the clinch! EVERY- NO, Yota powers out! But Evil puts the ref in the way, GENE BLASTER takes out the ref!! The fans boo but here comes Dick & Fale!

Dick & Fale BLAST Daiki & Takagi, then they stomp away on Yota! The fans boo but The House drags Yota up so they can put him in a corner. Dick runs in, and throat chops! Fale runs in, and he SPLASHES! Yota falls, Dick goes up, and now Fale & Evil set Yota up! The fans boo the DICK CHOP! Fale drags Yota up, Takagi storms in there, and Takagi LOW BLOWS Fale! But Dick LOW BLOWS Takagi! Daiki LOW BLOWS Dick! Evil LOW BLOWS Daiki! Yota LOW BLOWS Evil!! The fans fire up as all six men are down! Referee Kenta Sato is here to substitute for Marty Asami, and he clears the ring of all the cornermen.

Evil and Yota sputter and stir while the fans rally up. Yota rises, he goes to one corner as Evil goes to the other. Yota runs corner to corner to GENE TRIGGER! Then he pushes Evil aside to go up, up, and MARLOWE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but the fans rally for Yota even more! Yota roars, runs in, GENE- NO, Evil blocks it to EVIL IS- NO, Yota handstands out of the reverse STO! CURB STOMP! Yota reels Evil in, but Evil wrenches free! EVERYTHING IS- NO, Yota flips through the STO! Yota reels Evil back in, REVERSE BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives the #JangoSuplex but Yota isn’t done with him! Yota hoists Evil up top backwards, and then climbs up.

But Dick trips the ref up! This lets Fale go after Takagi & Daiki! Sato isn’t having any of Dick’s shenanigans and starts kicking at Dick! But Fale gets in the ring to CLUB Yota! Fale has Yota for the crucifix lift! BAD LUCK FALL!! The fans boo but the ref missed it all! Evil steps through on the legs, SCORPION DEATHLOCK!! Yota endures, but he is OUT! EVIL WINS!!

Winner: Evil, by submission (advances to the finals)

The House most certainly stacked the deck on this one! Will nothing stop the King of Darkness from stealing the G1 Climax?

G1 Climax 35 Semifinals: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Konosuke Takeshita w/ Rocky Romero!

The Front Man won the G1 last year, and then shook up the status quo by challenging at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling. And though he lost the title in the middle there, he has it back to bring it into the semifinals. Will ZSJ also bring the title to the Climax? Or will the Alpha assert his dominance once and for all?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. It’s a rather even split between “ZAKU! ZAKU!” and “TAKESHITA! TAKESHITA!” The two circle, feeling things out in this rematch from block play. They circle one more time before they tie up. ZSJ facelocks, squeezes tight, then shifts to a waistlock. Konosuke sits down, stands up, then wrenches free. ZSJ fights the full wrench, but Konosuke hits a takedown. ZSJ fights around, hammerlocks, and he steps over to hook Konosuke’s arm into a cover, TWO! The fans applaud as the two back away. Konosuke and ZSJ reset, circle, and feel out a knuckle lock. They feel out the second, and ZSJ drags Konosuke down!

ZSJ stands on Konosuke’s hand to pull on the other, then he turns Konosuke around for the motorcycle stretch. Konosuke endures, even as ZSJ uses his own head for leverage. Konosuke fights to his feet, fights to turn things around, and succeeds! But ZSJ turns it back around! The fans applaud as Konosuke endures again. Konosuke powers up to turn things, but ZSJ turns it through. They fight for control, and now Konosuke has the motorcycle stretch on ZSJ! ZSJ fights up, drops back, and kicks free. The fans cheer as the two reset again. ZSJ flexes while he and Konosuke circle. They tie up, ZSJ headlocks, and he grinds Konosuke down.

Konosuke fights up, powers out, and ZSJ RAMS him! Then BOOTS him! ZSJ runs but Konosuke ELBOWS him! And RUNS him over! The fans fire up while Konosuke goes to the corner to catch his breath. ZSJ sits up, Konosuke storms over, and Konosuke clamps on with a COBRA CLUTCH! Konosuke powers ZSJ around into an almost crossface-like position, but ZSJ sits up. ZSJ laces his arms through the gaps, but Konosuke just changes it up to be a straitjacket and top wristlock! ZSJ endures this combination, fights to his feet, and he powers out of the straitjacket, only for Konosuke to power it back on!

The fans rally as ZSJ endures. Konosuke pulls on the arms but ZSJ still fights. ZSJ powers the jacket open, only for Konosuke to wrap it back on. ZSJ kicks forward, fights up again, but Konosuke BELL CLAPS him! The fans applaud while ZSJ goes to the apron. Konosuke storms over to ZSJ, but ZSJ hooks the ropes! The fans rally, Red Shoes counts the break, but Konosuke fires forearms. ZSJ catches one to the HANGING ARMBAR! Red Shoes counts, ZSJ lets go at 4, and Konosuke staggers away. The fans applaud, ZSJ slips inside, and ZSJ drags Konosuke to STOMP the arm! Konosuke writhes, the fans applaud, and ZSJ says that’s for his nose.

ZSJ kneels on Konosuke’s head, but Konosuke gets right up. Konosuke fires a forearm but that’s double-edged after what ZSJ did to that arm. ZSJ then UPPERCUTS the bad arm! Konosuke RAMS ZSJ, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS him down! The fans applaud while Konosuke sits up in a daze. ZSJ drags Konosuke around, has a headscissors while he sits up, and then pulls on an arm. Konosuke endures the armlock, even as ZSJ twists the wrist and bends the fingers! ZSJ tortures Konosuke’s arm, and he bends the arm way back! Konosuke scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, ZSJ lets go, but Red Shoes still reprimands about the finger torture.

ZSJ kicks Konosuke to the apron, then goes out there to join him. ZSJ steps on Konosuke’s fingers, but Konosuke avoids the stomps! Konosuke clinches, ZSJ fights the exploder, and ZSJ twists the arm! ZSJ puts the arm down to STOMP it on the apron! Konosuke falls to the floor but the fans fire up all the same. ZSJ then aims, but Konosuke blocks the Penalty Kick! Konosuke THROWS ZSJ down, then DRAPING DDTS to the floor! The fans fire up again while Red Shoes checks both men. ZSJ is able to continue, though he clutches a shoulder. Konosuke puts ZSJ in the ring, shakes out his own arm, then storms into the ring.

Konosuke uses the ropes to help pull the arm and undo that jammed feeling. Then he runs corner to corner, HELLUVA KICK! The fans fire up and Konosuke waistlocks, GERMAN SUPLEX! ZSJ flounders around, Konosuke winds up and runs, but ZSJ dodges the lariat! Konosuke BOOTS, whips, but ZSJ reverses! TAKESHITA LINE! Down goes ZSJ and the fans fire up! Konosuke rises, shakes out the arm, and he calls his shot! Konosuke suplexes, ZSJ slips free, but Konosuke elbows him away. Konosuke runs up at the corner, but ZSJ dodges to KICK the legs out! Konosuke falls over again while the fans rally up.

ZSJ catches his breath, shakes out his arms, and hobbles his way back over to Konosuke. ZSJ steps on Konosuke’s legs, then wraps them around ropes! Red Shoes counts, but ZSJ has one of Konosuke’s legs trapped in the ropes! Rocky protests, but Konosuke frees himself, so ZSJ steps on the legs again. ZSJ digs his heel into Konosuke’s ankle, then pulls on the leg! Konosuke endures, but then ZSJ pulls him into a CALF KILLER! ZSJ has Konosuke upside-down with it! Konosuke kicks with his free leg, but ZSJ drops him to STOMP him! The fans fire up and ZSJ stalks Konosuke to the ropes. Konosuke fires forearms in return!

ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Konosuke fires another forearm, and ZSJ UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ clinches, Konosuke breaks free, and Konosuke fires boxing elbows, only for his arms to run out of steam! ZSJ KICKS Konosuke down! Konosuke rises up, the fans rally, and he shoves ZSJ to ALPHA ELBOW! There was enough left for that! ZSJ falls back, the fans fire up, and Konosuke feeds off that energy! Konosuke fires boxing elbows, then runs, JUMP KNEE! ZSJ rebounds into a clinch, EXPLODER! ZSJ staggers back up, but Konosuke is there to EXPLODER! Konosuke crawls to the cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and the fans rally and duel even harder!

Konosuke grits his teeth, winds up, and ALPHA- NO, ZSJ catches him to an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Konosuke hurries to clasp his hands, but ZSJ pulls on the grip! ZSJ breaks the grip, but Konosuke stands up! Konosuke stomps at ZSJ’s face! ZSJ lets go, then stands, and he BOOTS Konosuke’s lariat! ZSJ runs up, but into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! And right to an ARMBAR! ZSJ grinds Konosuke down but Konosuke moves around. ZSJ shifts to a DISARMER! Konosuke stands to stomp ZSJ again, but ZSJ uses that to get a KNEEBAR! With ANKLE LOCK! The fans rally and Rocky coaches Konosuke as he endures!

Konosuke reaches out but ZSJ drags him from the ropes! HEEL HOOK! Konosuke endures all the same, and he fights with one good arm towards the ropes! ZSJ drags Konosuke back again, but Konosuke just heads to the side! But ZSJ drags him back to center, so Konosuke turns to his right! ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer while ZSJ lets go in frustration. ZSJ kicks at Konosuke, then paces while Konosuke stands. ZSJ storms up and UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS into a backslide! Roll through, but Konosuke hauls ZSJ up! ZSJ slips free, but the ALPHA ELBOW knocks him down!

The fans rally while ZSJ is dazed. Konosuke brings ZSJ up to suplex, but ZSJ fights it! ZSJ scoops, Konosuke slips free, and then Konosuke scoops, ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives his own move and the fans are thunderous! Both men stir, and Konosuke crawls away to a corner. ZSJ sits up, then crawls to center. Konosuke runs in, POWER- NO, ZSJ slips around to rollup, ONE, but into a ghost pin! TWO, but then ZSJ has an Oklahoma Roll! TWO!! Konosuke escapes, the fans fire up, and Konosuke scoops again! And tucks! BAST- NO, ZSJ fights to a victory roll and EURO CLUTCH! TWO!!

Both men stand, ZSJ BOOTS, and Konosuke falls! ZSJ has the body scissors, he turns Konosuke over, and bridges back for the JAPANESE LEG ROLL! TWO, and Konosuke waistlocks! The fans fire up as Konosuke deadlifts and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But he can’t hold the bridge because of the bad arm, and even the damage to his leg! The fans rally even harder while both men are down! Rocky pounds the apron and the fans rally with him. Konosuke and ZSJ rise up, Konosuke hobbles his way over, but ZSJ fights the waistlock. Konosuke pushes ZSJ to a corner, O’Conner and PLUS- NO, ZSJ fights the chicken wing!

Konosuke shifts to a dragon sleeper! INVERTED SUPLEX BRAINBUSTER!! Konosuke pushes ZSJ around, drags him back up and reels him back in, standard suplex, but ZSJ fights it! ZSJ PELES the arm! Konosuke runs in, but into a scoop! SABRE DRIVER!! Cover, TWO, but into the armbar!! ZSJ has a reverse angle on it as he pulls but Konosuke still endures! The fans rally harder and harder, but ZSJ reels Konosuke into a TRIANGLE HOLD! But Konosuke deadlifts, only for ZSJ to shift back to the ARMBAR!! Konosuke falls, but onto the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer while ZSJ lets go in frustration.

The fans rally more and more while ZSJ rolls away to a corner. Rocky coaches Konosuke, Konosuke sits up, but ZSJ KICKS Konosuke in the chest! Konosuke roars as he sits back up, but ZSJ KICKS him again! The fans rally and Konosuke rises again, so ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Konosuke pops right up to LARIAT ZSJ inside-out!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! ZSJ is dazed as he sits up, and the fans continue to duel. Konosuke tries to sit up but that took a lot out of him, too. Konosuke and ZSJ crawl towards each other, then they rise up. Konosuke and ZSJ egg each other on, and Konosuke fires a forearm! ZSJ UPPERCUTS!

Konosuke staggers back, ZSJ waits on him, and Konosuke comes back to fire a forearm! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Konosuke staggers back again, but he comes back with another forearm! ZSJ KICKS the leg, then BOOTS the lariat! But the ALPHA ELBOW finds him! ZSJ DECKS Konosuke!! The fans are thunderous again as ZSJ drops back to a corner. Red Shoes checks Konosuke and Konosuke manages to sit up. So ZSJ runs in, and shoots for a leg! Then he holds that leg out, but Konosuke still ALPHA ELBOWS! Konosuke drags ZSJ up, and hoists him to the top rope! Konosuke climbs up as we hit 25 minutes!

Konosuke has ZSJ on the very top, but ZSJ SUNSET FLIPS! Konosuke holds the ropes, so ZSJ has an ANKLE LOCK! Red Shoes reprimands, but Konosuke uses a British Escape! Konosuke ROCKS ZSJ, puts him back up top, but ZSJ bends Konosuke’s arm! And then he bends the other arm! ZSJ goes up, but Konosuke powers through! ZSJ drops down to the apron, climbs back up, and ZSJ has the double wristlock! But Konosuke counters, SUPER BRAINBUSTER! A scary landing there, and then Konosuke adds a POWER DRIVE KNEE!! And then RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, KONOSUKE WINS!!!

Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

This was so much more than just a rematch! Konosuke not only gets his win back, but he pins THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion before going on to THE G1 Climax 35 Finals! But Konosuke also shows ZSJ respect by shaking his hand before ZSJ departs. ZSJ must now shift gears to Forbidden Door next week, because someone from AEW is planning on coming for the title in London!

As for Konosuke, he doesn’t even get the mic before Evil & The House of Torture make their way down to ringside. And it’s the full house, with Fale, Dick, Sho, Douki, Yujiro Takahashi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Ren Narita & Sanada all flanking the ring now. The fans boo this intimidation tactic but Konosuke & Rocky don’t back down. Konosuke steps closer to Evil, shakes his head, so Evil steps back. Evil then leads the way back out for The House, simply making it known what Konosuke is up against. Will Evil throw everything the House has to take the G1 Climax trophy?

The fans cheer Konosuke on and he finally takes the mic to say, “All I need to say to you is one thing: Keep your eyes on me. Because I will make this very interesting! That is the message from me, The Alpha!” Konosuke knows the time for talk is over, because in just 24 hours, it will be a career-defining match! Will Konosuke truly make the G1 all elite? Or will Darkness Fall on NJPW?

My Thoughts:

A great night for the G1 Climax semifinals, but also for The House of Torture since they won every match they had tonight. That Hontai VS Hontai 10 Man Tag was pretty cool, and it teases a Hontai VS Hontai match for the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles. I’m a bit surprised Evil beat Yota, but between the cheating and then the pass out rather than tap out, that keeps Yota strong as he continues on his “hero’s journey,” that long way to the top. Konosuke VS ZSJ was awesome, though that top rope brainbuster was scary, not sure if it was meant to be Super Raging Fire. But it was so great for Konosuke to win, now Konosuke has a “golden ticket” to fall back on, because there’s a very good chance Evil wins tomorrow.

My Score: 9.1/10