Can the Rampaging Dragon still be tranquilo?

Shingo Takagi may be down in B Block, but he could still take down THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Zack Sabre Jr, in the G1 Climax! Will this be Takagi’s golden ticket back to the top?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Taichi & Masatora Yasuda VS Callum Newman & Jakob Austin Young; Callum & Jakob win.
• Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS EVIL & Dick Togo; Oleg & Yano win.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sanada & Kanemaru win.
• Yuya Uemura & Shoma Kato VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson; Oiwa & Hartley win.
• Yota Tsuji & Daiki Nagai VS David Finlay & Gedo; Finlay & Gedo win.
• G1 Climax 35 B Block: YOSHI-HASHI VS Konosuke Takeshita; Konosuke wins.
• G1 Climax 35 B Block: Great-O-Khan VS Ren Narita; Ren wins.
• G1 Climax 35 B Block: El Phantasmo VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; ELP wins.
• G1 Climax 35 B Block: Shingo Takagi VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current B Block standings!

Zack Sabre Jr: 4-2, 8 points
Yoshi-Hashi: 4-2, 8 points
Drilla Moloney: 4-2, 8 points
Ren Narita: 4-2, 8 points
Konosuke Takeshita: 4-2, 8 points
Great-O-Khan: 4-3, 8 points
Shota Umino: 4-3, 8 points
Shingo Takagi: 3-3, 6 points
El Phantasmo: 2-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Gabe Kidd: 0 points [WITHDRAWN]

G1 Climax 35 B Block: YOSHI-HASHI VS Konosuke Takeshita!

The Headhunter came back from a fifth round bye only to lose in the sixth. And now, he runs into the Alpha, who is red hot after taking down “Drilla” Moloney. Will Konosuke still make the G1 all elite? Or will Hashi #GetBackUp and #TurnItAllAround one more time?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. The dueling is pretty even between “YO-SHI-H’SHI!” and “TA-KE-SHITA!” as the two circle. The two tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, and Konosuke’s height is leverage for putting Hashi on the ropes. Konosuke backs off, but Hashi runs up. Konosuke facelocks but Hashi puts him on the ropes. Hashi lets off with a pat to Konosuke’s face, then he CHOPS! The fans fire up and Hashi CLUBS Konosuke. Hashi headlocks, Konosuke powers out, and they RAM shoulders! Konosuke rebounds but Hashi ELBOWS him! Hashi then runs to RUN Konosuke over! The fans fire up while Konosuke sits up in a huff.

Hashi drags Konosuke up to CLUB him on the neck. Hashi then CHOPS, runs, but Konosuke BOOTS! Konosuke whips, Hashi reverses, but the TAKESHITA LINE takes him down! Hashi goes to the apron, Konosuke kicks him down, and then Konosuke goes out to whip Hashi into railing! Then Konosuke whips Hashi into more railing! The fans rally and duel again while Konosuke CHOKES Hashi with the railing! The ref counts, Konosuke stops at 4, and Konosuke drags Hashi up and into the ring. The fans applaud, and Konosuke steps back in. Konosuke has a leg and he turns Hashi over for a HALF CRAB!

Hashi endures, reaches out, but Konosuke sits deep on the hold! The fans rally, Hashi powers up, and Hashi fights over to the ROPEBREAK! Konosuke lets go and the fans cheer. Konosuke drags Hashi up, shoves him to ropes, and ROCKS him with a forearm to the back! Hashi drops to his knees but Konosuke brings him back up. Konosuke shoves Hashi to ropes again for another forearm to the back! Hashi writhes on the mat but Konosuke stands him back up. COBRA CLUTCH! Hashi endures, even as Konosuke bends him against his knee! The fans rally, Konosuke pushes Hashi down to the mat and wraps the cobra clutch tighter.

Hashi fights up, fires body shots, but Konosuke ROCKS him in the back again and again! Konosuke whips, but Hashi dropkicks the legs out! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Konosuke shakes out the bad leg and goes to a corner. Hashi crawls to the opposite end, then runs in for an ELBOW! Hashi whips, ROCKS Konosuke, CHOPS him, then mule kicks! Turn and NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up with Hashi and he waits on Konosuke. Hashi runs in and CHOPS again! Hashi reels Konosuke in for a suplex, and hangs him out to dry! Hashi then runs the ropes to DROPKICK Konosuke down! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Konosuke stays in this. Hashi fires up and the fans cheer again! Hashi drags Konosuke up, hooks a leg, KUMA- NO, Konosuke fights the suplex and wrenches out. Hashi ROCKS Konosuke, Konosuke BOOTS Hashi! Konosuke catches Hashi’s superkick to a BACKBREAKER! Hashi writhes but Konosuke nods. Konosuke drags Hashi back up, reels him in, but Hashi fights the suplex! Konosuke still tries, Hashi still resists, so Konosuke CLUBS away on Hashi’s back! Konosuke tries again, but it is Hashi who suplexes! Hashi lets Konosuke back down, for the HEADBUSTER! The fans fire up while both men are down!

The fans rally up and both men rise. Konosuke is on his feet first, and he ROCKS Hashi! Hashi ROCKS Konosuke back! Konosuke fires another forearm, Hashi fires back. Konosuke winds up and he ROCKS Hashi! Hashi comes back to fire a forearm! Konosuke fires a flurry of forearms, but Hashi returns those! Then Hashi CHOPS! Hashi eggs Konosuke on, so Konosuke fires boxing elbows! Konosuke gives Hashi five shots, but then Hashi CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Hashi fires up, but the ALPHA ELBOW hits first! Hashi staggers around and the fans rally up. Hashi makes it to ropes, but Konosuke runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide!

Konosuke swings, but Hashi gets around to DRAGON SUPLEX! Hashi runs, but into a scoop! Konosuke tucks Hashi in, BASTARD DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives and the fans fire up again! Konosuke rises, runs, and LARIATS! Then he drags Hashi right up, RAGING- NO, Hashi slips free, full nelson, KARMA CRADLE! TWO!! Konosuke escapes, and ALPHA ELBOWS! Then RAGING- DDT!! Hashi turns things around on Konosuke again and the fans fire up! Both men are down, the dueling returns, but the “YO-SHI-H’SHI!” seems to be leading! Konosuke and Hashi go back to corners, and Hashi runs in again! LARIAT!

Hashi pushes Konosuke down and he fires up! The fans are with Hashi as he climbs the corner! But Konosuke springs up to UPPERCUT! Konosuke climbs up, the fans fire up, but Hashi resists the suplex! Hashi fires body shots, then he climbs up and over Konosuke! SUPER SUNSET FLIP, but Konosuke holds onto the ropes! Hashi pries him free, POWERBOMB! Jackknife bridge! TWO!! Konosuke survives and the fans are thunderous! Hashi roars, runs, but Konosuke BOOTS the lariat! Hashi spins to CHOP! Konosuke blocks the kick, and reels Hashi in for an EXPLODER! Hashi staggers to his feet but Konosuke clinches again! EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up again as Hashi survives! Konosuke snarls and he drags Hashi back up. Konosuke waits on Hashi, then runs in, POWER- NO!! Hashi blocks the knee to LARIAT! Then Hashi wrist clutches, for a FLIPPING USHIGOROSHI!! And then SUPERKICK! Hashi hooks the leg, KUMAGOROSHI!! Cover, TWO!!! Konosuke survives and the fans are thunderous! Hashi feeds off that energy and he runs, runs, and LARIATS!! Konosuke flounders, Hashi roars, and the fans are with Hashi as he puts Konosuke in the drop zone! Hashi climbs up and SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO?!!? Konosuke survives and the fans fire up again!

Hashi roars and brings Konosuke back up. Short arm LARIAT! Konosuke wobbles, Hashi full nelsons, pump handles, and KARM- STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE?! Konosuke turns that around on Hashi, then reaches back to victory roll! But Hashi rolls it through, TWO!!! Konosuke escapes, and POWER DRIVE KNEES!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Hashi survives and the fans are thunderous again! Konosuke hurries to RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Konosuke wins!

Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Hashi earns 0)

Konosuke was wrong to say this would be “easy work,” but he still came out the victor! Will no one stop him from becoming the Alpha of B Block? Is there still time for Hashi to #TurnItAllAround?

G1 Climax 35 B Block: Great-O-Khan VS Ren Narita!

The Dominator went toe-to-toe and hold-for-hold with Zack Sabre Jr, but he could not conquer The Front Man. Meanwhile, the Souled Out Son of Strong Style lost to 44 Caliber in the fifth, but was able to rest up with his sixth round bye. Will Ren have fresh new ideas on how to cheat his way to a win? Or will Khan show the true power of the United Empire?

Well, as we should always expect, Narita attacks during his opponent’s entrance! He CLOBBERS Khan from behind, then laughs while the fans boo. Narita stomps Khan, then throws Khan’s jiangshi mask away. The ref reprimands but Ren doesn’t care, he just drags Khan up to whip him hard into railing! Ren then drags Khan through the gate and around commentary to SMACK off open chairs. The fans are ushered away while Ren takes chairs from commentary! Milano Collection AT and Gedo have nowhere to sit as Ren puts one chair on the leg, and CON-CHAIR-TOS it with the other chair!

The fans boo and Khan writhes but this is just what Ren did after his “warm-up” match yesterday. The ref checks Khan while Ren leaves him behind. Ren grabs something from the timekeeper’s table and brings it over to Khan. It’s the ring bell hammer! Ren SMACKS Khan in the head with it! The ref reprimands but Ren tells him to shut up, this isn’t even a match. The ref has Ren back off so he can check Khan’s knee. Ren goes to the ring, and Khan forces himself to stand. But then Ren runs up to kick Khan’s leg! Ren puts Khan in the ring and wants the match to start. The bell rings and Ren stomps away on Khan’s leg!

The fans boo but Ren drags Khan around. Ren brings the leg to the corner and bends it against the post! The ref counts, Ren stops at 4, but then he SLAMS the leg against the post! Khan falls to the floor but Ren leaves him behind. Ren waits in the ring while Khan drags himself up with the apron skirt. The ring count starts but Khan rolls in at 5 of 20. The fans applaud, Ren sits on Khan for a cocky cover, TWO! Ren soaks up heat before he stomps Khan’s leg. Ren drags Khan up, but Khan kicks Ren’s legs! Khan then fires Mongolian Chops after Mongolian Chops! The fans rally, Khan whips and- NO, Ren blocks the sayanagi and CLAWS the eyes!

The fans boo but Ren kicks the bad leg out! The fans rally for Khan as Ren whips, and Ren ELBOWS Khan down! Cover, TWO! Ren has the foot for a toehold! Ren uses his own head for leverage in the twist! Khan fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts but Ren drops an ELBOW on the leg! Ren drags Khan into another toehold, but Khan again has the ROPEBREAK! Ren lets go, but then PULLS on the leg again! The ref counts and the fans boo, but Ren stops. Ren then puts the leg on the ropes to HIP DROP it again and again! Kahn writhes and the fans rally but Ren talks trash. The ref checks Khan’s leg but Khan refuses to lose like this.

Ren talks trash again, drags Khan up by his ear, but Khan breaks free. Khan CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Ren pulls Khan’s beard! The ref counts, the fans boo, and Ren stops. Ren runs, but Khan grabs a leg! Khan sweeps the other leg, then whips to SAYANAGI! The fans cheer while both men are down! Khan snarls and forces himself to stand again. Khan storms up on Ren in the corner, CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! The fans rally as Khan CHOPS away, then Mongolian- NO, Ren SWATS the bad arm! But he runs into a fireman’s carry takeover! Khan has a wristlock, he drags Ren up and KNEES low!

Khan then MONKEY FLIPS Ren, rolls and drags Ren up to SAYA- NO, Ren blocks the throw again! Cording hold on the bad arm! But Khan LEFT HAND IRON CLAWS, and manages an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Cover, TWO, but Khan clamps on the KATAGATAME! Ren endures, fights around, and fights to his feet, but Khan uses that to hit a KATAGATAME URENAGE! Then back to the Head ‘n’ Arm Triangle proper! The bell rings, but that was KANEMARU! The Heel Master pulls off that trick again, and Khan thinks he’s won! Ren clings to the ref and Kanemaru slithers into the ring! Kanemaru CHOP BLOCKS Khan using the whiskey bottle!

Ren snatches Khan’s bad leg for a KNEEBAR!! Khan endures, reaches out, but Ren pulls on the bad leg! Khan still fights, still claws at Ren, and he kicks his way to a ROPEBREAK! The ref counts and the fans cheer, and Ren finally lets go at 4. Khan clutches the bad knee but Ren brings him back up. Ren vows to end it here, and he reels Khan in for DOUBLE- SPINEBUSTER! JACKKNIFE BRIDGE, TWO!! Ren escapes, KICKS the leg, but Khan trips him up! Khan waistlocks and gator rolls to a bridging cover, TWO! Ren escapes, CLAWS Khan’s eyes, but Khan snap suplexes to the PANCAKE! TWO!! Khan scoops and T T D!!

Khan clutches the bad leg but manages to make the cover, TWO! Ren survives and the fans rally behind Khan even more. Khan rises, and he clamps onto Ren with the IRON CLAW! Khan drags Ren up, ELIMI- NO, Ren flips through to drag Khan down! KNEEBAR!! But Khan powers up, and he drags Ren by his tights to make the ROPEBREAK! Ren lets go, but Kanemaru distracts the ref! Ren has his pushup bar! Ren CLOBBERS Khan’s leg with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Ren then clamps on the KNEEBAR!! Khan endures, claws at Ren, but Ren holds on tight! Khan desperately fights up, and he puts the IRON CLAW on Ren’s face!

Ren gives one more PULL of the leg! Khan fights for ropes, but Ren drags him away! KNEEBAR!!! Khan endures, reaches out, but now JAKOB rings the bell?! Jakob Austin Young uses the same trick against the House of Torture! He dares Kanemaru to do something about it! Ren is mad that he got tricked, and he drags Khan up. The fans rally for Khan as hard as they can, and Khan IRON- NO, Ren KICKS the leg! DOUBLE- NO, IRON CLAW! HITSUJIGOROSHI!! Khan fires KNEES into Ren’s back before the FLATLINER! And then IRON CLAW for the ELIMI- NO, Ren pushes on the bad elbow!

Khan puts the IRON CLAW on again, but Ren grabs at the ref! Khan can’t lift the extra weight, and Ren kicks at the bad leg! But then Khan grabs Ren’s leg to IRON CLAW SPINEBUSTER! But the ref goes with Ren! Kanemaru runs up, but Khan dodges the bottle attack! Khan then grabs the bottle, and Khan SHOVES Kanemaru down! Jakob runs in to DROPKICK Kanemaru! Feed to Khan for a LARIAT! Crowns up for the United Empire! Jakob gets Kanemaru out of the ring, the Monster Rage boils over, and Khan drags Ren up with a DOUBLE CLAW! Then he hoists Ren up top!? The fans rally as Khan climbs, and he IRON CLAWS Ren again!

The fans fire up but Ren breaks free! WHISKEY MIST?!? When did he take a swig?! LOW BLOW!! DOUBLE CROSSER!! Cover, the ref is back to count, TWO?!?!? Khan survives, but Ren puts on the FIGURE FOUR KNEEBAR!!! Khan endures, reaches out, but he TAPS!! Ren wins!!

Winner: Ren Narita, by submission (gains 2 points; Khan earns 0)

Ren did indeed come up with many new ways to cheat and win! Will he keep doing this until he is G1 Climax Champion? Is Khan going to miss the playoffs because of this loss? Or will it be all the damage to his knee?

G1 Climax 35 B Block: El Phantasmo w/ Jado VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!

The Headbanga lost to “Daddy Shingo” while the 44 Caliber wasn’t quite enough to stop The Alpha. But while Drilla is fighting for a spot at the front of this pack, ELP is already out of the running! Will there be spoilers in this round? Or can Drilla avoid Sudden Death?

ELP fires Osaka up already, then the jacket is put aside. The bell rings and Drilla runs right up to SHOTGUN! Drilla then stands ELP up to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP! Drilla whips, ELP ducks ‘n’ dodges to then RANA! Drilla bails out, but ELP DROPKICKS him off the apron! ELP keeps moving and he DIVES! Drilla hits railing, ELP fires the fans up more, and then he goes right up top! ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Down goes Drilla again and the fans fire up! ELP is playing this like a NJPW World TV Championship match with how fast he’s going. ELP puts Drilla in the ring, goes up the ropes, “E! L! P!” SWANTON BOMB onto knees!

Drilla runs, GORE! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and the fans fire up again. Drilla reels ELP in, hoists him up, DRILLA- NO, ELP fights free, backdrops, but Drilla sunset flips! High stack, deadlift, and POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again but Drilla drags him to a drop zone. Drilla climbs up, but ELP ROCKS him first! ELP climbs up to join Drilla, but Drilla fires body shots! Drilla SHOVES ELP, ELP backflips through and GAMANGIRIS! The fans fire up as ELP then goes outside to climb up! But then Drilla fireman’s carries ELP! SUPER DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up!

Drilla huffs ‘n’ puffs, and he gets the fans to join in with barking. Drilla aims from a corner, ELP rises up, GOR- NO, ELP rolls through the Gore to suplex! But the back won’t let him finish! Drilla suplexes, ELP lands out, and ELP dodges a chop! ELP goes up the corner, but Drilla drags him down with a Canadian Rack! DRILLA- NO, ELP lands out, and he high stacks Drilla! TWO and Drilla sunset flips! TWO and ELP sits on the cover! TWO, ELP rolls through to jackknife, TWO! Drilla drags ELP up, PILEDRIVER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Drilla snarls and rises back up. Drilla brings ELP up, in, Canadian Rack, but ELP SLAPS away at the hands!

ELP backslides Drilla, TWO!!! Drilla escapes, but ELP tucks him in! C R- NO, Drilla wrenches free! ELP ducks the lariat to SUPERKCIK! Drilal roars, but he runs into SUDDEN DEATH!! And then ELP goes up, leaps, FLYING DESTROYER!! Then he reels Drilla in, tucks the arms, C R 2!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Drilla survives, the fans fire up, so ELP tries again! Another tuck, another lift, C R 2!! And then the underhooks for C R 3!!! But ELP won’t stop there! He goes to the ropes, THUNDERKISS 86!!!! Cover, ELP wins!!

Winner: El Phantasmo, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Drilla earns 0)

It was a fast ‘n’ furious fight from the start, but that’s the NJPW World TV Champion’s bread and butter. ELP offers a handshake of respect to Drilla, but Drilla turns to leave. But then Drilla thinks better of it, and he fist bumps ELP instead. Drilla still has an outside shot being 4-3, can 44 Caliber still hit the mark?

G1 Climax 35 B Block: Shingo Takagi VS Zack Sabre Jr!

A former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion meet again, and this could be a deciding factor in the block dynamics. Will the Rampaging Dragon soar to new heights? Or will he #JustTapOut?

The bell rings and the fans duel already. “ZAKU! ZAKU!” “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” The two circle, feel things out, and tie up. ZSJ headlocks but Takagi puts him on the ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, ZSJ lets go and Takagi backs up. The two reset, feel things out again, and ZSJ facelocks. ZSJ drags Takagi down, slips around, but Takagi fights the chinlock to slip around. Takagi facelocks, ZSJ trips him and has a toehold. Takagi goes for the armbar but ZSJ uses his legs to trap Takagi’s leg. ZSJ then slips around, facelocks, then floats to flip Takagi to a cover, ONE! The two stand up and the fans cheer. ZSJ and Takagi catch their breaths and reset.

The two step up, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ kicks low and steps over to have the cravat. Takagi endures, fights up, and fires body shots. ZSJ avoids the swim move to cravat again! Takagi rolls free, things speed up, and ZSJ BOOTS Takagi! The fans cheer and Takagi snarls. Takagi fires forearm after forearm, btu ZSJ rams low, snapmares, only for Takagi to UP KICK! ZSJ avoids the sliding lariat but Takagi avoids the Penalty Kick! The fans applaud as the two reset again. The fans rally up again, “TA-KA-GI!” “ZAKU!” ZSJ and Takagi circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ puts on the pressure, but Takagi gives it back!

The fans rally as Takagi has ZSJ on his knees. ZSJ fights back up, puts the pressure back on Takagi, but Takagi fights up to BACKDROP ZSJ! ZSJ RAMS Takagi, Takagi CLOBBERS ZSJ! The fans cheer while ZSJ tumbles away. Takagi storms over to ZSJ, drags him up, and bumps him off buckles. Takagi puts one of ZSJ’s legs in the ropes and stomps away. Red Shoes counts, Takagi stops, and he drags ZSJ from the corner. Takagi has the toehold and he puts on the pressure. ZSJ turns over, Takagi drops an elbow on his back! The fans rally while ZSJ goes to ropes. Takagi stands ZSJ up, KNEES him low, then whips him to ropes.

Takagi KNEES ZSJ again, the fans rally up, and Takagi brings ZSJ up. Fireman’s carry, but ZSJ slips free! ZSJ trips Takagi, hooks up the legs, grabs at the arms, but Takagi resists. So ZSJ STOMPS the knees! ZSJ stalks Takagi to the ropes, and he returns the toehold. Takagi endures, even as ZSJ bends the leg! ZSJ hooks inside the knee for more leverage, but Takagi fires ridge hands! ZSJ STOMPS the leg again! The fans rally while Takagi writhes. ZSJ stomps Takagi around, kicks the leg, then runs up to BOOT! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, KICKS, but Takagi blocks! Takagi trips ZSJ, steps through, and the fans rally as Takagi turns ZSJ over, only for ZSJ to TWIST Takagi!

The fans rally as ZSJ has the toehold again! Takagi endures, reaches out, but ZSJ has the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! ZSJ PUSHES on the leg, but Takagi turns to the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go and the fans applaud. ZSJ steps on Takagi’s knee, digs his heel in, then drops a KNEE on the knee! The fans rally while Takagi clutches the leg. ZSJ KICKS Takagi down! ZSJ KICKS the leg, then steps over for a toehold. Then he step over toeholds again! But Takagi boots ZSJ away! ZSJ comes back, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint and DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! ZSJ goes to a corner, Takagi runs in, but he blocks ZSJ’s boot first!

Takagi LARIATS, then he JABS, JABS, JABS! ZSJ sits down, but Takagi snap suplexes! And SENTONS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Takagi fires up, and he tells Osaka, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up and rally with “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi pump handles but ZSJ resists. Takagi fires ridge hands, then he snapmares for a SLIDING- NO, ZSJ catches that and rolls through, to TWIST the arm! The fans applaud while both men are down again. Takagi clutches his arm now but ZSJ crawls over. ZSJ grabs the bad arm, bends the fingers, twists the wrist, then isolates the arm to STOMP it! The fans rally again while Takagi writhes!

Takagi crawls to the ropes, the fans cheer him on, but ZSJ wrenches the arm to ELBOW BREAKER! ZSJ keeps Takagi from ropes, wrenches again, and hits another ELWO BREAKER! Another wrench, but Takagi fights it to a SLEEPER! ZSJ slips around to put on the SLEEPER! Takagi body blows, shoves ZSJ into buckles, then Gory Especials, only for ZSJ to SLEEPER! And then IRON OCTOPUS! Takagi endures, the fans rally up, and Takagi powers his way up, only for ZSJ to sunset flip, and KNEEBAR! Takagi endures, reaches out, and makes the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while ZSJ lets go.

Takagi huffs ‘n’ puffs as he rise sup, but ZSJ stomps him down! ZSJ stands on Takagi’s bad arm, mockingly asks if Takagi gives up, but Takagi refuses. ZSJ steps off so he can KICK Takagi! ZSJ KICKS, Takagi blocks, but ZSJ steps through the Dragon Screw to NECK TWIST! Then ZSJ scoops, but Takagi fights that to suplex! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! ZSJ goes for a corner, Takagi storms over and puts ZSJ up top. Takagi ridge hand chops ZSJ, HEADBUTTS him, then goes right up to SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Takagi then rises with, “OI! OI! OI!” and the fans join in.

Takagi drags ZSJ up, pump handles, but ZSJ fights free. Takagi denies the snapmare to SLIDING LARIAT! Then Takagi pump handles and MADE IN JAPAN! Cover, TWO! ZSJ hurries away to the ropes while the fans rally up. Takagi shakes out his leg and arm before he rises again. Takagi hobbles over to ZSJ, pump handles, but ZSJ fights the lift! ZSJ UPPERCUTS away on Takagi’s bad arm! ZSJ runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi runs, but ZSJ BOOTS the lariat! ZSJ scoops for a SABRE DRIVER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! ZSJ and Takagi stir as the fans rally up.

ZSJ sits up first, he eggs Takagi on, and they go forehead to forehead. They junkyard dog headbutt until ZSJ gets up to PENALTY KICK! Takagi sits back up, so ZSJ PENALTY KICKS again! The fans rally and Takagi eggs ZSJ on now. ZSJ KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! Takagi eggs him on more, but ZSJ grabs the bad arm to TWIST and STOMP it! Then he PENALTY KICK! But Takagi is right up to scoop ZSJ! MICHINOKU DRIVER! Takagi pump handles, torture racks, BURNING DRAGON! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans fire up! Takagi clutches his bad arm while the fans rally up behind him again.

Takagi sits ZSJ up for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! The fans rally with every shot, then Takagi stands ZSJ up. Fireman’s carry, but ZSJ slips down to a SLEEPER! But Takagi hits a BACKPACK SENTON! Takagi is free, but ZSJ sits up to have the SLEEPER again! Takagi endures, rolls back to a cover, TWO! ZSJ has the body scissors, turns Takagi over, and bridges into the cover! TWO!! Takagi escapes but ZSJ BOOTS him! ZSJ runs in, Takagi dodges, but ZSJ goes up the corner to TORNADO DDT! Scoop and SABRE DRIVER!! Cover, TWO, but into a KNEEBAR!! Takagi endures, fights around, and the fans rally up!

ZSJ holds on tight with the grapevine, but Takagi still reaches out! The fans rally harder as Takagi crawls, but ZSJ drags him away from the ropes! ZSJ has both legs, REVERSE FIGURE FOUR! Takagi rolls and rolls, and manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while ZSJ lets go. ZSJ rises, then he stands Takagi up. ZSJ UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ brings Takagi around, hooks a leg, but Takagi fights with body shots. ZSJ LARIATS! And LARIATS! And LARIATS again! Takagi rebounds, redirects, and PUMPING BOMBERS! Both men are down and we hit 20 minutes!

The fans fire up with Takagi, “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi stands ZSJ up to fire forearm after forearm after forearm! ZSJ SLAPS, then fires a flurry of palm strikes! Takagi JABS! HEADBUTTS! He ducks a kick, narrowly avoids the low kick, and SLIDING FOREARMS! Then YUKON LARIAT!! The fans fire up again and Takagi pump handles! Torture rack, LAST OF THE DRAGON!! Cover, TWO and ZSJ victory rolls it! ZSJ WINS!!!

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

Takagi doesn’t realize it until Red Shoes gets in there! ZSJ snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, and the window is closing on Takagi! Can he make a last push to the playoffs in the home stretch?

As for Zack, he exits the ring, grabs the mic, and quickly says, “Thanks, see ya later.” That’s the shortest message ZSJ has sent yet! But is that because he’s laser focused on taking this block? Will he take the block with just two more rounds to go?

Here are the NEW B Block standings!

Ren Narita: 5-2, 10 points
Zack Sabre Jr: 5-2, 10 points
Konosuke Takeshita: 5-2, 10 points
Yoshi-Hashi: 4-3, 8 points
Drilla Moloney: 4-3, 8 points
Great-O-Khan: 4-4, 8 points
Shota Umino: 4-3, 8 points
Shingo Takagi: 3-4, 6 points
El Phantasmo: 3-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Gabe Kidd: 0 points [WITHDRAWN]

My Thoughts:

A great round for B Block, and a great top 3 at moment. Konosuke and Hashi had a great match, Hashi continues to really show his stuff even this deep into his career. Great match from Khan and Ren, they played off Ren hitting that leg con-chair-to from the other day very well. I like that Jakob Austin Young got involved to use that bell ringing trick on the House of Torture, and I thought Khan was gonna win it from there. But Ren still winning out was fine, he’s a Reiwa Musketeer and should be booked strong. ELP VS Drilla was awesome for how it was nonstop right away, and a great win for ELP, even with him too far back to make the playoffs.

And a great main event from ZSJ VS Takagi. But something about how that finish went makes me think there was a mistake made. It is rare for such things to happen in NJPW but not impossible. But between the way Red Shoes kinda reacted to his own count and ZSJ’s extremely short message, I feel like maybe there was an accident. Either way, the world champ really should be in the running, so it works out.

My Score: 9/10