Is Kagawa ready for the Climax?

As the G1 Climax rolls on, NJPW rolls into Takamatsu! But will Yuya Uemura stay hot? Or will the Big Bad Wolf huff ‘n’ puff and blow him away?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Boltin Oleg & Masatora Yasuda VS SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sanada & Kanemaru win.
• Hirooki Goto & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Konosuke Takeshita & Toru Yano; Konosuke & Yano win.
• Six Man Tag: Shingo Takagi, Yuto-Ice & Gedo VS Jake Lee, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young; Jake, Khan & Jakob win.
• Yota Tsuji & Daiki Nagai VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson; Oiwa & Hartley win.
• G1 Climax 36 B Block: “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS OSKAR; Oskar wins.
• G1 Climax 36 B Block: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita; Narita wins.
• G1 Climax 36 B Block: Callum Newman VS Gabe Kidd; Callum wins.
• G1 Climax 36 B Block: Yuya Uemura VS Aaron Wolf; Yuya wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current B Block standings!

“Drilla” Moloney: 4-1, 8 points
Gabe Kidd: 4-1, 8 points
HENARE: 4-1, 8 points
Callum Newman: 3-2, 6 points
OSKAR: 3-2, 6 points
Aaron Wolf: 2-2, 4 points
Ren Narita: 2-2 4 points
Yuya Uemura: 2-2, 4 points [Did Not Compete]
Zack Sabre Jr: 1-3, 2 points
Shota Umino: 0-1, 0 points [FORFEIT]

G1 Climax 36 B Block: “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS OSKAR!

44 Caliber is coming off a huge win over former IWGP (World) Heavyweight Champion, Callum Newman, but the Giant German scored his own victory over NEVER Openweight Champion, Aaron Wolf. Unbound meets Unbound to start the round, who will be standing tall at the front of the pack?

The bell rings and the two run up! GORE?!? Cover, TWO!! Oskar survives, bails out, but Drilla runs to WRECK Oskar with a dropkick! The fans fire up and Drilla hurries to put Oskar back in. Drilla then goes up the corner, MACHO ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Oskar survives again and the fans fire up even more. Drilla reels Oskar in, but Oskar lifts Drilla! Oskar puts Drilla on the apron, but Drilla DUMPS Oskar out! Drilla CROSSBODIES, but into Oskar’s arms! SNAKE EYES off the railing, and Oskar BOOTS Drilla down! The fans cheer while Oskar catches his breath and stands back up. Oskar goes back to Drilla, puts him in the ring, and the fans applaud.

Oskar steps in, paces around Drilla, then brings him up. Drilla whips Oskar hard into buckles! Drilla falls, Oskar flexes, and the fans applaud. Oskar paces, brings Drilla up again, but Drilla CHOPS! CHOPS! And CHOPS! Oskar CHOPS Drilla down! Cover, ONE!! Drilla is tougher than that and the fans applaud. Oskar stomps Drilla around, then walks it off. Oskar kicks at Drilla, eggs him on, and Drilla stands to throw hands! Oskar kicks low to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Oskar clamps onto Drilla with a CAMEL CLUTCH! The fans rally as Drilla endures! Drilla frees one arm, and he tries to rise up, only for Oskar to pull him back into the Camel Clutch!

The fans still rally as Drilla reaches out. Drilla inches ever closer, but Oskar turns him away from the ropes! Drilla still endures, still has an arm free, and he pushes up! The fans rally as Drilla carries Oskar as a backpack! Then he powers Oskar up into a fireman’s carry, but his back can’t hold! Oskar slips free and he CHOPS! Drilla ducks a chop to ripcord and CHOP! Oskar roars, but Drilla DROPKICKS! Oskar rebounds, Drilla blocks the boot, and he gets under to POWERBOMB!! But Drilla can’t make the cover! The fans cheer as Drilla rises up and he vows to finish this now. Drilla hobbles over, reels Oskar in, but Oskar BACKDROPS!

Oskar ELBOW DROPS onto Drilla, covers, TWO! Oskar stays focused as he stands back up, and he drags Drilla up with both hands! Drilla breaks free to CHOP! Oskar CHOPS and Drilla drops to his knees. Drilla growls as he rises back up, and he CHOPS! Oskar CHOPS back! Drilla comes back to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! Oskar winds up, but Drilla blocks, spins Oskar, only for Oskar to block the suplex! Drilla powers up, lifts, but Oskar fights free! Oskar scoops and SLAMS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Drilla survives! Oskar is frustrated but he dusts himself off and stands back up. Oskar brings Drilla around, scoops, but Drilla slips free!

Drilla shoves Oskar to the corner, but Oskar blocks the superkick! Double guzel, but Drilla breaks free again! Drilla dodges, SUPERKICKS, but Oskar stays up! DRILLA KICK! Cover, TWO! Oskar survives, but Drilla reloads in the corner. Drilla aims, the fans join in with “OI! OI! OI!” THE GORE!! Drilla isn’t done there, but he hobbles from the pain in his back. Drilla goes back to Oskar, brings him around, only for Oskar to double guzel! BERLIN- NO, Drilla sunset flips! Oskar rolls through, but Drilla reels him in! Oskar RAMS Drilla into the corner! Oskar runs up, but into a BOOT! Drilla runs, slips through the lariat, then reels Oskar in!

Drilla lifts for DRILLA- NO, Oskar lands on his feet and RAMS Drilla into the corner! Oskar runs up, Drilla dodges, and he rolls Oskar up! TWO, and Oskar scoops again! But Drilla slips free, scoops Oskar, but Oskar slips free to the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER!! The fans rally as Drilla endures, reaches out, and he kicks off the ropes! Drilla rolls back to a cover, TWO! THE GORE misses as Oskar hurdles! Oskar scoops, RUNNING TOMBSTONE! Then NIGHTMARE SLEEPER with the body scissors!! Drilla is fading already! The ref calls it, Oskar wins!

Winner: Oskar, by submission (gains 2 points; Drilla earns 0)

Another big win for the Giant German helps him take one big step forward in the block! Will Oskar soon stand atop the G1? Can 44 Caliber reload and try again next round?

G1 Climax 36 B Block: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita!

The Front Man could not bring down The Mad Man, and the Souled Out Son of Strong Style could not cheat his way around The Mauler. Will ZSJ make Narita #JustTapOut? Or will the House of Torture steal another victory?

Yoshinobu Kanemaru forces his way onto commentary, making Milano Collection AT give up his seat. Surely the Heel Master wouldn’t be plotting something… The bell rings, the two circle, and they feel things out. They tie up, ZSJ wrenches to wristlock, but Ren rolls, wrenches, and wristlocks back. ZSJ rolls, bridges, spins, and he wrenches back to wristlock. The fans cheer the exchange, but then Ren bridges. Ren stands but ZSJ still wrenches to hammerlock, only for Ren to switch, headlock, and takeover. ZSJ headscissors, Ren kips free, and the two reset. The fans applaud, but then Dick Togo appears! ZSJ runs Dick off, but Ren runs up!

Ren waistlocks. ZSJ switches and O’Conner Roll to a bridge! TWO, and Ren catches ZSJ, but ZSJ switches! GROUND COBRA, TWO! Ren hurries to his feet, ZSJ dodges a kick to waistlock, but Ren shoves the ref aside. ZSJ avoids the low blow, but Ren dodges a kick to sunset flip! ZSJ rolls through to jackknife bridge, TWO! Ren escapes, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! ZSJ runs, but Dick trips him up! The fans boo but Ren rolls ZSJ with tights, TWO! Ren BOOTS ZSJ, ZSJ BOOTS Ren, then ZSJ catches Ren to a SLEEPER! Ren slips through to have a SLEEPER! ZSJ slips through to SLEEPER!

Ren switches and he shoves ZSJ but Dick is on the apron! ZSJ BOOTS Dick down, the pocket sand goes flying! ZSJ BOOTS Ren, runs up, but Ren DUMPS ZSJ to the apron! ZSJ gets Ren in the ropes, HANGING ARMBAR! Dick and the ref are arguing, but Kanemaru gets off commentary! WHISKEY MIST!! The fans boo but what did anyone expect?! DOUBLE- NO, ZSJ slips free, but Ren dodges the Penalty Kick! But ZSJ ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Ren rolls and stacks ZSJ, REN WINS!

Winner: Ren Narita, by pinfall (gains 2 points; ZSJ earns 0)

Another match, another night Ren Narita cheats his way to victory! Will anyone ever stop the House from stacking the deck? Can ZSJ ever get going in the block?

G1 Climax 36 B Block: Callum Newman VS Gabe Kidd!

We get one more Battle of the Brits as The Prince clashes with The Mad Man! Will Callum make Gabe Kiss the Crown? Or will Gabe prove Callum ain’t War Ready?

Callum is there as Gabe steps to the apron, but then Gabe SHOTGUNS Zane Jay! Callum rushes out after Gabe and they brawl! Gabe whips, Callum reverses, and Gabe hits railing! They go to the crowd, and Callum HEADBUTTS Gabe! Then he ROCKS Gabe with a forearm! Gabe gets in Callum’s face, fires a shot, but Callum fires back! They go back and forth, forearm for forearm, then Callum KNEES Gabe down! Callum makes Gabe take a seat so he can KICK Gabe down! The ref reprimands, he wants this in the ring! Granted, it’s not even on record yet. Callum goes all the way to the other side of the crowd! Callum runs back in, but Gabe avoids the flying dropkick!

The fans are torn as Callum crashes into chairs, but then Gabe goes to grab a steel chair! The ref wants Gabe to stop, but Gabe shoves him aside, and CHUCKS the chair into Callum! The fans boo but Gabe soaks up the heat. Gabe drags Callum up, grinds the arm, FUJIWARA on the floor! Gabe lets go only to stand Callum up and UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT! Gabe stalks Callum to the timekeeper’s area, but puts him in the ring. The fans cheer as Gabe finally puts his tracksuit away, but then he SHOTGUNS Zane again! The fans boo, but Callum SHOTGUNS Gabe! The bell finally rings as Gabe bails out. Callum PLANCHAS into an UPPERCUT!

Gabe leaves Callum behind to go to the ring, and he taunts the fans as they boo. The ref starts a ring count, and Gabe flexes while Callum is still down. The count passes 5 of 20, Callum sits up at 8, and manages to stand at 13. Callum slides in at 15, but Gabe is there to LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Gabe whips Callum hard into the corner! Callum tumbles out of the ring, Gabe climbs up onto a corner to flex, and the fans boo again. The ring count starts again, and Gabe paces while Callum stands. Gabe taunts Callum, but the ref has him stay back. Callum rolls in at 13 but Gabe stomps him down! Gabe rains down fists, then clamps on a headlock.

Gabe grinds Callum down, CLAWS his face, but the ref reprimands. Gabe backs off of Callum, but he shoves the ref down! The fans boo again, but Gabe bumps Callum off buckles. Gabe taunts the fans before he CHOPS! And HEADBUTTS! And repeat! Gabe HEADBUTTS, rolls back, and runs back in! Gabe blocks a boot but not the ENZIGIRI! Then Callum ROCKS Gabe! Gabe flounders away but Callum is after him. Callum whips, Gabe reverses, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges. Gabe dodges the boot, but Callum BOOTS the Comebacker! Fireman’s carry, but Gabe lands out! Gabe SWATS the lariat but Callum HEEL KICKS!

Callum ducks the Comebacker and LARIATS through! The fans fire up as Gabe is down! The ref checks on Gabe as he sputters, and Gabe goes to a corner. Callum runs up and GAMANGIRIS! Then he suplexes, but Gabe slips free. Gabe waistlocks, ripcords, but Callum dodges to SUPERKICK! Callum reels Gabe in and hooks the leg, FIREBOLT! Cover, TWO! Gabe survives but the fans rally behind Callum. Callum slaps Gabe around, eggs him on, then he SLAPS Gabe on the top of his head! Gabe snarls as he gets up, and he winds up to ROCK Callum! Callum sits down, but Gabe stands him up. Callum ROCKS Gabe in return!

The fans rally but Gabe nods and grins. Gabe winds up to ROCK Callum! Callum staggers back to the ropes, then almost falls out! The ref checks on Callum and he’s able to continue. Gabe dares Callum to try, and Callum grins. Callum winds up to ROUNDHOUSE! Callum gets the better of Gabe there and the fans fire up! But then Gabe’s right up! But Callum blocks a shot to ELBOW Gabe down, and EX- NO, Gabe dodges! Gabe blocks a kick to CHOP, then he DECKS Callum! Callum kips up, but Gabe LARIATS him back down! Gabe waits on Callum, then runs the ropes, LARIAT! High stack, TWO! Gabe hurries to stand Callum back up.

Gabe hooks a leg, POP-UP OVER BOMB! And then PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and the fans fire up! Gabe slithers back to a corner, takes aim, and he brings down his kneepad. He thinks about it, but he won’t show the tattoo. He drags Callum up to ROCK him with a forearm! Callum staggers, wobbles, but Gabe brings him around to ROCK him again! Callum falls on the ropes, Gabe slaps him around, then kicks at him. The ref reprimands as Gabe trash, how Callum’s a b*tch like his boy, Billy (Will Ospreay)! Callum shoves Gabe, but Gabe ROCKS him again! Gabe CHOPS Callum against the ropes again and again, then LARIATS!

Gabe runs, Callum dodges, OSCU- No, Gabe catches Ospreay to PARA- NO, Callum lands out to fireman’s carry! MAKE- NO, Gabe lands out, PILEDRIVER again!! Cover, TWO!?! The fans fire up as Callum survives! Callum staggers to a corner, Gabe runs up, but Callum snatches Gabe into the BLACKOUT SLEEPER! Gabe flails, pushes back to a cover, TWO as Callum lets go! Callum BOOTS, Gabe CHOPS, then Gabe ducks a kick! SNAP GERMAN! Callum is back up, but Gaber SNAP GERMANS again! Callum is right back up, KISS THE CROWN, and EXCALIBUR! Callum won’t stop there, PRINCE’S CURSE!! Cover, TWO!!

The fans are thunderous as Gabe survives! Callum sits up, and he unwraps the wrist tape. Callum shows off his crown tattoo, then stands back up. The fans rally as Callum brings Gabe up, but Gabe’s a ragdoll! The fans cheer as Callum still drags Gabe up. Callum winds up, KISS- NO, Gabe clinches to LARIAT front and back! Then SLAP, SLAP, SLAP! Callum ROCKS Gabe, ROCKS him again, then ROUNDHOUSES! Callum keeps Gabe on his feet to KISS- HEADBUTT!! And KNEE!! Gabe roars, reels Callum in, but Callum BACKDROPS! Gabe sunsets but Callum sits down, TWO! Gabe finishes the sunset, TWO! KNEE!!

Callum sputters, but now the kneepad comes down! O- NO, Callum uses the ref as a shield! Gabe pushes the ref, Callum blocks a kick, LOW BLOW!! Callum cradles, CALLUM WINS!

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

Gabe is seething! He may be many things, but he ain’t a cheater! Will Gabe just have to take this anger out on the next opponent? Will everyone have to Make Way for the Prince?

G1 Climax 36 B Block: Yuya Uemura VS Aaron Wolf!

The Heat Storm is back in action while the NEVER Openweight Champion is coming off a loss. Will Yuya get hot in this main event? Or will the Big Bad Wolf still be in the hunt for the top spot?

The bell rings, the fans rally and duel, and Red Shoes says it slightly favors “YU~YA!” over “WOLF! WOLF!” The two circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. They feel out the clinch, back away, then try again. Wolf wants an arm but Yuya slips around to waistlock. Wolf switches, Yuya switches back, but Wolf switches, only for Yuya to slip away. The fans applaud this opening exchange, and the two reset. They circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. Wolf wrenches, wristlocks, but Yuya spins through. Yuya wrenches, hammerlocks, but Wolf reaches back to wrench and wristlock. Yuya wrenches back, but then Wolf wrenches back.

Yuya wrenches again, Wolf rolls, but Yuya still wrenches! Wolf kicks low, wrenches and wrangles Yuya, and has a double wristlock. Yuya clasps hands to fight it off, then fights his way up. Yuya spins but Wolf facelocks. Yuya wrenches free to facelock in return, but Wolf pushes through. Yuya slips away again, and the fans cheer the exchange. Wolf and Yuya reset again, feel things out, then tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. Wolf headlocks, grinds, but Yuya fights up. Yuya powers up, powers out, then drops down. Yuya hurdles, arm- NO! Wolf blocks the arm-drag, then brings Yuya up to SAYANAGI! Yuya hurries to his feet, but Wolf STOs!

Wolf wants another throw but Yuya blocks it. Wolf shifts his weight, Yuya does the same, but then Wolf IPPON! The fans cheer, Wolf runs, but Yuya avoids the elbow drop! Yuya grabs an arm, traps it, then goes for the other arm. Yuya pulls back, DARK SACRIFICE! Wolf writhes and clutches the arm, but the fans rally up. Yuya brings Wolf up, around, and wrenches the arm again and again! Then YANKS! Yuya wrangles Wolf, drops an ELBOW on the arm, then shifts into his own double wristlock. Wolf endures, kicks his way over, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud as Yuya lets go, then Yuya brings Wolf back up.

Yuya wrenches, runs to the ropes, and goes to the apron. Yuya slips back inside and has the arm wrapped around the ropes. Red Shoes reprimands but Yuya rolls Wolf up, TWO! Wolf escapes but Yuya CLUBS him down! The fans rally for Wolf but Yuya eggs him on. Yuya drags Wolf up, wrangles him again, and has a DISARMER! Wolf endures the mounted armbar, fights his way over, but Yuya shifts his grip to a cording hold and stretch! Wolf still fights, still reaches out, and still makes the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer again, and Yuya lets go. Yuya paces while Wolf clutches his arm. Yuya drags Wolf up, but Wolf fires forearm after forearm!

Yuya wrenches the arm to YANK the arm! Yuya CHOPS Wolf, and CHOPS again! And CHOPS! CHOPS! The fans cheer, and Yuya whips corner to corner. Wolf reverses, but Yuya goes up and over! Wolf blocks another arm-drag, and he brings Yuya up. Yuya slips free of the Sayanagi, but runs into the URENAGE! The fans rally while both men go to corners. Wolf runs up, LARIATS, then snap suplexes! And he runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Yuya toughs it out but the fans still rally for Wolf. Wolf stays focused as he brings Yuya up and fireman’s carries, but Yuya slips free! Yuya kicks low, grabs the arm, ARMBAR DDT!

Yuya then traps the arm to TWEAK it! Wolf swings but Yuya blocks the lariat to then arm-drag! Yuya then traps the bad arm, and SNAP LOCKS it! The fans rally up again while Wolf writhes and clutches the elbow. Yuya waits as Red Shoes checks with Wolf, and Wolf says he can continue. Wolf rises, Yuya storms over, and Yuya CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Yuya whips corner to corner, runs up and CHOPS! The fans rally as Yuya then reels Wolf in, HALF HATCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! But into the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Wolf fights it by clasping hands, then kicks around, but Yuya puts on the pressure. Wolf endures, even as Yuya puts on more pressure!

Wolf kicks, kicks, shouts in pain, but manages to wrangle Yuya! Yuya brings Wolf back around, cording hold! Yuya wants the other arm, but Wolf SAYANAGIS free! Yuya ROCKS Wolf, runs, but into another SAYANAGI! The fans fire up for Wolf, and he clamps on the KATAGATAME! Yuya endures so Wolf floats, floats, and goes back to the KATAGATAME! Yuya endures, even as Wolf leans all his weight on the hold! Wolf pulls back on the hold, traps an arm in a top wristlock, and it’s almost an Anaconda Vice! The fans rally as Yuya kicks around and fights his way over. Wolf puts on more pressure, but Yuya still kicks, kicks, and finds the ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer, Red Shoes counts, and Wolf lets go. Wolf slaps himself to fire back up, and the fans rally again. Wolf brings Yuya up, goes to fireman’s carry, but Yuya fights it. Yuya rains down elbows, but Wolf powers up! Yuya still DDTS free! The fans rally as Yuya rises, and he fires back up! The fans cheer as Yuya brings Wolf up. But Wolf breaks free to fire a forearm! Yuya comes back to fire a forearm, then fire another! Wolf comes back to ROCK Yuya! Yuya shakes it off, and he comes back to ROCK Wolf! And ROCK him again! Wolf huffs ‘n’ puffs and comes back to ROCK Yuya! Yuya ROCKS Wolf! The shots go back and forth, then Yuya fires a flurry!

Wolf comes back to LARIAT! But Yuya stays up! So Wolf LARIATS again! Yuya is still up! Wolf runs, but Yuya DROPKICKS him! But Wolof comes back to LARIAT! Wolf hurries back and fireman’s carries! DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Cover, TWO! Yuya survives, but Wolf clamps on the INVERTED TRIANGLE! Yuya fights against the legs, kicks his way around, but Wolf turns him from the ropes! The fans rally and duel as Yuya keeps fighting, but Wolf puts on the pressure! Wolf then rolls Yuya away to center! Yuya kicks, but he’s fading! The fans rally harder for Yuya as he reaches out, but he’s fading!

Wolf lets go, drags Yuya back to center, but Yuya uses that to high stack Wolf! TWO!! Wolf escapes, and even he is surprised! But Wolf runs up on Yuya in the corner, and he LARIATS! Wolf brings Yuya around, ANGLE- NO, Yuya slips free, goes to ropes, GERMAN SUPLEX! But Wolf’s right up! Wolf runs, but into a DROPKICK! Yuya hurries up the corner! The fans rally as Wolf rises and Yuya aims. LION- NO, Wolf dodges, but Yuya rolls through! Yuya comes back, into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Wolf roars, the fans fire up, and Wolf reels Yuya in! ANGLE- NO, Yuya silps free, and HEADBUTTS! Wolf ROCKS Yuya, Yuya ENZIGIRIS!

Yuya hurries to hook the arms, but Wolf fights the lift! The fans rally as Yuya powers up, and DEADBOLT SUPLEXES!! Then Yuya goes up, up, and as Wolf rises, LION SHINE!! Cover, Yuya wins!!

Winner: Yuya Uemura, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Wolf earns 0)

Wolf bared his fangs, but he could not fight against this rising sun! They shake hands to show respect, but will Wolf be sure to turn things around before the end of the G1?

As for Yuya, he gets the mic to tell Wolf, “You’re strong in judo, but you’re also strong in pro-wrestling! This is pro-wrestling. This is Strong Style! Let’s go again, Wolf.” The fans cheer and Wolf takes a bow in respect. Wolf exits, and  Yuya tells the fans, “Thank you for coming to see NJPW! I’ve won the G1 main event here in Kagawa three years in a row!” The fans cheer that, too! Yuya continues by saying. “There are a lot of people struggling in Japan right now. But wrestling is your outlet and your energy!” The fans cheer, and Yuya asks, “So, are you ready? Are you all ready?” Th fans cheer, and Yuya vows to win the G1 and stand at the center of NJPW! Now, three, two, one, OSHA!!

The fans cheer as the Heat Storm is only getting hotter! But can he stay fired up all the way to the end of the Climax?

Here are the NEW B Block standings!

OSKAR: 4-2, 8 points
“Drilla” Moloney: 4-2, 8 points
Callum Newman: 4-2, 8 points
Gabe Kidd: 4-2, 8 points
HENARE: 4-1, 8 points [Did Not Compete]
Ren Narita: 3-2 6 points
Yuya Uemura: 3-2, 6 points
Aaron Wolf: 2-3, 4 points
Zack Sabre Jr: 1-4, 2 points
Shota Umino: 0-1, 0 points [FORFEIT]

My Thoughts:

Another great round for G1, and the most surprising thing so far is that ZSJ is 1-4. Zack Sabre Jr, a former world champion, a former G1 winner and a former New Japan Cup winner, is trailing behind by that much in this year’s G1. Maybe those past wins is part of why: ZSJ doesn’t need to win another one, so he’s giving everyone else their moment to shine. Though at the same time, that was such a quick match between him and Narita because of the cheating, it was good Heel heat for Narita and the House of Torture.

I was moderately surprised Oskar won because Drilla has been pretty hot so far, but that’s a great win for Oskar. Great Heel VS Heel dynamic in Callum VS Gabe, and Callum won by out-Heeling Gabe. Yuya VS Wolf was a very good main event, but the energy of Callum VS Gabe was much higher, probably best match of the night. But as Yuya said, this adds to his win streak in Kagawa. Plus, his story of being the “rising sun,” the true hero’s journey in this generation, that was more than reason enough to win the main event, regardless of location. Yuya’s definitely making a case to be a finalist, would love to see it.

My Score: 9/10