Who will grab the last tickets to the G1?

The Road to G1 Climax 36 is almost over, and that means finally filling both blocks! Oskar or Yujiro, ELP or Oiwa, who will reach the Climax?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 8 Man Tag: Yuya Uemura, Taichi, El Desperado & Masatora Yasuda VS Ren Narita, SANADA, SHO & DOUKI; Ren, Sanada, Sho & Douki win.
• 8 Man Tag: Boltin Oleg, Aaron Wolf, Hirooki Goto & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Yuto-Ice & Daiki Nagai; Oleg, Wolf, Goto & Matsumoto win.
• Triple Threat Tag: Tiger Mask & Jado VS Taiji Ishimori & Gedo VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dick Togo; Kanemaru & Dick win.
• G1 Climax 36 B Block Qualifier: OSKAR VS Yujiro Takahashi; Oskar wins and advances.
• G1 Climax 36 A Block Qualifier: El Phantasmo VS Ryohei Oiwa; Oiwa wins and advances.
• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Shota Umino VS Gabe Kidd; Gabe wins and becomes the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: YOH VS Francesco Akira; Yoh wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

After Triple Threat Tag: Tiger Mask & Jado VS Taiji Ishimori & Gedo VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dick Togo…

To be fair, this match started turning into a 4v2 against the House of Torture, but even then, Dick knocking the ref down and choking Jado out gave Kanemaru the opening to use WHISKEY MIST! A roll up and cover, the House of Torture wins! The fans boo but the Heel Master & Spoiler indeed had to spoil Tiger Mask’s final tag match. But even so, Tiger Mask takes the mic to say, “Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight. Last year, I announced my retirement. And now, finally, tomorrow, will be my last matches. Dynamite Kid, Tommy Billington, and Black Tiger.

“I will do my absolute best and show you the bets Tiger Mask I can tomorrow night. Until the very end, I’ll give it my all. I look forward to having your support.” The fans cheer as Tiger Mask prepares for the final battles of his career. Can this living legend ride off into the sunset one last time?

G1 Climax 36 B Block Qualifier: OSKAR VS Yujiro Takahashi w/ The House of Torture!

Yuto-Ice is already through to the Climax, having overcome Taichi in a very powerful match. But the German Giant might have the bigger challenge because The House of Torture never rolls alone. Will Oskar be able to join his Knock Out Brother in the tournament? Or will Tokyo Pimp lie, cheat, and steal his golden ticket to the top?

The bell rings and Oskar BOOTS Yujiro right down! Then NIGHTMARE SLEEPER!! Yujiro flails but he’s turning red already! But SHO rings the bell! Oskar lets go, having fallen for the trick! The fans boo but Sho plays dumb. Oskar is pissed, but then Yujiro CHOP BLOCKS Oskar’s leg! The fans boo but Yujiro drags Oskar up and TOSSES him out. Then Yujiro distracts the ref so the House can mug Oskar! The fans boo, but then Sho & Douki DOUBLE KNEE SMASH on the floor! Then they drag Oskar up, hold the leg out, and Ren JAMS it up with a chair! The fans boo but The House scurries away like the rats they are.

Yujiro goes out to fetch Oskar, put him in the ring, and stalk him. Oskar tries to stand but that bad leg won’t let him! Yujiro grabs that leg, puts it on the ropes, then stands on it! The ref counts, so Yujiro HIP DROPS the leg! Yujiro drags Oskar up, bumps him off buckles, then puts the bad leg through ropes. Oskar CLUBS away on Yujiro, but Yujiro still BOOTS the bad leg! Yujiro BOOTS it again, then brings Oskar around to snapmare. Yujiro isolates the bad leg so he can SPLASH down on it! Oskar clutches the leg, but Yujiro grabs the other, steps through, and has the FIGURE FOUR KNEEBAR! Then he reaches out to grab the ropes for leverage!

The fans boo as Oskar endures, and the ref finally notices! Yujiro lets go of the ropes but he still has Oskar tied up. Oskar fights around, Yujiro grabs ropes again, and the ref counts! Yujiro lets Oskar go this time, and the fans rally as Oskar crawls. Yujiro stalks Oskar, taunts him, then kicks the bad leg. Oskar manages to CHOP! The fans cheer as Oskar ROCKS and CHOPS Yujiro, then reels him in. But Yujiro BITES Oskar’s hand! The ref counts, Yujiro lets Oskar go, but then he blocks a kick! Yujiro CLAWS Oskar’s face, throws him down, then runs to basement DROPKICK! The fans rally for Oskar while he’s down, but Yujiro is right on him.

Yujiro drags Oskar up, reels him in, but now Oskar BITES Yujiro’s hand! the fans cheer the payback, and Oskar lets go so he can RUN Yujiro over! The fans fire up while Oskar hobbles around. Oskar runs up on Yujiro but Yujiro dodges in the corner! Yujiro kicks, whips, but Oskar reverses! Oskar runs up again and ELBOWS Yujiro! Oskar shoves Yujiro down, then slaps his bad leg into working. Oskar manages to run and drop the leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Yujiro survives but the fans continue to rally for Oskar. Oskar rises up, hobbles his way back over, and he brings Yujiro up for a scoop! But Yujiro pulls hair and CLAWS Oskar’s eyes!

Yujiro THROWS Oskar out, and The House is after him! But Oskar guzels Sho, and guzels Douki! Oskar gives them a meeting of the minds before he kicks and CLUBS Ren! Oskar POSTS Ren, but Yujiro hurries after him! Oskar CHOPS Yujiro first! The fans fire up as Oskar storms after Yujiro and CHOPS! And then he puts Yujiro in the ring. Oskar hobbles his way back into the ring, fires himself back up, but Yujiro kicks the leg! Yujiro runs, but into a scoop and SLAM! The fans fire up with Oskar as he stands Yujiro back up, for the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER! And then a SLEEPER SLAM! Cover, BUT REN YANKS THE REF OUT!

The fans boo, and now Oskar’s mad! Oskar storms out after Ren but he lures Oskar into a trap! SANADA attacks! The fans boo as the Cold-Blooded Snake helps mug Oskar now! They get Oskar back in the ring and Yujiro has his pimp cane! The fans boo as the House all stands Oskar up for Yujiro to CANE SHOT back down! Yujiro then drags Oskar back up, reels him in, and PIMP JUICE! Cover, but YUTO YANKS THE REF OUT! The fans cheer as The House feels the sting of karma! Yuto apologizes, but then explains about the House’s sins. But then they attack Yuto! The fans boo as Sho & Douki kick and whip Yuto, but Yuto grabs ropes!

Yuto BOOTS Douki, ROUNDHOUSES Sho, then intercepts Ren with a THROW! Sanada runs in but gets a POP-UP KNEE! Yujiro kicks Yuto, then runs, but into a BOOT! The fans are fired up now as Yuto feeds Yujiro to the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER, and then into AMBITION! And then a scoop for the K O B DRIVER!! The fans are thunderous, Yuto hurries to fetch the ref, and now we get the cover, OSKAR WINS!

Winner: Oskar, by pinfall (advances to G1 Climax 36)

With a little help from his Knock Out Brother, Oskar brings down the House, and now he is in the G1! Will KOB be able to meet at the Climax and get everyone high?

G1 Climax 36 A Block Qualifier: El Phantasmo w/ Jado VS Ryohei Oiwa!

The Headbanga has been fighting hard and falling short lately, but he’s not giving up! The same can be said for The Mullet as he also continues to grind. Will ELP be able to #TurnItAllAround? Or will Oiwa prove that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. ELP offer a handshake, Oiwa accepts, and the fans cheer. The two circle, and the fans cheer on “E L P! E L P!” ELP nods, but then Oiwa gets the fans cheering him on. The two tie up, ELP headlocks, but Oiwa wrenches free. ELP wrenches back to hammerlock, half nelson, spin and snapmare, then ghost pin! TWO, and the two back away. The fans applaud as the two reset, then tie up. Oiwa wrenches to wristlock but ELP uses the ropes to flip through. ELP wrenches back, but Oiwa rolls to wrench again. ELP rolls, trips Oiwa, then ties up the legs! ELP hooks Oiwa up, for the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! But Oiwa pops free to a cover, TWO!

The fans applaud the standoff, and the two take their time resetting. The fans duel as the two reset and tie up again. Oiwa headlocks, ELP powers up but can’t power out. ELP goes to the ropes, powers free this time, only for Oiwa to run him over! Oiwa runs to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Oiwa headlocks again but ELP endures the grind. ELP fights up and fires body shots. ELP powers up and out, then drops down to DROPKICK! Oiwa bails out while ELP kips up, and the fans fire up as ELP builds speed. But Oiwa catches ELP to a headlock! Only for ELP to POST Oiwa! Oiwa falls to the floor, and ELP PLANCHAS him back down!

The fans cheer as ELP stands, and then ELP points to the corner. ELP climbs, the fans rally, and they join in with “E! L! P!” ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Down goes Oiwa and the fans fire up again! ELP pushes the Young Lions aside so he can stand, and he brings Oiwa back up. ELP puts Oiwa in the ring, then aims from the apron! Springboard SWANTON, then the LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives but ELP stays focused. The fans rally as ELP slashes his throat. ELP reels Oiwa in, tucks the arms, but Oiwa powers up and BACKDROPS free! The fans cheer as ELP sputters. ELP still gets up and runs up, but Oiwa arm-drags to the armlock!

ELP fights up, whips Oiwa to ropes, but Oiwa RUNS him over! Things keep moving, and Oiwa counters hip toss with HIP TOSS! Then another arm-drag, back to the armlock! Oiwa wrenches and whips ELP to a corner, but only to YANK the arm and DEATH ROLL! ELP clutches the arm but Oiwa vows to end it now! Oiwa clamps on for the ARC CLUTCH! But ELP has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Oiwa lets go. Oiwa then drags ELP up, puts him in a corner, and CHOPS! ELP staggers to another corner, Oiwa stalks him, and he winds up to CHOP again! Oiwa wraps the bad arm around ropes, pulls on it, but lets go as the ref counts 4.

Oiwa runs in, but ELP dodges! ELP GAMANGIRIS, then goes up to TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! ELP kips up and the fans cheer! ELP goes to the corner, tunes up, and he waits on Oiwa. Oiwa stands, into SUDDEN DEATH! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa survives but ELP is right on him! ELP tucks the arms, lifts, but Oiwa fights free! Oiwa wrenches the arm, YANKS it, but ELP ROCKS Oiwa! Oiwa UPPERCUTS ELP! ELP mule kicks! Oiwa spins, ELP blocks, but then Oiwa comes in with the DISCUS LARIAT! The fans rally up again and Oiwa nods. Oiwa rises, he brings ELP back up, and he gut wrenches! But ELP RANAS to a cover, TWO!!

Oiwa stands, sunset flips, then stacks! TWO, into a deadlift POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and the fans fire up! Oiwa rises again, and he powers up the arm. The fans duel again as Oiwa spins, but ELP ducks The Grip! ENZIGIRI! ELP goes to run, but Oiwa reels him in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! ELP is right up, and he reels Oiwa in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! But then Oiwa is up to O’Conner and CHAOS THEORY! The fans fire up as ELP rises again, he runs up on Oiwa, they collide, but Oiwa hurries to whip! And THE GRIP!! Cover, Oiwa wins!!

Winner: Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall (advances to G1 Climax 36)

ELP tried, but once again fell short of the goal! How much harder must he fight to finally reach the top? As for Oiwa, he hurries to get the mic to say, “The G1 Climax is now complete with Ryohei Oiwa! I won the play-in to the tournament, I will go to the finals and be the big name of the summer! The G1 Climax is now within my grip!” The Mullet moves on, but will he have a mighty run at the trophy?

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Shota Umino VS Gabe Kidd!

Just as the Roughneck finally had his moment, the Mad Man came outta nowhere to ruin it! Gabe has betrayed NJPW all to be All Elite, but will he also take this title? Or will Shota’s Second Chapter stay golden?

OH NO, Gabe SHOTGUNS the ref, Marty Asami! Then he gets up in President Tanahashi’s face! The fans boo but here comes Shota! They brawl and Shota KNEES low! Shota TOSSES Gabe out, throws his jacket off, then hurries to put his title belt and other entrance gear aside. Shota then storms after Gabe, eggs him on, and they start throwing hands! The fans rally for Shota as the shots go fast ‘n’ furious, but then Gabe sends Shota into the metal barriers! Gabe drags Shota up, they go into the orange seats, and through a row! The fans move aside as best they can as Shota hits back! Shota ROCKS Gabe, ROCKS him again, and again!

Shota and Gabe go up the narrow middle aisle, go to the iconic gap, and the fans rally up as the shots keep going! Shota gets the edge, but Gabe ROCKS him! Gabe gets in Shota’s face, eggs him on, then ROCKS him again! Shota DECKS Gabe in return! The fans cheer while Gabe sputters. Shota snarls, then stands Gabe up, but Gabe SMACKS Shota in return! Gabe then SMACKS Shota off the stairwell wall! The fans boo but Gabe soaks up the heat. Gabe finally takes off his sweatpants, but the ankle cuffs aren’t agreeing with his boots. Gabe finally gets free, then storms back over to Shota. Shota is busted open from hitting the edge of the solid wall!

Gabe says zoom in, and then he HAMMERS away on the bloody forehead! The fans boo but Gabe BITES Shota’s forehead! Gabe shoves Shota down, talks trash, then soaks up the heat. Gabe mocks the fans cheering Shota on, then he drags Shota up, just to CHOP him back down! Gabe sees Shota’s blood on his chest and just shrugs. Gabe CHOPS Shota, stalks him along the way, then ROCKS him! Shota staggers around, but he comes back to ROCK Gabe! Gabe eggs Shota on so Shota ROCKS him! Gabe eggs Shota on, telling him to protect NJPW from Gabe, the AEW wrestler! Shota ROCKS Gabe again, but Gabe ROCKS him right back!

Gabe shoves Shota along, then storms down the stands to intimidate fans. The fans boo but Gabe goes back to Shota. Finally, a new ref arrives so there can be order, and Gabe CHOPS Shota! Shota staggers along, but now Gabe goes up a few rows to snatch a fan’s towel! The fans boo but Gabe uses that Shota Umino merch to CHOKE Shota! Gabe mocks the fans, then soaks up the heat. Gabe goes back to Shota, drags him up and brings him along with a headlock. Gabe CHOPS Shota, and Shota tumbles down the steps! The fans rally for Shota, even as he tumbles all the way to ground level. Gabe drags Shota up again, just to DECK him!

Gabe snarls, then he drags Shota up. Gabe whips Shota into a POST! Shota tumbles, Gabe flexes, and the fans boo. Gabe taunts Tanahashi before he brings Shota into the ring. Gabe says just give him the belt already, but then he snatches it off the table! Gabe THROWS the belt away, then he SPITS on Tanahashi! The fans boo but Gabe says The Ace is gutless! Gabe goes to the ring, but Shota LARIATS! The fans fire up, and we finally get the bell to ring! The fans fire up as Shota runs, and he LARIATS Gabe again! Shota hauls Gabe up, SECOND- NO, Gabe fights free and bails out of the ring! Shota pursues, catches Gabe’s lariat, to then suplex and BRAINBUSTER on the floor!

The fans rally as Shota smiles through the crimson mask. Shota flops over but the fans still cheer him on. Shota and Gabe stir, and Shota sits back up. The ring count starts, Shota stands at 4 of 20, and he takes a moment to fire up! The fans are with him as he drags Gabe up and puts him in the ring. Gabe flounders but Shota stalks him to a corner. Shota ROCKS and CHOPS Gabe on repeat! But Gabe turns things around to fire SLAP after SLAP! Shota turns it around again to CHOP and ROCK! Gabe shouts, “C’MON, P*SSY!” so Shota DECKS him! The fans cheer, and Shota runs corner to corner, SHINING WIZARD!

Shota lets Gabe fall, then watches him crawl. Gabe sits up, into the STRIKE KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives but Shota just brings him up and around. The fans rally as Shota reels Gabe in, scoops, and SECOND- NO, Gabe slips free to GERMASN SUPLEX! Then LARIAT! Gabe doesn’t stop, he hauls Shota up for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up! Gabe seethes as he sits back up while the fans continue to cheer Shota on. Gabe drags Shota up, puts him in the corner, and then SLAPS, SLAPS, SLAPS! Gabe HAMMERS and stomps Shota down, the ref counts, and the fans boo. Gabe tells them all off!

Gabe CHOPS Shota on the back, so Shota UPPERCUTS Gabe down! The fans rally again, and Shota roars as he rises up! Shota storms over to Gabe, drags him up, but Gabe fires more palm strikes! So Shota fires them back! They go SLAP for SLAP, again and again, fast ‘n’ furious! Shota ROCKS Gabe with one, but Gabe just fires a flurry! Then he bobs ‘n’ weaves, SMACKS Shota, and again! And again! STRAIGHT RIGHT! The ref reprimands but Gabe stumbles away to the ropes. Gabe flips everyone off, but the fans boo and cheer Shota on again. Gabe stomps Shota, taunts him, then sits him up. “Is this your hero? This your boy? This your boy, Tanahashi? F YOU!”

Gabe stands Shota up, SPITS in his face, but Shota ROCKS Gabe! And ROCKS him again! Then SWATS the lariat! Gabe staggers, falls, and Shota goes to run, but the ref checks on Gabe. Gabe clutches his arm, the same arm that’s given him problems before, but Shota wants Gabe to bring the fight! Gabe is pissed, but then wait! IT’S A LIE! He LARIATS Shota down!! The fans boo, but then Gabe lifts Shota for a PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again! Gabe kicks Shota out of the ring, reels him in, and he stares Tanahashi right in the eye as he hits a PILEDRIVER on the floor! Then Gabe SPITS on Tanahashi!

Gabe puts Shota in the ring, drags him back up, and hooks a leg, LEG TRAP PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!? Shota survives and the fans are thunderous again! Gabe is frustrated but the fans are still cheering Shota on. Gabe drags Shota up, brings him around, and underhooks the arms. DEATH RIDER DRIVER!! Cover, GABE WINS!!!

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

Shota tried, but he could not stop this Mad Man, this man full of hate and violence, from taking away the title! Tanahashi must reluctantly hand the belt over to Gabe, and Gabe just THROWS it down anyway! Gabe then tells Tanahashi to put the belt on him. Tanahashi reluctantly does as told, putting the belt around Gabe’s waist. Gabe then SLAPS Tanahashi down! And he throws the belt on the floor! The fans boo but Gabe just soaks up the heat. For the first time in wrestling history, a man owns a championship in a company he hates. Will nothing stop this Dog from doing whatever he wants?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: YOH VS Francesco Akira w/ The United Empire!

Yoh finally proved he was the Best of the Super Juniors, and he finally took this title off the false god that was Douki, only to have challengers come out the woodwork. A Fatal 4 Way was held, and when the smoke cleared, it was the Nova Fireball standing tall. Will Akira conquer the Junior Heavyweights for the United Empire? Or will Direct Drive still be in the driver’s seat?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the Best of the Super Juniors!

The bell rings and the fans rally up for Yoh. Akira is annoyed already, but he does have his fans cheering him on out there. The two circle, Akira says that title will be his, and the two tie up. Akira goes for an arm, wrenches and wristlocks, but Yoh rolls, kips up, wrenches back and hammerlocks. Akira drops down, rolls, wrenches and hammerlocks in return. Akira then shifts to a headlock, hits the takeover, but Yoh headscissors. Akira kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. They circle again, tie up again, but Akira pulls hair! Red Shoes reprimands as Akira puts Yoh on the ropes. Yoh turns things around, but lets off slowly.

Yoh then winds up, fakes the chop, and then fakes it again! Akira says c’mon, stop it! Yoh CHOPS Akira for real! Akira storms up to headlock, but Yoh powers up and out. Akira RUNS Yoh over, SPITS on him, then runs. Yoh stays low, then sidesteps, drop toeholds, and runs to basement DROPKICK! Akira bails out, Yoh copies the “A! KI-RA!” rhythm, maybe for “Y! O H!” Yoh then aims and PLAN- NO, Akira trips Yoh up, drags him out, and SMACKS him off the apron! Akira slides in, aims, and PLANCHAS but onto a Young Lion! Akira is upset but Yoh kicks him low. Yoh checks on Tatsuya Matsumoto, then SMACKS Akira off the apron.

Yoh gets the clapping going again, then takes aim. PLANCHA but back onto Tatsuya! Akira uses the same trick, and he RAMS Yoh down! Akira says, “Baka ne!” The fans cheer that, and Akira brings Yoh around to CHOP! Akira then brings Yoh around with a headlock, and SMACKS him off the timekeeper’s table! Akira smiles at the title, picks it up, and takes aim at Yoh! Red Shoes reprimands, then he and Akira fight over the belt. Akira SHOVES Red Shoes down, but Yoh kicks Akira! Yoh POSTS Akira, then helps Tatsuya to his feet. But then he brings Tatsuya over to whip him into Akira! The fans applaud as Yoh raises Tatsuya’s hand in victory!

Yoh then stalks Akira, but the Empire is there. They stay back, and Akira SMACKS Yoh with a serving tray! It literally has Yoh’s name on it! Then Akira SMACKS Tatsuya with it! Akira mocks Yoh with the tray, then drums his head with it. The fans are torn but Akira brings Yoh up and reels him in. Snap suplex to the floor! Akira then goes looking under the ring, and he brings out a TABLE! The fans are again torn, but Akira sets that table up nearby. Red Shoes reprimands but Akira brings Yoh over. Akira drags Yoh up, reels him in, and lifts, but Yoh fights with fists! Yoh slips down, Akira CLUBS him, and then Akira RAMS Yoh into the apron!

Akira puts Yoh in the ring, kneels for the cover, but Red Shoes says no! Akira argues with Red Shoes, but Red Shoes says there were too many shenanigans on the outside. Akira storms over to Yoh for a CHOP! Akira whips Yoh corner to corner, but Yoh reverses. Yoh runs up, but Akira goes up and catches him into the TARANTULA! The fans cheer the Tajiri special, and Akira lets go of Yoh. Akira struts around like Tajiri, then he taunts Yoh. Yoh rises up to BODY SHOT! Yoh fires forearms, Akira fires back, and Akira DECKS Yoh! Akira then snapmares Yoh, steps over, and traps one arm in a hammerlock while he clamps on with a chinlock!

The fans rally for Yoh as he endures, and Yoh kicks his way around. Yoh almost gets his arms free, but then Akira has a dragon sleeper! Yoh still kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! Akira lets go and looms over Yoh as he talks some trash. Akira stands Yoh up, CHOPS him, but Yoh eggs Akira on. Akira CHOPS again, but Yoh wants more. Akira CHOPS again and Yoh falls to his knees! Akira soaks up the cheers and jeers, then he talks more trash on Yoh. Yoh stands to ROCK Akira! Akira and Yoh go forearm for forearm, but then Akira throat chops! Akira whips but Yoh FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up while both men are down!

The fans rally as Yoh sits up, and he runs up to CLOBBER Akira! And CLOBBER him again! And turn for the NECKBREAKER! Akira flounders away but Yoh runs up. Yoh blocks a boot, then trips Akira! Yoh ties Akira up in Paradise! The fans cheer as Yoh then sits on Akira to mock Great-O-Khan’s throne! Khan gets on the apron but Red Shoes has him stay back. Yoh mocks Khan again, “HMPH!” Khan has no choice but to stand down as Yoh goes for a third, with a smug smile. Then Yoh runs to DROPKICK Akira out of Paradise! Cover, TWO! The fans rally but Khan tells Akira to kill Yoh for making fun of him!

Yoh looks to the table Akira set up, and he gets an idea. Yoh brings Akira up, reels him in, and calls his shot! Yoh suplexes, but Akira fights free! Akira runs up, but Yoh dumps him out! Akira tumbles to the apron, Yoh fires forearms, and Akira holds onto the ropes! Yoh runs, but Akira slingshots for the CUTTER! Akira then dragon sleepers for the FINAL CUT! Cover, TWO! Akira clamps right on for the roll and GROUND TARANTULA! Yoh scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Akira lets go. Akira brings Yoh up, reels him in for a facelock, but Yoh fights the lift. Yoh fires a body shot, then another.

Akira pie faces Yoh and eggs him on. Yoh fires a forearm, but Akira fires back! Yoh fires another, so Akira fires back! The fans rally as the forearms keep going, faster ‘n’ faster, then Akira fires a flurry! Akira runs, but Yoh UPPERCUTS! Yoh runs but Akira LARIATS at the ropes! Akira then feints the run to tabletop and DROPKICK! Akira runs, but into a scoop! FALCON GOROSHI! And then the ANACONDA VICE! Akira endures, fights around, but Yoh swings him through to suplex and FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Akira survives and the fans applaud. Yoh shakes out his arms while we pass 15 minutes on this one hour time limit.

Yoh goes to ropes, drags himself up, and he tunes up! The fans rally behind him, but Akira drops back down! Yoh is annoyed, but he brings Akira up. Akira rolls Yoh up, with tights! TWO, but Akira victory rolls to STOMP 182! Yoh writhes while Akira goes to ropes. Akira drags himself to a corner, he takes aim, but Yoh ducks the Fireball! Yoh waistlocks, Akira elbows free, but Yoh ROCKS Akira! Akira BOOTS Yoh! Yoh ROLLING ELBOWS! Akira ENZIGIRIS! Yoh rewinds, I’LL BE BACK SUPERKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. The fans rally as Yoh pushes Akira to the apron, near the table…

The Empire protests but Akira is the one who brought the table out. Yoh drags Akira up, reels him in, and the Empire tries to warn Akira. Akira fights the suplex, then fireman’s carries! Yoh fights free with elbows, but Akira fires a forearm! Yoh fires back! They brawl on the edge while the fans rally up again. Akira ROCKS Yoh, POSTS him, then gets under him! Akira brings Yoh over, POWERBOMB onto the table! It mostly breaks, but it doesn’t fall! Red Shoes hurries to check Yoh while The Empire checks on Akira. Yoh has a bloody cut on his back now, but he seems otherwise able to continue. Akira rolls into the ring and a ring count starts.

The fans rally for Yoh while he’s still down. The count is 10 of 20, then 12! Yoh stirs at 13, crawls around at 14, but is still down at 15! Yoh reaches up at 17, rises at 18, and LUNGES in at 19! But Akira LIONSAULTS onto Yoh! Then he reels Yoh in for a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! But Akira reels Yoh back in, SPEEDFIRE! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives and the fans are thunderous! Akira is stunned, but he refocuses and drags Yoh back up. Akira reels Yoh in, hooks a leg, and- NO, Yoh fights the lift! The fans rally as the two fight for control, and Akira lets go to KNEE down low! Akira grins while Yoh sputters on the mat.

Akira tells Yoh he’s gonna finish this! But Yoh anchors a foot to keep Akira from running ropes. Akira ROCKS Yoh, goes to run again, but Yoh again anchors a leg! Akira is annoyed, and he sits Yoh up to ROCK him again! But again, Yoh anchors a foot! Yoh eggs Akira on, again saying he’s not even using full power! Akira DRIBBLES Yoh off the mat! Akira taunts the fans even, then he runs the ropes, but Yoh springs up and waistlocks! O’Conner Roll, FIVE STAR- NO, Akira slips free! But runs into a SNAP DRAGON! Akira is up, but Yoh LARIATS!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Akira stirs but Yoh roars as he rises up.

Yoh brings Akira up and suplexes, FALCON GOROSHI again! Cover, TWO! Akira is tougher than that, but Yoh just fires up again. The fans rally as Yoh stands back up. Yoh slashes his throat, vowing to end this. Yoh underhooks, but Akira fights the lift! Akira wrenches but Yoh full nelsons! Akira reaches out for ropes, but Yoh spins him around! DIRECT- NO, Akira fights the lift, fireman’s carry takeover, GROUND TARANTULA!! Yoh kicks and flails while the fans rally as hard as they can! But Yoh is still so far away! Akira bends the arms, but Yoh refuses to let this stop him! Yoh kicks, and kicks, and kicks, but Akira puts on more pressure!

Red Shoes checks with Yoh, but he still has fight in him! Yoh shifts around, slips his arm free, and he has a ghost pin! TWO!! Akira gets free, goes to a corner, and Yoh runs up! Akira dodges, backslides, but roll through! FIREBALL!! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives, but Akira reloads! NOVA FIREBALL!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yoh survives and Akira is shocked! The fans are electric as we pass 25 minutes, and Akira roars! Akira brings Yoh up, vows to end it now, and he hooks a leg! CROWN- NO, Yoh tries to cradle counter, but Akira stops the counter! Akira suplexes through, but Yoh slips free! Ripcord and- NO, Akira blocks the knee!

Akira swings, but into a clinch! Akira throws Yoh away, but Yoh ducks the Buzzsaw! Ripcord and JUMP KNEE! Then STANDING ANACONDA VICE!! Akira endures, reaches out, but Yoh keeps him from the ropes! Yoh hits the ANACONDA STO! Then ANACONDA VICE!! But Akira makes it a cradle! TWO, and they roll through! DIRECT DRIVE!!! Cover, YOH WINS!!

Winner: Yoh, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Akira burned bright tonight, but he could not take the crown! How much harder must he fight to become the best?

As for Yoh, he grabs the mic, and he rests on the mat as he says, “Oi, Akira. It feels like you were only at 99% today. You need to be 100% if you wanna beat me.” Yoh then holds up the title as he says, “Me and this belt, how far are we gonna go together? I’ve already decided. And you (belt) know it, as well. We’re gonna light it up together!” The fans cheer that. The 100th IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion continues to roll on, what more history will he make from here on out?

My Thoughts:

A great finale to the Road to G1 Climax, and we even got some good build going into Tiger Mask’s final event. A little surprised he lost his last tag match, and that it was a Triple Threat in the first place, but in a roundabout way, that is also part of tradition. With that, I’m not sure if Tiger Mask is losing both of his final matches, or if he’s going 1-1 where he can get one last win before his true, final match. Great G1 qualifiers tonight, and I figured Oskar would find a way. Naturally, Yuto had Oskar’s back, and needing only Yuto shows the power level of the Knock Out Brothers. I was a little surprised it was Oiwa over ELP, but I wonder if ELP’s time in NJPW is coming to an end, with him going to AEW as literally just “ELP.”

Another surprise would have to be Gabe Kidd winning the Global title off Shota. Great showing for Shota, including getting busted open, but I wonder where we go from here with Gabe as Global Heavyweight Champion again. Will he come up with his own design for the belt since he literally left the current one behind? It’s a white strap right now, does he make it a black strap with a grittier looking face plate? And then great main event from Yoh VS Akira, including getting Tatsuya Matsumoto in on it as a human weapon. But I had a feeling that the 100th champion of this belt’s history would not lose it so soon. Yoh probably goes all the way to WrestleKingdom 21, and even then he might make it through that.

My Score: 8.8/10