NJPW G1 CLIMAX 27, 7/30/17 (Day 10)
Gifu Industrial Hall
G1 Climax – Block B: Toru Yano [2] vs. EVIL [6]
The shortest match of the tournament so far. Nothing to really ramble about but it was fun while it lasted. EVIL hits the STO to get the victory. NR.
G1 Climax – Block B: Minoru Suzuki [4] vs. Tama Tonga [4]
As Minoru makes his entrance, Tonga comes out behind him and takes out El Desperado, grabbing the SUZUKI-GUN flag and walking to the ring behind Suzuki. Tonga attacks Minoru from behind and now we have a brawl. They head out into the crowd and only return to the ring to break the count-out, heading back onto the outside and into the crowd after each time. Finally back in the ring we get a small amount of wrestling and Tonga would hit the Gun Stun, but the referee is down on the outside. He tosses the referee back into the ring and goes for the Gun Stun again but Minoru counters with a sleeper hold, and the Gotch piledriver to get the victory. *1/2
G1 Climax – Block B: Michael Elgin [4] vs. SANADA [4]
SANADA has gone both ways with me. He can either be really great like in his match with EVIL or pretty damn boring. The first portion of this match is pretty boring. I don’t want to say that they are mailing it in but it certainly feels that way. The crowd is DEAD too, and that doesn’t help matters much. This does start to pick up a bit but there is not a ton of working here. Elgin does display his strength, lifting SANADA from the ring apron up and over into a suplex while he stands on the middle ropes. SANADA would apply the Skull End and drop Elgin to the mat and then land the Muta tribute Moonsault to get the win over Big Mike. **1/2
G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima [0] vs. Kenny Omega [6]
Kenny comes out wearing his house show tights. They start pretty slow and basic, Kenny seemingly not taking Kojima very seriously. Omega controls most of the match as Kojima sells for him but it doesn’t really develop into anything interesting. Kojima makes a comeback and he rips Kenny’s shirt off and hits the machine gun chops. They head to the top rope and Kenny hits a suplex. Crowd starts chanting for Kojima as Kenny attempts the Katayoku no Tenshi but Kojima reverses it into a brainbuster for a near fall. Kenny blocks a lariat and goes for a Dragon suplex but Kojima lariats him in the back of the head. Kojima hits another big lariat and the CCD for a near fall. Kenny with a V-Trigger and he can’t believe Kojima kicks out. He hits the Katayoku no Tenshi to get the victory. This did get better towards the end but it took FOREVER to get there and by that time I was somewhat disinterested. Kenny was still his usual self here though, putting on a great performance and doing all the little things that he does so well. **3/4
G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada [8] vs. Juice Robinson [2]
The crowd is really into Juice as they chant for him several times in the beginning of this match. Juice is STILL selling his knee from several days ago and I love to see that kind of carry over especially in a tournament like this. Okada applies a leg hold and Juice struggles but gets to the ropes. Okada struggles to lift Juice up over the ropes from the ring apron, and the two end up on the apron, Juice teasing a powerbomb but Okada hooking the middle rope with his leg. Okada tosses Juice up over him onto the apron and bouncing to the outside. Back in the ring, Okada misses the Rainmaker and Juice slams him down to the mat. Juice gets PUMPED UP and bounces off the ropes, meeting a dropkick from Okada. He goes for the Rainmaker again but Juice ducks and hits a lariat for a cover and near fall. A belly buster gets another near fall and Juice calls for the finish. Okada avoids the Pulp Friction and hits the tombstone piledriver. Okada stares down at Juice and elbows him right across the face every time Juice tries to stand. He starts SCREAMING at him and elbowing him. Juice finally stands and Okada looks at him with a smirk on his face like what are you gonna do punk, as he kicks him back into the ropes. Juice catches a kick and takes Okada down to the mat. He hits a powerbomb and rolls over for a two count. Okada avoids the Pulp Friction again and lands the Rainmaker, clutching Juice’s wrist and lifting him up again. RAINMAKAAAAA. One more try and Juice punches him square in the face. PULP FRICTION – REVERSED. Okada with a German suplex and RAINMAKAAAAAAA for the victory. This was pretty good. Nothing spectacular and it never really reached my expectations for the match but in a tournament like this you can’t expect every single match to be amazing. I do think Juice has what it takes to have an incredible match with Okada and hopefully this one laid the groundwork for that in the future. Even in a subpar (for Okada’s standards) match, Okada was great in this. He is just masterful in the ring with everything that he does. At the end of the match Okada apologizes for being so strong and the crowd pops hard for him. If I was that good I’d say the same damn thing. ***1/4
Juice Robinson, Toru Yano, and Satoshi Kojima have officially been eliminated from winning Block B.
Block B Standings
Kazuchika Okada [10]
Kenny Omega [8]
EVIL [8]
Minoru Suzuki [6]
SANADA [6]
Tama Tonga [4]
Michael Elgin [4]
Juice Robinson [2] x
Toru Yano [2] x
Satoshi Kojima [0] x
Final Thoughts: Not the greatest show overall but in the middle of a long tournament you are going to get shows like this. These guys have to save some gas for later and they WILL deliver. It’s still Okada, Kenny, and Elgin on the card so it’s worth checking out but don’t expect to be blown away.
Twitter: @ ligersama
