NJPW G1 CLIMAX 27, 8/12/17 (Day 18)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
It comes down to Okada/Omega III to see who advances to the finals from Block B to face Tetsuya Naito.
G1 Climax – Block B: Michael Elgin [8] vs. Juice Robinson [6]
This was a really freaking fun match which I think was hurt by it happening so late in the tournament because these guys went all out here and the crowd just wasn’t feeling it as much as they should have. Juice built on his victory over Kenny and his overall performance in the G1, showing that he can hang in the ring with anyone. He and Elgin went toe to toe and it was really good stuff. They did quite a few finisher teases throughout the final 5 minutes and an awesome spot where Elgin was down in the corner, Juice runs and rolls into him but Elgin catches him in powerbomb position, stands up, and slams him down to the mat before picking him up again and hitting a turnbuckle powerbomb. Just as he goes for the Elgin Bomb, Juice rolls through for a cradle pin like how he beat Omega but Elgin kicks out and the commentary goes nuts. Juice’s straight punches reign supreme here in the final stretch and he ends up hitting the Pulp Friction to get the victory over Elgin. ***1/2
G1 Climax – Block B: SANADA [8] vs. Tama Tonga [6]
These guys showed shades of something really good towards the end of the match but it took a while to get there. They busted out the comedy for the first half and it wasn’t bad but I want serious wrestling from these guys and they really have yet to impress me at all in the tournament. Tonga especially. I expect it from Yano, and I’ll say it again, after the press conference promo that Tama gave, I really expected a lot from him in the G1 and I feel like he severely underwhelmed. I really WANT to like watching him work but I can’t quite get there. When he’s on his game, he can be really good but he needs to ditch the comedy and the over-the-top stuff with his mouth for me personally to get into his matches the way I want to. They had some really great chemistry and fluid work in the ring towards the end of the match and it was really pretty good but that was the highlight. ***
G1 Climax – Block B: Minoru Suzuki [9] vs. Toru Yano [4]
Minoru comes into this match having lost to Yano on three previous occasions so he is ready to go. This was probably the best Yano match of the tournament mainly because of Minoru not letting Yano pull as much crap on him, and trying desperately to get a pin. It was pretty good. Not Kenny/Yano comedy gold good but it had a great mix of wrestling, comedy, and suspense and it’s worth checking out. Towards the end got to be a little much in the shenanigans department which is why I won’t really give this match a rating but check it out.
G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima [2] vs. EVIL [10]
To me this was a blowoff for the performances that both these guys had all tournament long. Kojima really wrestled his heart out and while he only won one match he put on performance after performance and this match is no different. You can tell by the atmosphere that EVIL has been elevated since his victory over Okada and Kojima was indeed the underdog here but it was a pretty evenly matched fight with a great finish. ***1/2
G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada [13] vs. Kenny Omega [12]
Okada can advance with a victory or a tie, but Kenny needs do something he has never done in order to advance to the finals and that is beat Okada. Not only does he have to just beat Okada, he has to do it in under 30 minutes which just seems like a surreal task considering their last two matches went 46 and 60 and Okada couldn’t pull it off in either of those. This story drove the pacing of the match from the beginning as Kenny knew he had to give it everything he has right from the start. Okada would attempt to slow the pace by dropkicking Kenny to the outside but it would end up being his downfall when Kenny hit a reverse frankensteiner on the floor and put Okada down until the trainer had to come out and they teased having to stop the match. Kenny then just obliterates Okada’s neck, hitting a snap Dragon suplex on the ring apron, and the Aoi Shoudou neckbreaker to a HUGE near fall. Kenny’s offense is 100% calculated in this match. Every single thing he does focuses on Okada’s injured neck and he damn near cripples him several times. These guys are absolutely the best in the business right now and this match continues to prove that. Okada’s form, timing, and selling is just incredible. He takes some MAJOR bumps here to sell Kenny just doing whatever possible to try to get the victory, but he has still yet to be hit with a clean Katayoku No Tenshi. They teased the move a few times with Okada quickly reversing or countering and Kenny even turning an attempt into the not so often used Croyt’s Wrath which was definitely something to mark out over. The last few minutes of this was an incredible back and forth exchange, dramatic near falls, and just pure awesomeness. This is pro wrestling. And this was exactly the match that everyone was looking forward to. ****3/4
Final Block B Standings
Kenny Omega [14]
Kazuchika Okada [13] x
EVIL [12] x
Minoru Suzuki [9] x
Tama Tonga [8] x
SANADA [8] x
Juice Robinson [8] x
Michael Elgin [8] x
Toru Yano [6] x
Satoshi Kojima [2] x
Final Thoughts: Okada/Kenny III. Need I say more?
