Dammit, you again? That’s probably what the defending G1 Climax winner Hiroshi Tanahashi and current Heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada were both thinking when they learned they were scheduled against each other in the first night of block wrestling in the 29th edition of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s annual summer tournament.
The booking format has had many changes throughout the years, with some events occurring in one to three nights of competition. It’s been presented as a round robin tourney of 20 fighters, halves into two blocks. The winners of each block will face off in Japan’s Budokan Hall on the final night to determine who will face the reigning Heavyweight Champion in Wrestle Kingdom 14’s main event. This is the first time that official tournament matches have been held in the United States, so there’s a lot for the wrestlers in it to prove during this show.
The Guerillas of Destiny vs. Roppongi 3K
Both teams get off to a hot start, including a stereo dive from SHO and YOH onto the Guerillas outside. But unfortunately I’m noticing the size of the crowd still filing in, and there’s about 5,000 in attendance for a 20000+ seat building, clearly not a sellout. That wasn’t going to happen at the first Texas show inside an NBA arena. But there are some things to consider- NJPW is still something of a niche, brand-new product to America, and this is their first attempt at a southern market. Mark Cuban, owner of AXS TV and the Dallas Mavericks, arranged for New Japan to use the American Airlines Center, a fairly large arena, without a massive financial burden.
And due to a number of circumstances (not all, but many involving the Von Erich family and their often tragic history), the city just hasn’t been as receptive to pro wrestling in recent years. But for their first ever show in this city, the number of people they have gotten in the building is still a promising sign. Perhaps it might have been larger with the Elite or Moxley on the card, but the people here tonight are extremely enthusiastic. It’s certainly a hardcore wrestling crowd.
Anyway, SHO gets a spear and a hot tag to YOH, who nails Tama with a brutal forearm and a head/arm suplex for two. Tama gets a back suplex, but the Gun Stun is blocked with a superkick and a stereo knee strike for both GOD members. SHO takes too long taunting and gets gun stunned, then GOD super-powerbomb YOH for the three-count. A quick, but decent opening tag team affair where both teams were allowed to look strong, as the company remains behind G.O.D as he faces of the heavyweight tag scene- especially since Tama Tonga personally requested the not be added to the G1, as he wanted to focus on tag competition instead.
Tomohiro Ishii and Shota Umino vs. Jeff Cobb and Ren Narita
The crowd is really into Umino through this battle. Cobb’s picture perfect dropkick on Ishii is countered by an Ishii clothesline, and the two are eager to go at each other, but they’re still willing to step aside and let both young lions clash for a bit. Narita gets lit up with some sickening Ishii chops, but he fires back with elbows before getting tackled down. Ren suplexes Ishii and gets a hot tag to Cobb, who delivers a bunch of suplexes and a stalling vertical on Ishii. They get into a forearm war before Ishii gets a release german.
Hot tag to Umino, who gets a missile dropkick on Cobb and forearms, then a suplex after multiple attempts which earn loud “Shota” chants from Dallas. Ishii kills Cobb with a forearkm and Narita gets a belly to belly on Umoni, then Cobb hits a moonsault and Tour Of The Islands on Umino to pick up the victory.
Jay White and Chase Owens vs. YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto
The crowd utterly despises Jay White, who gets cracked by some brutal forearms by Goto. But Gedo’s able to distract Got enough for Chase Ownes to blindside him, but Goto clotheslines him and tags to YYOSHI, who dropkicks him off the ropes for one. More Gedo antics allow the heels to take advantage as White rams HASHI’s back into the apron with sickening impact.
YOSHI gets a flipping Headhunter neckbreaker for a Goto hot tag, who hits a massive hip toss for a huge reaction (this crowd is old-school) before a saito suplex. But Goto misses a charge and White gives him his own saito. Owens gets an enzuigiri, backslide and knee on Goto, followed by a Jewel Heist for two. He eats a twisting brainbuster from Jay and another Chase knee for two. The faces clothesline White out and Goto nails the ushigoroshi on Chase. A kick, and then a GTR gives CHAOS a huge victory, and some good momentum into G1.
Jushin Thunder Liger, Juice Robinson and Toru Yano vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI
Texas is hugely into Liger and Naito this evening. The Beast God and BUSHI start off, and BUSHI draws some big boos with some early cheating before getting caught in the Romero Special. Shingo helps LIJ gain advantage as they go for Liger’s mask, and Naito locks in a sleeper into a headscissors as he pulls at Liger’s hair. Liger gets a palm strike and tags to Juice, who exchanges clotheslines with Shingo before taking him down with a side kick.
Takagi misses the sliding lariat and gets full nelson slammed for two. Juice gets the Left Hand of God, but misses Pulp Friction. Yano tries to reach the turnbuckle, which he’s apparently named Larry, but Naito still hits him with a corner dropkick and some brutal stomps. A rollup attempt gets two, but Naito gets a neckbreaker before tagging BUSHI. They double dropkick Yano for two befor Liger breaks up the pin,but Yano’s able to sneak in a rollup on BUSHI for his team’s victory. It’s mainly another stop on Liger’s farewell tour with everyone allowed to work in their signature spots, as Jushin has his music played for an ovation afterwards.
A Block Match: Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer
Ospreay’s ready immediately and hits a charging Lance with a Spanish Fly before he even takes his ring jacket off, followed by a corkscrew senton to the outside. But Archer catches his space flying tiger drop and chokeslams him through a nearby table, revealing who he meant by his numerous “everybody dies” promises leading up to the event. He levels Will with a clothesline back in to huge boos and gives him a huge breath-stealing chop to the chest, followed by another clothesline for two.
Lance hits a ropewalk for two followed by an iron claw, and gets the better of a forearm exchange. Ospreay gets a flipping enzuigiri and high kick, but Archer launches him like a pinball with a huge shoulder tackle. He gives Will a buckle bomb and a Last Ride, before powerbombing him ono the apron. Ospreay gets a Code Red to break the momentum, then a shooting star for two back inside. Will nails the Robinson Special, then an Oscutter, but Lance kicks out at 2.9.
He tries to put a Stormbreaker on the massive Archer, then gives him multiple kicks to the face. Lance cracks Will with a right hand and gives him a muscle buster for two. Archer hits the Blackout, but Will once again kicks out of it. Lance locks in the claw, but Will gets a rope break. Ospreay gets an extremely impressive super Spanish fly for two, then a bunch of head kicks, but Lance bocks and Oscutter. He tries for a top rope suplex and cackles evilly, then hits a running knee strike, followed by a super top rope Blackout followed by another Iron Claw, then pins him down with it for a three count. This was an awesome match with a downbeat ending, but it did a lot to put both guys over.
A Block Match: EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale
This match is exactly what you’d expect it to be: two big bruisers barreling into each other. EVIL and Fale brawl in the aisle to start, and the Rouge General slams the King of Darkness on the ramp. He levels EVIL with forearms in the corner and arrogantly salutes while he pins him for two. EVIL’s finally able to slam him, but it takes a toll on his lower back. He clotheslines Fale outside and rams him into the ringpost with a steel chair, drawing huge EVIL” chants from the Texas fans. It’s as surreal as it sounds. You can hear kids in the crowd yelling “C’mon EVIL!” It’s so cute.
EVIL gets a running corner senton for two, then another series of lariats before Fale tackles him down. He splashes EVIL for two, then grabs a chair but the ref won’t let him bring it in. EVIL takes advantage and lariats Fale down for two, but Everything Is EVIL is blocked and Fale hits a Grenade for two. EVIL fights out of a Bad Luck Fall and uses the ref for leverage to hit another lariat. Fale gets a low blow, which the crowd utterly hates, and hits his own EVIL Home Run on EVIL himself, then a Bad Luck Fall for the three count. Fun match, but we’ve opened the block matches with two heel wins over crowd favorites and I’m wondering if that was wise.
A Block Match: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. SANADA
I’m starting to notice a more…I don’t know quite how to describe it, a more…regal?…tone to SANADA’s ring gear over time. It feels like the company is getting him ready to start looking more like a main eventer from a visual standpoint, IMO. ZSJ apparently doesn’t see it as he relentlessly counters and stretches the Los Ingerbonables member, but SANADA’s able to make an impressive escape. He can’t get the Paradise lock and wins up in another pin exchange. He looks strong is a wristlock fight, but ZSJ breaks and uppercuts him.
SANADA dropkicks him outside, earning him some crowd chants while ZSJ acts like a massive dick outside, milking the count to 19 before flipping off the fans. He counters a Paradise Lock into an armbar, before SANADA gets the ropes. Sabre locks in a cobra twist, but SANADA does his multiple leapfrogs into a dropkick, then Paradise Locks Zack in the ropes. ZSJ’s screaming at the ref to cut him loose before getting dropkicked again slays me. He’s nevertheless able to hook in an Octopus Hold, then transitions it into an arm bar. It takes a while for SANADA to get his foot on the ropes, so the damage is dealt.
The two exchange forearms, then ZSJ transitions a DDT into his version of the Skull End, hooking the arms. He switches to a guillotine choke, but SANADA finally powers out and gets a TKO for two. ZSJ dodges a moonsault and gets caught with a backslide for two, but Zack hits a Penalty Kick. SANADA blocks the Zack Driver, gives him a giant swing and tries another moonsault, but Zack catches him in a triangle hold. SANADA moonsaults into another Skull End, but ZSJ gets a European Clutch before SANADA gets his own pin combo for the victory.
If you’re a fan of great technical wrestling, this match will certainly be up your alley. Sabre snaps afterwards and kicks the crap out of a bunch of young boys, proving that even if Minoru Suzuki isn’t booked for this G1, he’s definitely here in spirit.
A Block Match: KENTA vs. Kota Ibushi
Both wrestlers start with tentative strike attempts before going into mat work and trading nasty face slaps. Ibushi gives KENTA some sick corner kicks, but KENTA hits a diving knee drop on Ibushi across the ropes. He works over Kota with some ugly knees to the back of his head, forearms and . a kick to the back for two. Kota gets a dropkick, a scoop powerslam and a springboard moonsault for two.
KENTA responds with a leg lariat as Ibushi comes off the ropes, then a series of clotheslines and a suplex. He flies at Ibushi with a clotheslines for two. They battle on the top turnbuckle before KENTA gets knocked off, and Ibushi tries that damned second rope german again but it’s thankfully blocked. His pescado attempt only earns him a KENTA knee to his face, then hits a double stomp on Ibushi over the barricade. A springboard and corner dropkick rattles Kota, then KENTA hits a Coup De Gras for two.
Ibushi slams KENTA hard in the chest with a lariat, then delivers the Gold Star Bomb for two. The Kamigoye is turned int a crucifix attempt for two, and KENTA is able to connect with a jumping double knee for a “This Is Awesome” chant. A forearm war for fighting spirit ensues, then KENTA gains the advantage with some roundhouse kicks to the side of Ibushi’s head for a two count, then he gives him the Go To Sleep for the three count. This was a huge win and a great comeback for KENTA in his debut NJPW performance, ensuring him as a huge threat in this A Block going forward.
A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
You can’t say this wasn’t an anticipated main event. Even with the relatively late announcement by western standards, there’s a massive “New Japan” chant once the bell rings, as this crowd knows how historic this rivalry is. They trade forearms and Okada gets an early big boot, followed by a wicked exhcnage of a wide variety of moves. Tana responds with a slam and jumping senton, garnering “Go Ace” reactions.
Okada dropkicks Tana off the turnbuckle to the outside and spikes him with a DDT on the floor. He nails Hiroshi with a running low dropkick, then elbows him in the corner before giving him a dragon screw leg whip and a neckbreaker for two. Tanahashi strikes with his patented dragon screw, then a diving forearm and running corner dropkick.
He slams Okada and flip sentons him for a two count, but the IWGP Heavyweight Champion hits a running back elbow, corner elbow and a DDt inside the ring for two- continuing to work over Tana’s neck for the Rainmaker. Tana dragon screws Okada over the ropes before eating an Okada flapjack. Tana dropkicks the knee, but eats a forearm and a reverse neckbreaker over the knee for two.
The champion slams the reigning G1 winner and hits a flying elbow, but Tana gets a surprise rollup attempt for a near fall. He locks in the Texas Cloverleaf, then gives him another dragon screw, then an outside High Fly Flow. Okada gets a shotgun dropkick back inside, then Tana gets a sling blade before Okada immediately gets a dropkick and a tombstone. Tana responds with another quick sling blade, then a standing High Fly Flow. He goes up again, but Okada gets up his knees. A tombstone battle breaks out, then Okada backslides into a Rainmaker. He maintains control of the wrist, then hits a second.
One more Rainmaker attempt is reversed into a small package and a dragon suplex for two sudden near falls. Okada holds onto Tana’s wrist, and a strike war earns Okada a spinning tombstone and a final Rainmaker to pin the longtime ace in the American debut of their rivalry. What can be said? It’s Okada vs. Tanahashi, a matchup where it’s almost impossible to be bad.
Overall thoughts: Despite it not being a full house, these are still relative baby steps stateside. It’s still significant how a wrestling company previously known mostly to a Japanese audience was able to make nearly 5K fans #DestinedForDallas when the city’s been so chilly towards the sport in recent years. The people in attendance were excited for a good show, and they were gifted with a great one that just might become a seed planted for future bigger crowds in the southern market for New Japan.
However, it’s not that great a sign for ROH and their partnership with NJPW. This card was 100% the company’s identity, so if the Bushiroad-backed organization can draw decent houses across the globe without Ring Of Honor’s aid, that forebodes badly for the latter’s relevance in the American market- especially with WWE’s continued high public profile and AEW’s rapidly growing fanbase. I’m not writing ROH off entirely as they can always get hot again, but they’re falling behind in keeping the wrestling world’s attention the way they did in the 2000’s.
Either way, it’s the deep pool of talent in NJPW’s roster and their attention to detail that make this show fun, and it is a promising sign for how great this tournament could be. As much as I enjoy Tonga, he’s not here to skunk up the tourney with constant DQ finishes anymore, and both blocks are stacked with entries I think could potentially win the whole thing. Strongly recommended, and as always if you’ve watched the show or were in attendance that night, come by @Official_FAN on Twitter as always and share your thoughts!