KENTA (8) vs. SANADA (2)
KENTA and SANADA decided to play to the audience, and both men were cheered on by them. Red Shoes Unno refereed.
The fight went outside of the ring straight away, and SANADA's momentum was slowed significantly as KENTA threw him into ring posts, barricade, and the floor of the arena itself. A beautiful DDT had SANADA holding his neck, and when they were in the ring, KENTA attempted a pinfall and put SANADA in a rest hold around that tender neck.
A hard kick to SANADA's back left KENTA in the perfect position to crowd him into the corner for more kicks. SANADA's rallying was short-lived as he received KENTA's neckbreaker. A pair of kicks revived SANADA, who traded elbow shots with KENTA.
Once SANADA began going high, he began to dominate the match. KENTA's ability to absorb damage helped him stay strong, reversing SANADA's Skull End finisher into a rest hold before a flurry of arm strikes from KENTA gave him the upper hand.
KENTA attempted to throw SANADA, but that opened him to SANADA's Skull End. KENTA ate the pin, giving SANADA a better chance of staying a contender in the G1.
Results: SANADA (4) def KENTA (8) via pinfall