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Even when Jon Moxley isn't headlining the event, he's the focus of everything surrounding tonight. Toru Yano stood poised to cheat and win, and he could strip Mox of his lock on the B-block's top spot. Taichi and Miho Abe were getting ready to meet Jay White's Bullet Club brothers and White would need a strong W to stay in the competition. The crowd was ready, I was ready, and now, you're ready. Join me today on Night 12 of the G1 Climax Tournament, and we'll take the next step on this journey together!
G1 Climax is a yearly 19-night tournament held by NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling) to determine the most tenacious member of the roster. For the first time, all of the events will be available legally outside of Japan without a time delay via the NJPWWorld streaming service and with a delay on AXS TV.
There are two blocks with 10 fighters per block. Each fighter will have a match with every other fighter in their block, and they are awarded 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and none for a loss.
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The highest scoring fighter from each block will face off at the Finale. Night 12 was a B-block night, opening as usual with 4 short feature tag matches featuring the A-Block competitors.
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KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens)
If you're having trouble telling Fredericks and Connors apart, you're not alone. Here's the hack for those of us who have trouble figuring out who is whom among the young lions: Fredericks has a tattoo sleeve on his right arm.
Connors is impressive, but Fredericks is more brutal, able to put a hold on Owens and slam Takahashi in short order. Outside the ring, Fale kept KENTA busy with a chokehold. Fredericks was in a precarious position. Owens delivered a package piledriver and pinned Fredericks clean in the middle of the ring.
Results: Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi, & Chase Owens) def. KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks via pinfall
Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki vs. Lance Archer & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Suzuki came out strong, heading right for Kanemaru as Archer and ZSJ went hard inside the ring. Archer was massive in comparison to the sly submission specialist ZSJ, and he used his superior strength to take ZSJ down.
Archer was ready to destroy everyone he wasn't happy with, and that spelled for ZSJ as they both remained the legal men for quite some time. Surprisingly, ZSJ was able to lock in a black widow hold but couldn't complete a sunset flip; Archer was just too massive.
Kanemaru tagged in, and he and ZSJ sparred for a minute until ZSJ completed a bridge hold that pushed Kanemaru's shoulders into the mat for a 3-count.
Results: Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki def. Lance Archer & Yoshinobu Kanemaru via pinfall
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs. Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare
Hey, look! It's Honma! The crowd adored the three veterans: Honma, Henare, and Ibushi. Tanahashi, an audience darling, was at a disadvantage because of that, as Narita and Umino are still young lions in the dojo.
Watching Shota take the fight to Henare was inspiring to say the least, as he took what Henare dished out until Henare could tag the Golden Star Ibushi into the match. He took on all three of his opponents in the corner with stiff elbows.
When Ibushi and Honma traded tags, Honma hit the kokeshi to take the fight out of Umino but was hit by a vertical suplex, and Umino tagged Tanahashi in.
Ibushi met Tanahashi, his G1 Climax Finale opponent, head-on, but it didn't take long for them to tag Henare and Narita in. Henare's uranage finally took down Narita. For once, Umino wasn't the direct loser.
Results: Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino & Ren Narita via pinfall
Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI)
This was as much a contest between flashy costumes as it was a test of strength. EVIL and Ospreay opened the match, and Ospreay's speed and agility ate through LIJ's initial energy. EVIL nearly took the pin from Ospreay's shooting star press, but the match wasn't done yet.
SANADA and BUSHI went after Okada and YOSHI-HASHI outside the ring. That left EVIL and Ospreay to counter each other until both men could tag out. Okada and SANADA couldn't keep each other down once they were in the ring!
YOSHI-HASHI and BUSHI came into their tag time fresh and ready to go. YOSHI-HASHI locked in one butterfly lock and was foiled, but his next butterfly lock submitted BUSHI.
Results: Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay & YOSHI-HASHI def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) via submission
Jeff Cobb (4) vs. Shingo Takagi (4)
The match started slowly with a session of shoving, but Cobb’s dropkick put him in control. He followed up with a suplex but once Takagi had locked Cobb’s leg in a hold that ate at Cobb’s energy.
Still, Cobb was able to deliver another suplex and attempted a pinfall on Takagi. Cobb became angry as Takagi focused on his tender knee, taking the momentum into his favour.
Whenever Cobb flies, it’s fun, but when he no-sells huge moves, it’s so much more enjoyable when he does take a move dramatically. He didn’t no-sell Takagi’s suplex from the second rope, however, and both men looked shocked when Cobb kicked out of two pinfall attempts.
Takagi delivered a noshigami but Cobb got his shoulder up from the mat once more. Cobb got to his feet and let his bulk absorb Takagi’s attacks, completing his own Tour of the Islands finisher to attempt a pinfall.
Takagi rallied with a crucifix bomb and Made in Japan finishing move. Cobb got up and the men traded finisher attempts. Cobb was successful in hitting his Tour of the Islands finisher and putting Takagi away!
Results: Jeff Cobb (6) def. Shingo Takagi (4) via pinfall
Jon Moxley (10) vs. Toru Yano (4)
The Death Rider nodded in time with Yano’s entrance, which is undoubtedly a bop! Moxley and Yano were an interesting pairing that put both of their acting skills on display.
Yano attempted to surprise Moxley with cheating and a DVD offer with 10,000 JPY inside, but Mox refused to give Yano any quarter by smacking the offer out of his hand.
Cash flew around them and Mox took the fight outside of the ring. Yano attempted to cheat once more with a roll of tape, but Moxley taped Yano to the blue barricade for a 16-count.
Both men stripped the ring posts of their pads and began to fence with them, and Yano attempted the first pinfall. Moxley gave himself some room to unfold a table with a Regal Knee.
Mox rolled Yano out of the ring and onto the table, but he used Umino as a distraction and taped the pair’s legs together. Umino and Moxley couldn’t make it back to the ring by the 20-count, and Yano gathered the money, DVD, and 2-point victory.
Moxley finally showed a little frustration with Shooter Umino, who has cost him the secure top spot in the G1 Final and remained the weak link in their tag matches, losing nearly everyone. Umino’s part in tonight’s loss opened the door for the next two men to challenge Moxley's dominance in the tournament so far.
Results: Toru Yano (6) def. Jon Moxley (10) via countout
Juice Robinson (6) vs. Tetsuya Naito (4)
At this point, anyone with 6 points has a chance at the spot against Okada in the G1 Climax Finale. A Naito victory would mean one more chance to take the top spot this year, and Robinson was already in the 6-point running, ready to eliminate the competition properly. Red Shoes Unno refereed.
Naito and Robinson always take their time stripping down for their matches, and the men used the display to taunt each other. Robinson had prepared a bit better, wearing three shirts to put Naito off his game.
The third shirt kept Robinson too busy to stop a strong kick from Naito as the bell rang. A few smacks showed Naito’s opening strategy but Robinson was ready for that too.
Robinson made enough space to get Naito out of the ring and did his own version of Naito’s Tranquilo taunt move. It was so fun, and the fight went outside of the ring.
Naito’s suplex didn’t quite connect but a dropkick did, leaving Robinson stunned against the blue barricades. He beat the 20-count at 11 and began to absorb Naito’s attacks, including the Combination Cabron, coming alive as Naito put him into a submission hold.
That got the crowd fired up and Naito focused on Robinson’s neck. The taunting between these men didn’t stop for a second, keeping the audience engaged during the breaks in fighting.
Robinson’s dominance was apparent as Naito lay on the mat holding his head, but Naito was able to deliver a few good hits before taking a full nelson. That wasn’t enough to keep Naito from focusing on Robinson’s neck. Robinson’s Juice Box finisher attempt was followed by a Rana from the second rope and a powerbomb.
Naito kicked out at the 2-count, but Robinson’s new tools still impressed. Robinson delivered more punishment, taking a DDT before eating Naito’s Destino finisher dramatically!
A second Destino was countered by Robinson’s Juice Box, opening Naito’s ear to stain the mat with blood. The crowd wanted both men to win, and the fighters came to their feet in response.
A traded set of attempts to pin each other ran into a wall as Naito’s Destino (and the announcer’s hilarious call for the move) kept Naito in the 6-point range. He pinned Robinson in short order.
Results: Tetsuya Naito (6) def. Juice Robinson (6) via pinfall
Jay White (4) vs. Taichi (4)
White and Gedo came to the ring, and the Switchblade’s chances rose dramatically with his Bullet Club brother outside the ring. All of the cheating seems to work out there.
The Dark Emperor sang his entrance music as the adoring and adorable Miho Abe accompanied him to the ring. She stunned as usual. Some people really enjoy her presence, and I’m one of them! Kanemaru is Taichi’s faction brother and stood in his corner as well.
One of these men would lose their shot at the top B-block spot with a loss, and Gedo’s brass knuckles could cancel out Abe’s Iron Finger. Red Shoes Unno refereed.
It didn’t take long for Taichi and White to slide out of the ring and into cheating territory. As long as Unno didn’t see how brutal it gets, White and Taichi could use any means necessary to win.
Their real bout began when Taichi threw White into the blue barricades and both men nearly lost via count-out. Taichi’s kicks took White to his knees before both men went for the eyes.
Gedo interfered by grabbing Miho by the hair and distracting Taichi. White, of course, took the chance to brutalize Taichi and left him to beat the 20-count at 16.
White taunted Taichi until he found his feet, and their chest chops made the crowd scream. They dodged each other and Taichi delivered two kicks to get White on his knees again. Taichi became confident enough to take off his pants, ready to win!
White’s chops met Taichi’s kicks, but his Kiwi Crusher finisher didn’t keep Taichi down. Taichi was able to absorb a suplex and return one to White. Gedo was relentless in his interference, distracting Unno enough to haul him out of the ring and take the 3-count away from Taichi.
Kanemaru attacked Gedo, taking Gedo’s brass knuckles and letting both Taichi and White deliver low blows. Inside the ring, Unno found his way back to count to 2 as Taichi failed to pin White.
Taichi and White reversed their finishers three times, and White rallied by brainbuster and Blade Runner finisher to win and eliminate Taichi from the running for the Finale.
Results: Jay White (6) def. Taichi (4) via pinfall
Tomohiro Ishii (6) vs. Hirooki Goto (4)
Goto and Ishii are brick walls, and when they locked up in the middle of the ring it barely phased either man. Goto had to win this match to remain in contention for the top spot during the G1 Finale. Red Shoes Unno refereed.
They ran into each other over and over, in moves reminiscent of pendulum swings back and forth across the ring. Goto gained the early lead, putting Ishii onto the corner before eating and returning chest slaps.
Ishii targeted everything above Goto’s belt line and Goto still came back to his feet. He got a long arm in Ishii’s way and threw him into the corner again for a kick before attempting to pin Goto.
That seemed to fire Goto up, and Goto tried to suplex Ishii. Ishii was able to complete the suplex first. Ishii was the one to corner Goto and deliver a series of stiff chops, and Goto reversed their positions to deliver some damage of his own.
Ishii found all of his moves returned with gusto, and Goto relentlessly attacked Ishii’s tender neck and shoulder. Goto completed and leg hook but Ishii kicked out at the 2-count.
Goto furiously kicked Ishii in the head, but Ishii was able to meet Goto at the ring corner and they both climbed the ropes. They smacked each other in the face to stun the other, but Goto threw Ishii from the top first.
Ishii’s neck absorbed more pain, but both Ishii and Goto remained energetic as they kept the match going past the 10 minute mark by crawling to their feet. Ishii got vertical first. Stiff elbows from Ishii blocked Goto’s headbutt, leaving him stunned enough to eat a pinfall attempt from Goto. Goto’s sliding lariat didn’t connect but Ishii’s did, and they jockeyed for position with attempted brainbusters.
They just couldn’t make it happen, but Goto was able to break the pattern with a knee to Ishii’s back. Goto dragged Ishii into a sleeper hold but Unno broke the hold as Ishii began to go a bit purple.
Goto was able to generate another near-fall, following with kicks to Ishii’s neck and chest. Ishii twisted Goto’s wrist around and the two men instantly traded headbutts!
Goto made yet another pinfall attempt, and he followed with a modified sitout GTR. The next full GTR put Ishii away for good.
Results: Hirooki Goto (6) def. Tomohiro Ishii (6) via pinfall
