NJPW G1 Climax Night 15: Penultimate A-Block Matches for Okada, Ibushi

Zack Sabre Jr. (6) vs Kota Ibushi (10)

G1 CLIMAX 29 浜松大会！第8試合Aブロック公式戦、@ibushi_kota VS @zacksabrejr！ザックの足攻めに苦しむ飯伏、今日負けると決勝進出が危ぶまれるが…果たして勝負の行方は!?登録＆視聴▷https://t.co/kIlDpxrVU1#njpw #njpwworld #G1Climax #G129 pic.twitter.com/WDWUQAzzmC

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) August 7, 2019

Kota Ibushi had a chance to win the block if he continued his winning streak tonight, and Zack Sabre Jr. couldn't make the Final but he could foil Ibushi's ascension. Red Shoes Unno refereed.

The smug ZSJ was destined to have a good match with the Golden Star Ibushi, and the men tried to feel each other out while staying out of reach. Ibushi connected first, backing ZSJ into the ropes.

Ibushi found himself subjected to ZSJ's creative holds. But when they broke up ZSJ took his frustration out on the crowd, yelling a decidedly non-PG sentence at an unsupportive fan. ZSJ pushed Ibushi into the ropes but he rallied with head scissors and a throw.

Ibushi put his elbow into ZSJ's neck twice, but his hip toss attempt left him in reach for ZSJ's latest hold. Ibushi scrambled to the rope for the break, and ZSJ stood on Ibushi's tender ankle without mercy.

ZSJ kicked Ibushi in the chest and leg, getting Ibushi riled up. Ibushi performed a lovely snap rana to gain dominance. He had it ripped from him with ZSJ's hold around the ringpost. Ibushi cried out in pain and ZSJ drew him up to absorb yet more damage.

Ibushi's standing moonsault after a 2-strike 2-kick combo softened ZSJ a bit, but ZSJ wound his way around Ibushi. ZSJ locked in the STF which was broken, and Ibushi smacked him in the neck with a nasty kick. A Zack Driver turned the tables but didn't put Ibushi away.

Ibushi's Last Ride finisher was his response to the Zack Driver, and he didn't complete his pin either. ibushi exposed his knee and went for a strike, but ZSJ put Ibushi into a calf crusher. When Ibushi fought his way to the bottom rope, ZSJ showed his frustration. ZSJ took it out on Ibushi's torso and leg, kicking him over and over.

Ibushi got to his feet and landed a palm strike before exposing his other knee. ZSJ rolled him up and continued to do it until Ibushi finally fought free. Once Ibushi was up, he completed his Kamagoye finisher and pinned ZSJ for the 3-count.

Results: Kota Ibushi (12) def. Zack Sabre Jr. (6) via pinfall