24th G1 Climax

[Defrost]

Schedule is out

7/21 @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center
7/23 @ Aomori Prefectural Budokan
7/25 @ Yamagata Sports Center
7/26 @ Akita Prefectural Gymnasium
7/28 @ Sendai Sun Plaza Hall
7/31 @ Act City Hamamatsu
8/1 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
8/3 @ Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
8/4 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
8/8 @ Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium
8/10 @ Seibu Dome

[Tainted Eclipse]

woo G1. Really looking forward to it this year, though I suppose it's asking a whole lot to expect it to meet last year's. Gonna try to watch all of them live. Seems really spread out this year, doesn't it?

[Defrost]

It is spread out because the roster was shot to hell after last year's so the idea was to spread it out and have more time between matches and probably a smaller field so everyone is getting some days off

[Tainted Eclipse]

Let's get Shelton replaced with Sakuraba this year. Devitt presumably will be out too. Who would take his place, Fale? Or AJ even? Could be fun to have AJ in the mix. Fale woud be a poor replacement for Devitt though. Maybe they'll go with that junior who Devitt had his maybe last match against, whatever his name is. I don't much care for him though. But yeah I just want Sakuraba in this.

Dream final? Nakamura/Ishii of course. Ishii to win.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Hoping to see Nakamura take it this year, personally.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Also replace someone like Tenzan with HONMA.

[Defrost]

AJ Styles is probably going to be IWGP Champion at the time so he'll obviously be in it. You figure Tanahashi, Nakamura, Okada, Makabe, Nagata, Yano, Suzuki, Naito, Ishii, Styles, Ibushi, and maybe an outsider

[Tainted Eclipse]

Geez, you really think they'll give Styles the title? Are Gado and Jedo THAT big marks for US wrestling?

[Defrost]

I am not 100% convinced he is beating Okada, but if I were betting on it my money would be on AJ Styles winning the title

[takerson]

Dammmmmmmmn it's been a year already?

Getting excited to watch the entire tournament, and then going ahead and trying to, actually took me out of NJPW for a long time. I've only seen WK8 since giving up halfway through Day 5 of last year's G1.

[DDT]

Ishii for the win or I riot....by myself....behind a keyboard...

[Defrost]

Listen there are exactly two people who have a shot in hell of winning this tournament. Okada and Shinsuke.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Because they want to run Okada/Nakamura on Jan. 4?

[Defrost]

Yes

[DDT]

Listen there are exactly two people who have a shot in hell of winning this tournament. Okada and Shinsuke.


Could care less for reality. Ishii 4 lyfe!

[Ringo]

Yep, sorry Defrost. Ishii's taking this one.

[Defrost]

Courtesy of @SenorLARIATO (https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO) and @STRIGGA (https://twitter.com/STRIGGA)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqpT9cvCUAAmEPH.jpg
G1 2014 - A Block:
Tanahashi
Kojima
Nagata
Ibushi
Shibata
Nakamura
Ishii
Shelton
DBS Jr
Gallows
Fale

G1 2014 - B Block:
Makabe
Goto
Naito
Tenzan
Okada
Yano
Suzuki
Archer
Styles
Yujiro
Anderson

NJPW just announced a partnership with Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling

reDRagon, Adam Cole, Mike Bennett & Maria debut for New Japan at the G1 finals
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqpTlz9CMAATy1N.jpg

[Gibby]

The G1 announcement felt big. It felt like they're going to try and match last year. That might be suicide, but they want to fill Seibu. A bunch of 6-7 minute blow off matches will cut no ice in terms of walk-up.

I have a couple of minor disappointments with the Block line-up so let me get those out of the way: would get rid of Benjamin (I cannot get into him anymore) and Tenzan (he will probably not be able to work 10 singles matches) and replace with Honma (over, fun, good worker, a willing jobber) and Tonga (to see what he can do). I also think that this probably telegraphs the end of the next NOAH title match, as they will not want the GHC champ losing up to five or six times on an NJPW show (one imagines).

The positives are overwhelming. Just from visceral reaction alone to its announcement I know that for me this is a bigger deal than WM is or ever has been. And there are so many good matches! Any combination of the first seven guys in Block A is appealing to me, from obvious candidates like Ishii-Nakamura right down to Kojima-Nagata. Every permutation is so in my woodshed that it's almost like I invented it for myself. I also can not pick a winner whatsoever. I'd like to see Ishii do it. You'd have to think with Seibu in mind they'll need a marquee name.

Block B is a little more open and esoteric. I love Suzuki and Styles, but will that work? Still, the general axis of Naito, Styles, Okada, Goto and Suzuki should bring up good matches routinely, with no out-and-out stinkers in the rest of the block. I'm picking Okada to run through the block in a fairly succinct fashion.

Love the inclusion of the ROH guys for the final (though isn't the finals night usually block matches plus final plus the second place match announced) though I dunno what they'll do. Sounds like a packed card, either way. Bit meh on the prospect of Jarrett/GFW but at least he has good taste in his partnerships.

[Gibby]

Nurse!

NJPW, 7/21/2014 [Mon] 15:00 @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center ~ North Sea Kitaeru
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bad Luck Fale
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Doc Gallows
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Karl Anderson
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Yuji Nagata
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Hirooki Goto
(8) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 7/23/2014 [Wed] 18:30 @ Aomori Prefecture Budokan
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Tomohiro Ishii
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Bad Luck Fale
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Lance Archer
(5) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Kota Ibushi
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. AJ Styles
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
(9) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Karl Anderson
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Doc Gallows

NJPW, 7/25/2014 [Fri] 19:00 @ Yamagata City General Sports Center
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Doc Gallows
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Lance Archer vs. Karl Anderson
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Bad Luck Fale
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Minoru Suzuki
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Satoshi Kojima
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 7/26/2014 [Sat] 17:00 @ Akita Prefectural Gymnasium
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Bad Luck Fale
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Minoru Suzuki
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Tano
(5) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kota Ibushi
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Lance Archer
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito
(9) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Karl Anderson
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Katsuyori Shibata

NJPW, 7/28/2014 [Mon] 18:30 @ Sendai Sun Plaza Hall in Miyagi
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Doc Gallows
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Lance Archer
(3) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Hirooki Goto
(8) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 7/31/2014 [Thu] 18:30 @ Shizuoka Act City Hamamatsu
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Doc Gallows vs. Bad Luck Fale
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Katsuyori Shibata
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Karl Anderson
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Lance Archer
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
(9) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Kazuchika Okada
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 8/1/2014 [Fri] 18:30 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Lance Archer
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Karl Anderson
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Doc Gallows
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirooki Goto
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Katsuyori Shibata
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 8/3/2014 [Sun] 17:00 @ Osaka BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano
(3) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Tetsuya Naito
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Lance Archer vs. AJ Styles
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Minoru Suzuki
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Katsuyori Shibata
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

NJPW, 8/4/2014 [Mon] 18:30 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Lance Archer vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(3) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Doc Gallows
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Minoru Suzuki
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Bad Luck Fale
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Karl Anderson
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 8/6/2014 [Wed] 19:00 @ Takamatsu City Gymnasium, 1st Stadium in Kagawa
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Kota Ibushi
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Bad Luck Fale
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tetsuya Naito
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Karl Anderson
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Toru Yano
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Lance Archer
(8) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Katsuyori Shibata
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Doc Gallows

NJPW, 8/8/2014 [Fri] 18:30 @ Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in Kanagawa
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bad Luck Fale
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Doc Gallows
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yuji Nagata
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Lance Archer
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Karl Anderson
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Togi Makabe
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazuchika Okada

[Tainted Eclipse]

Looks great. Still annoyed about no Honma. Would've liked to see them replace guys like Tenzan and Yano. Those two switched out for Honma and Sakuraba and this would've been better than last year.

[Defrost]

Tenzan is not making it all the way through this

[Tainted Eclipse]

PREDICTIONS

Final: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kazuchika Okada
#2s match: Tomohiro Ishii vs. AJ Styles

[Gibby]

I can defend the inclusion of Yano - it's different, it's comedy, you can't have 10 me-serious-wrestler matches per night. Tenzan should not be there, he can barely do 10 minute tag matches. I LIKE Tenzan too, it was he and Kojima that got me into NJPW.

[Gibby]

FINAL: Nakamura v Styles
B FINAL: Ishii v Naito

[Defrost]

Final: Tanahashi vs Okada
#2: Nakamura vs Styles

[Tainted Eclipse]

I have a worrying presentiment that Fale will find his way into the finals.

[Gibby]

Still bewildered at the lack of Honma. The pop for his attempted Kokeshi at Dominion was enough to convince me. Keep Tenzan for the Tag League where his deficiencies are hidden.

Can see Fale being in the mix, but headining Seibu? Can't see that.

[Gibby]

Have updated the matches as there were some missing and some errors (though there are a couple still there, will correct when I have the information). What dates are standing out to you? 26/7 & 1/8 are ridiculous.

[Defrost]

According to Meltzer it is gonna be Time Splitters vs Fish and O'Reilly in the Seibu Dome

[Gibby]

According to Meltzer it is gonna be Time Splitters vs Fish and O'Reilly in the Seibu Dome

*FILLS TROUSERS*

[LarryLuv]

According to Meltzer it is gonna be Time Splitters vs Fish and O'Reilly in the Seibu Dome

Could definitely steal the show that night.

Splitters and The Bucks forgot they were on a free pre-show match and set a bar no one, not even Ric and Ibushi could get to at Dominion.

[Cewsh]

It's going to get lost in the giant Gaijin shuffle of 2013-14, but the Young Bucks have had an incredible tour in New Japan.

[Defrost]

NJPW, 10.08.2014 (WPW/PPV)
Seibu Dome

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA (c) vs. Bobby Fish (ROH) & Kyle O'Reilly (ROH)
2. Special Tag Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Adam Cole (ROH) & Michael Bennett (ROH) (w/Maria Kanellis)
1. G1 Climax Special Singles Match: Block A #2 vs. Block B #2
2. G1 Climax - Final: Block A #1 vs. Block B #1

[DDT]

Finals: Nakamura vs. AJ Styles

Semi-Finals: Ishii vs. Okada

[Cewsh]

Finals: Nakamura/Okada

Semi Finals: Tanahashi/Styles

[BabyBooboo]

Nurse!

NJPW, 7/21/2014 [Mon] 15:00 @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center ~ North Sea Kitaeru
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bad Luck Fale
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Doc Gallows
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Karl Anderson
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Yuji Nagata
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Hirooki Goto
(8) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 7/23/2014 [Wed] 18:30 @ Aomori Prefecture Budokan
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Tomohiro Ishii
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Bad Luck Fale
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Lance Archer
(5) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Kota Ibushi
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. AJ Styles
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
(9) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Karl Anderson
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Doc Gallows

NJPW, 7/25/2014 [Fri] 19:00 @ Yamagata City General Sports Center
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Doc Gallows
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Lance Archer vs. Karl Anderson
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Bad Luck Fale
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Minoru Suzuki
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Satoshi Kojima
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 7/26/2014 [Sat] 17:00 @ Akita Prefectural Gymnasium
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Bad Luck Fale
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Minoru Suzuki
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Tano
(5) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kota Ibushi
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Lance Archer
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito
(9) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Karl Anderson
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Katsuyori Shibata

NJPW, 7/28/2014 [Mon] 18:30 @ Sendai Sun Plaza Hall in Miyagi
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Doc Gallows
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Lance Archer
(3) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Hirooki Goto
(8) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 7/31/2014 [Thu] 18:30 @ Shizuoka Act City Hamamatsu
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Doc Gallows vs. Bad Luck Fale
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Katsuyori Shibata
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Karl Anderson
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Lance Archer
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
(9) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Kazuchika Okada
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 8/1/2014 [Fri] 18:30 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Lance Archer
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Karl Anderson
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Doc Gallows
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirooki Goto
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Katsuyori Shibata
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 8/3/2014 [Sun] 17:00 @ Osaka BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano
(3) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
(4) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Tetsuya Naito
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Lance Archer vs. AJ Styles
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Minoru Suzuki
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Katsuyori Shibata
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

NJPW, 8/4/2014 [Mon] 18:30 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
(2) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Lance Archer vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(3) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Doc Gallows
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Minoru Suzuki
(6) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Bad Luck Fale
(7) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(8) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Karl Anderson
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shelton “X” Benjamin vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(10) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 8/6/2014 [Wed] 19:00 @ Takamatsu City Gymnasium, 1st Stadium in Kagawa
(1) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Satoshi Kojima vs. Kota Ibushi
(2) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Bad Luck Fale
(3) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tetsuya Naito
(4) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Karl Anderson
(5) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Togi Makabe vs. Toru Yano
(6) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Yujiro Takahashi
(7) G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Kazuchika Okada vs. Lance Archer
(8) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(9) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Katsuyori Shibata
(10) G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Doc Gallows

NJPW, 8/8/2014 [Fri] 18:30 @ Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in Kanagawa
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bad Luck Fale
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Doc Gallows
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Kota Ibushi vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
() G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yuji Nagata
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Hirooki Goto vs. Lance Archer
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Karl Anderson
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: AJ Styles vs. Togi Makabe
() G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK: Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazuchika Okada

http://i.minus.com/ibgDTkTYFeXNWB.gif

forget the finals, just looking forward to these two matchups

Ishii matches are also welcome.

[OD50]

Really looking forward to this.

Been keeping up with New Japan on and off since 1994 or something (remember watching the Hogan/Muta match on one of the first shows on Eurosport) but this year I have managed to watch pretty much every show they put on since WK. Except for the BoSJ shows, only caught the finals of that one. The G1 show at the Seibu Dome should be really cool, what are the odds of them packing that place? It seats something like 35k right?

[Gibby]

No idea how easy a sellout will be. It's the second biggest show of the year, very well-established as a 'thing' and there's no competition from anyone else with megashows. I think they'll be happy with 25k. From what I've learned very slowly and bedridgingly over the years, the casual fans who make up the big audiences need a guaranteed draw and with a finals show they can't pre-advertise a fight in that way without ruining the contest.

Been looking at flight prices for WK9. Got a feeling it's going to be stacked based on things that will go down at G1.

[Defrost]

business update from the Observer




The best seats for every show sold out immediately. The lone Tokyo show, at Korakuen Hall, sold out instantly, although it should with only 2,000 seats for the only Tokyo G-1 show. Tickets for the finals on 8/10 at the Seibu Dome are doing very well so far. This is concern about running a Dome where the main event and most of the card won’t be announced until two days before the show.

[Cewsh]

I assume the word "easing" is missing from that last sentence.

[Defrost]

or "this" is supposed to be "there"

I mostly subscribe to the observer for the typos

[Gibby]

Just completed the Voices of Wrestling pick 'em for the entire G1 and my prediction based on match-by-match is different to my macro selection from earlier in the thread. Here's how the Blocks end up if my results pay off (note: notoriously bad guesser).

Shibata 14
Tanahashi 14
Nakamura 13
Bad Luck Fale 12
Kota Ibushi 12
Davey Boy Smith Jr 12
Tomohiro Ishii 11
Satoshi Kojima 8
Yuji Nagata 6
Doc Gallows 4
Shelton Benjamin 2
-> Shibata wins on head-to-head, Tanahashi goes to B Final.

Okada 15
Styles 14
Naito 14
Goto 13
Anderson 12
Suzuki 12
Tenzan 8
Makabe 8
Takahashi 6
Yano 6
Archer 2
-> Styles 2nd on head-to-head, goes to B Final.

Shibata vs. Okada (Shibata wins), Tanahashi wins B Final.

Now I look at it I can't see it happening, but sometimes you have to vary from percentage picks to win.

[Cewsh]

I would genuinely be stunned if anyone other than Nakamura or Okada wins this. They've been setting up for that match all year.

[Gibby]

Tickets are going ok, maybe they can get brave on us?

Broke my heart to not have Ishii win but I guess he's just not there yet, his face on posters will not sell tickets, he has consecutive main events against Tanahashi and Nakamura (at Korakuen) though, that is one hell of a push he has earned there and no mistake.

[Defrost]

http://i.imgur.com/c3cRqAH.jpg

[JRSlim21]

Look at the form!

[Defrost]

Someone needs to tweet Tanahashi asking about iPPV. Maybe he knows.

[Tainted Eclipse]

I think the only person associated with NJPW who mentioned it at all was Karl Anderson on twitter, who said he wasn't sure what was happening and would try to find out. Sometime last week. Apparently the Japanese iPPV service currently isn't accepting orders either.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Confirmed that it will be on Ustream!

Though I will probably not be home for the first week :(
Probably will only miss the first three shows though. Glad it's spread over 3 weeks.

[Defrost]

Oh thank god

[Cewsh]

Yeah, seriously. It'd be like canceling Christmas.

[Defrost]

If you buy by the 20th you can get the whole thing for $110. That's less than $10 a show.

[Gibby]

I WAS RIGHT CEWSH, I WAS RIGHT ON TWITTER, MY BELIEF IN THE GOD OF NEW JAPAN PAID OFF, TOUCH MY FISTS WITH ALL OF YOURS

Seriously though, thank god. And what a bargain.

[Defrost]

Can you name every G1 Climax participant

http://www.sporcle.com/games/tmxicon84/g1-climax-wrestlers

[DDT]

Owned ass from 2000 onwards; 90's I get super shaky beyond the "usual suspects".

[Gibby]

Owned ass from 2000 onwards; 90's I get super shaky beyond the "usual suspects".

Exactly the same. Low 70s, pretty much missed all non-gaijin/non-headliners from 94-99

[Gibby]

All the super good seats for Seibu are sold out. Genuinely think this finals show could be a monster.

[Defrost]

I was irrationally happy that I remembered Blue Wolf was in one of these.

[Gibby]

Ah dang it Ibushi has pulled out.

[Tainted Eclipse]

that really sucks. hopefully honma gets his place. probably not.

[Defrost]

Probably KUSHIDA

[Tainted Eclipse]

either kushida or honma would be totally okay with me. in fact i dont feel the tournament would suffer at all with either in ibushi's place. i just hope they don't not replace him at all.

[Defrost]

It's Honma. Don't like that idea. I think Honma will be exposed in this.

[Tainted Eclipse]

YES. I love Honma, honestly I have him as my #2 worker in New Japan behind Ishii. I don't think he'll be exposed at all. And he's in A Block too. Honma/Ishii, Honma/Nakamura, Honma/Shibata, Honma/Tanahashi. I'm even more excited for this now.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Although knowing Honma was the backup ... man if only one of the lesser workers in A block had pulled out.

[Cewsh]

Honma is your second best wrestler in New Japan? Good lord do we ever see wrestling differently.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Other than Ishii he's the guy whose performances most consistently impress me. He's always awesome in those random tags on the undercard. Hardly ever has the chance to have a great singles match but he's knocked it out of the park with his match with Ishii this year and his match with Okada last year. A guy like Nakamura or Okada will have more great matches in a given year but not be as consistent in his performances. This will definitely be a big test for Honma, we'll see if he delivers in his big matches.

Man, look at Day 1. Honma/Tanahashi, Nakamura/Shibata, AJ/Okada. Not a bad undercard either. I'll be sad to miss it live. Really this weekend is a terrible time to start a trip, I'll come back and have to catch up on 3 or 4 days of G1, Battleground and the first RAW building to Summerslam. Yeesh.

[Defrost]

Man, look at Day 1. Honma/Tanahashi, Nakamura/Shibata, AJ/Okada. Not a bad undercard either. I'll be sad to miss it live. Really this weekend is a terrible time to start a trip, I'll come back and have to catch up on 3 or 4 days of G1, Battleground and the first RAW building to Summerslam. Yeesh.

No interest in Kobe World?

[Tainted Eclipse]

Not a Dragon Gate fan, then again I've never watched a full show. Is it their biggest show of the year? I'll give the whole thing a watch if it gets good reviews.

[Defrost]

Biggest show of the year for them yes. With Tanahashi vs Ibushi down the drain the match I am most looking forward to this weekend is Sydal's return to Dragon Gate.

[Gibby]

I like Honma. He's not as good as Ibushi but he should have been in from the start.

[Defrost]

Ishii made Fale look awesome in the first match

[Defrost]

YAY TENZAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Defrost]

Solid first half.

[Defrost]

Goto vs Makabe was awesome

[Defrost]

HEEL TANA!

[Defrost]

Shibata vs Shinsuke. Holy shit.

[Defrost]

Great show

[Gibby]

Solid across the board, show of the year contender even though I doubt any individual match will break my top 6-8. Loved it.

[Hero!]

Highlights, Deforet? What's good, what's not worth watching?

[Gibby]

Definitely see: Styles-Okada, Nakamura-Shibata
Strongly consider: Everything except Yano-Suzuki (very short), Benjamin-Gallows (fine), Tenzan-Anderson (fine).

[Hero!]

Thanks, Gibbs!

[Defrost]

Highlights, Deforet? What's good, what's not worth watching?

I'd watch the entire show to be honest with you. If you're looking for the top of the line best stuff I'd watch Nagata vs Kojima, then the last 4 matches.

[Hero!]

Just finished day 1 - damn good show. Really enjoyed Nakamura/Shibata and AJ/Okada. Okada just looks like such a fucking star that AJ just pales in comparison.

Naito/Yujiro was particularly enjoyable too. I really like those two for some reason.

[DDT]

This was the best match Styles and Okada have had by a country mile. Nakamura vs. Shibata was enjoyable enough, Makabe vs. Goto was the slugfest I wanted, Ishii had a perfect opener with Fale, but my favorite would have to go Honma vs. Tanahashi; Underdog! Dick Main Eventer! Move-teasing! Spot-building! What more do you want?


Dear New Japan: No more Yano vs. Suzuki matches. Ever.

[Gibby]

Absolutely love the Yano-Suzuki feud, it is going to boomerang back around to being the best thing ever, don't hold me to this. The execution of their 'match' yesterday was absolutely perfect and it saves the aged Suzuki for the longer and more physical matches he'll have down the line. YTR pops the house without doing moves, the man is a comic genius to rank with the greats.

[Defrost]

Ishii vs Kojima was super

[Defrost]

Styles vs Yano was fun

[DDT]

I have to say I'm really impressed with Shelton Benjamin's performances thus far. Normally he's a great big bag of boring, but thus far he's had two really good performances, and his match last night was really good. Thumbs up :yes:

[DDT]

Yujiro vs. Goto may be my favorite match of the tournament thus far. I liked it even more than Kojima vs. Ishii, which was better than anything on Night 1. This was an incredibly smart match from Yujiro, using tactics and trickery to stay ahead of the harder-hitting yet straight-forward Goto.

[Cewsh]

Yujiro has been impressing the hell out of me. He might be the breakout star of this G1. I love me some Miami Shine.

[DDT]

I just don't get it. Not two months ago he was the same Yujiro he has always been; guy with all the tools but couldn't put it together to save his life. What could have possibly...or right; Ishii beat the suck out of him.



Right. Carry on, then.

[Defrost]

Yujiro almost murdered Naito a couple of days ago. I'd slow down on this Yujiro stuff.

[Gibby]

Enjoyed all of Day 2 to some degree. I have Ishii v Kojima & Goto v Yujiro as joint MOTN, not many others seem to like the latter match. I guess Yujiro's rep precedes him.

I think everyone has given at worst a fair-to-decent account of themselves so far. Long may it continue.

[Defrost]

I am not doing well in the VOW contest

[Cewsh]

Yujiro almost murdered Naito a couple of days ago. I'd slow down on this Yujiro stuff.

A stiff breeze almost murders Naito.

[DDT]

Yeah, Naito's kind of squishy.

[Defrost]

It doesn't help when someone is supposed to drape you on the ropes and drops you on your head instead

[DDT]

MOTN: Okada vs. Tenzan. In a match that was not an Okada carry-job. If anything it was closer to a Tenzan carry-job. in 2014. I'm legit scared the apocalypse is coming.



Somehow, someway, despite having a weaker card on paper, Night 2 has pissed all over Night 1 and made Night 1 like it.

[Gibby]

These are awesome, courtesy of @matsu_bomaYe on Twitter

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BtPRw2bCEAAsNDZ.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BtPRpx3CMAENWHk.jpg

[Matthew]

http://37.media.tumblr.com/f0d15905df923614a9c1cc048c0eaed0/tumblr_n5i3jpBlut1tt2jjyo1_400.gif

[Gibby]

Day 3 not the hottest but a very good main event with Okada and Makabe. See it!

[takerson]

Gonna try and watch the G1 this year. Days 1 & 2 are DLed. Getting caught in the hype. Haven't watch Japanese stuff since WK, and WK was my first show since last year's G1, after months of watching every PPV. Let's see if this can reel me back in.

[Defrost]

Well Tanahashi vs Shibata was quite awesome

[Cewsh]

It was everything I was hoping it would be. I really want a rematch at Wrestle Kingdom now.

[Defrost]

Honma vs Ishii also quite special

[Defrost]

One week in point totals

Block A:
1. Shelton Benjamin [8]
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi [6]
3. Katsuyori Shibata [4]
- Bad Luck Fale [4]
5. Yuji Nagata [2]
- Satoshi Kojima [4]
- Shinsuke Nakamura [4]
- Tomohiro Ishii [4]
- Doc Gallows [2]
- Davey Boy Smith Jr. [2]
11. Tomoaki Honma [0]

Block B:
1. Hirooki Goto [6]
- Tetsuya Naito [6]
- Kazuchika Okada [6]
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4]
- Togi Makabe [4]
- Toru Yano [4]
7. AJ Styles [2]
- Yujiro Takahashi [2]
- Minoru Suzuki [2]
- Karl Anderson [2]
- Lance Archer [2]

[DDT]

Day 2 is still my favorite show over-all, but Day 4 had easily the two best matches of the tournament in Shibata vs. Tanahashi and Honma vs. Ishii. One was a tale of pride and anger, the other was a story of two men backed into a corner, unable to afford one more loss.

[Defrost]

I think today's show was the best show I've seen all year

[Tainted Eclipse]

Well, finally back home. Glad to see this has been living up to the hype. I'll start watching the backlog tomorrow, WWE catch up tonight.

[Gibby]

Day four was seismic. Two MOTY listmakers for sure.

[Ringo]

I hate you Shelton Benjamin. So much.

Going to have to watch Day 1 and Day 4.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Just finished the first match on day 1. Ishii sauntering up to Fale is really the best possible first thing to happen in this tournament. Also this solidified Ishii as my #1 in the world, by far the best Fale match yet and it was pretty much the Ishii show.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Honma/Tanahashi was awesome. I say this 100% seriously: Honma should get an IWGP title run.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Day 1 was a great show. Shibata/Nakamura was maybe a little disappointing due to expectations but still great and that was a hell of a kick to end it. Okada/Styles was definitely their best match. Tomorrow's show looks great, Nakamura/Honma and Naito/Okada. And Shelton putting THE STREAK on the line vs. Shibata.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Anyone know of any good livestreams for the G1 Climax shows(particularly tonight's)? I have the money for Ustream, but unless I paid a few days ahead, I'm effed, and the place I used to go seems to no longer be active.

[Gibby]

Anyone know of any good livestreams for the G1 Climax shows(particularly tonight's)? I have the money for Ustream, but unless I paid a few days ahead, I'm effed, and the place I used to go seems to no longer be active.

I bumped you this link on Twitter but http://taima.tv/r/wooo

[Psycho666Soldier]

I bumped you this link on Twitter but http://taima.tv/r/wooo

So THAT'S who that is! I just assumed you were some random dude into puro. I said so on Twitter, but thanks!

[Gibby]

I get everywhere, I am the whisper in the wind, the mystery fart in the cinema, the flaking of your plaster.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Fuck I love Ishii.

[Tainted Eclipse]

yujiro's dick mvp of day 5

[Tainted Eclipse]

MY CLIENT KATSUYORI SHIBATA

[Psycho666Soldier]

Helluva show. I have yet to see any of the previous days, but that was pretty rad. Only 2 weak matches. Everything else was enjoyable to WHAT THE FUCK?! I think my MOTN is either Nakamura/Honma, Shibata/Benjamin or Okada/Naito, but it's hard to decide which.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Honma/Nakamura was disappointing. It was very good but I was expecting a real MOTYC. Very unfortunate botch at the end too.

[Cewsh]

This is the part in the tournament every year where I start to fall behind and have to do like 2 full on days of binge watching to catch up.

That was not a complaint.

[Defrost]

Well there are 3 days off for you to catch up

[Psycho666Soldier]

Honma/Nakamura was disappointing. It was very good but I was expecting a real MOTYC. Very unfortunate botch at the end too.

Having not seen much of Honma's recent work, I wasn't expecting quite that level of quality, so that explains my liking it more than you and possibly everyone else. That blown spot was disappointing, though.

[Ringo]

Well I skipped day 3 and the bulk of a lot of matches to get to the last few minutes but I've caught up. Watched most of Day 1 and Day 4. I like doing it this way so I won't get burnt out too quickly.

Honma's been grrrrreat. Loving Yano's antics. Yujiro dicking it up. Good showings from the oldies. Shibata could be MVP so far. I've probably enjoyed Shelton Benjamin the most out of all the gaijin which is surprising.

Three massive ISHII matches still to come vs. Tana, Shinskay and Shibata. Maybe Honma will pick up his first win in front of the Korakuen crowd against Fale - that would be cool. Nagata/Shibata and AJ/MiSu are at Korakuen too and should be good.

[Cewsh]

I have no idea what an AJ Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki match could possibly look like.

[Ringo]

Me neither. All the fun of the G1.

[Gibby]

didn't mind that blown spot, I just chose to read it as over enthusiasm on Honma's part. no matter.

thought day 5 was absolutely great. second half of that card was unstoppable. imagine if Okada/Naito had 5 more mins, definite definite MOTYC, as it was just 'quite brilliant'.

[Defrost]

Hiroshi Tanahashi is in the hospital

[DDT]

Dolph Ziggler can take his gumby shit and suck it; Tomohiro Ishii is the best seller in wrestling.



Hiroshi Tanahashi is in the hospital



MOTHER-FUCKER!

[Tainted Eclipse]

Hiroshi Tanahashi is in the hospital

Oh no. I hope it's nothing too bad. I'm liking Tanahashi quite a bit right now(!).

[DDT]

What in the world hurt him? I just watched the Tanahashi/Fale match and I didn't see anything that was botched or really all that unsafe. The Bad Luck Fall, maybe?

[Defrost]

He went to the back complaining about his neck and the trainer sent him to the hospital to have his spine checked

[Cewsh]

http://forums.wpcentral.com/attachments/windows-phone-8/40034d1376487696t-darth-vader-no.jpg

[Defrost]

Well that was the best Shelton Benjamin match in forever today

[Beer-Belly]

Dolph Ziggler can take his gumby shit and suck it; Tomohiro Ishii is the best seller in wrestling.I won't allow anyone to speak ill of Ziggler, but Ishii is indeed one of the best wrestlers around bar none.

I've only seen the Ishii/Honma match so far. Predictably, it was top notch stuff. My main problem with Puro is that a lot of the big matches go on too long for my liking, but the G1 tournament forces them into more reasonable lengths.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Just finished Day 2, which I watched ridiculously slowly. Great show. I prefer Day 1 because the best matches were better, but Day 2 was probably more consistent. Almost every match was very good, and any that weren't were at least just regular good. Best match was either Ishii/Kojima or Nagata/Honma. Tenzan/Okada was a lot better than it had any right to be. Gonna get Day 4 in before the show tomorrow.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Okay, I'm liking Smith Jr in the G1, and I liked him last year, but his heel schtick is lame as fuck.

[Gibby]

Okay, I'm liking Smith Jr in the G1, and I liked him last year, but his heel schtick is lame as fuck.

Agree. I see glimpses of the big man who can work that they clearly want and then sometimes I see something cornier than a Tom Zenk opponent from the 80s. Archer too. They're a good fit in that regard.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Ishii/Honma, god damn. That was the match this G1 needed to start talking about it in league with last year's.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Day 4 finished, god damn what a show. It'd be show of the year if not for Wrestlemania, and from a pure in-ring standpoint it definitely is. Naito/Styles was way better than expected. I expected it to be at least fun but it was legitimately great. I'm actually torn between it and Shibata/Tanahashi as my #2 of the show. Ishii/Honma is definitely match of the tournament for me though.

This year is definitely holding its own with last year. The shows are more consistent, especially the B shows, but I don't think there's been a single match yet as good as either Ishii/Shibata, Ishii/Tanahashi or Nakamura/Ibushi. There's been a bunch of matches just below that level though. Overall I do anticipate this exceeding 2013.

Ishii/Tanahashi tomorrow, hope it lives up to last year. Shibata/Kojima was a great match last year, too. And then Day 7 at Korakuen looks like show of the tournament potential.

[Defrost]

I agree while the highs have not been as high this year there haven't been any real lows

[DDT]

I prefer it this way to be honest; like Tainted said 2013 doesn't have THAT big an edge as far as match quality goes, and a consistent show is more appreciated, especially when said show is about 3 hours long apiece.

[Ringo]

No update on Tanahashi then? Hopefully he's okay.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Crowd was very respectful for that Fale/Doc opener.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Shibata/Kojima was damn good, woke the crowd up too. Kojima sure seems to deliver during the G1. I stand by Shibata winning block A.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Ishii/Tanahashi was great. Nothing to compare to the super-intense homestretch and satisfying ending of last year's match, but it still lived up to expectations. The whole show was great. Started out none too hot but after the first three matches or so it really kicked into gear. Kojima/Shibata, Karl/Goto and Styles/Tenzan are definitely worth seeking out. But it's another one where the whole show is worth watching because Archer/Suzuki, Benjamin/Nakamura and Yano/Okada are all fun in their own way.

[DDT]

Whelp, Fale/Gallows was the most excruciating match I've sat through all year. Kudos to the crowd for reducing the pain as much as possible.

[DDT]

Tainted's assessment was pretty much spot on; the first match is terrible, the next two are alright, and the rest are a mixed bag of fun to watch and good, with the Ishii/Tanahashi match being amazing (shocker of shocks, that).

[Defrost]

I was underwhelmed by the main event

[Tainted Eclipse]

Just rewatched the main event. It would still be in my top 5 matches of the tournament but, and I'm surprised to be saying this, I think it actually could have benefited going a little longer. Everything was great in it, it just missed a little something -- another 2 minutes or so of big moves tacked on at the end could have put it in league with last year's match. I thought it was a much more 'complete' match than last year's: last year's had maybe the best finishing stretch I saw of any match last year, but the first half wasn't particularly well worked, while this one was good and interesting throughout. Also the ending was kinda lame with that awkward move Tanahashi hit before the HFF. Oh, and Ishii has a damn good looking sharpshooter.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Speaking of which. TOP 5s.

Ishii/Honma
Ishii/Tanahashi
Naito/Styles
Tanahashi/Shibata
Nakamura/Honma

No set order other than Ishii/Honma being #1.

[DDT]

I thought that awkward driver thing was one of Tanahashi's old mid-card moves, which was why I liked the ending so; he had to bust out one of his forgotten tricks to fend off Ishii.

[Gibby]

Ishii/Tanahashi was great. Nothing to compare to the super-intense homestretch and satisfying ending of last year's match, but it still lived up to expectations. The whole show was great. Started out none too hot but after the first three matches or so it really kicked into gear. Kojima/Shibata, Karl/Goto and Styles/Tenzan are definitely worth seeking out. But it's another one where the whole show is worth watching because Archer/Suzuki, Benjamin/Nakamura and Yano/Okada are all fun in their own way.

Agree with all of this.

Fale-Gallows unfortunately the worst match of G1 so far.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Tenzan sure has exceeded expectations this tournament.

[Defrost]

For all the hand wringing Tenzan has been amazing in this tournament

[Gibby]

Just ran here during intermission to say the same. Tenzan-Goto was brilliant.

[Tainted Eclipse]

god dammit honma should have won that

[Tainted Eclipse]

if honma gets one win, and he should, it should be an upset where he's clearly overmatched. either there or next show vs. shibata.

[Defrost]

That was fucking great

[Tainted Eclipse]

God damn that match was awesome. It was one of my most anticipated B block matches and totally exceeded expectations.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Can we get a moment to breath after that Suzuki/Styles match?!? Fuck!! I'm still not readyfor this Shibata/nagata match!

[Defrost]

Well that didn't suck

Shinsuke vs Ishii gets to follow those two matches now.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Hot damn! I don't think it topped Suzuki/Styles, but it sure did follow it! Another badass bout. And we STILL have Ishii/Nakamura!

[Tainted Eclipse]

I was pulling for Shibata because I figured if he had 10 points he could afford to job to Honma on Sunday :(

[Psycho666Soldier]

Was pulling for Shibata, too. But Nagata earned that victory.

Also, for some inexplicable reason, I really like Ishii's dubbed entrance music.

[Defrost]

I was pulling for Shibata because I figured if he had 10 points he could afford to job to Honma on Sunday :(

Honma wins on the last day

[Gibby]

Last three matches all insane, Suzuki v Styles definite MOTYC for me. Need to calm down now.

[Psycho666Soldier]

It's hard to say which match was better, but that might have topped Suzuki/Styles. My god, the emotion on Nakamura's face in the finishing stretch was beautiful. You could tell he didn't want to go to the extremes Ishii forced him to go to win.

Epic show. I've only watched Day 5 and 7 so far, but that was one of the best nights for the last three matches alone.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Probably the best show of the tournament. I'm a little disappointed by Nakamura/Ishii, but just to the unreasonable extent that I don't immediately think it's one of the top 3 or 5 matches of the year right after watching it. It was really very great no matter how you cut it.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Yeah, it is one of those matches that could have used a couple more minutes before the finish. I also feel it's a big match they want to save for the future, so they might not have gone all out...which it's scary to think that match wasn't them "going all out."

[Gibby]

Weird that a really good match like Makabe & Naito gets overlooked, that's how good this night was. Might be the best card I've watched live.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Thinking about it, after the G1 I'm pretty sure Honma will be a lock for my top 10 wrestlers of 2014.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Weird that a really good match like Makabe & Naito gets overlooked, that's how good this night was. Might be the best card I've watched live.

That is too true. Makabe/Naito was my favorite match of the night until Suzuki/Styles happened. Props to them and Tenzan/Goto for having two great matches despite being overshadowed by the headliners.. It's nice to have a company where that can happen.

[DDT]

Just starting this: Kojima/Benjamin had a great ending, and Archer/Yano is way, WAAAAY more fun than it had any right to be.

[DDT]

It's scary how good Tenzan can be. And that was the nastiest Bad Luck Fall ever. Sweet Jesus Honma why?

[DDT]

Osaka really hates Naito for whatever reason. Or maybe it's just because that's where Makabe is super-over.

[Tainted Eclipse]

japanese smarks hate naito

[Defrost]

Osaka really hates Naito for whatever reason. Or maybe it's just because that's where Makabe is super-over.

Osaka?

[DDT]

For some reason my brain read Kouraken while I was typing "Osaka". I'm running on two hours of sleep in the past two days; that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :shifty:

[Gibby]

The thing is, Osaka really DOES hate Naito.

[Ringo]

The last few days don't seem to have gone up on dailymotion which is frustrating.

edit: scrap that, found them as individual matches.

[DDT]

Holy shit Suzuki/Styles. If anyone says they were expecting that they area Goddamn liar. What a match.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Finally watched Tanahashi/Shibata. I wasn't as wowed by it as it seems most people were. It was really good, but I was expecting a powerful finish, and we got a solid finish. I think knowing the result beforehand played a hand in that as well, but I'm disappointed it wasn't quite the classic I was expecting.

[Ringo]

Holy shit Suzuki/Styles. If anyone says they were expecting that they area Goddamn liar. What a match.


Nagata/Shibata and AJ/MiSu are at Korakuen too and should be good.

:shifty:

[DDT]

"If anyone other than Ringo say they were expecting that they are a Goddamn liar. What a match."

Happy? ;)


Also the last two matches were great, and I'm so pumped for Shibata/Ishii I can hardly stand it.

[Defrost]

I was looking forward to AJ vs Suzuki but that was because I had no idea what to expect. Certainly not something that good

[Ringo]

My God, MiSu/AJ was unreal. Best singles match I've seen in ages.

Also loved Fale/Honma. That bad luck fall bump at the end was disgusting though. Honma has a death wish.

Top two matches to go and then I'll probably go back and watch Makabe/Naito.

[Defrost]

Love the layout of the building

[Tainted Eclipse]

This crowd is nuts.

[Defrost]

Osaka crowd best crowd

[Defrost]

Uh oh Ishii down

[Tainted Eclipse]

yano inserting his shrugging pose into the mongolian chops is the work of a true artist

[Defrost]

Osaka is not Naito's market

[Tainted Eclipse]

Naito/Goto was alright, fun ending stretch. I was expecting better, weird layout and some awkward moments.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Holy crap, this started a whole hour and a half before the last show did? I wasn't expecting that. I just woke up. I see I missed the Ishii match...

[Defrost]

Ishii dislocated his shoulder.

[Tainted Eclipse]

no :(

[Beer-Belly]

Catch me up to speed in spoiler tags because I'm way behind. Are Ishii and Shibata still in this?

[Defrost]

Ishii just got hurt so who knows with him. The way they book this thing is to keep everyone alive until the last night pretty much.

[Beer-Belly]

Is my boy Shibata still around? I literally have no idea how this tournament works.

[Defrost]

It is round robin. 2 points for a win. 1 point for a draw. And like I said they book it to keep as many people alive toward the end as possible so yes Shibata is still alive.

[Tainted Eclipse]

there was a lot of ill nature in that match

[Beer-Belly]

Are you cats watching this live? I thought they did away with the Ustream deal.

[Mike Skillz]

It seems AJ is finally accepted as a star in NJPW.

[Beer-Belly]

The Suzuki/AJ match was something else. Good lord.

[Tainted Eclipse]

MATCH OF THE YEAR holy shit

[Defrost]

That would have been all time special if Honma had won

[Tainted Eclipse]

Are you cats watching this live? I thought they did away with the Ustream deal.

I think it's ending in October. There was worry but like a week before the first show they announced they'd be on Ustream.

[Defrost]

The Suzuki/AJ match was something else. Good lord.

AJ is reminding people just how good he is in this thing

[Psycho666Soldier]

MATCH OF THE YEAR holy shit

Definitely a contender! Shibata and Honma tore the fucking house down! I definitely think I might have liked it better than MiSu/Styles.

Oh yeah, I watched Shibata/Tanahashi again. All is well. Match is great.

[Tainted Eclipse]

AJ is reminding people just how good he is in this thing

I always thought of AJ as an overrated spotty indie wrestler but he might make my top 10 of the year.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Okada/Takahashi was a nice cool down after the wildfire that was Shibata/Honma. Holds up well with the tournament, but behind MiSu/Makabe and the match before it as far as quality, I think. Maybe as good as MiSu/Makabe.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Yujiro/Okada was cool, felt different from the usual G1 match.

[Defrost]

This is so gonna be a draw

[Tainted Eclipse]

HA. Cool ending. That took a while to get going for me but it was a great finishing run and had a real big match feel.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Leaders are Okada and Shibata I think. I still like that as the final.

[Gibby]

Okada & Styles are 5-2
Tanahashi, Shibata & Nakamura are 5-2

Osaka was great. Best Archer and Smith matches I've seen. The only way it could have been better is if Honma had won, but the place would have exploded.

Could definitely go Naito as heel.

[Tainted Eclipse]

If there's a tie then it goes to the guy who previous beat the people he's tied with, right?

[Gibby]

If there's a tie then it goes to the guy who previous beat the people he's tied with, right?

Yes. In this case it would be straight-forward - Shibata and Okada would progress. How they worked out last year's Block B six-way tie I do not know. However, I get the feeling there's going to be one big upset.

Hope Ishii was just continuing his track record of great selling rather than being injured. Ishii's absence would all but push Shibata into the final given that his last day opponent is Gallows. Not that I'm against that, just saying.

[Ringo]

Randomly found this. Some guy doing english commentary for a few choice New Japan matches:

http://www.dailymotion.com/user/NJPWEnglish/1

Okada/Styles, Tanahashi/Shibata and AJ/Suzuki on there. Haven't watched properly but it sounded okay. I know some people have a real hard time getting into puro with the Japanese commentary so thought I'd post it.

[Tainted Eclipse]

So, tomorrow, finger poke of doom or what?

[Defrost]

AJ vs Machine Gun? I expect a normal match.

[Psycho666Soldier]

So Ishii's officially out. A damn shame. Before Ishii/Shibata could even happen. :(

EDIT: Never mind. Ishii's not supposed to wrestle today. Was getting the cards confused.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Before we get started, I'd like to note that I had kind of soured on Goto in 2013. I still think he's a bit too sloppy for the intricacy of some of his signatures, but ever since Wrestle Kingdom, I've been in support of Goto again. I expect him and Okada to have a pretty sweet main event.

[Ringo]

PHEW. You upset me for a second there. Would of course make sense if he does retire from the tournament but Ishii doesn't make sense.

Watched last year's Shibata/Ishii again last night when I couldn't find Day 8. So raw.

There's a bit when Shibata gets the upper hand and just drills him repeatedly with forearms in the corner while Ishii just screams in his face.

Oh and THIS
http://37.media.tumblr.com/84889e07d4861a26c17ee1b9ab1572e9/tumblr_mr3c359j0l1qhjbxeo8_250.gif

[Psycho666Soldier]

PHEW. You upset me for a second there. Would of course make sense if he does retire from the tournament but Ishii doesn't make sense.

Watched last year's Shibata/Ishii again last night when I couldn't find Day 8. So raw.

There's a bit when Shibata gets the upper hand and just drills him repeatedly with forearms in the corner while Ishii just screams in his face.

Oh and THIS
http://37.media.tumblr.com/84889e07d4861a26c17ee1b9ab1572e9/tumblr_mr3c359j0l1qhjbxeo8_250.gif

Oh yeah, I finally got around to watching that right before this year's tournament started. Fucking brutal. Might watch it again.

DBS/Honma was a pretty good opener for this show. Kind of nice to have something that rides the middle ground of quality while still being really enjoyable. The sheer quality of awesome from this tournament has almost been too much, and I've only seen 3 days in full!

[Ringo]

From where I'm standing today's card doesn't look THAT exciting but who knows with this tournament. It's been unreal.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Frozen feed moments after Takahashi/Archer starts. DAMN IT!

[Ringo]

My Top 5 (yet to see Day 8 and there's a couple of other notable matches I haven't got around to yet):

AJ/Suzuki
Ishii/Honma
Shibata/Tanahashi
Nakamura/Ishii

5th is difficult, there's been so many at a similar level. I really loved Ishii/Kojima so I guess I'll go with that.

[Psycho666Soldier]

My Top 5 (yet to see Day 8 and there's a couple of other notable matches I haven't got around to yet):

AJ/Suzuki
Ishii/Honma
Shibata/Tanahashi
Nakamura/Ishii

5th is difficult, there's been so many at a similar level. I really loved Ishii/Kojima so I guess I'll go with that.

Suzuki/AJ, Shibata/Honma, and Shibata/Tanahashi are definitely up there for me. I haven't seen much from the first 4 days other than the one I mentioned, Tenzan/Okada, and the first half of Day 1. I liked Makabe/Naito a lot, too, but I'd put Shibata/Nagata and Nakamura/Ishii ahead of it without question.


So my stream just died. Completely kaput. That kinda sucks. Might be checking out for the show tonight, then.

[Ringo]

Just saw Makabe/Naito. Great finish, pretty good overall but I don't know if it would crack my top 10. I had forgotten the result and was thinking Naito was winning so it was a nice surprise as well.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Someone hooked me up with a new stream. We're back in business. Just in time for Makabe/Tenzan.

Pretty solid match, too. I was honestly expecting a bit more, but it was a nice short bout. I am expecting a lot from Naito/Suzuki, though.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Highlight of the show so far were the Honma signs.

[Tainted Eclipse]

And that's not a knock on the show, those were just awesome.

[Tainted Eclipse]

I liked Naito/Suzuki a lot. It's a good match up, Suzuki is good at beating people up and Naito is a guy I want to see get beaten up. He has unique, good looking offense for comebacks too so it works even better.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I liked Naito/Suzuki a lot. It's a good match up, Suzuki is good at beating people up and Naito is a guy I want to see get beaten up. He has unique, good looking offense for comebacks too so it works even better.

My thoughts exactly. That finishing stretch was hot as fuck. Not sure if Suzuki's always used that rear-naked choke, but I like how it's become his ace kill move in this tournament. I've come to appreciate Naito a lot more since his match with Okada this year, but there is one thing he does that I can't get over: that damn corner dropkick spot! It'd be cool as something he pulled out only once in a while, but seeing him do it so often in every match feels so contrived.

[Tainted Eclipse]

It's a hit or miss spot for me. I like it in theory but sometimes he lands way too far out and it looks like it has no impact.

[Defrost]

I thought Naito looked kinda off in that match

[Defrost]

Finally get the long teased count out

[Tainted Eclipse]

Oh fuck that. The dreaded countout finally claims a victim.

Shibata was good in that match. There are plenty of better people they could be pushing instead of Fale.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Yeah, Shibata did almost all of the work in that match. Only cool thing Fale did was his Chokeslam Thumb Jab thing onto the apron. Really deflating count-out victory, too. That should be saved for when someone gets completely annihilated outside, not just one move like that.

Hopefully Nakamura/Kojima can make up for that.

[Psycho666Soldier]

It's the battle of cool corner spots.

[Psycho666Soldier]

That was MUCH better. Solid all the way through, but the really pulled it home in those last few minutes. Matches like are why I love Kojima. I don't think it even needs to be said about Nakamura.

[Defrost]

I popped

[Psycho666Soldier]

The double clothesline spot is great when it's not overused.

[Defrost]

I enjoyed that