Csonka’s NJPW G1 Climax Day 16 Review

NJPW G1 Climax Day 12 8.12.15

OFFICIAL RESULTS
* Block B: Karl Anderson defeated Yujiro Takahashi @ 10:00 via pin [**]
* Block B: Hirooki Goto defeated Michael Elgin @ 11:40 via pin [****]
* Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Satoshi Kojima @ 11:25 via pin [***¼]
* Block B: Kazuchika Okada defeated Yuji Nagata @ 18:15 via pin [****¼]
* Block B: Tomoaki Honma defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 16:15 via pin [****½]

* Disclaimer I will be doing what I did with the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, I will just be reviewing the tournament matches from each day. They are what matters, and I don’t worry about burning out.

Karl Anderson defeated Yujiro Takahashi: There wasn’t a lot to this wrestling wise, as we got another two star special here. This was another battle of Bullet club members, and like the Styles vs. Fale match, this was more about drama between the members of Bullet Club than the tournament match itself. Anderson has an eye for the ladies, and was infatuated with Takahashi’s young lady. This led to Styles constantly getting on Anderson, reminding him that they are all family and even those two shoving each other. Again, it seems as if we’re laying some work for a possible implosion or a break up in some way. It was what it was, moving on…

Hirooki Goto defeated Michael Elgin: Goto faced off with #BIGMIKE (credit Voices of Wrestling), and this was one of Elgin’s best tournament matches. I wish I could think of funny little names quicker, but I was beat to the punch. Anyway, the G1 style continues to be a great fir for Elgin as he gets his extended tryout here. Elgin’s power game gets a great buzz from the Japanese crowds, and these guys just meshed well together with Elgin getting to take a lot of the match. They had a great outing, with good near falls and just a good plan from both guys that was well-executed bell to bell. Japan has embraced Elgin, and it has given him new life. That’s good news for ROH fans as Goto is coming to the US to work Elgin at the field of Honor event. With Goto picking up the win today (with a very slick leg lace cradle) one has to think that Elgin picks up the non-title victory in the US to set up an IC Title program for when Elgin returns for his next tour (which he has assuredly earned after his run in the G1).

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Satoshi Kojima: This was a good and fun match, but not near the level of the previous match. It was filled with back and forth action, but I am losing any interest in Nakamura’s near falls because the guy is having everyone kick out of the damn Boma ye (multiple times at that) so often; it’s lost all effect, similar to Cena’s AA. Kojima survived a few Boma ye’s and the arm bar, and the drama was just gone after that. Nakamura finally hit another Boma ye for the win. So many people have been talking about a possible Nakamura win, but I have not been feeling it at all.

Kazuchika Okada defeated Yuji Nagata: This was another very good match, as Okada got to play the heel side here (which he is very good at) and the hot crowd was all about a Nagata victory. The back and forth here was well done, as they built smartly to the later action and allowed themselves to follow the direction of the crowd, they played into them so well. Okada started to make his comeback and did the rainmaker pose, and looked to go into the ending sequence, but Nagata snatched the arm for an arm bar and not only did that allow him to survive longer, but got a great reaction. This crowd had their favorites and knew who they wanted to win tonight, and they wanted Nagata. Nagata got another great near fall off of his backdrop driver, but Okada overcame and hit the dropkick, tombstone, rainmaker combination to put the veteran away. This was a damn fine piece of business here.

Tomoaki Honma defeated Tomohiro Ishii: While not the classic their February performance was, this was an awesome match and up there in the top matches so far in the tournament. The match was very similar in style to the February battle these two had, and I use battle because that’s exactly what it felt like because these men wage physical war on each other. Much like with Nagata, this crowd wanted a Honma win and they wanted it badly. Due to the style that these two work, and the fact that this crowd wanted Honma to win so badly, they had an awesome atmosphere to work in; a lot of people would kill for such a lively atmosphere. The match is a great, back and forth, physical encounter that just clicked in every way possible. Over the last two years it has always been so close, but no cigar for Honma; usually relying way too much on the Kokeshi and thusly failing and losing. NOT THIS TIME MOTHER FUCKERS.

#KokeshiCount – 47/84!!!! #NJPW #G125 #HONMANIA pic.twitter.com/oYDL28rJs5

— LARIATOOOOO!!! (@SenorLARIATO) August 12, 2015

After his series of failures, it all came together. Honma survived, and hit three Kokeshi’s for a near fall. So he ended up hitting two more, and finally, finally he won! It was a magical moment as the air smelled cleaner, food tasted better and it was morning in Japan again; the long national nightmare is over and everything is right in the world because Tomoaki Honma won. The match was absolutely awesome, the crowd was amazing and the moment was just one that made me smile.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

BLOCK B Standings
~ Kazuchika Okada – 14 POINTS [7 wins, 1 losses]
~ Karl Anderson – 12 POINTS [6 wins, 2 losses]
~ Hirooki Goto – 12 POINTS [6 wins, 2 losses]
~ Shinsuke Nakamura – 12 POINTS [6 wins, 2 losses]
~ Michael Elgin – 8 POINTS [4 win, 4 losses]
~ Tomohiro Ishii – 8 POINTS [4 wins, 4 losses]
~ Satoshi Kojima – 4 POINTS [2 wins, 6 losses]
~ Yuji Nagata – 4 POINTS [2 wins, 6 losses]
~ Yujiro Takahashi – 4 POINTS [2 wins, 6 losses]
~ Tomoaki Honma – 2 POINTS [1 win, 7 losses]

– This dude on the Twitter machine did the math, and has the breakdown of how things could go. Give him a follow…

Four guys can end Block B tied on 14 points, and assuming the tiebreaker is head-to-head (mini league for more than 2), lots of options.

— Bryan (@BryanIsNotFunny) August 12, 2015

First, Okada wins, he goes through on 16 points, so anything beyond that assumes Nakamura wins and Okada/Nakamura both have 14 points.

— Bryan (@BryanIsNotFunny) August 12, 2015

If Anderson & Goto both lose, Nakamura wins Block B on tiebreaker w/ Okada. Both have 14, Nakamura wins H2H.

— Bryan (@BryanIsNotFunny) August 12, 2015

If Goto wins, but Anderson loses, Goto/Naka/Okada all have 14. Nakamura advances, being 2-0 against Goto/Okada. Goto 1-1, Okada 0-2.

— Bryan (@BryanIsNotFunny) August 12, 2015

If Anderson wins, but Goto loses, Anderson/Okada/Naka all have 14. Everyone is 1-1 against each other. So that won't happen.

— Bryan (@BryanIsNotFunny) August 12, 2015

If Anderson, Goto, Nakamura win, they + Okada all have 14 points. Anderson & Nakamura are 2-1 against the other 3, Okada & Goto 1-2. (1/2)

— Bryan (@BryanIsNotFunny) August 12, 2015

Breaking that tie further means Anderson over Nakamura in H2H (and Goto over Okada for 3rd place). Karl has an outside chance! (2/2)

— Bryan (@BryanIsNotFunny) August 12, 2015

“I’m out…”