It’s been a long ride, but after 18 shows of G1 Climax action – we have arrived at the finals. Kazuchika Okada will take on Kota Ibushi in the match to decide it all, but first we have some refreshing undercard tag team action to get through – and a major surprise to really bring some excitement. Everything came down to this one show, so could NJPW truly deliver once again?
House Of Torture Have Golden Dreams
Kicking off the show was a tag team showcase from Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb, a team to watch in the coming World Tag League. They took on Yuji Nagata & Toru Yano, and would take out some frustrations along the way. Maybe they focused too much on beating up the legend and the trickiest man in NJPW, as Yano would sneak a low blow and roll up on O-Khan for the win.
House of Torture was out next, squaring off in a non-title match against the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions of CHAOS. YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishi & Hirooki Goto are a hard unit to beat, but the tactics of House of Torture semed to be effective here, as Dick Togo allowed for a distraction and win. After the match, H.O.T would hold gold that EVIL once called trash, indicating a coming challenge.
Meanwhile, the rest of BULLET CLUB seem like great guys when put next to House of Torture. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Chase Owens & KENTA all had highlight moments and wins in the G1 Climax, with Tanahashi falling to Owens being the biggest. Tonight, Tanahashi teamed with Great Bash Heel & Tiger Mask to take the fight to Bullet Club, with Owens nabbing a win in the end. However, despite being the one to have beaten the ace, he stepped aside as KENTA looked for a IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match!
Katsuyori Shibata Is Still Intending To Return To The Ring
We were set for a Los Ingobernables De Japon vs. Taguchi Japan match, but instead Zack Sabre Jr hit the ring ready to wrestle. The music of Katsuyori Shibata would hit, and he was also dressed to compete, despite being forced into retirement in 2017. Turns out he was cleared for a five minute UWF rules exhibition with ZSJ, and the bell would sound. It was a surreal five minutes of grappling greatness, with Shibata having control with an Octopus Hold as time ran out. Afterwards he took a flatback bump, and said next time his music hits – it’s for a proper match. What a moment.
The Los Ingobernables De Japon vs. Taguchi Japan match happened afterwards, but fans rightfully had a hard time getting their focus on it. It was your typical smooth L.I.J match, with some TenKoji fun, and even a great spot with Master Wato flying in from off screen to nail a dropkick. In the end, Shingo Takagi nailed a Pumping Bomber to Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the win, before joining Japanese commentary for the main event.
No One Wanted This Match To End Like That, Not Even Kazuchika Okada
It was time for the finals of the G1 Climax 31 – The Rainmaker vs. The Golden Star. This was the fourth year in a row that Ibushi made the finals, but Okada’s first in seven years – last being in the mix with a win in 2014. Both men came ready for war right out of the gates, with a faster start than normal. Ibushi nailed a big half & half suplex on the floor before a swan dive dropkick in the ring, only to go up top and be dropkicked to the floor. Outside, Okada nailed a DDT, before dragging Ibushi back in for a shotgun dropkick and Monet Clip.
Ibushi would fight out of the submission hold, and was able to block the rainmaker and send Okada to the outside for a moonsault. Once back in the ring, he’d nail the Golden Star powerbomb, but fail to set up Kamigoye – until he hit a V-Trigger. Kamigoye wasn’t enough, so he’d expose the knee. Dodging another rainmaker and hitting a southpaw lariat, Ibushi would go to the top rope for a Phoenix Splash.
This is where everything went wrong. Ibushi missed, and on impact would break his wrist. Okada was sent to the corner by call of the referee while Ibushi was accessed, and this one ended with a referee stoppage. Heartbreak came when a tearful Ibushi pleaded to continue, but the G1 Climax was over. Okada tried his best to celebrate, but it was a hollow win – and he will make sure that Ibushi gets the first shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship when he’s healthy.
Do you think Okada would have won the match without Ibushi getting injured? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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