By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S NJPW G1 CLIMAX 24: NIGHT 6 REPORT
JULY 31, 2014
HAMAMATSU, JAPAN

(1) IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Luke Gallows vs. IWGP IC Champion Bad Luck Fale in a G1 Climax 2014 A Block match. Gallows and Fale gave each other the two sweet hand signal before locking up. Both men went for shoulder tackles early, but neither man would go down. They began exchanging blows before the action spilled to the floor. Gallows sent Fale into the guardrail and he collapsed to the floor. Fale stood on top of Gallows after nailing hi with a kick as he tried to get back into the ring. Gallows fired back and sent Fale to the floor with a clothesline, but he immediately dragged him to the floor. Fale began pounding on Gallows on the outside. The crowd has been very flat so far. Gallows cut off Fale coming back into the ring this time and stood on top of his back using the ropes for leverage. Gallows went for a flying shoulder tackle, but Fale got out of the way and hit a big splash for a 2 count. He set up Gallows for the thumb spike, but Gallows broke free. Gallows then hit a big spinebuster for a 2 count. They went to a big exchange of punches and both men got tired and slumped to their knees. They both went for running clotheslines and Fale ducked and caught Gallows with a big clothesline as he came off the ropes. Gallows caught Fale with a bicycle for the win.

Gallows and Fale walked up the ramp together after the match.

Winner: Luke Gallows – This match just had very little going for it. The action was fine, but the crowd was so flat for the action that it was nothing more than a basic big man vs. big man match. It probably didn’t help that two heels were matched up against each other.

(2) Yuji Nagata vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. in a G1 Climax 2014 A Block match. They exchanged holds on the mat early and came to a stalemate. Nagata ducked a move from Smith and went for a running kick, but Smith managed to get out of the way and they came to another stalemate. They began exchanging forearms in the middle of the ring. Smith ended up tossing Nagata to the floor before tossing him into the guardrail. Smith put a beating on Nagata and he struggled to get back in the ring before barely beating the 20 count. Smith shook off a comeback attempt from Nagata and worked a camel clutch. He transitioned into a headlock on the mat, but Nagata got the ropes. Nagata slipped out of a suplex and began nailing Smith with kicks to the chest. The pace picked up and Nagata faked out Smith before nailing him with a dropkick to the knee followed by a big suplex for a 2 count. Nagata nailed Smith with several kicks, but ran right into a powerslam for a 2 count. They went to a big strike exchange in the middle of the ring. Smith caught Nagata’s leg and ended up hitting a leg capture suplex for a 2 count. Smith followed up with a tiger suplex with a bridge for a near fall.

The fans chanted for Nagata, who slipped out of a powerbomb attempt and caught Smith in his signature arm submission. The fans fired up as Nagata rolled his eyes into the back of his head while applying the hold. Smith struggled, but finally managed to get to the ropes. Nagata caught Smith with a German, but he popped up to his feet. Nagata nailed Smith with a spinning kick and hit an exploder on Smith for the win. Heck of a finish to the match.

Winner: Yuji Nagata

Star rating: (***1/4) this was a good match. They did a nice job of building the pace of the match from the start, although it felt like they were missing a middle part of the match before going to the finish. I liked Smith’s look better with longer hair, but it appeared he got a haircut during the off days. He continues to impress me with his improvement as an overall performer.

(3) Togi Makabe vs. NEVER Openweight Champion Yujiro Takahashi in a G1 Climax 2014 B Block match. Takahashi went right after Makabe before the bell rang. The action spilled to the outside quickly. Takahashi whipped Makabe chest-first into the guardrail. They brawled up to the entrance ramp and Takahashi got a running start and nailed Makabe with a sliding kick. Makabe sold his jaw as he got back into the ring. Takahashi gyrated around with Makabe’s head near his crotch. Takahashi continued to work over Makabe for several minutes. Takahashi nailed Makabe with several strikes in the corner before choking him with his boot. He nailed Makabe with a running kick to the jaw in the corner a short time later. Makabe finally caught Takahashi with a huge clothesline as he came off the ropes. The fans fired up as both men regrouped. A chant for Makabe started and he began working over Takahashi in the corner with a series of punches. Takahashi fired back and hit a big punch to the jaw and followed up with a fisherman buster for a 2 count. Makabe began to fire up as Takahashi nailed him with kicks and punches. Makabe’s eyes got wild as Takahashi continued to nail him with forearms. Makabe ate a lariat and didn’t go down. He then clotheslined Takahashi to the mat. Takahashi slipped out of a powerbomb attempt, but ate a powerslam a short time later. Makabe hit a big powerbomb a short time later for a near fall.

Makabe went up for a double knee drop, but Takahashi got out of the way. Both men went for clotheslines at the same time. Takahashi ducked a clothesline, but walked right into a clothesline from Makabe’s left hand. Takahashi raked Makabe’s eyes and shoved him into the ref. He hit a low blow and a buckle bomb. He then hit the Miami shine DVD for the win.

Winner: Yujiro Takahashi

Star rating: (**3/4) – Takahashi went after Makabe’s jaw early, but Makabe mounted a comeback. The pace picked up and Makabe looked to be gaining momentum until Tanahashi shoved him into the ref and hit a low blow and his finish for the cheap win.

(4) Satoshi Kojima vs. Katsuyori Shibata in a G1 Climax 2014 A Block match. Shibata offered a clean break against the ropes early in the match, but Kojima nailed him with a kick to the gut and went on the attack. Shibata fired back on the floor a short time later and nailed Kojima with a running kick against the guardrail. Shibata set up for a move off the apron, but Kojima swept his legs out from under him and followed up with a DDT that sent Shibata head-first into the apron. Kojima hit the Kobashi chops in the corner, but Shibata fired up and obliterated him with elbows. Kojima then fired right back and nailed Shibata with a huge chop that sent him down to the mat. The fans fired up as Kojima went up top, but Shibata nailed him with a flying kick that sent him to the floor. That was a great sequence. They battled for position on the outside and Shibata connected with a suplex. It looked like Shibata was going to get counted out, but he fired up and dove into the ring at the last second. Both men began exchanging forearms in the middle of the ring. Shibata finally ended up decking Shibata with a roaring elbow.

Kojima bounced off the ropes, but Shibata surprised him with a running knee to the gut. Shibata then began obliterating Kojima with big forearms in the corner. He set up for his signature running dropkick, but Kojima popped up and nailed him with a clothesline against the turnbuckles. Shibata countered Kojima a short time later and grabbed a sleeper hold, but Kojima turned it into a Saito suplex. Shibata fired right back with a German and then followed up with his running dropkick in the corner. They went back and forth and Kojima hit a big ace crusher. He then went for a lariat, but Kojima blocked it with a kick. He then nailed Shibata with a huge clothesline off the ropes and a brainbuster for a near fall. Kojima set up for another clothesline, but Shibata nailed him with a big dropkick and both men were down. The fans went nuts as both men were slow to recover. Kojima got up and hit several forearms, but Shibata fired back with a spinning backfist. Shibata then hit the GTS and the penalty kick for the win. Wow! What a war that was.

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata

Star rating: (****1/4) – This was an excellent match. These guys went to war and went back and forth with big strike exchanges, fighting spirit sequences, and counter sequences. The fans really heated for the match down the stretch and this turned into one hell of a match. The strike exchanges were insane in this one.

(5) Hirooki Goto vs. IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Karl Anderson in a G1 Climax 24 B Block match. The action spilled to the floor during the early going and Anderson whipped Goto into the barricade before nailing him with a bicycle kick. They brawled into the crowd and Anderson nailed Goto with a section of the barricade. Goto beat the ref’s count, but Anderson continued to dominate the action. Anderson taunted Goto with light kicks and brush slaps. Goto got upset with this and fired back at Anderson, but got cut off. They both went for clotheslines at the same time twice. Neither man would go down and both men went off the ropes before Goto wiped out Anderson with a huge clothesline. Goto fired up and nailed Anderson with a flurry of offense for a 2 count. Anderson ducked a charge in the corner and hit a huge kick to Goto’s head. He then hit a big powerbomb for a near fall. Both men began exchanging forearms in the middle of the ring. Goto absorbed an uppercut and floored Anderson with a headbutt. Anderson fired right back with a bicycle kick on Goto as he came off the ropes.

Anderson placed Goto up top, but Goto fired out of his clutch with several elbows. They began battling up top and traded forearms. Goto then set up on top of Anderson and hit a code red off the top for a near fall and the fans fired up. Anderson slipped out of a suplex attempt and they went to a big exchange off the ropes until Goto caught Anderson with a neck breaker over his knee for a 2 count. Goto blocked an ace crusher and they went to a big exchange off the ropes. Goto blocked a second ace crusher and they continued to go back and forth exchanging counters until Anderson finally caught Goto with the ace crusher for the win.

Winner: Karl Anderson

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good match with some good hard-hitting exchanges late in the match once Goto mounted his initial comeback. The final exchange at the end was great with Anderson continually going for the ace crusher and Goto countering it until Anderson finally hit it for the win.

Anderson cut a promo backstage after the match and said Bullet Club would be in the finals of G1. Anderson said it was too easy with all of the Bullet Club members in G1. He said when they went to the Tokyo Dome in January, it would be an all Bullet Club main event for the IWGP Hvt. Championship. Anderson said Goto just found out what happens when you get hit with the stun gun. Anderson concluded by telling the translator to tell everyone there would be a Bullet Club champion soon.

(6) Minoru Suzuki vs. Lance Archer in a G1 Climax Block B match. Archer hit a belly-to-belly suplex and then wiped out Suzuki with a big shoulder tackle. Suzuki fired back on the apron and grabbed an arm bar using the ropes for leverage. Archer went for a running kick against the guardrail, but Suzuki got out of the way and tied up his leg in the guardrail before nailing him with a running kick. Suzuki then continued to work over Archer’s leg as he wrapped it around the guardrail and twisted it before nailing it with a kick. Suzuki then grabbed a leg submission using the guardrail for leverage, but the ref made him break the hold. The ref finally began his count as Suzuki worked over Archer against the guardrail. Archer tried to get back into the ring, but his leg gave out from under him. Archer then barely beat the 20 count by diving into the ring. Suzuki hit a flurry of headbutts to the back of Archers head before applying a leg submission on the mat. Suzuki yelled at Archer before applying more pressure on the hold. Archer went for the ropes, but Suzuki dragged him back to the middle of the ring. Suzuki continued to work over the hold with Archer unable to get to the ropes. Suzuki continued to work the hold for a long period of time. Archer really struggled to get to the ropes before finally reaching them to break the hold.

Archer finally caught Suzuki coming off the ropes with a slam, but had a hard time capitalizing with his injured leg. Archer managed to hit a suplex and a big running splash, but he only got a 2 count. I guess his leg magically healed. Suzuki tried to fire back, but Hoyt hit a side slam and remembered his leg hurt and began to sell it again. Archer drove Suzuki in the corner and set up for the blackout, but Suzuki slipped behind him and grabbed a sleeper. Suzuki set up for a neutralizer, but Hoyt backdropped him. Suzuki blocked a chokes lam attempt and grabbed a sleeper a short time later. He then dragged Hoyt down to the mat and wrenched back on the hold for the submission win.

Both men shook hands after the match and posed with Michinoku.

Winner: Minoru Suzuki

Star rating: (**) – There was some good action in this one. Suzuki really worked over Archer’s leg for a long period of time, but Archer’s selling hurt the match, as he went from selling his leg big time to being totally fine to selling his leg again while on offense.

(7) Shelton Benjamin vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a G1 Climax A Block match. Benjamin jumped Nakamura while he was doing his pose and then choked him with his ring jacket. Benjamin then hit Nakamura’s pose and the crowd reacted. Nakamura tried to fire back, but Benjamin caught his leg and dropped it across his shoulder. Benjamin the dragged his leg over the guardrail and wrenched back on it. Benjamin finally tossed Nakamura back in the ring and began working his leg over. Nakamura tried to fire back, but Benjamin kicked his leg out from under him. Nakamura finally mounted a comeback and the fans fired up and he hit his signature boot choke in the corner. Nakamura then hit a big running knee to Benjamin’s gut as he was draped over the top rope. Nakamura remembered to sell his leg and began trying to beat some feeling back into it, but Benjamin got an ankle lock. Nakamura struggled, but eventually got the ropes.

Nakamura hit a suplex, but sold his leg after hitting it on Benjamin. He set up for the Boma Ye, but Benjamin hit a superkick and a German with a bridge a short time later for 2 count. Benjamin went for pay dirt, but Nakamura countered and got an arm bar. Benjamin nicely slid through and grabbed an ankle lock once again. Nakamura struggled towards the ropes, but Benjamin dragged him back to the middle of the ring. Nakamura teased tapping, but ended up crawling towards the ropes. He eventually rolled over and shoved Benjamin off with his feet. Nakamura hit a flying kick off the second rope and a running knee strike for a near fall. He shook some feeling back into his leg and hit the Boma Ye for the win.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

Star rating: (**3/4) – The action was decent, but nothing memorable. Benjamin basically dominated most of the match and worked over Nakamura’s leg. The problem was that Nakamura’s selling was inconsistent and didn’t add to the story they were trying to tell.

(8) IWGP Hvt. Champion A.J. Styles vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan in a G1 Climax B Block match. The fans chanted for Tenzan after the opening bell rang. Styles backed Tenzan into the corner and gave him a light shove before backing away. Styles hit a series of double chops on Tenzan and Tenzan yelled at him. Styles hit double chops over and over on Tenzan, who shook them all off and then sent Styles down with a series of double chops and the fans roared. The action went to the floor. Styles ended up jumping over the barricade when Tenzan whipped him before nailing him with a kick. The action came back into the ring and Styles began working Tenzan over. Tenzan fired back and caught Styles with a backdrop. Styles fired back and hit a big chop in the corner followed by a back breaker. Styles aggressively grabbed a chin lock before dragging Tenzan all the way to the mat, but Tenzan got the ropes. Styles then followed up with his signature dropkick and got a mixed reaction from the crowd. They went to a big chop exchange, but Styles hit an enzuguri. He then set up for the Styles clash, but Tenzan ended up backdropping him all the way to the floor.

The fans fired up with Styles down on the outside. Styles got back into the ring and Tenzan went to work on him with a pair of running clotheslines in the corner. He then hit a big face buster off the top, but Styles kicked out at 2. Tenzan hit a brainbuster a short time later for another 2 count. Styles fired back and hit a springboard moonsault, but Tenzan kicked out at 2. The fans began chanting for Tenzan. Styles set up for the Styles clash again, but Tenzan blocked it. Styles went for a leaping forearm in the corner, but Tenzan shoved him to the mat and hit a running headbutt for a 2 count. Tenzan grabbed the anaconda vice, but Styles managed to break free. Tenzan went up top a short time later and hit a big diving headbutt, but Styles kicked out at 2. Tenzan then immediately applied the anaconda vice. Styles screamed, but managed to get to his feet. Tenzan then lifted him up while still applying the hold. Tenzan really worked the hold, but Styles managed to get the ropes. I wish they had gotten a better angle on Styles selling the hold there. Tenzan went up top again, but Styles got out if the way of a moonsault attempt. He then hit a springboard forearm for a 2 count. Styles ducked a clothesline from Tenzan and hit a Pele kick. He then hit the Styles clash for the win.

Winner: A.J. Styles

Star rating: (***3/4) – Styles did a great job modifying his style to play to Tenzan’s strengths here. They had a really good back and forth match with Tenzan constantly blocking the Styles clash and Tenzan trying to submit Styles with the anaconda vice. They had a really good sequence down the stretch where Styles battled like heck to get out of the anaconda vice before finally finishing Tenzan off.

(9) Kazuchika Okada vs. Toru Yano in a G1 Climax B Block match. Okada grabbed an arm submission and pounded on Yano against the ropes. He then signaled for the rainmaker, so Yano walked up to him and shrugged. Okada lit up Yano with strikes before nailing him with a sliding kick to the head. Yano cut off Okada on the outside and tossed him into the ringpost. He went for his chair, but Gedo grabbed it. Okada went for a running kick, but ended up kicking Gedo. Yano got his chair and drove it into Okada’s mid-section. They brawled into the crowd and Yano wiped him out and went back into the ring. Yano undid the turnbuckle pad and the ref began counting. Okada beat the 20 count easily, but Yano whipped him right into the exposed turnbuckles. Yano then hit a big slam for a 2 count. Yano taunted Gedo on the outside before whipping Okada into the exposed corner again. Okada ducked a charge in the corner and this time Yano went into the exposed turnbuckles. He followed up with a neck breaker and the fans fired up. Okada hit a big DDT and kipped up and the fans applauded. Okada continued to generate momentum and hit a slingshot senton for a 2 count.

Yano tripped Okada into the exposed turnbuckle and rolled him up for a 2 count. Okada countered him and hit the emerald frozien. A short time later Okada went up top and hit an elbow drop. Okada signaled for the rainmaker, but Yano countered it and catapulted him into the exposed turnbuckles and rolled him up for a 2 count. Okada blocked a powerbomb and eventually nailed Yano with a big dropkick. Yano shoved the ref in the way when he went for the rainmaker and eventually hit a low blow and went for the dirty pin, but Okada kicked out at the last second. Yano shoved the ref into Okada again, but he shrugged the ref off and hit the rainmaker for the win.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a lot of fun with Yano doing all he could to cheat his way to victory. I really thought the finish played off well given what Yano’s done in his other matches picking up a string of victories with a low blow and then a dirty pin. When Okada kicked out of the low blow/dirty pin combination, it was a great near fall. The finishing sequence was nicely executed as well.

(10) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii in a G1 Climax A Block match. The fans chanted for Tanahashi before the match began. Ishii got the upper hand early after hitting a big powerslam. Tanahasi fired back with several chops, but Ishii shrugged them off and took Tanahashi down with a big chop. Ishii hit some light kicks to Tanahashi’s head. Tanahashi ended up in the corner and Ishii lit him up with some big chops. Tanahashi turned the tables and hit some strikes, but Ishii turned him around in the corner and nailed him with alternate chops and forearms. Ishii ended up missing a charge in the corner and Tanahashi lit him up with a series of strikes. Ishii screamed at Tanahashi a short time later as he nailed him with forearms. Ishii walked to the middle of the ring and lit up Tanahashi with strikes, but he ended up decking him with a big uppercut. A short time later, Tanahasi hit a dropkick to Ishii’s leg. He followed up with a dragon screw before applying the Texas clover leaf. Tanahashi dragged Ishii to the center of the ring as he tried to fight to the ropes. Ishii struggled towards the ropes again and this time he managed to grab them to break the hold. The fans fired up and Ishii caught Tanahashi with an enzuguri. He followed up with a dragon screw of his own to deck Tanahashi. Ishii then applied a sharpshooter. Tanahashi struggled, but managed to get the ropes.

Ishii hit a big clothesline in the corner and sold his back afterwards. He placed Tanahashi up top and nailed him with a delayed vertical superplex for a near fall. Ishii went for a powerbomb, but Tanahashi fought out of it. Ishii hit an enzuguri, which was good for another 2 count. They went back and forth off the ropes and Tanahasi finally hit the spiral tap. Both men got up and began exchanging big forearms. Tanahashi hit a pair of big slaps to the face and Ishii went down. Tanahashi followed up with a dragon suplex and Ishii staggered around. Tanahashi hit another spiral tap, but Ishii kicked out at the last second. Tanahashi went up top and hit the high fly flow on a standing Ishii. He went right back up top, but missed a high fly flow to the mat when Ishii got out of the way. The fans really fired up and chanted for Tanahashi with both men down. Ishii blocked a spiral tap and hit a huge headbutt. He followed up with a diving lariat, but Tanahashi kicked out at the last second. Ishii hit another huge lariat, but once again Tanahashi kicked out at the last second. Ishii went for a brain buster, but Tanahashi ended up surprising him with a spiral tap when he came off the ropes. The fans screamed Tanahashi’s name with both men down. They went to a huge strike exchange and Tanahashi decked Ishii with a big lariat. Tanahashi hit a falcon arrow variation, but Ishii kicked out. He then went right up top and hit the high fly flow for the win. My goodness, what a main event!

The fans chanted for Tanahashi once he recovered and got to his feet. The chants were deafening. Tanahashi played to the crowd before getting on the mic. Tanahashi said a few words and the fans cheered. They began chanting his name again. Tanahashi then got on his knees and the crowd gasped as he put on his air guitar and tuned it. Tanahashi played to different sides of the ring before beginning his rock concert. The fans began clapping as he played. Tanahashi did an air split and collapsed. The fans went out of their minds and Tanahashi got on the ropes and began playing his air guitar again. Tanahasi smashed his air guitar and cleared the debris from the ring. Tanahashi got back on the mic and grabbed another guitar. He got on his knees and began a vicious solo. He then tossed his guitar into the crowd. Tanahashi then said a few more words to the crowd and his theme played. That was amazing!

Tanahashi went around ringside and shook hands with all of the fans around the ring.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi

Star rating: (****1/2) – Excellent main event. The crowd was so hot for Tanahashi during the match that it was insane at times. Ishii was just tremendous here with his facial expressions and selling that he made it seem like Tanahashi would never put him away. They had some tremendous exchanges down
the stretch leading to the finish. What a match! This was a great story to tell with Tanahashi being in such rough shape after his two recent defeats.

Overall thoughts: (8.0) – This wasn’t one of the best shows of the G1 Climax 24 Tournament so far, but there was some darn good wrestling on this show. The show started slowly, but Shibata-Kojima really picked things up with an incredible back and forth contest that woke up the crowd. The second half of the show featured some really good action for the most part capped by a great main event between Tanahashi and Ishii.

The show started slowly with the crowd not really waking up until the Shibata-Kojima match. Shibata has been really good in this tournament with his striking, but Shibata was up to the task of going toe-to-toe with him on this night. The fighting spirit and strike sequences were really well done down the stretch leading into the finish.

A.J. Styles continued his streak of having really good to great matches during this tournament. Tenzan and Styles put together a really good match and Styles did a heck of a job selling for Tenzan. They built the match around Styles going for the Styles clash and Tenzan trying to finish him off with the anaconda vice. The tease of Styles tapping late in the match was well-done, although they should have got a better angle of Styles selling the hold.

It looks like this tournament is going to down Okada and Tanahashi, who have mirrored each other so far in the tournament. Both have experienced ups and downs, with Tanahashi really taking a beating in his last two losses.

It was a great night for Tanahashi. He’s so over with the fans and they really rallied behind him as he tried to stop his losing streak in G1. Ishii’s selling and facials were tremendous in this match and the crowd heat down the stretch was amazing to watch. The heat for Tanahashi’s show-closing air guitar performance was tremendous and it’s hard not to get chills watching him interact with the crowd.

This wasn’t up there with the best shows of G1 so far, but there were a slew of good matches and the storytelling has been top notch so far. I can’t wait to see where this tournament goes and it heads into the home stretch, but I have a feeling it’s going to come down between Okada and Tanahashi the way things are shaping up and the way Tanahashi is being booked, it looks like he’s going to have to gut his way through the tournament before overcoming a slightly fresher Okada in the end.

You can purchase NJPW “G1 Climax 24: Night 6” on VOD by clicking HERE or by visiting Ustream.tv/njpw.

***

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