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RADICAN’S NJPW G1 CLIMAX 29 NIGHT 16 REPORT
AUGUST 8, 2019
YOKOHAMA CULTURAL GYMNASIUM
KANAGOWA, JAPAN
AIRED LIVE ON NJPW WORLD
G1 CLIMAX 29: NIGHT 16 VIEWING GUIDE
Note: This section will provide spoiler free recommended matches to watch from each night of the tournament if you’re pressed for time and only want to see the essentials. The matches worth seeing will start at ***¾ or higher.
(8) Jay White vs. Juice Robinson (****½)
(9) Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii. (****¾)
Commentary: Kevin Kelly, Rocky Romero and Chris Charlton.
UNDERCARD RESULTS
(1) Shota Umino & Ren Narita beat Yuya Uemura & Yota Tsuji in 5:40.
(2) Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi beat BUSHI & EVIL & SANADA in 7:50.
(3) Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Karl Fredericks & KENTA & Clark Connors in 7:20.
(4) Toa Henare & Will Ospreay & Kota Ibushi beat Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi & YOSHI-HASHI in 7:20.
B BLOCK RESULTS & ANALYSIS
(5) TORU YANO (6) vs. TAICHI (W/MIHO ABE) (6) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
Taichi kept stalling so Yano said he was going to leave. He went up the ramp, but Kanemaru cut him off and hit him with the whiskey bottle while Taichi distracted the ref. Taichi wrapped Yano in one side of the ring apron and left him on the floor. Yano managed to get back into the ring with the apron wrapped around him at 18. They played a game of hot potato with the corner pad. Kanemaru got up on the apron and got involved. Kanemura went for the Santori Surprise, but Yano blocked it and he spit it in Taichi’s face. He hit a double low blow and then tied Taichi and Kanemaru up in the ring apron and it was good for the countout win. Tremendous.
WINNER: Toru Yano (8 pts) in 5:00.
(Radican’s Analysis: This was funny to watch as it unfolded. The finish with Yano getting the countout win was hilarious.)
The announcers mentioned Yano is still alive heading into the final night of block action.)
(6) IWGP IC CHAMPION TETSUYA NAITO (8) vs. JEFF COBB (6) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
Naito mocked Cobb with a sumo stance once he got into the ring. Cobb jumped Naito before the bell rang. Naito fired back and hit a dropkick to Cobb’s back. He then hit a neckbreaker. Naito targeted Cobb’s neck. Cobb caught Naito going for his corner dropkick and hit a HUGE belly to belly suplex. Cobb hit a standing moonsault despite the damage to his leg for a two count. Cobb was slow to get up after making the cover and sold his knee. They battled up top and Cobb eventually hit a stalling suplex. Cobb hit the spin cycle a short time later and made a deep cover for a nearfall. NAito fired back and hit a rolling kick, but Cobb fired back and decked him with a superkick. Cobb sold his leg and did not follow up. Cobb set up Naito in the corner and got him up on his shoulder. Naito managed to fight his way out of Cobb’s grasp. He then raked Cobb’s eyes. Naito went for a Frankensteiner off the top and landed it. Cobb got right back up and Naito went for a spinning DDT. Cobb blocked it and went for a suplex, but Naito turned it into a DDT. He then hit a poison rana. He went for Destino, but Cobb blocked it and LAUNCHED Naito with an F5. WOW!!
Both men got up and traded blows a short time later. Naito spit in Cobb’s face and hit several forearms. Cobb fired back with some strikes of his own. He then wiped out Naito with a big clothesline! CObb set up for Tour of the Islands, but Naito turned it into a Destino for a near fall! Naito set up for another Destino and hit it flush for the win.
WINNER: Tetsuya Naito (10 pts) in 12:50. (***½)
(Radican’s Analysis: This took awhile to get going, but they closed the match strong. There was some very good exchanges late including Cobb hitting a sick F5 that launched Naito way up in the air. Cobb is eliminated with the loss, but he’s closed the tournament with some strong performances.)
The announcers talked about Naito’s upcoming match against Jay White, which should be one heck of match this Sunday.
(7) IWGP U.S. HVT. CHAMPION JON MOXLEY (W/SHOTA UMINO) (10) vs. HIROOKI GOTO (8) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
Kelly mentioned Moxley has dropped two in a row after winning five matches to start the tournament. Goto offered a double fist bump and Moxley slammed his hands down on Goto’s hands. They went to a big exchange of forearms a short time later. Moxley rocked Goto and sent him to the floor before he mocked his pose. They went to the floor and ended up brawling. Both men nearly got counted out while trading punches, but they dove in right before the ref’s count hti 20. They went back and forth and both men hit clotheslines at the same time, but didn’t go down. Goto then immediately wiped out Moxley with a big clothesline. Goto went on the attack and hit a backdrop suplex for a two count. Moxley fired back and hit a release German. He followed up with a big urangi a short time later.
Goto ducked the Regal Knee and went for a GTR, but Moxley countered it and went for a Death Rider. Goto blocked it, but Moxley hit a butterfly suplex and applied a double wrist lock. He then went to an arm bar. Goto eventually managed to wiggle his way to the ropes.
Both men began trading blows in the middle of the ring once again. Moxley hit several knees, but Goto blocked a kick. They went back and forth and Moxley slipped around Goto and hit a clothesline for a two count. He then hit the Regal Knee for a nearfall. Goto suddenly popped up and hit a Ushigoroshi. Both men were down, but they ran at each other and hit clotheslines at the same time until they both collapsed and the fans fired up. Goto fired up and went for a mid kick, but Moxley caught it and hit a short Death Rider. He held on and went for another one, but Goto countered it into a GTR for the win. WHAT?! WOW!
WINNER: Hirooki Goto (10 pts) in 8:40. (***¼)
(Radican’s Analysis: This was a shocking result. Moxley tried to beat Goto at his own game and went to power striking over and over until Goto countered him and put him away from his finish. This was the first really surprising finish of the tournament.)
Toru Yano is eliminated with Goto’s win. Naito, Goto, Moxley, Robinson, and Ishii are still alive right now.
(8) JAY WHITE (8) (W/GEDO) vs. JUICE ROBINSON (6) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
White stalled on the outside. Robinson got a Switchblade towel and wiped his backside with it. White went for a handshake, but Robinson declined. Gedo snuck up on Robinson, which gave White an opening to attack him. Robinson fired back and slapped White across the back of his head, which was a nice mirror spot. Robinson pulled White down by the hair and hit a leg lariat. Gedo distracted Robinson on the floor again and White ended up dragging him throat first across the barricade a short time later. Robinson fired back and got a chair, but the ref got in his way on the outside. The ref took the chair, which allowed Gedo to grab Robinson’s leg. White then went on the attack and worked over Robinson’s leg. They went back to the floor and White put Robinson’s leg between the barricade and kicked at it. White continued to go after Robinson’s leg and finally he locked in a Boston Crab. Robinson struggled, but got to the bottom rope. White mocked Robinson’s jab sequence and Robinson fired back and went for his jabs, but White took out his leg once again.
Robinson went for the Left Hand of God, but White kicked his knee. Robinson fired up the fans and went for his jab sequence again. He went for the Left Hand of God, but White went for a single leg. Robinson shoved White to the floor with his legs and hit a slingshot splash. He then sent White flying into the barrier on the outside. He eventually dropped White throat first over the barricade. He then slammed White’s leg around the ringpost. White eventually used his legs to drive Robinson face first into the ring post. They went back and forth and Robinson hit a jack hammer, but his knee gave out. Robinson went up top, but White ran into the ropes to crotch him. White hit a DDT and then a Blade Buster for a two count. Robinson tried to elbow his way out of White’s grasp, but White shifted away from it and hit a backdrop suplex. White went for a backdrop suplex to the floor, but Robinson blocked it. White kicked his leg and then dumped him over the top to the floor with a backdrop suplex. White hit a big uranagi for a near fall. Robinson elbowed his way out of a sleeper suplex, but White grabbed him again. Robinson shook him off and hit a full nelson bomb and both men were down.
Robinson went for a powerbomb and connected for a two count. When White kicked out, Robinson transitioned it to a high angle Boston Crab. White punched Robinson’s leg to escape the hold. He eventually hit an inverted dragon screw. He then locked in the TTO. Robinson struggled, but got to the ropes. Robinson went for the Left Hand of God, but White ducked it and hit a sleeper suplex. White went for the Blade Runner, but Robinson got out of it and got the same rollup he beat Robinson with for the title last year for a near fall. Robinson blocked another Blade Runner and went for Pulp Friction, but White got out of it and hit a chop block. Robinson blocked a Blade Runner and hit the Left Hand of God before collapsing and both men were down. What a match this has been from both men!
Gedo got up on the apron and Robinson went for Pulp Friction. White got out of it and hit a low blow. He then pushed Robinson into the ref. Gedo got a chair and tossed it to Robinson. White went for a chairshot, but Robinson hit the Left Hand of God. He then went for Pulp Friction on the chair, but White slammed him down on it. White hit Robinson’s leg several times and applied the TTO once again. Gedo slid Red Shoes back into the ring. Robinson held off, but then tapped.
After the match, White hit Robinson with Blade Runner for good measure.
WINNER: Jay White (10 pts) in 23:00. (****½)
(Radican’s Analysis: This was such a mature performance from both men. Both were so in tune with their respective characters. White cheating to get the upper hand and working over Robinson’s leg. Robinson making some incredible comebacks and firing up the crowd. White went back to Robinson’s leg over and over and finally he got Robinson in a bad situation after he shoved him into the ref, which allowed him to use a chair on Robinson’s leg before tapping him out. The match was layered and so well wrestled. I can’t say enough good things about the performances of both men.)
(9) SHINGO TAKAGI (4) vs. NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION TOMOHIRO ISHII (8) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
Shingo is looking to play the role of spoiler here with Ishii needing a win to stay in the mix heading into the final night of B block action. Ishii made his entrance and got right in Shingo’s face. Shingo backed Ishii into the ropes and hit a big chop. They traded shoulder tackles, but neither man would go down. They ran into each other shoulder first several times, but neither man would go down. They went to a fast exchange and both men missed sliding lariats before coming to a stalemate. Ishii got the upper hand and hit a big kick to the back of Shingo’s head. Shingo hit a big chop and Ishii didn’t move. Ishii then decked Shingo with three big throat chops. OUCH! Both men went to a chop exchange and the fans fired up. Shingo fired back at one point with a double chop that finally staggered Ishii and he went into the corner. They continued to trade and Shingo finally hit a vertical suplex. Shingo went up top and hit the Dragon Spirit elbow for a two count. Shingo went for Noshigami, but he ended up shifting his weight and catching Ishii with a DDT. He then hit a backdrop suplex for a two count. Ishii blocked a powerbomb and did deep squat before backdropping Shingo. Ishii caught Takagi with a powerslam a short time later. Ishii hit forearms and chops in the corner in rapid fire succession. Shingo fired back and hit punches and chops, which Carlton pointed out was similar to what Genichiro Tenryu would do in the ring.
Shingo hit some light kicks to Ishii’s head and Ishii told him to bring it. Ishii absorbed strike after strike and walked right into Shingo’s forearms attempts to block them. He went for a headbutt, but Shingo hit a straight right and then a clothesline to deck him! WOW! Ishii suddenly fired back and hit a suplex. Ishii told Shingo to bring it. Shingo hit him with some big forearms. He told Shingo he didn’t feel it and that’s not good enough. Shingo hit several forearms and Ishii had no reaction. Shingo screamed in frustration and they went back and forth. Both men no sold Saito suplexes. Ishii finally ended the exchange with another Saito suplex and both men were down! WOW! Ishii’s ear was visibly bleeding, but he wasn’t fazed, as he went right back on the attack. Ishii hit a superplex and went right to the cover, but Shingo kicked out at two. Shingo hit a chop, but Ishii decked him with a big forearm. He then hit a powerbomb for a two count. Ishii set up for his finish, but Shingo blocked it. Shingo went for Made in Japan, but Ishii got out of it. Ishii went off the ropes, but walked right into a huge clothesline from Takagi.
Shingo hit Noshigami. He then hit the sliding lariat, but it was only good for a two count. Shingo went for Made in Japan, but he couldn’t get Ishii turned over. Shingo hit a clothesline and Ishii fired back and eventually decked him with a headbutt to the chest. Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but Shingo caught it and hit Made in Japan for a nearfall. Shingo then hit a big Pumping Bomber for a nearfall. Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Ishii fought out of it. Shingo decked Ishii with a big forearm to his bloody ear. They went back and forth and Ishii hit a big release German. They went back and forth again and Shingo ran right into a HUGE clothesline from Ishii. Ishii then hit the sliding lariat for a two count. The 20 minute mark passed and Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster twice, but Shingo countered it both times and hit an emerald frozien variation and both men were down. Shingo told Ishii to stand up and hit hit a Pumping Bomber, but Ishii got right back up. Ishii leaned into a clothesline and Shingo hit a headbutt, but Ishii fired right back with a jumping enziguri. WOW! Ishii got up and hit a HUGE running clothesline for a one count Shingo got right up and hit a huge running clothesline and Ishii kicked out at one. They had a battle of clotheslines and Ishii went down. Takagi then hit a HUGE pumping bomber for a ridiculous nearfall. Holy s–t! Shingo set up for Last of the Dragon and hit it. HOLY S–T!!! Ishii is eliminated from contention. What a war!
WINNER: Shingo Takagi (6 pts) in 22:40. (****¾)
After the match, both men glared at each other and Shingo hit a headbutt on Ishii before rolling away. The announcers pointed out that Ishii’s win helps to open the door for Naito to make it to the finals. The ref helped Shingo up after the match and raised his hand. The announcers talked about how Shingo and Ishii’s mentors (Tenryu and Choshu) would think about it and they said they would be proud.
(Radican’s Analysis: This was an INCREDIBLE match. Both men went all out here with powerful strike exchanges. This was an incredible thrill ride from start to finish and well worth going out of your way to check out.)
Kelly said it’s down to Ibushi and Okada in the A block with the winner of their match on Saturday advancing to the finals. The B block still has White, Moxley, Naito, and Goto all alive with 10 points before signing off.
Shingo cut a promo and said Ishii is not human. He said he might be out of the G1, but he’s the winner of the main event and he’s standing in the middle of the ring. He said he’s happy he’s one, but he lost too many times and can’t make it to the finals. He said this is his first G1 and he came to fight. He doesn’t care about the tournament, it’s about one match and one night at a time. He said the next match for him is against Goto. He said right until the end, the dragons journey will continue. He promised to breathe fire like a dragon in Budokan Hall.
The cameras went to Takagi in the back and he was on his knees in front of the press selling exhaustion. He said from the BOSJ to G1, he’s never given up fighting. He went through a dark moment during the G1, but during the Naito match something turned around for him. He talked about his last match on Sunday.
Overall thoughts: What an incredible night of action. Moxley got upset by Goto in thrilling fashion. Then the last two matches blew the roof off. It’s down to four men in the B block on Sunday with White, Moxley, Naito, and Goto all still alive.
I really enjoyed this night of B block action because it had everything. Yano got a countout win to stay alive (temporarily) in the tournament. Goto countered a Death Rider and hit the GTR to win out of nowhere. I really like when matches end like that, as it adds a feeling of suspense that all matches on the card can end at anytime.
White and Robinson wrestled such a mature match with both men fully in tune with their respective characters. I was so impressed with the story they told of White cheating and working over Robinson’s leg throughout the match and then hit cheating went into overdrive down the stretch to give him his fifth straight win in the tournament. White has been really good in this tournament as a heel.
The main event between Ishii and Shingo was the hoss battle we all wanted and needed from these two. They went to war and absolutely destroyed each other with some intense chop battles. The action down the stretch was insane, especially the fighting spirit spots leading to Shingo getting the somewhat surprising win. I don’t know if this show turned the B block upside down, but it sure shook things up at the very least.
Overall, this has been an amazing tournament and with three nights left and can’t recall ever being THIS excited to see how it plays out. NJPW is on fire right now.
UPDATED G1 CLIMAX 29 STANDINGS THROUGH NIGHT 16
A BLOCK
Kazuchika Okada 7-1 (14 pts)
Kota Ibushi 6-2 (12 pts)
EVIL 4-3 (8 pts)*
Hiroshi Tanahashi 4-4 (8 pts)*
KENTA 4-4 (8 pts)*
SANADA 4-4 (8 pts)*
Zack Sabre Jr. 3-5 (6 pts)*
Bad Luck Fale 3-5 (6 pts)*
Will Ospreay 3-5 (4 pts)*
Lance Archer 2-6 (4 pts)*
B BLOCK
Jon Moxley 5-2 (10 pts)
Tetsuya Naito 5-3 (10 pts)
Hirooki Goto 5-3 (10 pts)
Jay White 5-3 (10 pts)
Tomohiro Ishii 4-4 (8 pts)*
Toru Yano 4-4 (8 pts)*
Juice Robinson 3-5 (6 pts)*
Jeff Cobb 3-5 (6 pts)*
Taichi 3-5 (6 pts)*
Shingo Takagi 3-5 (6 pts)*
*-eliminated from A/B Block final
Contact Sean at radicansean@pwtorch.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/sr_torch.
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