NJPW G1 Climax 26
Day 11 – August 3, 2016
Kagoshima Arena
Kagoshima, Japan
– Tiger Mask & Jushin Thunder Liger def. David Finlay & Ryusuke Taguchi
– Nakanishi, Kojima, Elgin & Nagata def. Nakajima, Gedo, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano
– Takahashi & Kenny Omega def. Captain New Japan & Shibata
– Naito, EVIL & BUSHI def. Juice Robinson, Honma & KUSHIDA
BAD LUCK FALE (4) vs. HIROYOSHI TENZAN (4)
Tenzan made a statement early clotheslining the big man out of the ring, but played the fans and got caught and clobbered on the outside by Fale, setting the pace for the next several minutes. Tenzan eventually rolled out of the way of a big splash and mounted his comeback with a few big moves, including a back suplex, spinning wheel kick and a big hip toss. More offense from Tenzan trying to wear down Fale, with the Anaconda Vice, Mongolian chops and a big back body drop, but he came up empty on a top rope splash and Fale caught him with a running splash for two. Tenzan blocks a Grenade and fires off with chops and heatbutts, but is caught with a spear, and Fale connects with the Grenade for the pin.
The crowd was very much behind Tenzan, but you can tell he’s worn out at this point in the tournament, his knees are not holding up well, and a lot of the moves here either looked weak or just didn’t connect at all. This loss probably puts the nail in the coffin of his big return story. Winner: Bad Luck Fale (6)
HIROOKI GOTO (4) vs. TAMA TONGA (4)
Tama took him to the floor early for the obligatory heel spots and continued working over Goto for several minutes. He spent a lot of time mocking him and would do a slow-clap after every big move, which ironically got the crowd worked up and they’d cheer for Goto after every single one. Eventually the taunting screwed him over and Goto caught him with a spinning wheel kick to mount his comeback, and they went back and forth from there. Lots of near falls towards the end, including a GTR for two-and-a-half. They traded elbows and Goto blocked a jumping headbutt with a stiff elbow, but Tonga countered the GTR into the Tongan Twist for two, then a spinebuster for two. Great ending sequence as Goto blocked a Gun Stun three times and on the last one caught him out of the air and into the GTR for the pin. Solid match. Winner: Hirooki Goto (6).
NAOMICHI MARUFUJI (6) vs. SANADA (4)
Just an unbelievably good back and forth match between two of the best workers in the G1 this year. Everything they did was smooth and executed to absolute perfection. There was an “anything you can do, I can do better” vibe from Sanada, as every time Marufuji hit a move or a sequence he would come back and try and do it even better. For the most part, he succeeded, and obviously had the Noah veteran’s number for most of the match. After a solid ten minutes of trying to put each other away, Marufuji connected with a brilliant kicking combination and Sliced Bread #2 to pick up the win. Great match. Winner: Marufuji (8)
TOMOHIRO ISHII (4) vs. HIROSHI TANAHASHI (4)
Absolutely incredible match. Tanahashi was having fun at the start, connecting with some deep arm drags and a dropkick and doing a little air guitar, and Ishii wrecked him with a shoulder block and went to work, not appreciating the fun and games. Tana rebounded with a splash off the second rope, but Ishii took out his legs and hit him with a Dragon Screw to weaken him down. It’s all Ishii for several minutes as Tana’s offense just bounces off him and might actually be doing more self-harm. Tanahashi with a low dropkick out of nowhere and a second rope senton, but he tries to do the Tenryu combo in the corner and Ishii gets pissed, slaps him in the face and just beats him down with kicks, punches, elbows and slaps. Tana takes it like a man and slaps him right back, and they go at it back and forth and now it’s his turn to stomp a mudhole in the corner. They brawl up to the top rope and throw dozens of shots; Tana ends up hitting a Dragon Screw through the ropes to work his leg. Back to the top they go, and this time Ishii connects with a big delayed superplex off the third to take both men down. After a moment of rest we’re back to trading elbows as both guys threaten to fall over, but neither of them are giving an inch. Ishii with a powerbomb for two. He connects with a massive lariat, but Tana kicks out at two-and-a-half and the crowd goes insane. Tana blocks an Ishii Driver, Ishii blocks two Slingblade attempts with Dragon Suplexees, Tana hits a Dragon Suplex of his own, Ishii no-sells it and Tanahashi finally takes him down with the Slingblade. He goes up for the High Fly Flow, Ishii rolls out of the way and destroys him with a lariat for a nearfall so close everyone thought it was over. We’re back to trading blows again, until Tanahashi connects with a Dragon Suplex bridge for two. Another Slingblade finds its mark, he hits a High Fly Flow crossbody, then goes up top to connect with a second High Fly Flow for the pin.
Wow. Just an extraordinary match. If there were any doubters about Tanahashi’s condition or if he could make a comeback or still wrestle the big main event level matches while injured, this should silence the critics. One of the best matches of the G1 so far. They went about sixteen minutes too. Winner: Tanahashi (6).
KAZUCHIKA OKADA (8) vs. TOGI MAKABE (8)
Okada looks like he’s fighting an old version of himself here, as both guys have the short blonde hair and the bright, shiny trunks. Okada with a dropkick to the top rope early on, which set the tone and he carried a lot of the action for quite a while. He was getting a bit cocky as Gedo looked like he was trying to fly away at ringside, clapping for him so hard. Makabe eventually hit a bit lariat and things got a bit more back and forth. Okada with a diving elbow and he motioned for the Rainmaker, but Makabe got up and told him to “bring it on”, so Okada kicked him in the face a half dozen times, then gave him a series of elbows and Makabe still taunted him. He connected with a lariat and mocked the Raimaker pose, then hit a powerbomb for two. They fought up into the ropes and Makabe did a spider suplex, but missed the King Kong knee drop. He hits a powerbomb for two, they trade elbows and Okada hits a dropkick, a Tombstone piledriver and the Rainmaker for three. Good match. Tough to follow the last two, but a good match nonetheless with a very different dynamic. Winner: Kazuchika Okada (10).
Okada gets on the mic and says something about Makabe, and promises to win the G1. He mentions that his next opponent is Ishii, and that it will be a match that only CHAOS members can have against one another. Gedo takes over and says Okada may have stumbled in week one, but he’s won five matches in a row and from here on out nobody can stop him. Gedo says Okada will return as the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and the winner of the G1 Climax and make it rain on Kagoshima once again.
Updated A-Block Standings:
Okada – 10
Makabe – 8
Marufuji – 8
Tanahashi – 6
Goto – 6
Bad Luck Fale – 6
Ishii – 4
Sanada – 4
Tama Tonga – 4
Tenzan – 4
