Date: 25th July, 2015
BACKGROUND
The New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 this year will have 20 participants, and be staged over 19 shows (July 20th and run through August 16th) making it the longest G1 Tournament to date. The NJPW tradition goes back to 1975, previous winners include Hulk Hogan, Antonio Inoki, Andre The Giant, to the modern day participants like Okada, Tanahashi, and Nakamura.
In these updates, we will be running down the G1 Tournament Matches themselves while monitoring the other matches on the card. The true focus will be on the tournament and we’ll be providing updates depending on which days the shows are on whilst updating our results/tables so you will know who has the best chance and is in the lead of the tournament so far! 2pts for a win, 1pt for a draw.
In a special treat for today, Abbey Arthur of TopRopePress provided us with the follow report;
Captain New Japan, Tiger Mask, & Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger vs Cody Hall, Tama Tonga, & Doc Gallows: Hall, Tonga, & Gallows win via pinfall after a Gallows Pole
My Thoughts: Typical six man tag. Captain New Japan was really over with this crowd. Everyone worked rather well together, but the match just felt like it would never end.
David Finlay, Mascara Dorada, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Gedo, Yoshi Hashi, & Toru Yano: Gedo, Hashi, & Yano win via pinfall after a Swanton Bomb
My Thoughts: Yano and Tenzan went back and forth, goading each other through the match. Mediocre match at best.
Jay White & Kota Ibushi vs Bad Luck Fale & AJ Styles: Fale & Styles win via pinfall
My Thoughts: Ibushi and Styles were the stars of this match. The crowd ate it up whenever they were in the ring together, and they looked great.
Ryusuke Taguchi, Katsuyori Shibata, & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Yohei Komatsu, Togi Makabe, & Tetsuya Naito: Taguchi, Shibata, & Tanahashi win via pinfall
My Thoughts: This one was nothing to write home about. Taguchi was up to his regular antics and got the pin for his team.
THE G1 TOURNAMENT
Tomohiro Ishii vs Yujiro Takahashi: Ishii wins via pinfall
My Thoughts: I really can’t stand Takahashi. He does nothing for me; he’s not bad in the ring, but there’s just something about him that makes me want to fast forward through his matches. Ishii using his head as a battering ram several times during the match got the crowd going. Not a bad match.
Satoshi Kojima vs Michael Elgin: Kojima wins via pinfall
My Thoughts: Talk about a hard hitting match…. These two looked like they were trying to kill each other for about 15 minutes. Their styles meshed well in the ring, and overall, this was one of the better matches of the night so far.
Hirooki Goto vs Karl Anderson: Anderson wins via pinfall
My Thoughts: Sick apron powerbomb on Goto caused a near countout…twice. With all of his outside-the-ring antics, it’s easy to forget at times just how good Anderson is in the ring. He was on fire during this match, letting Goto get in little to no offense. It’ll be interesting to see if Anderson makes it to the finals. He looks like he’s well on his way.
Yuji Nagata vs Shinsuke Nakamura: Nakamura wins via pinfall
My Thoughts: Nak tried to work as a heel for portions of this match, but the crowd wasn’t buying it. Nagata was great as always, wrestling like someone half his age. This was an amazing match. Odd at times, but oh so very good.
Tomoaki Honma vs Kazuchika Okada: Okada wins via pinfall
My Thoughts: Great match. Honma gave it his all, with the crowd solidly behind him. Gedo spent 80% of the match doing his jumping puppy routine outside the ring, which I love. Honma got several near falls, and I can appreciate anyone who uses his head as a physical weapon.
Overall Show: I thought this show wasn’t one of the better overall cards so far, but Nak/Nagata, Anderson/Goto, and Okada/Honma made up for it in the end.
BLOCK B Matches
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yujiro Takahashi
Satoshi Kojima defeated Michael Elgin
Karl Anderson defeated Hirooki Goto
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Yuji Nagata
Kazuchika Okada defeated Tomoaki Honma
SPECIAL THANKS
@AbbeyBrooke2121 for the report today
Tapla deviantArt / @D_TaPla for the awesome graphics. An outstanding artist, go check her out!
Eric Cholminski for providing us with all the NJPWWorld.com help including free trial.