By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S “G1 CLIMAX 25: NIGHT 7” BLOG
JULY 29, 2015
FUKUOKA, JAPAN
AIRED LIVE ON NJPWWORLD.COM

I’m not watching the tag matches on the undercard this year, but I will include the results. If anything noteworthy happens in a particular tag match, I will watch it.

Update: This show has full cameras, but no commentary. Apparently the announcers are taxed during this tournament. Shinsuke Nakamura did not wrestle in the tag match he was scheduled for on the undercard due to his arm injury.

UNDERCARD RESULTS

(1) Tiger Mask IV & Mascara Dorada beat David Finlay, Jr. & Jay White.

(2) Bullet Club (Karl Anderson & Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga & Cody Hall) beat Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima & Ryusuke Taguchi & Yohei Komatsu in an eight-man tag match.

(3) Michael Elgin & Honma beat Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI.

(4) Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger beat IWGP World Hvt. champion Kazuchika Okada & Gedo.


G1 CLIMAX 25: NIGHT 7 A BLOCK RESULTS & ANALYSIS

(5) IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Doc Gallows (0) vs. Toru Yano (2) in a G1 Climax 25 A Block match. Yano was sporting a nasty looking bruise after taking a headbutt from Tenzan in his last G1 match. Yano threw his water at Gallows before the match started and Gallows had to be held back. Yano was yelling at Gallows during the early going and pointing. Gallows asked the ref, “What the hell is he saying?” Yano offered a handshake and said he’s a gentleman, but then he sold Gallows shaking his hand two hard. Yano finally broke the handshake with a rope break. Yano then ducked behind the ropes and kept shouting for a break. Gallows yelled at him that this was bulls—t. Gallows finally got his hands on Yano and kicked him to the floor. He then distracted the ref so Bullet Club could put the boots to Yano on the floor. Gallows went after Yano’s injured eye and he screamed in pain. Yano ducked a running headbutt attempt and pulled one of the turnbuckle pads off. He then did his Matrix-like evade of Gallows while he was trying to attack from behind. He kept trying to fend off Gallows while doing his signature pose. Yano apologized to Gallows and then ducked a punch before dragging Gallows down to the mat by his ears. He then did his signature pose and shrugged before walking right into a superkick and a splash for a near fall. Several Bullet Club members got up on the apron, but Yano got out of the way and Gallows wiped them both out. Anderson then got into the ring with the ref distracted and they hit the magic killer on Yano for the win.

Winner: Doc Gallows (2 pts.) – Yano was a lot of fun in this match. It seems Bullet Club interference is going to be back this year in G1.

(6) IWGP NEVER Openweight Champion Togi Makabe (2) vs. NWA Champion Hiroshi Tenzan (2) in a G1 Climax 25 A Block match. Tenzan was wearing a bandage over his eye after connecting flush with Yano on a diving headbutt spot in his last G1 match. Tenzan went to work on Makabe with some double chops during the early going. Makabe got the upper hand and went to work on Tenzan. Makabe worked a leg submission on Tenzan a short time later. Tenzan struggled, but managed to get to the bottom rope. Makabe mounted Tenzan in the corner and hit his baby punches at one point before hitting a suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. Tenzan fired back with a leg lariat as Makabe bounced off the ropes a short time later. He then began nailing Makabe with double chops. Tenzan got the anaconda vice on Makabe. Makabe eventually tried to fight his way to his feet, but Tenzan slammed him down to the mat and made the cover for a 2 count. Makabe fired back and caught Tenzan off the ropes with a powerslam a short time later. Tenzan ate a big clothesline, but kicked out at 1. Makabe then hit another big clothesline, but Tenzan popped up again. Makabe lifted Tenzan up for a big DVD and then the King Kong knee drop for the win.

Winner: Togi Makabe – This match was fine, although Makabe doesn’t seem to be having great matches like he did during G1 last year. They weren’t given a lot of time here and Makabe controlled most of the match before winning in the end. It sure didn’t feel like either title represented in this match meant much at all the way the match was positioned and presented.

(7) Katsuyori Shibata (4) vs. Kota Ibushi (4) in a G1 Climax 25 A Block match. Both men went at it with slaps and kicks before backing away from each other. They went back and forth on the mat and Shibata got a sleeper, but Ibushi got to the ropes. Shibata went for a big kick when he released the hold, but Ibushi got out of the way. A short time later, Shibata blocked a springboard from Ibushi and kicked him into the guardrail. Shibata locked in a figure 4 once the action returned to the ring. Ibushi struggled, but managed to get to the ropes. Ibushi kept trying to surprise Shibata by following him when he set up for a running kick. Ibushi eventually caught him with a huge kick in the corner and then a big dropkick. Shibata glared and went face-to-face with Ibushi. Holy s—t! This match is so on. Ibushi took a series of forearms and then kicks in the corner. Shibata stomped him over and over and nailed him with a big running kick to the head. He followed up with a running dropkick and Ibushi collapsed to the mat. Ibushi took a kick to the chest a short time later, but fired right back with a dropkick. Shibata rolled to the floor and Ibushi nailed him with his signature moonsault off the turnbuckles. Ibushi began nailing Shibata with big kicks to the chest and he shook his head and told Ibushi to bring it. You could hear the impact of each kick and Shibata told Ibushi to bring it again. Shibata finally blocked a kick, but Ibushi nailed him with a combination of strikes and a standing corkscrew press for a 2 count. My god!

The fans fired up and chanted for both men. Shibata blocked a running kick to the chest and Ibushi nailed him with several forearms, but Shibata returned fire and both men dropped to their knees. They went back and forth and Ibushi nailed Shibata with a roundhouse kick to the head. He then went for a Pele kick, but Shibata caught it and applied an STF. This match is nuts. Ibushi managed to get to the ropes, but Shibata applied a sleeper. Ibushi managed to get to the ropes. Both men then hit suplexes and no-sold them. They then traded kicks and both men kicked out at one. Shibata turned Ibushi inside out with a clothesline and Ibushi kicked out at one and then collapsed leaving both men down. OH MY GOD. The fans chanted for Shibata and he charged right into a clothesline from Ibushi for a 2 count. Shibata fired back with a DVD and both men were down on the mat. The ref began counting, but both men got to their knees and began exchanging forearms. Both men got up and continued to trade blows. Ibushi went for a series of closed first, but Shibata covered up. Shibata then blocked a kick and nailed Ibushi with a vicious slap. He then grabbed the choke sleeper and hit the penalty kick for the win. Holy crap!

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata (6 pts.)

Star rating: (****3/4) – Well folks, there’s another incredible performance by Ibushi in the tournament, but Shibata was fantastic here as well. Ibushi was coming off a huge win over Styles in his last Block match, but this match topped that one. These two guys went to war and beat the piss out of each other the entire time. What a match!

(8) Bad Luck Fale (4) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (4) in a G1 Climax 25 A Block match. The fans chanted for Tanahashi after the opening bell and Fale stood in the ring and folded his arms. Fale used his strength to overpower Tanahashi during the early going. Tanahashi went for a slam, but Fale fell on top of him for a 2 count. Fale distracted the ref and sent Tanahashi to the floor where Tonga put the boots to him. Fale then took off one of the turnbuckle pads with the ref looking at Tanahashi on the floor. Fale then methodically began working over Tanahashi once he got back into the ring. Captain New Japan was shown looking on intently on commentary that we don’t get to hear on NJPW World. Fale eventually went for a splash off the ropes, but Tanahashi got out of the way. Tanahashi quickly went on the attack and hit a flying forearm, Fale wouldn’t go down. Tanahashi then hit a big slam and the fans applauded. Fale dragged the ref in the way when Tanahashi went for a splash in the corner. Tonga then held onto Tanahashi, but he got out of the way and Fale ran into him. Tanahashi then sent Fale to the floor and wiped out Bullet Club with a high fly flow to the floor.

Fale thought he had tossed Tanahashi to the floor but he skinned the cat. Tanahashi bounced off the ropes a short time later, but Fale caught him with a flying shoulder tackle. Tanahashi fired back and hit a sling blade. He then went up top and hit a standing high fly flow on Fale. Tanahashi went up top again and hit the high fly flow, but the ref got pulled to the floor by Tonga. I’m guessing Tonga because the cameras didn’t show who pulled the ref. Fale fired back and set up Tanahashi for the bad luck fall, but he popped out of it only to walk right into a Samoan drop for a 2 count. They went back and forth and Tanahashi slipped out of the bad luck fall and hit a twisting neck breaker. Fale popped up and caught him by surprise with a clothesline and a splash for a 2 count. The fans tried to rally behind Tanahashi, but Fale hit the grenade for a near fall. Fale then climbed up top and nearly fell before nailing Tanahashi with his version of the high fly flow for the win.

Winner: Bad Luck Fale (6 pts.)

Star rating: (***1/4) – This is about as entertaining of a match as you’re going to get out of Fale and it took Tanahashi, who has been incredible in this tournament to do it. Unlike last year when there was very little interference in the G1 24, it appears Bullet Club is going to be a menace on the floor after this show.

(9) Tetsuya Naito vs. A.J. Styles (4) in a G1 Climax 25 A Block match. Both of these guys are on fire right now, although this is a heel vs. heel match, so it should be interesting to see who the crowd sides with. I only spot Cody Hall on the floor right now in Style’s corner. Naito took a long time to take his suit off and Styles appeared to be a little agitated. Styles then took him down, so Naito rolled to the floor and strolled around the ring before going at it with Styles again. They went back and forth and Naito pulled Styles’s hair, which drew some boos. Naito then began pounding Styles with punches against the ropes. Styles fired back and caught him with a dropkick as he came off the ropes and the fans applauded. Styles grabbed the upper hand and began working over Naito inside the ring. Naito has some great facial expressions when he’s selling. Both men began exchanging punches in the middle of the ring. Styles set up for a suplex over the top to the floor, but Naito blocked it and hit a huge neck breaker on the apron on Styles. Naito hit a basement dropkick to Styles’s head and then began working a neck crank. Naito then brought Styles throat up into the rope and choked him on it. Styles fired up and nailed Naito with a series of strikes capped by a big clothesline and both men were down.

The fans started a light chant for Styles as both men tried to recover. Styles got the upper hand and hit his signature springboard forearm. Naito fired back and went up top before connecting with a huge missile dropkick. He followed up with his signature dropkick in the corner a short time later before making a cocky cover for a 2 count. They went back and forth and Naito hit a tornado DDT and then slammed Styles down to the mat and locked in a Koji clutch a short time later. Styles got the ropes and Naito continued to work the hold before eventually letting go. Naito went for a super hurricanrana a short time later, but Styles caught him and went for a Styles clash. Naito kicked his way out of it and went for another tornado DDT, but Styles suplexed him into the turnbuckles. Naito and Styles went back and forth. Naito hit a kick to the head, but Styles fired right back with a Pele kick and both men were down. The fans chanted for both men as they tried to regroup. Both men got up and began exchanging blows. Styles finally decked Naito with a big clothesline. Naito ended up spitting in styles face. He then wiped out Styles and went for his flipping pinning combination off the ropes, but Styles kicked out. Styles went for the bloody Sunday DDT, but Naito hit his standing sliced bread variation and covered Styles while hitting his pose for the win.

Naito attacked Red Shoes after the match and then laid down in the middle of the ring. Naito then went to the ropes and hit his pose as the fans booed. Naito got the mic and cut a promo as the fans booed.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito (6 pts.)

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was really good. The crowd siding with Styles in this heel vs. heel match was something else. Naito did a fair amount of work on Style’s neck during the match. Naito’s post-match attack on the ref leaves room for the possibility he could get DQ’d at some point during the tournament. Naito has a ton of momentum right now having beaten Styles and Tanahashi on back-to-back nights after losing to Shibata.


Quick G1 Climax 25: Night 7 Viewing Guide

What to watch: Fale-Tanahashi, Ibushi-Shibata, Naito-Styles

What you can skip: Gallows-Yano, Tenzan-Makabe

Best G1 match on the card: Ibushi-Shibata (****3/4)

Overall thoughts: The G1 action started off slowly with a couple of matches that didn’t deliver much in terms of in-ring action. Yano-Gallows was fine for what it was, but Tenzan-Makabe was disappointing for a champion vs. champion match. Their match felt very flat and Makabe hasn’t been very interesting to watch in this tournament so far.

Tanahashi managed to pull a really fun match out of Fale. It appeared Tanahashi was on his way to winning when Bullet Club pulled the ref out of the ring after he hit Fale with the high fly flow. Fale mounted a comeback and won with what appeared to be his variation of the high fly flow. There was a good amount of Bullet Club interference in this match and Yano-Gallows, which wasn’t the case last year.

Although Naito-Styles was a really good match, it paled in comparison to Ibushi-Shibata, which is one of the best matches I’ve seen all year. Ibushi and Shibata went to war and had a classic match that is worth going out of your way to see. The striking in this match was unbelievable and Shibata taking out Ibushi, who has been one of the best performers in this tournament, is a big statement.

The main event match between Styles and Naito was really good. Naito has been a ton of fun to watch as a heel in this tournament. He’s someone worth going out of your way to watch, as his character development has been fantastic. It says something when the crowd decides to back Styles in a heel vs. heel matchup.

CURRENT G1 CLIMAX 25 STANDINGS

A Block


- Shibata (6 pts.)
- 2013 winner Naito (6 pts.)
- Bad Luck Fale (6 pts.)
- Tanahashi (4 pts.)
- A.J. Styles (4 pts.)
- Kota Ibushi (4 pts.)
- NEVER champion Togi Makabe (4 pts.)
- NWA World champion Tenzan (2 pts.)
- Toru Yano (2 pts.)
- IWGP tag champion Doc Gallows (2 pts.)

B Block

- 2014 winner IWGP World Champ Okada (6 pts.)
- Tomohiro Ishii (6 pts.)
- IWGP tag champion Karl Anderson (4 pts.)
- IWGP IC Champ Hirooki Goto (4 pts.)
- Shinsuke Nakamura (2 pts.)
- Satoshi Kojima (2 pts.)
- Yuji Nagata (2 pts.)
- Yujiro Takahashi (2 pts.)
- ROH's Michael Elgin (2 pts.)
- Honma

***

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