By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S “G1 CLIMAX 25: NIGHT 16” BLOG
AUG. 12, 2015
TOKYO, 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 multiple cameras, but no commentary.

UNDERCARD RESULTS

We’re back for the third and final show of the tournament at Korakuen Hall!

Takahashi and Anderson came out together with Bullet Club and watched Takahashi’s girl dance. Takahashi backed Anderson away when he hugged his girl. Anderson kept smiling at his girl, which made Takahashi very angry. They began shoving each other and the ref rang the bell.

(5) Karl Anderson (10) vs. Yujiro Takahashi (4) in a G1 Climax 25 B Block match. They had a big strike exchange before Anderson took Takahashi down with an elbow. Takahashi then bit Anderson’s fingers and he screamed like a girl. Takahashi wanted to too sweet, but Anderson teased it and then bit his fingers. They tried to make up once again and too sweet, but Anderson poked Takahashi in the eyes. They went back and forth on the apron and Anderson finally ducked Takahashi with a bicycle kick. Anderson set up for a dive, but Styles jumped up on the apron and they began arguing. Styles pushed Anderson right into a rollup from Takahashi for a near fall. Everyone eventually made peace. Anderson hit a neck breaker and Styles took exception on the outside. Anderson followed up with a neck breaker over his knee for a near fall. Anderson followed up with a neck breaker off the top, but Takahashi kicked out once again. Takahashi mounted a comeback and hit a running kick for a 2 count. He went for Miami shine and then Anderson went for a gun stun, but each man blocked it. Takahashi then hit a low blow after shoving Anderson towards the ref, but he only got a 2 count. Anderson slipped out of Miami shine once again and hit a gun stun for the win.

Bullet Club checked on both men after the match. Anderson asked Takahashi why he had hit him in the nuts. Takahashi got on his knees and said he was sorry. Both men then hugged. Anderson then hilariously went and gave Takahashi’s girl a big hug.

Winner: Karl Anderson (12 pts.) – This match was just there for me.

(6) Michael Elgin (8) vs. IWGP IC Champion Hirooki Goto (10) in a G1 Climax B Block match. These two will wrestle and do a seminar together in the US in the near future. The fans were behind Elgin during the early going. Elgin ended up missing a clothesline and Goto wiped him out with a shoulder tackle off the ropes. Elgin set up for a German to the floor and the fans gasped, but Goto managed to fight out of it. They went back and forth on the apron until Elgin countered a DDT into a DVD and Goto spilled to the floor. Goto managed to beat the 20 count, but walked right into a big punch from Elgin for a 2 count. Elgin then hit his signature delayed vertical suplex and the fans fired up big time. Elgin caught Goto by surprise with a dropkick as he came off the ropes for a 2 count and the fans fired up once again. They went to a big strike exchange in the middle of the ring and the fans fired up. Goto ended up hitting a big clothesline in the corner. Elgin blocked a suplex attempt. They went back and forth and Goto ended a big exchange with a huge lariat and the fans applauded. Goto and Elgin went back and forth until Elgin hit a roaring elbow in the corner. He then hit a big German on Goto and held on for another one with a bridge for a near fall. Elgin nailed Goto with lariats to the front and back, but he didn’t go down. Goto then blocked a running lariat and went for one of his own. Elgin blocked it and went for a lariat, but Goto hit a headbutt! They went back and forth and Elgin caught Goto with a huge lariat as he came off the ropes for a 2 count and the fans popped big. The fans fired up and chanted for Elgin, who went for a deadlift falcon arrow off the apron. They popped huge when he hit it and made the cover, but Goto kicked out at the very last second. Elgin then went for the buckle bomb and connected. Goto then countered the Elgin bomb into a rollup for a near fall. Both men went for clothesline at the same time and then Goto tied up Elgin’s legs and turned it into a pinning combination for the win. Wow!

Elgin raised Goto’s hand after the match and the fans applauded.

Winner: Hirooki Goto

Star rating: (****) – This was one heck of a showing with Elgin dominating the match with his power moves. Goto got the win in the end, but Elgin looked really good here.

(7) Satoshi Kojima (4) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (10) in a G1 Climax 25 B Block match. Kojima nailed Nakamura with machinegun chops and then mocked his hand gesture. Nakamura fired right back with a big knee strike to the head. He then set Kojima up on the apron and hit a running knee strike from the floor. He set Kojima up on the apron again and hit a jumping knee to his head. Nakamura hit the vibration boot in the corner a short time later. Kojima fired back and went for his signature elbow drop and connected for a 2 count. Kojima connected with an ace crusher a short time later. Nakamura mounted a comeback and hit his signature running knee strike in the corner for a 2 count. Nakamura continued to dominate the action and hit a reverse powerslam. He then connected with a running knee, but missed a second one when Kojima got out of the way. Nakamura then connected with a Boma ye off the turnbuckles and another Boma ye, but Kojima kicked out. The fans fired up and chanted for Kojima. Kojima avoided another Boma ye and took Nakamura down with a lariat for a 2 count. Kojima set up for his running lariat, but Nakamura collapsed. Kojima then lifted him up and hit a brainbuster for a 2 count. Kojima went for his lariat again, but Nakamura countered it into a flying arm bar. He then transitioned into a cross-arm breaker. Kojima stood up and managed to stomp out of it, but he only got a two count. Kojima caught Nakamura with a huge lariat and both men were down on the mat. Kojima finally made the cover, but only got a 2 count. Kojima whipped Nakamura into the ropes and Nakamura surprised him with a Boma ye that was good for the win.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (12 pts.)

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good outing for Kojima, who showed a lot of heart and mounted a great comeback against Nakamura before falling short in the end. Nakamura stays alive for the finals with the win.

(8) IWGP Hvt. Champion Kazuchika Okada (12) vs. Yuji Nagata (4) in a G1 Climax 25 B Block match. Nagata matrixed out of the way of a lariat from Okada during the early going and they came to a stalemate. The fans fired up and chanted for Okada. Both men went back and forth on the mat, but neither ma could get the upper hand. They went to a big strike exchange and Nagata ended it with a kick to the chest and then a kick to the back. He then locked in a crossface variation. Okada mounted a comeback and they battled to the floor. Okada ended up hitting a draping DDT off the guardrail and the fans gasped. Nagata sold his mid-section on the outside, but eventually managed to get into the ring at 19. Okada locked in an abdominal stretch inside the ring and rubbed his knuckles on Nagata’s mid-section before releasing the hold. Both men began trading blows once again, but Okada nailed Nagata with a kick to the mid-section and he fell to the mat. Okada then began kicking Nagata in the mid-section over and over and the fans booed. Nagata then popped up and caught Okada with a knee to the gut as he came off the ropes. Nagata hit a twisting neck breaker on Okada a short time later with Okada’s feet draped over the ropes and the fans fired up. They went back and forth and Okada nailed Nagata with a diving uppercut for a 2 count. Okada hit an elbow off the ropes a short time later and did the rainmaker pose. He went for the rainmaker, but Nagata countered it into an exploder! The fans fired up and chanted for Nagata. Both men got up and began trading blows. Okada went for a tombstone and Nagata eventually caught him in his signature arm bar. He then cranked the hold back and rolled his eyes into the back of his head after dragging Okada back to the middle of the ring. Okada struggled and tried to get to the ropes, but Nagata dragged him to the middle of the ring once again. He rolled his eyes into the back of his head again and the fans popped. Okada struggled and finally got to the rope! Wow!

Nagata nailed Okada with a series of kicks to the arm and he collapsed to the mat. Nagata continued to go after Okada’s arm. Okada went for the rainmaker, but Nagata kicked his arm away and hit a slingshot German suplex. Nagata hit a huge backdrop driver a short time later, but Okada kicked out at the second and the fans went nuts! Nagata went for another backdrop driver, but Okada slipped away. Okada then hit a neck breaker over his knee and both men were down. Okada ducked a charge in the corner and nailed Nagata with a dropkick from behind. Nagata blocked a tombstone attempt and turned it into a gut-wrench suplex. Okada fired back and hit his signature dropkick, a tombstone, and signaled for the rainmaker. Okada then hit it for the win. Wow!


Winner: Kazuchika Okada (14 pts.)

Star rating: (****) – This was amazing with Nagata dialing back the clock and putting on an amazing performance. He did everything in his power to win, but ultimately Okada got him in the end. The fans were amazing in their support for Nagata during this match right up until the end.

(9) Tomoaki Honma (0) vs. Tomohiro Ishii (8) in a G1 Climax 25 B Block match. Honma went for a Kokeshi off the ropes early, but missed. Honma tagged Ishii with some huge shots, but he decked him with a chop to the throat. Ishii kept telling Honma to bring it and he got up and hit several forearms. Ishii returned fire and staggered Honma with one forearm and he eventually collapsed to the mat. Ishii nailed Honma with several light kicks to the head. Honma then countered Ishii and hit his signature deadlift suplex and the gasped. Holy s—t! Both men were down and the fans chanted for Honma. Honma hit a big bulldog and a Kokeshi off the ropes. He then hit a blockbuster for a 2 count and the fans fired up. Ishii fired up and told Honma to bring it. Ishii then grounded Honma with one big forearm. Honma took a suplex and popped right up, but Ishii nailed him with a Saito suplex and he stayed down. Ishii taunted Honma and they went back and forth. They continued to exchange and they went to a big fighting spirit spot that lasted until both men hit clotheslines at the same time and they collapsed to the mat. The fans fired up and chanted for Honma with both men down. Both men got up and began trading big chops. Both men continued to trade chops as the fans fired up. They kept trading chops harder and faster and the fans really fired up. Holy s—t! Both men slowed the pace down, but they continued to trade chops. The pace picked back up as both men tagged each other. The pace slowed momentarily and Ishii finally sent Honma down with a chop and he collapsed to the mat as well.

The fans chanted for Honma once again. Ishii grounded Honma again with a big chop to the throat. Ishii hit a superplex a short time later, but Honma kicked out at 2. They went back and forth and Ishii avoided a headbutt, but Honma caught him with a big DDT a short time later. Once again the fans fired up and chanted for Honma. Honma won a battle of stereo clotheslines a short time later and decked Ishii with a huge clothesline. They went back and forth and Honma hit a diving Kokeshi to Ishii’s back. He followed up with a huge jumping piledriver, but Ishii kicked out at the last second. Honma went up top, but missed the Kokeshi and the fans gasped. Honma went for a diving Kokeshi in the corner and Ishii got out of the way. Ishii hit a German and Honma no sold it and went for another leaping Kokeshi, but Ishii swatted him out of the air like a fly with a punch. Ishii nailed Honma with several left and right forearms. He then decked Honma with a running lariat, but Honma kicked out at 1. The fans chanted for Honma and Ishii hit a sliding lariat, but Honma kicked out at the last second! Ishii went for a brainbuster, but Honma countered it into a suplex. They went back and forth and Honma no-sold a clothesline. Ishii nailed Honma with a slap to the face and he fired back with several slaps of his own. They both went for a headbutt at the same time and staggered. Honma then hit a leaping Kokeshi and another Kokeshi off the ropes a short time later for a near fall. Holy s—t! The fans fired up, but Ishii nailed Honma with an enzuguri. Honma caught him with a boot in the corner and hit a Kokeshi off the second turnbuckle and then a Kokeshi off the ropes. Honma then hit a slam and CONNECTED WITH THE TOP ROPE KOKESHI. Holy s—t!!! Pinfall and Honma wins!

They panned to the crowd and people sold shock and then joy. The fans fired up and chanted for Honma. Honma finally stood alone in the ring and the fans applauded. The fans chanted for Honma and he cut a promo in a very raspy voice. Honma did say something at the end of his promo about Kokeshi being happy, which is amazing. Honma then played to the crowd as they applauded and chanted his name.

Winner: Tomoaki Honma (2 pts.)

Star rating: (*****) – This was one of my favorite matches of all-time. For two years NJPW has made fans wait for Honma to win. He has lost every single time and yet the fans still cared about him even heading into his second to last match of G1 this year without a win. This match was booked so well from start to finish with Honma experiencing failure early on and not connecting with the Kokeshi. It seemed like it was curtains for Honma when he missed the top rope Kokeshi, but he threw an amazing Kokeshi party late in the match to take the win.

G1 CLIMAX 25: NIGHT 16 A BLOCK RESULTS & ANALYSIS


Quick G1 Climax 25: Night 16 Viewing Guide

What to watch: Goto-Elgin, Kojima-Nakamura, Okada-Nagata, Ishii-Honma

What you can skip: Anderson-Takahashi

Best G1 match on the card: Ishii-Honma (*****), honorable mention: Elgin-Goto (****)

Overall thoughts: What an amazing night of G1 action. I’m not very good at the tie-breakers here, but I believe only Nakamura or Okada can win the B Block right now.

The big story here is NJPW wrapping up their two year storyline with Honma not getting a win at G1. Honma had two chances left heading into tonight and he came through in spectacular fashion to get the win over Ishii and the crowd reaction in Tokyo was fantastic. This match will go down as one of my favorite matches of all-time.

The card here was really good overall with several other good matches to go along with the main event. The standout among them was Elgin-Goto, which was fantastic. Elgin dominated most of the match with his power much to the delight of the crowd. Elgin’s two German suplexes late in the match were incredible and set the crowd on fire, but ultimately he fell short to a really bizarre pinning combination that started off like a leg submission.

Night 16 was fantastic and it’s well worth going out of your way to at least watch the last four tournament matches on this show. Thumbs way up!

CURRENT G1 CLIMAX 25 STANDINGS

A Block Standings


- A.J. Styles (12 pts.)
- Tanahashi (12 pts.)
- Bad Luck Fale (10 pts.)
- 2013 winner Naito (10 pts.)
- Shibata (8 pts.)
- NEVER champ Togi Makabe (8 pts.)
- Kota Ibushi (6 pts.)
- Toru Yano (6 pts.)
- NWA World champ Tenzan (4 pts.)
- IWGP tag champion Doc Gallows (4 pts.)

B Block Standings

- 2014 winner IWGP World Champ Okada (14 pts.)
- IWGP tag champion Karl Anderson (12 pts.)
- IWGP IC Champ Hirooki Goto (12 pts.)
- Shinsuke Nakamura (12 pts.)
- Tomohiro Ishii (8 pts.)
- ROH's Michael Elgin (8 pts.)
- Yujiro Takahashi (4 pts.)
- Satoshi Kojima (4 pts.)
- Yuji Nagata (4 pts.)
- Honma (2 pts.)

***

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