RADICAN’S 7/27 G1 Climax 27: Night 8 report – Elgin-Omega MOTYC, Okada-Kojima, Suzuki-EVIL

RADICAN’S G1 CLIMAX 27: NIGHT 8 REPORT
JULY 27, 2017
NIIGATA, JAPAN
AIRED LIVE ON NJPWWORLD.COM

This show had a multi-camera shoot and Japanese commentary.

I will not be reviewing any of the non-tournament matches this year, but I will provide the daily results. If any undercard match turns out to be extremely noteworthy, I will make an exception in certain cases.

UNDERCARD RESULTS

(1) Suzuki Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & El Desperado) beat Shots Umino & Ren Narita.

(2) Togi Makabe & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Yuji Nagata & Hirai Kawato.

(3) Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) beat Kota Ibushi & Tomoyuki Oka & Katsuya Kitamura.

(4) L.I.J. (Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI) beat CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo).

(5) CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & David Finlay.

B BLOCK RESULTS & ANALYSIS

(6) Juice Robinson (2) vs. Tama Tonga (2) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. Robinson sold his leg during his entrance and Tonga went after it once the match started. Robinson made a comeback and sold his leg and things picked up from there. Robinson blocked the gun stun several times the stretch. They had a back and forth exchange towards the end before Tonga finally hit the gun stun for the win. Robinson did a good job of selling his leg and getting the crowd behind him down throughout the match.

Winner: Tama Tonga (4 pts)

Star rating: (***1/4)

(7) SANANDA (2) vs. Toru Yano (2) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. SANADA jumped Yano as he got into the ring. Yano nearly got a near fall a short time later after spitting water in SANADA’s face and then rolling him up for a 2 count. Yano went for the athletic tape under the ring, but SANADA cut him off and tossed the tap into the upper deck. Yano was hitting his pose and SANADA went for the skull end. Yano countered it into a small package for a near fall. SANADA went for the skull end again, but Yano escaped and went to the floor. Yano got another roll of tape and tried to wrap up SANADA’s legs when he went for a basement dropkick through the ropes. SANADA fought him off and dragged him up the entrance ramp. He then tied up Yano with the athletic tape in the paradise lock and it was good for the win. LOL!!

Winner: SANADA (4 pts)

Star rating: (**)

SANADA walked back up the ramp after the match and Yano was still tied up. He simply walked right past him. The ref and a young lion then tried to help a very upset Yano free himself.

(8) EVIL (4) vs. Minoru Suzuki (w/El Desperado) (4) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. Suzuki charged at EVIL as he was introduced. They quickly brawled to the floor. They brawled into the crowd and Suzuki hit EVIL with several chair shots to the back. Suzuki grabbed a spike and went after EVIL with it as Desperado distracted the ref. EVIL fired back and hit a conchairto on the floor and the fans fired up big time. EVIL went to do a throat slice gesture across Suzuki’s neck and he took exception. He went after EVIL’s thumb and grabbed an arm submission a short time later, but EVIL managed to go his foot on the bottom rope. EVIL went for a shoulder tackle, but Suzuki dragged the ref in the way. Desperado ran into the ring and went after EVIL. BUSHI ran down and wiped him out. He then hit a huge dive through the ropes to wipe him out. The fans fired up big time. Taichi then ran into the ring and hit EVIL with a chair. Takahashi then ran down and wiped him out. The fans fired up at the smoke and mirrors portion of the match. Takahashi, BUSHI, Desperado, and Taichi brawled t the back. Suzuki went after EVIL with a chair, but the ref took it away. They went back and forth. Suzuki blocked the STO and went for a choke. They went back and forth again and Suzuki slid around EVIL and got the choke. He let it go and went for the piledriver, but EVIL popped right up and hit the STO for the win. WOW!

Winner: EVIL (6 pts)

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a fantastic little match. The finish was great as Suzuki had been really diabolical in setting up his Gotch piledriver in previous matches. EVIL was having none of it as he popped right out of the Gotch and hit a STO for the win.

(9) IWGP Hvt. Champion Kazuchika Okada (w/Gedo) (6) vs. Satoshi Kojima (w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan) (0) in a G1 Climax B Block match. Kojima got a big pop coming out and then the fans chanted his name. Okada joined in and then jumped Kojima when the bell rang. The crowd booed. Okada covered his ears as he went on the attack on the floor a short time later. He tossed Tenzan into the ring, but the ref stopped them from going at it. The crowd booed as Okada hit some light stomps to Kojima’s back. Okada stood on top of Kojima with one foot, but the ref refused to count. He invited Tenzan to come back into the ring before going back on the attack. Kojima suddenly fired up with a series of double chops, but Okada cut him off momentarily. Okada missed a charge in the corner and Kojima hit a neck breaker. Kojima hit the machine gun chops in the corner a short time later. Okada tried to fire back, but Kojima hit the machine gun chops again. Okada fired back out of the corner and hit the air raid crash. He then connected with an elbow off the top. Okada signaled for the rainmaker and he fans booed. He went for the rainmaker, but Kojima backed him into the corner. Kojima ended up clotheslining Okada off the top to the floor a short time later. He collapsed in the ring with Okada down on the outside. They went at it back inside the ring. Kojima hit several forearms on Okada and both men were down again.

Kojima hit a series of big chops in the corner again. He then hit the machine guns chops. Okada’s selling of these chops was hilarious. Kojima went up top for the elbow drop, but Okada cut him off. They battled up top and Kojima hit a super cutter for a near fall! He followed up with a brainbuster, but Okada once again kicked out at 2. Kojima missed a lariat and Okada hit a German. He went for the rainmaker, but Kojima ducked and hit a western lariat to the back of his head. Kojima went for another lariat, but Okada ducked it! Okada went for a rainmaker, but Kojima countered it into a rainmaker of his own for a near fall! The fans went nuts with Kojima down on the mat. Okada ducked a lariat and caught Kojima with the too awesome dropkick. He then went for the rainmaker, but Kojima ducked it and hit a rolling elbow. Okada slipped over Kojima and hit a tombstone. He then connected with a rainmaker for the win. What a match!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada (8 pts)

Star rating: (****) – This was a fantastic match. Kojima gave Okada everything he had. The crowd was firmly behind Kojima and Okada went slightly heel during the match, which really fired the crowd up. The finishing sequences were brilliant, especially when Kojima countered several rainmaker attempts and even hit one of his own. Okada finally managed to hit the rainmaker to get the win in the end. Kojima drops to 0-4 in the tournament with the loss.

(10) IWGP U.S. Champion Kenny Omega (6) vs. Michael Elgin (2) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. Elgin nailed Omega on the apron during the early going and Omega went flying into the guardrail. Elgin went for a springboard off the guardrail, but Elgin caught him and hit a belly to belly suplex. Elgin went for a sunset bomb off the top a short time later. He nearly got it, but Omega fought out of it and hit a superkick. He then hit a leaping bull dog. Elgin fired back, but missed his signature sling shot splash. Elgin finally got the upper hand after hitting a big power slam on Omega as he came off the ropes. Elgin went on the attack and sent Omega flying into the corner with a release German. Omega went up top, but Elgin caught him when he went for a splash. He then hit a swinging sidewalk slam for a 2 count. Omega tried to surprise Elgin with a snap German, but Elgin broke free and hit an enzuguri. Elgin went off the ropes, but Omega nailed him with a hurricanrana. Omega then set up for Rise of the Terminator, but Elgin popped into the ring. Omega hit a V Trigger knee. They went back and forth and Omega finally hit a snap dragon suplex. Elgin went to the floor and Omega connected with a huge Rise of the Terminator. WOW!

Omega went up top and connected with a missile dropkick to Elgin’s back. Elgin and Omega went back and forth. Elgin ducked a V Trigger and hit a series of forearms, but Omega managed to hit a V Trigger and then he lifted Elgin up into a neck breaker over his knee. Omega connected with a V Trigger against the ropes. Elgin then got up and surprised him by wiping him out with a clothesline. They went back and forth trading blows in the middle of the ring. The pace picked up as they traded forearms over and over. Elgin nailed Omega with a HUGE backfist. Elgin hit a buckle bomb and went for the Elgin bomb, but Omega countered. Omega went for the one winged angel, but Elgin slid around into a poison hurricanrana. Elgin hit a HUGE clothesline. He then hit a crucifix sit out powerbomb for a near fall. Holy s—t! They went at it on the apron a short time later and Omega hit a running V Trigger. He then took the mats up on the floor. Omega went for a hurricanrana to the floor. He nearly got it, but Elgin blocked it and hit a powerbomb on the apron! WOW! Omega was bleeding a little from the mouth at this point. Elgin tossed Omega back into the ring and the fans applauded. Elgin set up Omega for a crucifix bomb off the top, but he countered it into a super hurricanrana for a near fall! Omega hit a V Trigger to the back of Elgin’s head. He then hit another running V Trigger to the front of Elgin’s head. He followed up with a double underhook DDT for a near fall! Omega hit a couple of light V Triggers. He went for another, but Elgin blocked it and hit a big elbow. Omega fired back with a V Trigger. They went at it off the ropes and Omega hit a V Trigger and a poison hurricanrana for a near fall. WOW! The fans fired up big time. Omega went for a V Trigger, but Elgin countered it into a powerbomb. Elgin then hit a buckle bomb and the Elgin bomb and Omega kicked out at the very last second! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Elgin dragged Omega to the corner and placed him up top. Elgin set Omega up for the burning hammer, but Omega fought out of it. Elgin hit a backdrop driver. He hit another backdrop driver and made the cover. Omega once again kicked out at the last second! Elgin went for the burning hammer again and connected. WOW! Elgin made the cover and it was good for the win. HOLY S—T

Winner: Michael Elgin (4 pts)

Star rating: (*****) – This was an epic match. It was hard-hitting, impactful, and I was fully expecting Omega to win. Elgin hit all his signature offense, including the buckle bomb/Elgin bomb combination, but he couldn’t put Omega away. He went for the burning hammer, but couldn’t connect earlier in the match, but he was able to use it to put Omega away and get a big win to get on track in the loaded B block. This was an epic performance from both men.

The fans chanted for Elgin after the match was over. He said at the age of 30, he’d been doing this for over half his life. He said the G1 is the most special tournament in the world. The fans applauded. Elgin said the G1 is special because each wrestler in the tournament can be anybody else in the tournament and the world on any given night. Elgin said he might have lost two, but now he’s won two. Elgin said he still has a shot and when Michael Elgin has a shot, he’s dangerous. Elgin said in 2017, Michael Elgin wins the G1 Climax. One of the announcers said wow in response to Elgin’s promo.

Overall thoughts: This was a good night of B Block at first. Then the last two matches came along and blew it out of the water. Kojima vs. Okada was excellent. The fans were red hot behind Kojima and he countered several rainmakers down the stretch and even hit one of his own before falling short in the end.

The match everyone is going to be talking about after watching this show is the EPIC MOTYC between Michael Elgin and Kenny Omega. They tore it up with a hard-hitting back and forth encounter that the crowd got more and more into as it went on. The exchanges down the stretch were incredible. At one point, Elgin countered the one winged angel into a poison hurricanrana. Elgin hit all sorts of big moves on Omega during the stretch including his signature finishing sequence the buckle bomb and the Elgin bomb, but Omega kicked out. The big question became what was it going to take to put Omega away and Elgin had the answer in the end with the burning hammer.

What a tournament this has been so far. Okada is still unbeaten at 4-0 and it looks like Omega is going to have to go on a winning streak to keep pace with him, as it’s unlikely Okada is going to lose many matches during the tournament. Elgin’s win makes him a dark horse contender to win G1 and it’s also likely that he gets a shot at the IWGP U.S. Title at some point in the fall after this performance in the main event.

Go out of your way to watch Okada-Kojima and the epic Elgin-Omega match. This tournament has been incredible so far!

STANDINGS AFTER NIGHT 8

A BLOCK

• Hiroshi Tanahashi (3-1, 6 pts)
• Zack Sabre Jr. (3-1, 6 pts)
• Tetsuya Naito (3-1, 6 pts)
• Kota Ibushi (2-2, 4 pts)
• Togi Makabe (2-2, 4 pts)
• Bad Luck Fale (2-2, 4 pts)
• Tomohiro Ishii (2-2, 4 pts)
• Hirooki Goto (2-2, 4 pts)
• YOSHI-HASHI (1-3, 2 pts)
• Yuji Nagata (0-4, 0 pts)

B BLOCK STANDINGS

• Kazuchika Okada (4-0, 8 pts)
• Kenny Omega (3-1, 6 pts)
• EVIL (3-1, 6 pts)
• Michael Elgin (2-2, 4 pts)
• Minoru Suzuki (2-2, 4 pts)
• SANADA (2-2, 4 pts)
• Tama Tonga (2-2, 4 pts)
• Juice Robinson (1-3, 2 pts)
• Toru Yano (1-3, 2 pts)
• Satoshi Kojima (0-4, 0 pts)

I will provide a list of matches ranked at **** or higher for people just looking to watch the best matches from the tournament. This guide is also handy for those of you that are short on time and looking to sample the best of each night of G1 Climax 27.

Match recommendations for G1 Climax 27: Night 8

(9) IWGP Hvt. Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Satoshi Kojima (****)

(10) IWGP U.S. Champion Kenny Omega vs. Michael Elgin (*****)

ATTENTION: Read Radican’s G1 Climax 27: Night 7 report HERE

Contact Sean at pwtorchsean@gmail.com. Follow Sean on twitter at twitter.com/sr_torch. Follow and like Radican’s Wrestling Community Facebook.com at Facebook.com/seanradicanrwc