By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S NJPW G1 CLIMAX 24: NIGHT 10 REPORT
AUGUST 6, 2014
TAKAMATSU, JAPAN

(1) NWA Tag Team Champion Satoshi Kojima vs. Tomoaki Honma in a G1 Climax A Block match. Honma went for a running headbutt early, but missed. They went back and forth exchanging chops. Both men tried to hit a suplex and Honma finally deadlifted Kojima into the air and hit a big suplex. Honma went for a running headbutt again, but Kojima got out of the way. Kojima lit up Honma with Kobashi chops in the corner. He landed an elbow off the top a short time later, but Honma kicked out at 2. The fans chanted for Honma and he began exchanging overhand chops with Kojima. Honma no-sold a series of forearms from Kojima and slammed him to the mat. He then finally connected with a running headbutt and the fans applauded. Honma hit a blockbuster off the turnbuckles a short time later for a 2 count. Kojima fired back and hit an ace crusher a short time later. Kojima punched away a lariat from Honma and hit a brainbuster for a 2 count. Kojima ripped off his elbow pad and went for a running clothesline, but Honma nailed him with a leaping headbutt. Honma when up top and the fans fired up. Honma went for a diving headbutt, but Kojima rolled out of the way. Honma surprised Kojima with a spear off the ropes for a near fall. Kojima then caught him with a running clothesline for the win.

Winner: Satoshi Kojima

Star rating: (***) – This was a good opener with the usual pattern of Honma matches followed where he almost wins, but comes up short in the end. The crowd in Takamatsu wasn’t as hot as most of the other crowds for Honma have been throughout the tournament, but they were into the match.

(2) Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. IWGP IC Champion Bad Luck Fale in G1 Climax A Block match. Smith clotheslined Fale to the outside during the early stages of the match. They ended up going at it on the floor. Fale got the upper hand and stood on Smith’s back. Fale eventually began working over Smith inside the ring. Smith went for a sunset flip and Fale tried to sit down on him, but Smith got out of the way. Smith ducked a charge in the corner a short time later and hit a side slam. He followed up with a Saito suplex for a 2 count. Fale fired back and hit a slam and a big splash for a 2 count. Fale went for the border toss, but Smith slipped out of it and went for the sharpshooter. He struggled to turn over Fale. He eventually turned him over, but Fale got the ropes right away. Both men ran into each other twice while going for lariats. Smith went for another lariat, but Fale caught him with a Samoan drop. He followed up with a running clothesline and hit the pop up thumb spike for the win.

Winner: Bad Luck Fale – This was short and the action was fine, but the crowd wasn’t into much of anything they did.

(3) NWA Tag Team Champion Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tetsuya Naito in a G1 Climax B Block match. Naito set up for his signature dropkick in the corner early, but Tenzan nailed him with a clothesline. Tenzan began working over Naito with double chops a short time later and he finally sent him down to the mat. Naito fired back and hit a big swinging neck breaker that left both men down on the mat. Naito hit a combination of moves on Tenzan capped by a missile dropkick. Tenzan fired right back and hit a running clothesline in the corner. Tenzan continued to dominate the action and he eventually applied the anaconda vice, but Naito was able to get to the ropes. Naito went for a flying forearm and then a clothesline, but Tenzan ducked both and applied the anaconda vice. Naito eventually countered it into a rollup for a near fall. Naito then caught Tenzan in another pinning combination for a near fall. Naito connected with a flying forearm a short time later and both men were down. The fans fired up as both men began to get to their feet. They began exchanging blows in the middle of the ring. Naito eventually hit an enzuguri and a German with a bridge for a near fall. He went up top and connected with the star dust press for the win.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a good match. Tenzan dominated the match and Naito eventually mounted a comeback. The crowd got into it late after Naito escaped the anaconda vice twice before eventually hitting the star dust press.

(4) Minoru Suzuki vs. IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Karl Anderson in a G1 Climax B Block match. The fans were hot for Suzuki’s entrance. Suzuki got an arm submission early, but Anderson escaped. Suzuki then got a leg submission, but Anderson quickly got to the ropes. They began exchanging chops and Suzuki staggered to the ropes after taking an uppercut. Anderson went after him, but Suzuki caught him in an arm bar while using the ropes for leverage. Anderson rolled to the floor, but Suzuki nailed him with a running kick on the apron. Suzuki tied Anderson’s arm around the barrier and began working it over. Michinoku distracted the ref, which allowed Suzuki to nail Anderson with a big chair shot to the back. He then grabbed a pen from the announcer and drove it into Anderson’s forehead. The ref took the chair away from Suzuki again and Suzuki gave him a light shove. They got into the ring and began exchanging blows, but Suzuki nailed Anderson with a big knee to the gut. Suzuki charged at Anderson and stopped short before slapping him in the face. This fired up Anderson and he bit Suzuki’s face. The fans fired up with Anderson in control. Suzuki countered a powerbomb in the corner and they went to an exchange that ended with Suzuki hitting a running kick in the corner. They went to a big exchange in the middle of the ring and Suzuki eventually got a sleeper on Anderson. Anderson went for a stunner, but Suzuki blocked it. They went back and forth with Suzuki trying to get the sleeper hold. Anderson eventually caught Suzuki with the ace crusher after surprising him off the ropes for the win.

Winner: Karl Anderson

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was another short match, but the action was solid. Suzuki used shortcuts to get the upper hand before Anderson mounted a comeback later. They had a really nice sequence to close the match with Anderson countering the sleeper hold and going for the stun gun. They went back and forth several times before Anderson caught him with the stun gun for the win.

(5) Toru Yano vs. Togi Makabe in a G1 Climax B Block match. Yano attacked Makabe once he got into the ring, but Makabe fired right back and tossed him to the outside. Makabe tossed Yano into the guardrail and into the ringpost. Yano grabbed Makabe’s hair when they got back into the ring and dragged him down to the mat. Yano tried to take off the turnbuckle pad, but Makabe cut him off and nailed him with strikes in the corner. Makabe hit a big DVD and went up top, but Yano got out of the way of a knee drop. Yano grabbed the ref and kicked Makabe low, but Makabe returned the favor. Yano then shoved the ref away and hit another low blow for the win.

Winner: Toru Yano – Yano picks up another win with his ref push/low blow shenanigans.

(6) IWGP Hvt. Champion A.J. Styles vs. NEVER Openweight Champion Yujiro Takahashi in a G1 Climax B Block match. They too sweet’d before the match. The fans clapped before both men locked up. Both men hit eye pokes during the early stages of the match. Takahashi dragged Styles to the floor and tossed him into the guardrail. Takahashi whipped Styles into the guardrail and dove into the ring. Styles barely beat the 20 count getting back into the ring. Styles caught Takahashi with his signature dropkick a short time later. Takahashi begged off and then hit Styles with a forearm. They went back and forth and Takahashi eventually ducked a charge from Styles and tossed him to the floor. He followed up with a dive through the ropes and the fans applauded. Takahashi took control of the action inside the ring and did some crotch thrusts. Takahashi hit some light slaps to Styles’s face in the corner. Styles fired back with some forearms, but Takahashi nailed him with several elbows in the corner. Styles eventually blocked a charge in the corner and hit a leg sweep on Takahashi into the turnbuckles. Takahashi countered a suplex attempt a short time later and hit a fisherman buster on Styles. Styles fired back and went for a Pele kick, but Takahashi ducked it and hit a German with a bridge for a 2 count. Takahashi set up for the Miami shine, but Styles slipped out of it. Takahashi went for the Miami shine and Styles rolled through for the Styles clash, but Takahashi kicked out of hit. Styles hit the bloody Sunday DDT followed by the Styles clash for the win.

Styles helped Takahashi to his feet after the match and they too sweet’d.

Winner: A.J. Styles – The action was fairly basic in this match. Both men went back and forth until Styles countered the Miami shine from Takahashi several times before pinning him with the Styles clash. I can’t help but wonder if Bullet Club might turn on Styles at some point during the tournament after he beat some of them in Block matches.

(7) Kazuchika Okada vs. Lance Archer in a G1 Climax B Block match. The fans chanted for Okada before the match started. Okada backed Archer into the corner and teased hitting with him a chop, but backed away. Okada did the rainmaker pose, but Archer went on the attack. Okada ducked a charge in the corner a short time later and hit Archer with a sliding dropkick before doing the rainmaker pose. They battled on the apron a short time later and Archer sent Okada flying to the floor with a running kick. He then slammed Okada’s head into the guardrail. Archer nailed Okada with his signature shoulder tackle out of the corner a short time later back inside the ring. Archer nailed Okada, who was tied up in the ropes, with a big running clothesline. He then did the rainmaker pose, which drew some gasps from the crowd. The fans fired up and began chanting for Okada. Okada tried to fire back, but Archer caught him with a full nelson slam for a 2 count. Archer went for a big splash, but Okada rolled out of the way.

Okada fired back and eventually hit a big DDT after blocking a choke slam. Okada kipped up and landed a series of punches on Archer in the corner. Okada then hit his emerald frozien style neck breaker on Archer for a 2 count. Okada went up top and hit a big elbow drop. Okada then did the rainmaker pose and the fans applauded. Archer elbowed out of the rainmaker. Okada went for a tombstone, but Archer countered it. They exchanged several counters and Okada went for a dropkick, but Archer held onto the ropes. Archer then hit a F5. Okada went to the floor and Archer followed him to the outside and tossed him over his head by the neck. Okada stumbled around on the floor and barely beat the 20 count. Archer hit a big running clothesline inside the ring for a 2 count and the fans applauded. The fans chanted for Okada, but Archer hit him with a huge choke slam for a near fall and the fans gasped. Archer went up top, but Okada rolled out of the way of a moonsault attempt. Archer charged at Okada out of the corner, but he nailed him with a dropkick. Okada went for the rainmaker, but Archer countered it into a blackout attempt. Okada slipped out and hit a dropkick to the back of Archer’s head. He then hit a tombstone and a huge rainmaker for the win.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was the best match on the show so far. Archer was impressive in this match and Okada sold like he was really hurt after Archer hit a double hand to the neck overhead suplex on the floor during the second half of the match. Archer’s counter of the rainmaker into a blackout attempt was another really cool spot here as well.

(8) Yuji Nagata vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi in a G1 Climax A Block match. The fans chanted for Nagata before the match began and Tanahashi playfully covered his ears. Both men began exchanging forearms early in the match. Tanahashi eventually hit a dropkick to take down Nagata, but he fired back a short time later and hit a knee to the gut. Tanahashi got right up, but Nagata grounded him with a big kick to the head. Tanahashi tried to fire up again, but Nagata kicked his leg several times and applied a figure 4. Tanahashi tried to turn it over several times, but Nagata wouldn’t turn over. Tanahashi finally turned it over and both men ended up rolling into the ropes. Nagata got up and continued to work over Tanahashi’s leg. Tanahashi eventually caught a kick attempt from Nagata and turned it into a dragon screw. Tanahashi fired up and hit a flying forearm off the ropes followed by a flip senton off the second turnbuckle for a 2 count. Nagata ducked a charge in the corner and eventually hit an exploder for a 2 count. Tanahashi ducked a kick attempt a short time later and hit another dragon screw.

Tanahashi applied a standing Texas cloverleaf variation, but Nagata got the ropes. Nagata tried to fire back, but Tanahashi blocked a kick attempt and hit a spiral tap. Tanahashi followed up with a falcon arrow and went up top, but Nagata got out of the way of the high fly flow. Nagata countered another spiral attempt and caught Tanahashi in his signature arm bar. Nagata screamed and rolled his eyes into the back of his head as he applied pressure on the hold. Tanahashi struggled and eventually got the ropes. Tanahashi hit a series of slaps and Nagata looked at him like he was crazy. Nagata began hitting Tanahashi with left and right slaps before hitting a big German suplex and the fans fired up. He then hit a brainbuster for a near fall and the fans applauded. Nagata hit a big running knee in the corner and went for a Saito suplex, but Tanahashi landed on top of him for a 2 count. Nagata got up and booted Tanahashi right in the face and the fans fired up. Nagata lifted up Tanahashi, but he surprised him with a pinning combination for the win.

Nagata got up and argued with the ref. Tanahashi stayed down after winning the match as Nagata sold frustration.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a very good match and Nagata dominated most of the action while straying a step ahead of Tanahashi most of the match by countering him constantly. They seem to be continuing the narrative of Tanahashi having a tougher road through the tournament than Okada, as he was helped to the back after winning the match.

(9) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Katsuyori Shibata in a G1 Climax Block A match. Ishii came out with his shoulder wrapped after he apparently separated it on Night 8. They went right at it and began throwing haymakers. Both men finally collapsed after hitting forearms at the same time. They got right up and began exchanging forearms again. Good lord! Ishii forearmed Shibata into the corner, but Shibata fired up as he continued to take forearms from Ishii. Shibata reared back and decked Ishii with a huge forearm. They took turns kicking each other in the back and went face-to-face. Ishii sat down and allowed Shibata to kick him. Shibata then returned the favor and sat down for a kick from Ishii. They went face-to-face and Ishii sat down again to take a kick from Shibata. Ishii screamed, but got up. Shibata sat down and took another kick from Ishii. Ishii sat down again and finally went down after a huge kick to the back from Shibata. This is insane.

Shibata hit a series of forearms that sent Ishii into the corner. Ishii fired up and yelled at Shibata after each forearm. Ishii took every forearm and went face-to-face with Shibata, who continued to hit him with forearms. Ishii finally dropped Shibata with a huge forearm and followed up with a Saito suplex. Ishii hit several headbutts and yelled at Shibata. Shibata no-sold a running clothesline in the corner and began absolutely obliterating Ishii with forearms. Shibata then hit his signature running dropkick in the corner, but Ishii got right up and nailed him with a huge clothesline that left both men down. This match has been pure insanity. Good lord! They got up and began exchanging forearms again as the crowd fired up. The crowd really fired up as Ishii began to slump, but didn’t go down. Shibata bounced off the ropes, but Ishii nailed him with a huge clothesline. Shibata kicked out at one and nailed Ishii with a huge kick to the head and he also kicked out at 1. Shibata grabbed a sleeper hold and the fans chanted for Ishii. Ishii blocked a kick, but Shibata spun around and nailed him with a crazy slap to the face and Ishii crumpled to the mat. He covered Ishii, but he kicked out at 2. Shibata went for an arm bar, but Ishii clasped his hands. Shibata finally broke his grip, but Ishii got the ropes. Ishii rolled to the floor and sold his injured arm.

The ref began counting, but Shibata went to the outside and tossed Ishii back into the ring. Ishii rolled right back to the floor and held his arm. Ishii eventually collapsed as a ringside attendant checked his arm. Shibata once again broke the count by going to the outside and tossing Ishii back into the ring. Shibata began kicking at Ishii’s injured shoulder. He then told Ishii to forearm him. They began trading forearms. Ishii grabbed Shibata and hit a big German, but he popped right up. Ishii hit a German and Shibata kicked out at one. Shibata nailed Ishii with the penalty kick a short time later. Ishii got up and nailed Shibata with a headbutt and then another running clothesline for a near fall. Shibata slipped out of a brainbuster and eventually no-sold a lariat. Shibata nailed Ishii with a backfist and he collapsed to his knees. Shibata hit a huge kick to the chest, but Ishii kicked out at 1. The fans fired up and chanted for Ishii. Shibata lifted up Ishii for the GTS, but he slipped out and hit a headbutt. Shibata fired back and hit a headbutt of his own. Ishii bounced off the ropes, but ran right into a backfist. Shibata then lifted Ishii and hit the GTS and the penalty kick for the win. Holy crap!

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata

Star rating: (****3/4) – I had been looking forward to this match and boy did it deliver. These two beat the heck out of each other. The big strike exchanges really fired the crowd up at times and I was wondering how the heck either man was going to win given the intensity in the ring. This was a crazy effort from Ishii given his shoulder injury. Amazing!

(10) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Doc Gallows in a G1 Climax Block A match. Both men offered clean breaks against the ropes during the early going. Nakamura took Gallows down and nailed him with a jumping knee to the head. Gallows fired back and draped Nakamura over the ropes before nailing him with a big kick that sent him to the floor. Gallows worked over Nakamura on the outside before tossing him back into the ring. Gallows grabbed a headlock on the mat back inside the ring, but Nakamura eventually got the ropes. Nakamura fired back and nailed Gallows with a spin kick. He then hit him with a series of knees to the gut in the corner. Nakamura then did his signature boot choke in the corner. Gallows ducked a charge in the corner, but Nakamura caught him with a knee to the gut a short time later. He then draped Gallows over the turnbuckles and nailed him with a running knee to the stomach for a 2 count. Gallows fired back a short time later and nailed Nakamura with a huge clothesline and both men were down. Gallows got the upper hand hit the roll of the dice for a 2 count. Nakamura countered a suplex attempt and slammed Gallows down on his face. Nakamura hit several knees to the got and set up for a running kick, but Gallows nailed him with a big knee strike.

Gallows followed up with a pump handle slam and took his straps down. He then hit his signature spinebuster for a near fall. The fans chanted for Nakamura. Gallows went for another spinebuster, but Nakamura blocked it. Nakamura eventually caught Gallows with a knee to the gut as he charged him in the corner and followed up with a jumping knee strike off the ropes and both men were down. Gallows went for another spinebuster, but Nakamura countered it into a cross-arm breaker. He then turned it into a triangle, but Gallows lifted him into a one-arm powerbomb for a near fall. Nakamura countered another spinebuster and hit a running knee strike for a near fall. He hit a knee strike to the back of Gallows’s head and then hit the Boma Ye for the win.

Nakamura got on the mic and the fans fired up as he cut his promo. I don’t know what he said, but he closed with his catchphrase and collapsed, which made the fans very happy.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a good main event with Nakamura taking a beating early before mounting a comeback. The crowd got into it after Nakamura kicked out of Gallows’s signature spinebuster and the match picked up from there leading into the finish.

Overall thoughts: (7.5) – The undercard was really flat, but the show picked up during the second half. Ishii vs. Shibata delivered one of the best matches in the entire tournament and they really got what had overall been a quiet crowd into the show.

The big picture stories continued to unfold on Night 10. Okada and Tanahashi both picked up wins and are in position to win their respective blocks if they each win their matches on Night 11. Honma, the other big story in the tournament, came up short once again, so he will have to pick up a win over Shelton Benjamin on Night 11 if he’s going to win a match in this tournament, which I suspect he will.

Archer-Okada and Nagata-Tanahashi were both very good matches bordering on excellent that picked up the show after a very slow first half of the show, but the match you want to go out of your way to see on this show is Ishii-Shibata.

I was really looking forward to Ishii-Shibata more than anything on this card and they delivered in spades. Both men went all out exchanging strikes early in the match. The one count kick outs after big moves throughout the match really added to the heat from the crowd as the match progressed. I give Ishii a ton of credit for putting on an effort like he did on this show given his shoulder injury. One of my favorite spots of the entire tournament took place during the match when both men took turns sitting down voluntarily to see who would break first in a kick to the back contest.

This wasn’t one of the better shows of the tournament, but there’s more than enough here to make it a worthwhile show. A lot of the action on the first half of the show wasn’t memorable, but the second half features a lot of good matches that are worth checking out and a MOTYC in Shibata-Ishii.

You can purchase NJPW “G1 Climax 24: Night 10” on VOD by clicking HERE or by visiting Ustream.tv/njpw.

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