By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S G1 CLIMAX: FINAL REPORT
AUGUST 10, 2014
SAITAMA, JAPAN

The setup for the finals of G1 Climax 124 looks great in the Seibu Dome, although they didn’t come close to filling the stadium.

(1) NWA Tag Team Champions Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Taka Michinoku & El Desperado. Both teams brawled to the outside. Tiger Mask took beating, but Kojima got the hot tag and ran wild on Smith before dropping an elbow off the top. Archer fired back and took down Tenzan and Kojima with a double clothesline. Archer mocked Tenzan by hitting him with double chops, but Tenzan fired back and caught him with a spinning kick. Taguchi ended up getting isolated and took a series of moves in the corner. The action broke down. Taguchi and Michinoku went back and forth. Taguchi caught Michinoku with a sit out face buster for the win.

Winners: Kojima & Tenzan & Tiger Mask & Taguchi – This was a short dose of action to start the show.

(2) Bullet Club (NEVER Openweight Champion Yujiro Takahashi & IWGP IC Champion Bad Luck Fale & IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Doc Gallows) vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI. Gallows took down Nakanishi during the early going. Gallows went for a splash, but Nakanishi got out of the way. He went up top and connected with a missile dropkick on Gallows for a 2 count. BUSHI and Takahashi went at it a short time later. Takahashi cut off BUSHI and Bullet Club cleared the apron. Takahashi took BUSHI to the outside and dumped him stomach-first over the guardrail. BUSHI made the hot tag to Nagata, who hit Fale with a dropkick to the leg. He fended off Gallows and then hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Takahashi. Fale went for the pop-up thumb spike, but Nagata countered it into his signature arm bar and the fans fired up, but Takahashi raked his eyes to break it up. BUSHI and Takahashi went at it a short time later, but BUSHI hit a missile dropkick on Takahashi and did a rolling pin for a 2 count. The action broke down and BUSHI and Takahashi were alone in the ring. Takahashi hit a big DVD, but BUSHI kicked out. Takahashi hit a buckle bomb and followed up with the Miami shine for the win.

Winners: Bullet Club (Takahashi & Fale & Gallows) – another short tag match to warm up the fans.

(3) Toru Yano & Sakuraba & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Shelton Benjamin & Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka. The announcer got very nervous as Iizuka made his way down to the ring from the upper deck. He stormed madly down the stairs and through the crowd as attendants held him back, but did not attack the announcer. Suzuki, Benjamin, and Iizuka jumped their opponents. Everyone ended up brawling on the outside. Iizuka choked Yano with a cable on the floor. Iizuka tossed HASHI to the floor and nailed him with a chair shot to the back. HASHI finally mounted a comeback inside the ring and nailed Iizuka with a big clothesline that left both men down. Yano entered the ring and tried to take off the turnbuckle pad, but Iizuka cut him off. Yano ended up sending Iizuka into the exposed turnbuckles a short time later. Both men hit atomic drops and went down. Sakuraba and Suzuki entered the ring and began nailing each other with wild slaps. Sakuraba got a standing arm bar, but Suzuki escaped. Suzuki went for a cross-arm breaker, but Sakuraba escaped. Both men continued to go for submissions. Suzuki got a sleeper, but Yano broke it up and the action broke down. Sakuraba got a cross-arm breaker in the ring, but Suzuki got the ropes. Suzuki got a sleeper using the ropes for leverage. Suzuki finally ended up throwing the ref down to the mat when he tried to get him to break up the illegal sleeper for the DQ.

Several people tried to get Suzuki to break up the hold and Suzuki let go, but then choked out one of the attendants. Sakuraba and Suzuki went at it on the outside before they were separated again.

Winners: Toru Yano & Sakuraba & YOSHI-HASHI – There wasn’t much to this, although I do love the Iizuka’s entrance in this big setting. Iizuka wandering back into the stands after the DQ was fantastic as well.

(4) The Kingdom (Adam Cole & Michael Bennett) w/Maria vs. Captain New Japan & Jushin Liger. A large ROH graphic played behind Cole & Bennett, who were dressed in matching Kingdom attire. Maria was dressed in a matching red outfit. The fans chanted for Liger before he squared off with Cole. Bennett eventually got the tag and he wanted Captain New Japan. The fans fired up for him big time once Liger tagged him in. Bennett bailed to the floor and Captain New Japan chased him, but Maria got in the way and rubbed his head into her chest, which allowed Cole to take him down from behind. Bennett went up top back inside the ring, but missed an elbow drop. Cole hit Captain New Japan with a knee from the apron. Bennett eventually tripped him into the ropes and Cole nailed him with a big kick to the head from the floor. The fans booed Cole and Bennett’s actions. Captain New Japan took a sustained beating. Cole taunted Captain New Japan and he began to fire back on Bennett and Cole in the corner. He eventually hit a big shoulder tackle on Cole. Liger then got the hot tag and ran wild with palm strikes.

Liger hit a hurricanrana off the top on Cole, but he kicked out. Cole eventually fired back and hit a shining wizard for a 2 count. Liger caught Cole with a boot in the corner and went up top, but Cole nailed him with a superkick as he came off the top for a near fall. Both men ended up hitting clotheslines at the same time. Bennett and Captain New Japan tagged in. Bennett caught him with a big spear for a 2 count. Bennett went for a piledriver, but Captain New Japan hit a backdrop. Captain New Japan went up top, but Bennett got out of the way. Captain New Japan caught him a short time later with a uranagi for a 2 count. The fans fired up and Maria got on the apron. She teased taking off her bottom and Bennett rolled him up for a near fall. Bennett then hit a big piledriver for the win.

Winners: The Kingdom (Bennett & Cole)

Star rating: (**1/2) – This was a good showing for Bennett and Cole. The crowd was hot for Captain New Japan and Liger throughout the match. Cole and Bennett both came off well on a big stage.

(5) IWGP Jr. Hvt. Tag Team Champions The Time Splitters (KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley) vs. ReDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) in an IWGP Jt. Hvt. Tag Team Championship match. KUSHIDA and Shelley tagged in and out to work over O’Reilly’s arm during the early stages of the match. KUSHIDA sent O’Reilly and Fish to the floor with a handspring kick on the apron and then Time Splitters whipped them out with a pair of slingshot splashes to the floor. Time Splitters showed some nice teamwork nailing O’Reilly with a combination of moves back inside the ring. O’Reilly ran to the outside and tagged Fish in when he slid inside they ring. They then nailed Shelley with a combination of moves to get the upper hand. The fans fired up with ReDRagon working over Shelley. O’Reilly went after his arm, but Shelley fired back and eventually snapped his neck over the top rope. Shelley went for a slingshot splash, but O’Reilly caught him in an arm bar. Shelley escaped and the fans tried to rally behind him. Shelley tried to tag out, but O’Reilly had dragged KUSHIDA off the apron. KUSHIDA finally got the hot tag and ran wild. KUSHIDA eventually hit a double handspring elbow to wipe out ReDRagon. Shelley held O’Reilly and Fish on the floor a short time later and KUSHIDA nailed them with a big splash off the top over the guardrail.

The fans fired up with the Time Splitters in control. They nailed O’Reilly with a double splash, but he kicked out at the last second. They went for a tandem sliced bread up top, but O’Reilly fought out of it and pushed Shelley to the floor before taking out KUSHIDA with a combination of kicks. O’Reilly then hit a huge running knee strike off the apron that sent Shelley through the guardrail. Fish caught KUSHIDA with a sick falcon arrow off the top that had some serious height, but he kicked out at the last second. The fans chanted for KUSHIDA. Shelley ran it, but ate a back breaker/knee drop combination from ReDRagon. O’Reilly nailed KUSHIDA with a combination of strikes and kicks followed by a brainbuster. KUSHIDA kicked out and O’Reilly grabbed an arm bar. Fish came off the top with a diving headbutt and went after Shelley on the floor. KUSHIDA managed to counter the hold into a pinning combination for a 2 count. O’Reilly got a dragon sleeper on KUSHIDA, but Shelley broke it up with a double stomp off the top. Wow! The crowd popped for that sequence. Fish took a combination of moves capped by sliced bread and the fans fired up. KUSHIDA nailed O’Reilly with a big kick to the shoulder and grabbed a kimura. Shelley took care of Fish on the outside and KUSHIDA transitioned into a straight arm bar for the win.

Winners: Shelley & KUSHIDA to retain the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Tag Team Titles

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good showing for O’Reilly & Fish on a big stage. They had a really good back and forth match with The Time Splitter. The crowd fired up down the stretch with O’Reilly nearly getting the submission victory on KUSHIDA with a cross-arm breaker with Fish wiping out Shelley with a dive to the floor. O’Reilly and KUSHIDA in particular had some really good exchanges leading into the finish.

Jeff Jarrett came out with Scott D’Amore to sign the Global Force Wrestling agreement with NJPW. He sat down with NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi to sign the paperwork. He then thanked the fans for their support of GFW and pro wrestling. He thanked Sugabayashi and they posed for some pictures.

(6) Tomoaki Honma vs. Tetsuya Naito in a G1 Climax Special Singles match. The crowd was hot before the opening bell chanting for Honma. Honma went for his signature running headbutt twice in the early going, but missed. Naito then mocked Honma’s trademark head tapping. The fans booed as Naito worked over Honma. Honma finally mounted a comeback with a dead-lift suplex. The fans fired up and chanted for Honma. Honma finally connected with his signature running headbutt and the fans roared. Naito fired back and hit a neck breaker with Honma’s legs on the middle ropes. He followed up with a big missile dropkick. Naito mocked Honma’s head tap again and the fans booed. Honma slipped under Naito and went for a powerbomb. Naito tried to counter with a hurricanrana, but Honma blocked it and hit a big powerbomb followed by a brainbuster for a 2 count. Honma went up top and the fans fired up. He went for his signature diving headbutt, but Naito moved at the very last second and the fans gasped.

Both men began trading forearms from their knees. They eventually got to their feet and continued to trade blows. The fans fired up as they went back and forth trading blows. Naito nailed Honma with a big slap to the face, but Honma caught him with a flying headbutt to the chest off the ropes. Naito countered a slam attempt and eventually caught Honma with a German. Honma popped right up and Naito went for a flying forearm, but Honma countered it into a pinning combination for a near fall. Naito fired back a short time later and hit an enzuguri. He followed up with a German with a bridge and the fans applauded when Honma kicked out. Naito hit a scorpion death drop and went up top and connected with the star dust press for the win.

After the match Naito offered a handshake and Honma slapped his hand away. Naito left Honma alone in the ring to recover. Honma eventually rolled out of the ring.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito

Star rating: (***1/4) – The crowd was into Honma throughout the match and they teased him winning several times, but ultimately Naito came out on top in the end. It’s a shame Honma never got a win in the tournament. It would have made for a great moment, but a loss would have really hurt Naito here.

(7) IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Karl Anderson (w/NEVER Openweight Champion Yujiro Takahashi) vs. Tomohiro Ishii in a G1 Climax Special Singles match. Anderson told the camera he had the best entrance ever besides Gangrel. Takahashi distracted Ishii right away and Anderson sent him into the ringpost after nailing his injured shoulder with a bicycle kick on the apron. Takahashi worked over Ishii on the floor with Anderson distracting the ref. Anderson went after Ishii’s shoulder back inside the ring and raked away at his nose, which was busted open. Ishii screamed and they showed of Anderson catching Ishii with a stiff forearm right to the face to start the match. Ishii fired up as Anderson tagged him with forearms. Ishii began working towards Anderson as the fans fired up. Ishii finally decked Anderson with a big forearm. He hit a big German a short time later and clotheslined Takahashi off the apron. Ishii went for a superplex, but he couldn’t hold onto Anderson because of his shoulder and both men collapsed to the mat.

Anderson cut off Ishii with a leg lariat off the ropes and followed up with a sit out powerbomb for a near fall. Ishii screamed in pain and grabbed his shoulder. Anderson hit a TKO a short time later, but Ishii kicked out again and the fans applauded. Ishii blocked a gun stun attempt and nailed Anderson with a clothesline and both men were down. Ishii continued to favor his shoulder. Both men began exchanging forearms. Ishii blocked another gun stun attempt and nailed Anderson with a headbutt. He followed up with a huge clothesline for a 2 count. Ishii hit a brainbuster, but Takahashi dragged the ref out of the ring. He hit Ishii with a big clothesline and then snapped his injured shoulder. HASHI ran down and went after Takahashi. He nailed him with a huge lariat and they brawled to the floor. Anderson caught Ishii with a big piledriver for a near fall back inside the ring. Ishii blocked another gun stun attempt and nailed Anderson with a headbutt. Anderson duked a clothesline and Ishii went for a brainbuster, but Anderson slipped through on the way up and hit the gun stun for the win.

Winner: Karl Anderson – This was a dog and pony show at times with Takahashi interfering and then HASHI coming down to brawl with him. The action was solid here, but it was clear Ishii should have been given the day off with the condition of his shoulder. Ishii comes across like a dangerous man even when severely injured.

(8) Hirooki Goto vs. Katsuyori Shibata in a G1 Climax Special Singles match. This is a rematch of their much heralded match at Wrestle Kingdom 8 back in January. Shibata backed Goto into the ropes and nailed him with a slap across the face. Goto returned the favor a short time later with a slap across the chest. Shibata told Goto to bring it. Goto nailed him with several forearms. They then began trading forearms. Neither man would go down and they continued to exchange blows. The exchange continued and both men went down after they both went for running forearms at the same time. Goto sent Shibata into the corner and nailed him with several forearms. Shibata fired back and hit a running boot into the corner. He set up for a running dropkick, but Goto surprised him with a clothesline. Shibata shook it off and nailed Goto with a series of vicious forearms. He set up for a dropkick, but Goto caught him by surprise with a spin kick in the corner. Shibata shook it off and kicked Goto in the head and both men were down on the mat. Shibata got up and hit his signature running dropkick in the corner.

Goto suddenly fired up and hit a suplex. Shibata fired back and hit a Saito suplex. Goto got right up and they started trading suplexes until Shibata hit a German that Goto couldn’t get up from. Shibata bounced off the ropes, but Goto caught him with a neck breaker over his knee. Goto then nailed him with a big running kick to the chest. Shibata ended up on the floor. Shibata rolled into the ring to beat the ref’s count and rolled right back to the floor. Shibata rolled into the ring and told Goto to bring it. Goto nailed him with a huge kick to the chest. The ref checked on Shibata. Shibata managed to counter Goto and hit the GTS. Both men ended up down on the mat as the announcers freaked out. Shibata got up and eventually went for a suplex, but Goto blocked it and hit a hellavator. Once again, both men were slow to get up. Goto finally covered Shibata for a 2 count. Both men yelled at each other and began exchanging forearms. They got to their feet and continued to exchange blows. Shibata hit several vicious forearms, but Goto decked him with a big slap. Goto hit several forearms and Shibata hit a huge backfist to send him to the mat. Shibata teased going down, but fought his way to his feet. Shibata went for the penalty kick, but Goto caught his leg. They exchanged strikes and Goto eventually hit a spinning face buster for a 2 count. Shibata countered a suplex attempt and got a sleeper. Shibata hit the GTS and the penalty kick for the win.

After the match, Shibata lifted Goto and tossed him to the floor. He then helped Goto to the back and the fans applauded. That was a cool moment with two warriors walking out of battle together. Shibata ended up collapsing on the way out, so Goto helped him walk to the back.

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good hard-hitting battle between two wrestlers that come off like legit tough guys. It didn’t escalate to the levels of excitement of the other matches these two had in the tournament previously, but there were some really good exchanges late leading into the finish.

(9) IWGP Hvt. Champion A.J. Styles (w/The Bullet Club) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi in a G1 Climax Third Place match. Styles told The Bullet Club to leave before the match began. The fans were hot as the opening bell sounded. They went to a fast exchange early before coming to a stalemate. Tanahashi mocked Styles and teased the Styles clash, but Styles got out of it and rolled to the floor. Tanahashi then did Style’s pose in the middle of the ring. Styles caught Tanahashi with his signature dropkick a short time later and the fans applauded. Tanahashi missed a running kick and crotched himself on the ropes. Styles shook the ropes up and down before Tanahashi spilled to the mat. Styles went for his signature inverted DDT, but Tanahashi slipped out. He went for a springboard a short time later, but Tanahashi pushed him to the floor. Tanahashi whipped Styles over the barricade. He then got a running start and hit a big splash over the barricade onto Styles. Both men slowly crawled back to the ring and beat the ref’s count at the same time. They went back and forth and Tanahashi took a spin kick to the head, but fired right back with a spiral tap. Tanahashi hit a straightjacket German with a bridge for a 2 count a short time later. Tanahashi set up for high fly flow, but Styles crotched him. He tried to lift Tanahashi into positon for the Styles clash, but Tanahashi fought out of it.

Styles hit a neck breaker a short time later for a 2 count. Styles went for the Styles clash again, but Tanahashi dumped him onto the apron. Styles fired back and hit a springboard forearm for a 2 count. Tanahashi fired back and went for a German, but Styles landed on his feet. Styles went for his signature strike and kick sequence, but Tanahashi caught him in a tiger suplex with a bridge for a near fall and the fans fired up. They battled up top a short time later and Styles caught him with a huge super hurricanrana that popped the fans. Styles set up for the Styles clash, but Tanahashi kicked his way out of it. Styles then lifted Tanahashi and dumped him head-first into the mat with a piledriver. The fans gasped and Styles went up top for the high fly flow, but Tanahashi got his knees up. Tanahashi then popped up and went for the high fly flow, but Styles got his knees up and both men were down. What an exchange there! Both men began exchanging blows from their knees. They got to their feet and Tanahashi nailed Styles with several strikes, but Styles ducked a clothesline and hit the Pele kick. Styles followed up with the Bloody Sunday DDT. Styles signaled for the finish, but Tanahashi countered the styles clash into a pinning combination for the win!

After the match, Bullet Club jumped Tanahashi in the ring and put a beating on him. The fans booed as Styles slapped Tanahashi across the face while he was held down. Styles then lifted Tanahashi and hit the Styles clash and the fans booed. Jeff Jarrett and Scott D’Amore came down and cleared the ring. Jarrett was carrying his guitar. Jarrett checked on Tanahashi. D’Amore took forever to open the guitar case in the background. Jarrett then helped Tanahashi up and held up his guitar, which had the Bullet Club symbol on it. Jarrett nailed Tanahashi with his guitar and took off his dress shirt to reveal a Bullet Club shirt. The crowd gasped in shock at Jarrett’s actions. D’Amore also revealed a Bullet Club shirt after taking off his shirt. The Bullet Club then posed over Tanahashi. Well, that should set up the next challenger to Style’s IWGP Hvt. Championship.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi to capture Third Place in the G1 Climax Tournament.

Star rating: (****1/4) – This was an excellent match with Tanahashi constantly blocking the Styles clash throughout the match. They had some great exchanges down the stretch leading into Tanahashi countering the Styles clash into a pinning combination for the win. I guess GFW now has a heel authority figure in Jarrett. D’Amore taking forever to unlock the guitar case certainly took away from the moment.

(10) Kazuchika Okada vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in the G1 Climax 24 Finals. They did some chain wrestling early before coming to a stalemate. Okada offered a clean break against the ropes and did The Rainmaker pose. Nakamura did his signature clean break against the ropes, but Okada nailed him with a DDT and followed up with a sliding kick to the head. Okada grabbed a headlock on the outside a short time later using the barrier for leverage. Okada methodically began working over Nakamura back inside the ring. Nakamura ducked a charge in the corner and they began exchanging blows in the middle of the ring a short time later. Nakamura hit an enzuguri and began hitting Okada with knee strikes to the chest in the corner. Nakamura then did his signature boot choke, but Okada managed to avoid a charge in the corner. Nakamura caught him with a flying kick a short time later that was good for a 2 count. Nakamura draped Okada over the turnbuckles and nailed him with a running knee that sent him to the floor. Nakamura set up Okada over the apron and nailed him with a running kick to the head from the floor and then a jumping knee strike to the head on the apron. Nakamura taunted Okada with some light kicks to the head and then nailed him with a huge kick to the chest.

Nakamura hit a couple of light kicks to Okada’s back. They went back and forth, but Okada ducked a charge in the corner, set him up on top, and then nailed him with a dropkick that sent him off the top to the floor. Okada followed Nakamura to the floor and sent him over the guardrail with a running kick. He then followed up with a hangman’s DDT off the guardrail. Okada went up top and hit an elbow drop. He then did his Rainmaker pose as Gedo got hyped on the outside. Nakamura managed to duck the Rainmaker and he hit a back stabber that left both men down on the mat. Both men got up and began exchanging forearms. Okada ended up catching Nakamura with a flapjack off the ropes, but Nakamura caught him with a sleeper on the mat a short time later. Nakamura went for a cross-arm breaker and eventually transitioned into a triangle. Okada tried to get the ropes, but Nakamura turned it back into a cross-arm breaker. Gedo freaked out on the outside, but Okada managed to get the ropes. Nakamura hit several big knees to Okada’s head. He then hit a big overhead toss and set up for the Boma Ye. Okada managed to duck the Boma Ye and he hit his emerald frozien neck breaker on Okada and both men were down. Okada went for the tombstone, but Nakamura fought out of it. Nakamura went for a pair of kicks, but Okada blocked them and hit a dropkick to the back of his head.

Okada hit a tombstone and signaled for The Rainmaker. The fans fired up, but Nakamura flipped over The Rainmaker attempt and went for a cross-arm breaker. Okada held his hands together and Nakamura tried to break his grip by punching his hands. Nakamura got the hold, but Okada rolled on top of him and put his foot on his hand to free himself. Nakamura then got up and nailed him with a huge running knee to the head and both men were down. They panned to a wide shot of the arena and the fans fired up as both men slowly began to get to their feet. Both men got up and began trading forearms. Both men began going back and forth until Nakamura took Okada down with a big forearm. Okada fired back with an uppercut. He hit another uppercut and eventually caught Nakamura with a big dropkick off the ropes. Nakamura avoided another dropkick and hit the Boma Ye, but Okada kicked out at the last second. Nakamura went up to the turnbuckles and hit a knee strike to Okada’s head. The fans went nuts as Nakamura set up in the corner. He charged at Okada, but ate a big dropkick and both men were down again. Okada hit a German with a bridge for a near fall. Nakamura blocked the Rainmaker with a knee strike to the head. Okada blocked the Boma Ye and Nakamura decked him with a straight right. Nakamura kicked out of a back slide, but Okada hit two Rainmakers right away. Okada then lifted up Nakamura with a third Rainmaker for the win. Amazing match.

Nakamura was helped to the back as Gedo and Okada embraced in the ring. Okada was presented with a trophy for winning the G1 Climax. He was then given a flag and a check. Okada was then presented with an even bigger trophy that he held up for the fans. Gedo got on the mic, but before speaking he cupped his ear. The fans began chanting for Okada. He put over Nakamura and the fans applauded. He talked up Okada on the mic and the fans applauded. Okada then got on the mic and said a few words and the fans cheered. Gedo talked some more and mentioned Naito and Anderson, who had beaten Okada in the tournament. The fans chanted for Okada. He handed the mic to Okada. The fans cheered as he cut his promo. He announced he would get his title shot at the Tokyo Dome in January. Okada then walked up the ramp and an impressive display of fireworks set off as he posed with the trophy.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada to win G1 Climax 24.

Star rating: (****1/2) – This was an excellent match. Okada couldn’t hit the Rainmaker for most of the match and they took the fans up and down on an emotional journey down the stretch with some great near falls leading into the finish. This was an excellent conclusion to an incredible G1 Climax.

Overall thoughts: (8.0) – The undercard started weak, but there was some good action after the first three matches. The Styles-Tanahashi and Okada-Nakamura G1 Climax Finals match were both fantastic, especially Nakamura-Okada, who tore it up in the main event.

The Ring of Honor crew acquitted themselves well. Bennett & Cole had a fun match with Captain New Japan & Jushin Liger. Cole & Bennett looked good on the big stage, especially Cole who carriers himself like a star in the ring. Cole had some good exchanges with Liger during the match, but it was Maria helping Bennett to get the win by distracting Captain New Japan.

KUSHIDA & Shelley vs. Fish & O’Reilly was a very good match. They had some great exchanges and the crowd got into it as both teams put on a display of high-flying and excellent double team maneuvers before KUSHIDA forced O’Reilly to tap out to an arm bar.

The biggest disappointment on the show was Honma not winning a match on the entire tour. If he had beaten Shibata on Night 8, it would have been one of the most incredible moments in the history of wrestling given how hot the crowd was and how good his match with Shibata was. He had some good matches after that, but his chase for a victory wasn’t as hot.

Shibata-Goto is another match worth checking out. They had a really good back and forth hard-hitting match and these two come across like legit tough guys in the ring. It was great watching these two warriors help each other to the back after one heck of a war in the ring.

The Styles-Tanahashi match was excellent. The crowd really got into the match as it went on. They built it around both men trying to hit their finish. At one point, Styles had Tanahashi up in the air, but he couldn’t hook him in for the Styles clash, so he just dumped him on his head. Tanahashi got the win and is set up as a challenger for Styles. I was surprised to see Jeff Jarrett and Scott D’Amore join Bullet Club after turning on Tanahashi, but the group has already started to get watered down a bit in recent months.

The main event between Nakamura and Okada was an amazing match. Both guys went back and forth trying to finish each other off with their finishers. They built to some great near falls late and Nakamura’s counter of The Rainmaker was insane. Okada finished off Nakamura in impressive fashion with three Rainmakers to win a tournament that is likely never to be topped.

I suggest watching this entire tournament in order if you haven’t already. It has been a great ride filled with big matches, great storytelling, and incredible highs and lows for several different wrestlers. Okada is going on to the Tokyo Dome for his shot at the IWGP Hvt. Title, but in the meantime, he has been set up to face Naito and Anderson in the coming months after they beat him during the tournament. Styles on the other hand has been set up to feud with Tanahashi.

It’s going to be interesting to see what direction NJPW goes in for the Tokyo Dome show in January. Okada has been rehabbed in this tournament, but I don’t see another match with Styles being a top draw. In my mind it has to come down to Okada facing either Styles, Nakamura, or Tanahashi for the IWGP Hvt. Title and it wouldn’t shock me if they put the title on Nakamura for a rematch with Okada, but stranger things have happened.


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

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