By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S NJPW G1 CLIMAX 24: NIGHT 7 REPORT
AUGUST 1, 2014
TOKYO, JAPAN

Jushin Liger! is in on commentary. The fans seem to be hot prior to the start of the show.

(1) Satoshi Kojima vs. Shelton Benjamin in a G1 Climax A Block match. The fans chanted for Kojima prior to both men locking up. Benjamin took down Kojima with a shoulder tackle and flexed his pecks. Kojima got up and hit a diamond cutter and flexed his pecks. Benjamin dragged Kojima to the floor and dropped him back-first over the guardrail. Benjamin tossed Kojima back into the ring and targeted his back. Benjamin worked over Kojima for a long period of time, but he managed to duck a splash in the corner and went to town on Benjamin with the Kobashi chops. Kojima started to go up top, but Benjamin knocked him to the floor. Kojima managed to fire back on the outside and he nailed Benjamin with a DDT. Benjamin struggled to get up, but managed to beat the ref’s count. They began exchanging big chops in the middle of the ring. Benjamin ducked a roaring elbow and hit a German. Shelton held on and hit another German. He continued to hold to Kojima and he landed a third German with a bridge for a near fall. The fans chanted for Kojima, who fired back and kicked out Benjamin’s leg before nailing him with a DDT. He went for a lariat, but Benjamin slid behind him and applied an ankle lock.

Kojima struggled to the ropes, but Benjamin dragged him to the middle and grapevine his leg. The fans chanted for Kojima and he eventually got the ropes. Benjamin tried to whip Kojima, but his leg gave out from under him. Kojima fired back a short time later and caught Benjamin with a clothesline from behind. He tossed his elbow pad, but Benjamin nailed him with a huge superkick as he came off the ropes and both men were down. Benjamin crawled over to Kojima and covered him for a 2 count. Benjamin caught Kojima with his signature spin kick, but Kojima blocked the pay dirt and hit a huge lariat for the win.

Winner: Satoshi Kojima

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a heck of an opening match with Kojima fighting from behind. Benjamin worked him over with an ankle lock late in the match and the crowd got really hot. Kojima then completed the comeback after blocking the pay dirt to get the win. Benjamin is putting together some really good matches in the tournament as of late.

(2) Toru Yano vs. Lance Archer in a G1 Climax B Block match. Yano threw water at Archer. That made Archer angry and he chased him to the floor. Yano ducked a running kick and Archer crotched himself on the guardrail. Yano quickly undid the turnbuckle pad, but Archer whipped him into it a short time later. Archer then wiped out Yano with a huge shoulder tackle. Yano duked a charge and Archer went into the exposed pad. Yano played to the crowd and he nailed him with a kick from behind. The fans were hot after Archer did Yano’s signature name chant and Yano fired back and did it himself. Archer went for the blackout, but Yano escaped. He tossed the chair to Archer and the ref tried to take it away from him. Yano hit a low blow and went for the dirty pin with the ref distracted, but Archer kicked out. Archer then punched the chair into Yano’s face and hit the blackout for the win.

Winner: Lance Archer

Star rating: (**3/4) – They kept this short, but it was entertaining as heck while it lasted with Yano once again trying to use his cheap tactics to win, but they weren’t enough to overcome Archer.

(3) NEVER Openweight Champion Yujiro Takahashi vs. IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Karl Anderson in a G1 Climax B Block match. We have a clash of Bullet Club members in this match. They too sweet’d before the match. Anderson offered a too sweet to Takahashi, but he ended up raking his eyes. They went to another exchange before coming to a stalemate. This time Takahashi offered to too sweet Anderson, but he ended up thumbing him in the eye. They action spilled to the outside and Anderson dropped Takahashi neck-first over the barricade. Takahashi caught Anderson charging at him a short time later and returned the favor. Takahashi worked over inside the ring and grinded around, but was displeased when the crowd booed. Anderson finally fired back and hit a big side slam. Anderson stood over Takahashi before hitting him with the people’s senton. The fans fired up and Anderson caught Takahashi with a leg lariat off the ropes a short time later. Anderson missed a running boot in the corner and Takahashi nailed him with a kick to the back of the head. They went to a big exchange and Takahashi decked Anderson with a big forearm and connected with a fisherman buster. They went to another exchange and Takahashi managed to block a running ace crusher. He eventually caught Anderson with a German with a bridge for a near fall. Anderson shook off Tanahashi a short time later and hit the stun gun for the win.

Anderson picked up Takahashi and gave him a huge after the match.

Winner: Karl Anderson

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was a short, but good match. They did some comedy early with both men taking cheap shots at the other. The match finished with a nice sequence before Anderson hit the stun gun for the win. Anderson is definitely picked up some momentum after picking up three wins recently.

(4) Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champion Doc Gallows G1 Climax A Block match. They had a battle of shoulder tackles early, but neither man would go down. Smith finally took Gallows down with a shoulder tackle and began working over his arm. Gallows fired back and raked his eyes. They went back and forth going for a suplex, but Smith lifted up Gallows and held him in the vertical suplex position. The crowd fired up and Smith flexed before dropping Gallows down to the mat. That was pretty fantastic. Smith followed Gallows to the outside, but Gallows whipped him into the guardrail and then slammed him to the floor. Gallows grabbed a chair and slammed it over Smith’s back several times. Smith struggled, but made it back into the ring at 18. Gallows worked over Smith for a long period of time until he ducked a charge in the corner and followed up with a side slam. They got up and began exchanging blows a short time later. Smith caught Gallows with a running knee and then hit a leg drop for a 2 count.

Gallows tried to fight out of a slam, but Smith hoisted him up and slammed him to the mat. Smith went for a powerbomb, but Gallows countered it and hit a backdrop. Gallows fired up and hit a big clothesline for a 2 count. He then hit a double underhook spinebuster for a near fall and the fans applauded. Smith caught Gallows’s leg when he went for a knee to the gut and hit a leg capture suplex. They went back and forth and Smith countered Gallows and tried to get the sharpshooter. Gallows fought it, but Smith managed to turn him over. Smith dragged Anderson back to the middle of the ring and Gallows teased tapping and eventually tapped.

Winner: Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Star rating: (***) – This was a good match. It dragged a little at times when Gallows got the upper hand. The highlight of the match was Smith hitting a delayed vertical suplex after flexing as he held Gallows in the air. I’m enjoying most of Smith’s work in the tournament so far.

(5) Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirooki Goto G1 Climax B Block match. The fans were chanting LOUDLY for Tenzan as the opening bell rang. Tenzan hit a series of double chops early to ground Goto and the crowd was pleased. The fans chanted for Tenzan as he put the boots to Goto. Goto fired up as Tenzan nailed him with strikes and caught him by surprise with a running clothesline off the ropes. Goto then applied a head scissors submission on the mat and wrenched back on it. Tenzan struggled, but managed to get the ropes. Goto put a beating on Tenzan, but he began to fire back. Goto tossed Tenzan into the corner and choked him with his boot. He then began nailing Tenzan with big forearms. He whipped Tenzan into the opposite corner and hit a running spin kick and a Saito suplex for a 2 count. The fans fired up big time behind Tenzan.

Tenzan tried to fire back, but Goto nailed him with a clothesline for a 2 count. Goto got Tenzan up on his shoulders, but Tenzan slipped off and eventually caught him with an overhead suplex off the ropes. The fans chanted for Tenzan as he began nailing Goto with double chops. Tenzan then went up top and hit his signature face buster for a 2 count. The fans clapped and chanted for Tenzan. Goto tried to mount a comeback, but Tenzan caught him with a spinning kick as he came off the ropes. Tenzan then went up top and hit a diving headbutt and the fans roared, but Goto kicked out at the last second. Tenzan immediately applied the anaconda vice, but Goto managed to get the ropes. Goto blocked a slam attempt. He tried to surprise Tenzan with a big clothesline, but he ducked it and eventually hit a headbutt. Goto then caught Tenzan coming off the ropes and he nailed him with a big neck breaker over his knee for a near fall. The fans went nuts after Tenzan kicked out. Tenzan sold big time and wouldn’t come up for Goto, so Goto covered him again for another good near fall. Goto went for a suplex, but Tenzan blocked it. The fans fired up as both men struggled to get position. Goto hit several forearms, but Tenzan fired back. They went back and forth trading strikes. The crowd fired up and Tenzan began hitting double chops! Goto fired back with a big headbutt that grounded Tenzan. Goto went for a running kick, but Tenzan caught his leg and nailed him with a pair of headbutts. Wow! The fans are going f---ing nuts! Tenzan lifted Goto and hit a huge DDT for a near fall. He then applied the anaconda vice in the standing position and slammed Goto down to the mat. The announcer went absolutely insane and Goto tapped out! Holy crap what match!

Winner: Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Star rating: (****1/2) – What a match. What a match! The fans were red hot behind Tenzan from the beginning and once he mounted his comeback and tried to come back from behind, the crowd went insane. They had some great exchanges down to the stretch and the way that Tenzan put away Goto was pure insanity. This was a great war between two hard-hitters.

(6) Tomoaki Honma vs. IWGP IC Champion Bad Luck Fale G1 Climax A Block match. The fans chanted for Honma early and he quickly took Fale down and went for a running headbutt, but Fale got out of the way. Fale went on the attack and began working over Honma. He targeted Honma’s mid-section. Honma mounted a comeback and snapped Fale’s head over the top rope before nailing him with a running clothesline that sent him off the apron into the guardrail. Honma went up top and the fans fired up. Fale stood up and Honma nailed him with a diving headbutt to the floor. That’s probably safer than a traditional diving headbutt. Honma fired up on Fale a short time later and nailed him with a running headbutt. He went for a suplex, but Fale blocked it and slammed him to the ground. Fale followed up with a big splash, but Honma kicked out and the fans applauded and chanted for Honma. Fale set up for the border toss, but Honma slipped out and rolled him up for a good near fall as the fans went nuts. Honma hit a pair of big clotheslines, but Fale wouldn’t go down. Honma ducked a clothesline from Fale and nailed him with a huge clothesline off the ropes. Honma went up top for the diving headbutt, but Fale got out of the way at the last second. The fans continued to chant for Honma, but he ate a huge lariat from Fale when he charged at him. Fale followed up with the thumb to the throat, but Honma kicked out at the last second. Fale then hit a huge border toss for the win. Wow!

Winner: Bad Luck Fale

Star rating: (***1/2) – This match had one heck of an atmosphere as Honma continues to be a huge fan favorite in this tournament, despite not being able to pick up the win. When Honma mounted his comeback, the fans went absolutely nuts and the announcers really fired up as well. When Honma eventually wins a match in this tournament, it will be a great moment.

(7) Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito G1 Climax B Block match. The fans were hot prior to the start of the match. The action spilled to the floor and Makabe got the upper hand. They ended up back in the ring and Makabe began working over Naito with a chin lock. Makabe worked over Naito for a long period of time. Naito fired up and began trading punches with Makabe. Makabe no-sold a dropkick, but Naito eventually caught him with a neck breaker. Naito hit a flurry off offense and capped it off with a missile dropkick. He went for a slingshot dropkick in the corner, but Makabe caught him and nailed him with a series of clotheslines in the corner. The fans fired up as Makabe continued to dominate the action as the pace of the match continued to pick up. Naito fired back and caught Makabe with a sliding dropkick to the head. Naito followed up with his signature slingshot dropkick a short time later. He followed up with a super hurricanrana and a German with a bridge, but Makabe kicked out at the last second.

Makabe blocked a suplex attempt and eventually caught Naito with a huge clothesline. The fans fired up and chanted for Makabe. They began exchanging forearms and Makabe smiled. Makabe fired up and told Naito to bring it and they began trading forearms again. Makabe ducked a flying forearm and hit a huge lariat on Naito. He followed up with a huge powerbomb into a folding pin for a near fall. The fans chanted for Makabe again. Makabe signaled for the finish, but Naito fired back. They went back and forth and Naito jumped over Makabe into a pinning combination for a near fall. Naito went for a flying forearm again, but Makabe obliterated him with a clothesline after he jumped off the ropes. Naito tried to fight off a spider German, but Makabe hit it. He followed up with a huge knee drop off the top for the win. What a match!

Winner: Togi Makabe

Star rating: (***3/4) – The match started off slow, but once the action picked up, it was really good. The fans were red hot once Naito made his comeback and they began going back and forth. Makabe’s facial expressions when they exchanged strikes were tremendous. This certainly puts a halt to Naito’s momentum in the tournament at the moment.

(8) IWGP Hvt. Champion A.J. Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki G1 Climax B Block match. Both men went face-to-face before the match started. The match started hot with Styles hitting his signature dropkick. The action spilled to the floor and Styles was whipped toward the barricade, but he jumped over it and came back and hit a flying forearm off the barricade. Styles nailed Suzuki with kicks inside the ring. Suzuki screamed at Styles, so he nailed him with a slam and then a knee drop off the ropes. Styles followed up with a big vertical suplex, but Suzuki kicked out at one. Styles went for a springboard, but Suzuki shoved him and then applied an arm bar using the ropes for leverage. Styles eventually escaped and ended up on the floor, but Suzuki nailed him with a huge running kick on the apron. Suzuki followed Styles to the floor and whipped him chest-first into the barricade. He then wrapped Styles’s arm around the barricade and wrenched back on it. Suzuki walked Styles into the crowd and he grabbed an arm submission using a chair for leverage. Suzuki then began biting Styles’s fingers while applying the hold. Suzuki got back into the ring as the ref counted, but Styles managed to get back into the ring in time. Suzuki continued to work on Styles’s arm once he got back into the ring. Suzuki grabbed another arm bar inside the ring. He dropped a big knee over Styles’s arm and began wrenching on Styles’s fingers. Suzuki then grabbed Styles’s other arm and eventually transitioned into a cross face.

Styles counted and arm submission and eventually suplexed Suzuki into the corner. Styles hit a leaping forearm in the corner and put the boots to Suzuki. Styles went for another running forearm in the corner, but Suzuki dragged the ref in the way. Michinoku got in the ring and began pounding on Styles, but Anderson and Gallows ran down to the ring to make the save. Archer and Smith then ran down to the ring and they brawled to the back. Suzuki and Styles began exchanging strikes in the middle of the ring. Styles lit up Suzuki with a series of strikes, but he ducked a clothesline and began firing up with slaps to the face. Styles fired back and both men went down after hitting huge slaps at the same time. Both men got to their feet and went at it again. Styles blocked a clothesline with a kick and then hit another kick to send Suzuki down to the mat. Styles stood over Suzuki and symbolically pout a bullet in his head, but Suzuki grabbed his fingers and began twisting them and Styles screamed in pain. Styles went for another springboard forearm, but Suzuki caught him and countered it into an arm bar. Suzuki began twisting Styles’s fingers again while working the hold, but Styles got the ropes. Styles tried to fight back, but when they went off the ropes, Suzuki slipped behind Styles and grabbed a sleeper. Suzuki then dropped Styles down and went for the neutralizer, but Styles dropped down to a knee. Suzuki almost got Styles up, but he dropped to his knee again. Styles caught a kick from Suzuki and went for the Styles clash, but Suzuki countered it into an ankle lock.

Styles struggled, but countered it into an ankle lock of his own. Suzuki slipped through and got an ankle lock once again. Styles tried to counter it, but Suzuki managed to avoid an ankle lock and he grabbed an arm bar. Styles managed to clasp his hands together, but Suzuki got the arm bar again. Styles continued to try to clasp his hands together, but Suzuki got the arm bar again each time. Styles finally slipped out and hit the Styles clash and the fans lost their minds. Wow, just wow. Both men were slow to get to their feet. Suzuki spit at Styles and they began exchanging chops. Both men then began hitting each other with slaps to the face. Styles ended up hurting his arm and Suzuki hit a huge right. Styles fired back with a Pele kick and a second Styles clash for the win.

The fans chanted Styles’s name after the match ended as he had trouble doing his signature hand gesture after the match. Suzuki tossed a water bottle at Styles as he staggered around on the floor.

Winner: A.J. Styles

Star rating: (*****) – They told an amazing story in this match with Suzuki working over Styles’s arm. The submission work here was fantastic. The crowd was rabid during this match and it truly felt like something special to watch the counter submission work of both me down the stretch when both men were going for ankle locks until Suzuki got an arm. What a finish to this match and this is my top choice for MOTY right now.

(9) Yuji Nagata vs. Katsuyori Shibata G1 Climax A Block match. The fans chanted for Shibata before the match. Nagata offered a clean break early in the match and the fans chanted for him. Shibata backed Nagata into the corner, but ended up nailing him with a chop. This made Nagata angry and he hit him with several knees and pitched him to the floor. He then booted Shibata over the guardrail a short time later. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MAKE NAGATA ANGRY. Shibata fired back a short time later and whipped him into the guardrail before nailing him with a running knee. They began trading strikes on the outside a short time later as the ref counted. They continued to trade strikes and rolled back into the ring at the same time to barely avoid a double count out and the fans went nuts. Shibata took control and slowed the pace working a chin lock on the mat. He transitioned to a leg choke, but Nagata got the ropes. Shibata nailed Nagata with a series of slaps and he fired up. Shibata took him into the corner and nailed him with a series of vicious forearms. Shibata went to the opposite corner, but Nagata met him with a running kick to the head. Shibata fired back and hit a series of forearms in the corner and went to the opposite corner, but Nagata popped up and met him with a big knee to the gut. The fans fired up and chanted for Nagata as he nailed Shibata with some vicious kicks to the chest.

Both men went face-to-face in the ring and traded forearms. They began bouncing off the ropes and Nagata caught Shibata with a series of kicks to the head, but he surprised him with a running knee to the gut and took him down with a big running knee to the head. Both men were slow to get up after that exchange. Shibata finally hit his signature running dropkick in the corner and Nagata managed to kick out of a suplex a short time later. Nagata ducked a big kick and hit an exploder, but Shibata got right up and hit a German and both men were down as the fans went nuts. Shibata went for the GTS, but Nagata slipped out only to eat a big kick to the head. Shibata grabbed a sleeper on the mat. Nagata tried to fire up and he eventually slammed Shibata’s arm over his shoulder before grabbing his signature arm bar and the fans went nuts as his eyes rolled up into the back of his head. Shibata struggled and eventually got the ropes. The fans chanted for Nagata, but Shibata got up a short time later and hit a belly to back suplex. Nagata fired up and hit a big German, but Shibata blocked a running boot and nailed him with a German and both men were down. They got up and went to another strike exchange. Shibata hit several forearms, but Nagata ducked a backfist and nailed Shibata with a huge strike to take him down. Shibata got up and nailed him with more strikes, but Nagata wasn’t budging. They began exchanging some brutal slaps to the face as the fans went nuts. Both men hit slaps at the same time and staggered. The exchange continued, but Nagata caught Shibata with a huge slap to the face and a Saito suplex for a near fall. Nagata hit a second Saito suplex for the win as the fans went nuts.

Winner: Yuji Nagata

Star rating: (****1/4) – This was stiff! These two guys beat the hell out of each other and the crowd went insane for their exchanges. There was some really good counter wrestling in here as well during the match with both men going back and forth. The strike exchanges in this match were insane. This was a heck of a war between these big strikers.

(10) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tomohiro Ishii G1 Climax A Block match. They went to a big exchange early before coming to a stalemate. Ishii blocked Nakamura’s signature choke in the corner, but Nakamura fired back and draped him over the top rope. Ishii avoided a running knee strike, but Nakamura nailed him with a big kick to the head on the apron and then hit a DDT through the ropes. Nakamura then hit his signature boot choke in the corner. He began hitting issue with light kicks and knees. Ishii fired up and went face-to-face with Nakamura. They began exchanging forearms, but Nakamura hit a big kick in the corner and set up Ishii across the turnbuckles before hitting him with a running knee to the gut for a 2 count. Ishii ducked a pair of kicks from Nakamura and nailed him with a big strikes. He followed up with a running clothesline in the corner. Ishii then took Nakamura up top and dropped him down to the mat with a big superplex for a 2 count. Nakamura got a front face lock on Ishii, but he fought out of it. Nakamura then hit a leg capture belly to back suplex. Nakamura hit his pose on the ropes, but Ishii fired up to his feet and nailed him with a running dropkick to the head and the fans fired up.

Both men got to their feet and traded forearms, but Nakamura hit him with a flying kick off the turnbuckles. Nakamura set up for the Boma Ye, but Ishii popped up and turned him inside out with a clothesline. They went back and forth and Nakamura floated around an Ishii clothesline and grabbed a cross-arm bar. That was insane! Nakamura worked the arm bar and Ishii kept trying to clasp his hands. Ishii struggled, but finally got the ropes. Nakamura bounced off the ropes a short time later, but Ishii nailed him with a clothesline. Ishii followed up with a big running clothesline for a 2 count. Nakamura countered Ishii and went for the Boma Ye, but he fired up with a headbutt and a diving lariat for a near fall. They battled for position and Nakamura decked Ishii and hit the Boma Ye to the back of his head, but was too tired to capitalize. Both men got up and went at it again. Nakamura took a lariat, but didn’t go down. They began exchanging strikes. Ishii told him to bring it and then fired back with rapid fire forearms. Ishii finally hit an enzuguri, but Nakamura fired back and hit the Boma Ye. Ishii kicked out at one and Nakamura hit a knee off the ropes for a near fall. Nakamura went for Boma Ye, but Ishii blocked it. Nakamura then bounced off the ropes and hit a running knee to Ishii’s head for the win.

Both men shook hands after the match. The fans chanted for Nakamura after the match. He got on the mic and cut a promo. Nakamura said a few words and did his catchphrase to send the fans home happy.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

Star rating: (***1/2) – This match was good, but they really needed to slow the pace down after the last two matches. This match was just too much to process at times as both men went back and forth the entire time and had some brutal exchanges. Ishii showed a ton of guts absorbing everything Nakamura could throw at him until the end.

Overall thoughts: (9.0) – This was another amazing show in the G1 Climax 24 Tournament. It may sound redundant at this point, but this was excellent from start to finish, although the main event suffered a bit from lack of crowd heat because the fans were simply worn out. Styles vs. Suzuki was a special match on this card and well-worth going out of your way to see. It is my top pick for MOTY in 2014.

The undercard was good, but things really heated up before intermission with an excellent hard-hitting match between Goto and Tenzan that had the fans going insane. The veterans in this tournament are really putting in some great performances that you don’t ordinarily see and Tenzan was amazing in this match and the fans went crazy when he won.

The match you’re going want to want to go out of your way to see is Styles-Suzuki. Suzuki really turned it up in this match and you could tell right from the start this was going to be something special. Suzuki’s submission work was top notch in this match as he constantly worked over Styles’s arm while working on his fingers and bending them back at the same time. They had some incredible submission exchanges down the stretch before Styles hit a second Styles clash for the win.

The crowd continued to be rabid for the next match, which was an all-out war between Shibata and Nagata. They had some really good back and forth strike exchanges and the crowd was rabid. Shibata and Nagata have been really good in this tournament, but tonight was Nagata’s night to shine and he finished Shibata off in glorious fashion.

The main event Nakamura and Ishii was good, but the back and forth pacing of the match was a little too much at times after what the fans had seen in the previous matches. The match was good, but it was hard to watch at times with all of the no-selling and near falls down the stretch.

Overall, this was a great show with a number of excellent matches. Styles-Suzuki was really something special on this card and well-worth going out of your way to see. The show only faltered a bit at the end with the fast-pace of the main event and the fans not quite into the action as they were for the previous matches.

You can purchase NJPW “G1 Climax 24: Night 7” on VOD by clicking HERE or by visiting Ustream.tv/njpw.

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