RADICAN’S 7/20 NJPW G1 Climax 27: Night 2 report – SANADA vs. EVIL, Omega vs. Suzuki, B block action begins!

RADICAN’S G1 CLIMAX 27: NIGHT 2 REPORT
JULY 20, 2017
TOKYO, JAPAN
AIRED LIVE ON NJPWWORLD.COM

Announcers: Don Callis and Kevin Kelly

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 (El Desperado & Zack Sabre Jr.) beat Hirai Kawato & Kota Ibushi.

(2) Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe beat CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo &. Hirooki Goto)

(3) Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale) beat David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi.

(4) L.I.J. (Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI) beat CHAOS (Jado & YOSHI-HASHI).

B BLOCK RESULTS & ANALYSIS

(5) Satoshi Kojima (0) vs. Juice Robinson (0) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. This was really good. Robinson went up top at one point and Kojima clotheslined his legs and then hit a cutter off the turnbuckles. Kojima hit a brain buster for a near fall and then his signature lariat for a near fall. Robinson had gone for pulp friction several times. He blocked another lariat attempt and hit a huge punch followed by pulp friction for the win.

Winner: Juice Robinson (2 pts)

Star rating: (***1/2)

(6) Michael Elgin (0) vs. Tama Tonga (0) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. Tonga tried to use his speed to create an opening on Elgin early on, but it didn’t work. Tonga swept Elgin’s legs out from under him on the apron and eventually hit a German on the floor. Elgin got on track and dominated with his power. Tonga eventually caught Elgin in the corner and hit a nice Alabama slam. He went for the gun stun, but Elgin tossed him away. Elgin came up bleeding from the mouth after Tonga hit a dropkick. Elgin went for a slingshot, but Tonga turned it into the gun stun. Elgin rolled to the floor and Tonga quickly got him and tossed him into the ring for a near fall. They battled up top and Elgin got Tonga up on his shoulders for an avalanche falcon arrow, but Tonga turned it into a gun stun for the win. WOW!

Winner: Tama Tonga (2 pts)

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was another really good match with a sick finish. Tonga is much improved from last year. You can tell he’s carrying himself differently.

(7) EVIL (0) vs. SANADA (0) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. Both of these men are in L.I.J. EVIL offered a handshake and then took a cheap shot and the match was on. EVIL hit a sick conchairto on the floor during the early going. EVIL dominated the action until SANADA caught him with his signature dropkick. They battled up too and EVIL shoved SANADA to the floor after breaking a guillotine choke. SANADA popped up and hit an ace crusher off the top to the floor. Both men barely beat the 20 count. Wow! They really picked up the pace and hit big moves. SANADA kicked out of a German at 1. EVIL took a Saito suplex and got right back up. SANADA went for the skull end, but EVIL countered it into a fisherman buster into the ropes. EVIL hit darkness falls for a near fall. SANADA fired back with a TKO for a near fall. EVIL got a chicken wing variation, but SANADA got to the ropes after a long struggle. They had an amazing exchange of counters. SANADA floated over EVIL and hit the skull end! He held on with the dragon sleeper submission, but EVIL got to the ropes. SANADA went up top and hit a moonsault and it was good for the pin.

Both men bumped fists after the match.

Winner: SANADA (2 pts)

Star rating: (****) – Both guys were great here. They went all out despite being stablemates. I’m high on both of these guys. They have huge potential and have clearly improved.

Callis left the commentary booth to talk strategy with Kenny Omega.

(7) IWGP Hvt. Champion Kazuchika Okada (w/Gedo) (0) vs. Toru Yano (w/Jado) (0) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. Okada fended off Yano’s trickery early on and took control once the action spilled to the floor. The fans seemed to be behind Yano as they booed with Okada in control. Yano shoved the ref into Okada and took the turnbuckle pad off. He hit Okada with it and tossed the pad to Gedo, but the ref didn’t fall for it. He tripped Okada into the exposed turnbuckles and rolled him up for a near fall a short time later. Yano gave Gedo an inverted atomic drop on the floor, but Okada made the save and clotheslined him into the fans. Jado then distracted Okada. Yano hit them with a double low blow. Gedo then hit a low blow on Yano and everyone was down. Both men nearly got counted out, but they got back into the ring right before 20. Yano countered several rainmaker attempts and sat down on Okada for a near fall. Okada sold shock and got back on track. He eventually locked in red ink for the win. I don’t think I’ve seen him finish anyone off with red ink in a long time.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada (2 pts)

Star rating: (**1/4) – This was fun for what it was.

Okada helped Yano up after the March and they posed together.

(9) NEVER Openweight Champion Minoru Suzuki (0) vs. IWGP U.S. Champion Kenny Omega (0) in a G1 Climax 27 B Block match. Suzuki slapped Omega around and Omega wouldn’t look at him. Omega finally fired up and lit into Suzuki with strikes. Omega sent Suzuki to the floor with a hurricanrana at set up for Rise of the Terminator, but Suzuki dove into the ring and cut him off. They battled near the apron and Suzuki got an arm bar in the ropes, but he was forced to break it. Suzuki then hit a running kick to Omega’s chest from the apron to the floor. Suzuki went after Omega’s leg on the floor. He wrapped it around the ring barrier at one point. He then slammed it with a chair after they brawled into the crowd. Omega fired back with a chair shot and limped into the ring. Suzuki ran back into the ring with a chair, but Omega cut him off. Omega went for the Finlay roll/moonsault combination, but his leg gave off. Omega crawled up to the top and hit a one-legged moonsault for a two count! Omega hit a chop, but it only made Suzuki smile. Omega blocked a sleeper attempt and hit a cross-legged neck breaker on his knee on Suzuki. Omega set up for a V Trigger knee, but Suzuki dragged Red Shoes in the way. Omega then hit a V Trigger on Suzuki. Michinoku and Desperado ran down to the ring and interfered. Omega fended them off, but Taichi ran down and nailed him with a chair. Owens ran down to help Omega, but he got cut off. Fale then came down to the ring. He no-sold a chair to the gut from Taichi. He then shook off a double team from Desperado and Michinoku Big Show style. Suzuki Gun and Bullet Club members brawled into the crowd and it was back to Omega and Suzuki one-on-one in the ring. Omega set up and hit a springboard dive to the floor to wipe out Suzuki-Gun! WOW!

Fale was shown dragging some members of Suzuki-Gun to the back. Owens brawled with Desperado. Omega went up top, but Suzuki caught him with a knee bar. Omega got to the ropes, but Suzuki dragged him back to the middle of the leg and applied the knee bar with the leg left draped across it. The fans chanted for Omega as he fought to break free. Suzuki transitioned to a cloverleaf. Omega teased tapping out, but then he began crawling and he got to the ropes! Omega tried to fire back with some big chops, but Suzuki just smiled at him. They went back and forth exchanging blows. Suzuki finally went after Omega’s leg at the 15 minute mark and he went down. Omega slapped Suzuki across the face and then spit in his face. Suzuki lit him up with slaps to the face. Omega fired back and hit a snap dragon suplex, but he couldn’t hold the bridge because of the damage to his leg. Omega lifted Suzuki up for the one winged angel. He nearly hit it, but Suzuki rolled through into an ankle lock. Suzuki transitioned to a choke, but Omega managed to lift him up. He then fell backwards to get Suzuki off his back. Suzuki sat up suddenly and grabbed a rear naked choke. Omega got up to his feet and teased fading. The ref checked his arm twice and Omega kept it up on the second try. Suzuki let go and went for the Gotch piledriver. Omega fought it off. Omega connected with a big V Trigger knee against the ropes, but was slow to get up. Omega sold his leg and went for another one, but Suzuki cut him off with a drop kick and both men were down! Omega fired back with a pair of big V Triggers, but Suzuki kicked out at the last second! Omega went for a reverse hurricanrana, but his leg went out and he couldn’t connect with it. Omega fired back with a pair of running V Trigger knees. Omega then hit the one-winged angel for the win.

Winner: Kenny Omega (2 pts)

Star rating: (****) – Excellent match between the leaders of Suzuki Gun and Bullet Club. Suzuki gave Omega all he could handle and did some serious damage to Omega’s leg, but Omega fought it off and managed to put Suzuki away in the end. The fans really woke up during the interference from Suzuki Gun midway through the match and things got better from that point forward.

Kevin Kelly referenced Omega looking forward to his meeting with Kazuchika Okada on Aug. 12. The fans stood on their feet and chanted for Omega. Omega got on the mic and the fans applauded. Omega said he and the Bullet Club survived. He said The Elite survived. Omega said it was the first two points and he welcomed the fans to G1. Omega said the tournament was far from over. He said he must bid the fans adieu. He told the fans to shut up when they applauded because it wasn’t the time. He said the show was over, he is there main event, and that was the best part. Omega concluded by saying, “Goodbye and goodnight. Bang!” Omega then pounded the mic as the fans clapped along. Omega then laughed as the fans cheered him.

Overall thoughts: This was a very strong night of block action. The undercard matches were really good. Robinson-Kojima and Elgin-Tonga both are worth a watch if you have time. Yano-Okada was fine for what it was, but it was sandwiched in between two really good matches.

EVIL and SANADA keep getting better and better and they had a fantastic match against each other. I can’t wait to see what they do the rest of the tournament. They got better as the tournament went on last year and they’ve already set a high bar for themselves just one match in. The main event was fantastic as well. Suzuki worked over Omega’s knee throughout the match and the crowd fired up for the ref bump and the brawl between Suzuki Gun and Bullet Club midway through the match. Omega mounted a great comeback despite the damage to his leg and got the win in the end.

I don’t think the B block will produce as many good matches as the A block, but perhaps they will prove me wrong. Tama Tonga, SANADA, and EVIL could all be much better in the ring than I anticipated as the tournament goes on. If you’re stuck for time, definitely check out SANADA-EVIL and Omega-Suzuki.

STANDINGS AFTER NIGHT 2

A BLOCK

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

B BLOCK

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

(7) SANADA vs. EVIL (****)

(9) IWGP U.S. Champion Kenny Omega vs. NEVER Openweight Champion Minoru Suzuki (****)

ATTENTION: Read Radican’s G1 Climax 27: Night 1 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