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G1 CLIMAX 29: NIGHT 4 REPORT
JULY 15, 2019
HOKKAIDO PREFECTURAL SPORTS CENTER
SAPPORO, JAPAN
AIRED LIVE ON NJPW WORLD
G1 CLIMAX 29: NIGHT 4 VIEWING GUIDE
(8) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White (****¼)
Note: This section will provide my spoiler free recommended matches to watch from each night of the tournament if you’re pressed for time and only want to see the essentials. The matches worth seeing will start at ***¾ or higher.
Commentary: Kevin Kelly and Rocky Romero. Translator: Chris Charlton.
UNDERCARD RESULTS
(1) Jushin Liger & Kota Ibushi beat Shota Umino & Yota Tsuji in 8:00. After the match, Liger announced that this was his last match in Sapporo.
(2) L.I.J. (BUSHI & EVIL & SANADA) vs. Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare & Ren Narita in 7:00.
(3) Suzuki-Gun (Yoshinobu Kanemura & Lance Archer & Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki) beat Karl Fredericks & Clark Conners & KENTA & Hiroshi Tanahashi in 11:30.
(4) CHAOS (IWGP Hvt. Champion Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) beat Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens).
B BLOCK RESULTS & ANALYSIS
(5) SHINGO TAKAGI (0) vs. TORU YANO (2) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
The fans chanted for Yano after the opening bell rang. He didn’t want to take his shirt off and Shingo wanted him to take it off, as it helped him beat Naito the other night. Yano took his shirt off and Shingo attacked him. Yano took a turnbuckle pad off and Shingo ran into the exposed buckle. Yano put his shirt over Shingo’s head and rolled him up for a near fall. Yano went into the crowd and tried to bait Shingo into following him. Yano went and sat in the middle of an aisle and laughed at Shingo. Shingo went to get Yano and he cut him off. Shingo set up Yano in the chair.He charged at Yano, but he took a drop toehold into the chair. Yano pulled the barricade over Shingo and pulled a table in the way. He threw a turnbuckle pad at Shingo as he got back to ringside, but Shingo rolled into the ring at 19. YAno got a roll of tape, but Shingo took it from him and tossed it out of the ring. Shingo hit a shoulder tackle and did some push ups on Yano’s chest, but he kicked out at two. Both men traded forearms and the fans fired up. Yano blocked a chop and hit a straight right hand. Yano went for a low blow, but SHingo blocked it. Yano countered a backslide into one of his own for a near fall.
Yano pulled the ref in Shingo’s way. He went and got his red chair. He tossed it to Shingo and acted like Shingo had hit him with it. BUSHI came and grabbed the ref, which allowed Shingo to throw it in Yano’s face. Shingo then hit the Pumping Bomber for the win.
WINNER: Shingo Takagi (2 pts) in 6:00. (**)
(Radican’s Analysis: This was some fun stuff from Yano and Shingo.)
(6) HIROOKI GOTO (2) vs. JUICE ROBINSON (2) IN A G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK MATCH
The bell rang and the fans were behind Goto. Robinson ended a big exchange off the ropes with a leg lariat. Goto blocked a cannonball attempt in the corner. He hung Robinson up top and dropped him down to the mat with a neck breaker. He then went to work on Robinson on the floor. The announcers said so much had changed for both men since the last time they meant in a singles match. Kelly said if Goto has another less than stellar performance in this tournament, there would be some questions after he finished last year with just six points. Goto worked a neck crank on Robinson’s head on the mat, but Robinson got to the ropes. The announcers talked about Goto training with Shibata at the LA Dojo, which transformed his body. Robinson finally fired back and caught Goto with a big flapjack. He hit a full nelson bomb for a two count a short time later. Robinson set up for his signature punch sequence. He went for the Left Hand of God, but Goto blocked it. Goto hit a mid kick and went to town on Robinson in the corner. Robinson and Goto traded big moves in opposite corners, but Goto ended up hitting a Saito Suplex for a two count.
They went back and forth, but Juice managed to slip out of the Ushigoroshi. They went back and forth at the same time and connected with clotheslines at the same time. Goto blocked a pair of lariats and hit a big discus clothesline. He then hit the Ushigoroshi for a near fall. Goto set up for the GTR, but Robinson tried to break free. He broke out of it, but Goto hit a headbutt and held onto his arm at the 10 minute mark. Goto hit several kicks to Robinson’s chest while maintaining hold of his arm. Goto lifted him up and hit several more kicks to the chest. He measured Robinson for his big kick, but Juice went down to the mat. Robinson suddenly countered a reverse GTR into a Jackhammer for a two count. Robinson set up for Pulp Friction and Goto countered it into the GTR, but Robinon got an inside cradle for a near fall. Robinson blocked a mid kick and went for the Left Hand of God, but Goto countered it with a headbutt! Goto went for a punch, but Juice countered it with a headbutt. He hit another headbutt and the Left Hand of God. Good stuff here.
WINNER: Juice Robinson (4 pts) in 12:30. (***½)
(Radican’s Analysis: I didn’t know who would win and this was a very even back and forth contest between two men that are looking to turn the page and being in the lower half of G1. Both men had won in their first block matches, but for now, Robinson is the one coming out of the match with momentum.)
Jon Moxley came out first for his match against Jeff Cobb. He came out through the crowd. Jeff Cobb made his way down the ramp next.
(7) IWGP U.S. CHAMPION JON MOXLEY (2) vs. JEFF COBB (0) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
Cobb caught Moxley with a big belly to belly suplex during the early going, but Moxley tripped him on the apron when Cobb tried to follow him to the floor. Moxley then tossed Cobb into the ringpost. Moxley worked over Cobb’s left arm. He hit a dive to the floor and they went back and forth on the ramp. Moxley and Cobb eventually hit clotheslines at the same time on the ramp and both men were down. Both men made their way back towards the ring and began trading forearms as they got closer to the apron. Moxley sent Cobb’s shoulder into the apron and he likely would have gotten a countout win, but he ended up breaking the count to go back after Cobb on the floor. Cobb kicked out of an elbow drop off the top and tried to deadlift Moxley up into a suplex, but his shoulder gave away. Moxley went for a Death Rider, but Cobb blocked it. Cobb hit a snap German and eventually hit a standing moonsault for a two count. Moxley fired back and hit a huge clothesline. He took his knee pad down and hit a running knee strike to Cobb’s head for a two count. They ended up on the apron and went back and forth. Cobb teased a German to the floor, but Moxley hung onto the top rope. Moxley broke free, but Cobb clotheslined him back into the ring. Cobb went to get back into the ring, but Moxley nailed him with another bare knee strike and a draping Death Rider for the win.
WINNER: Jon Moxley (4 pts) in 9:00. (***)
(Radican’s Analysis: This was a good match. I was expecting it to go a little longer, but Moxley was very aggressive with his attack throughout the match on Cobb’s shoulder. The draping Death Rider surprised me as well. Hasn’t been the best month for Cobb with quick losses at ROH’s Best in the World to Matt Taven and another quick loss to Jon Moxley here. I’d like to see him given a little more credibility in the ring.)
Shota Umino accompanied Moxley to the back after the match carrying his IWGP U.S. Championship.
(8) JAY WHITE (0) (W/GEDO) vs. TOMOHIRO ISHII (2) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
White bailed to the floor right away. Ishii went to the floor and White got into the ring. Ishii went after Gedo and then cut off White when he tried to make the save. Gedo tripped Ishii from the floor, but Ishii no-sold a shoulder tackle from White. White went for several more shoulder tackles, but Ishii wouldn’t go down. Ishii took White down with a shoulder tackle of his own. Ishii went on the attack on the floor and tossed White into the barricade several times. Ishii got a chair and went to toss it at White, but White got out of the way. Gedo attacked Ishii from behind. Ishii went after him and White shoved him head-first into the ringpost. White threw Ishii into the barricade several times. Ishii tried to fire back, but White hit a neck breaker. Ishii and White went back and forth trying to jockey for position and Ishii finally landed a suplex to get the upper hand. White hit several kicks from his back and tried to bait Ishii in the corner, but Ishii lifted him up and hit a series of throat chops.
White fired back and hit a big DDT. Ishii sold his arm big after taking the DDT. White then hit a big throw into the turnbuckle pad. White hit the Blade Buster, but Ishii kicked out at two. White went after Ishii’s neck. He hit a big clothesline and then another, but Ishii wouldn’t go down. Ishii decked White with a big forearm. White fired back with one of his own, but Ishii caught him with a powerslam coming off the ropes. They began trading forearms in the middle of the ring. The pace quickened and they went back and forth trading forearms until White suddenly went down right before the 10 minute mark. Ishii went for a clothesline, but White turned it into a Flatliner. He then hit a German and both men were down. White stomped down on Ishii’s injured neck several times. White hit some light kicks to Ishii’s head. Ishii began to fire up. White slapped Ishii across the face and Ishii got to his feet. White hit several forearms, but Ishii shrugged them off. He then began leaning into each forearm. White ducked a clothesline and hit a snap Saito suplex, but Ishii got right up and White turned around into a big forearm.
Ishii hit a stalling superplex and made the cover as the fans applauded, but White kicked out at two. Ishii ducked a clothesline and hit a high angle backdrop suplex. White blocked several moves from Ishii. Ishii hit a headbutt, but ran right into a Uranagi. WHite went for the Kiwi Crusher and connected for a near fall. The fans applauded for Ishii kicking out. White signaled for the Blade Runner, but Ishii punched out of it. White fired back with several elbows. He then hit several stomps to Ishii’s neck and chest. White lifted Ishii, but got nailed with a clothesline. They went back and forth and White caught Ishii with a sleeper suplex. He tried to lift Ishii, but he suddenly reversed and hit a German on White and both men were down! They went to a back and forth exchange. White blocked a headbutt attempt, but bounced off the ropes into a lariat. Ishii hit a big powerbomb and stacked White up for a near fall! Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but White collapsed. Kelly questioned whether White was really that out of it. Ishii went for the sliding lariat again, but White grabbed his leg. Gedo got up on the apron and Ishii went after him. White tried to surprise Ishii with the Blade Runner, but Ishii got out and hit an enzuguri. Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but White dropped down. White sat back up and Ishii surprised him by going off the other rope and he connected for a near fall! White blocked the Vertical Drop Brainbuster. He slid out of it a second time. White lifted up Ishii and went for the Blade Runner, but Ishii turned it into a Flatliner. He then OBLITERATED White for a near fall. Ishii lifted up White and hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the win. What a match!
WINNER: Tomohiro Ishii (4 pts) in 19:00. (****¼)
(Radican’s Analysis: Great match. Ishii overcame outside interference and showed some real spirit mounting comebacks and trading some incredible counters with White down the stretch. The big surprise here is that White is 0-2 in the tournament. Ishii faces Moxley next in B block action.)
Taichi came out first for the main event. Yoshinobu Kanemaru was shown on the outside once Taichi got into the ring with Miho Abe. Tetsuya Naito was out next to a good reaction from the crowd. Kelly noted the show was sold out with over 7,000 fans in attendance. Naito kept looking back up the ramp as he made his way to the ring. Romero said on commentary Taichi was very vocal about having a surprise for Naito during their match. Kelly mentioned Taichi held the advantage head to head at 3-2. Taichi was shown with the bag with the iron fingers in it that he took for IIzuka back in February. Kelly said we can only assume the iron fingers are in there and he mentioned they came out during the tag match last night.
(9) TAICHI (W/MIHO ABE) (0) vs. IWGP IC CHAMPION TETSUYA NAITO (0) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH
Taichi didn’t seem too excited to start the match, so Naito went down to the mat and baited Taichi to come over. He then caught Taichi in a small package for a near fall. They went to a fast exchange off the ropes and Naito hit his pose. Naito then rolled to the floor and stalled. He kept teasing getting back into the ring, but he wouldn’t get in. Naito tripped Taichi from the apron and hit a slingshot dropkick that was similar to his corner dropkick, but this one was close to the middle of the ring against the ropes. Naito whipped Taichi into the barricade several times. Natio grabbed Abe and gave her a good look. The ref got involved. Naito got back into the ring and Taichi nailed him with a low blow. Taichi then whipped Naito hard into the barricade and he went all the way over it. Taichi went after Naito and hit him over the back with a steel chair. Taichi then began working over Naito back inside the ring. Taichi hit some light kicks and slaps, so Naito began to try to fire back with some big overhand chops. Taichi shrugged off his strikes and then got an eye rake. He followed up with several Kawada Kicks.
Naito finally caught Taichi with a one-legged dropkick and both men were down. Naito went on the attack and landed a series of moves on Taichi targeting his neck. Naito got a full nelson on the back, but he used his legs to apply the hold. Taichi struggled, but managed to get his bottom foot on the ropes. Natio went for Gloria, but Taichi fought out of it. Taichi then fought out of a German. He ducked a charge and nailed Naito with an enzuguri in the corner. They went back and forth and Taichi nailed Naito with a kick to the head. Taichi ripped off his pants and set up for a kick, but Naito ducked it. They went back and forth and Taichi went for a powerbomb, but Naito turned it into a rana. Taichi fired back and hit a backdrop suplex for a two count.
Taichi got the bag from the corner of the ring. He called for someone to come out. The Young Lions went to block the interference, but nobody came. Taichi got the iron fingers and Kanemaru distracted the ref, but Naito drop kicked his legs out from under him. Naito hit a swinging DDT and Kanemaru got the iron fingers from the outside. Naito hit Gloria, but Taichi kicked out at two. Tiachi blocked a Destino attempt and hit a kick to Naito’s head. Naito tried to hurricanrana his way out of another powerbomb, but Taichi hung on and just dropped him down to the mat and both men were down. Taichi hit a clothesline to his back and then an axe bomber for a near fall. They went back and forth. Natio shoved the ref, hit a low blow, and Destino for a near fall. Naito wound up for a Destino, but Taichi got him up on his shoulder and dropped him down to the mat. The fans chanted for Naito with both men down. Taichi got up first and waited for Naito to get up. Naito blocked a kick and hit a German, but Taichi got right up. Naito went for a flying forearm, but Taichi pulled the ref in the way. Kaneumaru tried to spit in his face, but Taichi blocked his mouth and snapped his neck over the top rope. Taichi got the iron glove, but Naito ducked it. Naito hit a Snow Plow, but there was no ref. Naito dragged the ref into position. He then set up for Destino, but Taichi slid out of it. He caught Naito with a superkick off the ropes for a near fall.
Taichi put the iron glove on again. Kanemaru held the ref down on the floor. Taichi nailed Naito with the iron glove. He then hit the Last Ride and folded on top of Naito for the win.
WINNER: Taichi (2 pts) in 21:00. (***)
(Radican’s Analysis: The first part of the match saw everyone waiting for the iron glove to make an appearance. Naito played dirty as well as he tried to overcome the outside interference and the iron glove, but in the end, it was too much and Taichi got the win in a match that dragged in parts, but overall it was good during the second half.)
Taichi got a promo after the match in Japanese.
Overall thoughts: This wasn’t the most exciting night of B block action, but it was good. The biggest surprise so far in the B block is White and Naito being 0-2 so far in the tournament.
All of the block matches were good. I was surprised to see Goto lose after seemingly shedding his stigma as a perennial loser with a big win over White on night 2 only to lose to perennial loser Juice Robinson on night 4.
The highlights of the night was Ishii vs. White. They had an outstanding match that got the crowd really excited as it went on. Ishii overcame outside interference and outsmarted White down the stretch to get the win.
UPDATED G1 CLIMAX 29 STANDINGS THROUGH NIGHT 4
A BLOCK
Kazuchika Okada 2-0 (4 pts)
KENTA 2-0 (4 pts)
Lance Archer 2-0 (4 pts)
Will Ospreay 1-1 (2 pts)
EVIL (2 pts) 1-1
SANADA 1-1 (2 pts)
Bad Luck Fale 1-1 (2 pts)
Kota Ibushi 0-2 (0 pts)
Hiroshi Tanahshi 0-2 (0 pts)
Zack Sabre Jr. 0-2 (0 pts)
B BLOCK
Juice Robinson 2-0 (4 pts)
Jon Moxley 2-0 (4 pts)
Tomohiro Ishii 2-0 (4 pts)
Taichi 1-1 (2 pts)
Shingo Takagi 1-1 (2 pts)
Toru Yano 1-1 (2 pts)
Hirooki Goto 1-1 (2 pts)
Jay White 0-2 (0 pts)
Tetsuya Naito 0-2 (0 pts)
Jeff Cobb 0-2 (0 pts)
Email Sean at radicansean@pwtorch.com. Follow him on twitter at twitter.com/sr_torch.
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