FANN’S NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 12 report: Moxley vs. Yano, Cobb vs. Takagi, Goto vs. Iishi, Juice vs. Naito

NJPW G1 CLIMAX 29: NIGHT 12 REPORT
AUGUST 1, 2019
FUKUOKA CITIZEN GYMNASIUM
FUKUOKA, JAPAN
AIRED LIVE ON NJPW WORLD

G1 CLIMAX 29: NIGHT 12 VIEWING GUIDE

Note: This section will provide 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.

(5) Jeff Cobb vs. Shingo Takagi (****1/2)

(9) Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii (****¼)

Commentary: Kevin Kelly and Rocky Romero.

UNDERCARD RESULTS

(1) Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) beat KENTA, Fredericks & Connors

(2) Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.) beat Suzuki-gun (Lance Archer & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

(3) Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, ‘Shooter’ Umino & Narita

(4) CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay & YOSHI-HASHI) beat L.I.J. (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI)

B BLOCK RESULTS & ANALYSIS

(5) JEFF COBB (4) vs. SHINGO TAKAGI (4) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH

Cobb and Takagi are the best examples of big men that can go currently on the scene, so their match against each other was heavily anticipated. If it was possible, both men exceeded those expectations by leaps and (big men) bounds.

This match felt and sounded like the training montage Rocky had in Philadelphia in the meat packing plant, just absolute units going to town on one another. Every time Shingo thought he could push the pace, Cobb would fire up and cut him off. When Shingo, who struggled early with getting Cobb up for a body slam nailed a Made in Japan – the crowd ooed. Everyone shared in shock as the big man kicked out – and left Shingo to rage as he slammed the mat in frustration. Shingo attempted Last of the Dragon, but Cobb was a bit too beefy and instead, Shingo ate a german and was flung into the ropes for a Tour of the Islands, which resulted in a Cobb victory. The 12 minutes, 40 seconds these two men abused each other was a war.

WINNER: Jeff Cobb (6 pts) in 12:40 via pinfall – Tour of the Islands. (****1/2)

(Fann’s Analysis: This was my match of the night. The pair had a great three way match in BOLA’s final, but seeing them face off one-on-one was everything I wanted and more in a mega hoss fight. Shingo’s ability to get Cobb up with no difficulty late was quite impressive.)

(6) IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPION JON MOXLEY (w/’Shooter’ Umino) (10) vs. TORU YANO (4) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH

After the ending of Night 11’s tag match, Yano was terrified of payback from Moxley, and tried to smooth things over with one of his DVDs, with 3000 yen inside. Moxley considered the bribe for a moment, then kicked the DVD and money into the air to Yano’s dismay.

Moxley’s sole G-1 loss was created by way of trickery by Yano – who taped Moxley outside of the ring to his second/buddy/crash dummy/padawan Umino – and the three legged race to get back in the ring resulted in a count out victory for the Sublime Master Thief Yano!

WINNER: Toru Yano (6 pts) in 5:07 via count out (***)

(Fann’s Analysis: This was my canary in the coal mine match regarding Moxley falling back and giving some of the others in the block a chance. I was worried pre match there would be a pinfall loss, but the usage of “Shooter” Umino as the foil with the tape chicanery was top-level Yano. Moxley had a smile on his face early he tried to hide, because the fun he had with Yano was quite apparent.)

(7) IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION TETSUYA NAITO (4) vs. JUICE ROBINSON (6) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH

This was the “Freaky Friday” match, as consistent with their interactions on Night 11, both men attempted to do the other man’s signature moves. Naito performing Juice’s punches to perfection was the highlight of a ho-hum match otherwise.

After he nailed his Left Hand of God, Juice went for his finish, but ate a running Destino and then the real deal for the loss.

WINNER: Naito (6 pts) in 13:45 via pinfall – Destino. (***)

(Fann’s Analysis: Archer’s still bringing the goods in the ring, but Okada’s a man on a mission. With his only opponent for the top spot in point chase mode, there’s an opportunity for the Rainmaker to move beyond everyone by night 13.)

(8) JAY WHITE (w/Gedo) (4) vs. TAICHI (w/Miho Abe) (4) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH

Jay White and Taichi are two of the best wrestlers in New Japan when it comes to absolutely annoying any and everyone. Putting them together made for an interesting match, as both men tried their worst to cheat and get the win.

Taichi went for the Last Ride powerbomb late, but White kicked out. This also opened the door for Gedo to partake in interference, which allowed the Kiwi to hit the Blade Runner and end the battle of the villains.

WINNER: White (6 pts) in 15:10 via pinfall – Blade Runner. (**)

(Fann’s Analysis: Jay White continues to prove his prediction of never losing again right – at the expense of fellow heel Taichi. This match was ok, mainly because both of their schticks need a person to play off of, and neither was the right to do so.)

(9) HIROOKI GOTO (4) vs. TOMOHIRO ISHII (6) IN A G1 CLIMAX 29 B BLOCK MATCH

CHAOS stablemates collided as these hosses went to town. Right from the gate it started as a can you top this of power and dominating the opponent. Goto and Ishii showed no quarter to one another, as they waylaid one another with chops (to the throat and chest) head butts, and shoulder blocks a-plenty.

Ishii in the late game tried valiantly to fight off ushigoroshi, but ate a regular, then a sitout, and finally the reverse GTR/GTR combo. That killed the man with no neck dead and gave Goto the victory.

As Kevin Kelly yelled at the end of the match, if only for one night, the G in G-1 stood for Goto.

WINNER: Goto (6 pts.) in 18:00 via pinfall – GTR. (****1/4)

Post match, Goto got out of Dodge without much fanfare, as is his tradition.

(Fann’s Analysis: Great main event HOSS FIGHT. We had two tonight, so smoke em if you got em. Ishii and Goto have long been excellent dance partners and this match was no exception. The headbutt spots toward the end were r-o-u-g-h but again, with these two you accept the insanity. Goto moves into the middle of the crowded B block pack and my buddy Chris Maitland – Goto’s support team outside of L.A. Dojo – can sleep happily knowing the big man won the battle of CHAOS big men.)

Overall Thoughts: This was the night of comebacks, as Jon Moxley’s loss kept three wrestlers (Yano, Naito, Cobb) alive in the B block. At this point, the question becomes for Moxley will he have a similar run to Shelton X Benjamin in 2013, where the foreign import went 5 straight wins, declared himself the front runner and subsequently lost the next four matches? This also featured eliminations, as Taichi and Shingo are no longer finals eligible.

Should that happen, Jay White & Tetsuya Naito would be the biggest beneficiaries. In terms of Night 12 overall, the Shingo – Cobb match was my match of the night, and I cannot recommend enough the Moxley-Yano match if only to see poor ‘Shooter’ Umino trying to break free.

This was also a night of bookend hoss fights, which ended in the winner’s survival more than dominance over their opponent.

UPDATED G1 CLIMAX 29 STANDINGS THROUGH NIGHT 12

A BLOCK

Kazuchika Okada 6-0 (12 pts)
KENTA 4-2 (8 pts)
Kota Ibushi 4-2 (8 pts)
Hiroshi Tanahshi 4-2 (8 pts)
EVIL 3-3 (6 pts)
Lance Archer 2-4 (4 pts)
Will Ospreay 2-4 (4 pts)
SANADA 2-4 (4 pts)
Zack Sabre Jr. 2-4 (4 pts)
Bad Luck Fale 1-5 (2 pts)

B BLOCK

Jon Moxley 5-1 (10 pts)
Juice Robinson 3-3 (6 pts)
Tomohiro Ishii 3-3 (6 pts)
Toru Yano 3-3 (6 pts)
Tetsuya Naito 3-3 (6 pts)
Jeff Cobb 3-3 (6 pts)
Hirooki Goto 3-3 (6 pts)
Jay White 3-3 (6 pts) Taichi 2-4 (4 pts)
Shingo Takagi 2-4 (4 pts)

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Email Rich at r.fann2@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter at @rich_fann.