G1 Climax and GHC Title shot tournament line-ups

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

G1 Climax cards and match order

 

New Japan today released full cards for the group stage shows of the 2007 G1 Climax. This includes match order (except for the group stage matches of the first Sumo Hall show), and you'll notice in something of a surprise that Chono vs. Tenzan and not Tanahashi vs. Nakamura will headline day one in Osaka.

 

NJPW, 8/5/07 (WPW)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. Yujiro vs. Tetsuya Naito

2. Ryusuke Taguchi, Koji Kanemoto & El Samurai vs. Minoru, Jado & Gedo

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Toru Yano vs. Milano Collection AT

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Shiro Koshinaka

5. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Giant Bernard

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Akebono

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

 

NJPW, 8/6/07 (Samurai! TV)

Twin Messe Shizuoka

 

1. El Samurai vs. Mitsuhide Hirasawa

2. Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Minoru, Jado & Gedo

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Shiro Koshinaka vs. Milano Collection AT

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Akebono

5. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano

6. G1 Climax - Block B:Manabu Nakanishi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono vs. Giant Bernard

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

 

NJPW, 8/8/07 (SXW)

Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

 

1. Yujiro vs. Mitsuhide Hirasawa

2. Ryusuke Taguchi, Koji Kanemoto & Tetsuya Naito vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Taichi Ishikari & Prince Devitt

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Toru Yano

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Milano Collection AT

5. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Giant Bernard

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono vs. Akebono

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shiro Koshinaka

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Togi Makabe

 

NJPW, 8/10/07 (Samurai! TV)

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. Yujiro vs. Mitsuhide Hirasawa

2. Tiger Mask, El Samurai & Tetsuya Naito vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru & Prince Devitt

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Shiro Koshinaka vs. Toru Yano

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Milano Collection AT

5. G1 Climax - Block B: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Akebono

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Togi Makabe

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Masahiro Chono

 

NJPW, 8/11/07 (SXW)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

 

1. Yujiro vs. Tetsuya Naito

2. CTU Final Special: Ryusuke Taguchi, Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask & El Samurai vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru, Jado & Gedo

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Akebono

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono vs. Togi Makabe

5. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Giant Bernard

6. G1 Climax - Block B: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Milano Collection AT

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Toru Yano

8. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shiro Koshinaka

 

NJPW, 8/12/07 (WPW/PPV)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

 

1. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Block A 1st Place vs. Block B 2nd Place

2. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Block B 1st Place vs. Block A 2nd Place

3. G1 Climax - Final:

 

GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament Announced!

 

A round-robin tournament for an opportunity to challenge Mitsuharu Misawa for the GHC Heavyweight Title will take place during the upcoming "Navigation" set of shows, and the "Shiny Navigation '07" Tour. Two blocks of 5 wrestlers each will compete against each other, with 2 points being awarded for a victory and 1 point for a time limit draw.

 

Block A

-Takeshi Rikio (Former GHC Heavyweight Champion, Current GHC Tag Team Title holder)

-Mohammed Yone (Former GHC Tag Team Title holder)

-Naomichi Marufuji (First NOAH "Grand Slam" Champion, held all belts in Pro Wrestling NOAH both junior and heavyweight)

-Akitoshi Saito (Former GHC Tag Team Title holder)

-Masao Inoue (Winner of GHC Heavyweight Title shot tournament in 2006)

 

Block B

-Jun Akiyama (2 Time former GHC Heavyweight Champion, Current GHC Tag Team Title holder)

-Takeshi Morishima (Current ROH World Champion, Former 2 time GHC Tag Team Title holder)

-Tamon Honda (2 Time former GHC Tag Team Title holder)

-Takashi Sugiura (Former GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title holder, 2 time Former GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title holder)

-Go Shiosaki (Potential for first GHC Heavyweight Title challenge)

 

NOAH, 8/12/07

Yamanashi Messe Hall

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Takeshi Rikio vs. Mohammed Yone

 

NOAH, 8/14/07

Kurihara Sports Park

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Mohammed Yone vs. Masao Inoue

 

NOAH, 8/19/07 (NTV/G+)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Naomichi Marufuji vs. Mohammed Yone

2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Takeshi Morishima vs. Go Shiosaki

 

NOAH, 8/20/07

Gosen City Hall

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Takeshi Rikio vs. Masao Inoue

 

NOAH, 8/22/07

Takaoka Techno Dome

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Akitoshi Saito vs. Masao Inoue

 

NOAH, 8/23/07

Fukui City Gymnaisum

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Tamon Honda vs. Go Shiosaki

 

NOAH, 8/25/07

Tokyo Differ Ariake

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Akitoshi Saito vs. Mohammed Yone

2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Tamon Honda vs. Takashi Sugiura

3. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Jun Akiyama vs. Go Shiosaki

 

NOAH, 8/26/07

Act City Hamamatsu

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Takeshi Rikio vs. Akitoshi Saito

2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Go Shiosaki vs. Takashi Sugiura

 

NOAH, 8/28/07

Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Naomichi Marufuji vs. Masao Inoue

 

NOAH, 8/29/07

Matsue Messe

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Jun Akiyama vs. Tamon Honda

 

NOAH, 8/31/07

Hiroshima Green Arena

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Takeshi Morishima vs. Takashi Sugiura

 

NOAH, 9/2/07

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Naomichi Marufuji vs. Akitoshi Saito

2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Jun Akiyama vs. Takashi Sugiura

 

NOAH, 9/4/07

Kamisu Civic Gymnasium

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Takeshi Morishima vs. Tamon Honda

 

NOAH, 9/9/07

Tokyo Nippon Budokan

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Takeshi Rikio vs. Naomichi Marufuji

2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Jun Akiyama vs. Takeshi Morishima

3. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Final: Winner of Block A vs. Winner of Block B

 

NOAH, 9/29/07 (NTV/G+)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title: Mitsuharu Misawa © vs. Tournament Winner

 

For the G-1, I'm guessing Tanahashi or Nakamura against Tenzan, Chono or Nagata in the finals. For the GHC tournament, I'm thinking Morishima over Marufuji in the finals with Morishima then beating Misawa for the GHC title.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Is it likely it would be Nakamura vs Chono or Nakamura vs Nagata in the finals moreso than Tanahashi vs any of the other three?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Is it likely it would be Nakamura vs Chono or Nakamura vs Nagata in the finals moreso than Tanahashi vs any of the other three?

If Nakamura is going to get the superpush again, this will be where it starts. If so, he'll beat Chono in the finals rather than Nagata. With Chono having won the G1 five times, beating him in the finals would do more then beating Nagata.

[Hawk 34 0]

I'm slightly let down they didn't involve a ROH talent in the tournament. I'm not saying they should have booked that talent to win it, but just to be involved given their relationship.

[King Cucaracha 0]

I'm slightly let down they didn't involve a ROH talent in the tournament. I'm not saying they should have booked that talent to win it, but just to be involved given their relationship.

 

I know he's not 'technically' ROH talent, but they have got the ROH Champ in there. Plus if they're running a tournament to find a number one contender, the title shot will on a future tour (presumably). So it makes sense from a kayfabe standpoint that NOAH officials would book NOAH regulars in the tournament in the knowledge that whoever wins will be 100% certain to be there next possible opportunity.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

Morishima isn't going to win the GHC until he drops the ROH title. That's just how it goes. Having your champion lose another promotion's title while being your champion, in the eyes of promoters, harms the champion. Him vacating it would do no good either. Take Togi Makabe in NJPW. He held the WEW title for ages, but he recently lost it...The reason? Because he's a legit contender and may win the IWGP title. That's just how it works.

 

Morishima gets good press for the ROH stuff, but until he loses the belt, he's going to be firmly be in a holding pattern in NOAH.

 

As for the tournaments...The most logical choice to win the G-1 is Nakamura. Some people dislike Nakamura, I personally enjoy him, but he's really been in top form since his return. NJPW's been doing a long term storyline where Nakamura is "relearning" on how to bring his two styles together better. His power arsenal that he learned during his excursion, and his submission based fighting that he learned from the "Inoki System". Nakamura/Nagata is also a pretty fresh match up, and built up properly could pop a good house. Outside of Nakamura, there's really no one else to win it. Chono's too old and him winning would do NOTHING. Tenzan's a joke, who has pretty much been depushed and made second or third banana in the group he helped form. Nagata's the champion, and champions NEVER EVER WIN, Makabe just lost to Nagata. Same with Tanahashi and he's only recently returned from injury. Everyone else is either a midcarder or upper-midcarder, with no real room for advancement as it stands. It'll either be Nakamura or Makabe...Inless they get moronic again and put Tenzan over.

 

The GHC League is a different beast. It should also be noted that this is only the second league NOAH's ever done. The NTV Cup didn't have a finals, and it BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMBED when it was found out that Kenta & Ishimori won on points. Major negative heat. They seem to have learned though. Looking at the list...there's four possible winners. Takeshi Rikio, Takeshi Morishima, Jun Akiyama, and Naomichi Marufuji. They MAY re-push Honda towards a title challenge, but I doubt they will. Rikio and Akiyama have the best chances. Morishima, like I said, won't get the title until he loses the ROH title. He's already lost a title challenge to Misawa so him rechallenging and not winning makes no sense. Marufuji, in NOAH's eyes, bombed as GHC Champion so he likely won't win this even though he's probably the best wrestler in the entire company right now. Rikio may get it, but I just have a feeling that he's always going to have a stigma around him of a "failed" top guy. So that leaves Akiyama. Misawa/Akiyama has been done waaaaaaayy too much, but if Misawa has to have another defense, then Akiyama's a bulletproof guy they can throw in there to get a decent match, some crowd heat, and some drama. Misawa's title run has been dreadful, as Misawa has had no motivation in the ring (when Bison Smith is doing all the work, it's pretty obvious), nor has his matches had any sustained heat. It's also ironic that two of his challengers aren't even IN this tournament, showing how little NOAH thought of them. So Akiyama winning it may give a boost...but I doubt it, because despite Akiyama's in-ring abilities, he can be lazy, AND he's pretty much viewed as boring, which...Is not good. NOAH's pretty screwed right now. NOAH fans always say that Kobashi coming back will revitalize them, but it just won't. You can't make up for the horrible job NOAH's done elevating talent. There isn't even anyone who'd be worth elevating in this tournament outside of Go. Go, if he had a few more years under his belt would be a strong contender for a good showing in this tournament, but I have a strong feeling NOAH's going to take the "traditional" route and have him job out.

[Cuban Linx 0]

Nakamura seems like a sure bet to win the G1, with Tanahashi as an outside chance. Makabe too, though i'd bet he ends up getting Disqualified repeatedly to miss the Semi's without having to be pinned. Nakamura & Tanahashi definitely advance from Block B, but there's 5 guys who could potentially win Block A so who knows what direction they'll end up going.

 

As for the NOAH tournament, i'll go with Akiyama & Rikio meeting in the finals with Rikio winning the title shot. The guy's been pinned only once in over three years or something ridiculous like that, unless they're protecting him for something special (which they're not) they might as well throw him to Misawa. Which will suck, but he'll make a more credible challenger than Sano or Bison Smith at least.

[mysterious_w 0]

Why the hell is Takayama not in the GHC league. I've been wanting him to have a title shot ever since watching the Bison Smith match. On the other guys:

 

Takeshi Rikio: Not seen enough of, but the Muso or whatever isn't that impressive for a finisher.

Mohammed Yone: Solid, but not great, and definitely not main-event level

Naomichi Marufuji: Jobbed to Murakami, and although he's the most technically sound in NOAH, runs low on charisma

Akitoshi Saito: Some people seem to like him, but I think he's a big fat turd

Masao Inoue: Shit.

 

Block B

 

Jun Akiyama: Has had some excellent 5-star matches in his time, wouldn't mind seeing him with the belt

Takeshi Morishima: Already jobbed to Misawa recently, probably second favourite of the group

Tamon Honda: Like his comedy-style matches, but again not main-event level

Takashi Sugiura: Freaking awesome, but has been pinned a few times recently. He should be the winner of this group though

Go Shiosaki: Needs a little more development, but not much. Give him a couple of shots in '08.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

Takayama's a freelancer. He's also not far removed from nearly dying from brain injuries. He works a variety of feds, but the only one he works with any kind of consistentcy is Zero One, and even then he's kept primarily in tags/six mans. Simply put, there's no telling if Takayama could SURVIVE a round robin tournament anymore. The fact that he works pretty much the same exact style from before his injury makes it a little more insane.

 

Suguira's never going to be seriously pushed in NOAH as a heavyweight singles threat. The reason? He's 5'10, and is a pretty much a borderline Junior. He might, one day, get a GHC tag title reign with Takayama or someone, but he'll never be a GHC title contender. He's just too small for his style against heavyweights for them to push him.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Full results from the opening night of the G1:

 

The biggest tournament in professional wrestling began its 2007 installment today before New Japan's biggest crowd in Osaka for quite some time - 6,000 fans. It was an interesting show highlighted by an excellent match between the new generation aces, and also saw some upsets. However, the main event was a continuation of last year, as 2003, 2004, and 2006 G1 winner, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, the new "Summer Man" and leader of GBH, defeated his former teacher, the old "Summer Man", and leader of BLACK, Masahiro Chono. Tenzan, who won last year's tournament without a single loss, but who has had dodgy singles form at best since then, may again be ready for a summer revival, after resurrecting his old Buffalo sleeper to down Chono. Tenzan called it an "easy victory" and questioned whether the Chono of old was a different person than the Chono of today. Chono, on the other hand, reckons Tenzan will completely break down from his third match, as his physical condition isn't at its greatest. The two young aces of New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura, stole the show with yet another terrific match, which turned out to be their first draw. This was full of great action, the fans never getting bored, and becoming very loud particularly towards the end. The draw meant that their record is now 2-1-1 in Nakamura's favour, but this result showed there is next to nothing between them nowadays, unlike in the past when it seemed that Nakamura was always one step ahead.

 

64th generation Yokozuna, Akebono, was welcomed back to New Japan by IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Yuji Nagata, who emphatically defeated the monster today. Nagata won in fairly spectacular fashion by dropping Akebono with an Exploder, then trapping him in an ankle hold for the tap out. The key for Akebono will be, like today, keeping his matches as short as possible and going for the quick win, or else his stamina is likely to run out. Togi Makabe's rise to fame continued with a victory over gaijin ace, Giant Bernard. The referee went down late on and couldn't register a Bernard cover that seemed to have Makabe beat. Makabe subsequently was able to recover, grab his chain, and assault Bernard with it. After a chain lariat, Makabe landed a top rope King Kong kneedrop to the back of Bernard's head and covered for another huge career win. This meant that GBH dominated BLACK in today's big matches, with Tenzan submitting Chono and Makabe pinning Bernard. Bernard went on a wild rampage after the match, destroying young lions Hirasawa and Naito. The "variety show feud" between Nakanishi and Koshinaka continued today with another entertaining match. After Nakanishi won their last match, eliminating Koshinaka from the New Japan Cup, Samurai Shiro hit back in style today, slipping out of an Argentine backbreaker and surprising both Nakanishi and the fans with a beautiful German suplex hold for the win! A bad start for Nakanishi, who has failed to make the final four every year since finishing second in 2000, but a bright start for the much revived Koshinaka.

 

WEW Heavyweight Champion, Toru Yano, suffered an immediate setback after recently winning that belt from Kintaro Kanemura, losing to Best of the Super Jr. winner, Milano Collection AT, on day one. Milano has been saying that his brain power will be his greatest weapon in the G1 and it was today, as he tied Yano up with the Paradise Lock, then sliding dropkicked him out of the ring. Although Yano made it to his feet, he couldn't beat the 20 count and thus lost. Yano promised he'd destroy the "Fake Italian" after the G1. After the second match, Jado again confirmed what we basically know, saying he and Gedo's new motto is "F*ck the world!" and that their future plan is joining GBH.

 

NJPW, 8/5/07 (WPW)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

6,000 Fans - No Vacancy

 

1. Yujiro beat Tetsuya Naito (7:44) with a crab hold.

2. Ryusuke Taguchi, Koji Kanemoto & El Samurai beat Minoru, Jado & Gedo (13:45) when Taguchi used the Dodon on Jado.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Milano Collection AT [2] beat Toru Yano [0] (6:00) by countout.

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Shiro Koshinaka [2] beat Manabu Nakanishi [0] (10:30) with a German suplex hold.

5. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [2] beat Giant Bernard [0] (8:34) with a top rope King Kong kneedrop.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata [2] beat Akebono [0] (6:32) with an ankle hold.

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi [1] vs. Shinsuke Nakamura [1] went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] beat Masahiro Chono [0] (17:20) with a Buffalo sleeper.

 

I'm not liking the screwjob finishes. We'll probably see a lot more of them in the rest of the tournament.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Sounds like they want to hold off a true finish to Nakamura/Tanahashi until when a title is on the line or something.

[mysterious_w 0]

Nagata? Akebone? EXPLODER?!?!?!

 

I need to see this.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Day two of the G1 was the traditional distinctly smallest event of the tour, but saw more surprises. Nagata is still going strong and today became the first man to defeat Tenzan in a G1 Climax since... himself in the 2005 version when they met at Sumo Hall. Perhaps Chono's prediction of Tenzan "breaking down" was right, as it took Nagata just 10 minutes to take down the GBH boss. In the semi, a battle of BLACK, Giant Bernard handed Chono his second loss on the trot in a short sprint, pinning him after a two-step kick. Nakamura has started very well, having bypassed his - on paper - two toughest opponents without loss, as he submitted Nakanishi today. With just Koshinaka, Yano, and Milano left to face, you have to rate Shinsuke's chances of a semi final spot as being high. Old rivals Tanahashi and Yano fought to a double countout today, another draw like in the 2005 G1, only not a time limit draw this time. Still, a setback for Tana, who would have been expected to win this. After losing a one-sided battle to Nagata yesterday, Akebono hit back in style today, pinning the on-form Makabe following a Banzai drop to tie them up on two points. But the big story of the early stages has been Milano, who became the only man besides Nagata to clock up two victories in a row, scoring a momentary pinfall on Koshinaka! This puts Milano top of Block B, but with Nakamura, Tanahashi, and Nakanishi left to face, the hardest part is yet to come.

 

NJPW, 8/6/07 (Samurai! TV)

Twin Messe Shizuoka

1,400 Fans

 

1. El Samurai beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (8:28) with a chickenwing armlock.

2. Minoru, Jado & Gedo beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (10:46) when Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Naito.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Milano Collection AT [4] beat Shiro Koshinaka [2] (10:29) by pinfall.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Akebono [2] beat Togi Makabe [2] (7:48) with a Banzai drop.

5. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] vs. Toru Yano [1] went to a double countout (12:27).

6. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [3] beat Manabu Nakanishi [0] (12:38) with a cross armbreaker.

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard [2] beat Masahiro Chono [0] (3:40) with a two-step kick.

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata [4] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] (10:41) with the Nagata Lock IV.

 

 

Block A:

1. Yuji Nagata [4]

2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2]

3. Togi Makabe [2]

4. Giant Bernard [2]

5. Akebono [2]

6. Masahiro Chono [0]

 

Block B:

1. Milano Collection AT [4]

2. Shinsuke Nakamura [3]

3. Hiroshi Tanahashi [2]

4. Shiro Koshinaka [2]

5. Toru Yano [1]

6. Manabu Nakanishi [0]

 

A few short matches are nice to get over the idea that a match can end at any time, but couldn't at least one match have gone longer than thirteen minutes? And it looks like we're set for at least one screwjob per day.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

NJPW, 8/8/07 (SXW)

Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

3,600 Fans

 

1. Yujiro beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (6:05) with a crab hold.

2. Ryusuke Taguchi, Koji Kanemoto & Tetsuya Naito beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Taichi Ishikari & Prince Devitt (13:23) when Kanemoto used a moonsault press on Ishikari.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Toru Yano [3] beat Manabu Nakanishi [0] (10:41) with the Kuro Kirishima.

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi [4] beat Milano Collection AT [4] (9:59) with the High Fly Flow.

5. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard [4] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] (13:24) with a sit-down Last Ride.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono [2] beat Akebono [2] (7:45) with an STF.

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Shiro Koshinaka [4] beat Shinsuke Nakamura [3] (10:34) with the Samurai Driver '84.

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [4] beat Yuji Nagata [4] (15:44) with a top rope King Kong kneedrop.

 

-

 

Block A:

 

1. Togi Makabe [4]

2. Yuji Nagata [4]

3. Giant Bernard [4]

4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2]

5. Masahiro Chono [2]

6. Akebono [2]

 

Block B:

 

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi [4]

2. Milano Collection AT [4]

3. Shiro Koshinaka [4]

4. Shinsuke Nakamura [3]

5. Toru Yano [3]

6. Manabu Nakanishi [0]

 

Nothing more than the basic results up, yet. I'm guessing Makabe's win over Nagata saw some kind of cheating, as it's Makabe's gimmick. Koshinaka beating Nakamura is an upset, which may increase Nakamura's odds of making it to the finals. It's looks a three-way race so far in Block A and Block B is still wide open, with Nakanishi possibly going to play the role of spoiler.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

NJPW, 8/10/07 (Samurai! TV)

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

8,000 Fans - No Vacancy

 

1. Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Tetsuya Naito (7:52) with a crab hold.

2. Tiger Mask, El Samurai & Yujiro beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru & Prince Devitt (11:47) when Tiger used a Tiger suplex hold on Devitt.

3. G1 Climax - Block B; Toru Yano [5] beat Shiro Koshinaka [4] (9:52) with the Oni Koroshi.

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [5] beat Milano Collection AT [4] (12:30) with the Landslide.

5. G1 Climax - Block B: Manabu Nakanishi [2] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [4] (12:13) with the Mana Bauer.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard [5] vs. Akebono [3] went to a double countout (9:57).

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4] beat Togi Makabe [4] (15:45) with the Anaconda Vice.

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono [4] beat Yuji Nagata [4] (16:15) with a Shining Yakuza kick.

 

Block A:

 

1. Giant Bernard [5]

2. Yuji Nagata [4]

3. Masahiro Chono [4]

4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4]

5. Togi Makabe [4]

6. Akebono [3]

 

Block B:

 

1. Shinsuke Nakamura [5]

2. Toru Yano [5]

3. Hiroshi Tanahashi [4]

4. Milano Collection AT [4]

5. Shiro Koshinaka [4]

6. Manabu Nakanishi [2]

 

Bernard and Akebono gave us the mandatory screwjob finish of the night. Block A is still wide open, while Block B is almost as open with Nakanishi possibly making a late run.

 

Here's a photo from 8/8, with Makabe against Nagata:

 

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Man, Makabe vs. Nagata looks to be just as bloody as their match at Korakuen last month, which was absolutely fantastic.

 

I'm surprised at how well Yano's doing, though. Five points is three more than I was expecting him to get at best.

[tekcop 0]

I think it's been pretty much agreed that some/most/all of that is red mist.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

NJPW, 8/11/07 (SXW)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

7,800 Fans

1. Prince Devitt beat Yujiro (7:47) with the Prince's Throne.

2. CTU Final Special: Masked CTU-L, Masked CTU-M, Masked CTU-J & Masked CTU-G beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask & El Samurai (10:48) when CTU-J used a horizontal cradle on Tiger.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Manabu Nakanishi [4] beat Milano Collection AT [4] (5:29) with a German suplex hold.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Akebono [5] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4] (9:18) with an avalanche-style Japanese drop.

5. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [6] beat Masahiro Chono [4] (11:17) with a King Kong kneedrop.

6. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [7] beat Toru Yano [5] (12:13) with a cross armbreaker.

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Yuji Nagata [6] beat Giant Bernard [5] (13:58) with the Nagata Lock IV.

8. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi [6] beat Shiro Koshinaka [4] (17:04) with the High Fly Flow.

 

Block A:

 

1. Togi Makabe [6]

2. Yuji Nagata [6]

3. Giant Bernard [5]

4. Akebono [5]

5. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4]

6. Masahiro Chono [4]

 

Block B:

 

1. Shinsuke Nakamura [7]

2. Hiroshi Tanahashi [6]

3. Toru Yano [5]

4. Manabu Nakanishi [4]

5. Shiro Koshinaka [4]

6. Milano Collection AT [4]

 

NJPW, 8/12/07 (WPW/PPV)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

 

1. Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Tetsuya Naito

2. CTU Final Countdown Special Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, El Samurai & Yujiro vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Jado & Gedo

3. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe

4. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Yuji Nagata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

5. Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask vs. Minoru & Milano Collection AT

6. Riki Choshu & Shiro Koshinaka vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Toru Yano

7. Manabu Nakanishi, Takashi Iizuka & Naofumi Yamamoto vs. Masahiro Chono, Giant Bernard & Akebono

8. G1 Climax - Final:

 

I think we'll end up with either Tanahashi beating Nagata or Nakamura beating Makabe.

 

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Full details later. Quick notes for now: New Japan's biggest crowd at Sumo Hall for a long time, possibly since the 2005 G1 final show. Jado & Gedo were seconded by Ishii and Honma, and the four ended up beating up Liger. CTU appears to have collapsed even before its farewell show. Both semis got rave reviews. Nakamura may have separated his shoulder, with the finish quite abrupt and possibly accidental. Tanahashi captured his first G1 almost a year after winning his first IWGP Heavyweight Title. No great surprises after the match, which was said to be very hot, but possibly not as good as their IWGP match in April.

 

NJPW, 8/12/07 (WPW/PPV)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

11,500 Fans - Super No Vacancy

 

1. Tetsuya Naito beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (7:26) with a Japanese leg roll clutch hold.

2. CTU Final Countdown Special Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, El Samurai & Yujiro beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Jado & Gedo (9:31) when Taguchi used a la magistral on Gedo.

3. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Togi Makabe (15:24) with a front cradle.

4. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Yuji Nagata beat Shinsuke Nakamura (18:22) by doctor stop.

5. Minoru & Milano Collection AT beat Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask (13:24) when Milano used the Victoria Milanese on Kanemoto.

6. Riki Choshu & Shiro Koshinaka beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Toru Yano (7:22) when Koshinaka used a powerbomb on Tenzan.

7. Masahiro Chono, Giant Bernard & Akebono beat Manabu Nakanishi, Takashi Iizuka & Naofumi Yamamoto (16:37) when Chono used a Shining Yakuza kick on Iizuka.

8. G1 Climax - Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Yuji Nagata (19:02) with the High Fly Flow.

 

Maybe Tanahashi is getting another in long line of stop-start pushes that New Japan gives out.

 

And because another, albeit less high-profile tournament has started in Japan:

 

8/12 Yamanashi Messe Hall Results

NOAH, 8/12/07

Yamanashi Messe Hall

2,200 Fans - No Vacancy

 

1. Ricky Marvin Beat Akihiko Ito (10:39) with a cradle.

2. Kentaro Shiga & Kishin Kawabata beat Junji Izumida & Mitsuo Momota (10:42) when Kawabata used a schoolboy on Momota.

3. Go Shiosaki beat Thoruf (13:39) with the Go Flasher.

4. Akira Taue & Takuma Sano beat Tamon Honda & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (13:48) when Sano used a Northern Light Bomb on Kikuchi.

5. Mushiking Terry beat Ippei Ota (13:41) with the Myst Crash.

6. Akitoshi Saito, KENTA & Taiji Ishimori beat Naomichi Marufuji, Takashi Sugiura & Makoto Hashi (20:22) when Saito used the Sickle of Death on Hashi.

7. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Takeshi Rikio [2] beat Mohammed Yone [0] (13:15) with the Muso.

8. Mitsuharu Misawa, Yoshinari Ogawa & Masao Inoue beat Jun Akiyama, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Atsushi Aoki (18:57) when Inoue used an Argentine backbreaker on Aoki.

 

 

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

It's weird because it seems like Nakamura is their long term "golden boy" yet it is Tanahashi that gets the pushes. Not that I'm complaining, as I prefer Tanahashi of the two.

[FigureFourTapes 0]

According to Stuart @ Puroresufan.com Nakamura is out for six months. NJPW is hoping for a return at the 1/4 Dome show but that's only hope, nothing definite.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

It's pretty much a given now that Nakamura was going over. They hastily rebooked the finals when his injury happened. Ironically, this is the second time in recent NJPW history this has happened. A few years ago, Nagata was supposed to win the IWGP Championship in a one night tournament for it, but Tenzan accidently basically squashed Nagata's head on a Moonsault, knocking Nagata out legit. Tenzan went on to the win the tournament and the IWGP title.

 

Tanahashi is clearly one of the top names in NJPW now, and as long as they push him as such, he'll eventually be seen as such. He's got a new character, and seems to either have a strong egotistical streak to him, or he's preparing to turn heel...With Chono forming an "Kings" group with other old timers, it leaves some doubt on who the top heel will be...Tanahashi could turn and become a leader of a new army. Or just join GBH now that they've lost a member (Koshinaka). Who really knows.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

I kind of hope that Tanahashi doesn't join GBH; with Tenzan taking time off and Koshinaka joining that legends unit, Makabe will finally be a proper, unquestionable ace for GBH (though really, he has been that way for a couple months now admittedly) and he doesn't need Tanahashi coming in and dividing that.

 

What I wouldn't mind seeing, though, is a faction of Tanahashi, Milano Collection AT, Minoru, and perhaps a couple of other undercarders. With Black and CTU disbanded Milano is unitless and he's at his best with a decent unit (see Milano, circa Italian Connection in Toryumon versus Milano after they broke up in Dragon Gate), and he and Minoru make a good team that could easily be in contention for the Jr. Tag Titles.

 

Honestly, the unit shakeup just makes New Japan even more appealing to me right now; in my opinion they're bar none the most interesting promotion in Japan to follow at the moment.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

8/14 Kurihara Gymnasium Results

Due to a cervical vertabrae injury, Takeshi Rikio was absent from todays show. Rikio will miss tomorrows show as well, but is scheduled to return at the tour opening 8/19 Tokyo Korakuen Hall show.

 

NOAH, 8/14/07

Kurihara Gymnasium

1,000 Fans - No Vacancy

 

1. Mushiking Terry beat Akihiko Ito (9:29) with the Myst Crash.

2. Kentaro Shiga, Kishin Kawabata & Makoto Hashi beat Ricky Marvin, Mitsuo Momota & Thoruf (14:06) when Shiga used a backslide on Thoruf.

3. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori beat Takuma Sano & Ippei Ota (13:55) when Ishimori used a modified side cradle on Ota.

4. Akitoshi Saito & Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Tamon Honda & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (9:16) when Kanemaru used a cradle on Kikuchi.

5. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Mohammed Yone [2] beat Masao Inoue [0] (15:33) with a Muscle Buster.

6. Akira Taue & Junji Izumida beat Jun Akiyama & Atsushi Aoki (13:45) when Izumida used the Meteorite on Aoki.

7. Takeshi Morishima, Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura beat Mitsuharu Misawa, Yoshinari Ogawa & Go Shiosaki (20:40) when Morishima used a backdrop on Shiosaki.

 

Let's hope Rikio doesn't aggravate his injury by working through it. The next tournament matches aren't until Sunday in Japan, with Marufuji against Yone and Morishima against Shiosaki. You can assume Marufuji and Morishima win those.

[Guest jotumare]

NOAH, 8/19/07 (NTV/G+)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

2,100 Fans - Super No Vacancy

 

1. El Oriental & Laredo Kid beat Antifaz & Histeria (15:32) when Kid used the Firebird Splash on Histeria.

2. Takuma Sano & Atsushi Aoki beat Masao Inoue & Thoruf (14:41) when Sano used a Northern Light Bomb on Thoruf.

3. Akira Taue & Tsutomu Hirayanagi beat Junji Izumida & Mitsuo Momota (9:20) when Taue used the Tsukuba Makiwari on Izumida.

4. Akitoshi Saito & Takashi Sugiura beat Tamon Honda & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (13:15) when Sugiura used an ankle hold on Kikuchi.

5. KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & Rocky Romero beat Kotaro Suzuki, Ricky Marvin & Ippei Ota (17:31) when KENTA used the Go 2 Sleep on Marvin.

6. Mitsuharu Misawa, Yoshinari Ogawa & Makoto Hashi beat Jun Akiyama, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Shuhei Taniguchi (25:19) when Hashi used the Goriman's Driver on Taniguchi.

7. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Naomichi Marufuji [2] beat Mohammed Yone [2] (18:04) with the Perfect Inside Cradle.

8. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Takeshi Morishima [2] beat Go Shiosaki [0] (18:08) with a backdrop.

 

NOAH, 8/20/07

Gosen City Hall

1,100 Fans

 

1. Tsutomu Hirayanagi vs. Ippei Ota went to a draw (15:00) when the time limit expired.

2. Ricky Marvin, El Oriental & Laredo Kid beat Rocky Romero, Antifaz & Histeria (19:08) when Marvin used a cradle on Histeria.

3. Mohammed Yone & Shuhei Taniguchi beat Masao Inoue & Akihiko Ito (12:42) when Yone used a Muscle Buster on Ito.

4. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori beat Kotaro Suzuki & Atsushi Aoki (13:41) when Ishimori pinned Aoki.

5. Akira Taue & Junji Izumida beat Takuma Sano & Thoruf (11:46) when Izumida used the Meteorite on Thoruf.

6. Jun Akiyama & Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Akitoshi Saito & Makoto Hashi (14:30) when Kanemaru used a brainbuster on Hashi.

7. Takeshi Morishima, Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura beat Mitsuharu Misawa, Tamon Honda & Go Shiosaki (18:25) when Marufuji used the Shiranui on Shiosaki.

 

AND....

 

NOAH, 8/19/07 - Takeshi Rikio has not recovered from the injury he sustained on 8/14, and today it was confirmed that he will miss the Shiny Navigation '07 tour. It remains to be seen whether he is replaced in the title shot tournament, or if he forfeits his remaining matches.

 

8/20

Takeshi Rikio has forfeited all remaining Block A matches, and thus Masao Inoue, Akitoshi Saito & Naomichi Marufuji are all awarded 2 points.

 

Ok, Rikio (my favorite to win this until now) is out,this is gonna get interesting....or not XD

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

With Rikio out, this tournament has become a three horse race.

 

I'm backing Akiyama, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Morishima or Marufuji win.

 

If I was going to continue the Marufuji in the heavyweights, I'd let him win the tournament for a number of reasons, the first and foremost would be to reward him. He's been on FIRE since his big push in 2006. Marufuji's always been a good worker, but he's drastically upped his game since then. The second reason would be to give him some credibility for a future title reign.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Skipping to the end:

 

7. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block A: Naomichi Marufuji [8] beat Akitoshi Saito [6] (13:03) with a schoolboy.

8. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Block B: Takeshi Morishima [7] beat Jun Akiyama [6] (16:33) with a lariat.

9. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Final: Naomichi Marufuji beat Takeshi Morishima (9:14) with the Pole Shift. (Marufuji faces Misawa on 9/29)

 

This gives us:

 

NOAH, 9/29/07 (NTV/G+)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title: Mitsuharu Misawa © vs. Naomichi Marufuji

 

But the big news is:

 

NOAH, 10/27/07

Tokyo Nippon Budokan

 

1. GHC Heavyweight Title: Winner of Misawa/Marufuji (9/29) vs. Samoa Joe

 

Joe debuts two days earlier in his only other date for NOAH on that tour.