2008 G1 Climax thread

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Full details shortly!

 

NJPW, 8/9/08 (WPW)

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

8,300 Fans - No Vacancy

 

0. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (5:09) when Naito used a crab hold on Yoshihashi.

1. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] beat Wataru Inoue [0] (14:07) with a Texas Cloverleaf hold.

2. G1 Climax - Block B: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA beat Takashi Iizuka, Jado, Gedo & Tomoaki Honma (8:43) when Chono used a Shining Yakuza kick on Gedo.

3. G1 Climax - Block B:: Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION) [2] beat Toru Yano [0] (11:38) with a Dragon sleeper.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1-MAX) [2] beat Manabu Nakanishi [0] (12:21) with a Spiral bomb.

5. G1 Climax Special Tag: Hirooki Goto & Prince Devitt beat Togi Makabe & Karl Anderson (11:25) when Goto used the Shouten on Anderson.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard [2] beat Satoshi Kojima (All Japan) [0] (13:27) with the Bernard bomb.

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] beat Toshiaki Kawada [0] (19:24) with the Anaconda buster.

8. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [2] beat Yuji Nagata [0] (15:52) with a cross armbreaker.

 

From SSS

 

With how New Japan booking works, Kojima losing in the first round makes him a decent bet to get to the finals. Nakanishi losing to Otani was a mild surprise, but I expect Nakanishi to make up for it. I know Kawada losing has to make sense later on, but I still don't like it.

 

Next G1 card:

 

NJPW, 8/11/08 (Samurai! TV)

Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

 

1. G1 Climax Special 8 Man Tag: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Jado, Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma

2. G1 Climax Special 8 Man Tag: Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA vs. Giant Bernard, Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Prince Devitt

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Wataru Inoue vs. Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1-MAX)

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano

5. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION)

6. G1 Climax - Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Toshiaki Kawada

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Satoshi Kojima (All Japan)

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

Unless New Japan swerves us, then it's almost a lock Tanahashi's winning this year. The winner almost immediately gets a shot at Muto on AJPW's big show. They could in theory hold Tanahashi/Muto off, but Muto's done nothing for NJPW. He's only appeared once for them since winning the title, and their getting nothing out of this reign.

 

All along, the plan has to have been Tanahashi beating Muto. It's the only one that makes any sense for all parties. Muto would agree to almost anything for Tanahashi since he's his friend and a "disciple" of his ways. And NJPW desperately wants to make Tanahashi a top draw ace. No better way then to take back his promotion's title from the invader who happens to be one of the biggest legends in pro-wrestling.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

"G1 CLIMAX 2008 ~HEROES OF SUPREMACY~"

Day two of the G1 Climax saw a couple more surprises, as well as some expected results. Wataru Inoue vs. Shinjiro Otani was a battle of two men who have things in common - both were long-term juniors who converted to the heavyweight divison after years in the lightweight class. Otani continued his excellent start to his first ever G1, defeating the younger generation Inoue with a Spiral bomb today to go 2-0 and on to four points. Wataru is already learning the difficulties of life in the heavyweight division and has a long way to go. The biggest upset of the show saw GBH's Toru Yano defeat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, who had a handicap against him again. Super powerbombed through a table after pinning Kawada the other day, Tenzan was bandaged up today and had to contend with outside interference from Iizuka, allowing Yano to score the big win with his Oni Koroshi. Manabu Nakanishi may already be out of the running for a spot in the final, after his second loss on the trot. Nakanishi has failed to follow up so far on the vigor which won him an IWGP Heavyweight Title shot and got him within a breath of the Fire Festival final, and fell to Satoshi Kojima's lariat.

 

Wearing black tights and red kickpads, Shinsuke Nakamura looked closer to his original self than he has in a long time today, craftily dealing with the power and bulk of DRADITION ace Yutaka Yoshie, before making him submit to a new chickenwing hold finisher, one of the many armbar variations Nakamura has been practicing in the build-up to the G1. Hirooki Goto came out charging against Toshiaki Kawada in a "battle of two great men" today and put up one hell of a fight against "Dangerous K", but you always had to feel he would come one step short, as he has against much senior opposition this year, and was eventually kept down by a running face kick. Togi Makabe avenged a string of losses to arch-rival Hiroshi Tanahashi, the local boy capping off a great day for GBH by defeating the young ace today. Like Tenzan, Tanahashi had more than Makabe to deal with, the fly-that-won't-go-away Tomoaki Honma constantly interfering, and together they damaged the leg Tanahashi has worked for months to heal. Makabe pulled out an old school Prison hold (lock) and forced Tanahashi to submit. To celebrate their big wins, Makabe and Yano left the arena in a limousine with a group of pretty young ladies.

 

NJPW, 8/11/08 (Samurai! TV)

Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

3,800 Fans

 

1. Karl Anderson beat Kazuchika Okada (4:33) with the Gun Stun.

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1-MAX) [4] beat Wataru Inoue [0] (9:56) with a Spiral bomb.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Toru Yano [2] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] (11:50) with the Oni Koroshi.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Satoshi Kojima (All Japan) [2] beat Manabu Nakanishi [0] (15:15) with a lariat.

5. G1 Climax Special 8 Man Tag: Jado, Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma beat Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (7:39) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Naito.

6. G1 Climax Special 8 Man Tag: Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA beat Giant Bernard, Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Prince Devitt (11:59) when AKIRA used a Musasabi press on Minoru.

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [4] beat Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION) [2] (15:20) with a chickenwing hold.

8. G1 Climax - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada [2] beat Hirooki Goto [0] (13:24) with a running face kick.

9. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [2] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] (20:14) with a Prison hold.

 

Block A:

1. Shinjiro Otani [4]

2. Hiroshi Tanahashi [2]

- Togi Makabe [2]

- Giant Bernard [2]

- Satoshi Kojima [2]

6. Manabu Nakanishi [0]

- Wataru Inoue [0]

 

Block B:

1. Shinsuke Nakamura [4]

2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2]

- Toru Yano [2]

- Toshiaki Kawada [2]

- Yutaka Yoshie [2]

6. Yuji Nagata [0]

- Hirooki Goto [0]

 

Otani appears to be getting the outsider push this year, and Bernard or, more likely, Tanahashi look to be the New Japan wrestler who'll be the one to finally beat him. It'll probably be Tanahashi, as the next G1 card sees him take on Nakanishi, and Nakanishi is due for a win having lost both his matches so far. Block B looks set to feature someone spoiling Nakamura's hopes of making it to the final, and I'm hoping it'll be Hirooki Goto.

 

NJPW, 8/13/08 (Samurai! TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

 

1. G1 Climax Special Tag: Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma vs. Satoshi Kojima All Japan & Milano Collection AT

2. G1 Climax Special Tag: Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Taichi Ishikari

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Wataru Inoue vs. Togi Makabe

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

5. G1 Climax - Block A:: Giant Bernard vs. Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1-MAX)

6. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirooki Goto

7. G1 Climax - Block B:Yuji Nagata vs. Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION)

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Manabu Nakanishi

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

The 2008 G1 Climax is in a state of utter chaos after the third day, with no real breakaway wrestlers, and only two men - Bernard and Makabe - without a defeat as yet. Today's tournament matches started with no surprises, as Togi Makabe again used a Prison hold (lock) for victory, sending Wataru Inoue 0-3 in his debut tournament. Battered and bruised thanks to constant GBH attacks, Hiroyoshi Tenzan again tasted defeat today, at the hands of Hirooki Goto. Goto hit Tenzan with some heavy bombs, forcing a doctor stoppage as the ring doctor deemed Tenzan in no condition to continue. The man tipped to go far in the tournament was again stretchered out, his campaign looking bleak. Giant Bernard bested his second outsider opponent, following up on his win over Kojima by pinning Otani today. RISE's gaijin ace made Otani bleed, en route to a comprehensive victory. Nagata scored his first win of the tournament and subsequently handed Yoshie his second loss on the trot, pinning the DRADITION man in a backdrop hold. The big upset of the day saw Toru Yano counter a Nakamura cross armbreaker with a skillful cradle to unexpectedly go 2-1, wins over Tenzan and Nakamura now putting the GBH man in a surprisingly strong position. And a summer of ups and downs saw another "up" for Nakanishi, as he pinned Tanahashi in a hot main event, pinning the reigning G1 champion with a Dai*Nakanishi German to hit back after two losses on the trot.

 

NJPW, 8/13/08 (Samurai! TV)

Tokyo Korakuen Hall

2,050 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

 

0. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:21) when Yujiro used a crab hold on Yoshihashi.

1. G1 Climax Special Tag: Satoshi Kojima (All Japan) & Milano Collection AT beat Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma (8:59) when Kojima used a lariat on Honma.

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [4] beat Wataru Inoue [0] (12:59) with a Prison hold.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Hirooki Goto [2] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] (12:43) by doctor stop.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard [4] beat Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1-MAX) [4] (14:12) with the Bernard bomb.

5. G1 Climax Special Tag: Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Toshiaki Kawada & Taichi Ishikari (10:37) when Tiger used a chickenwing facelock on Ishikari.

6. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata [2] beat Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION) [2] (15:38) with a backdrop hold.

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Toru Yano [4] beat Shinsuke Nakamura [4] (12:53) by pinfall.

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi [2] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] (17:33) with the Dai*Nakanishi German.

 

Nakanishi pinning Tanahashi was no surprise considering Nakanishi had yet to win a match so far, though Yano beating Nakamura was a bit of an upset.

 

NJPW, 8/14/08 (SXW)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

5,200 Fans

 

0. Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Kazuchika Okada (5:41) with a crab hold.

1. G1 Climax Special Tag: Wataru Inoue & Tiger Mask beat Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (9:59) when Inoue used the Oracion Flame on Yujiro.

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi [4] beat Giant Bernard [4] (13:17) with the Dai*Nakanishi German.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata [4] beat Toru Yano [4] (13:10) with a backdrop hold.

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION) [4] beat Hirooki Goto [2] (14:28) with a diving body press.

5. G1 Climax Special 6 Man Tag: Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Takashi Iizuka, Jado & Gedo (10:27) when Iizuka was DQ'd.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1-MAX) [6] beat Togi Makabe [4] (12:11) with a Spiral bomb.

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Satoshi Kojima (All Japan) [4] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] (16:57) with a lariat.

8. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [6] beat Toshiaki Kawada [2] (14:36) with a double-arm piledriver.

 

Block A:

1. Shinjiro Otani [6]

2. Manabu Nakanishi [4]

- Togi Makabe [4]

- Giant Bernard [4]

- Satoshi Kojima [4]

6. Hiroshi Tanahashi [2]

7. Wataru Inoue [0]

 

Block B:

1. Shinsuke Nakamura [6]

2. Yuji Nagata [4]

- Toru Yano [4]

- Toshiaki Kawada [4]

- Yutaka Yoshie [4]

6. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2]

- Hirooki Goto [2]

 

NJPW, 8/15/08 (Samurai! TV)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Kazuchika Okada vs. Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION), Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Wataru Inoue vs. Satoshi Kojima (All Japan)

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Toru Yano vs. Toshiaki Kawada

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Togi Makabe

5. G1 Climax Special Tag: Kurt Angle (TNA Wrestling) & Masahiro Chono vs. Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1-MAX) & AJ Styles (TNA Wrestling)

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Giant Bernard

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto

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

 

It looks like wins for Kojima (not necessarily a safe bet), Kawada, Nakanishi, Tanahashi, Nakamura (I hope) and Tenzan. I really hope Goto beats Nakamura, but I think New Japan will consider Goto's win over Tenzan enough for him this G1.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

NJPW, 8/14/08 (SXW)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

5,200 Fans

 

0. Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Kazuchika Okada (5:41) with a crab hold.

1. G1 Climax Special Tag: Wataru Inoue & Tiger Mask beat Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (9:59) when Inoue used the Oracion Flame on Yujiro.

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi [4] beat Giant Bernard [4] (13:17) with the Dai*Nakanishi German.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata [4] beat Toru Yano [4] (13:10) with a backdrop hold.

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Yutaka Yoshie DRADITION [4] beat Hirooki Goto [2] (14:28) with a diving body press.

5. G1 Climax Special 6 Man Tag: Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Takashi Iizuka, Jado & Gedo (10:27) when Iizuka was DQ'd.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Shinjiro Otani ZERO1-MAX [6] beat Togi Makabe [4] (12:11) with a Spiral bomb.

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Satoshi Kojima All Japan [4] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] (16:57) with a lariat.

8. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [6] beat Toshiaki Kawada [2] (14:36) with a double-arm piledriver.

 

 

NJPW, 8/15/08 (Samurai! TV)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

5,200 Fans

 

0. Jado & Gedo beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:52) when Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Yoshihashi.

1. G1 Climax Special 6 Man Tag: Yutaka Yoshie DRADITION, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Kazuchika Okada (10:58) when Yujiro used a diving headbutt on Okada.

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Satoshi Kojima All Japan [6] beat Wataru Inoue [0] (12:39) with a lariat.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada [4] beat Toru Yano [4] (8:38) with a running face kick.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi [6] beat Togi Makabe [4] (9:31) with the Dai*Nakanishi German.

5. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata [6] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] (11:34) by referee stop.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard [6] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] (13:51) with the Bernard bomb.

7. G1 Climax Special Tag: Kurt Angle TNA Wrestling & Masahiro Chono beat Shinjiro Otani ZERO1-MAX & AJ Styles TNA Wrestling (16:21) when Angle used an ankle lock on Style.

8. G1 Climax - Block B: Hirooki Goto [4] beat Shinsuke Nakamura [6] (14:22) with the Shouten.

 

NJPW, 8/16/08 (SXW)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

8,500 Fans - No Vacancy

 

0. Tomohiro Ishii, Tomoaki Honma & Karl Anderson beat Yujiro, Tetsuya Naito & Kazuchika Okada (8:30) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Okada.

1. G1 Climax - Block A: Wataru Inoue [2] beat Manabu Nakanishi [6] (8:38) with a modified Triangle Lancer.

2. G1 Climax - Block B: Hirooki Goto [6] beat Toru Yano [4] (9:11) with the Shouten.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Yutaka Yoshie DRADITION [6] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] (15:09) with a diving body press.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [6] beat Giant Bernard [6] (10:56) with a top rope King Kong kneedrop.

5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Minoru & Prince Devitt © beat Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA (18:09) when Devitt used the Prince's Throne on AKIRA (1st defense).

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Satoshi Kojima All Japan [7] vs. Shinjiro Otani ZERO1-MAX [7] went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.

7. G1 Climax - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada [6] beat Yuji Nagata [6] (16:38) with a running face kick.

8. G1 WORLD WAR II "DOMINANCE AND INTENSITY": Kurt Angle TNA Wrestling & Shinsuke Nakamura beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & AJ Styles TNA Wrestling (14:09) when Angle used the Angle slam on Tanahashi.

 

 

This G1 has been very unpredictable.

 

With one show left (with the finals combined on it), it's just about everyone's game still. In Block A Tanahashi and Inoue have been eliminated by points, and Manabu Nakanishi is out because he does not have a match on the final day. That leaves Otani, Kojima, Makabe & Bernard left in the block.

 

In block B, Toru Yano has been eliminated due to not having another match, and by process of elimination, along with Hiroyoshi Tenzan. That leaves Yuji Nagata, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto, Toshiaki Kawada & Yutaka Yoshie.

 

Block A more or less has come down to Togi Makabe vs. Satoshi Kojima. Throughout the tour, GBH (Makabe's heel stable) has led attacks on Tenzan, which is why he finished so poorly. They beat him half to death, until Tenzan's best friend Kojima finally made the run in to save him. I would *like* to see Makabe make the finals, but it makes more sense to see an overbooked mess where Kojima comes out victorious over Makabe to make the finals. Giant Bernard and Shinjiro Otani could both advance, but they have typical "spoiler" booking in that Bernard is facing Wataru Inoue, and Otani against Tanahashi. If Otani dropped Tanahashi, then he makes it unless Kojima wins as well. They'd tie. If both Kojima & Otani lose then Bernard would tie with Makabe, but Makabe would advance due to direct confrontation rules. If Makabe & Kojima tie while Otani loses, then Bernard wins over Kojima due to direct confrontation rules.

 

Block B's either a mess or really simple. I haven't quite figured it out. Five people in Block B are tied at six points, which means that every single match on the final night is important. Toshiaki Kawada takes on Yutaka Yoshie, Hiroyoshi Tenzan takes on Shinsuke Nakamura, and Yuji Nagata takes on Hirooki Goto. No matter what unless Nakamura loses, one match goes to a draw, and another match has a winner, there will be some type of direct confrontation ruling to decide who gets through.

 

Having said that, and knowing when the booking of the title match is (It's in All Japan), and that they've been pushing that no gaijin or outsider has ever won...I see the finals being Satoshi Kojima from Block A against either Shinsuke Nakamura or Hirooki Goto. Another viable option would be Togi Makabe vs. Toshiaki Kawada or Shinsuke Nakamura...If it were *me*, I'd go with Makabe vs. Nakamura due to their long feud. But an outsider will most likely make it, and thusly I pick Kojima.

 

Whoever wins is going to All Japan and most likely losing to Keiji Muto in the IWGP title match. I can almost see NJPW giving it to Satoshi Kojima just for that reason. I don't know what New Japan would get in return, but I don't think it'd really hurt them. I'm leaning towards Togi Makabe winning as a matter of personal opinion, because he's the lowest of the three top "young" stars in NJPW behind Tanahashi and Nakamura, and really needs something for his resume. Tanahashi's won every single title but the Juniors, and Nakamura's a two time IWGP champ. Makabe's just held the WEW title and the tag titles. He needs something like a G-1 to give him a little more name value.

 

Who knows though. I wouldn't have predicted Tanahashi would do this poorly, injury angle or not.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Aww Tanahashi eliminated? Bullshit. This ends my interest in the G1 this year.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

I don't get the Tanahashi thing myself. NJPW supporters will say that he was just coming off an injury, and all that...but partisan booking does nothing for anyone. Tanahashi was pushed as THE GUY for so long, and as their face for so long that this is a bad idea. The storyline is valid, but I still think it's silly.

 

Hopefully they rebound him, and it's not a long term thing, but with NJPW it would not surprise me to see Tanahashi depushed.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

NJPW, 8/17/08 (WPW/PPV)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

 

0. Milano Collection AT & Prince Devitt beat Taichi Ishikari & Kazuchika Okada (4:51) when Milano used a thrust kick on Okada.

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [8] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] (12:16) with the Landslde.

2. G1 Climax - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada [7] vs. Yutaka Yoshie [7] went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Hirooki Goto [8] beat Yuji Nagata [6] (12:12) with the Shouten.

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Wataru Inoue [4] beat Giant Bernard [6] (7:32) by countout.

5. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi [4] beat Shinjiro Otani [7] (12:44) with the High Fly Flow.

6. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [8] beat Satoshi Kojima [7] (12:26) with a German suplex hold.

7. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Jado, Gedo & Karl Anderson beat Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (13:53) when Yano used the Oni Koroshu on Naito.

8. G1 Climax - Final: Hirooki Goto beat Togi Makabe (22:25) with the Shouten.

 

If Hirooki Goto had the momentum he had last year, this would be an amazingly great decision. However, that's not what they did. He lost all his hype, all his momentum and all his fans that had led to the fans PASSIONATELY cheering him to beat Tanahashi last year for the IWGP title just a few months after returning. I think Goto has a fantastic upside and could be a huge star but New Japan has never quite figured out what made the fans cheer him in the first place. He was the young guy who was woefully undermatched, but never gave up. In his matches with Tenzan and Tanahashi, the heat would *DIE* the moment he did anything heelish, but would pick up immensely as soon as he was in trouble. New Japan doesn't get this, and put him in what is either a heel of tweener stable depending on you routlook.

 

It's a lock now that Muto's retaining the title. I can't see any way Goto wins the title, and it'll be semi main event under Suwama/Kea for the TC.

 

It'll be interesting how history looks back at this G-1.

[Pegasus Kid 0]

I watched 08/16 as it's linked from DVDVR. I hated all of it. WHatever didn't suck was underwhelming. The tag match, which I had serious hopes for turned out to be such a masterbation piece I don't know how anyone could have enjoyed it. Let's not forget the botched spots either.

 

This is what happens when I randomly watch Puro.