NJPW G1 Climax 27 Night 1
July 17, 2017
Sapporo, Japan
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Transcription by Josh Lopez
Block A Competitors: (Bad Luck Fale, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr, Yoshi Hashi, Kota Ibushi, Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata and Hiroshi Tanahashi)
Block B Competitors: (Michael Elgin, EVIL, Satoshi Kojima, Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, Juice Robinson, Sanada, Minoru Suzuki, Tama Tonga and Toru Yano)
First Match: Michael Elgin, David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Robinson and Kojima will start things off. Collar and elbow tie up. Robinson applies a side headlock. Robinson drops Kojima with a shoulder tackle. Kojima responds with a hip toss followed by a shoulder tackle. Back to the collar and elbow tie up. Liger tags himself in. Robinson tags in Finlay. Liger applies a side headlock. Liger drops Finlay with a shoulder tackle. Finlay goes for a leg sweep, but Liger counters with a elbow drop. Liger gets Finlay trapped in the Romero Special. Elgin and Robinson breaks up the submission attempt. Finlay uppercuts Liger. Finlay tags in Robinson. Robinson connects with a belly to back suplex for a two count. Robinson tags in Elgin. Elgin plants Liger with the delayed vertical suplex for another two count. Elgin, Finlay and Robinson continues to cut the ring in half. Finlay and Liger are knocked down by a double clothesline. Tenzan and Elgin are tagged in.
It’s the battle of the bulls. Tenzan lands a series of Mongolian Chops. Tenzan connects with a corner clothesline. Tenzan follows that with a snap suplex. Elgin lands a big boot to the jaw of Tenzan. Tenzan HeadButts the gut of Elgin. Elgin responds with a Bicycle Kick. Elgin drops Tenzan with a leaping enziguri. Robinson knocks Kojima off the ring apron. Robinson lands a series of left jabs to Tenzan. Robinson follows that with a dropkick. Tenzan HeadButts the gut of Robinson. Tenzan connects with a Exploder Suplex. Tenzan tags in Kojima. Kojima starts lighting up Robinson’s chest in the corner. Robinson responds with a lariat in the corner. Robinson connects with a Cannonball Strike.
Robinson goes for a suplex, but Kojima gets back on his feet. Kojima plants Robinson with a DDT for a two count. Robinson drops Kojima with a leg lariat. Robinson tags in Finlay. Finlay with a Flying European Uppercut to Kojima for a two count. Finlay goes for a Death Valley Driver, but Kojima counters with the Koji Cutter. We have a sequence of rapid fire lariats from Robinson, Tenzan, Liger and Elgin. Finlay plants Kojima with a Uranage BackBreaker for a two count. Kojima ducks a right hand from Finlay. Kojima connects with a massive lariat to pickup the victory.
Winner: Jushin Thunder Liger, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan via Pinfall
Second Match: Kenny Omega, Tama Tonga and Chase Owens vs. El Desparado, Taichi and Minoru Suzuki
Omega goes for a handshake, but Suzuki kicks Omega in the gut before the bell rings. Suzuki and Omega starts brawling in the crowd. Suzuki lands a knife edge chop. Omega with a clubbing axe handle to back of Suzuki’s neck. Omega whips Suzuki back first to the wall. Omega starts choking Suzuki. Suzuki gets Omega trapped in an arm-bar. Suzuki finally starts walking back to the ringside area. Desparado and Tama Tonga is brawling in the middle of the ring. Taichi hits Tama Tonga with a ring bell hammer. Owens dropkicks Taichi. Desparado tosses Owens out of the ring. Desparado with a corner clothesline to Tama Tonga. Taichi lands a big boot for a two count. Tama Tonga counters out of the irish whip and connects with a chop block. Tonga drops Taichi with a neck breaker. Tonga tags in Omega. Omega with a Hurricanrana to Suzuki. Omega connects with a rolling senton. Omega goes for a MoonSault, but Suzuki lands a clubbing blow to the back.
Suzuki follows that with a knee strike. Suzuki with a snap mare takeover. Suzuki connects with a Penalty Kick for a two count. Omega and Suzuki are trading back and forth shots. Omega goes for a Snap Dragon Suplex, but Suzuki blocks it. Omega counters of the Sleeper Hold. Omega drops Suzuki with the V-Trigger. Omega goes for the One Winged Angel, but Suzuki counters with the Sleeper Hold. Suzuki goes for the PileDriver, but Omega gets back on his feet. Tonga and Owens knocks Taichi and Desparado off the ring apron. Omega and Owens connects with Stereo SuperKicks to Suzuki. Owens plants Suzuki with a Combination Ace Crusher for a two count. Owens goes for the Package PileDriver, but Suzuki blocks it. Suzuki gets Owens in the Sleeper Hold. Suzuki plants Owens with the PileDriver to pickup the victory.
Winner: El Desparado, Taichi and Minoru Suzuki via Pinfall
Third Match: Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL vs. Bushi & Sanada
EVIL and Sanada will start things off. Both men shake hands. EVIL goes for a STO, but Sanada blocks it. Takahashi tries to send Bushi to the ring apron, but Bushi gets back on his feet which leads to a big stand off between all four men in the middle of the ring. Takahashi tosses Bushi out of the ring. EVIL blocks a leg lariat from Sanada. EVIL goes for a SuperKick, but Sanada counters with a single leg takedown. Sanada tries to tie EVIL in a knot, but EVIL whips him to the corner. Bushi and Takahashi are tagged in. Bushi applies a side head lock. Takahashi leapfrogs over Bushi. Sanada connects with a leg sweep from outside. Bushi follows that with a Basement DropKick. Sanada with a running forearm that knocks EVIL off the ring apron. Sanada whips EVIL back first to the steel guard rail. Bushi is applying pressure to the back of Takahashi’s neck. Bushi and Sanada are cutting the ring in half. Sanada gets Takahashi trapped in the Paradise Lock. Sanada tags in Bushi. Bushi locks in the CrossFace Submission Hold, but Takahashi reaches the bottom rope to create separation. Takahashi fires up with a series of slaps across the chest of Sanada.
Sanada responds with a uppercut. Takahashi plants Sanada with a Over The Head Belly to Belly Suplex into the turnbuckles. Takahashi tags in EVIL. EVIL blocks a big boot from Sanada. EVIL follows that with a lariat in the corner. EVIL PowerSlams Sanada. EVIL connects with a senton splash for a two count. EVIL follows that with another senton splash to Bushi and Sanada. EVIL plants Sanada with a Fisherman’s Buster for a two count. Sanada leapfrogs over EVIL. Sanada dropkicks EVIL. Sanada rolls over to the corner and tags in Bushi. Bushi connects with a missile dropkick. Bushi with a Head Scissors TakeOver to Takahashi. Bushi follows that with a Suicide Dive. Sanada drops EVIL with a Springboard Basement DropKick. Bushi and Sanada connects with Stereo Dropkicks for a two count. Bushi goes for DMX, but Takahashi counters with a SuperKick. EVIL plants Sanada with a SitOut PowerBomb. Takahashi lands another SuperKick. EVIL drops Bushi with a big lariat for a two count. Sanada applies a Sitting CrossFace Submission Hold which forces Bushi to tap out.
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi & EVIL via Submission
Fourth Match: Toru Yano & Jado vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo
Yano and Okada will start things off. Collar and elbow tie up. Okada backs Yano into the ropes. Okada with a series of clubbing blows to the back of Yano. Okada goes for the Rain Maker, but Yano ducks out of the way. Yano tags in Jado. Okada proceeds to tag in Gedo. Gedo rakes the eyes of Jado. Jado side steps Gedo into the turnbuckles. Jado starts lighting up Gedo’s chest with a flurry of knife edge chops. Gedo responds with rapid fire jabs. Gedo attacks of the jaw of Jado. Jado is staggering in the middle of the ring. Jado finally collapses in the middle of the ring. Gedo tags in Okada. Okada stomps on Jado’s chest. Okada with a front slam to Jado. Okada connects with a SlingShot Senton. Okada uppercuts Jado. Okada knocks Yano off the ring apron before Jado can make the tag. Okada and Gedo are double teaming Jado in the corner.
Gedo with a fist drop to Jado. Gedo applies a rear chin lock. Jado gets back to a vertical base. Gedo rakes the back of Jado. Jado responds with a running knee strike. Jado clotheslines Gedo. Okada and Yano are tagged in. Yano rips off the turnbuckle pad. Okada goes for a dropkick, but Yano holds onto the ropes. Okada lands a forearm smash. Yano with a drop toe hold that sends Okada face first to the exposed steel. Yano rolls him over for a two count. Okada responds with a dropkick. Okada goes for the Rain Maker, but Yano counters with a Hair Whip for a two count. Okada plants Yano with a Flap Jack. Okada tags in Gedo. Gedo HeadButts Yano. Yano sends Gedo and Okada back first into the expose steel in the corner. Yano with a double low blow to Okada and Gedo. Yano rolls Gedo over to pickup the victory.
Winner: Toru Yano & Jado via Pinfall
Fifth Match: (0-0) Yugi Nagata vs. (0-0) Yoshi Hashi in a Block A Matchup in the G1 Climax Tournament
Nagata applies a wrist lock. Hashi responds with a wrist lock takedown which leads to a standoff. Nagata lands a leg lariat. Hashi applies a hammer lock. Nagata counters with a side headlock takeover. Hashi again reverses the hold. Nagata applies a key lock, but Hashi heads to the bottom rope to create separation. More chain grappling between both men. Hashi applies a leg scissors submission hold. Hashi dodges a leg lariat from Nagata. Hashi with a clubbing blow to the back of Nagata. Hashi and Nagata starts trading back and forth forearm smashes. Nagata lands a buzzsaw kick to the chest of Hashi. Hashi responds with a series of knife edge chops. Nagata kicks the hamstring of Hashi. Nagata repeatedly drives his knee to the gut of Hashi. Hashi drags Nagata out of the ring. Hashi whips Nagata back first to the steel guard rail. Hashi lands even more knife edge chops on the outside. Hashi rolls Nagata back into the ring. Hashi with a clubbing blow to the back of Nagata’s neck. Hashi connects with a Hesitation Dropkick for a two count. Hashi applies a rear chin lock. Nagata starts bending the fingers of Hashi. Hashi stomps on Nagata’s chest. Hashi repeatedly slaps Nagata in the face.
Nagata drops Hashi with a running knee strike. Nagata fires up with a series of rapid fire kicks to the back of Hashi. We have ourself a chopping fest in the middle of the ring. Nagata with a Buzzsaw Kick that sends Hashi back first into the turnbuckles. Nagata follows that with the Helluva Kick. Nagata plants Hashi with a SlingShot Neck Breaker. Nagata follows that with the exploder suplex for a two count. Nagata grabs Hashi by his hair. Hashi counters out of the vertical suplex and connects with a neck breaker. Nagata responds with a Over The Head Belly to Belly Suplex. Nagata places Hashi on the top turnbuckle. Hashi HeadButts Nagata. Hashi plants Nagata with a PowerBomb. Hashi with a Jack Knife Cover for a two count. Hashi follows that with a PumpHandle Slam. Hashi connects with a Swanton Bomb for a two count. Hashi gets Nagata trapped in the ButterFly Lock. Nagata places his boot on the bottom rope to create separation.
Hashi goes for a ButterFly Suplex, but Nagata counters with the Fujiwara Arm-Bar. Somehow, Hashi finds his way to the bottom rope. Nagata drops Hashi with a leaping enziguri. Nagata follows that with a double knee strike. Nagata connects with a Saito Suplex for a two count. Nagata goes for the Exploder Suplex, but Hashi counters with a small package rollup for a two count. Hashi lands a big lariat for another two count. Nagata with a spinning heel kick that sends Hashi to the corner. Hashi connects with a corner clotheslines. Hashi with a SlingShot Knee Strike for a two count. Hashi goes for Karma, but Nagata blocks it. Hashi connects with a Lung Blower. Hashi plants Nagata with Karma to pickup the victory.
Winner: Yoshi Hashi (2-0) via Pinfall
Sixth Match: (0-0) Bad Luck Fale vs. (0-0) Togi Makabe in a Block A Matchup in the G1 Climax Tournament
Fale and Makabe starts trading back and forth shots. Fale goes for a shoulder tackle, but Makabe stands still. Makabe ducks a clothesline from Fale. Makabe proceeds to drop Fale with a shoulder tackle. Makabe bounces Fale face on the steel guard rail. Fale whips Makabe back first to the guard rail. Fale starts choking Makabe with the steel chain. Fale slingshots Makabe into a collection of chairs. Fale is absolutely destroying Makabe on the outside. Makabe gets back into the ring at the count of nineteenth. Fale repeatedly stomps on the chest of Makabe. Fale bodyslams Makabe. Fale with a Senton Drop for a two count. Makabe responds with a flurry of forearm smashes. Fale plants Makabe with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Makabe is having a hard time getting back on his feet. Fale lands a heavy forearm smash.
Makabe wants even more pain. Fale goes for the Bad Luck Fall, but Makabe gets back on his feet. Fale lands even more forearm smashes. Makabe drops Fale with a big lariat. Makabe with a Running Corner Clothesline. Makabe transitions into a Corner Mount. Makabe blocks a vertical suplex from Fale. Makabe lands another lariat. Makabe goes for the cover, but Fale kicks out at two. Fale responds with a Running Splash for a two count. Fale ducks a lariat from Makabe. Fale connects with a Running Body Avalanche in the corner. Fale misses again on the Bad Luck Fall. After a quick sequence of colliding lariats, Makabe finally drops Fale to the canvas. Makabe lands a flying knee strike. Makabe goes back to the top turnbuckle. Makabe goes for the King Kong Knee Drop, but Fale counters with the Grenade to pickup the victory.
Winner: Bad Luck Fale (2-0) via Pinfall
Seventh Match: (0-0) Tomohiro Ishii vs. (0-0) Hirooki Goto in a Block A MatchUp in the G1 Climax Tournament
The match starts with a series of criss cross shoulder blocks. Goto drops Ishii with a right hand. Goto whips Ishii face first to the top turnbuckle. Ishii drops Goto with a shoulder tackle. Ishii and Goto engages in a chopping fest. Ishii is choking Goto with his boot. Ishii lightly kicks Goto in the face. Ishii starts HeadButting Goto. Goto slaps Ishii chest. Ishii drops Goto with another HeadButt. Ishii connects with a vertical suplex, but Goto immediately kicks up. Goto lands a flurry of forearm smashes. Both men starts running the ropes which leads to Goto clotheslining Ishii. Goto with a buzzsaw kick to the chest of Ishii. Goto responds with a belly to back suplex for a two count. Goto ascends to the top turnbuckle. Ishii goes for the SuperPlex, but Got blocks it. Both men are fighting for position on the top turnbuckle. Goto goes for the Sunset Flip PowerBomb, but Ishii blocks it.
Ishii connects with a Leaping HeadButt. Ishii plants Goto with the SuperPlex for a two count. Goto goes for the GTR, but Ishii blocks it. Goto with a knee strike to the back of Ishii’s head. Goto connects with a corner clothesline. Goto goes for a running lariat, but Ishii stands still. Both men are staggering in the middle of the ring. More running lariat attempts from both men, but they continue to show off their fighting spirits. Goto plants Ishii with the Ushigoroshi for a two count. Ishii responds with a leaping enziguri. Ishii plants Goto with a PowerBomb for a two count. Ishii connects with the sliding lariat, but again Goto kicks out at two.
Goto applies a rear chin lock. Goto floats over into a standing front face lock. Goto goes for the GTR, but Ishii responds with a running clothesline. Both men are knocked down by a double lariat. Ishii and Goto starts trading back and forth forearm smashes. Ishii talks smack to Goto. 100 more forearm strikes are landed. Ishii HeadButts Goto. Goto responds with a lariat for a two count. Ishii with a PopUp Forearm Combination to Goto. Goto regains momentum with a HeadButt. Goto drops Ishii with a Buzzsaw Kick to the chest for a two count. Goto connects with GTR to pickup the victory.
Winner: Hirooki Goto (2-0) via Pinfall
Eight Match: (0-0) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. (0-0) Hiroshi Tanahashi in Block A MatchUp in the G1 Climax Tournament
Sabre tries to target the left shoulder of Tanahashi. Collar and elbow tie up. Tanahashi is distracted by El Desparado. Sabre with a waist lock go-behind. Tanahashi responds with a standing switch. Sabre grapples around Tanahashi. Sabre applies a leg lock. Tanahashi responds with a rear chin lock. Sabre counters with a hammerlock. Standoff between both men. Tanahashi goes for a double leg takedown, but Sabre blocks it. Sabre starts applying pressure to the knee of Tanahashi. More chain grappling. Sabre backs Tanahashi into the ropes. Sabre starts working on the wrist of Tanahashi. Tanahashi kicks Sabre in the chest. Tanahashi lands a deep arm-drag. Tanahashi bodyslams Sabre. Tanahashi goes for a Senton, but Sabre counters with the Cross ArmBreaker. Tanahashi crawls to the bottom rope to create separation. Sabre twists the shoulder of Tanahashi. Sabre is bending Tanahashi’s fingers. Tanahashi is favoring his shoulder. Sabre repeatedly kicks Tanahashi’s shoulder. Sabre is relentlessly targeting the shoulder of Tanahashi.
Tanahashi uppercuts Sabre. Sabre applies another wrist lock. Tanahashi with a shot to the gut of Sabre. Sabre gets Tanahashi trapped in the Octopus Hold. Tanahashi regains momentum with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Tanahashi kicks the knee of Sabre. Sabre whips Tanahashi to the corner. Tanahashi connects with a dropkick to the knee of Sabre. Tanahashi goes for another Dragon Screw Leg Whip, but Sabre escapes. Tanahashi goes for a SharpShooter, but Sabre applies more pressure to Tanahashi’s fingers. Tanahashi locks in the Texas CloverLeaf Submission Hold. Sabre with a roll through for a two count. Sabre dodges a basement dropkick. Sabre kicks Tanahashi chest. Sabre stomps on the shoulder of Tanahashi. Sabre follows that with another stomp to the other shoulder.
Sabre and Tanahashi are trading back and forth shots. Sabre gets Tanahashi trapped in a Guillotine Choke. Tanahashi plants Sabre with the Cross Rhodes. Tanahashi goes for the SlingBlade, but Sabre counters with a jack knife cover with a bridge for a two count. Tanahashi connects with the SlingBlade. Tanahashi ascends to the top turnbuckle. Tanahashi connects with the High Fly Tanahashi knocks Desparado off the ring apron. Tanahashi goes for another High Fly Flow, but Sabre counters with the Rings of Saturn which forces Tanahashi to tap out.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr (2-0) via Submission
Ninth Match: (0-0) Testuya Naito vs. (0-0) Kota Ibushi in a Block A MatchUp in the G1 Climax Tournament
Collar and elbow tie up. Ibushi backs Naito into the ropes. Clean break. Naito spits at Ibushi. Naito tosses Ibushi out of the ring. Naito tease a suicide dive, but decides to pose in the middle of the ring. Naito is trying to play mind games with Ibushi. Ibushi lands a series of right hands. Ibushi ducks a clothesline from Naito. Ibushi connects with a Double Stomp to the chest for a two count. Ibushi lands a big boot in the corner. Naito gets Ibushi tied in the tree of woe. Naito connects with a draping neck breaker. Naito follows that with a back breaker. Naito lands a Basement DropKick to the back of Ibushi’s head. Naito plants Ibushi with a neck breaker on the ring apron. Naito repeatedly stomps on Ibushi chest in the corner. Naito has Ibushi arms trapped together. Naito lands another neck breaker for a two count. Ibushi is fighting out of the Cravate. Naito spits at Ibushi again. Naito goes for a knife edge chop, but Ibushi counters with a dropkick. Ibushi connects with his lightning quick offense. Ibushi with a hurricanrana that sends Naito out of the ring. Ibushi connects with the Golden Triangle to the outside. Ibushi goes for a SpringBoard Dropkick, but Naito ducks out of the way.
Naito connects with a inverted atomic drop. Naito goes for a leg sweep, but Ibushi counters with a uppercut. Naito ducks a clothesline from Ibushi. Naito drop toe holds Ibushi to the second rope. Naito connects with a SlingShot Dropkick. Naito follows that with a running neck breaker. Naito plants Ibushi with a High Angle German Suplex with a Bridge for a two count. Ibushi escapes out of the PumpHandle Slam. Ibushi connects with the Dragon Suplex. Ibushi repeatedly kicks the chest of Naito. Naito shoves the referee. Ibushi lands a big lariat for a two count. Ibushi goes for a PowerBomb, but Naito gets back on his feet. Naito with a clubbing blow to the back of Ibushi. Naito lands another german suplex. Naito connects with Gloria for a two count. Naito plants Ibushi with an Avalanche Hurricanrana for a two count.
Naito goes for Destino, but Ibushi launches him face first to the turnbuckle pad. Ibushi connects with the Phoenix Plex for a two count. Ibushi goes for a Elevated PowerBomb, but Naito counters with a Satellite DDT. Both men are struggling to get back on their feet. Naito places Ibushi back on the top turnbuckle. Naito goes for another Avalanche Hurricanrana, but Ibushi escapes. Ibushi with a Back Flip Kick to Naito. Ibushi plants Naito with a PileDriver from the second rope for a two count. Ibushi has Natio shoulders trapped, but Naito backs him into the turnbuckles. Naito connects with a rolling kick. Ibushi lands a series of palm strike. Naito drops Ibushi with Destino for a two count. Naito follows that with another Destino to pickup the victory.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito (2-0) via Pinfall
Check out Episode 62 of the Josh Lopez Wrestling Podcast.
