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Category: NJPW

  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 11 Results: Tanahashi vs. EVIL

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 11 Results: Tanahashi vs. EVIL

    Welcome to our results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 11. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continues today and will run until Day 19 on August 12.

    Twenty wrestlers, divided into two blocks of ten, compete against every other member of their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The wrestler with the most points in each block will move on to a final match, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    View the full tournament schedule here.

    Watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Day 11 Undercard

    Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Yota Tsuji defeated Tomohiro Ishii, Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura
    YOSHI-HASHI submitted Yuya Uemura with the Butterfly Lock at 9:24. CHAOS stablemates Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii face each other for B Block points in the main event of Day 12.

    Toru Yano & Ren Narita defeated Jon Moxley & Shota Umino
    Yano attempted to sell his DVD to Jon Moxley. Shota Umino took 5,000 yen from the ring announcer and gave it to Moxley, who then paid for it, and then tried to roll Yano up as he was counting the money. Toru Yano rolled Shota Umino up for the win at 4:08. Afterward, he took back the DVD and fled. The undefeated Jon Moxley faces Toru Yano on Day 12.

    Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) defeated Suzukigun (Taichi, Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
    Chase Owens pinned Yoshinobu Kanemaru at 7:39 after countering the Deep Impact and hitting a package piledriver. Taichi tried to confront Jay White after the match, but Gedo made sure Taichi was unable to get his hands on White. It’s Taichi versus Jay White on Day 12.

    Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) defeated Juice Robinson, Jeff Cobb & Toa Henare
    Shingo Takagi pinned Toa Henare after a Pumping Bomber at 9:27. Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito face Jeff Cobb and Juice Robinson, respectively, on Day 12.

    Day 11 G1 Matches

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kota Ibushi defeated Bad Luck Fale
    Fale used his backup, Chase Owens and Jado, to weaken Ibushi from the outset, having them attack him on the outside, and then grinded Ibushi down with his weight when he managed to make it back into the ring. Ibushi’s comebacks were foiled time and again by the Bullet Club until the referee had had enough, and Ibushi could finally rally. Kota Ibushi pinned Bad Luck Fale at 9:27 after a Kamigoye. Fale 2 points, Ibushi 8 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Will Ospreay
    Notably, this was the first ever all-British G1 Climax match. Zack attacked Ospreay’s taped up neck and shoulder early on. Eventually, Ospreay rallied, and came close on several occasions, but Zack was able to catch him with submissions at crucial moments to get the win. Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Will Ospreay by submission at 20:02 with Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than the Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness! Ospreay 4 points, Sabre 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Lance Archer
    Archer dominated the match early on, attacking Okada before the bell and hitting him hard with unexpectedly athletic offense for his size. Okada fought back from underneath, but Lance was never subdued for long. It certainly was not a decisive victory, but Okada was able to catch him for the win. Kazuchika Okada pinned Lance Archer after a Rainmaker. Archer 4 points, Okada 12 points and currently undefeated.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: SANADA defeated KENTA
    This was a high-speed fight between two outsiders. Despite being the larger man, SANADA often seemed outmatched when it came to striking and used more high-flying offense and creative counters to turn the match around. SANADA pinned KENTA after the Skull End into the top rope moonsault.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
    EVIL immediately went after Tanahashi’s knee to neutralize the High Fly Flow, which Tanahashi used to win his previous match against SANADA. It didn’t have a strong effect at first, but after a bad landing on a frog splash to the outside, he was noticeably slowed down. This was an all-out contest that had the crowd going wild. Hiroshi Tanahashi pinned EVIL after a High Fly Flow at 23:02. EVIL 6 points, Tanahashi 8 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A BlockPointsB BlockPoints
    Kazuchika Okada12Jon Moxley10
    KENTA8Tomohiro Ishii6
    Kota Ibushi8Juice Robinson6
    Hiroshi Tanahashi8Jeff Cobb4
    EVIL6Hirooki Goto4
    Lance Archer4Tetsuya Naito4
    Will Ospreay4Shingo Takagi4
    Zack Sabre Jr.4Toru Yano4
    SANADA 4Taichi4
    Bad Luck Fale2Jay White4

    Wrestlers whose names are in italics cannot make it to the Final.

  • Jon Moxley Comments On Undefeated Streak In NJPW

    Jon Moxley Comments On Undefeated Streak In NJPW

    Jon Moxley is a perfect 5-0 in the G1 Climax 29 tournament and 7-0 in singles matches in NJPW. Moxley defeated Juice Robinson for the IWGP United States championship in his first match for the promotion and then defeated Shota Umino in his second. Now past the midway point in his first G1 Climax tournament, Moxley is 5-0 and opening up a lead atop his Block.

    He now has a 4 point lead on Tomohiro Ishii and Juice Robinson who are each 3-2 and are tied for second place in B Block.

    Moxley recently defeated former IWGP heavyweight champion Tetsuya Naito in the main event of the tournament’s 10th night. After the match, Moxley cut a promo to end the show.

    Jon Moxley Post-Match Promo In Nagoya

    “Thank you for being here tonight Nagoya to witness the moment because this is the moment,” Moxley said. “5-0; 10 points. This is the moment where the people who doubted me change their minds. This is your last chance to get on the band-wagon, seats are filling up fast and we are about to close the doors.”

    “I refuse to lose, I’m willing this s**t to happen,” he continued. “Jon Moxley is going to win G1 Climax 29!”

    Jon Moxley’s Remaining G1 Scheduled

    Moxley has already defeated Taichi, Jeff Cobb, Shingo Takagi, Tomohiro Ishii and Tetsuya Naito. His remaining matches in the round-robin portion of the tournament are below:

    • 8/1/19: vs Toru Yano
    • 8/4/19: vs Jay White
    • 8/8/19: vs Hirooki Goto
    • 8/11/19: vs Juice Robinson
  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 10 Results: Naito vs. Moxley

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 10 Results: Naito vs. Moxley

    Welcome to our results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 10. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continues today and will run until Day 19 on August 12.

    Twenty wrestlers, divided into two blocks of ten, compete against every other member of their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The wrestler with the most points in each block will move on to a final match, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    View the full tournament schedule here.

    Watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Day 10 Undercard

    Ren Narita defeated Yuya Uemura
    This was a singles match involving young lions, so no participants are involved in the G1 Climax tournament. Ren Narita pinned Yuya Uemura with a bridging belly-to-belly suplex at 7:25.

    Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) defeated Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare
    Yujiro Takahashi pinned Tomoaki Honma with the Pimp Juice DDT at 8:20. Kota Ibushi faces Bad Luck Fale on Day 11 (July 30) in the A Block.

    Suzukigun (Lance Archer, Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, YOSHI-HASHI & Shota Umino
    Yoshinobu Kanemaru pinned Shota Umino with the Deep Impact DDT at 9:35. Respectively, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay’s next opponents in the A Block are Lance Archer and Zack Sabre Jr. After the match, Archer took the microphone from English commentary and cut a threatening promo on Okada.

    Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, KENTA & Karl Fredericks
    BUSHI pinned Karl Fredericks with the M-X at 8:59. KENTA faces SANADA and Hiroshi Tanahashi faces EVIL on G129 Day 10, the latter of which is the main event.

    Day 10 G1 Matches

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Hirooki Goto defeated Toru Yano
    Toru Yano feigned sportsmanship against his CHAOS faction-mate, but he could not resist his urge to cheat, attempting to put his t-shirt over Goto’s head and roll him up, but failed to do so. Hirook Goto blocked the mule kick and pinned Toru Yano with the Goto Shiki in 1:42. Goto 4 points, Yano 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Juice Robinson
    Not many different moves were done in this match that served more as a test of Juice’s grit. Juice probably took more punishment and got back up than in any NJPW match of his to date, perhaps trying too hard to show his toughness at the expense of his victory. Tomohiro Ishii pinned Juice Robinson after a vertical drop brainbuster. Ishii 6 points, Juice 6 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jeff Cobb defeated Taichi
    Taichi feigned a show of sportsmanship with a handshake, but soon reverted to his old tricks, such as using his valet Miho Abe as a human shield. When Jeff Cobb was finally able to get his hands on Taichi, he dominated him with relative ease with his strength. Jeff Cobb pinned Taichi after a Tour of the Islands at 12:30. Cobb 4 points, Taichi 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jay White defeated Shingo Takagi
    Shingo was able to overpower White during the short bursts that the were in the ring together, but White outsmarted him into leaving the ring, where he was able to achieve his own advantage with moves on the apron and barricades. White cleverly avoided a lot of Shingo’s offense and it likely made the difference. Jay White pinned Shingo Takagi after the Blade Runner at 19:26. Shingo 4 points, White 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jon Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito
    Naito went to great lengths to rile Moxley up before the match, making his entrance especially slowly and then throwing his tearaway pants at the US Heavyweight Champion. This match was full of personality, with the short fuse of Moxley being lit again and again by Naito’s antics, and Naito just might have pushed him too far. Jon Moxley pinned Tetsuya Naito after the Death Rider at 16:41. Moxley 10 points, Naito 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A BlockPointsB BlockPoints
    Kazuchika Okada10Jon Moxley10
    KENTA8Tomohiro Ishii6
    EVIL6Juice Robinson6
    Kota Ibushi6Jeff Cobb4
    Hiroshi Tanahashi6Hirooki Goto4
    Lance Archer4Tetsuya Naito4
    Will Ospreay4Shingo Takagi4
    Bad Luck Fale2Toru Yano4
    Zack Sabre Jr.2Taichi4
    SANADA2Jay White4
  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 9 Results: Okada vs. KENTA

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 9 Results: Okada vs. KENTA

    Welcome to our results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 9. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continues today and will run until Day 19 on August 12.

    Twenty wrestlers, divided into two blocks of ten, compete against every other member of their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The wrestler with the most points in each block will move on to a final match, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    View the full tournament schedule here.

    Watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Day 9 Undercard

    Suzukigun (Taichi, Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Jeff Cobb, Ren Narita & Yota Tsuji
    Yoshinobu Kanemaru pinned Yota Tsuji after a Deep Impact DDT at 8:46. Taichi faces Jeff Cobb in the B Block tomorrow. After the match, Taichi offered Jeff Cobb a handshake. Cobb hesitantly accepted it. No dirty attack followed, in an unexpectedly honorable display for Taichi.

    Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) defeated Juice Robinson, Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare
    Chase Owens pinned Toa Henare after a package piledriver at 9:06. Respectively, Juice Robinson and Jay White’s next G1 opponents are Tomohiro Ishii and Shingo Takagi.

    CHAOS (Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) defeated CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
    In an all-CHAOS battle, Toru Yano pinned YOSHI-HASHI after a low blow and roll up at 7:15. Hirooki Goto fights Toru Yano on Day 10 in the B Block.

    Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi) defeated Jon Moxley & Shota Umino
    Tetsuya Naito took his sweet time coming to the ring and continued to taunt Jon Moxley throughout the match. Naito versus Moxley is the main event of day 10 of the G1 tomorrow. This was the undercard match of the night and worth watching for the interactions between Naito and Moxley. Shingo Takagi pinned Shota Umino after a Pumping Bomber at 7:50.

    Day 9 G1 Matches

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kota Ibushi defeated Lance Archer
    Early on, Ibushi managed to evade Archer and get in attacks with his superior speed, but Archer was able to impose his will on Ibushi and nearly defeat him early. Ibushi, though weakened, managed to take control at opportunistic moments, but was mostly fighting from underneath. After Ibushi managed to hit Lance with the Kamigoye, Archer didn’t fall down and looked to be getting a second wind, but Ibushi finished him off unceremoniously. Kota Ibushi pinned Lance Archer after two Kamigoyes at 11:42. Archer 4 points, Ibushi 6 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Will Ospreay defeated Bad Luck Fale
    Fale dominated Ospreay with his great weight early, with the aid of his accomplices Chase Owens and Jado. Ospreay kept making comebacks, but Fale’s associates kept interfering and pulled out the referee as he was going for the pin. The referee was incapacitated so Red Shoes Unno came out to replace him. Fale went for the pin and Red Shoes counted to two, then flipped Fale off and disqualified him. Will Ospreay defeated Bad Luck Fale by disqualification at 9:08. Fale 2 points, Ospreay 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: EVIL defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
    This was a brisk content with EVIL getting the opportunity to show off his own technical side, matching Zack hold for hold early on. As the match went on, EVIL tried to dominate Zack with his power, but was continually handicapped by Zack’s attacks to his right knee. However, EVIL managed to make his bursts of offense count enough to win on a bad limb. EVIL pinned Zack Sabre Jr. after an EVIL at 16:00. EVIL 6 points, Sabre 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated SANADA
    Tanahashi seemed highly perturbed by SANADA being as over as he was. The two men fought in a manner which played up their similarities, being trained by the same Keiji Mutoh. Both men attacked each other’s legs, but Tanahashi was wily enough to avoid SANADA’s signature offense including the moonsault and the Skull End multiple times. Hiroshi Tanahashi pinned SANADA with the High Fly Flow at 18:07. SANADA 2 points, Tanahashi 6 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada defeated KENTA
    At the onset, KENTA simply dominated early, targeting Okada’s head and neck and rebuking his comebacks without a lot of effort. Okada managed to stuff a Go 2 Sleep attempt and finally make an prolonged comeback from there with dropkicks and a tombstone piledriver and turn the tide of the match. KENTA briefly managed to fight back, but most of the match was Okada from then on. Kazuchika Okada pinned KENTA after a Rainmaker at 26:53. Okada 10 points, KENTA 8 points. This is the end of KENTA’s undefeated streak in NJPW.

    Due to Okada holding tiebreaker victories over Bad Luck Fale and Zack Sabre Jr., as well as a lead of 8 points with 4 days of A Block remaining, Fale and ZSJ are likely eliminated from contention to win the A Block.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A BlockPointsB BlockPoints
    Kazuchika Okada10Jon Moxley8
    KENTA8Juice Robinson6
    EVIL6Tomohiro Ishii4
    Kota Ibushi6Tetsuya Naito4
    Hiroshi Tanahashi6Shingo Takagi4
    Lance Archer4Toru Yano4
    Will Ospreay4Taichi4
    Bad Luck Fale2Jeff Cobb2
    Zack Sabre Jr.2Hirooki Goto2
    SANADA2Jay White2
  • NJPW announces TJP, Dragon Lee & SHO for Super J-Cup 2019

    NJPW announces TJP, Dragon Lee & SHO for Super J-Cup 2019

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling has announced the first three entrants for their 2019 Super J-Cup. This year’s Super J-Cup will be a sixteen-participant, three day junior heavyweight tournament. The three known participants are:

    • TJP
    • Dragon Lee
    • SHO

    TJP has a history with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, having trained in the original American dojo in Santa Monica in 2001. In 2011, he competed in the Best of the Super Juniors, but failed to advance to the Final.

    The remaining thirteen Super J-Cup entrants will be announced in the weeks to come. The tournament schedule is as follows:

    • First Round: August 22 at Temple Theater (Tacoma, Washington)
    • Second Round: August 24 at San Francisco State University Student Life Events Center (San Francisco, California)
    • Semifinals & Final: August 25 at Walter Pyramid (Long Beach, California)
  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 8 Results: Naito vs. Ishii

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 8 Results: Naito vs. Ishii

    Welcome to our results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 8. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continues today and will run until Day 19 on August 12.

    Twenty wrestlers, divided into two blocks of ten, compete against every other member of their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The wrestler with the most points in each block will move on to a final match, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    View the full tournament schedule here.

    Watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Day 8 Undercard

    Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) defeated Will Ospreay, Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura
    Yujiro Takahashi pinned Yuya Uemura with the Pimp Juice DDT at 9:20. Will Ospreay faces Bad Luck Fale in the A Block on July 27.

    Suzukigun (Zack Sabre Jr., Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI)
    Minoru Suzuki pinned BUSHI after a Gotch style piledriver at 8:09. Suzuki’s frustration at being excluded from the G1 reared its head after the match, as he attacked young lions and ripped up barricades. Zack Sabre Jr. dared EVIL to confront him in the ring, but bailed out when EVIL took the bait. A Block matches on July 27 include EVIL vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

    Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino defeated Kota Ibushi & Ren Narita
    With unique and entertaining interactions between young lions and elite NJPW wrestlers, this was definitely the undercard match to watch if one had to be chosen. Hiroshi Tanahashi pinned Ren Narita after a Sling Blade at 7:45. Tanahashi and Ibushi compete against SANADA and Lance Archer, respectively, on G129 Day 9.

    Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Toa Henare defeated KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks)
    The interactions between Okada and KENTA alone make this match also worth watching, with the two of them acting condescendingly towards each other, as well as Okada diverting his attention multiple times to attack KENTA even when he wasn’t the legal man. YOSHI-HASHI submitted Clark Connors with the Butterfly Lock at 8:51. The main event of G1 Climax 29 Day 9 is Kazuchika Okada versus KENTA.

    Day 8 Tournament Matches

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Juice Robinson defeated Toru Yano
    This match revolved around Juice being onto Yano’s tricks, including catching himself on the slingshot into the exposed turnbuckle, noticing the roll of tape in Yano’s tights, and avoiding the low blow. He was too clever for Yano throughout the match and dispatched the trickster with relative speed. Juice Robinson defeated Toru Yano by pinfall after a Pulp Friction at 4:28. Juice 6 points, Yano 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Taichi defeated Hirooki Goto
    After Taichi stole a young lion’s “LA Dojo” shirt and stomped on it in the ring, Goto fought like he had vengeance to claim, while Taichi used underhanded tactics before eventually letting his wrestling do the talking, after soon understanding the levity of his opponent. The longer the match went, the more Taichi realized he was outmatched and would have to win by any means necessary. Taichi defeated Hirooki Goto by pinfall with a Gedo Clutch after a low blow at 12:11. Goto 2 points, Taichi 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jon Moxley defeated Shingo Takagi
    Shingo and Moxley wasted no time breaking into a raw slugfest, but Moxley turned the match in a different direction, attacking Shingo’s left leg to slow down the explosive junior heavyweight. Shingo struggled for the rest of the match on a bad limb and it hindered everything he did, with only short bursts of energy before fading again. Jon Moxley defeated Shingo Takagi by submission with a Texas cloverleaf at 14:45. Moxley 8 points, Shingo 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jay White defeated Jeff Cobb
    White immediately was trying to take every advantage that he could on Cobb, for fear that he would be outgunned in a fair fight. Gedo was a thorn in Cobb’s side throughout the match, so Cobb hit him with what was apparently the most excruciating body slam of all time. Jay White defeated Jeff Cobb by pinfall with the Blade Runner at 15:50. It was not a clean victory and was by the skin of his teeth, but White is finally on the board. 2 points Cobb, 2 points White.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Tetsuya Naito defeated Tomohiro Ishii
    Naito was incredibly over from the outset, on account of this event taking place in Hiroshima, the home of his favorite baseball team. Naito focused on the head and neck (or lack thereof) of the stone pitbull with DDTs, ranas, and neckbreakers. Eventually, this devolved into an all-out war of attrition with a molten hot crowd. Tetsuya Naito defeated Tomohiro Ishii by pinfall after a Destino in 18:58. Ishii 4 points, Naito 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A BlockPointsB BlockPoints
    KENTA8Jon Moxley8
    Kazuchika Okada8Juice Robinson6
    Lance Archer4Tomohiro Ishii4
    EVIL4Tetsuya Naito4
    Kota Ibushi4Shingo Takagi4
    Hiroshi Tanahashi4Toru Yano4
    Bad Luck Fale2Taichi4
    Will Ospreay2Jeff Cobb2
    Zack Sabre Jr.2Hirooki Goto2
    SANADA2Jay White2


  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. Opens Up About Leaving NJPW

    Davey Boy Smith Jr. Opens Up About Leaving NJPW

    At one point, Davey Boy Smith Jr. was enjoying tag team success with his partner, Lance Archer, in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The team, named Killer Elite Squad and aligned with Suzuki-Gun, tore up the heavyweight tag division.

    Then, last month, Davey Boy Smith Jr. announced that would be leaving NJPW.

    In an interview with The Hannibal TV, Smith Jr. opened up about why he decided to leave.

    Unwinnable Situation

    After having received fewer and fewer dates from the promotion, Smith Jr. admitted that he was “in a situation where I couldn’t win.”

    He explained that “New Japan, towards the end, were only giving me four tours a year. What they had told me or expressed to me was that there was no way they could increase the workload of KES, Lance Archer and myself as a tag team.”

    Ultimately, the difficult choice to leave had to treated as a business decision. One that he admitted had to be made for his future.

    “I felt that the tag team with Lance Archer and myself had expired, and we did all that we could in Japan and in the USA, because we are just not that very well known over here or Canada as a tag team.”

    “That’s News To Me”

    Smith Jr. pointed to an incident with NJPW booker, Gedo, playing an unfortunate contributing factor.

    He explained that when they came to NJPW, circa 2017, Lance Archer would get injured and needed emergency back surgery. Despite this, he was assured that would be booked for the remainder of the tour. However, things didn’t transpire that way.

    “I was told that I was going to be on the rest of the remainder of that tour, and I was told by the new person in the office named Saito that I was going to be on the next tour. That was a little over four weeks,” Smith Jr. explained.

    “He gave me a schedule and I wasn’t on the Super Juniors tour. I think I was on something in June. So, when I went home, they had owed me merchandise money from that tour, and they said ‘okay you’re coming back next month?’ I said yeah I’ll be back there. I went home and was waiting for my flight, and no one gave me any flight information. I sent the office lady and email and said where’s my flight, and she said well did you talk to Gedo? You’re not on the tour. I said well, that’s news to me.”

    He shared that he wished NJPW had just been honest with him. If they had, he simply would have been able to seek bookings elsewhere—something he would have been okay with doing.

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

  • Jon Moxley Claims His WWE Career Was “Pretty Much In A Toilet Bowl”

    Jon Moxley Claims His WWE Career Was “Pretty Much In A Toilet Bowl”

    Following Jon Moxley’s victory over Tomohiro Ishii during their G1 Climax 29 matchup, Moxley took to the mic to thank New Japan Pro Wrestling and the Japanese fans for allowing him to use their canvas to “paint ugly, gruesome works of art.”

    He also compared the last few months of his WWE career as being “pretty much in a toilet bowl.”

    “Thank you, Tomohiro Ishii, for sharing the ring with me tonight, you sick bastard,” Moxley began. “Let me tell you guys something: a few months ago, my career was pretty much in a toilet bowl, and then you guys welcome me over here to Japan, made me feel like part of the family, gave me this canvas on which to paint ugly, gruesome works of art. So I thank you for that.”

    He continued, “Let me tell you this: nobody on this planet, nobody on this Earth, in this world, in this universe can tell me what I’m capable of, or what I can and can’t do, what I can or can’t accomplish, only I can say that! Let me tell you this, and you better damn sure believe it, because I’m gonna do it or I’m gonna die trying, get used to it. Jon Moxley is going to win the G1!”

    Moxley will next face off against Los Ingobernables de Japon member Shingo Takagi. He is also scheduled to face off against Kenny Omega for All Elite Wrestling’s event, All Out, on August 31st.

  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 7 Results: Okada vs. Ospreay

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 7 Results: Okada vs. Ospreay

    Welcome to our results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 7. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continues today and will run until Day 19 on August 12.

    Twenty wrestlers, divided into two blocks of ten, compete against every other member of their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The wrestler with the most points in each block will move on to a final match, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    View the full tournament schedule here.

    Watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Day 7 Undercard

    Jon Moxley & Shota Umino defeated Juice Robinson & Yota Tsuji
    Due to a shortage of tag team partners, Shingo Takagi was unavailable to face off against Jon Moxley prior to their upcoming match on Day 8 (July 24). Shota Umino submitted Yota Tsuji with a Boston crab at 3:56. Moxley and Juice continued fighting after the match ended until being separated by their respective young lions.

    Suzukigun (Taichi, Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano & Yuya Uemura
    Yoshinobu Kanemaru pinned Yuya Uemura after a Deep Impact at 8:52. Taichi teased hitting Goto’s GTR on Uemura, since Taichi versus Hirooki Goto is scheduled for the Day 8. Toru Yano will wrestle Juice Robinson on Day 8 as well.

    Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) def. Jeff Cobb, Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare
    Chase Owens pinned Toa Henare after a package piledriver at 9:50. Jay White fights Jeff Cobb in the second to last match of Day 8.

    Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) defeated Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Ren Narita
    BUSHI pinned Ren Narita after an MX at 7:33. Ishii kept attacking Naito after the match, but Naito taunted him by shrugging off his hits. Tomohiro Ishii versus Tetsuya Naito is the main event of G129 Day 8. Shingo Takagi versus Jon Moxley will also take place.

    Day 7 Tournament Matches

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Bad Luck Fale
    Zack immediately attacked Fale with submissions from all angles, trying to wear down the big man. Fale soon took the match outside the ring and managed to evade Fale’s big hits and lock him into a submission, then broke it and sprinted back to the ring before the 20-count, but Fale was not fast enough to make it back in time. Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Bad Luck Fale by countout at 6:30. Fale 2 points, Sabre 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Lance Archer
    Tanahashi immediately went after Archer’s legs before even taking his ring coat off, but Archer cut him off and started to assert his will with his superior strength. Unexpectedly, this match featured dueling “Go Ace!/Archer!” chants from the crowd. Hiroshi Tanahashi pinned Lance Archer with a victory roll at 11:58. Archer 4 points, Tanahashi 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: KENTA defeated EVIL
    EVIL tried to make the match hardcore and took KENTA brawling all around Korakuen Hall, but KENTA turned the tables on him with a suplex onto a pile of folded chairs that EVIL had set up. The crowd was tending towards booing KENTA, and KENTA played up his condescending nature, dominating EVIL and taunting the crowd. This was a hard-hitting match that leaned into KENTA’s nature as an outsider and benefited for it. KENTA pinned EVIL after a Go 2 Sleep at 15:03. EVIL 4 points, KENTA 8 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kota Ibushi defeated SANADA
    This was a fast-paced match between two very athletic men, but Ibushi always seemed to have the edge in terms of speed and toughness, finding clever ways to reverse SANADA’s offense and overpowering him with strikes as well. SANADA managed to reverse Ibushi’s Kamigoye and hit one of his own, but was unable to follow it up, and then Ibushi returned the favor by stealing the dragon sleeper. Kota Ibushi followed up with a Boma Ye and then pinned SANADA with a Kamigoye at 19:14. Ibushi 4 points, SANADA 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Will Ospreay
    Being a match between the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and IWGP Heavyweight Champion, this match had potentially major historical implications depending on the outcome. Being a junior heavyweight, Ospreay was the natural underdog, and Okada dominated him from the outset. However, Ospreay managed to find his edge through speed, hard strikes, and taking opportunities, such as hitting an Oscutter from the barricade to the floor on Okada. Ospreay came close many times, but Okada was always one step ahead when it mattered the most. Kazuchika Okada pinned Will Ospreay after a Rainmaker at 21:56. Okada 8 points, Ospreay 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A BlockPointsB BlockPoints
    KENTA8Jon Moxley6
    Kazuchika Okada8Tomohiro Ishii4
    Lance Archer4Juice Robinson4
    EVIL4Shingo Takagi4
    Kota Ibushi4Toru Yano4
    Hiroshi Tanahashi4Jeff Cobb2
    Bad Luck Fale2Hirooki Goto2
    Will Ospreay2Tetsuya Naito2
    Zack Sabre Jr.2Taichi2
    SANADA2Jay White0
  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 6 Results: Moxley vs. Ishii

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 6 Results: Moxley vs. Ishii

    Welcome to our results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 6. New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continues today and will run until Day 19 on August 12.

    Twenty wrestlers compete in blocks of ten against every other wrestler in their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The wrestler with the most points in each block will move on to a final match, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    View the full tournament schedule here.

    Watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    G1 Climax 29 Day 6 Undercard

    Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens) defeated (Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
    Bad Luck Fale pinned Yoshinobu Kanemaru at 4:40 after a Grenade. After the match, Zack Sabre Jr. tried to sneak attack Fale and choke him out, but Fale caught him and laid him out with the Grenade. Bad Luck Fale vs. Zack Sabre Jr. is scheduled for tomorrow in the A Block.

    Suzukigun (Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma
    Archer’s shoulder was heavily taped up, likely due to KENTA’s Game Over submission yesterday. Lance Archer pinned Tomoaki Honma with the EBD Claw at 9:48. He refused to release the claw on Honma after the match ended, then used the claw on Tanahashi as well. Archer and Tanahashi clash in the A Block tomorrow.

    Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated Kota Ibushi, KENTA & Clark Connors
    BUSHI pinned Clark Connors at 9:02 with the MX. Following the match, Ibushi and SANADA stared each other down in the ring and appealed to the crowd for cheers. Neither wrestler seemed to be getting more cheers than the other. EVIL vs. KENTA and SANADA vs. Ibushi both take place tomorrow.

    CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Will Ospreay & Toa Henare
    YOSHI-HASHI pinned Toa Henare at 8:46 with the Kumagoroshi suplex. Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay is the main event of tomorrow’s A Block show.

    G1 Climax 29 Day 6 Tournament Matches

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi
    After a brief period where Taichi tried to use underhanded tactics and weapons on the outside of the ring, this turned into a hard-hitting battle of lariats and kicks. Shingo Takagi pinned Taichi with the Last of the Dragon at 14:40. Takagi 4 points, Taichi 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jeff Cobb defeated Juice Robinson
    This was a more slower-paced encounter than the previous one, with Juice trying to apply his usual offense but being overtaken by Cobb’s great weight and strength. Jeff Cobb pinned Juice Robinson at 13:21 with the Tour of the Islands for his first win of the G1. Cobb 2 points, Juice 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Toru Yano defeated Jay White
    This was a brief match with a very high density of cheating. Jay White thought he had Yano figured out, such as avoiding the slingshot into the exposed turnbuckle, but that was not the case. Toru Yano hit a low blow using brass knuckles while the referee was distracted and pinned Jay White with a roll up at 3:04. Yano 4 points, White 0 points. Notably, all three of White’s matches so far were against members of CHAOS, the faction he betrayed last year, and they all got their revenge.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Tetsuya Naito defeated Hirooki Goto
    Goto came after Naito right out of the gate and had most of his moves scouted, but Naito used his greater quickness to get in fast attacks and counter Goto’s moves. Tetsuya Naito pinned Hirooki Goto with the Destino at 16:01. Naito 2 points, Goto 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jon Moxley defeated Tomohiro Ishii
    This was a brutal battle to end all battles, with Moxley’s penchant for violence fighting against Ishii’s inhuman resilience. Tables and chairs were used, stiff shots were thrown, and Moxley was pushed to his very limit for the first time in NJPW, but it was not enough. Jon Moxley pinned Tomohiro Ishii after a Death Rider at 20:36. Moxley 6 points, Ishii 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A BlockPointsB BlockPoints
    KENTA6Jon Moxley6
    Kazuchika Okada6Tomohiro Ishii4
    Lance Archer4Juice Robinson4
    EVIL4Shingo Takagi4
    Bad Luck Fale2Toru Yano4
    Kota Ibushi2Jeff Cobb2
    Will Ospreay2Hirooki Goto2
    SANADA2Tetsuya Naito2
    Hiroshi Tanahashi2Taichi2
    Zack Sabre Jr.0Jay White0
  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 5 Results: Ospreay vs. Ibushi

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 5 Results: Ospreay vs. Ibushi

    Welcome to our results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 5.

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continued today and will run until Day 19 on August 12. Twenty wrestlers compete in blocks of ten against every other wrestler in their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The wrestler with the most points in each block will move on to a final match, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    One can watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Undercard Matches

    Jon Moxley & Shota Umino defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Yuya Uemura
    Shota Umino pinned Yuya Uemura with a bridging fisherman suplex at 5:46. Afterwards, Moxley and Ishii got into a brawl until being broken up by young lions and staff. As Ishii left, Moxley took a chair and sat down in the middle of the ring, taunting Ishii. Ishii found his own chair and did the same on the outside.  Jon Moxley versus Tomohiro Ishii is the main event of Day 6 of the tournament, tomorrow.

    Jeff Cobb, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Juice Robinson, Toa Henare & Yota Tsuji
    YOSHI-HASHI submitted Yota Tsuji with the Butterfly Lock at 9:30. Juice Robinson and Jeff Cobb shook hands after the match. Their G1 match against each other is tomorrow.

    Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens) defeated Toru Yano, Tomoaki Honma & Ren Narita
    The main theme of the match was Toru Yano antagonizing Jay White with his wily chicanery. Chase Owens pinned Ren Narita after a package piledriver at 8:49. Jay White and Toru Yano are against each other in a G1 Climax match tomorrow.

    Suzukigun (Taichi, Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI)
    Minoru Suzuki pinned BUSHI after a Gotch-style piledriver at 8:35. It’s Shingo Takagi versus Taichi in the G1 Climax tomorrow. Although they were not in the same match, Tetsuya Naito fights Hirooki Goto tomorrow as well.

    G1 Climax Matches

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: KENTA defeated Lance Archer
    KENTA defeated Lance Archer by submission with the Game Over (omoplata crossface) at 11:58. This was the first time KENTA has used the Game Over since joining NJPW. A highlight of the match was Archer yelling “You’re not KENTA, you’re f**king Hideo!” which KENTA slapped him for. KENTA 6 points, Lance Archer 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: EVIL defeated SANADA
    This match heavily centered around these stablemates being very competitive and familiar with each other, countering each other’s offense at every turn and using each other’s moves. After a hot finishing stretch, EVIL defeated SANADA by pinfall with the EVIL at 18:11. EVIL 4 points, SANADA 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Bad Luck Fale
    Bad Luck Fale came out dragging Kazuchika Okada from the backstage area, denying him the ability to make his entrance. Chase Owens and Jado interfered on Fale’s behalf, but Okada managed to take them out on his own. Kazuchika Okada defeated Bad Luck Fale by pinfall with a prawn hold at 10:15. This was the first time Okada has ever defeated Fale in the G1 Climax. Okada 6 points, Fale 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
    This was an unexpectedly frantic match, with both men immediately going for pinning combinations against each other, and Zack targeting the hurt arm of Tanahashi. After a technical match that kept the crowd on edge, Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. by pinfall with a jackknife hold at 13:56. Tanahashi 2 points, Sabre 0 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kota Ibushi defeated Will Ospreay
    Ospreay’s neck and shoulder were heavily taped up and Ibushi attacked those areas with strikes, holds, and suplexes. Early on, Ospreay tried to wear down Ibushi’s hurt ankle, then transitioned to delivering his trademark offense, but was overwhelmed by Ibushi’s physicality. Kota Ibushi won by pinfall after a Kamigoye at 27:16. Ibushi 2 points, Ospreay 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A Block

    • KENTA – 6
    • Kazuchika Okada – 6
    • Lance Archer – 4
    • EVIL – 4
    • Bad Luck Fale – 2
    • Kota Ibushi – 2
    • SANADA – 2
    • Will Ospreay – 2
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi – 2
    • Zack Sabre Jr. – 0

    B Block

    • Tomohiro Ishii – 4
    • Jon Moxley – 4
    • Juice Robinson – 4
    • Hirooki Goto – 2
    • Shingo Takagi – 2
    • Taichi – 2
    • Toru Yano – 2
    • Jeff Cobb – 0
    • Tetsuya Naito – 0
    • Jay White – 0
  • Chris Jericho Talks About Being Wrestling’s Renaissance Man

    Chris Jericho Talks About Being Wrestling’s Renaissance Man

    Chris Jericho has continued to successfully reinvent himself throughout his entire pro wrestling career.

    Even now, Jericho remains at the forefront of fans’ minds thanks to his involvement with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).

    During a recent media event, Jericho was asked how he felt being referred to as wrestling’s ‘renaissance man’.

    “My mission has always been to reinvent and evolve,” Jericho stated. “It’s David Bowie. It’s been one of my inspirations since I was 25 years old, when you realize that you have this guy that’s a genius and who constantly changes what he’s doing, what he looks like to keep the fans guessing. ‘What’s Bowie’s next record going to be?’ Is it going to be ‘Electro’, is it going to be ‘Let’s Dance’, rhythm and blues rock, techno, be whatever. What look is he going to have? And that’s what I always wanted to do, but it’s not something that’s calculated. It’s something that just happens for me. The “Painmaker” in Japan with the makeup and all of that sort of stuff, it just felt right. Some people said “oh he looks like a clown”—I ‘don’t f*****g care what you think.”

    He continued, saying “To me, that’s the way that this character should be, the same thing with the character that you saw tonight with the ‘thank you’. I really do think I should have some kind of a thank you from the company, and then when Adam Page is busted open and there’s blood over everything, that’s my thank you.”

    Y2J

    Jericho went on to say that when fans chant ‘Y2J’ at him, he can no longer relate to the revered character. He explains that Y2J is a 20-year-old character and that he, as an individual, has naturally changed and grown so much in that time.

    Without that continual personal evolution, he exaplins that he would have no interest in continuing in the pro wrestling business.

    H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription.

  • Will Ospreay Cleared to Continue in G1 Climax

    Will Ospreay Cleared to Continue in G1 Climax

    Will Ospreay has announced that New Japan Pro-Wrestling has medically cleared him to continue in the G1 Climax 29 tournament. After his match with SANADA on July 14th, NJPW stated that Ospreay had sustained a neck injury and would be taken off the card for Day 4 of the tournament on July 15th. He was originally scheduled to compete in a six man tag team match with Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura against Kota Ibushi, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Shota Umino.

    https://twitter.com/WillOspreay/status/1151336979235106816

    NJPW did not specify the injury, but shared that Ospreay was not suffering from any skeletal or nervous issues. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that Ospreay sustained a stinger during the match against SANADA, and Ospreay tweeted that he was in a “huge amount of pain.”

    Will Ospreay currently has 2 points in the G1 Climax after two of his nine tournament matches, consisting of a loss against Lance Archer on Day 1 and a victory against SANADA on Day 3. Ospreay’s next singles matches in the G1 Climax are Kota Ibushi on July 18th and Kazuchika Okada on July 20th. View the full G1 Climax tournament schedule here.

  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 4 Results

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 4 Results

    Welcome to our ongoing Live Results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 4. This will be updated with results and new points standings throughout the event.

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continued today and will run until Day 19 on August 12. Twenty wrestlers compete in blocks of ten against every other wrestler in their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The most dominant wrestler in each block will move on to a final match, with winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    One can watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Kota Ibushi & Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Shota Umino & Yota Tsuji
    Jushin Thunder Liger’s entrance got a great reaction from the crowd, as expected since this is likely Liger’s last match ever in Hokkaido Prefecture. The match began with Liger stretching Umino out in the mat, then transitioned into Ibushi and Tsuji trading hard hits and slaps. Tsuji breaking up Liger’s Romero Special on Umino got heavy boos from the audience. Tsuji got a lot of offence in on Ibushi, including a turning body slam and a spear, then attempted to put him in the Boston crab only to get it broken by slaps. Kota Ibushi submitted Yota Tsuji with a single-leg Boston crab at 8:19. Liger then cut a promo stating that, since he’s retiring in six months, this is his last match in Hokkaido, but he hopes that all the fans will support him wherever he goes.

    Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI) def. Tomoaki Honma, Toa Henare & Ren Narita
    EVIL entered without his scythe. He was probably not allowed to bring it with him on the flight from Tokyo to Sapporo. Toa Henare hit a stalling suplex on SANADA and he hit a double Kokeshi on BUSHI with Tomoaki Honma. This was a short encounter. after the match, EVIL stared down SANADA, his stable mate who he has as his next G1 Climax match. BUSHI pinned Ren Narita after an M-X at 7:18. He then tried to hit SANADA with the EVIL, but SANADA reversed it into the Skull End, then they broke apart.

    Suzukigun (Zack Sabre Jr., Lance Archer, Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks
    Suzukigun attacked Tanahashi, KENTA, and the LA Dojo young lions before the bell, with Lance Archer going after KENTA and Sabre Jr. going after Tanahashi. Karl Fredericks managed to floor Minoru Suzuki with a shoulder tackle, only to get caught in a rope-hung armbar, and then get pulled out of the ring and be pummeled with chairs and sections of the ring barricade. Lance Archer briefly joined the English commentary team. Tanahashi and Zack Sabre Jr. went after each other with dueling cobra twists. Clark Connors put Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a Boston crab and Suzuki kicked him in the face to break the hold, but he held it and bravely asked for more. Yoshinobu Kanemaru pinned Clark Connors after a Deep Impact at 11:32.

    CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens)
    YOSHI-HASHI spent most of the match getting beaten up by Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale, until he hit a dropkick to Fale’s knee to enable the hot tag to Kazuchika Okada. Okada’s running shoulder tackle did not knock Fale down, but his body slam did. Owens nearly hit a package piledriver on Okada, but Okada reversed it as YOSHI-HASHI hit a big lariat on Fale that sent both of them tumbling out of the ring. Okada pinned Chase Owens with a Rainmaker at 8:43.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Shingo Takagi [2] defeated Toru Yano [2]
    Shingo Takagi urged Toru Yano to remove his t-shirt for this bout. He did so, only for Takagi to attack him in the process. He then tried to put his shirt on Takagi’s head and roll him up, but failed. Yano left the ring and baited Takagi into coming out to attack him, only to run back to the ring and put a table and barricades in his way, but he still made it back before he could be counted out. Toru Yano went for his trademark red chair and threw it at Takagi, making it look as if Takagi had used it, but the referee did not believe him. BUSHI came out to distract the referee. Shingo Takagi pinned Toru Yano after a Pumping Bomber at 6:16. Shingo Takagi 2 points, Toru Yano 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Juice Robinson [4] defeated Hirooki Goto [2]
    Goto really does look much leaner after his vacation to the LA Dojo. After Juice managed to reverse the Ushigoroshi, they traded simultaneous lariats until Goto managed to get him down, then land the Ushigoroshi successfully. Goto went for the GTR but Juice broke it with strikes to the head. Juice went for his left hand-punch, but Goto headbutted his fist to block it, then Goto went for a punch of his own and Juice responded in kind. After a hard-hitting fight, Juice Robinson pinned Hirooki Goto after a Pulp Friction at 12:23.
    Hirooki Goto 2 points, Juice Robinson 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jon Moxley [4] defeated Jeff Cobb [0]
    Moxley went after Cobb’s arms early to try and reduce his strength advantage, but his chops to the chest that followed seemed to have little effect on Cobb. Moxley looked under the ring for a table, but either changed his mind or couldn’t find one. After a diving elbow drop to a standing Cobb, Moxley went for the Death Rider but was unable to get Cobb off his feet. After a running knee to the head, Jon Moxley pinned Jeff Cobb after a rope-hung Death Rider at 8:54. Jeff Cobb 0 points, Jon Moxley 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Tomohiro Ishii [4] defeated Jay White [0]
    When the match began, White went to the outside and taunted Cobb to come out with him. Ishii left the ring and then threatened to attack Gedo, which provoked White into finally retaliating. At one point, White landed a DDT on Ishii that landed him right on top of his head. When they had a battle of forearms, Ishii managed to knock him down. White would get the upper hand only for Ishii to come back and ask to be hit harder. The crowd very hot for Ishii to win. White went for the Blade Runner, but Ishii reversed it into a Complete Shot, followed by a sliding lariat and a brainbuster to pin Jay White at 19:13. Jay White 0 points, Tomohiro Ishii 4 points.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Taichi [2] defeated Tetsuya Naito [0]
    To start the match, Naito laid down in the center of the ring, telling Taichi to pin him. Taichi went for the pin only for Naito to roll him up for a 2-count.A back and forth period transpired with Naito’s quick and precise offence against Taichi’s hard kicks. Taichi teased using the retired Takashi Iizuka’s Iron Finger from Hell, but Naito managed to knock it away from him. Naito went for the Destino but Taichi countered it and floored him with a high kick and then a Ganso bomb. After a pop-up low blow that the referee didn’t see, Naito went for a Destino but Taichi reversed it into Black Mephisto. Taichi finally managed to hit Naito with the Iron Finger From Hell into a Last Ride powerbomb for the win at 21:01. Tetsuya Naito 0 points, Taichi 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A Block

    • Lance Archer – 4
    • KENTA – 4
    • Kazuchika Okada – 4
    • Bad Luck Fale – 2
    • SANADA – 2
    • Will Ospreay – 2
    • EVIL – 2
    • Kota Ibushi – 0
    • Zack Sabre Jr. – 0
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi – 0

    B Block

    • Tomohiro Ishii – 4
    • Jon Moxley – 4
    • Juice Robinson – 4
    • Hirooki Goto – 2
    • Shingo Takagi – 2
    • Taichi – 2
    • Toru Yano – 2
    • Jeff Cobb – 0
    • Tetsuya Naito – 0
    • Jay White – 0


  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 3 Results

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 3 Results

    Welcome to our ongoing Live Results of NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 3. This will be updated with results and new points standings throughout the event.

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continued today and will run until Day 19 on August 12. Twenty wrestlers compete in blocks of ten against every other wrestler in their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The most dominant wrestler in each block will move on to a final match, with winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    One can watch this event on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Juice Robinson, Toa Henare & Yota Tsuji defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura
    Toa Henare came out sporting a beard, but it’s not very full yet. Young lions Uemura and Tsuji came out showing aggression against each other before the match began, but did not fight for long. Goto and Juice, who have a match tomorrow in Sapporo, laid into each other with hard strikes and simultaneous lariats sent them both crumbling to the floor. Toa Henare was uncharacteristically fired up, ending Uemura’s comebacks with body shots and finishing him off swiftly. Toa Henare pinned Yuya Uemura after a Toa Bottom at 6:31.

    Jeff Cobb & Ren Narita defeated Jon Moxley & Shota Umino
    In their first tag team match together, Jon Moxley and Shota Umino came out through the crowd, with Umino wearing a Moxley t-shirt and carrying the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship on his behalf once again. Early on, Moxley and Umino beat down Ren Narita, with Moxley verbally instructing him for tag team moves. When Cobb tagged in, Moxley tried to catch him with the Death Rider, but Cobb stuffed his lift attempts. At one point, Umino managed to lift Cobb for a suplex, but this was only a minor victory. Jeff Cobb pinned Shota Umino after a Tour of the Islands at 4:53.

    CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens)
    Jay White pretended that he would begin the match across from his opponent tomorrow, Tomohiro Ishii, but allowed Yujiro Takahashi to start instead. All members of Bullet Club took turns bullying YOSHI-HASHI until he managed to get the hot tag to Ishii. When Jay White tried to roll out of the ring and away from Ishii, Yano forced him back into the ring, which pleased the crowd. After Toru Yano removed the turnbuckle pad, Chase Owens took it from him and tried to hit him with it, but nearly hit the referee instead, giving Yano the opportunity to sneak in the victory. Toru Yano pinned Chase Owens with a roll up after a low blow at 9:23.

    Suzukigun (Taichi, Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI)
    Suzuki and Kanemaru attacked Takagi and BUSHI before the bell, as they are apt to do, leaving only Naito and Taichi in the ring. They are the main event of G1 day four tomorrow, and the majority of this match was Taichi working Naito over while their teammates slugged it out on the outside. Later, Shingo got the hot tag and ran wild before Suzuki cut him off. Shingo managed to tag BUSHI in, only for him to get finished off quickly. Minoru Suzuki pinned BUSHI with a Gotch-style piledriver at 8:33. After the match, Taichi pulled the Iron Finger from Hell out of his bag, teasing using it in his G1 match tomorrow.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Lance Archer [4] defeated Bad Luck Fale [2]
    Archer wasted little time, immediately tackling Fale to the outside. They fought in the crowd area, throwing each other into chairs. In the ring, Archer’s shoulder tackles failed to knock Fale off his feat, but Archer climbed to the top rope and hit a turning crossbody on him. Fale hit likely one of the heaviest superplexes to ever occur in an NJPW ring, with Archer bouncing on impact. Fale hit the Grenade for a near fall. Jado attempted to interfere on Fale’s behalf, but Archer fought him off. Lance hit a football tackle and an impressive chokeslam on Fale. Lance Archer pinned Bad Luck Fale at 10:12 with the EBD Claw. Archer 4 points, Fale 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Will Ospreay [2] defeated SANADA [2]
    Fast-paced wrestling began the match, with Ospreay soon trying to put SANADA in the Paradise Lock, but didn’t know how to do so and SANADA just kicked him away. SANADA then put Ospreay in the Paradise Lock, but Ospreay simply kipped up out of it, only to get it reapplied on him while getting tied up in the ropes, which he was unable to escape. Ospreay and SANADA seemingly had answers for each other at every turn, with neither one of them ever getting the upper hand for a long period. The fast-paced periods of match were impressive but difficult to describe in text. Will Ospreay pinned SANADA after a Stormbreaker at 17:06. Ospreay 2 points, SANADA 2 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada [4] defeated Zack Sabre Jr. [0]
    In between periods of Okada using his greater weight to keep Sabre in the positions he wanted, ZSJ attempted to end the match quickly using pin attempts including a bridging Japanese leg-roll clutch. Okada asserted his dominance and hit the tombstone piledriver inside of ten minutes, but Sabre went after his right arm with kicks and submissions to turn the tide. It wasn’t enough, though, as Okada hit a rolling lariat followed by the Rainmaker to pin Zack Sabre Jr. at 12:01. Okada 4 points, Sabre Jr. 0 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: EVIL [2] defeated Kota Ibushi [0]
    After a fiery opening exchange of strikes, EVIL grounded Ibushi through attacks at his bruised left ankle. This is to be expected, since Ibushi stated in an interview that this would be the only way to defeat him. Ibushi fired back with kicks using his right leg, but his trademark flying offense was visibly a struggle. After a stomp to the ankle which elicited a negative response from the crowd, EVIL went for a Scorpion Deathlock but Ibushi got the rope break. Ibushi soon pulled down his left kickpad and hit a Boma Ye for a near fall, then pulled down the right one as well, but EVIL cut him off. EVIL pinned Kota Ibushi after an EVIL at 19:11. EVIL 2 points, Ibushi 0 points.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi [0] vs. KENTA [2]
    Katsuyori Shibata joined the Japanese commentary table for this match. KENTA wrestled Tanahashi to the ropes and landed a slap to the face, only for Tanahashi to return the favor. KENTA continued to hold Tanahashi down with hard kicks and holds as the crowd rallied behind the NJPW flagbearer. Tanahashi had short bursts where he was making a comeback, but KENTA would continually deny him until Tanahashi caught his leg on a Go 2 Sleep attempt and attacked both with dragon screws. He went for the High Fly Flow and succeeded once, then went for it once more KENTA blocked it with his knees, and that was the beginning of the end. KENTA pinned Hiroshi Tanahashi with the Go 2 Sleep at 18:35. KENTA 4 points, Tanahashi 0 points.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A Block

    • Lance Archer – 4
    • KENTA – 4
    • Kazuchika Okada – 4
    • Bad Luck Fale – 2
    • SANADA – 2
    • Will Ospreay – 2
    • EVIL – 2
    • Kota Ibushi – 0
    • Zack Sabre Jr. – 0
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi – 0

    B Block

    • Hirooki Goto – 2
    • Tomohiro Ishii – 2
    • Jon Moxley – 2
    • Juice Robinson – 2
    • Toru Yano – 2
    • Jeff Cobb – 0
    • Tetsuya Naito – 0
    • Taichi – 0
    • Shingo Takagi – 0
    • Jay White – 0

  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 2 Results

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 2 Results

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament continued with Day 2 today and will run until Day 19 on August 12. Twenty wrestlers compete in blocks of ten against every other wrestler in their block. They gain 2 points for a victory and 1 point for a draw. The most dominant wrestler in each block will move on to a final match, with winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in the Tokyo Dome in January 2020.

    This event can be watched on NJPW World with commentary in either English or Japanese.

    Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI) defeated Kota Ibushi, Will Ospreay & Yuya Uemura
    Ibushi and EVIL started off the match, teasing their never-before-seen singles match to take place on G1 Day 3. Ibushi sustained a minor injury to his ankle on Day 1 in his match with KENTA and EVIL capitalized by cutting the legs out from under him. BUSHI pinned Yuya Uemura after a codebreaker at 7:58.

    Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens) defeated Suzukigun (Lance Archer & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
    Bad Luck Fale came out smoking a cigar, which is unusual. He and Archer immediately went after each other, in what will be one of the physically largest matches in all of G1 history. Chase Owens got several hopeful moments of offense on Archer, but he didn’t seem to register them much. Comparatively speaking, Owens and Kanemaru’s periods of fighting were extremely technical. Fale went for the Grenade but Kanemaru blew whiskey in his face. Chase Owens pinned Yoshinobu Kanemaru with a package piledriver at 5:59.

    KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino & Ren Narita
    This was the first NJPW event in Japan for Clark Connors and Karl Fredericks, young lions from NJPW’s Los Angeles Dojo, trained by Katsuyori Shibata. Before the bell, Tanahashi and KENTA, as well as the Tokyo young lions and LA Dojo young lions, started to shove each other, as if they didn’t want to wait for the match to start to begin fighting. The referee pulled them apart and the match began with mat wrestling between Connors and Narita, but intensified over time. When Tanahashi and KENTA finally interacted in the match, the crowd took major notice. Karl Fredericks submitted Ren Narita with a single leg Boston Crab at 11:13.

    Suzukigun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)
    Minoru Suzuki looked sufficiently irate being excluded from the G1 Climax and spent a good portion of the match taking it out on poor YOSHI-HASHI. Zack Sabre Jr. eventually joined him in doing so, when he wasn’t posturing with Okada and trying to put him in many holds. Zack Sabre Jr. submitted YOSHI-HASHI with a cross armbar at 11:16.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Juice Robinson defeated Shingo Takagi
    Shingo and Juice traded shoulder tackles and strikes early on, driving home that they were roughly equal in terms of power. At one point, they even let each other chop each other before Shingo floored Juice with a double arm chop. This match had lots of yelling, stiff strikes, and power moves, but Juice pulled out the victory at the end. Currently, Takagi is paralleling fellow junior heavyweight Will Ospreay in the A Block by losing his first match. Juice Robinson pinned Shingo Takagi after a Pulp Friction at 14:41.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Jon Moxley defeated Taichi
    Shota Umino, Jon Moxley’s personal young lion, came out carrying Moxley’s IWGP US Heavyweight Championship. Taichi immediately took to the crowd to attack Moxley as he was making his entrance. After a dive to the outside, Moxley found a table from under the ring, and soon put Taichi through it with a uranage. After the referee got pushed out of the ring, Miho Abe slipped Taichi, but Moxley managed to use it against him and soon finish him off. After a quick and violent match, Jon Moxley pinned Taichi following a Death Rider at 7:36.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Toru Yano defeated Tetsuya Naito
    After noticing Naito was wearing a t-shirt with his ring gear, Toru Yano procured one of his own t-shirts to wear as well, and they wrestled wearing said shirts. Naito mimicked Yano’s trademark moves, such as attempting to remove a turnbuckle pad and use it as a weapon. As he was doing so, the referee removed it from his grasp, giving Yano an opening to pull Naito and the referee’s shirts over their faces, enabling him to win the match. Toru Yano pinned Tetsuya Naito with a roll up. Match time 3:42.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Jeff Cobb
    The opening grappling exchange (with Cobb lifting Ishii with one arm) and shoulder tackles set the tone: for once, Ishii would not be the more irresistable force in this match. Repeatedly, Cobb hit Ishii hard with forearms and chops only for Ishii to taunt him to hit him harder, and so he did. Ishii and Cobb went on to deliver greater feats of strength against each other, with ever-increasing levels of visceral shock. Tomohiro Ishii pinned Jeff Cobb with a vertical drop brainbuster at 18:33.

    G1 Climax 29 B Block Match: Hirooki Goto defeated Jay White
    Jay White pulled out a chair from under the ring and set it up at ringside for Gedo, insisting he would defeat Goto in 10 minutes. After sticking to Goto and attacking him in all sorts of disrespectful ways, Goto began to rally with hard strikes and throws before White would continually cut him off. After he attempted to pin Goto with a foot on his chest, the referee refused to count it and White lost patience, enabling Goto to make a comeback. After Gedo came in and tried to interfere on White’s behalf, Goto had lost all patience and destroyed White quickly. Hirooki Goto defeated Jay White after a GTR at 21:06. Goto looked reinvigorated after his summer trip to the LA Dojo and declared that “The G in G1 stands for Goto!” to a chorus of cheers.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A Block

    • Lance Archer – 2
    • Bad Luck Fale – 2
    • SANADA – 2
    • KENTA – 2
    • Kazuchika Okada – 2
    • EVIL – 0
    • Kota Ibushi – 0
    • Will Ospreay – 0
    • Zack Sabre Jr. – 0
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi – 0

    B Block

    • Hirooki Goto – 2
    • Tomohiro Ishii – 2
    • Jon Moxley – 2
    • Juice Robinson – 2
    • Toru Yano – 2
    • Jeff Cobb – 0
    • Tetsuya Naito – 0
    • Taichi – 0
    • Shingo Takagi – 0
    • Jay White – 0
  • Juice Robinson Talks Moving To Japan, Signing With NJPW & More

    Juice Robinson Talks Moving To Japan, Signing With NJPW & More

    Juice Robinson is entering his 3rd G1 tournament this summer. Robinson entered G1 Climax 28 with a broken hand last year and only gained 6 points. He’ll be looking to rebound in the tournament this year. He took part in an interview for Wrestling Observer Radio recently and spoke about the G1, moving to Japan, and more.

    Juice was asked about his decision to sign with NJPW when other offers were out there and moving to Japan.

    “I am moving here on a full-time basis probably in the next couple of months,” Juice said.

    “I needed a place of my own and for me to have a place in Chicago or anywhere in America, I have to pay taxes there,” Juice continued. “It’s just going to sit empty and it just didn’t make sense to me. If I wanted to have a place, the only logical place to me was in Tokyo.”

    Juice Robinson On Signing With New Japan

    Juice was asked why he decided to sign a contract with New Japan.

    “Well that was, I was cool with not having a contract for a long time because I knew I was in and I knew they were using me all the time but people started calling me and asking me to work other places,” Juice said.

    He continued to say he then asked for a contract so that he knew he’d be taken care of if he got hurt. Robinson then said he told NJPW he had other offers and they signed him to a contract shortly after.

    Robinson will take on Shingo Takagi on Night 2 of the G1 Climax 29.

  • Sean Waltman Names The “Guy” That Will Help With NJPW Global Expansion

    Sean Waltman Names The “Guy” That Will Help With NJPW Global Expansion

    Sean Waltman recently shared his thoughts on the opening night of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax and named the wrestler he believes to be the “guy” to help propel their global expansion plans.

    Speaking on his podcast X-PAC 12360, Waltman pointed to Will Ospreay as the individual that NJPW shoul push to help them grow and reach a wider audience. From his in-ring ability to his physical look, Waltman is clearly a fan of what Ospreay can bring to the table.

    “As someone that’s specialty was that style of match, a David and Goliath match, I just thought it was done really well,” Waltman said. “Ospreay, I think he’s the best guy they have especially for the global expansion here in the States. You know, a blond-haired f*****g kid with blue eyes. Good looking f****r, too. His gears are all on point – I was hoping he would win. Lance [Archer] did great though, I was really happy for Lance. I hope they use Lance more moving forward. I hope they use him better.”

    The G1 Climax continues on July 13th with the opening night of B Block action. Ospreay will be competing in a tag team match alongside Young Lion, Yuya Uemura, and an injured Kota Ibushi. They will face off against Los Ingobernables de Japon members BUSHI, EVIL, and SANADA.

  • Kota Ibushi Injury Update

    Kota Ibushi Injury Update

    Yesterday, Kota Ibushi Tweeted photos of a badly bruised ankle he sustained in his G1 match with KENTA over the weekend. Ibushi did not report the injury to NJPW originally as he did not think the injury was too bad. After Tweeting out photos of his ankle yesterday, there were concerns Ibushi would have to miss dates on the upcoming tour.

    According to a report from Wrestling Observer Radio, however, Ibushi plans on wrestling all of his scheduled bouts.

    “Kota Ibushi got her in that match. His ankle swelled up real bad,” Dave Meltzer said. “He didn’t think he was hurt, he didn’t report an injury until his ankle swelled up real bad cause the New Japan injury report did not, in fact, mention any injury. Then yesterday, I think it was, he showed those pictures and I don’t know how he’s going to wrestle on Saturday and Sunday and this whole week but he’s going to be wrestling multiple matches this whole week on that ankle.”

    Kota Ibushi in the G1

    Ibushi’s next tournament match will be on July 14th against EVIL. He’ll then take on Will Ospreay in Korakuen Hall on July 18th. Following that, he’ll take on SANADA on the 20th before having 7 days off before his next tournament match.

  • Kota Ibushi Shares Photos Of Injury Sustained Wrestling Kenta During G1 Climax

    Kota Ibushi Shares Photos Of Injury Sustained Wrestling Kenta During G1 Climax

    Kota Ibushi and the returning Kenta (recently known as WWE Superstar Hideo Itami) had a hard-hitting clash at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax’s opening night.

    The two faced off on July 6th in Dallas. Their physical war has clearly affected both men, who still have the rest of the tournament ahead of them.

    Ibushi took to Twitter in order to share the price he paid in his loss to Kenta. He uploaded two photos showing the extent of the damage he suffered. Heavy bruising and swelling are clearly on display.

    In the tweet itself, he reveals that he was able to walk 100 steps. He sets himself the goal of being able up to 200 steps and promises that he won’t give up.

    Ibushi is currently scheduled to compete in a match this coming Saturday. With Block B wrestlers headlining the show, Block A competitors usually open the card in a series of tag team matches.

    He is still advertised as teaming with Young Lion, Yuya Uemura, and CHAOS’ Will Ospreay. The trio will be competing against Los Ingobernables de Japon members BUSHI, SANADA, and EVIL.

    His next G1 tournament matchup takes place on Sunday, July 14th against LIJ’s EVIL.

  • Lance Archer Discusses Jon Moxley’s Popularity, Potential NJPW/AEW Partnership

    Lance Archer Discusses Jon Moxley’s Popularity, Potential NJPW/AEW Partnership

    Lance Archer is already hoping for a future matchup against New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) United States Champion, Jon Moxley.

    Despite being in opposite G1 blocks, Archer relishes the thought of competing against the man formerly known as Dean Ambrose.

    Speaking with the WINCLY podcast, Archer addressed Moxley’s current popularity since leaving WWE, as well as the possibility of NJPW and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) potentially partnering up in the future.

    “He’s got the hype going, and this business is the entertainment business, and it’s all about the hype,” Archer said. “He’s got that going and coming off that it was very well known he was leaving the other company [WWE]. Some people were interested in seeing what was gonna happen as soon as that was over. Then he made an immediate impact at AEW and right after that he was announced for New Japan.”

    NJPW/AEW Partnership Potential

    When the conversation turned towards AEW, Archer confesses that he believes a working partnership would be “good for the business as a whole.”

    “AEW is creating more eyes and more opportunities and more chances for the business to grow. For fans, it’s a great time for the business because you have so many amazing choices,” he said.

    “I think it would be good for the business, but right now New Japan’s relationship is with ROH, so that’s our focus. Obviously, Moxley and Jericho have worked with us, and they are both AEW guys. So, you never know what the future holds for cross-promotional situations. I think it would only benefit everybody if and when that situation happens. But, right now, New Japan’s relationship is with ROH, and that’s the focus and direction we’re going.”

    Lance Archer is currently competing as a participant in Block A of NJPW’s G1 Climax.

  • NJPW G1 Climax Dallas Post-Show Videos: Okada, Ospreay, KENTA & More

    NJPW G1 Climax Dallas Post-Show Videos: Okada, Ospreay, KENTA & More

    New Japan Pro Wrestling has released a series of reaction videos from Saturday’s G1 Climax 29 opening show from Dallas, TX.

    Check out our G1 Climax 29 Dallas Results to get up to speed on the standings following the first show.

    Okada’s Post-Match Address: “This is the first time, but not the last time!”

    Zack Sabre Jr. says, “Showing technical wrestling to Americans is like reading Shakespeare to a dog!”

    Post-match comments from Jay White & Chase Owens vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto

    Block A competitor Bad Luck Fale: “They all look like maggots to me”

    Jeff Cobb: “Tonight, I made a statement. Don’t sleep on Jeff Cobb.”

    Will Ospreay comes up short, Lance Archer makes a statement

    IWGP’s Tag Team Champions put in the work and deliver

    KENTA victorious in his NJPW debut

    Kazuchika Okada says, “I don’t have time to party”

    Visit NJPW’s official YouTube Channel for more of these videos.

  • NJPW Announces “Fighting Spirit Unleashed” East Coast USA Tour

    NJPW Announces “Fighting Spirit Unleashed” East Coast USA Tour

    On today’s G1 Climax 29 opener in Dallas, NJPW announced a September tour of the East Coast of the United States. NJPW announced the following events for the Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2019 Tour:

    • Friday, September 27: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts
    • Saturday, September 28: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
    • Sunday, September 29: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    NJPW has also stated that this will be the retirement tour of Tiger Hattori, the 73-year-old referee who has worked as a referee for various promotions since 1977. He has become a well-loved member of NJPW staff, but will no longer work as a referee after the Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour due to his advanced age.

    Tickets for the Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour will go on sale on July 26.

  • NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 1 Results

    NJPW G1 Climax 29 Day 1 Results

    Welcome to our ongoing Live Results of NJPW G1 Climax: Dallas.

    New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 29th G1 Climax tournament begins today and will run until August 12, with the winner getting an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in January 2020.

    Match results and points for each competitor will be updated throughout the show for each of the tournament’s nineteen events.

    NJPW G1 Climax Dallas Results

    Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defeated Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH).
    The bulk of the match were G.O.D. dominating the junior heavyweight tag team, with several hope moments for RPG 3K. Tama Tonga pinned YOH following a top rope powerbomb at 6:42.

    Jeff Cobb & Ren Narita defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino.
    The focus of this match was on Cobb and Ishii, who are each other’s first opponents in the B Block. They hit each other extremely hard, and the crowd was very excited. Cobb pinned Shota Umino after a Tour of the Islands to end the match at 7:18. After the match, Ishii and Cobb continued to fight each other until staff pulled them apart.

    CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Bullet Club (Jay White & Chase Owens).
    White received heavy boos from the American crowd. White is facing Goto in the main event of the first B Block show on July 13, and Goto looked strong in this match, overpowering Owens with relative ease. Goto pinned Owens following the GTR at 8:38.

    Toru Yano, Juice Robinson & Jushin Thunder Liger def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI).
    Most of the match involved the various wrestlers squaring off against their counterpart opponents, including a slugfest between Juice and Takagi, and Naito attempting to avoid Yano’s usual antics. The finish came when Yano delivered a low blow to BUSHI behind the referee’s back at 8:18.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Lance Archer def. Will Ospreay
    Despite his loss, Ospreay got in a lot of offense on the heavyweight Archer and looked strong in defeat. The audience was rooting for Ospreay, but Archer kicked out of the Oscutter and managed to evade the Stormbreaker to get the victory. Lance Archer pinned Will Ospreay at 18:16 with the EBD Claw.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Bad Luck Fale def. EVIL
    Bad Luck Fale overpowered EVIL with his superior size and strength early on, but EVIL managed to evade him at some points and land attacks of his own. EVIL took chairs out from under the ring, but Fale managed to use them against him. The referee was knocked out of the ring at one point and Fale hit a low blow on EVIL, and then finished him off. Bad Luck Fale pinned EVIL at 11:33 with the Bad Luck Fall.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: SANADA def. Zack Sabre Jr.
    The match emphasized that SANADA could very much keep up with Zack Sabre Jr. with regards to technical wrestling. They chain-wrestled and transitioned through holds but at a fast pace that kept the crowd energized, leading to a “New Japan” chant at one point. Eventually the match escalated, leading to SANADA using his trademark offense to finish Sabre off, but Sabre kept catching him with submissions. SANADA pinned Zack Sabre Jr. with a bridging O’Connor roll at 21:12.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: KENTA def. Kota Ibushi
    KENTA made a big impression in his first match in NJPW. This was a hard-hitting fight with many strikes, kicks, and angry faces. Ibushi went for a dive that KENTA countered, but Ibushi looked to hurt his ankle and was not moving as smoothly for the rest of the match. KENTA pinned Ibushi after a Go 2 Sleep at 20:51.

    G1 Climax 29 A Block Match: Kazuchika Okada def. Hiroshi Tanahashi
    The crowd gave one of the loudest reactions of the night before the two even touched. It’s hard to say novel things about matches between Tanahashi and Okada, since they’ve wrestled many times before, but this match was a first for this rivalry between the two. In all the previous times that they fought during the G1 Climax, the match ended in a 30-minute time limit draw. Okada putting Tanahashi away as quickly, relatively speaking, as he did, demonstrated that Tanahashi is now fully in the rear view mirror for Okada. Okada pinned Tanahashi after a Rainmaker at 22:04.

    G1 Climax 29 Standings

    A Block

    • Lance Archer – 2
    • Bad Luck Fale – 2
    • SANADA – 2
    • KENTA – 2
    • Kazuchika Okada – 2
    • EVIL – 0
    • Kota Ibushi – 0
    • Will Ospreay – 0
    • Zack Sabre Jr. – 0
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi – 0

    B Block

    • Jeff Cobb – 0
    • Hirooki Goto – 0
    • Tomohiro Ishii – 0
    • Jon Moxley – 0
    • Tetsuya Naito – 0
    • Juice Robinson – 0
    • Taichi – 0
    • Shingo Takagi – 0
    • Jay White – 0
    • Toru Yano – 0
  • Will Ospreay Says Jr. Heavyweights Deserve “The Main Stage”

    Will Ospreay Says Jr. Heavyweights Deserve “The Main Stage”

    Will Ospreay will become the first wrestler to participate in the New Japan Cup, Best of the Super Juniors, and the G1 in the same year when he competes in his first G1 match in Dallas tonight. Ospreay will take on Lance Archer to kick-off round-robin in the G1 tonight.

    Every competing wrestler in the G1 minus Jon Moxley took part in a pre-tournament press conference to promote the first night in Dallas. During the press conference, Will Ospreay said that he plans on representing the junior heavyweights in the G1 this year.

    “I’m not going to lie, I’m not great with public speaking and I’m used to doing this in front of Japanese reporters, so this makes me nervous!” Ospreay began. “This is my first G1 and I’m probably the lightest person in this tournament, but I hear I’m having a hell of a year. I never said I’m going to be the best, I said I’m going to do my best. I’m the first person to ever do the New Japan Cup, Best of the Super Juniors and G1 in the same year.”

    Will Ospreay On Competing In The G1

    Ospreay then said he’s going to climb to the top of both weight divisions.

    “I now bear the responsibility of the junior heavyweight division. My heart is here, and I will fight as hard as I can with every bit of heart I have. The juniors belong on the main stage and I am going to show that. You guys will be with me every step of the way. I will make you proud, hold the G1 trophy with the title and main event in the Tokyo Dome. I’ll be the king of both weight divisions.”

    https://twitter.com/WillOspreay/status/1147334216969011201

    KENTA On Competing In The G1

    The former Hideo Itami will enter the G1 for the first time this year as well. He had the following to say at the press conference:

    “(In English) What’s up Dallas? I’m so excited to be here and be part of G1. I came here to show the world who I am. I am f***ing KENTA. Tomorrow, I’m going to kick Ibushi’s ass. See you tomorrow.” 

    The full press conference recap from NJPW1972.com can be read here.