Welcome to another review of the annual G1 Climax, this time it’s the second-to-last A Block show. The main event is Togi Makabe [8] vs Hirooki Goto [8], if Goto loses, he’s the only one definitely eliminated, if Goto wins, Makabe and Ishii are definitely eliminated. The co-main event is Kazuchika Okada [10] vs Bad Luck Fale [8], if Okada wins, everyone except him, Tanahashi (assuming he didn’t lose) and Marufuji (assuming he didn’t lose) are eliminated.

Naomichi Marufuji [8] vs Tama Tonga [Eliminated/6]

This match was just there? I can’t really think of anything to say about it other than that. If Marufuji lost he was basically eliminated, he isn’t eliminated yet however as he finished Tama with a Ko-oh into Shiranui. The dream Tama run is over.

WINNER: Naomichi Marufuji [10]

Tomohiro Ishii [6] vs SANADA [Eliminated/4]

This was the best match on the show, Ishii and SANADA continued to impress in the G1, Ishii coming off a win over IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada in a really good match, meanwhile, SANADA coming off a loss to Tama Tonga. I’d say this was just as good as Ishii/Tanahashi and SANADA/Tanahashi, which are my favorite matches from the 2 so far. Ishii managed to get to the ropes while in a Skull End, I’m not a fan of how everyone gets to the ropes the first time it’s locked in, even though it’s his finisher, you know he isn’t winning the match with the first one. After a sequence of reversals, SANADA managed to lock in the Skull End for the 2nd time and win the match. SANADA defeated Ishii who defeated Okada who defeated SANADA, as expected from this G1 booking. Highly Recommended

WINNER: SANADA [Eliminated/6]

Tomohiro Ishii [Eliminated/6]

Hiroshi Tanahashi [8] vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan [Eliminated/4]

This match was decent, we got a completely heel Tanahashi, which isn’t very common. Tanahashi worked Tenzan’s leg for a good portion of the match, even though Tenzan has a hard time walking anyways. Tanahashi continued his heeliness (or something like that) by stealing Tenzan’s Mongolian Chops and using them against him, while the fans chanted and cheered for Mr. G1 Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Remember last time when I mentioned the Tenzan moonsault being botched and him headbutting Goto in the back? That happened again in this match. Tanahashi won with a swinging neckbreaker, then a Slingblade, then a High Fly Flow.

WINNER: Hiroshi Tanahashi [10]

Bad Luck Fale [8] vs Kazuchika Okada [10]

Fale has been consistently good in this G1, meanwhile, Okada has been consistently mediocre. They ended up having a good match, with Fale playing the monster heel (although Yokohama were in favor of him) and Okada playing the underdog. Okada of course got a big pop when he slammed Fale, didn’t Tombstone him this time, though. Okada did his usual things, dropkick, DDT, elbow drop, Rainmaker attempts, the Rainmaker attempts were what ended him though, as Fale reversed one into a Grenade, and then finished it with the Bad Luck Fall. Mildly Recommended

WINNER: Bad Luck Fale [10]

Hirooki Goto [8] vs Togi Makabe [8]

Makabe and Goto had another average match in the G1. This was the main event only due to it being a direct elimination match, with the loser being eliminated. Unfortunately, it being the main event made it longer than it usually would’ve been, which is almost never a good thing with Makabe matches. Goto survived after he hit a GTR to finish Makabe’s G1 run, after he went 4-0 in his first 4 matches, and then went 0-4 in his previous 4 matches.

WINNER: Hirooki Goto [10]

Togi Makabe [Eliminated/8]

Overall Thoughts: This was a decent show, SANADA/Ishii is definitely worth watching, Fale/Okada is somewhat worth watching, as well. Everything else is skippable.

Now that the final day of the A Block is coming up, we have 5 possible winners of it, all at 10 points. Hirooki Goto, Naomichi Marufuji, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Bad Luck Fale and Kazuchika Okada.

Hirooki Goto: He needs to defeat Marufuji and for Okada and Tanahashi to go to a 30 minute time limit draw for him to advance.

Naomichi Marufuji: He needs to defeat Goto, a Fale win over Tama Tonga and a draw or Okada win in Okada/Tanahashi.

Bad Luck Fale: He’ll need to defeat Bullet Club stablemate Tama Tonga, a Marufuji win and for Tanahashi to either lose to Okada, or draw with Okada.

Kazuchika Okada: He needs Fale to lose to Tama Tonga, a Goto win, and to defeat Tanahashi.

Hiroshi Tanahashi: Tanahashi only needs to defeat Okada to advance, as he has the tiebreaker over everyone else.

???: Fale, Okada and Goto win their matches, which would lead to a 3-way tie, as Goto pinned Fale, Okada pinned Goto and Fale pinned Okada, I’m unsure how they settle this, we most likely won’t find out though.

This day somehow made me excited to see who advances to the final from the A Block, I’m thinking either Goto or Okada are advancing. Post who you think is advancing in the comments below, I will be back to review Day 17 on Friday where we find out who advances to the final.