8/10 NJPW G-1 Climax Finals recap (Okada/Nakamura)

New Japan Pro Wrestling G-1 Climax 2014 Finals iPPV
August 10, 2014
Saitama, Japan (Seibu Dome)
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com

This will not be a full-blown recap like the ones for Days 1 through 11 of the tournament. Will just be brief thoughts on each match.

NWA Tag Team Champions Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tiger Mask IV vs. Suzuki-Gun (The Killer Elite Squad (“The Canadian Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith Jr. & “The American Psycho” Lance Archer), TAKA & El Desperado)

Typical multi-man cluster here. Juniors had some good exchanges, while TenCozy seemed very tired after going through the grueling G-1 tournament. TenCozy hit Archer at one point with their variation of 3-D. Taguchi got the win on TAKA with Dodon, which is a variation of Beth Phoenix’s Glam Slam.

Winners: NWA Tag Team Champions Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tiger Mask IV by pinfall (Dodon)

Bullet Club (IWGP Intercontinental Champion “The Underboss” Bad Luck Fale, IWGP Tag Team Champion “The Outlaw” Doc Gallows & NEVER Champion “Mr. Rated R” Yujiro Takahashi) vs. “Blue Justice” Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI (replacing the injured Togi Makabe)

Makabe was replaced by BUSHI to give him some much needed rest for his fractured jaw. Another multi-man cluster here, although there was a good sequence between Nagata & Fale that could possibly lead to a future Intercontinental Title defense for Fale. Yujiro gets the win on BUSHI with the Buckle Bomb/Miami Shine combo. Also, Gallows continued treating his Tag Title belt as his “Little Doc”, flipping it around his crotch area.

Winners: Bullet Club by pinfall (Buckle Bomb/Miami Shine combo)

Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka & Shelton “X” Benjamin) w/TAKA vs. Kazushi Sakaruba, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI

Featured Iizuka walking through the big Seibu Dome crowd for his entrance, continuing to play off his wildman character. Loved that a Toru Yano hot tag consists of doing nothing but removing the padding in one of the corners. Suzuki & Sakaruba had some good exchanges, as they have both dabbled in MMA in the past. Sakaruba’s team gets the win via DQ when Suzuki refuses to let go of a choke in the ropes on Sakaruba and throws down the ref. It continues afterwards until multiple referees finally get Suzuki off of Sakaruba. That’s an impending feud for the Fall.

Winners: Kazushi Sakaruba, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI by DQ

Team ROH (“The One” Adam Cole & Michael Bennett) w/”The First Lady of ROH” Maria Kanellis vs. Captain New Japan & Jushin “Thunder” Liger

Man, did the camera love to shoot at Maria’s backside or what? Not that myself or any other heterosexual male are complaining or anything. Match itself was solid, some good exchanges between Liger & Cole. Liger was SUPER over here. Captain & Bennett had some solid stuff also, with Bennett bumping his tail off for Captain. Maria distracted Captain New Japan multiple times in this match, the first when she motorboated him and the other time towards the end when she got on the apron and danced for him, even teasing taking off her shorts. This allowed Bennett to hit Captain with a Piledriver to give Team ROH the win.

Winners: Team ROH by pinfall (Piledriver)

IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles: ROH Tag Team Champions reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) vs. Time-Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) (c’s)

First really good match on this show. Time Splitters did their fast-paced double teams early. KUSHIDA did the Double Koppo Kick, then Time Splitters wiped out reDRagon with stereo planchas. reDRagon took over, but once it spilled outside, Shelley took reDRagon behind the barricade and KUSHIDA dove off the top and wiping out reDRagon with a crossbody! Standing Moonsault/Frog Splash combo by Time Splitters for a nearfall. reDRagon came back, with O’Reilly BRUTALIZING Shelley with the running dropkick on the apron, then Fish DID THE DEAL on KUSHIDA off the top. reDRagon then DRILLED Shelley with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker/2nd Rope Knee Drop combo. O’Reilly with Axe & Smash into ARMageddon on KUSHIDA, Fish hits KUSHIDA with a Top Rope Headbutt, then wipes out Shelley with a flip dive! O’Reilly switches to a Guillotine, but Shelley breaks it up with a Double Stomp! KUSHIDA locks O’Reilly in the Hoverboard Lock, Shelley wipes out Fish with a Tope Suicida and O’Reilly taps!

Winners and STILL IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions: Time-Splitters by submission (Hoverboard Lock)

Jeff Jarrett & Scott D’Amore from Global Force Wrestling came out to officially sign the working agreement with New Japan. Also out there was New Japan president Sugaboyoshi. Jarrett then put over New Japan and its fans on the mic before leaving.

Wrestlekingdom 9 was announced for January 4, 2015 in the Tokyo Dome.

Tomoaki Honma vs. “The Stardust Genius” Tetsuya Naito

Honmania is running wild, BROTHER!! Crowd SUPER into Honma, booed the hell outta Naito, who found great ways during the match to subtly egg on the boos to him while working over Honma. Good match, but a tad short. Honma kept failing at hitting his falling headbutt from the ground, then the Kokeshi headbutt of the top. Naito hit a German, but Honma POPS UP and gets a close nearfall off the Honma Clutch. Naito then is able to hit the Stardust Press for the win. Naito extends his hand to Honma afterwards, but Honma slaps it away and leaves.

Winner: “The Stardust Genius” Tetsuya Naito by pinfall (Stardust Press)

IWGP Tag Team Champion “The Machine Gun” Karl Anderson w/Yujiro Takahashi vs. “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii

Ishii still working off pretty much one arm with his separated shoulder. Anderson with a forearm in the opening sequence that busts open Ishii’s nose. Good match, but again, short, but probably for good reason with Ishii. Ishii tried his delayed superplex at one point, but lost Anderson and it nearly ended up very badly for both. Thankfully, all were OK. Ishii hits his Brainbuster, but Yujiro pulls out the ref and goes after Ishii’s injured arm. YOSHI-HASHI runs out for the save and takes care of Yujiro! Ishii kicks out of the Bernard Driver, but Anderson is able to hit the Gun-Stun for the win.

Winner: IWGP Tag Team Champion “The Machine Gun” Karl Anderson by pinfall (Gun-Stun)

A Rivalry Renewed between Best Friends: “The Mad Dog” Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto

Another brutal match between these two. I’d put this second in their five matches together because it had very good selling and storytelling behind it. Lots of strike exchanges and brutal shots in the first half, with Goto’s spinning heel kick, Shibata shrugging it off and hitting a chest kick and the hestiation dropkick in the corner. They then exchange a series of Backdrop Drivers on one another. Goto then hits his own version of the PK that Shibata does and it does lots of damage to Shibata as he sold his pectoral being messed up. Shibata comes back with a STIFF Go 2 Sleep and Goto sold it like he broke his jaw. Goto hit the Shouten Kai, his finish, but couldn’t make the cover due to the damage from earlier. Another exchange of strikes, then Shibata DRILLS Goto with a Spinning Back Chop! Goto hits the Ura Shouten, which is a spinning faceplant like Bray Wyatt does, but Shibata KICKS OUT AT ONE!! Shibata then does the Go 2 Sleep/PK combo for the win. After, Shibata throws Goto to the outside and feigns attacking him, but instead, helps him to the back. Shibata then falls down due to the damage done to him and its Goto who helps him up and to the back, again showing their friendship since childhood.

Winner: “The Mad Dog” Katsuyori Shibata by pinfall (Go 2 Sleep/PK combo)

G-1 Climax 2014 3rd Place Match: IWGP Champion “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. “The Ace of the Universe” Hiroshi Tanahashi

Bullet Club comes out with Styles, but he sends them to the back, saying that he got this. Very good match between these two. Styles hits the Phenomenal Dropkick early and works over Tanahashi. Tanahashi blocks Phenomenon and the springboard forearm. They head outside and Styles does his evasion of the barricade by leaping over it, but Tanahashi wipes him out with a crossbody! Back in, Tanahashi with the Slingblade and Strait-Jacket German, Styles hits the KENTA series of strikes, but Tanahashi avoids the discus clothesline and hits a Dragon. Styles stops Tanahashi from doing the High Fly Flow and hits a Super Rana with both men on the top rope! Tanahashi blocks the Styles Clash, but Styles hits a GANSO BOMB!! Styles then goes for Tanahashi’s own High Fly Flow, but Tanahashi gets the knees up! Tanahashi now goes for it, but its Styles who gets the knees up! Styles hits the Pele Kick and Bloody Sunday, then makes his kill shot. However, Tanahashi headscissors out of another Styles Clash attempt and rolls up Styles for the win!

Winner: “The Ace of the Universe” Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall (Roll-Up)

Bullet Club runs out and attacks Tanahashi afterward. Styles then lays out Tanahashi with the Styles Clash. The assault continues until Jeff Jarrett runs out to make the save. Bullet Club leaves as D’Amore opens up a case, revealing a guitar with the Bullet Club all over it. Tanahashi & Jarrett go back-to-back as Bullet Club starts to head back in, but then Jarrett EL KABONGS TANAHASHI WITH THE GUITAR!!! Styles & Jarrett embrace, then Jarrett & D’Amore unbutton their suits to reveal Bullet Club t-shirts underneath as they are now a part of the faction! Bullet Club stands tall over the fallen Tanahashi before they finally leave. Loved the angle, even though the morons on the internet hated it. Just goes to show internet fans will find something to hate about every single promotion and why they are the real reason behind the downfall of wrestling.

G-1 Climax 2014 Finals: “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada w/Gedo vs. “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura

AWESOME match that delivered behind the hype it had with these two only meeting once since Okada’s ascension to the top of New Japan. Good back-and-forth stuff early. Okada knocks Nakamura down to the outside with the Too Awesome Dropkick, then the Draping DDT against the barricade. Okada with the top rope elbow, but Nakamura avoids the Rainmaker and hits the Standing Gourdbuster/Pride Knees combo. Okada avoids Boma-Ye and hits the Emerald Frosion across the knee, followed by Heavy Rain. Nakamura blocks the Tombstone, but Okada blocks a back heel kick and hits another Too Awesome Dropkick! Okada this time hits the Tombstone, but Nakamura counters the Rainmaker with a Flying Armbar! Okada gets out, but Nakamura hits the Boma-Ye to the back of Okada’s head! Superman forearm by Nakamura, Okada with uppercuts, then hits another Too Awesome Dropkick! Nakamura avoids another Too Awesome Dropkick, hits the Boma-Ye, OKADA KICKS OUT!! Nakamura with a 2nd Rope Boma-Ye, but Okada counters another Boma-Ye with another Too Awesome Dropkick! Okada with the High-Angle German, then goes again for the Rainmaker, but Nakamura counters out again. Okada blocks another Boma-Ye and backslides Nakamura into the RAINMAKER!! Okada then holds on and hits ANOTHER RAINMAKER!! Okada still holds on and hits a THIRD RAINMAKER to win the 2014 New Japan G-1 Climax!!

Winner and 2014 New Japan G-1 Climax Champion: “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada

Okada wins his second G-1 in three years. Okada now goes to the Tokyo Dome to face the IWGP Champion at Wrestlekingdom 9, but will defend his title shot throughout the Fall. After being presented with the G-1 trophy and check for 10 million yen, Okada & Gedo grab a mic afterwards and say the following (credit to @puro_yottsume on Twitter for the English translation):

Gedo: “First of all, let’s show our maximum respect to Nakamura. One hell of a wrestler. Glad to have him on our side, really.”

Okada: “2015, Tokyo Dome, main event, I’m taking back my property. Three things. First, you’re next AJ. Secondly, Nakamura-san, I’ve only beaten you once, let’s do this again. Finally, I do have something particular to say! . ‘the summer you’ve never seen before’! I’ll show you something more next year! And as long as I’m in center of the industry, rain of money will fall!”

Thanks to all of you for reading all of my recaps of the 2014 New Japan G-1 Climax. It was a pleasure to recap what has been considered the greatest tournament in wrestling history. Hope you all take the time to check out what has been some of the best matches will you see in wrestling all year. Til’ next time, always remember, PURORESU ICHIBAN!!!

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Final Standings

A Block

* Shinsuke Nakamura (8-2) 16 points (WINNER)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi (7-3) 14 points
* Katsuyori Shibata (6-4) 12 points
* Bad Luck Fale (6-4) 12 points
* Satoshi Kojima (5-5) 10 points
* Shelton “X” Benjamin (5-5) 10 points
* Davey Boy Smith Jr. (5-5) 10 points
* Tomohiro Ishii (5-5) 10 points
* Yuji Nagata (4-6) 8 points
* Doc Gallows (4-6) 8 points
* Tomoaki Honma (0-10) 0 points

B Block

* Kazuchika Okada (8-2) 16 points (WINNER)
* AJ Styles (8-2) 16 points
* Minoru Suzuki (5-5) 10 points
* Tetsuya Naito (5-5) 10 points
* Karl Anderson (5-5) 10 points
* Togi Makabe (4-6) 8 points
* Toru Yano (4-6) 8 points
* Hiroyoshi Tenzan (4-6) 8 points
* Lance Archer (4-6) 8 points
* Yujiro Takahashi (4-6) 8 points
* Hirooki Goto (3-7) 6 points

Previous Recaps

Day 1: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49754-recap-of-day-1-of-the-2014-new-japan-g-1-climax-okada-styles

Day 2: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49775-recap-of-day-2-of-the-2014-njpw-g-1-climax-tanahashi-gallows

Day 3: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49816-recap-of-day-3-of-the-2014-njpw-g-1-climax-okada-makabe

Day 4: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49832-recap-of-day-4-of-the-2014-njpw-g-1-climax-tanahashi-shibata

Day 5: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49881-7-28-njpw-g-1-climax-day-5-recap-okada-naito

Day 6: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49903-7-31-njpw-g-1-climax-day-6-recap-tanahashi-ishii

Day 7: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49939-8-1-njpw-g-1-climax-day-7-recap-nakamura-ishii

Day 8: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49951-8-3-njpw-g-1-climax-day-8-recap-nakamura-tanahashi

Day 9: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49966-8-4-njpw-g-1-climax-day-9-recap-okada-goto

Day 10: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/50037-8-6-njpw-g-1-climax-day-10-recap-nakamura-gallows

Day 11: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/50055-8-8-njpw-g-1-climax-day-11-recap-okada-suzuki