Naito, EVIL sit at the top of B Block with two matches left.

The G1 Climax headed to Aichi and Dolphins Arena in Nagoya on Sunday October 11 for the pre-prenultimate matches in B Block. At the end of the night, EVIL and Tetsuya Naito were at the top with 10 points while YOSHI-HASHI  sat last at two.

YOSHI-HASHI and Zack Sabre Junior were first to the ring for group action on the night, Sabre instantly going to ground against the Headhunter, as the two traded holds. While a Tijeras took ZSJ off his feet, Sabre was able to keep his composure, and stop an early Kumagoroshi attempt, an arm wringer hurting the long troubled shoulder of YOSHI-HASHI. 

The left shoulder and arm was a big and bold target for ZSJ, and would be wrenched and tortured by the Briton who struck and stretched the area with painful effect, until a sudden enzuigiri caught Sabre unawares. YOSHI-HASHI was able to score a run of strikes, but there wasn’t enough strength in the shoulder for him to land a powerbomb, ZSJ going back to the arm with smug aggression.

A missed DDT attempt from Sabre resulted in an opening for YOSHI-HASHI, who scored with a sit out powerbomb and navigated the Butterfly Lock. The Suzuki-Gun member screamed with pain and frustration as he had no immediate counter before making the ropes at the ten minute mark, but quickly stopped YOSHI-HASHI from following up and connected with a penalty kick. YOSHI-HASHI gutted through shoulder pain to land a lariat and double knees, but Karma was countered into a cross arm triangle, and then Clarky Cat for the referee stoppage. 

KENTA and Toru Yano were next up, KENTA firmly ensuring Yano was properly checked before the match began. KENTA tried to gain the upper hand with the briefcase himself, reluctantly setting it aside, only to bail outside the ring as the Aichi crowd angrily awaited some contact. 

That contact finally came outside with a boot from KENTA to Yano, but the producer was able to reverse KENTA into the guardrail before grabbing his tape, and then using the distraction to spray disinfectant in KENTA’s eyes. The BULLET CLUB member just barely beat the referee’s twenty count though, and sent Yano into the exposed turnbuckle and scored with a DDT. 

KENTA doused Yano in disinfectant and rolled him up for two, before grabbing another bottle of cleansing spray at ringside. This time Asami caught the bottle’s contents, giving KENTA time to grab his briefcase and walk Yano up the ramp. There a blow revealed the case’s contents; not a US Heavyweight Championship content but rolls of tape which KENTA used to tie Yano to the entrance gate and score a countout victory. 

Back from break, SANADA faced Juice Robinson in a critical match for both. A quick pace started the match as both men looked for control, SANADA seemingly finding it with a low dropkick, but not able to follow with a Paradise Lock, instead tasting a spinebuster. Robinson kept the advantage inside and out, and evaded a SANADA standing moonsault to deliver a backdrop for a two count, the match firmly in his pocket at the five minute mark. 

SANADA was able to evade a Cannonball attempt however, and made to run with an immediately apparent sore neck, was met with a SANADA dropkick and plancha. Now significantly damaged, Robinson fell prey to the Paradise Lock, but embarrassment didn’t cost Robisnon his smarts; Juice evaded a Moonsault attempt again to hit a Full Nelson Slam and this time got all of SANADA in the corner with the Cannonball. 

A superplex and Jackhammer followed, giving Juice a two count at one third distance. A massive powerbomb garnered another near fall, but SANADA was able to duck Robinson’s left hand and catch Skull End. A series of co0unters followed as both men looked for their signature moves, Juice eventually countering Skull End with an inside cradle for two before SANADA used an O’Connor Roll to get into Skull End once more. This time Cold Skull got his hooks in, and SANADA followed with a Moonsault for three.

The bell rang on the semi final with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Hirooki Goto both in need of victory to head into their last two matches. With an early knee breaker, Tanahashi had control early of Goto’s left knee, and moved with intensity in driving the advantage in the corner and through the ropes where he hit a Dragon Screw. 

Goto fought back instinctively with Ushigoroshi, but dropped all of the Ace’s weight down across the injured knee in the process. Both men were damaged as they found their feet, but only kicked themselves to a higher level as they swung with elbows and open hand strike attempts, Goto eventually getting the upper hand with a lariat knockdown. 

Goto tried to finish Tanahashi with the Shoten but was countered into Twist and Shout, and another lariat at the ten minute mark was met by a Slingblade. Tanahashi rocked Goto with the same open hand that broke Goto’s jaw in 2013, but Goto still met the Ace on the top rope for a super Ushigoroshi, doing untold damage to Tanahashi’s neck, but again affecting the injured knee. 

The leg held up for Goto well enough to score with a mid kick and a reverse GTR; Tanahashi initially resisted the full version but was caught on the second time of asking, leading to victory for Goto. 

Tetsuya Naito headed into his main event battle with EVIL with the potential to move well clear of the block at 12 points. Making his opponent wait, Naito slowly disrobed with EVIL talked tactics with Dick Togo before first contact was made, EVIL kicking Naito in the gut and settling into a side headlock. Naito was quickly on the offense himself though, as EVIL was sent to the floor and a supine Naito offered Aichi his brand of fan service. 

Keeping control Naito drove EVIL to the ropes with his leg lace Nelson, delivered with a wry grin at Togo ringside. It was only a matter of time then, until the Spoiler was involved, and the familiar trip from the floor would lead to a drop toe hold on a pile of ringside chairs, one of the pile then being wrapped around El Ingobernables neck while a second was swung for a home run. 

Back inside the ring, EVIL used a neckbreaker and chinlock to wear down the double IWGP Champion. A missed senton from EVIL gave Naito some breathing room, and at the ten minute mark, a corner combination and baseball slide to Togo gave him the advantage. Naito looked to do his own damage to his former teammates neck, and Pluma Blanca seemed to help; Naito released the hold only to direct EVIL into Togo, and reapplied the pressure until the King of Darkness made the ropes. 

A follow up swinging DDT was countered by a Fisherman’s buster from EVIL, putting both men to the mat at the 15 minute mark. When both stood, it was EVIL with the advantage, and a thunderous superplex was delivered to Naito; both legs were hooked but Naito barely escaped at two. EVIL then went into the Darkness Scorpion, using all of the referee’s five count in the ropes. Gutting through the pain, Naito shot off a rolling kick and hit Gloria for two, but EVIL smartly stopped a neckbreaker and landed his senton to squash his rival. 

EVIL sent Naito into the exposed steel buckle as he fired back up on El Ingobernable, and scored a half and half suplex before Darkness Falls was prevented by a counter Destino at 20 minutes elapsed. A second attempt got EVIL a two count, and the BULLET CLUB member tried to finish Naito off completely, but Naito escaped on two occasions, driving back elbows to EVIL and swatting away Dick Togo. 

That was enough to distract Red Shoes Unno though, and a low blow from EVIL connected. Naito prevented further interference and connected with a running Destino for two, but EVIL countered the full version perfectly to score victory.