NJPW G1 26 night three results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
We’re already at day three of the G1! Today’s matches were held in Tokyo, this time at the Machida City Gymnasium.
Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, & Manabu Nakanishi defeated Captain New Japan, KUSHIDA, Juice Robinson, & David Finlay after Kojima gave Finlay the lariat.
Katsuhiko Nakajima & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tomoaki Honma & Katsuyori Shibata when YOSHI-HASHI got the surprise win with a roll-up on Honma. Shibata and Honma didn’t get along before, and definitely after, the match. Shibata’s shoulder is already taped up. Way more interesting tag than usual with a lot of stiff spots and fun action.
Kenny Omega & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Gedo & Toru Yano after Takahashi pinned Gedo with a DDT.
EVIL, Tetsuya Naito, & BUSHI defeated Michael Elgin, Yuji Nagata, & Ryusuke Taguchi after EVIL pinned Taguchi with the STO. Naito took down Elgin after the match and put him in a submission. EVIL and Nagata also went at it.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tama Tonga
This was solid. People are super behind Tenzan’s story this G1 and were rooting for him the whole time. Tonga was fine here but this was mostly a Tenzan highlight match. Tonga kicked out of the Anaconda Buster, but Tenzan followed with the moonsault for the victory.
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hirooki Goto
Like the start of all their other matches, this one started out as a slugfest. It’s like they went right back to stiffing one another like the previous match never stopped. Really good, but not great, brawl of a match.
They’ve had better but this was still good. A lot of this was just back and forth the entire time. Goto got the win after a neckbreaker on both knees.
Bad Luck Fale vs. Naomichi Marufuji
Fale dominated early with big guy power spots. Marufuji made a nice looking comeback and did some good spots, including blocking a suplex and coming back with a snap suplex of his own. Fale laid him out with a big splash but Marufuji kicked out.
The grenade managed to do the trick, giving the win to Fale. Better than you’d think a match with Fale would be.
Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
This was a really good back and forth match to start off. Okada tried to keep control but SANADA was always ahead of him. SANADA tried the Cold Skull submission but Okada escaped quickly. He managed to get it on again but Okada managed to escape.
They went back and forth avoiding one another’s moves until Okada hit a German suplex then pinned SANADA with the Rainmaker. Really good, but not out of this world.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
Started out like your typical New Japan match. Makabe worked over Tanahashi a lot but Tanahashi got his licks in as well. Good back and forth.
Makabe tried to do the Spider German. Tanahashi fought vigorously, but Makabe ended up getting it and laid him out. Why you would take that bump knowing your shoulder is in the situation it is baffles me. Makabe followed with the King Kong Knee Drop for the win.
Makabe takes the mic, saying he doesn’t know how many people think that he’ll win the tournament, but he will, and that’s all there is to it!
Overall, a fine show, but nothing blew me away, even though I thought matches like Ishii vs. Goto and Okada vs. SANADA would deliver more. Felt like a really good Korakuen Hall show, if anything.