The NJPW G1 Climax playoffs are just days away and today’s show decided who from Block B would be making it through. David Finlay clinched his place in the semi-finals as the first-place winner of Block B. Konosuke Takeshita also earned himself a spot in the playoff match by defeating Ren Narita today to break their tie.
So, it all came down to the main event which saw Yota Tsuji and Jeff Cobb facing off with the winner heading to the playoffs to take on Takeshita.
The match began with Tsuji attempting to knock Cobb off his feet, but he instead hit the mat following a shoulder tackle from Cobb. Both men exchanged forearms until Tsuji kicked Cobb in the head and tackled him. Tsuji continued chopping Cobb’s chest and delivering a stiff strike to the mid-section.
He then attempted a splash but ran into a massive pounce from Cobb that was followed by a flurry of knees. Cobb now delivered many spears into the corner before dropkicking Tsuji right in the face. Tsuji began to battle back and attempted his combination, but Cobb blocked the curb stomp and slammed Tsuji into the mat. He next attempted a standing moonsault, however, Tsuji got his knees up. Tsuji then hit Cobb with a Stinger Splash, a hurricanrana and a beautiful combination ending with a curb stomp.
Tsuji wanted a suplex next, but he did not have the power and Cobb instead hit him with a Rampage slam, a clubbing forearm and a standing moonsault. Cobb and Tsuji now exchanged superkicks, Cobb drilled Tsuji with a forearm and Tsuji charged right back at him with the Gene Blaster. However, Cobb somehow managed to kick out only to be hit with a brutal forearm and a Falcon Arrow by Tsuji.
Gene Blaster. Credit: NJPW
Tsuji now springboarded off the ropes for his diving curb stomp, but Cobb caught him in mid-air with a lariat and then hit the F-5000. Cobb then attempted Tour of the Islands, but it was reversed and Tsuji hit a headbutt and bicycle knee. Tsuji wanted the Gene Blaster and ran across the ring only to be drilled with a massive clothesline. Cobb wanted the finish and bounced Tsuji off the ropes, but he charged right back hitting a second Gene Blaster. He then got himself in the corner and hit a third and final Gene Blaster to get the win and book his meeting with Takeshita in the playoffs.
NJPW G1 Climax 34 Standings
NJPW G1 Climax 34 Night 16 Results
Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs. Katsuya Murashima & Shoma Kato
Oleg defeated Murashima with the Kamikaze.
Winners: Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano
Bullet Club War Dogs (Gabe Kidd & Jake Lee) vs. Just 5 Guys (SANADA & TAKA Michinoku)
Lee forced Michinoku to submit with a guillotine choke.
Winners: Bullet Club War Dogs (Gabe Kidd & Jake Lee)
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma vs. House of Torture (Dick Togo & EVIL)
Honma dropped the headbutt on Togo and Umino got him to submit with the STF.
Winners: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma
United Empire (Callum Newman, Francesco Akira & Great-O-Khan) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito)
O-Khan defeated BUSHI with the Eliminator.
Winners: United Empire (Callum Newman, Francesco Akira & Great-O-Khan)
G1 Climax 34 Block B Match: Boltin Oleg vs. Yuya Uemura
Winner: Boltin Oleg (8) via forfeit
G1 Climax 34 Block B Match: HENARE vs. Hirooki Goto
HENARE drilled Goto with a running headbutt and then Streets of Rage for the win.
Winner: HENARE (8)
G1 Climax 34 Block B Match: David Finlay vs. El Phantasmo
Finlay wins Block B. Credit: NJPW
With the referee distracted Finlay hit ELP with the shillelagh and then the Overkill for the victory.
Winner: David Finlay (12)
G1 Climax 34 Block B Match: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ren Narita
Takeshita looks unstoppable. Credit: NJPW
Takeshita dropped Narita with a brutal German suplex and followed that with a very stiff forearm to punch his ticket to the playoffs.
