NJPW G1 Climax Night 2 Review – July 16, 2023
Location: Hokkaido Japan
Venue: Hokkaido Sports Center
Champion vs. Champion Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay (0) vs. NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Tomohiro Ishii
David Finlay hits a modified dragon screw and began targeting the left knee of Tomohiro Ishii before Ishii hits a powerslam and he took control. Ishii hit a Saito Suplex then Finlay drops Ishii throat first on the top rope then he hits a Falcon Arrow.
Finlay hits a backbreaker over his knee for a near fall before Ishii hits a flying shoulder tackle and they were both. Ishii nails a 2nd rope superplex for a near fall but he clutches at his sore left knee before he hits a German suplex.
Finlay fired back with a roaring forearm, a German suplex and a Dominator for a believable near fall before they traded more forearm shots. Finlay hits a spear for a near fall before Ishii hits a headbutt that drops Finlay then a standing powerbomb for a near fall.
Finlay countered with a Blue Thunder Bomb before Ishii hit a diving headbutt and they were both down. He hit a sliding clothesline for a near fall and he was fired up. Ishii blocks Into Oblivion and he hits an enzuigiri and a clothesline for a near fall before Finlay drills Ishii with Into Oblivion for the win.
Winner: NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay (2) (15:54)
Rate: 7
Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
IWGP Tag Team Champion Hirooki Goto (0) vs. Toru Yano (0)
Toru Yano got a pair of rollups for near falls to get this match started before they brawled to the floor and did comedy with Irish whips. Hirooki Goto and the mascot vanished under the ring. Goto emerged wearing the mascot head but Goto nearly got counted out.
Back in the ring Goto hits a clothesline before Yano went for a low blow but Goto blocks it before he hits a headbutt then follows it up with GTR to get the win.
Winner: IWGP Tag Team Champion Hirooki Goto (2) (6:44)
Rate: 4
Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Mikey Nicholls (0) vs. Henare (0)
Match starts off with a lock up before they went to the floor, where Henare whips Nicholls into the guardrail then in the ring Henare hits a Samoan Drop then some closed fist punches to the gut then some spine kicks and a senton. Henare hits a Stomp for a near fall before Nicholls hit some chops then Henare hits a spin kick.
Nicholls hits a 2nd rope tornado DDT for a near fall then a top rope superplex then they traded headbutts on the mat and Nicholls gets busted open from it then they got on their feet and traded forearm shots. Nicholls hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Henare hits another punch to the gut and he locks in Ultima but Nicholls reached the ropes. Nicholls nails a Death Valley Driver but he missed a top rope moonsault and they were both down.
Henare hits a running knee to the chest then he pulls down his kneepad and hits another running knee to the jaw before he drills him to the mat with Master Blaster to put away Henare.
Winner: Mikey Nicholls (2) (12:21)
Rate: 6
Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion Alex Coughlin (0) vs. Shane Haste (0)
Alex Coughlin & Shane Haste immediately brawled then Haste hits a dropkick before he went for a dive to the floor but Coughlin caught him and suplexes him on the thin mat on the floor. Coughlin was in charge as they brawled at ringside. Haste suplexes Coughlin onto the ring apron then in the ring Coughlin hit a gutwrench suplex for a near fall.
Haste hit a back suplex then a running penalty kick to the chest for a near fall. Coughlin fired back with a German suplex and a rolling Death Valley Driver for a near fall then a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Coughlin hit a powerbomb for a near fall.
He jumps to his feet and grabs the ref out of anger before they brawled again to the floor and Coughlin threw several chairs into the ring then in the ring Haste hits a back suplex onto a folded chair before connecting with Death Valley Bomb to put away Coughlin.
Winner: Shane Haste (2) (10:55)
Rate: 6
Non Title Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston (0) vs. Shingo Takagi (0)
Eddie Kingston & Shingo Takagi immediately traded shoulder tackles with neither man going down then they traded chops then slaps to the face. Kingston hits a spinning back fist and Takagi fell through the ropes to the floor.
Kingston follows to the floor and he whips Takagi into the guardrail then in the ring Kingston hits Kobashi style chops in the corner then an exploder suplex for a near fall before Takagi fired back with a series of punches that drops Kingston.
Takagi hits a top rope superplex for a near fall then they got to their feet and traded knife edge chops and Takagi hits a Saito Suplex. Kingston hit an enzuigiri and a back suplex for a near fall before they traded clotheslines. Kingston hit a half nelson suplex.
Takagi hops up and hits a clothesline and they were both down then Takagi hits a Northern Lights Bomb then Pumping Bomber for a near fall. Kingston hits a clothesline but only got a one count. Kingston nails a pair of spinning back fists then a Northern Lights Bomb for the win.
Winner: Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston (2) (12:50)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
Champion vs. Champion Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi (0) vs. Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr (0)
Match begins with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Zack Sabre Jr traded mat reversals before they traded European uppercuts. Tanahashi tied up ZSJ on the mat. ZSJ hits a dragon screw as Tanahashi was in the ropes and he immediately began targeting the left knee. ZSJ playfully kicks at Tanahashi as he was on the mat.
Tanahashi got up but ZSJ hits some roundhouse kicks to the chest. Tanahashi hit a flying forearm then a 2nd rope summersault splash for a near fall. ZSJ applied a mid ring Octopus but Tanahashi escapes but ZSJ hits a basement dropkick on the knee and they were both down.
Tanahashi applied a Triangle Choke before ZSJ went back to a leglock then Tanahashi hits some dragon screw arm whips then ZSJ hits another dropkick on the knee then Tanahashi hits a Sling Blade for a near fall Tanahashi hits Aces High then a cross armbreaker but ZSJ rolls him over to score the victory.
Winner: Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr (2) (16:09)
Rate: 7
Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Tama Tonga (0) vs. Evil (0)
Tama Tonga & Evil brawled on the floor and Evil suplexes Tonga on the entrance ramp then they brawled through the crowd far, far from the ring. Evil returns to ringside and he rang the bell and celebrates before Tonga dove back in before being counted out the ref refused to make a count then Evil hits a backbreaker over his knee for a near fall.
Tonga hit a series of bodyslams and was fired up. He nails a Stinger Splash for a near fall before Evil hit a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall then the ref got bumped so Dick Togo hits Jado and got in the ring and helps Evil in a beatdown on Tonga.
Evil & Togo hits Magic Killer then the ref woke but Tonga kicks out at 1 so Evil locks in Darkness Scorpion and Tonga screamed in pain but eventually reached the ropes. Tonga nails Tongan Twist and they were both down. Tonga hits an enzuigiri and a spinebuster then Supreme Splash for a near fall.
Tonga went for Gun Stun but Evil blocks it and Evil hits a clothesline and they were both down then Evil hits Darkness Falls for a near fall. Evil hits a clothesline but Tonga staggers but didn’t go down. Tonga hits a clothesline and he rips off his vest. Togo hops in the ring but Tonga hit a Gun Stun.
Tonga hits a double arm DDT on Evil for a near fall before he sets up for a Jay Driller but Evil fought free then Evil avoids Gun Stun as he hits a low blow then Everything Is Evil gets the win.
Winner: Evil (2) (17:34)
Rate: 5
Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Tetsuya Naito (0) vs. Jeff Cobb (0)
Tetsuya Naito & Jeff Cobb went to the floor by trading whipping each other into the guardrail then in the ring Cobb hits a dropkick then Cobb set up for a dive but he did Naito’s tranquilo pose in the ring instead.
Cobb took control in the ring by hitting a delayed vertical suplex for a near fall before Cobb hit Naito’s swinging dropkick then Naito hits a standing neckbreaker. Naito hits a basement dropkick to the back and he hits a swinging dropkick in the corner.
Naito applied a leglock around the head and shoulders before Cobb nails a 2nd rope powerbomb and they were both down then Cobb eventually made a cover for a near fall. Cobb hits a standing moonsault for another near fall.
Naito hits a 2d rope hurricanrana then a tornado DDT but Cobb fired back with the Spin Cycle and he was fired up. Naito hits an enzuigiri and Destino then he sets up for a 2nd Destino but Cobb caught him and hit the Tour Of The Islands and they were both down.
Naito barely got up before the ref’s 10 count then Naito got a jackknife for a near fall so Cobb hit a German Suplex but Naito pops up. Cobb hits a headbutt to the chest then a 2nd Tour Of The Islands for the win.
Winner: Jeff Cobb (2) (14:20)
Rate: 7
Block C & D Standings After Night 2
Block C
1st Place- NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay, Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston, Mikey Nicholls & Evil (2 Points) (1-0)
Last Place- NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Tomohiro Ishii, Shingo Takagi, Henare & Tama Tonga (0 Points) (0-1)
Block D
1st Place- Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr, IWGP Tag Team Champion Hirooki Goto, Shane Haste & Jeff Cobb (2 Points) (1-0)
Last Place- NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion Alex Coughlin, Toru Yano & Tetsuya Naito (0 Points) (0-1)
