NJPW G1 Climax Night 6 Review – July 23, 2023
Champion vs. Champion Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr (4) vs. Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion Alex Coughlin (0)
Zack Sabre Jr & Alex Coughlin brawls to the floor and Coughlin whips ZSJ into the guardrail. Coughlin grabs his Strong Openweight Tag Team Title but Kosei Fujita took it from him before he could use it. ZSJ stood on the ring apron and stomps on Coughlin’s hand and he went to work on the left arm.
In the ring Coughlin hits a backbreaker over his knee and ZSJ applied a mid ring Octopus Stretch but Coughlin reversed it and he turned it into a fallaway slam then ZSJ locks in a submission hold in the ropes and held it for a 4 count.
ZSJ locks in a rear naked choke on the mat but Coughlin powers to his feet and turns it into a Bulldog Powerslam for a near fall. ZSJ hits a PK to the damaged arm and they traded forearm shots.
Coughlin hit a German Suplex with a bridge for a near fall then a fallaway slam with a bridge for a near fall then ZSJ switched to a cross armbreaker & Coughlin has no choice but to tap out.
Winner By Submission: Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr (6) (11:13)
Rate: 6
Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Tama Tonga (2) vs. Mikey Nicholls (2)
Match starts off with a lock up then Tama Tonga hits a shoulder tackle that drops Mikey Nicholls. Nicholls hits a vertical suplex before they went to the floor, where Tama whipped him into the guardrail then in the ring Nicholls was in charge by hitting a Death Valley Driver for a near fall.
Tonga nails a clothesline and rips off his vest then he hits a Stinger Splash and an exploder suplex for a near fall then they traded forearm shots and Nicholls hits another Death Valley Driver. Tonga hits an enzuigiri and a rolling Death Valley Driver.
Nicholls avoids Gun Stun and he hits a spinebuster for a near fall then Nicholls hits a stunner before he went for a moonsault but Tonga caught him with Gun Stun on his way down then nails the 2nd Gun Stun to score the win.
Winner: Tama Tonga (4) (9:10)
Rate: 5
Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
IWGP Tag Team Champion Hirooki Goto (2) vs. Shane Haste (2)
Shane Haste immediately hits a running cannonball in the corner and had a near fall and Hirooki Goto was clutching at his ribs not able to get to his feet. Haste immediately hits kicks to the gut. Goto hit a clothesline but fell to the mat.
Haste hit a series of European uppercuts then another body blow then Goto locks in a sleeper then connects with Goto Shiki to put away Haste.
Winner: IWGP Tag Team Champion Hirooki Goto (4) (2:29)
Rate: 5
Non Title Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston (2) vs. Henare (2)
Henare hits a kick before the bell that drops Eddie Kingston and the ref checks on Kingston before ringing the bell. Henare hits blows to the chest as Kingston was in the ropes and they brawled to the floor.
In the ring Henare hits Divorce Court and he snaps it across the middle rope before he hits a series of gut punches. Kingston hit some chops. Henare hit a kick to the spine and a senton for a near fall. He applied an armbar but Kingston reached the ropes.
Kingston hits a pair of exploder suplexes and a clothesline abut he clutched at his sore right arm shaking it out to get feeling back before they traded headbutts while on their knees and switched to chops while standing. Henare went for Rampage but Kingston caught him and hit a DDT and they were both down.
Henare hits a Blue Thunder Bomb then a running knee strike in the corner and a Penalty Kick to the chest for a near fall. Henare hits Rampage for a near fall. Eddie hits a pair of enzuigiri and a half nelson suplex before he hits Backfist To The Future then Henare hit a headbutt then Kingston hit another Backfist To The Future for the win.
Winner: Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston (4) (10:32)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
Toru Yano (0) vs. Tetsuya Naito (2)
Tetsuya Naito got some roll ups for near falls and Toru Yano bails to the floor and started walking toward the back then he finally got back into the ring but then Naito rolls to the floor then Yano whips Naito into the guardrail.
Yano got tape and tried to use it on Naito but Naito stole it and he handcuffs Yano in the guardrail but Yano escapes and dove back into the ring at the 19 count.
Yano went for an Irish whip but Naito just roll into the Tranquilo pose then Yano flips Naito into an exposed corner and got a near fall before Naito got a roll up for the win.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito (4) (7:24)
Rate: 4
Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Tomohiro Ishii (0) vs. Shingo Takagi (0)
Tomohiro Ishii & Shingo Takagi charged at each other at the bell and immediately traded forearm shots before they switched to shoulder tackles with neither man going down then Takagi eventually drops Ishii with a shoulder tackle and a senton.
They got up and traded more chops and forearms. Takagi hit a vertical suplex and they were both down before Takagi hits a DDT then they fought on the ropes in the corner and Takagi nails a top rope superplex for a near fall.
Ishii hits a clothesline into the corner and he hits a 2nd rope superplex for a near fall and they were both down then Takagi hits a Death Valley Driver. Takagi hit a series of forearm shots. Ishii hit a dropkick and a standing powerbomb for a near fall.
Takagi hit a DDT then follows it with Made In Japan for a near fall before he hits a clothesline then Ishii hits a headbutt. Takagi hits a sliding clothesline but only got a 1 count.
Ishii drops Takagi with a clothesline for a near fall but he couldn’t get Takagi up for the brainbuster. Takagi hits a Tiger Driver for a near fall before they hit double clotheslines and Ishii hit an enzuigiri.
Takagi hits Last Of The Dragon but he couldn’t get the cover then he nails Pumping Bomber for the win.
Winner: Shingo Takagi (2) (18:10)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
Block D Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi (2) vs. Jeff Cobb (4)
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jeff Cobb lock up to get this match started then they brawled to the floor where Cobb held Tanahashi upside down and ran him back first into the ring post then in the ring Cobb was in charge of the action before Tanahashi hits a dragon screw and a 2nd rope summersault senton for a near fall.
Cobb hits a dropkick and a standing moonsault for a near fall but he missed a 2nd rope summersault senton then Tanahashi hits Twist & Shout and a Sling Blade for a near fall.
Tanahashi went for Aces High but Cobb caught him. Tanahashi missed a High Fly Flow so Cobb went for Tour Of The Islands but Tanahashi turns it into a roll up for a near fall. Cobb hit a German Suplex and he his Sling Blade then Tour Of The Islands puts Tanahashi away.
Winner: Jeff Cobb (6) (10:30)
Rate: 7
Non Title Block C Match Of The 2023 G1 Climax
NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay (4) vs. Evil (4)
Match starts off with a lock up then they began trading forearm shots and David Finlay was whip to the floor before they get back in the ring Evil chokes Finlay with a shirt and lets go then he hits a backbreaker over his knee for a near fall and he locks in a half crab.
Finlay whips Evil into the corner then he hits a snap suplex for a near fall then the refs got bumped before Sho, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo, Gabriel Kidd & Gedo brawl in the ring before they brawled back to the floor and toward the back leaving just Evil & Finlay down on the mat.
They got up and traded forearm shots before Finlay avoids Everything Is Evil but Evil hits a clothesline and they were both down. Evil hits Darkness Falls for a near fall before Finlay hits a Dominator for a near fall.
Finlay accidentally speared the ref so Evil immediately hit a low blow then Togo hops in the ring and he chokes Finlay with his piano wire. Evil & Togo hits Magic Killer and Evil got a near fall. Evil put a chair around Finlay’s neck, and he struck it with another chair.
Evil grabs Finlay’s shillelagh but Finlay hits Evil with the NEVER Openweight Title before he could use it then hits Evil over the head with the shillelagh before hits Into Oblivion for the win.
Winner: NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay (6) (16:12)
Rate: 3
Block C & D Standings After Night 6
Block C
1st Place- NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay (6 Points) (3-0)
2nd Place- Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston, Tama Tonga & Evil (4 Points) (2-1)
3rd Place- Mikey Nicholls, Henare & Shingo Takagi (2 Points) (1-2)
Last Place- NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Tomohiro Ishii (0 Points) (0-3)
Block D
1st Place- Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr & Jeff Cobb (6 Points) (3-0)
2nd Place- IWGP Tag Team Champion Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito (4 Points) (2-1)
3rd Place- NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shane Haste (2 Points) (1-2)
Last Place- Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion Alex Coughlin & Toru Yano (0 Points) (0-3)
