As I have fallen behind on my reviews for the G1 Climax I have elected to combine these two nights in to one shorter article, for fear of falling into an inescapable black hole.
Night 15
Block A Match - Yuji Nagata vs Zack Sabre Jr
He did it! Nagata did it! Really good match that played into both men's strengths and it was great to see Nagata get points on the board. ***3/4
Block A Match - Kota Ibushi vs YOSHI-HASHI
This was another very good match that was made the better by the fact that it was competitive throughout. Ibushi picked up the win. ***1/2
Block A Match - Hirooki Goto vs Bad Luck Fale
I found this match to be distinctly average. Nothing really stood out to me. Fale won to eliminate Goto. **1/2
Block A Match - Tetsuya Naito vs Togi Makabe
I have seen that this match has split opinion, with some people not impressed and others giving it rave reviews. For me the truth lies somewhere in between. Naito eliminates Makabe. ***1/2
Block A Match - Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Tomohiro Ishii
Easily the best match on the show. This was an excellent match with Ishii once again proving how great he is. He does some great leg focused work here, leading to Tanahashi having to fight back. It's a really well structured and well paced match. Top notch. Tanahashi wins to put an end to Ishii's hopes. ****1/2
Standings
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 6-2 - 12 points
Tetsuya Naito: 6-2 - 12 points
*Kota Ibushi: 5-3 - 10 points
*Bad Luck Fale: 5-3 - 10 points
*Zack Sabre Jr: 4-4 - 8 points
*Tomohiro Ishii: 4-4 - 8 points
*Hirooki Goto: 4-4 - 8 points
*Togi Makabe: 3-5 - 6 points
*YOSHI-HASHI: 2-6 - 4 points
*Yuji Nagata: 1-7 - 2 points
(* = Eliminated)
Overall Grade - B+
A really good show with only one match that wasn't great and a fantastic main event. It is a bit of a shame that there are only two wrestlers left in contention with Naito and Tanahashi facing each other on Night 17.
Night 16
Block B Match - Tama Tonga vs Satoshi Kojima
Solid opening tournament match. Tonga picked up the win over the veteran. ***
Block B Match - Juice Robinson vs Toru Yano
This was your typical Yano comedy match which was nice and short. Robinson picked up the win. **
Block B Match - EVIL vs Michael Elgin
Really fun match. The two big men worked well together and the finishing stretch was excellent. Elgin won, which means that EVIL will be eliminated if Okada avoids a loss. ***3/4
Block B Match - Kenny Omega vs SANADA
Omega has been good in this tournament but for me he hasn't been as good as numerous others. That is a discussion for another time though. This was as good as you would expect as both of these men are incredibly athletic. Omega picked up the win. ***3/4
Block B Match - Kazuchika Okada vs Minoru Suzuki
I was beginning to wonder if we would get a 30-minute draw but I needn't have worried. It was always quite likely that it would involve Okada too. I would say that this is roughly at the same level as their match from earlier this year, which is to say excellent. ****1/2
Standings
Kazuchika Okada: 6-1-1 - 13 points
Kenny Omega: 6-2 - 12 points
*EVIL: 5-3 - 10 points
*Minoru Suzuki: 4-3-1 - 9 points
*SANADA: 4-4 - 8 points
*Michael Elgin: 4-4 - 8 points
*Tama Tonga: 3-5 - 6 points
*Juice Robinson: 3-5 - 6 points
*Toru Yano: 3-5 - 6 points
*Satoshi Kojima: 1-7 - 2 points
(*=Eliminated)
Overall Grade - B
Another good show but another that left me feeling a bit disappointed that the last nights will be so clear cut.
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