The day has finally come for the finals of G1 Climax 26, it would be a heated battle between ‘The Cleaner’ Kenny Omega and my personal favourite Hirooki Goto. It is hard to say who would have the edge in this match, Goto had an extra day of rest but Omega is riding the momentum of knocking off Tetsuya Naito the night before. Without a doubt I knew this would be an amazing match, so keep reading to see who would head to Wrestle Kingdom 11.

FINALS MATCH- Kenny Omega vs Hirooki Goto

This bout kicked off with both men looking to get the best of one another, they traded strikes and engaged in lock-ups until Omega connected with a hurricanrana. Omega then bounced off the ropes looking to dive to the outside, but Goto got back in the ring and landed a kick to Omega’s injured knee.

Goto then went to work on the knee of Omega with many kicks and he then locked in a figure four leg lock. Omega made it to the ropes, but Goto then wrapped Omega’s knee in the ropes and began to kick away.

Goto then clotheslined Omega to the outside of the ring, and he tried to throw Omega into the barricade. Omega blocked the throw and landed a superkick to Goto’s mid-section, and he then used the barricade as a springboard to moonsault on to Goto.

Omega then attacked the spine of Goto by body slamming on the edge of the ring and then power bombing him on the apron. Back in the ring, Omega hit Goto with a neck breaker and then locked in a camel clutch.

Goto made it to the ropes and then Omega landed some blows before starting to twist the neck of Goto. Omega then landed a variety of chops to the chest of Goto before hitting his float over bulldog.

Both men now traded some chops to the chest of each other, until Goto caught Omega off the ropes with a big clothesline. Goto now hit his corner spinning heel kick, followed by a belly to back suplex.

Goto then hit a corner running clothesline and went to the top rope to land a diving elbow drop. Goto then got Omega in a fireman’s carry position, but Omega got out and hit a rolling fireman’s carry to Goto followed by a diving moonsault from the second rope.

Omega now hit Goto with some chops and then took a cheap shot by raking the eyes, and he then hit a dragon suplex. Goto then rolled to the outside of the ring and Omega ran to dive to the outside with a beautiful flip landing right on his opponent.

Omega then threw Goto back in the ring and went to the top rope to land a diving dropkick to the back of Goto’s head. Omega now went to continue his attack, but he was caught by Goto and got hit with an ushigoroshi.

Omega now rolled to the apron and Goto ran by sideswiping him with a lariat turning him inside out. Goto then placed him on the top rope and joined him there to deliver a must-see moment, he landed an ushigoroshi from the top rope.

Goto now kept attempting to get Omega in a rear-naked choke, but Omega kept battling out. So, Goto went for a German suplex instead, but Omega flipped out and hit him with a V-trigger and then a brainbuster dropping him on his knee.

Omega then hit a second V-trigger and then went for the One-Winged Angel, but Goto slipped out and locked in a backpack rear-naked choke. To break the submission, Omega climbed to the top rope with Goto on his back and fell back from the top rope landing on Goto to break the hold.

Both men now began trading forearms until Omega hit a knee to the face, and then with a call out to Kota Ibushi, he hit a sit-out Last Ride powerbomb. Omega then went to the top rope and attempted a phoenix splash, but Goto rolled out of the way.

Goto then hit one of his devastating kicks to the chest of Omega, followed by a headbutt and then a twisting facebuster. He then went for the GTR, but Omega got out with some knees and he then attempted another V-trigger.

This time Goto was able to block the V-trigger, but Omega bounced back and hit a short V-trigger instead followed by a second dragon suplex. Omega then went for the running V-trigger again, but Goto blocked once again and then hit Omega with a strong lariat.

Goto now went deep into his arsenal to deliver a Shouten, a suplex side slam, this is a move he used in the earlier stages of his career. Goto tried to follow that with a GTR, but Omega blocked and delivered a Bloody Sunday, the finisher of former NJPW superstar and Bullet Club member, Prince Devitt.

Omega then did his third call-out of the match by delivering a Styles Clash, the finisher of another former NJPW superstar and Bullet Club member, AJ Styles. Omega then finally got Goto up and hit his One-Winged Angel to get the win.

Kenny Omega is the winner of the 2016 G1 Climax 26, after such an amazing tournament with so many great moments. Omega would then go on to Wrestle Kingdom 11 to compete for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship!

G1 Climax 26 Winner: Kenny Omega

Rating: 9/10

The final night of G1 Climax 26 is now upon us, and it was time to find out who from Block B was heading to the final. Block B was down to four men potentially heading to the final, and those men were Tetsuya Naito, Kenny Omega, Katsuyori Shibata, and Michael Elgin.

Block B Match- Yuji Nagata vs Tomoaki Honma

The opening match on the show did not matter towards final standings, so the two veterans, Tomoaki Honma and Yuji Nagata were battling for bragging rights. The match began when Honma took a cheap shot, slapping Nagata across the face when he was not ready.

Nagata did not take well to the slap and responded with an even stronger slap of his own and then a spinning heel kick to Honma. Nagata now worked on the injured ribs of Honma, he removed the tape on them and started hitting knees and kicks.

Nagata then hit Honma with three strong roundhouse kicks to the chest and then tried to go for a suplex. Honma was able to block the suplex and deliver one of his own, he then landed a forearm and running bulldog combo.

Honma then hit a seated blockbuster and then bounced off the ropes, but Nagata caught him with a knee lift. Nagata now hit a rope hung twisting neck breaker followed with an exploder suplex.

Honma was able to get right back up from the suplex and hit a discus clothesline on Nagata. Both men then traded strikes and chops until Nagata was able to lock in his signature armbar.

Honma broke the hold by reaching the ropes and then Nagata hit him with an enzigiri to the head. Nagata now hit a belly to back suplex, and then went for a second but got blocked and Honma bounced off the ropes to hit a leaping headbutt.

Honma then went to the top rope, but Nagata stopped him up there and landed an avalanche exploder suplex. Nagata now hit a running knee in the corner and then both men traded some strong slaps to the face.

Nagata then hit a German suplex and then went for his finishing belly to back suplex, but Honma stopped it in mid-air. Honma now hit another leaping headbutt, and he followed that by hitting a reverse piledriver.

Honma now went to the top rope and landed his diving headbutt on to Nagata to get the win. Honma was able to finish the tournament on a positive note.

Winner: Tomoaki Honma (6pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block B Match- Toru Yano vs YOSHI-HASHI

Next on the card was another match with pointless results between the horrible Toru Yano and YOSHI-HASHI. The match started with both men trading strikes until Yano started with his cheap tricks.

It started with Yano trying to take the turnbuckle pad off, but HASHI caught him with a double axe handle. He then chopped Yano across the chest and hung him on the ropes, he then ran hitting a dropkick to the back of Yano.

Yano was then able to catch HASHI off guard by pulling on his hair and then taking off the turnbuckle pad. He then waited for HASHI to run at him and he moved out of the way, this made HASHI hit the exposed turnbuckle.

Both men then traded shots on each other with the turnbuckle pads, and then Yano was able to throw HASHI into the referee. Yano now landed a low-blow and rolled HASHI up for the dirty win.

Winner: Toru Yano (10pts)

Rating: 2/10

Block B Match- Katsuyori Shibata vs EVIL

The next match was between EVIL and Katsuyori Shibata, and if Shibata wanted to keep his slim hopes of making the finals alive, he needed this win. Shibata tried to end the match quickly, he started with a big boot, a belly to back suplex, and then he had a missed attempt at the PK.

EVIL then rolled to the outside to take a breather, and when Shibata joined him there, he threw him into the barricade. EVIL then wrapped Shibata’s previously injured arm in the barricade and kicked the arm, he then added insult to injury by hitting the arm with a steel chair.

EVIL now wrapped the chair around the arm of Shibata and drove him into the ring post. Back in the ring EVIL continued his attack, with elbows to the arm and some wrenching holds as well.

Shibata eventually started absorbing the hits from EVIL and he kept begging for more. Shibata then responded with a stiff forearm to take EVIL down and then a kick right to the chest.

Shibata now landed his back-to-back corner running big boots, and then when EVIL sat in the corner Shibata hit the beautiful hesitation dropkick. Shibata then hit a float over arm trapped suplex and then locked in an abdominal stretch.

EVIL made it to the ropes, and then both men traded some powerful kicks and forearms. Shibata then got the upper hand by hitting EVIL with his own finisher, the STO.

Shibata then delivered a double under hook suplex followed with a kick to the chest of a kneeling EVIL. After some more strikes, Shibata locked in the sleeper hold on EVIL, but EVIL found a way out.

EVIL grabbed the injured arm of Shibata and slammed it over his own shoulder to hyperextend it. He then elbowed his way completely out of the hold and then hit an arm trapped belly to back suplex on Shibata.

EVIL then hit a big boot to Shibata’s arm and then three very powerful headbutts to the shoulder, and then a discus forearm. EVIL then landed one more strike to Shibata’s arm and then a half-nelson suplex.

EVIL now hit a clothesline, and then lifted Shibata to hit the fireman’s carry to powerbomb sequence. EVIL then was able to get Shibata up for the Everything is Evil STO to win and eliminate Shibata from the G1.

Winner: EVIL (8pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block B Match- Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Michael Elgin

Now was a battle between Katsuhiko Nakajima and Michael Elgin, and just like Shibata earlier Elgin needs to win to keep his finals hopes alive. The match begins with Elgin landing strikes and Nakajima landing kicks until Elgin landed a shot to take down Nakajima.

Elgin then landed a power slam and then went for a clothesline, but Nakajima dodged and sent Elgin to the outside. Elgin then got on the apron only to be booted in the face back to the outside.

Nakajima then went on the apron to run and kick Elgin directly in his chest, and he then threw Elgin into the barricade shoulder first. He then wrapped Elgin’s arm in the barricade and hit a big boot to the wrapped-up arm.

Nakajima then drove Elgin’s arm into the ring post, and then back in the ring he landed some kicks to Elgin’s injured arm. Nakajima then locked in an armbar to Elgin, but Elgin quickly scurried to the ropes.

Nakajima then went for a boot to Elgin in the corner, but Elgin blocked and then German suplex Nakajima into the corner. Elgin now hit two running clotheslines in the corner and then a military press into a power slam.

Elgin then went for a kick, but Nakajima blocked and now attacked the knee of Elgin. He hit two dragon screws and then a dropkick to Elgin’s knee; he followed that with a big boot to Elgin in the corner.

Nakajima now landed a kick to the chest of Elgin and then went to the top rope to hit a diving missile dropkick. Nakajima then hit a spinning heel kick to Elgin on the top rope and then a devastating belly to back suplex.

Nakajima then went for a superkick, but Elgin dodged it and hit a German suplex. Elgin then hit a clothesline and went for a second one, but Nakajima caught him with a dropkick to the face.

Nakajima then hit a PK and went for a brainbuster, but Elgin reversed into two suplexes for himself. He then placed Nakajima on the top rope and tried to join him there, but Nakajima knocked him off.

Nakajima then went for another diving missile dropkick, but Elgin caught him in the air and turned it into a powerbomb. Elgin then went to the top rope and went for the diving splash, but Nakajima rolled out of the way.

Both men then began trading forearms until Elgin landed a flurry of forearms and then the final one looked like it knocked the taste out of Nakajima’s mouth. Elgin then landed a clothesline that turned Nakajima inside out and then placed Nakajima on the top rope to hit an avalanche falcon’s arrow.

Elgin then landed a buckle bomb to Nakajima and then went for his finishing powerbomb, but Nakajima reversed into a sunset flip for a two count. Nakajima then hit two superkicks to Elgin, and then Elgin responded with a discus forearm and then spinning back fist.

Elgin now went for another clothesline, but Nakajima blocked and hit a roundhouse kick followed by a superkick. Nakajima then lifted Elgin to hit the brainbuster to get the win in this amazing match and eliminate Elgin.

Winner: Katsuhiko Nakajima (10pts)

Rating: 9/10

Block B Match- Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

Now it all came down to the main event between Kenny Omega and Tetsuya Naito, if Omega won, he was in the finals and Naito needed a win or draw to advance. At the beginning of the match Naito was toying with Omega and went into his pose of Tranquilo, but Omega spit in the face of Naito.

Naito returned the favour with some spit of his own, and then both men traded strikes until Naito hit Omega in the knee with a dropkick. Naito then landed some stomps to Omega’s knee in the corner and then drove Omega’s knee into the mat.

Omega stopped the attack on his knee with a thumb to the eye and then throwing Naito to the outside. Omega then tried to springboard to the outside, but Naito moved out of the way and then hit another dropkick to the knee of Omega.

Omega began coming back in the match by driving Naito into the barricade twice and then body slamming the spine first on the edge of the ring. Back in the ring Omega dropped Naito with a brainbuster on to his knee.

Omega then began wrenching at the neck of Naito and then hit many elbows to the collarbone area of Naito. Omega then hit a neck breaker and then three combo chops to knock Naito down.

Omega then hit his rolling fireman’s carry, but as he hopped to the second rope for the moonsault his knee began to give out. Naito then ran with a dropkick to Omega’s knee-knocking him off the second rope.

Naito then hit a back elbow and then a dropkick to the face of a seated Omega, he followed that with a neck breaker. He then hit my favourite sequence of his with the corner leg sweep float over and then leaping back into the ring with a dropkick to the chest of Omega.

Naito then landed an atomic drop and then yet another dropkick to the knee of Omega. He then locked in a figure-four leg lock on Omega, he was on a personal mission to destroy Omega’s knee.

Fortunately, Omega made it to the ropes and then Naito ran at him in the corner, but Omega got his feet up. Omega then landed his running leap over bulldog, he then dropkicked Naito off the apron into the steel barricade.

Omega then power bombed Naito over the barricade through one of the commentator’s tables. He then springboarded from inside the ring with a flip on to Naito all the way in the crowd, this was absolutely breathtaking.

Then as both men were heading back to the ring, Omega stopped Naito and hit him with a dragon suplex on the ring apron. He followed that with another dragon suplex back in the ring and then went for the gut-wrench powerbomb.

Naito was able to block the powerbomb and turn it into a spike DDT to stop Omega’s attack. Both men then began trading forearms until Omega caught Naito with a V-trigger, but Naito responded from that with a tornado DDT.

Naito then placed Omega on the top rope for an avalanche hurricanrana, but Omega rolled through on the mat for a two-count roll-up. Naito hopped back up and hit another dropkick to Omega’s knee, a wheelbarrow kick, and then an arm trapped side slam.

Naito then went for a German suplex, but Omega flipped out of it and hit Naito with a clothesline turning him inside out. Omega then hit another V-trigger and then went for the One-Winged Angel, but Naito reversed into a kneebar.

After almost 30 seconds in the hold, Omega was able to make it to the ropes, but Naito followed the hold by dropping Omega’s knee on his own knee. Naito then went for the same move, but Omega hit a knee to the face and then a German suplex.

Omega then landed a gut-wrench powerbomb and then another V-trigger to the face of Naito. Omega now went for the finish again, but this time Naito reversed into a Destino, but he did not have the energy to go for a cover.

Naito then placed Omega on the top rope and hit the crazy move of a super reverse-rana, dropping Omega skull first on the mat. Naito then went for the Destino, but Omega caught Naito in the air and reversed into a package tombstone piledriver.

Omega then hit three knees to the face of a grounded Naito and he then went for the finish, but Naito slipped out. Naito then hit Omega with an enzigiri and bounced off the ropes jumping at Omega, but Omega caught him with a V-trigger in the air.

Omega then hit Naito with the lovely electric chair to German suplex combo for a two-count. He then hit Naito with another V-trigger to the skull and then he was finally able to hit the One-Winged Angel for the win in this outstanding match to book his ticket to the G1 Climax 26 Final.

Winner: Kenny Omega (12pts)

Rating: 10/10

That is the close to the block portion of G1 Climax 26 and it has been an outstanding 18 nights of wrestling. I am beyond excited to see this G1 final on night 19 between Kenny Omega and Hirooki Goto.

It was now time for night 17 of the G1 Climax 26, and this was the final night of competition for Block A. The block came down to five men: Bad Luck Fale, Naomichi Marufuji, Hirooki Goto, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kazuchika Okada. Only one of these men would be going to the G1 Final.

Block A Match- SANADA vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Even though the opening match of the night had no implications on the standings, it was a chance for the young SANADA to battle the veteran Hiroyoshi Tenzan. The match kicked off with both men locking up, trading strikes, and exchanging shoulder blocks.

The match began when SANADA took a cheap shot, kicking the ropes as Tenzan was trying to re-enter the ring. Now on the outside of the ring, SANADA threw Tenzan into the steel barricade and then hit him with his signature bat.

Back in the ring now SANADA went to the ground and pound hammering Tenzan with punches. However, Tenzan came back into the match when SANADA bounced off the ropes and he was caught with a spinning heel kick.

Tenzan now hit a clothesline to SANADA in the corner, and then he hit a standing suplex followed by a back body drop. Tenzan then Irish whipped SANADA into the corner, but SANDA hopped over and springboarded back into the ring hitting a missile dropkick.

SANADA now hit a standing moonsault and then a belly to back suplex to Tenzan. SANADA then continued his offence with an enzigiri and then his signature TKO dropping Tenzan on his face.

SANADA then hit a German suplex to Tenzan and went for the dragon sleeper, but he was reversed. Tenzan was able to stop the hold and hit SANADA with a kneeling brainbuster.

Tenzan then went for his diving moonsault from the top rope, but SANADA rolled out of the way. SANANDA then hit a dropkick to Tenzan, but that powered Tenzan up and he then hit many chops and headbutts.

To follow the headbutts Tenzan hit a clubbing forearm to the back of SANADA’s head, followed with a clothesline. Tenzan now locked in the anaconda vice, and then eventually he turned that into an anaconda vice bomb.

Tenzan then went for a suplex, but SANADA blocked it and locked in his dragon sleeper. He held the hold for quite some time, but Tenzan was able to make it to the ropes.

SANADA then body slammed Tenzan and went to the top rope to hit the diving moonsault. SANADA then locked in the dragon sleeper once again and got Tenzan to tap out to close his G1 run.

Winner: SANADA (8pts)

Rating: 6.5/10

Block A Match- Togi Makabe vs Tomohiro Ishii

Up next on the card was another match with pointless results, but it was a hard-hitting bout between Tomohiro Ishii and Togi Makabe. Both men kicked off the match teeing off on each other, they were trading some vicious strikes and took each other out.

Ishii was the first to get up after the strike off and he put Makabe in the corner to hit him with some strong chops. Makabe eventually stopped Ishii’s attack when he did not go down from a forearm, and he then shoulder blocked Ishii down.

Makabe now ran off the ropes to hit Ishii with a clothesline, he then put him in the corner to hit many more clotheslines taking him down. Makabe then hit a northern lights suplex and he then went for a powerbomb, but Ishii flipped him over.

Both men then traded stiff forearms once again, and they were not holding back with these shots. Makabe first took Ishii off his feet and then hit a plethora of more forearms, but that amped Ishii up.

Ishii now hit many more forearms himself, and then took him down by driving him into the corner with a clothesline. Ishii now put Makabe on the top rope and hit a superplex to get a two-count.

Ishii then continued his attack hitting a German suplex, a dragon suplex, and then finally an enzigiri. Ishii then bounced off the ropes, but he was caught by a chop to the neck from Makabe and he then hit three more chops.

Makabe then hit a double-axe handle to the chest of Ishii and then followed that with a powerbomb. Makabe then hit Ishii with three clotheslines to the chest and one to the back to take Ishii down.

Makabe then hit a German suplex on Ishii, and then put him on the top rope to hit an avalanche German suplex. Makabe now went for his signature diving knee drop, but Ishii was able to roll out of the way.

These men then went back and forth exchanging clotheslines until Ishii hit Makabe with two headbutts to take him down. Ishii then bounced off the ropes taking Makabe down with a strong clothesline.

Ishii now hit a seated clothesline and then got Makabe up to hit his finishing brainbuster. This gave Ishii the win, and he finishes the tournament with eight points.

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (8pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block A Match- Tama Tonga vs Bad Luck Fale

In the third match of the night, it was a battle of Bullet Club between Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale. It was expected that Tonga would lie down for Fale so he could book his ticket to the G1 final.

When the match started that seemed to be the case when Tonga lied down, but he shocked everyone when he kicked out at two. Then the match really began and Fale started clubbing Tonga with some strikes to the head.

Fale then lifted Tonga up to hit a Bad Luck Fall to the outside dropping Tonga on to all the Bullet Club members at ringside. Then back in the ring, Fale continued to attack by choking Tonga on the ropes and then standing on his spine.

Fale then began to hit Tonga in the corner with some brutal shots to the skull and then powerfully Irish whipping him into the other corner. Fale then ran for a corner splash, but Tonga moved out of the way and hit his own splash into the corner on Fale.

Tonga now hit Fale with two forearms to the face and then a jumping neck breaker to his much bigger opponent. Tonga then hit a splash on to Fale, but his next move was reversed and Fale hit him with a Samoan drop.

Fale was now able to hit Tonga with the corner splash and he then landed on Tonga with a jumping splash on the ground. Fale followed all this by practically breaking Tonga in half with a brutal spear.

Fale then went for the Bad Luck Fall, but Tonga slipped out and hit Fale with a dropkick and then his leaping legs-wrapped DDT. Tonga was then able to hit Fale with the Gun Stun to get the win and eliminate Fale from the tournament.

Winner: Tama Tonga (8pts)

Rating: 6/10

Block A Match- Naomichi Marufuji vs Hirooki Goto

Up next was the match between Naomichi Marufuji and Hirooki Goto with major implications on the standings. The match started with an exchange of strikes until Goto hit a hip toss and then clotheslined Marufuji to the outside.

On the outside of the ring Marufuji gained control, he threw Goto into the barricade, hit a big boot, and then a bulldog across the barricade. Back in the ring, both men began trading strikes until Goto was knocked down by one of Marufuji’s powerful chops.

Marufuji then continued with his chops in the corner until he ran across the ring with a leaping back elbow to Goto in the corner. Marufuji then hit another chop and then bounced off the ropes, but Goto caught him with a kick to the chest.

Goto then Irish whipped Marufuji into the corner and ran at him to hit the beautiful corner spinning heel kick. He then hit a clothesline in the corner to knock Marufuji to the ground and then went to the top rope to hit the diving elbow drop.

Goto now went to Irish whip Marufuji again, but he cartwheeled out and dropkicked Goto to the outside. He then ran and leaped over the top rope landing on Goto on the outside of the ring.

Goto then thought he was getting away from Marufuji by crawling into the ring, but Marufuji springboarded from the opposite side of the ring drop kicking Goto in the face. Marufuji then started hitting Goto with chops and Goto responded with forearms, this went on until Marufuji hit a superkick that Goto responded from with a head drag into his knee.

Goto then attempted to hit a running corner clothesline, but Marufuji moved out of the way and then hit a bicycle knee to Goto in the corner. Marufuji then hit a superkick and went for sliced bread but he was reversed, and then hit Goto with an enzigiri and another superkick.

Marufuji then hit another knee-superkick combo, but as he went for another bicycle knee Goto caught him with a headbutt. Goto now hit Marufuji with a big roundhouse kick to the chest and then an ushigoroshi.

Goto then went for the GTR, but Marufuji got out and hit two superkicks to the face of Goto and then a bicycle knee. Marufuji then went for his finisher again, but Goto blocked by locking in a rear-naked choke.

Goto held in the hold until Marufuji was practically out and he then hit the GTR for the win. This win puts Goto alone at the top of Block A, and if the main event ends in a draw Goto will be heading to the G1 final.

Winner: Hirooki Goto (12pts)

Rating: 8.5/10

Block A Match- Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

The main event of night 17 was Kazuchika Okada against Hiroshi Tanahashi, and whoever won this match would be headed to the G1 final. This was due to both men defeating Hirooki Goto earlier in the tournament, so this would be their tiebreaker.

Goto’s only hope was if the match ended in a draw, he would then be a point ahead of both Okada and Tanahashi. This match started at a very fast pace with Okada hitting a reverse neck breaker, a missile dropkick, and then a diving elbow drop from the top rope.

He then went for the Rainmaker, but Tanahashi reversed and hit a dropkick to the knee of Okada. This gave Tanahashi a slight breather, but Okada recovered quickly and hit a power slam on Tanahashi and then leap over senton from the apron.

Okada then locked in an innovative submission, trapping both Tanahashi’s hands and feet behind him. Okada went for the pin from this hold, but he only got a two count and then Okada went for a big boot.

Tanahashi caught the boot and hit another dropkick to Okada’s knee, and he then began attacking the knee. He hit elbows and threw Okada’s knee into the mat, and he then locked Okada in a kneebar.

Okada eventually got to the ropes breaking the hold and then Tanahashi ran at him, but Okada reversed with a back-body drop. Okada then hit some strikes followed with a back elbow in the corner, and then a DDT to Tanahashi.

Okada followed the DDT by running at Tanahashi hitting a beautiful European uppercut, and then locking in a leg trapped cross face submission. Tanahashi made it to the ropes and then got up to run at Okada hitting a leaping forearm.

Both men then traded some powerful strikes with each other until Okada placed Tanahashi on the top rope. Okada then dropkicked Tanahashi off the top rope sending him to the outside of the ring.

Okada then threw Tanahashi into the barricade outside the ring and then reversed the big boot Okada looked to follow the throw with. Tanahashi then wrapped Okada’s knee on the barricade and hit a dragon screw over the steel.

Tanahashi then went to the top rope and dove on to Okada on the outside of the ring hitting a standing High Fly Flow. Tanahashi then tried to lift Okada up to get him back into the ring, but Okada stopped him and hit a tombstone piledriver on the outside.

Okada now threw Tanahashi back into the ring and went to the top rope to go for a diving missile dropkick, but Tanahashi stepped out of the way. Tanahashi then grabbed the knee of Okada and hit two dragon screws before locking in a cloverleaf submission.

Okada made it to the ropes, but Tanahashi continued to strike the knee of Okada. He then bounced off the ropes, but he was stopped by Okada and Okada lifted him in a fireman’s carry position.

As Okada went for a move in the fireman’s carry hold, Tanahashi reversed in mid-air and turned it into a sling blade on Okada. Tanahashi then hit Okada with a straight-arm German suplex and then went to the top rope, but he was caught by Okada with a strike.

Okada then joined Tanahashi on the top rope, but Tanahashi was able to knock Okada off the ropes on to his back. Tanahashi then went for the finishing High Fly Flow, but Okada rolled out of the way.

Okada now hit a dropkick to the back of Tanahashi’s head and then he hit him with a proper dropkick to the chest. Okada then went for the Rainmaker again, but Tanahashi turned it into a sling blade.

Tanahashi then dragon screwed Okada’s knee over the top rope, and he followed that with a dragon screw over the ring apron. He then locked Okada in the cloverleaf again, but like the first time, Okada made it to the ropes.

Tanahashi continued his offence by bouncing off the ropes and hitting Okada with a reverse sling blade. He then went to the top rope and hit the High Fly Flow to the back of Okada, and then went right back to the top rope.

This time he was going for the classic High Fly Flow, but Okada was able to get his knees up. Okada now went for the tombstone piledriver, however Tanahashi flipped it over and hit Okada with a tombstone.

Tanahashi then hit a different variation of a twisting neck breaker, and he then went to the top rope again. This time Tanahashi went for the standing High Fly Flow, but Okada caught him in mid-air with a dropkick.

Okada then hit a German suplex and held on to try and go for the Rainmaker, but Tanahashi reversed with a strike. However, even with the strike Okada never let go of Tanahashi’s wrist and then pulled him in for the Rainmaker.

He then lifted him back up for a second Rainmaker, however Tanahashi reversed again and hit Okada with a dragon suplex for a two-count. Now with the clock running out on the 30-minute time limit, Tanahashi lifted Okada up, but Okada reversed and hit him with a tombstone for a two-count.

Okada then tried for the Rainmaker three more times, but Tanahashi kept reversing until he hit a sling blade on Okada. He then went to the top rope and hit a standing High Fly Flow, and he then went back to the top and hit the proper High Fly Flow.

However, the 30-minute time limit ran out as he was going for the cover causing the match to end in a draw. This gave Okada and Tanahashi only one point each, meaning Hirooki Goto was the winner of Block A and he was going to the G1 final.

Winner: TIME-LIMIT DRAW

Rating: 9.5/10

This is the end to Block A of the G1 Climax, and to everyone’s surprise, it was my personal favourite Hirooki Goto coming out on top. Goto will now be heading to the G1 final to battle the winner of Block B.

Night 16 of G1 Climax 26 was a very entertaining and fast-paced show from top to bottom. Most of the wrestlers on the card shined, and a lot of the guys in Block B have an unnatural amount of skill in the squared circle.

Block B Match- Kenny Omega vs Katsuhiko Nakajima

The opening match for night 16 was a bout between ‘The Cleaner’ Kenny Omega and Katsuhiko Nakajima. The match kicked off with Omega spitting in the face of his opponent and then hitting some strikes until he was caught by a superkick from Nakajima.

Nakajima followed that by dropping Omega with a belly-to-back suplex, and then a baseball slide to Omega sending him into the barricade. He then ran on the apron hitting a penalty kick to the chest of Omega.

On the outside of the ring Nakajima tried to throw Omega into the barricade, but Omega turned it around and sent Nakajima into the barricade. Omega then grabbed Nakajima and hit a dragon suplex dropping Nakajima on his neck on the outside of the ring.

Omega continued the attack on Nakajima’s neck on the inside of the ring with a neck breaker, and then he twisted at his neck. Omega then chopped at Nakajima’s chest, and he then hit a running back elbow in the corner.

Omega tried to continue his attack when he hit the rolling fireman’s carry and then went for the moonsault from the second rope, but Nakajima got his knees up. Nakajima now hit a dragon screw knee breaker, and then a big boot in the corner followed with a kick to the chest.

Nakajima now went to the top rope for a diving missile dropkick to the chest of Omega. Nakajima then tried to Irish whip Omega, but Omega bounced off the ropes hitting a dropkick to the knee followed with his float over bulldog.

Omega then went to the top rope, but Nakajima caught him and landed a superplex from the top rope. Nakajima now went for the PK, but Omega moved out of the way and hit a dragon suplex.

Omega then went for the V-trigger, but Nakajima moved and went for the German suplex, but Omega flipped out. Omega now hit a second dragon suplex, and then a vicious V-trigger.

Omega then went for the One-Winged Angel, but Nakajima managed to slip out and hit Omega with five superkicks. He then went for the brainbuster, but Omega blocked and hit another V-trigger.

Nakajima then was able to catch the running Omega with a dropkick and then a PK to the seated Omega. He now tried for the brainbuster once again, but Omega flipped out and hit Nakajima with a poisonrana.

Omega then got Nakajima up for one final move, he was able to hit the One-Winged Angel for the win. This victory gives Omega his fifth win and 10 points in the tournament.

Winner: Kenny Omega (10pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block B Match- Toru Yano vs EVIL

Up next on the card was the joke himself, Toru Yano, battling with EVIL in the worst match of the night. Before the bout even started Yano was already taking the turnbuckle pad off to get the upper hand.

He then threw EVIl into the exposed turnbuckle, blinded him with his coat, and tried to steal a roll-up win. EVIL kicked out and started hitting Yano with some forearms until Yano pulled at the ponytail of EVIL.

On the outside of the ring now Yano threw EVIL into the barricade, but then EVIL caught Yano with a superkick to the mid-section. EVIL then caught Yano with some chair shots into the ribs, and he then wrapped the chair around Yano’s head and threw it into the ring post.

Back in the ring now Yano hit EVIL with an atomic drop, and he then catapulted him face-first into the exposed turnbuckle. He then threw him into the turnbuckle again and went for another unsuccessful roll-up.

EVIL now hit Yano with a superman punch and then a big clothesline, EVIL now went for Everything is Evil. However, Yano blocked and went for yet another roll-up, but for the third time now EVIL kicked out.

Yano then tried to hit a low-blow on EVIL from behind, but the referee stopped him grabbing his arm. As the referee had Yano, EVIL turned him into the Everything is Evil for the victory.

Winner: EVIL (6pts)

Rating: 4/10

Block B Match- YOSHI-HASHI vs Tetsuya Naito

The middle of the card saw YOSHI-HASHI locking horns with Tetsuya Naito in a heated battle. HASHI started the match hot running at Naito with a dropkick, then hitting some strikes, a hurricanrana, and then a body slam.

Naito got some offence in by going after the taped-up shoulder of HASHI, he ran with a dropkick right to the shoulder. On the outside of the ring, he then threw HASHI into the barricade and followed that by throwing him shoulder first into the steel post.

Back in the ring, Naito continued the attack on the injured shoulder of HASHI by locking in an armbar and then hitting some shoulder blocks. HASHI got back into the match by hitting a dropkick to Naito’s knee and then a spike DDT, he followed that with a somersault neck breaker.

HASHI now hung Naito on the top rope and hit the running dropkick to the back of his opponent. Naito now knew he needed to get back on the attack, so he hit some elbows to HASHI’s shoulder and then his float over dropkick sequence in the corner.

HASHI then landed a mule kick to the face of Naito and then bounced Naito off the ropes catching him with a Codebreaker. HASHI now hit a powerbomb and then a body slam, he then went to the top rope for the rolling senton.

Unfortunately for HASHI, Naito rolled out of the way and went to the top rope himself to hit a missile dropkick. Naito now placed HASHI on the top rope to hit an avalanche hurricanrana that got him a two count.

Naito then hit his arm-trapped side slam, and then an absolutely picture-perfect spine buster to HASHI. He then went for the Destino finish, but he was caught by HASHI and dropped chest first on to the mat.

Both men now traded some very stiff forearms until HASHI was able to catch Naito with a clothesline turning him inside-out. HASHI was now able to head to the top rope to hit is rolling senton on the second try.

HASHI then locked in his innovative arm-trapped submission hold that wrenched at the shoulders of Naito. Naito was able to make it to the ropes and when HASHI went for the hold again, Naito hit him with a German suplex followed by a wheelbarrow kick.

Naito then hit an enzigiri, and then immediately hit HASHI with an inverted DDT. Naito then went for the Destino again, but HASHI hit a headbutt and then a superkick.

HASHI then Irish whipped Naito, but Naito caught him with a forearm and then hit the Destino for the win. Naito now has 12 points and leads Block B in the tournament.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito (12pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block B Match- Yuji Nagata vs Katsuyori Shibata

In the last match before the main event, it was Katsuyori Shibata going one on one with Yuji Nagata. The match started with both men trying to get the upper hand until Nagata knocked Shibata to the outside with a forearm to the face.

On the outside of the ring, Nagata threw Shibata into the barricade and Shibata bounced out with a big boot. Both men then traded forearms and they were almost counted out due to the shots they were giving each other.

Nagata then gained the upper-hand when he went after the already injured shoulder of Shibata with some devastating kicks to the shoulder. Nagata then locked in an armbar and began to hyper-extend the injured arm to cause Shibata a lot of pain.

Nagata now began hitting some kicks to the chest of Shibata, and as Shibata begged for more, he was able to sweep out Nagata’s leg as he went for another kick. Shibata now hit two running big boots in the corner before hitting his beautiful hesitation dropkick to the face of Nagata.

Shibata then hit a head trapped suplex, and then both men went off on each other trading forearms. This went on until both men traded big boots, then Nagata hit an exploder suplex that Shibata no sold and hit a German suplex.

Nagata no-sold the suplex as well, and then both men hit a big boot at the same time taking one another out. As both men woke up Shibata hit a kick and then went for the sleeper, but Nagata turned it into another armbar.

Shibata would make it to the ropes and then Nagata started with the strikes to his opponent. He hit a multitude of knees driving Shibata into the corner, and he then even hit a running knee to the face of Shibata.

Nagata now hit his finishing belly-to-back suplex, but to the surprise of all Shibata kicked out at two. Nagata then hit a PK and then began to hit Shibata with knees, kicks, and forearms.

Shibata was able to reverse when he caught Nagata running off the ropes with a dropkick to the face. Shibata then hit a double under hook suplex and then locked in the sleeper hold.

Nagata did escape this hold by attacking Shibata’s injured arm again, but he could not escape for long. Shibata quickly hit two strikes to the head, and then locked in the sleeper again putting Nagata to sleep for the win.

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata (10pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block B Match- Michael Elgin vs Tomoaki Honma

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

The main event of night 16 saw the IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Michael Elgin, going against Tomoaki Honma. The match began with Elgin continuing to overpower Honma, and then both men engaged in a chop off.

Honma thought he won the chop off, but Elgin surprised him with a clothesline. Elgin then Irish whipped Honma into the corner, but Honma bounced out and hit Elgin with four shoulder blocks to finally take him down.

Honma then tried to body slam his much bigger opponent, but he fell back with Elgin on top of his chest. Elgin then ran at Honma in the corner, but Honma got out of the way and finally landed a body slam on Elgin.

Honma now went for the falling headbutt, but Elgin was able to roll out of the way. Elgin now got Honma up in a military press and dropped him into a power slam.

Elgin now body slammed Honma and went to the apron to springboard back into the ring with a splash on Honma. Elgin now hit some chops in the corner, and then threw Honma with such a powerful Irish whip that he fell to the ground.

Elgin then lifted Honma up and Honma began to hit him with some strong forearms, and then a spike DDT. He then went for the falling headbutt once again, but like the first time, Elgin rolled out of the way.

Elgin then got Honma up for a stalling suplex, but Honma wiggled his way down and used his strength to hit Elgin with a stalling suplex. Honma now got some offence in, hitting a back elbow, a body slam, a corner forearm, and then a bulldog.

With Elgin now down on his back, Honma was finally able to land his falling headbutt. He then bounced off the ropes to hit a somersault neck breaker to the seated Elgin.

Honma now tried to Irish whip Elgin off the ropes, but he was caught and Elgin delivered a belly-to-belly suplex. Elgin then placed Honma in the corner to hit two running clotheslines, and then a falcon’s arrow for a two count.

Elgin now hit a devastating German suplex, and then a discus clothesline taking Honma out. He then bounced off the ropes, but Honma caught him with a headbutt to the face, then one to the back of the head, and then finally one to Elgin while he was seated.

Elgin then blocked a suplex from Honma and hit him in the side of the head with an enzigiri. Elgin then lifted Honma up and hit a twisting side slam, but it was only good for a two count.

Elgin now went to the apron so he could climb to the top rope, but Honma got up and hit him with a headbutt sending him to the outside. Honma then went to the top rope and waited for Elgin to get back in the ring, and when he did, he was caught with a diving headbutt.

Honma then hit Elgin with a brainbuster and he then went to the top rope, but Elgin stopped him with an enzigiri sending him on to the apron. On the apron now Elgin hit Honma with a bicycle kick and then dropped him on the ‘hardest part of the ring’ with a Death Valley driver.

Elgin immediately followed that by lifting Honma up in a powerbomb position and buckle bombing him into the steel ring post. Elgin then got back in the ring and got on the second rope, from there he deadlifted Honma from the apron into an avalanche falcon’s arrow.

Elgin then went to the top rope to hit a diving splash and he then hit a buckle bomb, but Honma bounced off the corner hitting a headbutt to Elgin. Both men then began trading hard strikes until Honma hit a jumping headbutt to the face of Elgin.

Honma followed the headbutt with a reverse piledriver and he then went to the top rope for the diving headbutt, but Elgin rolled out of the way. Both men then traded forearms until Elgin hit a backhand slap and then a powerbomb to Honma.

Elgin rolled Honma through the impact of the powerbomb and then hit a clothesline turning Honma inside out. Elgin then finally hit a buckle bomb and then a sit-out powerbomb for the pin-fall. This was Elgin’s fifth win of the tournament.

Winner: Michael Elgin (10pts)

Rating: 8/10

This was a wrap to the 16^th night of the 2016 G1 Climax, and Naito continues to sit alone at the top of the block. I am very interested in how close a lot of the men are in points with only one more night for this block to go.

I have just completed night 15 of the 2016 NJPW G1 Climax, and Block A was competing on this night. This show was nothing too spectacular, and the competitors seemed not to be giving 100 per cent.

Block A Match- Tama Tonga vs Naomichi Marufuji

The opening match of Night 15 was a bout between Tama Tonga and Naomichi Marufuji. The match started with both men going back and forth with some strikes and shoulder blocks; then, Tonga hit a splash in the corner that Marufuji responded to with a dropkick.

The men then continued to battle until Marufuji ended up on the apron, where Tonga would hit him with a cutter on to the top rope. Now on the outside of the ring, Tonga would hit Marufuji with a flapjack on to the ‘hardest part of the ring.’

Back in the ring, Tonga continued his attack with some headbutts, elbows, and stomps. He then went to Irish whip Marufuji, but he cartwheeled out and hit Tonga with a dropkick to the face.

Marufuji now came at Tonga with some chops to the chest, and then he hitting a running back elbow in the corner. He then put Tonga in a seated position and ran hitting a stomp to Tonga’s chest, and he followed that with a superkick to the face.

Marufuji then ran off the ropes, but he was caught by Tonga and hit with a flapjack. These men then had a sequence that started with a headbutt from Tonga, then a superkick from Marufuji, and finally a neck breaker from Tonga.

Both men now traded strikes, Tonga hitting forearms and Marufuji hitting chops to the chest. Marufuji won the chop off and bounced off the ropes, but Tonga slid around him and hit the legs wrapped spike DDT.

Tonga got a two-count off of the DDT, and he followed that DDT with a reverse rolling cutter to Marufuji. Tonga then hit an Alabama slam and he went for the cutter, but it was reversed and he was hit with a superkick and bicycle knee.

Marufuji then hit a second bicycle knee, and then he hit the sliced bread number two. This was enough for the pin-fall and his fifth win of the tournament.

Winner: Naomichi Marufuji (10pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block A Match- SANADA vs Tomohiro Ishii

CO-MATCH OF THE NIGHT

The next match of the night was SANADA against Tomohiro Ishii, and both men needed this win in the tournament. The match began with a lock-up, some strikes, and then SANADA tried to end the match right away with the dragon sleeper, but Ishii grabbed the ropes.

SANADA then laid into Ishii with a variety of strikes and kicks, and then it was a European uppercut that took Ishii to the ground. SANADA then went for a running clothesline, but Ishii moved out of the way and hit a belly-to-back suplex.

Ishii now hit a big clothesline on SANADA in the corner, and then a running shoulder block. Ishii then hit a stalling suplex and he then wanted to bounce off the ropes, but SANADA caught him right in the face with a dropkick.

Ishii rolled to the outside after the dropkick, and SANADA spring boarded over the top ropes on to his opponent. SANADA then went to the top rope, but Ishii stopped him and hit an avalanche stalling suplex.

Both men then went into a heated strike-off, and both men were hitting some very strong forearms to each other. The end of this strike-off saw SANADA flip out of a German suplex and then hit a hurricanrana on Ishii.

SANADA now hit a springboard missile dropkick to the chest of Ishii, and then a standing moonsault. SANADA then hit a tiger suplex on Ishii and then locked in a dragon sleeper, but Ishii made it to the ropes.

SANADA then went for a diving moonsault, but Ishii moved out of the way. SANADA then tried to roll Ishii into the sleeper again, but Ishii rolled out and hit a clothesline to the seated SANADA.

Ishii then went for another German suplex, but SANADA flipped out of it again. Ishii then hit SANADA with a forearm and headbutt that put SANADA on the ground. Ishii then hit a running clothesline, and then a big powerbomb on SANADA.

Ishii then went for the brainbuster, but SANADA slipped out and hit Ishii with a TKO. He then locked in the dragon sleeper once again, and this time it was enough to get Ishii to tap out for the win.

Winner: SANADA (6pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block A Match- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Up next on the card was Hiroshi Tanahashi battling Hiroyoshi Tenzan in a hard-hitting bout. The match started with both men trading strikes until Tenzan gained some control when he hit a chop to Tanahashi’s neck.

Tenzan then went for a clothesline in the corner, but Tanahashi reversed and hit a springboard crossbody to Tenzan. Tanahashi then attacked the left knee of Tenzan, he pulled on the knee and then wrapped it up in ropes for more leverage.

These men then began trading strikes until Tanahashi bounced off the ropes, Tenzan caught Tanahashi with a spinning heel kick. Tenzan then hit a running clothesline in the corner and then a standing suplex.

Tanahashi came back from this by catching Tenzan with a running forearm, followed with a leaping elbow, and then a rolling senton. Tanahashi was then caught off the ropes with a back body drop from Tenzan, and then Tenzan locked in the anaconda vice.

Tanahashi was able to roll out of the submission and go back to work on Tenzan’s knee. He started with a dropkick to the knee, and then a dragon screw to cause more pain to Tenzan’s left knee.

Tenzan came back from this with some headbutts to the chest and head of Tanahashi. Tenzan then dropped Tanahashi on his head with his original version of a brainbuster.

Tenzan then went for his moonsault, but Tanahashi was able to roll out of the way making Tenzan land on his chest. Tanahashi then hit a German suplex and went to the top rope for the High Fly Flow, but Tenzan rolled out of the way.

Tenzan then hit two clotheslines to his opponent and then locked in the anaconda vice for the second time. He kept the anaconda vice locked in, and hit Tanahashi with a devastating slam while in the hold.

Tenzan then went for a suplex, but Tanahashi slipped out of the hold and hit a rolling neck breaker. He then hit a sling blade, and then the High Fly Flow for his fifth win of the tournament.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi (10pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block A Match- Kazuchika Okada vs Bad Luck Fale

The semi-main event of the evening was IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada competing against Bad Luck Fale. The match started with Fale getting some strikes in on Okada, but Okada tripped up Fale and dropkicked him in the face.

These men then battled outside the ring, Okada drove Fale into the barricade and then Fale shoulder blocked Okada to the ground. Fale now threw Okada into some chairs in the crowd and tried to get the count-out, but Okada made it back to the ring.

Back in the ring, Fale would stand on the bottom rope over Okada’s throat to choke him. Fale then threw Okada with a powerful Irish whip into the corner that caused Okada to bounce out on to the ground.

Fale then worked on the back of Okada, he hit many strikes, kicks, and then even stood on the back of Okada. Fale then body slammed Okada and bounced off the ropes for a splash, but Okada rolled out of the way.

Okada then hit his running European uppercut to the jaw of Fale, and he then hit a DDT. Okada then miraculously hit the much bigger Fale with a body slam and he then bounced off the ropes, but Fale caught him with a Samoan drop.

Okada then reversed Fale with a back-body drop, and he then amazingly lifted Fale to hit the reverse neck breaker. Okada now went to the top rope and hit the diving elbow drop to the heart of Fale.

Okada then went for the Rainmaker, but Fale reversed and threw Okada to the mat where he would hit the splash. Fale then went for the Bad Luck Fall but Okada slipped out and bounced off the ropes, and was then caught with a spear from Fale.

Fale now went for the throat spike, but Okada reversed with a dropkick and then threw Fale off the ropes for a second dropkick. Okada then hit a German suplex and then went for the Rainmaker, but Fale reversed with a chop.

Fale then hit the throat spike, but that was not enough to beat Okada. Fale then landed the Bad Luck Fall to knock off the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Winner: Bad Luck Fale (10pts)

Rating: 6.5/10

Block A Match- Hirooki Goto vs Togi Makabe

CO-MATCH OF THE NIGHT

The main event of this night of the G1 Climax was my personal favourite NJPW wrestler, Hirooki Goto, battling Togi Makabe. The bout kicked off with some technical wrestling and both men trying to get the best of each other.

It was when Makabe threw Goto out of the ring that the match began to pick up, and Makabe would throw Goto into the barricade. Goto then got some control when he reversed Makabe and threw him into the barricade himself, he followed that with some kicks to Makabe’s chest.

Goto then threw Makabe into the steel ring post, and then back in the ring worked on Makabe’s neck. He locked in a head-scissor on Makabe, wrenching at the neck until Makabe reached the ropes.

These men then began trading strikes, Makabe with his forearms and Goto with his big kicks. Makabe eventually got control here when he took Goto down with a big clothesline off the ropes.

Makabe now hit a clothesline in the corner, then 10 punches, and finally a northern lights suplex. Makabe tried to continue his offence, but Goto would catch him with a kick right to the chest.

Goto then placed him in the corner and hit the running spinning heel kick, and followed that with a belly-to-back suplex. Goto then hit a clothesline in the corner and then went to the top rope for a diving elbow drop.

With both men now groggy they traded some stiff forearms, and then Goto would pull Makabe by the hair headfirst into his knee. Goto then lifted Makabe in a suplex position but dropped him back down face first on to his knee.

Goto then locked in a sleeper, but Makabe drove him into the corner to break the hold and then hit a German suplex. Makabe then put Goto on the top rope and hit his signature avalanche German suplex, but when he went for the diving knee drop Goto moved out of the way.

Goto then locked in a sleeper hold that Makabe was able to get out of, he got out with a clubbing blow to the back of Goto’s skull. Goto then tried to regain control bouncing off the ropes, but Makabe hit a clothesline turning him inside out.

Makabe then went for another clothesline, but Goto hit him with an ushigoroshi instead. Goto then got him up and hit the GTR to get the victory and 10 points in the tournament.

Winner: Hirooki Goto

Rating: 7.5/10

That was the end to night 15 of G1 Climax 26, and it was sadly not the greatest night of the tournament. However, I was happy with the result of Goto winning his match, and I am looking forward to night 16.

I have now reached night 14 of the 2016 G1 Climax, and it was another solid show of wrestling. This card was much more technical, and there were a lot of slow-paced bouts.

Block B Match- Toru Yano vs Michael Elgin

The opener for night 14 was just like every other Toru Yano match, as he battled Michael Elgin it was another snooze fest. Even the IWGP Intercontinental Champion could not get a good match out of Yano.

The match began with Yano trying to outsmart Elgin, as he went for a handshake and then attempted to kick Elgin. However, Elgin held the handshake and wrenched at the hand of Yano until he made it to the ropes.

Yano tried to stay on the ropes for quite some time, but Elgin began to bounce Yano off the ropes hitting him with many punches. He now body slammed Yano and landed his springboard splash on to his opponent.

Yano now turned to his cheating ways by taking off the turnbuckle pad, but Elgin caught him and hit a German suplex. Yano then grabbed the pad and tried to swing at Elgin, but Elgin ducked and hit an enzigiri to the back of Yano’s head.

Elgin now hit clotheslines to the chest and back of Yano, before going for a clothesline off the ropes. He was stopped on the running clothesline and Yano slammed him to the ground by pulling his beard.

Yano then got Elgin to run into the exposed turnbuckle, but Elgin was not phased and he just became angrier. Elgin now hit a stalling suplex, and then ran off the ropes to hit a big clothesline.

Elgin now went for the buckle bomb, but Yano slipped out and trapped Elgin’s arms. Yano then grabbed the referee and hit two low blows to the Intercontinental Champion, he followed the low blows with a roll-up for the big upset win.

Winner: Toru Yano (8pts)

Rating: 4/10

Block B Match- YOSHI-HASHI vs Katsuyori Shibata

The second match of the card I was very excited about, and it was a match between Katsuyori Shibata and YOSHI-HASHI. The match began with HASHI landing some very stiff forearms, that Shibata responded from with a big kick.

HASHI then found himself on the apron, and Shibata ran hitting a big boot to the face of HASHI sending him into the barricade. Shibata then threw HASHI into all the barricades, before throwing him back in the ring and hitting some stomps.

Shibata then started to work on HASHI’s knee and locked in a figure-four leg lock, this hold lasted quite a few minutes. HASHI finally did make it to the ropes, but then Shibata continued his attack on HASHI’s knee with many strikes.

Shibata then ran with HASHI into the corner and hit a big boot right to the jaw of HASHI. HASHI then fell to a seated position in the corner, and Shibata ran hitting the hesitation dropkick right to the face of HASHI.

Shibata then hit a single arm lock float over a suplex, and then tried to continue his attack. Both men now began trading strikes, and they were throwing some vicious forearms and chops.

HASHI ended up coming out of the strike-off successful, he hit a big clothesline as Shibata came off the ropes. He then went off on Shibata with some stiff forearms in the corner, and he then hit a big chop to Shibata’s chest.

HASHI then hung Shibata on the top rope, and he ran off the ropes to hit a big dropkick to the back of Shibata. HASHI now got Shibata back up for a big powerbomb and float over pin for a two-count.

HASHI now went to the top rope and dove with the rolling senton, but Shibata rolled out of the way. Shibata then went for a kick to HASHI’s chest, but he was caught and HASHI hit a strong superkick to the jaw of Shibata.

He then locked in an innovative submission to work on the taped-up shoulder of Shibata, but did not get a submission. HASHI ended up lifting Shibata back up to hit a forearm and then bounce off the ropes for a clothesline.

HASHI now went to the top rope once again, and this time he was able to hit his diving rolling senton. HASHI now went for Karma, but Shibata hit a knee to HASHI’s face and locked in a double under hook submission.

Shibata did not get the victory out of the hold, but he turned the hold into a suplex from the same hold. Shibata now grabbed HASHI for a sleeper hold until he was out in a seated position, and Shibata now bounced off the ropes for the PK and his fourth win of the tournament.

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata (8pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block B Match- Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Tomoaki Honma

The middle of this card had Katsuhiko Nakajima squaring off with Tomoaki Honma. The match began with Nakajima and Honma trading shoulder blocks, strikes, and kicks.

Nakajima began to gain some control when he reversed a headbutt from Honma and then hit a kick to Honma’s face. Both men then ended up on the apron, and Nakajima hit a DDT to Honma on the ‘hardest part of the ring.’

On the outside of the ring, Nakajima threw Honma into the ring post, and he then ran on the apron kicking Honma right in the chest. He then threw Honma into the steel barricade and booted him over into the crowd.

Back in the ring Nakajima locked Honma into head scissors and wrenched at the neck of his opponent. Honma eventually made it to the ropes, and then both men traded forearms until Nakajima hit a DDT.

Nakajima now went for the brainbuster, but Honma reversed it into a suplex of his own. Honma now hits some forearms, chops, and slaps before hitting a falling headbutt onto his opponent.

Honma then tried to continue his offence, but Nakajima caught him with a dragon screw hurting the knee of Honma. He then hit a big boot to Honma in the corner and then a kick directly to the chest of Honma.

Nakajima now went to the top rope and hit a diving missile dropkick to Honma. These men then traded many strikes and kicks, until Nakajima hit a German suplex that Honma no sold and hit a clothesline.

Both men then began to trade strikes once again, and then Honma hit two headbutts to take down Nakajima. Honma then got Nakajima up and hit an inverted piledriver, dropping Nakajima on his head.

Honma then went to the top rope and went for his finishing diving headbutt, but Nakajima rolled out of the way. Honma then went to the second rope, but Nakajima caught him again hitting a spinning heel kick.

Nakajima now hit a belly-to-back suplex and went for the brainbuster, but Honma slipped out. Honma now hit a headbutt and then Irish whipped him on the ropes, but Nakajima hit a dropkick.

Nakajima now hit two superkicks to the face of Honma, a PK, and then finally lifted him up to hit a brainbuster. This gave Nakajima the win and eight points in the tournament.

Winner: Katsuhiko Nakajima (8pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block B Match- Kenny Omega vs Yuji Nagata

The semi-main event of night 14 was a bout between Kenny Omega and Yuji Nagata. The match began with some simple lock-ups, until Omega used a dirty tactic, an eye rake, to gain control.

He then went for a big back elbow in the corner, but Nagata moved out of the way. Nagata then started with his strikes and hit many forearms and kicks to Omega.

Omega came back with a dirty dropkick to the knee of Nagata, and he then went to work on the knee of his opponent. Omega dragged Nagata’s injured knee to the apron and started to slam Nagata’s knee on the ring apron.

Back in the ring now Omega locked in a kneebar and continued to wrench on the injured knee of Nagata. Nagata did make a slight comeback when he hit a knee lift to Omega’s ribs, and he then hit some kicks to the chest of Omega.

Nagata now hit a big boot to Omega’s face in the corner, and he then hit an exploder suplex. Nagata then went for another suplex, but Omega slipped out attacked Nagata’s knee and then hit the float over bulldog.

Omega then hit the rolling fireman’s carry and instantly went to the middle rope for a moonsault. Omega now went for the gut-wrench powerbomb, but Nagata turned that into a gut wrench suplex.

Nagata then went for a big boot, but Omega reversed it into an enzigiri and then hit a dragon suplex. He then bounced off the ropes for a devastating V-trigger for a two-count.

Omega then bounced off the ropes for another V-trigger and knocked Nagata to the outside. Omega tried to join Nagata on the outside, but he was caught on the apron and Nagata landed an exploder suplex sending Omega to the ground.

These men then traded forearms, and then Nagata hung Omega on the ropes and hit a twisting neck breaker. Nagata followed that by hitting Omega with a brainbuster and he then went off on Omega with many forearms.

Nagata then hit a spinning heel kick, but Omega fell back and ran back at him hitting a V-trigger. Omega now went for the finish, but Nagata turned that into an armbar.

Omega did eventually make it to the ropes, and then Nagata placed Omega on the top rope looking for an avalanche exploder suplex. However, Omega flipped over and got Nagata in position for the One-Winged Angel, but Nagata slipped out.

Nagata then hit an enzigiri and went for the finish, but Omega hit another V-trigger that Nagata no sold and hit an exploder. Omega no-sold the exploder as well, and he came running back at Nagata hitting yet another V-trigger.

Omega now finally got Nagata up on his shoulders and hit the One-Winged Angel for the pin-fall. This win gives Omega eight points in the tournament.

Winner: Kenny Omega (8pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block B Match- Tetsuya Naito vs EVIL

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

The main event of night 14 of the 2016 G1 Climax was a battle between Tetsuya Naito and EVIL. The match began with EVIL hitting some strong forearms until Naito rolled out and taunted his opponent with his pose of ‘Tranquilo.’

Naito ended up on the apron and he traded strikes with EVIL who was inside the ring. EVIL gained control here hitting a big forearm and then hitting a running clothesline turning Naito inside out on the apron.

Now on the outside of the ring EVIL threw Naito into the barricade and then drove a chair into his ribs. He then put a chair on the head of Naito and using another chair swung hitting the chair on Naito’s head.

Back in the ring EVIL used more dirty tactics rubbing his elbow across the eyes of Naito, and then stomping on his head. He then locked in a chin lock, and when Naito tried to escape, he hit a chop and then a senton.

EVIL now went for the fisherman buster, but Naito blocked it and hit a tornado DDT. Naito then hit a hip toss, then a dropkick to the face, and then a neck breaker to finish the sequence.

Naito now hit an atomic drop and then put EVIL in the corner for his signature sequence with the leg sweep and dropkick. Naito then attacked the knee of EVIL hitting a dropkick to it, and then driving the knee into the mat.

Naito then locked in a figure-four leg lock to continue working on the knee, until EVIL made it to the ropes. After the work on the knee, Naito went for a side slam, but EVIL slipped out and hit a fisherman buster.

EVIL now hit a clothesline in the corner and then went to the top rope to hit a diving clothesline. EVIL followed that with a half-nelson suplex, and then another clothesline turning Naito inside out.

EVIL now hit Naito with the powerbomb from the fireman’s carry position, and he then attempted the Everything is Evil. However, Naito flipped over and locked EVIL into a kneebar on the already injured knee.

EVIL did make it to the ropes, and then Naito put EVIL on the top rope and hit an avalanche hurricanrana. Naito then got him up and hit an arm trapped side slam for a two count.

He then went for a Destino, but Evil caught him in the air and hit a power slam. Both men now traded powerful forearms trying to hurt each other, and this ended when Naito hitting a reverse DDT.

Naito then went for the Destino again, but he was caught with a headbutt from EVIL. EVIl then hit a spinning forearm, and then another powerful clothesline.

EVIL now finally picked him up for Everything is Evil, but Naito blocked and flipped over into the Destino. That was enough for Naito and it gave him another win in the tournament.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito (10pts)

Rating: 8/10

This was the end to night 14 of the 2016 G1 Climax, it was a very solid show and I enjoyed the main event. This was a night where all the favourites won, except for the opener with Toru Yano.

I have now reached night 13 of the NJPW 2016 G1 Climax, and it was another fantastic show. The show was highlighted by the bout between Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii, which was rated five stars by world-renowned wrestling journalist, Dave Meltzer.

Block A Match- Tama Tonga vs SANADA

The opening match of the night was SANADA battling Tama Tonga, and both guys needed this win as they were near the bottom of the standings. The match kicked off with some simple chain wrestling and lock-ups until someone gained control.

Tonga was the one to gain some control with a back elbow and then knocking SANADA off the apron with a dropkick. On the outside, SANADA reversed an Irish whip and sent Tonga back first into the steel barricade.

SANADA would then grab a chair from the crowd and drive it right into the ribs of Tonga. SANADA tried to continue his offence, but after a reversal, Tonga dropped SANADA rib first across the top of the barricade.

Back in the ring, both men began to trade some strikes until SANADA landed a big dropkick right to the face of Tonga. Tonga then rolled out of the ring and SANADA leaped over the top rope with a springboard crossbody on to his opponent.

Tonga was then thrown back in the ring and SANADA hit a nice belly to back suplex, and he then bounced off the ropes. However, running off the ropes Tonga caught him and landed a flapjack to SANADA.

Tonga then landed an Alabama slam and a few strikes before Irish whipping SANADA towards the corner. SANADA leaped over the ropes from this Irish whip and hit a springboard missile dropkick to Tonga back in the ring.

These men then traded strikes until SANADA hit an enzigiri and followed that with a tiger suplex right after. SANADA now went for the dragon sleeper, but Tonga turned it around and hit his leg wrapped leaping DDT.

Now both men wanted to finish the match, but there was a beautiful sequence where they were reversing everything their opponent threw at them. This sequence ended when Tonga hit a hurricanrana and SANADA followed that with a TKO right after.

SANADA now locked in his dragon sleeper, but Tonga flipped over and hit his reverse rolling cutter to SANADA. He then finally hit the cutter and got the pinfall for his third win of the tournament.

Winner: Tama Tonga (6pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block A Match- Togi Makabe vs Bad Luck Fale

The second match for night 13 was the battle of the big men with Bad Luck Fale facing Togi Makabe. Makabe did not waste any time, as soon as he entered the ring during his entrance he went right after Fale.

These men then traded forearms until Makabe clotheslined Fale to the outside of the ring. Makabe then attempted to throw Fale into the barricade, but Fale turned it around and ended up throwing Makabe into the steel.

Fale then dragged Makabe halfway up the ramp, grabbed a chair from the crowd, and began choking his opponent with the chair leg. I found it very innovative to stand the chair with the leg on Makabe’s throat and then stand on top of the chair to choke him.

Back in the ring, Fale continued his onslaught by choking Makabe once again, this time with the ropes. He then tried to finish off Makabe with a vice grip on his neck and looked for the submission.

However, he eventually released the hold and started striking Makabe until executing a strong Irish whip to him into the corner. Makabe then made a comeback in the match when he a clothesline to Fale and then went for 10 punches to Fale’s head in the corner.

Makabe then hit three powerful clotheslines to take Fale off of his feet for a two count. He then bounced off the ropes once again, but Fale caught him for a Samoan drop.

Fale now went for his throat spike, but Makabe reversed with a chop to the neck. Makabe then managed to get the very large Fale up and over for a northern lights suplex.

Makabe then went to the top rope, but Fale stopped him and lifted him off in position for a Razor’s edge. However, Makabe wiggled his way out and tried to attack Fale in the corner, but Fale moved out of the way and hit Makabe with a corner splash of his own.

He then went for 10 punches in the corner to Makabe, but Makabe lifted him up and hit a powerbomb for another two count.

Makabe then hit two more clotheslines and bounced off the ropes for a third, but Fale came running and caught him with a spear. He then lifted Makabe up and hit his throat spike for another win in the tournament.

Winner: Bad Luck Fale (8pts)

Rating: 6/10

Block A Match- Hirooki Goto vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan

The third match of the show saw my personal favourite Hirooki Goto battling against Hiroyoshi Tenzan. The bout began with both men locking up, trading strikes, and also trading shoulder blocks.

Tenzan gained control by hitting many chops to the collarbone area of Goto and then some headbutts in the corner. Goto then came back with a clothesline and a big roundhouse kick to the back of Tenzan.

Goto then worked the submission game by locking Tenzan in head scissors, until Tenzan made it to the ropes. Tenzan then landed three slaps and then caught Goto with the very impressive spinning heel kick.

Tenzan then continued with his chops and then a clothesline in the corner followed with a big suplex. Both men then traded stiff forearms until Tenzan hit a headbutt, but he was then caught with a kick to the chest.

Goto now hit the corner spinning heel kick to the face of Tenzan, and then a diving elbow drop from the top rope. Goto then bounced off the ropes, but Tenzan reversed this with a back-body drop.

Tenzan then locked in an anaconda vice looking for the submission, but Goto powered his way out with some elbows. Goto then lifted Tenzan and dropped him on his knee by hitting the ushigoroshi.

Goto now went for the GTR, but Tenzan turned it around and dropped Goto with an innovative form of a brainbuster. He then hit a body slam on Goto and went for the moonsault from the top rope, but Goto rolled out of the way.

Goto then hit Tenzan with a big kick to the chest and then locked in a sleeper, but Tenzan got out of it by driving Goto into the turnbuckle. Tenzan then hit a plethora of headbutts to Goto, until he had him out on the ground.

Goto then reversed a clothesline from Tenzan by locking in another sleeper hold and getting Tenzan out on his feet. With Tenzan groggy, Goto would finally hit the GTR for the win in the matchup.

Winner: Hirooki Goto (8pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block A Match- Kazuchika Okada vs Tomohiro Ishii

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

The next match of the night was Kazuchika Okada against Tomohiro Ishii, and it started very quickly. Ishii started the match with a big clothesline knocking Okada over and then bounced off the ropes to hit him with another clothesline on the ground.

Both men then went for their finisher, but they both reversed each other. Okada then got Ishii up and hit the reverse neck breaker on his much bigger opponent.

Both men then took a rest, and then Ishii got some offence with a headbutt, some forearms, and some chops. Okada then tried to get some offence of his own, but when he bounced off the ropes, he was caught by Ishii with a scoop slam.

Ishii now continued the attack, with his extremely devastating chops destroying the chest of Okada. Okada now started to battle back with some forearms of his own, a big boot, and then a flapjack to Ishii.

Okada now ran off the ropes and hit a back elbow to the jaw of Ishii, he then ran hitting a dropkick to the face of the seated Ishii. He now landed the back elbow to Ishii in the corner, followed that with a DDT, and then his beautiful European uppercut.

Okada now went to the top rope, but Ishii rolled out of the way and Okada landed on his feet. Ishii then went back towards Okada and was able to hit a nice belly to back suplex on Okada.

Ishii now got Okada in the corner and hit him with a plethora of chops and forearms. He now went for a running clothesline, but Okada moved out of the way, placed Ishii on the top rope and dropkicked him to the outside.

Okada joined Ishii on the outside drove him into the barricade and then drove him over the barricade with a big boot. He then hung Ishii up on the barricade and hit a spike DDT on the outside.

Back in the ring now Okada went to the top and dove across the ring hitting the big elbow drop. Okada then tried to work for the crowd, but as he was taunting Ishii hit him with a strong chop to the chest.

Ishii now hit a German suplex, then a running clothesline in the corner, and he finished that sequence with a powerbomb for a two count. Okada then reversed a clothesline from Ishii and hit him with a Death Valley driver.

Okada now hit some big boots and uppercuts to Ishii, until he was caught with a dropkick from Ishii. Ishii now placed Okada on the top rope and hit a stalling superplex that looked so devastating and impressive. With Okada seated, Ishii hit another seated clothesline for another two count.

Ishii now got Okada up for a brainbuster, but Okada kneed Ishii to get himself out of the hold. Okada then hit a dropkick to the back of Ishii’s head, and then an even bigger dropkick right to the chest of Ishii.

Okada now hit two back to back dropkicks to a seated Ishii, and then he hit his vintage standing dropkick to the face of Ishii. Okada then had his Rainmaker reversed, and Ishii caught him with an enzigiri to the side of the head.

Okada now reversed a clothesline from Ishii with a German suplex, and he then had another Rainmaker reversed, but this time with a headbutt. Ishii now hit the reverse piledriver to Okada, a big clothesline, and then finally the brainbuster to knock off the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii (6pts)

Rating: 10/10

Block A Match- Naomichi Marufuji vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

The night 13 main event was a match between Naomichi Marufuji and Hiroshi Tanahashi, and these two men had a hard task following Okada and Ishii. The match kicked off with some great technical wrestling between both men, and it was obvious that both competitors were looking for the best in each other.

The match really began to kick off when Tanahashi used some heel tactics to get ahead. He wrapped Marufujis knee around the ring post and then started attacking Marufuji’s knee with strikes and holds.

Tanahashi began driving Marufuji’s knee into the mat and he then locked in a kneebar submission. Marufuji made it to the ropes, and he then attempted to go for the dragon screw through the ropes, but he got reversed.

Marufuji now joined his opponent on the apron and hit a piledriver on ‘the hardest part of the ring’ leaving Tanahashi out on the outside. Once back in the ring Marufuji continued the attack and hit Tanahashi with strong chops to the chest. Marufuji continues to show how strong his chops are with the marks he leaves on his opponent’s chest.

Tanahashi made a comeback by hitting a forearm when he was pushed off the ropes, and he followed that with many more strikes. He then hit a bodyslam and then dove from the second rope with a rolling senton on to Marufuji’s chest.

Marufuji now cartwheeled out of an Irish whip and hit a big dropkick to the face of Tanahashi. Tanahashi then rolled to the apron, and Marufuji jumped on to the top rope and jumped into a dropkick to the chest of his opponent.

Marufuji now ran jumping over the top tope on to Tanahashi on the outside with a crossbody. Tanahashi then tried to escape Marufuji by crawling back in the ring, but Marufuji springboarded off the ropes drop kicking Tanahashi in the side as he crawled.

These men then engaged in a chop off that finished with Marufuji hitting a superkick and then trying for a second superkick. However, Tanahashi caught his leg the second time and hit a dragon screw to the already injured leg.

Tanahashi then went for a splash in the corner, but Marufuji moved out of the way and hit a bicycle knee. Marufuji now hit a superkick to the face of Tanahashi followed with an enzigiri, and he then went for the sliced bread but Tanahashi pulled out of the hold dropping Marufuji on his back.

Tanahashi now hit an arm trapped German suplex, and then a very nice sling blade. He now went to the top rope and dove for a crossbody but Marufuji caught him in mid-air with a knee to the ribs.

Marufuji now hit a superkick from behind, and then a bicycle knee for a two count on Tanahashi. Tanahashi then reversed a suplex into a rolling neck breaker, and he then caught Marufuji trying to hit another bicycle knee with a sling blade.

Tanahashi now went to the top rope to hit a standing High Fly Flow and got Marufuji on the ground. He then went back to the top and hit the proper High Fly Flow for his fourth win of the tournament.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi (8pts)

Rating: 8.5/10

Night 13 was an amazing show overall, and it had the best match of the tournament so far with Okada and Ishii. The main event also really delivered, and I am getting more and more excited as we get closer to the end of the tournament.

Just like the past few nights that showcased Block B, Night 12 of the 2016 G1 Climax was carried by the stars. It had three fairly good bouts, with the others being nothing too special.

Block B Match- Toru Yano vs Yuji Nagata

The first bout of the night saw my least favourite wrestler in NJPW, Toru Yano, matching up with blue justice, Yuji Nagata. As per usual when it comes to a Yano match, this was the worst match of the show.

The match kicked off with Yano refusing to lock up with Nagata, and he was avoiding his opponent on the outside. Nagata ended up joining Yano on the outside and delivered many strikes, this led to Yano getting back in the ring.

In the ring, Nagata attacked Yano’s arm, so Yano tried to stop this by going for a dirty low blow. However, the low blow did not connect and Nagata connected with a bicycle knee to Yano’s face in the corner.

Nagata then locked in an armbar on his opponent, but Yano made it to the ropes and rolled to the outside again. On the outside, these men battled all the way to the top of the ramp, where Yano would capitalize on the referee still being in the ring.

Yano hit a low blow on Nagata and then taped Nagata’s feet together so he could not stand up. This allowed Yano to calmly make it back into the ring while Nagata struggled on the ramp and was counted out, this gave Yano another win in the tournament.

Winner: Toru Yano (6pts)

Rating: 3/10

Block B Match- YOSHI-HASHI vs Michael Elgin

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

Following the opening match of the night, the next bout was IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Michael Elgin, competing against YOSHI-HASHI. The match began with Elgin and HASHI having a chop off with one another, that Elgin ultimately won.

Elgin then hit a few more chops in the corner and a big shoulder block knocking HASHI to the ground. Elgin was then thrown to the outside and HASHI attempted to dive on to him, but he was caught in mid-air.

He then drove HASHI spine first into the turnbuckle and went for a clothesline into the post. However, HASHI moved out of the way and Elgin hit elbow first on the steel post.

HASHI then drove Elgin into the steel barricade and wrapped Elgin’s arm in the steel to inflict more damage. Elgin’s injured arm was then thrown into the post again, and then he was thrown back into the ring. In the ring, HASHI hit a DDT on Elgin for a two count, and then Elgin tried to build some stamina.

Elgin landed a few chops, but he was stopped when HASHI went for the arm again. He then hung Elgin over the top rope and landed a running dropkick to the back of his head.

Elgin then rolled on to the apron and went HASHI went to get him he landed a big kick to the head of HASHI. He then landed a springboard splash back into the ring on to the abdomen of a grounded HASHI.

He then hit two running clotheslines to HASHI who was rested in the corner and then pushed HASHI off the ropes to hit a German suplex. He held on to HASHI and then lifted him back up for a second German suplex, this time for a two count.

Both men then traded some lariats before Elgin hit three forearm shots and an enzigiri, he then went for a big clothesline off the ropes. As Elgin came off the ropes, HASHI snuck under his arm and leaped off the ropes for a big clothesline of his own.

HASHI then went to the top rope and was met up there by Elgin, but HASHI then snuck off the top rope. With Elgin now alone on the ropes, HASHI grabbed him for a bridging powerbomb that got him a two-count.

HASHI now ended back up on the top rope to go for a senton, but Elgin rolled out of the way. Elgin then lifted HASHI up and drove his opponent with a Death Valley driver into the turnbuckle.

Elgin then had the opportunity to showcase his strength, he got up on the second rope and lifted HASHI from the apron in a suplex position. He then held HASHI over his head and dropped him with a massive superplex.

With both men out HASHI had the chance to recover and he landed a backstabber on Elgin. Elgin was then hit with a big spike DDT, and then HASHI locked in a very innovative submission hold putting pressure on his opponent’s shoulder.

Elgin made it to the ropes, but HASHI then hit a running knee and then his diving senton from the top rope. He then tried to go for Karma, but Elgin elbowed his way out and then both men traded strikes until Elgin finally hit a big clothesline.

Elgin followed that with an even bigger clothesline off the ropes, then a buckle bomb, and finally his sit-out powerbomb. This was enough for Elgin’s fourth win of the tournament.

Winner: Michael Elgin (8pts)

Rating: 8.5/10

Block B Match- EVIL vs Tomoaki Honma

EVIL battling with Tomoaki Honma was nothing too special, and the match started quite boring. The men traded strikes, shoulder blocks, and Honma missed many headbutts just like always.

EVIL then got Honma to the outside where he drove him into a barricade and then got two chairs out from under the ring. EVIL wrapped one chair around Honma’s neck and then swung the second chair hitting the first chair off Honma’s neck.

Back in the ring EVIL raked Honma’s eyes, stomped him into the ground and then hit a senton on to his opponent. EVIL then went for a fisherman suplex, but Honma reversed and hit a stalling suplex of his own.

Honma then hit some elbows, a body slam, and then an elbow to the corner followed with a running bulldog. Honma then finally hit a falling headbutt, but EVIL then hit a big forearm and a clothesline to follow.

EVIL then went to the top rope and landed a diving clothesline on to his opponent. Honma then hit a lot of elbows, but EVIL then grabbed his opponent and hit a German suplex.

Both men then traded strikes, until EVIL finally bounced off the ropes hitting a clothesline turning Honma inside out. EVIL then hit two stiff forearms, and then a fisherman buster dropping Honma on his head.

EVIL then attempted his finish, but Honma reversed with two diving headbutts and then his body drop into a piledriver. Honma then went to the top rope for the finish, but EVIL was able to roll out of the way.

He then hit a superkick to the abdomen and followed that with a one-arm trapped tiger suplex. EVIL then hit his fireman’s carry into powerbomb move, and then finally his STO for the finish.

Winner: EVIL (4pts)

Rating: 6/10

Block B Match- Katsuyori Shibata vs Kenny Omega

Katsuyori Shibata and Kenny Omega put on the second fantastic matchup of the show after Elgin and HASHI. The match began with some mat chain wrestling and then the two men began trading strikes.

Shibata used his strong kicks to get Omega seated in the corner, where he would keep stomping and then hit a running kick right to the side of Omega’s face. Shibata then lifted Omega into a sleeper hold as he was resting on the ring apron.

Now on the outside of the ring, Shibata threw Omega into the barricade and then landed a big boot right to the jaw. Omega then got a reversal in and drove Shibata into the side of the ring, he then dropped Shibata knee first on the announcer’s table.

Back in the ring Omega continued to work on Shibata’s knee and locked in a kneebar wrenching his opponent’s knee over the back of his own neck. Shibata got out of this by getting to the ropes, but Omega continued his attacks with many stomps.

Omega then lifted Shibata for a knee drop but decided to throw him knee first right into the turnbuckle. Omega then went for a running move, however, Shibata ran after him and hit a big boot right to the face of Omega in the corner.

Shibata followed that with a second big boot, and then he hit a beautiful hesitation dropkick to the face of Omega. Both men then traded strikes and then traded sleeper holds, but Shibata reversed Omega’s sleeper into a belly to back suplex.

The men then traded strikes once again and followed that by each hitting a German suplex of their own. Omega locked in a kneebar after his suplex, but Shibata was able to reach the bottom rope.

Omega then hit a V-trigger and went for his one-winged angel, but Shibata reversed that into a triangle sleeper. Omega made it to the ropes, and the men now traded big boots until Omega hit a knee, sending Shibata to the ground.

He then hit two more V-triggers and went for the one-winged angel for a second time. However, just like the first, Shibata reversed and locked Omega into a sleeper hold and got him to a seated position.

With Omega sitting Shibata bounced off the ropes hitting a beautiful PK and getting the pinfall. This is Shibata’s third win of the tournament.

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata (6pts)

Rating: 8/10

Block B Match- Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Tetsuya Naito

The main event of night 12 was the resident leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon, Tetsuya Naito, competing against Katsuhiko Nakajima. The match began with some back and forth chain wrestling until Naito went into a pose of “Tranquilo” and rolled to the outside of the ring.

Naito was able to lure Nakajima into going for a big boot over the top rope, so he could move out of the way and hit a dropkick to Nakajima’s knee. Naito then went to work on his opponent’s knee, hitting a bunch of elbows and driving his knee into the mat.

He then landed a knee drop and then a running dropkick right to the knee of Nakajima. Naito then locked in a cloverleaf like submission to put even more pressure on this now injured knee of Nakajima.

Nakajima made it to the ropes and got some offence of his own, starting with some slaps to Naito’s chest. He then swept Naito’s legs off the apron and sent him to the outside of the ring.

He now ran across the apron hitting a big kick to the chest of Naito, and he then threw him directly into the barricade. With Naito leaning on the barricade, Nakajima hit a big boot sending him over the rail.

Nakajima continued his offence on the outside throwing Naito face-first into the steel ring post. He then lifted Naito and dropped him knee first across the top of the barricade, getting some revenge for the attack on his own knee.

Now back in the ring, Nakajima kept attacking hitting a big boot to Naito in the corner and then a kick directly to the chest. Nakajima then climbed to the top rope and hit a diving missile dropkick to his opponent.

Naito was then able to reverse a suplex, hit an atomic drop and send Nakajima into the corner. With Nakajima in the corner, Naito now hits the very beautiful sequence kicking his opponent in the face as he leaps over the ropes, then sweeps the legs, and finally leaps back in with a dropkick to the chest of his seated opponent.

Naito then tried to run off the ropes, but he was caught by a kick to the chest and then a belly to back suplex. Nakajima then locked in an ankle lock and while in the submission he continued to drive Naito’s leg into the mat.

Naito would eventually roll out and lock Nakajima into a kneebar of his own until Nakajima made it to the ropes. Naito then placed Nakajima on the top rope so he could hit an avalanche hurricanrana to his opponent.

Naito followed that with his arm trapped side slam to Nakajima, and he then hit another dropkick to the injured knee. Naito now went for the Destino, but he was caught in the process and Nakajima delivered a Death Valley driver.

Both men now traded stiff forearms and then Naito went for a tornado DDT, but Nakajima stopped the move. He placed Naito on the top rope and hit a spinning heel kick directly to his face knocking him off the ropes.

He now hit a belly to back suplex followed with a superkick right to Naito’s jaw, and then another superkick to the kneeling Naito. When he went for a third superkick he was caught and Naito was able to hit an enzigiri right to Nakajima’s face. He then bounced off the ropes, but Nakajima hit a dropkick to his face and then a PK to the seated Naito.

Nakajima then got Naito up for a brainbuster, but Naito turned it into a Destino in mid-air. He then got Nakajima up and hit a proper Destino for eight points in the tournament.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito (8pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Night 12 was carried heavily by superstars like Michael Elgin, Kenny Omega, and Tetsuya Naito. Those men made the show much more enjoyable, and I imagine one of those three will represent Block B in the G1 final.

Night 11 of the 2016 G1 Climax was of course another very good show, all the tournament matches looked very entertaining on paper. The show was also highlighted by the two amazing matches back-to-back to finish the night.

Block A Match- Bad Luck Fale vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Bad Luck Fale matching up with Hiroyoshi Tenzan was a battle of two very large masses of men. The bout kicked off with Fale in control, beating Tenzan on the outside of the ring.

Fale used the barricade to hurt his opponent and then got him back in the ring so he could stand on his abdomen. Tenzan then started to make a comeback after reversing a jumping headbutt by Fale.

Tenzan was able to land a variety of strikes, and then a spinning heel kick into the face of Fale. Tenzan also managed to flip Fale over his head and then lock in the anaconda vice.

Tenzan then hit a multitude of headbutts and went for his moonsault, but Fale rolled out of the way. Fale then hit a big splash onto Tenzan and followed that with a big spear.

Fale finally hit his throat spike for the finish and his third win of the tournament. This was one of Fale’s more enjoyable matches of the tournament.

Winner: Bad Luck Fale (6pts)

Rating: 6.5/10

Block A Match- Tama Tonga vs Hirooki Goto

The next match on the card was between Tama Tonga and Hirooki Goto, a match I was looking forward to because I have become a big fan of Goto. However, the match started very slow and it did not pick up until Tonga drop kicked Goto to the outside.

Tonga put great use to the barricades and dropped Goto ribs first across the top of the barricade. Back in the ring Tonga started landing many strikes and landed a massive splash onto Goto in the corner.

Goto then stalled Tonga’s offence with a big kick right to the chest of Tonga has he came off the ropes. Goto then hit his corner spinning heel kick and followed it with a belly to back suplex.

Goto put Tonga to the outside and hit a big springboard dive to the ground taking out his opponent. Goto threw Tonga back in the ring and hit a diving elbow drop from the top rope.

Tonga then got some more of his own offence in, he hit a nice Alabama slam. Tonga then bounced off the ropes, but Goto got him on his shoulders and hit an ushigoroshi.

These men then traded forearms until Goto got Tonga up in a suplex position, and proceeded to drop Tonga face-first on to his knee. He then went for the GTR, but Tonga reversed it into a rolling reverse cutter.

Tonga then hit my favourite move of his, he executed his leaping spike DDT with the legs wrapped. That was good enough for a two count, and he then went for his finishing cutter.

Goto caught the cutter and turned it into a big GTR for his third win of the G1. Goto continues to impress me, and I am rooting for him in this tournament.

Winner: Hirooki Goto (6pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block A Match- SANADA vs Naomichi Marufuji

SANADA and Naomichi Marufuji were now up and they have both been two very underrated performers throughout the tournament. The bout kicked off with some amazing technical wrestling, and these men put on a very entertaining sequence.

SANADA then brought Marufuji to the outside, drove him into the barricade and then choked him with his baseball bat. Back in the ring, SANADA landed some strikes, until he was eventually knocked to the outside by Marufuji.

Marufuji then joined him on the outside by leaping over the top rope onto his opponent. Marufuji then hit the big leaping back elbow on to SANADA in the corner, and then we saw what has become a regular incident in Marufuji matches.

Both men had a chop off, and Marufuji once again showed me just how powerful his chops are. In order to stop the chops, SANADA used some strikes until he could finally hit a dropkick.

SANADA then reversed an Irish whip and ended up on the apron where he would land a springboard missile dropkick. With Marufuji now groggy, SANADA would hit a beautiful tiger suplex.

SANADA then managed to reverse two of Marufuji’s sliced bread finishers, the first time was into a dragon sleeper. The second time he was caught on SANADA’s shoulders, and he got hit with a TKO.

He then tried to choke out Marufuji with the dragon sleeper, but he got to the ropes. SANADA then tried for the moonsault, but Marufuji rolled out of the way and hit a bicycle knee.

Marufuji then ended the match with his plethora of superkicks, a bicycle knee, and then finally a sliced bread number two. This was enough for another win for Marufuji in the tournament.

Winner: Naomichi Marufuji (8pts)

Rating: 8/10

Block A Match- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Tomohiro Ishii

The match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii was the final match before the main event, and I must admit this match blew me away. This was easily one of the better matches of the tournament, and both men came out on a mission.

Tanahashi started the match by landing two deep arm drags, and then showboating playing his air guitar. Ishii then started to utilize his power and agility, he hit a lot of strikes and then a big stalling suplex.

Tanahashi hit dropkicks to the knee of Ishii to get some momentum, and he then hit a diving senton from the second rope. Both men then began trading strikes, Ishii hit these vicious boots to the face of Tanahashi; but it was Tanahashi dropping Ishii with his slaps.

Tanahashi then hit the dragon screw to Ishii through the ropes, and he then went to the top rope where was stopped by Ishii. With both men now on the top rope Ishii landed a big stalling super plex from the top rope.

Both men then traded some very stiff forearms until Ishii was able to stop Tanahashi, and he then landed a powerbomb to Tanahashi. Ishii then hit a clothesline and went for the brainbuster, but he was reversed.

Tanahashi was able to get out of the brainbuster and hit his signature rolling neck breaker. Both men now traded dragon suplexes, which Tanahashi followed with an arm trapped suplex followed by a sling blade.  

Tanahashi then had his diving frog splash reversed because Ishii rolled out of the way. Ishii then bounced off the ropes hitting the seated lariat to the chest of Tanahashi for a two count.

However, Tanahashi then managed to hit another dragon suplex and sling blade. He followed those two moves with a diving crossbody from the top rope.

With Ishii now down, Tanahashi went back to the top rope and hit the high fly flow for the finish. Tanahashi now has six points in the tournament.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi (6pts)

Rating: 8.5/10

Block A Match- Kazuchika Okada vs Togi Makabe

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

The main event of the night was the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, locking horns with Togi Makabe. Both men started the bout trying to out-power each other and see who could take control.

Okada had the first big move, hitting a dropkick to Makabe who was seated on the top rope sending him to the outside. Okada then drove Makabe into the barricade and hit a neck breaker on the outside.

Okada then landed his leap over senton on to Makabe when he put him back into the ring. Okada then locked in a rest hold and tried to maintain control, but he was eventually caught with a power slam from Makabe.

Makabe then hit two corner clotheslines to Okada, ten strikes to his head, and then finally a northern lights suplex to Okada. Okada then came back with a DDT, and then the ever so beautiful European uppercut to his opponent.

Okada then tried for the diving elbow, but he was thrown off the top tope by Makabe. Makabe followed that with a very devastating clothesline to the champion, and then both men traded some very stiff strikes.

Okada then hit another one of my favourite moves, his reverse neck breaker to Makabe. Okada then went back to the top rope and this time he was able to hit the diving elbow drop through the chest of Makabe.

Makabe then managed to reverse a strike from Okada with a clothesline, and he then hit a powerbomb to his opponent. Makabe continued his onslaught with a twisting Samoan drop to Okada.

Makabe then put Okada on the top rope and hit a huge avalanche belly-to-belly suplex. He then went for his finishing diving knee drop, but Okada rolled out of the way.

Okada then hit many big boots to Makabe’s face, and then his lovely dropkick to the back of Makabe. However, Makabe was not done yet as he then hit a German suplex to Okada for a two count.

However, Okada came back from this ready to close the match, he started with a dropkick to the face of Makabe. He then hit a tombstone piledriver, and then finally a Rainmaker for his fifth win of the tournament.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada (10pts)

Rating: 9/10

Overall, night 11 of the 2016 G1 Climax was a very enjoyable show, and the two main events were so amazing. Okada really is the best bout machine, and he continues to steal the show.

Night 10 of the 2016 G1 Climax sounded very impressive on paper with three exciting matchups. I was also very excited to see Michael Elgin and Kenny Omega out there again after they tore the house down on night eight.

Block B Match- YOSHI-HASHI vs Katsuhiko Nakajima

YOSHI-HASHI and Katsuhiko Nakajima started off night 10 very hot and put on a very entertaining bout. Nakajima kicked off the match by knocking HASHI off the top rope with a spinning heel kick.

With HASHI now on the outside Nakajima hit a powerful penalty kick to the chest of his opponent. Nakajima then effectively used the barricade by wrapping HASHI’s injured shoulder in it and wrenching at it.

Nakajima then continued to work on the injured arm of HASHI and eventually hit a big boot to the face of HASHI in the corner. He then landed a diving missile dropkick off the top rope to his opponent.

HASHI came back in the bout by hitting a DDT and then his vintage somersault neck breaker. He also hung Nakajima on the ropes and hit a running dropkick to the back of Nakajima’s neck.

Nakajima then got in some more offence by hitting a superkick, a belly to back suplex, and then a big dragon suplex. HASHI bounced back by catching Nakajima in a tombstone position and then dropping him in a shoulder breaker.

These men then traded forearms until HASHI hit a superkick and then a big powerbomb to his opponent. HASHI went for a senton, but Nakajima got his knees up and then hit three massive superkicks to the jaw of HASHI.

Nakajima then went for his brainbuster, but HASHI reversed hitting a mule kick and then a lariat. HASHI then finally hit the Karma for the win and six points in the tournament.

Winner: YOSHI-HASHI (6pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block B Match- Michael Elgin vs Yuji Nagata

Yuji Nagata and Michael Elgin were out there to hurt one another and they showed just how hard they can hit at the beginning of this matchup. The men kicked off the match by throwing forearms, big boots, and lariats until one of Elgin’s lariats knocked Nagata to the outside.

On the outside of the ring, Elgin drove Nagata into the barricade, laid Nagata on the apron, and then hit a big leg drop over Nagata’s throat. Elgin then drove Nagata face-first into his knee and then bounced off the ropes, but Nagata caught him with a knee lift.

Nagata then laid into Elgin with a plethora of different kicks, he hit kicks to the chest, a big boot to the face, and also a spinning heel kick. He then hit an exploder suplex and then even more kicks.

Elgin came back into the match with an enzigiri, and then a big spinning slide slam to Nagata. These men then traded many blows until Nagata hit his belly to back suplex, but he could not get over for a pin.

Nagata was then able to land an avalanche exploder suplex from the top rope for a two count. He then went for a knee in the corner, but was caught by Elgin and got thrown into a buckle bomb.

Elgin then went for the finish, but Nagata reversed into his armbar; however, Elgin made it to the ropes. These men then battled on the apron until Elgin hit a Death Valley driver, dropping Nagata on the “hardest part of the ring.”

Elgin then hit a German suplex and went for a big splash, but Nagata rolled out of the way. However, Elgin maintained control, he hit a lariat, a buckle bomb, and then finally his twisting sit-out powerbomb. This gave Elgin another win in the G1 Climax.

Winner: Michael Elgin (6pts)

Rating: 7/10

Block B Match- Toru Yano vs Katsuyori Shibata

The next match on the card between Toru Yano and Katsuyori Shibata actually pained me to watch. It was easily the biggest joke of the tournament by far and it lasted only one minute and five seconds.

Shibata quickly hit a few strikes and then a big hesitation dropkick to Yano in the corner in the first 15 seconds of the match, and then it went downhill. Shibata got hung up on the rope, and Yano took off the turnbuckle pad.

He hit Shibata on the exposed turnbuckle, hit a low blow, and then got a roll-up for two. Shibata then went for his sleeper, but Yano swept his legs and fell on him in a pinning position getting the three count. A huge upset victory for Toru Yano here.

Winner: Toru Yano

Rating: 1/10

Block B Match- EVIL vs Kenny Omega

MATCH OF THE NIGHT

Kenny Omega and EVIL put on a fantastic match, that kicked off very nicely. In the first minute of the match, EVIL tried to bring a chair in the ring, but Omega hit a massive jumping baseball slide that looked so devastating and drove EVIL right into the barricade.

Omega then tried to use the barricade as a springboard, but he was met with a chair to the ribs in mid-air. EVIL then hit a suplex to Omega on the ground, and then a fisherman suplex dropping Omega on a stood-up chair, which made this look very painful.

Back in the ring EVIL hit a rolling neck breaker and then another fisherman suplex. Omega ended up reversing EVIL’s offence and hit rolling firemen’s carry and then a moonsault from the second rope.

Omega then attempted his float over bulldog, but EVIL caught him and hit a belly to back suplex. Omega later hit his classic dragon suplex, but EVIL came back with an arm trapped belly to back suplex.

EVIL then attempted his STO, but was reversed and got hit with two V-triggers back to back. Omega then lifted him for gut wrench sit-out powerbomb and got a two count out of it.

He then went for another V-trigger, but was reversed into a German suplex and then a big lariat. EVIL then hit his move that is from a firemen’s carry position into a sit-out powerbomb.

He then went for the STO again, but this time he got a knee to the face and then Omega hit a poisonrana. Omega then hit a third V-trigger, and then the one-winged angel for his third win of the tournament.

Winner: Kenny Omega (6pts)

Rating: 7.5/10

Block B Match- Tomoaki Honma vs Tetsuya Naito

The main event for night 10 of the 2016 G1 Climax was a battle between Tomoaki Honma and Tetsuya Naito. Naito had been doing great this whole tournament, but I did not love this match.

The match started with Naito doing damage to the knee of Honma, landing dropkicks and then wrapping his knee in the barricade and hitting a jumping dropkick into it. Naito then tried for the count-out win, by taking Honma’s knee out at the top of the ramp; luckily Honma made it back to the ring.

The next few minutes of the match would be extremely slow, with Naito working on the knee and sitting in two submission holds. Honma then came back in the match, hitting a suplex and then finally one of his famous falling headbutts.

However, Naito then went right back at Honma’s knee and got him into the corner. Naito then his classic corner sequence where he hits the boot while jumping over the rope sweeps the leg and then leaps back in with a dropkick to the chest.

Honma then stopped some of this offence by hitting a back elbow and then a jumping headbutt to Naito. He then hit a diving headbutt from the second rope, and then a very devastating brainbuster that dropped Naito right on his head.

Honma then went to the top rope, but he was stopped and Naito hit a big hurricanrana from the top rope. Naito then hit a modified side slam where he had Honma’s arm trapped behind him. Naito then locked in a kneebar for a solid couple minutes until Honma stomped his way out.

Honma then got more offence in hitting a big shoulder block and then dropping Naito with a reverse piledriver. He then went for his finishing diving headbutt, but Naito rolled out of the way at the perfect time.

Naito then hit many forearm shots and he also hit a reverse neck breaker to Honma. Finally, he landed the Destino on Honma for the win in the matchup.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito (6pts)

Rating: 7/10

Night 10 of the tournament was a fairly average show overall and there was nothing too special. The main event was good in a way, it was just way too slow for my personal preference.