FanSided was in attendance at the American Airlines Center for New Japan’s G1 Climax 29 kickoff event and was able to gather a comprehensive recap of the show.
Guerrillas of Destiny vs Roppongi 3K
In a strange start to the show the Dallas audience was treated to a unique matchup pitting Roppongi 3k against G.O.D
The match began with a failed sneak-attack by GOD that was countered by R3K.
GOD quickly got back in control though, as they isolated SHO for quite some time. Finally, though, SHO was able to hit a wicked spear and get the hot tag from YOH.
The momentum flopped back and forth a few times but an impactful Gun Stun from Tama Tonga and a top rope power bomb from Loa gave G.O.D. the advantage and the win.
A fun but short match that didn’t make R3K look very good and left the fans wanting more. Nevertheless, it served as a good opening contest.
Jeff Cobb and Ren Narita vs Shota Umino and Tomohiro Ishii
The next match on the card was set to showcase two of the best hosses on the NJPW roster and my goodness, it did that in spades.
Tomohiro Ishii and Jeff Cobb were staring daggers at each other before the bell rang and that intensity never left the match. Ishii and Cobb felt each other out and hit each other with some strong strikes but neither man could be kept down much to the delight of the rabid audience.
Ren Narita and Shota Umino had some great sequences as well that showed off their abilities while endearing themselves to the NJPW fans in attendance. Umino had a big moment in the match when he delivered a brain buster to Cobb that made the crowd erupt.
But in the end it was Cobb’s night to shine, as he hit an explosive Tour of the Islands on Narita to score the pinfall.
After the match the two bulls of Cobb and Ishii were not done trying to run each other over as they continued to brawl, which drove the crowd up to a fever pitch. The two men will meet on Night 2 of the G1 tournament in a B-Block matchup.
This was a great showcase match that made everyone in attendance hungry for the upcoming Ishii versus Cobb match.
Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs Chase Owens and Jay White
In the third match on the card faction warfare was on display, as CHAOS took on Bullet Club.
Hirooki Goto and Chase Owens started off the match with Owens taking control early. YOSHI-HASHI didn’t allow that to go too far though as he slid in and delivered a thunderous chop to Owens which resounded throughout the building. Bullet Club were not to be outdone as Gedo helped pull the momentum back into their favor by grabbing YOSHI’s legs and allowing Owens to attack. The heels isolated YOSHI as White jawed with the crowd and Goto.
White showed his shortcomings though, as when Goto came into the match he recoiled and fell down. CHAOS took control again and rode that momentum up until the end of the match when Goto hit the GTR on Owens for the win.
A good showcase of all four men and a solid preview of White versus Goto, another B-Block matchup.
Juice Robinson, Jushin Liger and Toru Yano vs BUSHI, Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito
The only six-man tag match of the card featured Los Ingobernables de Japon facing off against New Japan favorites and the legend Jushin “Thunder” Liger.
Liger and Bushi started off the match with Bushi going after Liger’s mask early. The heels isolated Liger until Juice Robinson received the hot tag. Robinson ran wild until his upcoming G1 opponent, Shingo, came in and cut him off.
Naito and Yano were then tagged in and Yano immediately attempted to cheat by grabbing and untying the corner ring pad. But he never got the chance to use the exposed turnbuckle as he was cut off by Bushi and Shingo, who then individually squared off with the opposing team.
Bushi went to hit one of his major signature moves but Yano rolled him for the surprise three count.
A very fun match but many fans were surprised that Liger was not involved in the finish, as this may have been his last appearance in Texas before his retirement in January.
Lance Archer vs. Will Ospreay
The hometown hero took on “The Sword of Essex” in this unique matchup.
The match went from 0 to 100 quickly as Lance Archer ran right towards Will Ospreay as the bell rang and was immediately caught in a standing spanish fly. Ospreay looked to capitalize on the first big hit to Archer with a Sasuke Special, but got caught and chokeslammed through a ringside table.
Archer stayed in control for awhile and hit an Old School off the top ropes, which he walked across with ease much to the shock of the fans. Ospreay thought he had the match back on his side after a back handspring kick, but Archer lit him up with a impactful pounce.
Archer dragged Ospreay to the outside and gave him a stiff powerbomb onto the ring apron. He tried to follow that up with a crucifix bomb onto the ramp but was countered into a Code Red from Ospreay.
Both men traded finishers and kickouts all leading up to a Spanish Fly off the top rope. Ospreay fought for the Stormbreaker, but Archer’s weight made that impossible. Archer hit another huge crucifix bomb off the top rope and locked in the classic Texas maneuver, The Claw, for the pin.
This was quite possibly match of the night and it made both men look incredible.
Bad Luck Fale vs. EVIL
The resident hoss of LIJ took on the Rogue General in the second G1 Climax tournament match of the show.
It’s a walk-and-brawl affair with Bad Luck Fale in control for most of the contest until EVIL could take advantage of the ref getting taken out by grabbing and attacking Fale with a chair.
But karma came back for EVIL as Fale gets two chairs and hits EVIL with his own infamous batter-up attack. Fale then hoists EVIL up and drops him with a crucifix bomb for the 1-2-3.
This was definitely the worst match of the night due to the two competitors’ styles not meshing well. Quite a few fans used this match to run to the concessions and merchandise stands.
SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
A technical showcase took the stage as the seventh match on the Dallas card.
Both men started out rolling and grappling as they searched for a kink in their opponent’s armor. Sabre jawed with the referee due to increasing frustration with Sanada’s ability to keep pace with him. Sanada looked to lock in the Paradise lock twice, and was denied both times, as Sabre looked to avoid the unsolvable submission like the plague. Finally Sabre got caught and got locked up in the Paradise Lock in the ropes as the crowd applauded profusely.
Sabre came back and looked to keep his promise of tapping out all his opponents, as he locked in the Octopus Stretch and then the Sabre Lock.
Sanada found his way to the ropes and countered a flurry of Sabre’s grappling pins and even found a way to stretch himself over a pinned Sabre to secure the victory.
One of the best matches of the night that got the crowd’s fire back in spades.
KENTA vs. Kota Ibushi
In the most unique match of the show, KENTA made his G1 debut to take on last year’s runner-up, Kota Ibushi.
The feeling-out process of this match was short-lived as both men employed slaps and kicks early looking to rattle their opponents. KENTA took slight control of the match until Ibushi hit him with a scoop slam and a lightning-quick moonsault.
KENTA ended up on the outside as Ibushi dove onto him, but got countered with a knee strike. KENTA then laid Ibushi out on the guardrail and hit a vicious double stomp off the ring apron.
Back in the ring, KENTA teased the Go 2 Sleep but ate a Last Ride powerbomb for his troubles. Ibushi teased his own finisher, the Kamigoye, and also ate some offense due to his hesitation.
Both men fought hard until the very end when KENTA hit several hard kicks to Ibushi and hit the Go 2 Sleep for the win.
KENTA helped Ibushi up after the match and gave him a hug as show of respect.
This was an incredible contest that showed off Ibushi well and helped re-establish KENTA as a legitimate monster.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
The greatest rivalry of the past decade landed in Dallas, as the Ace took on the Rainmaker.
The arena was almost shaking as the fans were electric and chanted endlessly for both men at the start of the match. The feeling-out process was home to both men’s signature taunts which riled the crowd up even more.
After a series of strikes from both men, Okada was able to hit a ruthless DDT on the floor. Both men started targeting each other’s legs with dragon screws but Tanahashi was able to withstand the onslaught and took control.
Okada finally shifted the tide back in his favor with some impactful power moves but was countered again into a Texas Cloverleaf from the Ace. A High Fly Flow to the floor, a Twist and Shout and several slingblades allowed Tanahashi to get comfortable, but a dropkick and a tombstone from Okada killed that momentum.
A counter of a High Fly Flow and a Rainmaker gave Okada hold of the match, but Tanahashi almost surprised him with a roll-up and a dragon suplex. But Okada was not to be taken by surprise, as he hit a spinning tombstone and another impactful Rainmaker for the historic win.
This was an incredible match that lived up to the hype, featuring one of the loudest reactions the American Airlines Center has seen in quite some time.
Overall, the first night of New Japan’s G1 Climax was an historic show that exceeded the high expectations of the United States audience. Many people we talked to called it “the best show they’ve ever seen.”
New Japan will be back stateside for the Super J Cup on August 22-25 on the West Coast.