[Results] New Japan, 8/13/09

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TAJIRI proved to be more than just a nuisance for Hiroshi Tanahashi in the end, the Hustle assassin today scoring one of the bigger upsets of the tournament by pinning the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Of course, it wasn't a clean win, as TAJIRI again used his green mist - this time getting away with it - and Buzzsaw kicked Tanahashi for the three count. With an IWGP Heavyweight Title match set for Kobe World Hall next month, shortly before a scheduled bigger show at Sumo Hall, there is the possibility of a rematch there - doubtful Tanahashi or President Sugabayashi, who got misted today again, will want to let TAJIRI walk away that easily. Shinsuke Nakamura is looking to be one of very few people to master the "perfect G1", a flawless tournament. Win number five for the CHAOS leader was a big one as he pinned Nagata in today's semi final, a physical match that Shinsuke won with his Boma Ye (knee kick). Once relying on trickery and flash wins, its safe to say that Nakamura has transformed himself into a fighting machine nowadays who few can handle.
Togi Makabe has left his comeback late but stands a chance of reaching the semi final round now after avenging his Fire Festival 2008 final loss to ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion, Masato Tanaka. This was a stiff brawl, with Jado & Gedo often intruding to help Tanaka, but it wasn't enough as Makabe pinned him following a top rope King Kong kneedrop. Toru Yano has enjoyed a very productive tournament and an upset win over CHAOS cohort Giant Bernard took him into second spot in Block A today, Saturday's match with Makabe likely to be very important. Hiroyoshi Tenzan started the tournament very well with a decisive win over Takashi Sugiura and a DQ win over hated rival Iizuka, but since then it has been all downhill. After losing quite easily to Nakamura and Nagata, he was again beaten with unusual ease by Nakanishi today, the power fighter using his Hercules Cutter to continue a good G1 campaign for him so far - quite a rarity in recent years and the continuation of a very good year that has included his first ever IWGP Heavyweight Title reign.
The only other match was more of the same as Iizuka remained winless after being DQ'd against Goto. Iizuka debuted a new weapon today, a steel toothguard, en route to a DQ loss! Despite all of his losses, only one man has beaten Iizuka properly and that is Nakamura. The CMLL crew arrived today, Mistico and OKUMURA (former All Japan wrestler, Shigeo Okumura) in the opening match on opposite sides, ahead of Saturday's international dream match for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title between Tiger Mask and Mistico.
NJPW, 8/13/09 (WPW)
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
8,400 Fans - Super No Vacancy
1. Tiger Mask & Mistico beat Tomohiro Ishii & OKUMURA (10:09) when Mistico used the La Mistica on OKUMURA.
2. G1 Climax - Block B: Hirooki Goto [6] beat Takashi Iizuka [0] (12:24) by DQ.
3. G1 Climax - Block B: Manabu Nakanishi [6] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4] (10:30) with the Hercules Cutter.
4. G1 Climax - Block A: Toru Yano [6] beat Giant Bernard [5] (9:50) with a horizontal cradle.
5. Takashi Sugiura & Atsushi Aoki beat Super Strong Machine & Kazuchika Okada (11:24) when Sugiura used an Olympic slam on Okada.
6. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [5] beat Masato Tanaka [7] (12:29) with a top rope King Kong kneedrop.
7. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [10] beat Yuji Nagata [5] (17:41) with the Boma Ye.
8. G1 Climax - Block A: TAJIRI [4] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [5] (18:03) with a Buzzsaw kick.
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To simplify it, Omori, TAJIRI, and Bernard can’t qualify. Tanahashi vs. Tanaka and Makabe vs. Yano are the two matches to keep an eye on at Sumo Hall, with all four able to qualify, while TAJIRI vs. Omori will be a battle of pride, to keep one of them out of bottom place. In Block B, Nakamura has already won it thanks to his rampage, regardless of whether or not he beats Nakanishi at Sumo Hall. Iizuka and Tenzan have no chance of qualifying. Goto vs. Sugiura, Nagata vs. Iizuka, and Nakanishi vs. Nakamura are the remaining matches - all but Iizuka, as mentioned, can still qualify.
Block A:
1. Masato Tanaka [7]
2. Toru Yano [6]
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi [5]
4. Giant Bernard [5]
5. Togi Makabe [5]
6. Takao Omori [4]
- TAJIRI [4]
Block B:
1. Shinsuke Nakamura [10]
2. Hirooki Goto [6]
3. Manabu Nakanishi [6]
4. Yuji Nagata [5]
- Takashi Sugiura [5]
6. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4]
7. Takashi Iizuka [0]