8/8 NJPW G-1 Climax Day 11 recap (Okada/Suzuki)

New Japan Pro Wrestling G-1 Climax 2014 Day 11 iPPV
August 8, 2014
Yokohama, Japan (Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium)
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com

Today is the final day of the round-robin portion of the tournament. The people going to the finals & the third place match will be determined today. In the running currently are Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura & Bad Luck Fale in A Block and in B Block, AJ Styles and Kazuchika Okada.

A Block: Shelton “X” Benjamin w/TAKA vs. Tomoaki Honma

Crowd chants for Honma as the bell sounds. Honma with a roll-up early for a nearfall. Sunset flip by Honma for a nearfall. Benjamin with a knee to the ribs, but Honma avoids the Stinger Splash in the corner. Running elbow in the corner by Honma, followed by a bulldog. Benjamin trips up Honma and locks in the Ankle Lock, but Honma counters out with a victory roll for a nearfall. Honma blocks a German by Benjamin and sends him to the outside. Honma heads up top and wipes out Benjamin with KOKESHI!! Crowd chants for Honma. Ref begins his 20 count as Honma gets back in. Benjamin gets in at 10. Honma with a series of chops, but Benjamin sends him onto the apron and knocks him down to the outside. Benjamin then BACK SUPLEXES HONMA ACROSS THE BARRICADE!! Benjamin gets back in as the ref begins his 20 count. Honma gets back in just barely at the count of 19. Benjamin gorilla presses Honma and drops him down into a powerslam for a nearfall. Benjamin whips Honma hard into the corner, then stands on his throat. Delayed standing Butterfly by Benjamin for a nearfall. Chinlock applied, crowd wills on Honma. Honma fights back, but Benjamin with a series of forearms. HONMA SHRUGS IT OFF!! Benjamin with more forearms, but HONMA SHRUGS IT OFF AGAIN!! Strike exchange, Honma gains advantage, but then Benjamin hits the Dragon Whip. Benjamin charges in, but Honma catches him with a flying headbutt! More forearms by Benjamin, but Honma with a back elbow, followed by a clothesline and the falling headbutt for a nearfall. Honma heads up top for Kokeshi, but Benjamin moves out of the way! Benjamin this time hits 2 Stinger Splashes, but Honma avoids Paydirt. HONMA CLUTCH, but Benjamin kicks out.

Superkick, followed by Paydirt that gives Benjamin the win.

Winner: Shelton “X” Benjamin by pinfall (Paydirt)

Benjamin finishes G-1 at 5-5 with 10 points, while Honma pulls a goose-egg in the tournament, going 0-10 with 0 points.

B Block: NEVER Champion “Mr. Rated R” Yujiro Takahashi vs. Toru Yano

Yujiro attacks Yano before the bell. Yujiro chokes Yano with Yano’s ring jacket, then SMASHES YANO’s DVD!!! Yano throws the ref at Yujiro when Yujiro times a low-blow and removes the padding in one of the corners. Yano avoids a charge, sending Yujiro into the exposed corner. Yujiro then avoids Yano, sending Yano into the exposed corner. Yano then drop toe holds Yujiro into the exposed middle turnbuckle! Yujiro stops Yano from doing his taunt and hits a clothesline, followed by taunting the crowd. Yujiro stomps away at Yano, then paintbrushes him. Yano pulls Yujiro down by the hair, but Yujiro avoids a low kick. Yujiro stops being sent into the ref, then a low-blow and a roll-up by Yano for a nearfall. Yujiro then sends Yano into the ref, knocking him down.

2 low kicks by Yujiro to Yano while the ref was knocked down, ref then comes to and Yujiro gets the win.

Winner: NEVER Champion “Mr. Rated R” Yujiro Takahashi by pinfall (2 Low Kicks)

Yujiro shows afterward that he had a cup, which is why he kicked out of Yano’s low blow/roll-up combo. Yujiro & Yano both finish G-1 at 4-6 with 8 points.

B Block: “The American Psycho” Lance Archer w/TAKA vs. Hirooki Goto

Archer shoves Goto away early. Goto with a side headlock, but no one goes down off a shoulder tackle multiple times. Goto with a series of forearms, but Archer with a big right hand. Goto avoids a charge in the corner, but Archer blocks a hiptoss. Archer charges in, but Goto pulls down the top rope, sending Archer to the outside. Goto then wipes out Archer with a slingshot plancha! Archer sends Goto into the barricade, then hits a running boot that sends Goto into the crowd. Archer drives Goto into the barricade back-first. Back in, Archer with a running shoulder tackle and taunts the crowd. Archer gains a nearfall. Archer menaces the ref, then hits a big forearm to Goto. Archer chokes Goto in the ropes, then hits a Northern Lariat for a nearfall. Chinlock applied, crowd wills on Goto. Goto gets to the ropes. Goto fights back with a series of chops, but Archer with a facebuster across the knee. They clothesline each other at the same time, but no one goes down. Archer then with a running boot for a nearfall. Archer goes for the Texas Tornado, but Goto slips out. Goto goes off Archer’s blind side and hits a clothesline, but Archer does not go down. Goto then is able to knock down Archer with a big clothesline. Goto avoids a charge in the corner and hits a spinning heel kick. Archer blocks a Backdrop Driver, but Goto hits a hiptoss. Goto goes for Ushikoroshi, but Archer blocks it. Goto blocks a Chokeslam and hits a big headbutt. Goto this time hits Ushikoroshi for a nearfall. Goto goes for Shouten Kai, but Archer blocks it and backs Goto into the corner, hitting a series of gut shots. They head up top, but Goto blocks a superplex. Goto goes for a Super Code Red, but Archer counters by back body dropping Goto off the ropes! Goto slips out of the Texas Tornado again, but Archer this time hits the Chokeslam for a nearfall. Archer places Goto up top and brings him out of the corner.

BLACKOUT!! 1-2-3!

Winner: “The American Psycho” Lance Archer by pinfall (Blackout)

Archer finishes G-1 at 4-6 with 8 points, while Goto finishes at 3-7 with 6 points.

B Block: IWGP Tag Team Champion “The Machine Gun” Karl Anderson vs. “The Stardust Genius” Tetsuya Naito

This was the decision match last year in B Block in the 2013 G-1 Climax, with Naito beating Anderson to move onto the finals. Anderson attacks Naito before the bell, knocking him off the ropes and to the outside. APRON POWERBOMB BY ANDERSON!! Anderson gets back in as the ref begins his 20 count. Naito gets back in at 18, but Anderson stops a shoulder to the ribs with a kneelift, followed by a kick. Anderson knocks Naito off the apron by sending him into the ringpost. Ref begins his count again and Naito just BARELY gets back in by the count of 20. Snapmare, followed by a series of knee drops by Anderson for a nearfall. Chinlock applied. Naito fights out, but Anderson catches him with a dropkick for a nearfall. Anderson taunts the crowd, then hits a series of uppercuts to Naito in the corner. Anderson runs into boots by Naito, but comes back with a slam. Anderson mocks Naito’s pose, but Naito avoids the back senton. Anderson with a series of right hands, but Naito with a hiptoss, a sliding dropkick, a snapmare and a running senton. Naito heads up top and hits a missile dropkick. Running dropkick in the corner, but Anderson stops him from doing the slingshot dropkick and hits a TKO for a nearfall. Anderson goes for the Bernard Driver, but Naito fights out. Anderson with another uppercut, then catches Naito when going for a flying forearm. Anderson goes for a running sit-out powerbomb, but Naito counters with a rana! Another running dropkick in the corner by Naito, then this time hits the slingshot dropkick. They head up top and Naito hits Anderson with a Super Rana. German by Naito for a nearfall. Naito with a slam, then heads up top for the Stardust Press, but Anderson moves out of the way! Strike exchange, then Anderson with a series of uppercuts, followed by a flying kick. Anderson this time hits the Bernard Driver, but Naito kicks out! Anderson goes for the Gun-Stun, but Naito blocks it and hits a victory roll for a nearfall. Anderson misses a clothesline and Naito with an enziguri.

Naito goes again for the flying forearm, but Anderson catches him in mid-air with the Gun-Stun for the win.

Winner: IWGP Tag Team Champion “The Machine Gun” Karl Anderson by pinfall (Gun-Stun)

Anderson & Naito both finish G-1 at 5-5 with 10 points.

A Block: “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii vs. “Blue Justice” Yuji Nagata

Nagata backs Ishii into the ropes and shoves him, but Ishii with a slap! Ishii with a series of forearms & headbutts, but it only pisses Nagata off. Strike exchange, Ishii talks trash. Nagata with a series of leg kicks to the back of Ishii’s leg, followed by a big chest kick and a kick to the back. Nagata tells Ishii to bring it and Ishii does with a series of forearms. Nagata fires back with forearms and a slap, but Ishii responds with slaps of his own, followed by more headbutts. Ishii talks trash again and Nagata shoves him. Nagata with a series of slaps, then they exchange slaps! Nagata gains advantage with BIG slaps and knocks down Ishii! Nagata with a chest kick, but Ishii yells to give him some more. More chest kicks by Nagata that back Ishii into the corner. Nagata with a series of forearms, but Ishii blocks the running boot in the corner. Ishii treats Nagata to a Violence Party, but Nagata catches him off a charge with a boot, followed by the Exploder of Justice! Ishii blocks a suplex, but Nagata with a knee to the ribs. Ishii avoids another running boot and hits a release German! Ishii with a clothesline in the corner, then they head up top. Nagata blocks a superplex, then catches Ishii off the ropes with a boot. Another strike exchange, Ishii gains advantage, but Nagata fires up and hits some BIG forearms, then GOES AFTER THE INJURED ARM OF ISHII, DRIVING IT ACROSS HIS OWN SHOULDER!!! Nagata with the Justice Knee in the corner, then they head up top again. Ishii blocks a superplex and hits more forearms, but Nagata refuses to be knocked off the ropes! Ishii with a headbutt, then hits a Sunset Flip into a Running Powerbomb for a nearfall. Northern Lariat by Ishii, then counters another Exploder of Justice by Nagata with a DDT. Ishii goes for the Sliding Lariat, but Nagata avoids it and locks in the Fujiwara armbar with the eyes rolling back in his head. Nagata switches to a cross armbreaker on the injured arm of Ishii, but Ishii somehow makes it to the ropes. Ishii with a headbutt to block more damage done to his arm. Another strike exchange, Ishii gains advantage and yells at Nagata to bring it again! Nagata does so, by DRILLING Ishii with a spin kick! Brainbuster by Nagata, but Ishii kicks out! Nagata goes for the Backdrop Hold, but Ishii blocks it. Nagata with a kick to the injured arm of Ishii, followed by a running boot, but Ishii with a headbutt. More forearms by Ishii, but Nagata catches him with a slap. Ishii catches a kick and hits another headbutt, followed by a big clothesline for a nearfall.

Sliding Lariat to the back of Nagata’s head, BRAINBUSTER!! 1-2-3!

Winner: “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii by pinfall (Brainbuster)

Ishii finishes G-1 at 5-5 with 10 points, while Nagata finishes at 4-6 with 8 points.

A Block: IWGP Tag Team Champion “The Outlaw” Doc Gallows vs. “The Mad Dog” Katsuyori Shibata

Shibata has the slimmest of chances to win A Block, needing lots of things to happen even if he wins here, but he is in a MUST WIN situtation. Shibata avoids a Gallows clothesline early and unloads with elbows to him in the corner. Shibata charges in, but Gallows catches him with a big boot. The two go nose-to-nose and Gallows with 3 more big boots. Gallows off the ropes, but Shibata catches him with a kitchen sink, followed by a kick to the back. Headscissors applied, Gallows gets to the ropes. Shibata paintbrushes Gallows, but Gallows with a series of throat thrusts. Shibata slips out of a slam and hits a flying kick that Gallows & himself over the ropes and to the outside! Gallows with another throat thrust, then sends Shibata over the barricade and into the crowd. Another throat thrust by Gallows, then he BACK SUPLEXES SHIBATA ON THE APRON!! Gallows gets back in as the ref begins his 20 count. Shibata gets back in 15, but Gallows with a boot while he was on the apron. Shibata locks in a Sleeper and gets back in. Gallows tries to counter out with a side slam, but Shibata keeps the hold applied! Gallows is able to reach the ropes. Shibata with a chest kick, then unloads with more elbows in the corner. Shibata charges in and hits the hestitation dropkick! Gallows blocks a Butterfly, but Shibata slips out of a suplex and locks back in the Sleeper. Ref checks Gallows’ arm, but he gets out with a knee strike. Shibata off the ropes, but Gallows catches him with a clothesline for a nearfall. Another throat thrust, followed by a head kick, but then Shibata with a spinning back chop! Shibata goes for the Go 2 Sleep, but Gallows slips out and hits a Pumphandle Slam. Gallows hits the Gallows Pole for a nearfall.

HANGMAN’s NOOSE!! 1-2-3!

Winner: IWGP Tag Team Champion “The Outlaw” Doc Gallows by pinfall (Hangman’s Noose)

With the loss, Shibata is out of the running for A Block, finishing at 6-4 with 12 points. Gallows finishes G-1 at 4-6 with 8 points.

A Block: IWGP Intercontinental Champion “The Underboss” Bad Luck Fale vs. “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura needs a win, while Fale needs other things to happen for him even with a win here. Crowd chants for Nakamura as the bell sounds. Fale throws Nakamura down early, but Nakamura avoids a charge in the corner and tells Fale to bring it. Snapmare, followed by a leaping knee drop by Nakamura. Fale comes back with a gut shot, a slam, but Nakamura avoids a big splash. Nakamura with the Superman forearm, but Fale stops the shaky boot dealy-a-bob in the corner and sends Nakamura onto the apron. Fale then clotheslines Nakamura off the apron and into the barricade! Fale takes off his belt and WHIPS NAKAMURA WITH IT!! Fale stands on Nakamura’s back and taunts the crowd. Fale sends Nakamura into the ringpost, then back in the ring. Fale with a series of gut shots & crossface shots to Nakamura in the corner. Nakamura fights back with forearms, but Fale with a knee to the ribs and a double sledge to the back. Another gut shot by Fale, but Nakamura with a knee to the ribs. Fale avoids a head kick, but Nakamura with a back heel kick. Fale with another gut shot, but Nakamura catches him off a charge with a one-legged dropkick. Fale catches a kick, but Nakamura with an enziguri. Series of knees to the ribs by Nakamura in the corner, followed by this time doing the shaky boot dealy-a-bob. Nakamura places Fale across the top rope and hits the running knee to the ribs for a nearfall. Fale blocks the reverse suplex with elbows, but Nakamura with another knee to the ribs. Nakamura off the ropes, but Fale catches him with a Samoan Drop. Strike exchange, then Fale with another gut shot. Avalanche in the corner by Fale, followed by a delayed suplex and a big splash for a nearfall. Fale goes for the Grenade, but Nakamura counters out with a knee strike to the head. Fale blocks a suplex, but Nakamura with a knee to the ribs. Nakamura with a standing gourdbuster, followed by the Pride-style knee strike to the back of Fale’s head. Nakmaura goes for the Boma-Ye, but Fale avoids it. GRENADE!! NAKAMURA KICKS OUT!! Fale heads up top, but Nakamura stops him with an enziguri. Nakamura heads up top with Fale, SUPERPLEX BY NAKAMURA, with Fale BOUNCING off the mat!! Both men charge in, but Fale nails Nakamura with a Spear! Fale goes for the Bad Luck Fall, but Nakamura slips out and locks in a Sleeper. Fale fights out, but Nakamura hits a Backstabber back into the Sleeper. Fale gets free by driving Nakamura into the corner. Nakamura goes to the middle rope, 2ND ROPE BOMA-YE TO THE BACK OF FALE’s HEAD!! Nakamura goes again for the Boma-Ye, but Fale goozles him. Fale goes for the Grenade again, but Nakamura fights out with a knee strike! BOMA-YE!!!! 1-2……..FALE KICKS OUT!!!

ANOTHER BOMA-YE!!! 1-2-3!!

Winner: “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall (Boma-Ye)

With the loss, Fale is eliminated from G-1, finishing at 6-4 with 12 points. Nakamura with the win, will either be in the finals or the 3rd place match. Nakamura needs a loss by Tanahashi to make the finals. A Tanahashi win puts Tanahashi in the finals and Nakamura in the 3rd place match.

B Block: IWGP Champion “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. “The Unchained Gorilla” Togi Makabe

Styles needs to win here & a loss by Okada in the main event to make the Finals. Any other outcome puts Styles in the 3rd place match. Chain wrestling early, Styles gets to the ropes and goes to the outside to regroup. Back in, Styles with a side headlock, but no one goes down off a shoulder tackle multiple times. Makabe then backs Styles into the ropes with a shoulder tackle. Makabe off the ropes and catches Styles off a crossbody with a powerslam. Clothesline in the corner by Makabe, but Styles slips out of the 10 punches and sends Makabe off the ropes and to the outside. Styles with a series of chops, then leaps over the barricade to avoid being sent over. Makabe charges in, but runs into a forearm. Styles then leaps off the barricade and hits a flying forearm, then taunts the crowd. Back in, Styles with a slam and a leaping knee drop. Chinlock applied, crowd wills on Makabe. Makabe fights out, but Styles catches him with the Phenomenal Dropkick for a nearfall. Styles with a back club, but Makabe yells at him to bring it. Series of forearms to Styles, but Makabe continues to yell at Styles to give him some more. Makabe gets in Styles’ face, then fights back with big right hands that knock down Styles. 2 clotheslines in the corner by Makabe, followed by the 10 punches in the corner. Styles comes back with a jawbreaker, doing damage to the injured jaw of Makabe. Styles with a series of strikes, ending with a spinning backfist and a discus clothesline. Styles goes for Bloody Sunday, but Makabe blocks it and hits a Northern Lights for a nearfall. Styles with another series of strikes, but Makabe avoids the discus clothesline. Styles avoids a clothesline by Makabe, but Makabe hits a left-arm lariat. Styles blocks a German and hits a hammerlock back suplex for a nearfall. Styles goes for the Styles Clash, but Makabe blocks it. Styles with a kneelift, followed by a series of chops. Makabe off the ropes, but he counters a rana attempt by Styles with a powerbomb for a nearfall. Makabe with a Northern Lariat in the corner, then places Styles up top, facing the crowd. Makabe then FOLDS STYLES UP LIKE AN ACCORDION WITH THE SPIDER GERMAN!! Makabe with a slam, then heads up top for the King Kong Knee Drop, but Styles moves out of the way! Makabe runs into a boot by Styles, then Styles hits the Pele Kick! They head up top, but Makabe blocks a superplex and headbutts Styles off the ropes, but Styles comes back with another Pele Kick!

Styles grabs Makabe from out of the corner, STYLES CLASH!!! 1-2-3!

Winner: IWGP Champion “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles by pinfall (Styles Clash)

Styles now needs a loss by Okada to make the finals.

A Block Decision Match: “The Canadian Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith Jr. w/TAKA vs. “The Ace of the Universe” Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi needs a win to make the Finals. A loss puts Nakamura in the Finals. Crowd chants for Tanahashi as the bell sounds. Smith throws Tanahashi down early and flexes. Smith backs Tanahashi into the ropes, but Tanahashi avoids a right hand. Chain wrestling, then Smith places Tanahashi across the top rope and shoves him before flexing again. Smith with a gut kick and a back club, but Tanahashi with a side headlock. Smith takes Tanahashi down to get free. Series of uppercuts by Smith, but runs into a back elbow. Tanahashi goes for a springboard crossbody, but Smith counters with a gutbuster. Gutwrench by Smith, then he taunts the crowd. Stomp to the ribs by Smith, chinlock applied. Smith then switches to a headscissors and uses the ropes for leverage. Tanahashi gets to the ropes. Tanahashi fights back, but Smith with a knee to the ribs. Tanahashi with a flying forearm, a dropkick to the knees, followed by another flying forearm. Smith blocks a German, but Tanahashi catches a kick and hits a Dragon Screw. Tanahashi goes for the Slingblade, but Smith avoids it. Tanahashi skins the cat back in, then headscissors Smith to the outside. Tanahashi heads up top, but Smith avoids him. Tanahashi with a head of steam and hits a baseball slide, then wipes out Smith with a slingshot plancha! Tanahashi goes to the apron, but Smith pulls him off. Smith breaks the ref’s count, then sends Tanahashi into the barricade. Tanahashi charges in, but Smith POWERSLAMS HIM ON THE OUTSIDE!! Back in, Smith gains a nearfall. Smith with a leaping knee, but Tanahashi with a jawbreaker. Tanahashi off the ropes, but Smith catches him with a big boot for a nearfall. Tanahashi slips out of a slam and hits an Old School Explusion. Smith misses a clothesline and Tanahashi this time hits the Slingblade for a nearfall. Tanahashi heads up top, but Smith crotches him on the ropes. Smith goes up with Tanahashi and hits a Top Rope Superplex for a nearfall. Smith goes for the Bulldog Bomb, but Tanahashi fights out. Smith then with a T-Bone for a nearfall. Tiger by Smith, but Tanahashi kicks out! Smith goes again for the Bulldog Bomb, but Tanahashi counters out with a Sunset flip for a nearfall. Smith runs into boots by Tanahashi, then Tanahashi with a victory roll out of the corner for a nearfall.

Smith then blocks a rana attempt by Tanahashi, BULLDOG BOMB!!! 1-2-3!

Winner: “The Canadian Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith Jr. by pinfall (Bulldog Bomb)

With the loss, Tanahashi is in the 3rd place Match and Nakamura wins A Block, heading to the Finals. Smith finishes G-1 at 5-5 with 10 points.

Main Event in a B Block Decision Match: Minoru Suzuki w/TAKA vs. “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada w/Gedo

Okada wins this match, its him vs. Nakamura in the Finals and Styles vs. Tanahashi in the 3rd Place Match. He loses, then its Styles vs. Nakamura in the Finals and Okada vs. Tanahashi in the 3rd Place Match. Crowd chants for Okada as the bell sounds. Okada backs Suzuki into the ropes and shoves him. Suzuki avoids a big boot and takes Okada down in a Fujiwara armbar, Okada quickly gets to the ropes. Okada with a right hand that sends Suzuki onto the apron, but he armbars Okada in the ropes! Suzuki goes to the apron with Okada now outside and DRILLS Okada with a running apron kick! Suzuki traps Okada in one of the barricade bars and pulls at it, followed by kicking the barricade to do damage to the arm. Suzuki sends Okada into the barricade, then gets in Gedo’s face. Back in, Suzuki goes back to the cross armbreaker in the ropes. Suzuki with kicks to the arm, but Okada yells at him to bring it. More kicks to the arm by Suzuki, followed by a big forearm. FK by Suzuki, Kimura applied while also grabbing Okada’s leg. Okada gets to the ropes. Suzuki runs into a boot by Okada, but hits a big boot. Okada comes back with a forearm, followed by a DDT. Okada with a series of forearms, followed by a big boot. Snapmare, followed by a sliding dropkick that sends Suzuki to the outside. Suzuki comes back with a knee to the ribs, but Okada sends him into the barricade, followed by a running boot that sends Suzuki into the crowd. Okada then with a draping DDT to Suzuki ON THE FLOOR!! Back in, Okada with a slam, then heads up top and hits the top rope elbow drop. Okada calls for the Rainmaker, but Suzuki pops up and hits a series of kicks. Running boot in the corner by Suzuki, then avoids the Too Awesome Dropkick and hits another FK. Series of kicks to the back by Suzuki, then he locks in a cross armbreaker, but Okada quickly gets to the ropes. Strike exchange, Okada with an uppercut, but Suzuki takes him down and locks back in the Fujiwara armbar. Okada tries to reach the ropes, but Suzuki pulls him back to the center. Okada thinks about tapping, but is somehow able to reach the ropes. Suzuki continues to work over Okada’s arm, but Okada takes him down. Okada tries to lock in Red Ink and is finally able to do so. Suzuki gets to the ropes. Okada lifts up Suzuki and hits Heavy Rain for a nearfall. Series of forearms by Okada, but Suzuki’s leg buckles when Okada tries to Irish whip him. However, it was all a ruse as Suzuki comes back with a dropkick. Suzuki goes back to work on the arm of Okada, then locks in the Sleeper. Suzuki goes for the Gotch Piledriver, but Okada blocks it. Suzuki with a kneelift, then goes again for the Gotch Piledriver, but Okada counters out with the Emerald Frosion across the knee! Strike exchange from their knees, then once they get to their feet. Both men yell at the other to bring it as they continue to exchange strikes. Suzuki gains advantage with a series of forearms, but Okada with an uppercut, followed by the Too Awesome Dropkick to the back of Suzuki’s head! Okada goes for the Tombstone, but Suzuki blocks it and hits a series of headbutts. Okada avoids another kneelift, but Suzuki blocks a German and goes back to the arm. Okada catches Suzuki off the ropes, but Suzuki blocks another Tombstone. Suzuki goes for a Tombstone, but Okada counters out and finally hits the Tombstone! Okada fires up and goes for the Rainmaker, but Suzuki with another shot to the arm, followed by the rapid-fire slaps! Suzuki goes for a running boot, but Okada catches him with the Too Awesome Dropkick!

RAINMAKER!!!!!! 1-2-3!

Winner: “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada by pinfall (Rainmaker)

With the win, it will be Okada vs. Nakamura in the Finals. Suzuki finishes G-1 at 5-5 with 10 points.

Check back Sunday for a recap of the Finals of the 2014 New Japan G-1 Climax right here on Wrestleview.com. Til then, remember, PURORESU ICHIBAN!!!

——————————————————————————

Current Card for the Finals on 8/10 at Seibu Dome:

* G-1 Climax Finals: Kazuchika Okada vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

* Third Place Match: IWGP Champion AJ Styles vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

* IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles: Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA (c’s) vs. ROH Tag Team Champions reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly)

* Jushin Liger & Captain New Japan vs. ROH’s Adam Cole & Michael Bennett w/Maria Kanellis

Final Standings

A Block

* Shinsuke Nakamura (8-2) 16 points (WINNER)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi (7-3) 14 points
* Katsuyori Shibata (6-4) 12 points
* Bad Luck Fale (6-4) 12 points
* Satoshi Kojima (5-5) 10 points
* Shelton “X” Benjamin (5-5) 10 points
* Davey Boy Smith Jr. (5-5) 10 points
* Tomohiro Ishii (5-5) 10 points
* Yuji Nagata (4-6) 8 points
* Doc Gallows (4-6) 8 points
* Tomoaki Honma (0-10) 0 points

B Block

* Kazuchika Okada (8-2) 16 points (WINNER)
* AJ Styles (8-2) 16 points
* Minoru Suzuki (5-5) 10 points
* Tetsuya Naito (5-5) 10 points
* Karl Anderson (5-5) 10 points
* Togi Makabe (4-6) 8 points
* Toru Yano (4-6) 8 points
* Hiroyoshi Tenzan (4-6) 8 points
* Lance Archer (4-6) 8 points
* Yujiro Takahashi (4-6) 8 points
* Hirooki Goto (3-7) 6 points

Previous Recaps

Day 1: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49754-recap-of-day-1-of-the-2014-new-japan-g-1-climax-okada-styles

Day 2: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49775-recap-of-day-2-of-the-2014-njpw-g-1-climax-tanahashi-gallows

Day 3: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49816-recap-of-day-3-of-the-2014-njpw-g-1-climax-okada-makabe

Day 4: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49832-recap-of-day-4-of-the-2014-njpw-g-1-climax-tanahashi-shibata

Day 5: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49881-7-28-njpw-g-1-climax-day-5-recap-okada-naito

Day 6: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49903-7-31-njpw-g-1-climax-day-6-recap-tanahashi-ishii

Day 7: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49939-8-1-njpw-g-1-climax-day-7-recap-nakamura-ishii

Day 8: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49951-8-3-njpw-g-1-climax-day-8-recap-nakamura-tanahashi

Day 9: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/49966-8-4-njpw-g-1-climax-day-9-recap-okada-goto

Day 10: http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/50037-8-6-njpw-g-1-climax-day-10-recap-nakamura-gallows

Podcast Reviews of 2014 New Japan G-1 Climax on Radioinfluence.com with myself & Greg McNeish