New Japan on AXS TV Episode 23
July 31, 2015
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Josh Barnett
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Kazuchika Okada welcomes us to the show.
“Today, you’ll watch the August 8th, 2014 G-1 Climax held at Yokohama. You’re watching World Pro Wrestling Returns.
This week, we will see four matches and one full match from the final round-robin day of the 2014 G-1 Climax from August 8 at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in Yokohama.
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.
Commercial
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.
Commercial
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.
We go to post-match comments from Tanahashi, crawling in the back.
“I was so close to winning!” (screams and throws a tantrum on the floor)
Commercial
Back from commercial, we go to the TV-Asahi studios with Okada.
Okada on the 2014 G-1 Climax:
“I was surprised with how many wrestlers participated. I wondered about how many official matches I had to fight and when I saw the schedule, matches were held everywhere, so I knew it was going to be a long event. I knew this G-1 would be tough. I didn’t care much about how the wrestlers were matched. I was sure which block I would be in. Who else would it be?”
Okada on his previous two losses before the Suzuki match to Anderson & Naito:
“I lost against Anderson and Naito. I lost against Anderson for the first time after I made my comeback as ‘Rainmaker’, I lost against Naito right after that. (We see video clip of that.) I thought I would pay them back after becoming champion since I kept winning afterwards.”
Okada on the decision match with Suzuki and the previous one with Nakamura moving on to the Finals:
“Nakamura was set to go to the final round before me, so I knew I had to win. I had wanted to fight against Nakamura in a big match, I just dreaded my last match with Minoru Suzuki. I have a short temper sometimes and I get influenced by Suzuki’s pace. I always get influenced by him and so I had a tiresome match at the end. I dreaded this tiresome match.”
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.
We go to post-match comments from Suzuki.
“Say something, bastards. Hey, don’t pretend that you won, you little brat. I don’t think I lost at all. Your victory means nothing to me. At the final round in the Seibu Dome, I will be the last one standing! You’re saying that I have no chance nor enough winning points. What if everyone gets food poisoning? You bastards just count little scores, but I’m not like that. I’m risking my life!”
We go back to the ring with Okada and Gedo.
Okada: “My opponent for the final round, it will be Nakamura. Let me say one thing today. Nakamura, I have…….nothing to say.”
Gedo: “This is the first time in centuries and a perfect way to end the summer, its the biggest match of the century. Its Shinsuke Nakamura vs. ‘Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada, its the biggest match-up of this century, bastards! I have nothing to say either before this match, but let me just say one thing. The G-1 Climax 2014 final round, its between Shinsuke Nakamura vs. ‘Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada, I have no doubt on Seibu Prince Dome, you will see money rain.”
We go to after-show comments from Nakamura about the impending match with Okada.
“At this point, many wrestlers fought with similar conditions. We fight while spitting blood, or having our noses run. We’ve all devoted everything to this. Only the final round remains, just one more match. Now that I’m going to fight Kazuchika Okada, I will boil with excitement.”
We go back to the TV-Asahi studios with Okada.
Okada looks back on the match with Suzuki:
“He gave me armlocks, fist punches and unexpected sleeper holds, his thought of his moves. I hate it, he’s so tiresome. I wanted to finish him off quickly. I had in mind that Nakamura would be at the final round, so I knew I had to win, I fought the match thinking, that I only had to win and I won.
Okada on getting to the G-1 Finals:
“I was just relieved that my match against Nakamura was set. The next match was the final round, so I cooled down with ice quickly and prepared for the match. The G-1 final itself is rare and I can only fight against Nakamura at G-1 and it was the first pro wrestling held at Seibu Prince Dome, so I didn’t want a match there, where I lost completely. Rather than not being prepared, I wanted to win with my ‘Rainmaker Pose.’ I wanted to be ready and in my best condition.”
Show closes.