Tonight is the big night for A Block. We find out who will face the B Block winner on Sunday. Only three out of the original ten are eligible to win.
Hiroshi Tanahashi – Current A Block winner with 14 points (7-1). All he has to do is win tonight’s match with longtime rival Kazuchika Okada. If that happens, he will claim A Block with the best record in the entire tournament.
Kazuchika Okada – The second most likely winner is the CHAOS leader. After suffering two back to back losses in his first two matches, Okada mad an incredible turnaround and won his next six straight matches to put him at 12 points (6-2). But unfortunately for Okada, more has to happen in oder for him to take the block.
Jay White – Like Okada, White sits at 12 points (6-2). If he beats Evil tonight, he will tie with Okada for second. If he wins AND Okada beats Tanahashi, then all three men are tied at 12, with White getting the block win since he has wins over both men.
Now it’s time for the undercard tag matches.
Tomohiro Ishii & Sho of CHAOS b. Toa Henare & Shota Umino when Sho pinned Umino with a German Suplex. Sho and Shota began the match trading shoulderblocks. Good tag team work by both teams early on with double team moves. Henare speared both Sho and Ishii before tagging in Umino. Missile dropkick by Umino scored a near fall. After several kickouts, Sho hit a bridging German Suplex for a pin.
The Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) of Bullet Club OGs b. Toru Yano & Gedo of CHAOS when Loa pinned Gedo with an Over The Shoulder Piledriver. Yano clearly showed fear of the Guerrillas and argued with Gedo over who should start the match. They nearly got counted out off the bat as they argued on the floor. They both dashed into the ring at the count of 19, and immediately got ambushed but the GODs. Tonga and Loa beat on Yano, who blind tagged Gedo from behind to escape. Gedo tried a crucifix rollup on Loa, which got reversed into a Samoan Drop. An Over The Shoulder Piledriver later, and it was all over. Yano didn’t even get a chance to remove a turnbuckle.
NEVER Openwight Champion Hirroki Goto & Yoh of CHAOS b. IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson & David Finlay when Goto pinned Finlay with a GTR. While Juice may be struggling in the G1 itself, he and Finlay have done very well in these tag matches. After some exciting backa nd forth action between Finlay and Yoh, Goto and Yoh were able to cut off Finlay and work him over. Robinson tagged in and ran wild. Goto fended off a double team and sent Juice to the outside. He then finished off Finlay with a GTR.
Tetsuya Naito & SANADA of Los Ingobernables De Japon b. Zack Sabre Jr. and Taka Michinoku of Suzuki-Gun when Sanada submitted Michinoku with Skull End. Sabre teased starting the match with Naito, but tagged out to Taka. Naito then tagged Sanada and dashed after Sabre on the floor. LIJ tried a double team on Taka, but Sabre yanked Naito out of the ring from behind. Sabre & Michinoku double teamed Sanada. Naito got the tag and went backa nd forth with Sabre. Double tag out, and Sanada wrapped Taka in the Paradise Lock. Naito kept Sabre at bay while Sanada then applied the Skull End for a submission on Taka.
After the match, Sabre tried to attack Naito, but was fended off.
The Elite (IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega, and IWGP Heavyweight Tag Champions Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. Kota Ibushi, Marty Scurll, & Chase Owens went to a No Contest when Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa interfered. A rare six man tag match as a preview match. It’s also worth mentioning that Scurll and The Young Bucks are also the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Champions. A lot of playing to the crowd by everybody in the match before any moves were even hit. SSeveral tags from each side that only resulted in standoffs. Finally, Omega and Ibushi were tagged in. Just when it looked like there would finally be a lock up and a match, The Guerrillas Of Destiny hit the ring and attacked everybody for a No Contest. That was a bit of a letdown, as The Bucks and Scurll showed up for a non-match. At least it wasn’t a main event match.
Now onto the final matches of the A Block
Togi Makabe (4) p. Michael Elgin (6) with a King Kong Knee Drop. This should be a fun hossfight. The two traded strikes and shoulderblocks, with neither man gaining an advantage in the opening minutes. Back and forth action included clotheslines and German Suplexes. Makabe lifted ELgin for the Spider German Suplex. Elgin escaped and hit a Splash Mouontain for a two count. Elgin laid into Makabe with elbows. Makabe responded with shots of his own and hit a Death Valley Driver. A King Kong Knee Drop later, and Makabe emerged victorious.
YOSHI-HASHI (4) p. Hangman Page (6) with Karma. While Hashi made his entrance, the announcers speculated on Hashi’s future in CHAOS. Tanahashi dis say in a previous interview that he’s like to help Hashi. So are we on the verge of a YOSHI-HASHI babyface turn? Anyway, Page got an early advantage by hitting a Hangman’s Neckbreaker to the outside. Hashi hit a neckbreaker of his own, and gained some momentum with a Headhunter for a near fall. German Suplex by Page. Hashi kicked out of a Buckshot Lariat. Page hit a top rope neckbreaker for another near fall. Hashi reversed several Rite Of Passage attempts, including one into a Canadian Destroyer. Hashi followed up with a backcracker and Karma to score his final G1 victory.
Minoru Suzuki (8) b. Bad Luck Fale (6) via DQ when Tama Tonga interfered. El Desperado accompanied Suzuki to the ring, while Tanga Loa accompanied Fale. Fale went after the ring announcer, as usual, but Suzuki attacked Fale. Probably the most honorable thing Suzuki has done in a very long time. Anyways, all these heels brawled around ringside. Suzuki repeatedly used a chair, and repeatedly tossed the referee out of the way. Back in the ring, a Penalty Kick got a two count for Suzuki. Fale went for a Hand Grenade, which Suzuki reversed into an armbar. Tanga Loa pulled the referee out and atttacked Suzuki. Both Tongans pummeled Suzuki, but Suzuki still kicked out of a splash. Suzuki reversed a Bad Luck Fall and landed several strikes. Suzuki cinched in the Rear Naked Choke. At this time, Loa again distracted the referee. Suzuki was lifting Fale for a Gotch Piledriver when Tama Tonga ran in and hit a Gun Stun.
Evil (8) p. “Switchblade” Jay White (12) with Everything Is Evil. If White wins this match, then Tanahashi has to at least draw with Okada to keep White from winning the block. White trash talked Evil at the outset, and landed several chops and strikes. When Evil tried to counter, White sent him to the outside. Of course, White smashed him against the guardrail several times. Evil beat the countout and fought back, sending White to the outside. Evil returned the guardrail favor, and threw White back into the ring. White rallied with a few suplexes, and low blowed Evil from behind. Evil still was able to reverse a Blade Runner into Darkness Falls. White kicked out of a huge lariat. White blocked Everything Is Evil and hit another German Suplex. Evil kicked out of a Kiwi Crusher. White slid out of the ring and produced two chairs. Evil avoided the chair leveled White with another lariat. Red Shoes tried to take the chair away. White capitalized and hit another German suplex. However, when he went to use the second chair, Evil ducked the chairshot and hit Everything Is Evil for the pinfall victory.
This eliminates White from winning the block. So now it is either Tanahashi and Okada who will be the block champion. Even if it goes to a time limit draw, Tanahashi will still win the block
Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahash battled to a 30 minute time limit draw. When Okada’s music hit for the main event match, I noticed there is still over a hour left in the broadcast. This means technically they have time to do a time limit draw. I don’t think they’d do that, because it might not be as climactic of a finish to a block when one guy only has to tie to win. As soon as the bell hit the two went at it with a flurry of offense, but each dodged the other’s attack. The two exchanged headlock. Upon a rope break, Tanahashi hit an elbow to the face and took control of the match. Tanahashi’s offense focused on Oakada’s legs. A Dragon Screw on Tanahashi turned the tide of the match in Okada’s favor. Okada also focused on his oppoent’s legs. Basement dropkick to the legs by Okada at the ten minute mark. Tanahashi rallied with his own Dragon Screw and landed several strikes. Okada kicked out of a somersault senton. Tanahashi kicked out of a DDT. Okada landed a pair of shotgun dropkicks, and went for a Tombstone. Tanahashi reverse into a Tombstone of his own. Both men exchanged strikes. Tanahashi dropkicked Okada off the apron to the guardrail. In true Tanahashi fashion, he hit a High Fly Flow bodypress from the top to the floor. Okada skowly made his way back to the ring heavily favoring his leg. Tanahashi, smelling blood, continues hos offense on Okada’s legs with a dropkick and Dragon Screw. Cloverleaf by Tanahashi at the 20 minute mark. This match is just flying by, as it doesn’t feel like 20 minutes. Okada did not escape the Cloverleaf. Instead Tanahashi turned it into a Styles Clash, which Okada dodged. A dopkick from behind staggered Tanahashi. A rainmaker by Okada was reversed intp a Slingblade for a double down. The two trade more strikes as they got back to their feet. Both men tried the Tombstone, with neither one seemingly having the strength to land it. Tanahashi landed three straight Twist Nd Shot Neckbreakers, and a Slingblade for a two count. Tanahashi climbed to the top rope, and tried another High Fly Flow. Okada countered with a Two Awesome Dropkick. This time, Okada was able to land the Tombstone. However, Tanahashi escaped several Rainmaker attempts before hitting a spinning version. Again Okada missed a Rainkmaker and got put into a Small Package. Okada kicked out, and Tanahashi hit a German Suplex. Tanahashi countered another Rainmaker with a left handed strike, and went for another High Fly Flow. Okada kicked out seconds before the bell rang signaling the time limit expiring. This gave each man one point, which means Tanahashi has won the A Block.
Unless some miracle happens for Okada and he wins the title back before January, WrestleKingdom 13 will be the first WrestleKingdom since WrestleKingdon 6 that the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match does not involve Kazuchika Okada.
After the match, Tanahashi cut a promo thanking the fans. Although he added this is only the A Block win. he vowed to win the finals on Sunday.
Backstage, Okada sat in silence while Tanahashi cut his promo. The only words Okada spoke were “Excuse me” when he left the room
FINAL STANDINGS
15 Tanahashi
13 Okada
12 White
10 Evil
10 Suzuki
6 Elgin
6 Fale
6 Page
6 Makabe
6 YOSHI-HASHI
