NJPW G1 Climax 2019 Night 1 Results
Okada and Tanahashi did not disappoint in huge A Block encounter.
The 29th edition of New Japan Pro Wrestling's much-celebrated G1 Climax tournament got off to a spectacular start in Dallas, TX last night, concluding in a superb A Block encounter between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada.
In full results from the show:
In the opener, The Guerillas of Destiny bested RoppongI 3K in an exciting curtain-raiser, when Tanga Loa hit YOH with a super powerbomb from the second rope, allowing Tama Tonga to grab the win.
After overcoming Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino alongside partner Ren Narita, Jeff Cobb became embroiled in a brawl with Ishii, ending in a bloodied face for the former.
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi put away Jay White & Chase Owens in a short match, before the supplementary content concluded with the team of Toru Yano, Juice Robinson & Jushin Liger defeating Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & Bushi. As you might imagine, the Dallas crowd popped big time for Super Junior legend Jushin Liger.
The G1 proper began with Lance Archer beating Will Ospreay in a career highlight for the big man, before Bad Luck Fale dispatched EVIL in one of the evening's weaker outings.
SANADA reversed Zack Sabre Jr.'s European Clutch into a pin to earn an opening A Block victory, followed by KENTA making his big G1 debut, as he vanquished Kota Ibushi in a typically hard-hitting and slightly concerning contest. Afterwards, KENTA hoisted his beaten foe to his feet, and the pair hugged out of respect.
Finally, Kazuchika Okada took three Rainmakers to finally put Hiroshi Tanahashi away in an expectedly brilliant closing match. Okada cut a promo in English following his win, saying that the G1 would return to America - and that next time he was there, he'd be the IWGP Champion.
The G1 Climax 29 continues from Tokyo's Ota General Gymnasium next Saturday, 13 June.