NJPW G1 Climax 29
Night 19 – Final
#g129
Event Date: August 12, 2019 (15:00 JST)
aired live on NJPW World
City: Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Nippon Budokan
Attendance: 12,014
Series: G1 Climax 29
Commentary (English): Kevin Kelly, Rocky Romero, Chris Charlton
Commentary (Japanese): Milano Collection AT, Katsuhiko Kanazawa, Kazuki Kusanagi (1, 5), Shinpei Nogami (2, 9), Yuichi Tabata (3, 7), Shinji Yoshino (4, 6), Togi Makabe (9)
Ring Announcer: Kimihiko Ozaki (1 – 4), Makoto Abe (5 – 8)
Video
The show opens with brief highlights from all twenty wrestlers who competed in this year’s G1 Climax.
Match 1
Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors vs Yota Tsuji & Ren Narita
(referee: Kenta Sato)
Result: Clark Connors submits Yota Tsuji with a Boston Crab
Time: 9:53
Match Thoughts
Good match. For about the first half of the match, Fredericks fought Tsuji then Connors fought Narita. Connors started to dominate Narita, and the young lions from the LA Dojo really dominated most of this match. Narita and Tsuji showed heart, but they couldn’t keep up with Connors and Fredericks tonight. I was pulling for Narita and Tsuji, but regardless of who won, this was a very entertaining opening match.
Match 2
Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi w/ Miho Abe & Lance Archer vs Tiger Mask & Jeff Cobb & Jushin Thunder Liger
(referee: Kenta Sato)
Result: Jeff Cobb pins Yoshinobu Kanemaru after Tour of the Islands
Time: 7:36
Match Thoughts
This was fin. It was great to see Jushin Liger, and it was great seeing Jeff Cobb having fun teaming with two legends. Suzuki Gun of course didn’t care about any of that, so they started the fight with a pre-match brawl. Suzuki Gun would dominate for a while after that, but after the fight had gotten back into the ring for a while, Cobb, Tiger Mask, and Liger started putting up some good and fun individual efforts. This was a lighter match, and both teams looked like they were having a good time. Except for Kanemaru. Yoshinobu Kanemaru never looks like he’s having a good time.
Match 3
Yujiro Takahashi w/ Pieter & Taiji Ishimori (IWGP Jr. Tag Champ) & Chase Owens vs Roppongi 3K & Will Ospreay (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champ)
(referee: Tiger Hattori)
Result: Will Ospreay pins Yujiro Takahashi after Stormbreaker
Time: 7:57
Match Thoughts
Good match. Bullet Club looked good as a team throughout the match, but the Chaos team was explosive when they were on offense. Will Ospreay stood out the most in this match. He looked like a leader in there with everyone else. Sho was also impressive with his mix of power and agility. This was a fun match all around.
Match 4
Toa Henare & Juice Robinson vs Shota Umino & Jon Moxley (IWGP US Champ)
(referee: Tiger Hattori)
Result: Toa Henare pins Shota Umino after the Toa Bottom
Time: 6:19
Match Thoughts
Good match. Moxley and Juice were pretty much only concerned with each other. Moxley started by attacking Juice before the bell, and Moxley brawled with Juice while again going for Juice’s leg. The fight was mostly even, but Moxley was slowly getting the better of Juice. Umino and Henare tagged in to finish the match, so Moxley and Juice continued fighting outside the ring until the match was over.
Ring Area
After the match, Moxley attacks both Juice and Henare. With Henare down after the Death Rider, Moxley takes Juice out to the floor. Moxley sets up a table at ringside and drives Juice through it. Moxley raises his IWGP US Title as he leaves the ring area.
Match 5
Ryusuke Taguchi (NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Champ) & Tomoaki Honma & Toru Yano (NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Champ) & Hirooki Goto & Togi Makabe (NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Champ) vs BUSHI & Shingo Takagi & SANADA & EVIL & Tetsuya Naito (IWGP IC Champ)
(referee: Marty Asami)
Result: SANADA pins Tomoaki Honma after a diving moonsault
Time: 8:56
Match Thoughts
Very good match. The Chaos team was fun and had some nice moments early in the match, but LIJ started working as one complete unit early in the match. LIJ’s teamwork dominated this match, and even though Goto and Makabe did do some damage, LIJ couldn’t be stopped. I enjoyed this.
Match 6
Guerrillas of Destiny (IWGP Heavyweight Tag Champs) & Bad Luck Fale w/ Jado vs KENTA & YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii (NEVER Openweight Champ)
(referee: Marty Asami)
Result: Tama Tonga pins Tomohiro Ishii after KENTA hits Ishii with Go To Sleep
Time: 8:35
Match Thoughts
Good match. The end of the match was all about a new story line, but even with the shenanigans in the finish, the action was good throughout. YOSHI-HASHI got isolated by GOD for a long time in the middle part of the match. GOD looked good, but it’s hard to not look good when it’s basically two on one. Ishii tagged in and went after everyone. Ishii had some trouble with his much bigger opponents, but Ishii was still able to do a lot of damage. He even suplexed Bad Luck Fale after a few attempts.
Ishii needed to tag out late in the match, but as he went to tag KENTA, KENTA dropped to the floor before the tag could be made. Ishii still managed to fight back against Bullet Club with some help from YOSHI-HASHI, so KENTA got into the ring and hit Ishii with Go To Sleep. It was an interesting finish to a good match.
Ring Area
After the match, GOD and Fale smile at KENTA. YOSHI-HASHI enters the ring and Bullet Club and KENTA swarm him. Some of the LA Dojo young lions try to break the fight up, but they get beat up as well. KENTA asks for a microphone, but before he can say anything, Katsuyori Shibata runs to the ring and attacks KENTA.
Shibata surprises KENTA and beats him down. Shibata fights off GOD and Fale as he continues to beat on KENTA. Finally, Shibata is slowed down by a kendo stick strike from Jado. Shibata tries to fight, but Bullet Club overwhelms him. KENTA puts Shibata down, and as KENTA sits cross-legged on Shibata’s chest, he throws up the Bullet Club’s “too sweet.” KENTA leaves the ring with his new friends as Shibata rolls out of the ring.
Match 7
Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. (RPW British Heavyweight Champ) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada (IWGP Heavyweight Champ)
(referee: Red Shoes Unno)
Result: Minoru Suzuki pins Kazuchika Okada after a Gotch-style piledriver
Time: 15:27
Match Thoughts
Great match. Even though Tanahashi and Okada are a one of the most high-profile teams, Sabre amd Suzuki are one of the most punishing teams. For the most part, Sabre was paired with Tanahashi and Suzuki was paired with Okada. Sabre looked great, and he wanted revenge for the two recent panfalls he’s suffered at the hands of Tanahashi. The fight between them was fairly even, but Sabre did out-grapple Tanahashi at times. Also, the help of Minoru Suzuki allowed Sabre to dominate even more. Suzuki and Okada’s battle turned from a brawl to a hard-hitting test of endurance. As the match went longer, Suzuki overpowered Okada. Okada was in serious trouble by the end of the match, it it was pretty surprising and amazing to watch. Suzuki and Sabre dominated two of the greatest New Japan stars tonight.
Ring Area
After the match, Minoru Suzuki mocks Okada. Suzuki also announces that he wants Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight Title Belt. Suzuki plans to make NJPW pay for not including him in the G1 Climax.
Video
A look a the paths Kota Ibushi and Jay White took to make it to the finals of G1 Climax 29.
Match 8
G1 Climax 29 Final Match
Jay White w/ Gedo vs Kota Ibushi
(referee: Red Shoes Unno)
Result: Kota Ibushi wins via pinfall after Kamigoye
Time: 31:01
Match Thoughts
Great match! Ibushi came to the match alone, but White came to the ring with the entirety of Bullet Club. Red Shoes wouldn’t let that stand, but Gedo did get to stay while everyone else got tossed to the back. Gedo quickly got tossed himself when he tried to interfere, but Gedo would still insert himself into the match on a few occasions. For White, this match consisted of a smart game plan by going after Ibushi’s ankle nearly the entire time. It also consisted of a lot of momentum killing and cheating from White. For Ibushi, this match was about overcoming the pain in his leg and fighting his best match despite the shenanigans and smart wrestling from his opponent. This was a pretty dramatic match with two polar opposites. That made it a lot of fun to watch, and it also made it a satisfying finale to the G1 Climax.
Show Impressions
This probably wasn’t the best wrestling show top to bottom from the G1 Climax tour since the competition was over for all but two men, but it was a great celebration of everything that had taken place over the previous five weeks. It was also an important show that set up some new directions heading into the next few months.
Match of the Night
Jay White vs Kota Ibushi
Drama, shenanigans, and good wrestling. This was a great, wild match.
Final G1 Climax 29 Standings
Block A
| Wrestler | Points | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Ibushi | 14 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Kazuchika Okada * (IWGP Heavyweight Champ) | 14 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Hiroshi Tanahashi * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Bad Luck Fale * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| EVIL * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| KENTA * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| SANADA * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Will Ospreay * (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champ) | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Zack Sabre Jr. * (RPW British Heavyweight Champ) | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Lance Archer * | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
* = eliminated
Block B
| Wrestler | Points | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jay White * | 12 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Hirooki Goto * | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| John Moxley * (IWGP US Champ) | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Tetsuya Naito * (IWGP IC Champ) | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Jeff Cobb * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Juice Robinson * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Shingo Takagi * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Taichi * | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Tomohiro Ishii * (NEVER Openweight Champ) | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Toru Yano * (NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Champ) | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
* = eliminated
Official Results (Japanese): https://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/192661?showResult=1