This is a full camera show, complete with commentary for the first time in what seems like ages. Tonight we have some big matches as it’s IWGP Champion vs. IWGP Intercontinental Champion when Kazuchika Okada takes on Hirooki Goto. It was also announced a few hours before showtime that Shinsuke Nakamura has been cleared of his elbow injury, and will compete on tonight’s card against Tomohiro Ishii, not an ideal guy to return to the ring against. A night full of intriguing possibilities, so let’s get on with it!

New Japan Pro Wrestling
G1 Climax 25 – Night 8
August 1, 2015
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium – Osaka, Japan
Watch: NJPWWorld.com

Jay White & David Finlay vs. Cody Hall & Doc Gallows

This was solid tag. White is really improving and is probably going to be a great worker someday, he already shows a lot of fire. Hall isolated Finlay on the outside as Gallows pinned White with the Gallows Pole. **1/2

Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yohei Komatsu vs. Tetsuya Naito & Kota Ibushi & Mascara Dorada

Naito and Tenzan had a tease at the start of the match but Naito immediately bailed. Dorada and Komatsu were in for a few minutes and looked good. Naito tagged himself in and continued the heel tactics. He teased like he was going to do a brainbuster but then just stopped and posed to boos. Tenzan at one point was stomping at Naito while having Makabe in a Figure Four. The match boiled down to Dorada and Komatsu, who had another good exchange before Dorada won with his screwdriver finish. **3/4

Katsuyori Shibata & Tiger Mask & Captain New Japan vs. A.J. Styles & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga

Shibata and Fale had a staredown before the match. AJ worked for a long time on Tiger Mask’s leg until he tagged in Shibata, and that’s when the crowd woke up. Both tagged out rather quickly, leaving Captain New Japan and Tonga alone. They went at it briefly before Tonga pinned him with the waistlock DDT. I keep calling it that as I don’t know the actual name. These tags are blindingly mundane but the key thing is usually Tama Tonga and/or YOSHI-HASHI picking up the win. **1/2

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kushida & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo

Of course, a lot of this match was Yano avoiding Tanahashi. Isn’t it always funny how Yano keeps being put in the same block with the guy he’s been feuding with? First it was Suzuki, now Tanahashi. Gedo and Kushida had some good back and forth as well. Tanahashi and Taguchi did a double crossbody to the floor that left Kushida and Gedo by themselves. Kushida laid out Gedo and submitted him with the Hoverboard Lock. More fun than the others but still just there. ***

G1 Climax 25

Satoshi Kojima (2) vs. Yujiro Takahashi (2)

Yujiro, of course, brought out a lovely female who gyrated. She showed so much it reminded me of Jenna Morasca coming to the ring for THAT MATCH (you know) and nearly showing off, well, everything to the NJPW camera, who of course were all over it. This all was far more interesting than his work in the match, obviously.

The Osaka crowd was really not into this at all until Kojima started making his comeback. He laid out Yujiro with a DDT on the apron. Yujiro fired back with a Buckle Bomb. Kojima had the win with the lariat but Hall broke up the count. Kojima took care of Hall then went back to Yujiro. He went for another lariat but Yujiro blocked it, gave him a low blow then pinned him with the Miami Shine. This was fine, and since Yujiro’s on the lower end of the totem pole right now it’s the right finish to do based on where they’re going in this tournament. **3/4

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/627417401999630336

Karl Anderson (4) vs. Yuji Nagata (2)

Anderson/Nagata was pretty good, but nothing too special. There’s something about Anderson as a worker that I can’t put my finger on. He’s usually good, sometimes great, but there’s also something off about him, can’t figure out what. He was fine here though, working a lot on Nagata’s ribs. Nagata made a comeback and got the white eyes armbar in but Anderson escaped. Anderson tried for the Gun Stun but Nagata avoided it. Nagata grabbed him for the backdrop suplex but Anderson turned it into a Stun Gun for the win. ***

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/627421954040012800

Tomoaki Honma (0) vs. Michael Elgin (2)

Osaka was super into this from the start, of course behind their favorite loser Honma. Elgin continued to look good, showing impressive work including a deadlift suplex into a falcon arrow off the top rope and a Oklahoma stampede. He went for the Buckle Bomb but Honma landed on his feet and surprised him with a Kokeshi.

This had an amazing finish as Elgin hit Honma with the pop-up powerbomb, a Buckle Bomb then a spinning powerbomb for the pinfall. Easily the best thing on the show thus far. Elgin’s working like he wants a spot for life, and after this tournament he might just get it. ****

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/627425927010648064

Shinsuke Nakamura (2) vs Tomohiro Ishii (6)

Nakamura’s elbow looked very swollen, even in bandages. It reminded me of a few years ago, right around this same time actually, when John Cena’s elbow was busted and needed surgery. That is not good for all at Nakamura; not only are there two weeks left, and not only are these matches more exerting, he’s also one of the favorites to win, and the finals have high expectations.

This was really just a match until towards the later stages of the game, just back and forth stuff that wasn’t at all that interesting. It picked up when Nakamura hit a Boma Ye and Ishii laid out Nakamura at one point with the Sliding D. Nakamura hit another Boma Ye for a surprise nearfall. Ishii fought back but Nakamura put him in the armbar, hit a Falcon Arrow then landed one more Boma Ye for the win. ***1/4

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/627430965133082624

Kazuchika Okada (6) vs. Hirooki Goto (4)

I liked this match from beginning to end— just a great, classic back and forth contest between two of New Japan’s best. Okada did a big leap over the guardrail and onto Goto at one point that sent them clear into the audience. They had a really good sequence of back and forth roll ups as well. Okada went for the Rainmaker but Goto countered with his knee neckbreaker. Shouten Kai attempt but Okada blocked it and escaped. Okada deadlifted him with a German suplex but Goto came back and laid him out with a lariat. Another Rainmaker attempt from Okada but Goto dodged, headbutted him twice then finished him off with the Shouten Kai to win. ****1/4

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/627434534280282112

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/627437350373691392

Final Thoughts: If you want to watch two matches from tonight’s show, check out the main event and the Elgin match. Everything else is pretty skippable.

G1 Climax 25 Official Standings

Block ABlock B
Tetsuya Naito6Kazuchika Okada6
Katsuyori Shibata6Tomohiro Ishii6
Bad Luck Fale6Karl Anderson6
AJ Styles4Hirooki Goto6
Kota Ibushi4Shinsuke Nakamura4
Hiroshi Tanahashi4Michael Elgin4
Togi Makabe4Yujiro Takahashi4
Doc Gallows2Yuji Nagata2
Toru Yano2Satoshi Kojima2
Hiroyoshi Tenzan2Tomoaki Honma0

Voices of Wrestling G1 Climax Pick’Em Standings

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NameTotalBonusNight 1Night 2Night 3Night 4Night 5Night 6Night 7Night 8Night 9Night 10Night 11Night 12Night 13Night 14Night 15Night 16Night 17Night 18
August Baker7712454454242522444442
Dylan Waco7715435243244444532522
Josh Walther7715335533343424452324
Allen Vick Jr7615444404344514441443
Bastian Sauer7615544433224534442431
Bonski McBonski765435333435555553424
Rob Rodriguez7615434522443535340235
David Dunn7515334432435424323443
Graeme Touchdown7510444442244444353424
Joshua Robinson7515243354344534311542
Ed Burns7413334343145525542431
Alex K.7310444523334435432424
Dan Atwood7310454444144434532512
Ewen MacDonald7313345223324444351524
Siva Punisamy7313344444324444342322
Aaron Bentley7215443323223433442335
Ben Pitchford7210534334134534442433
Chris Maffei725434352344535452434
J. Michael7215334412135455232334
Jake Barry7215344322244425432414
James Starkey7210245443234445432432
Kenny Ortiz726544354234534444422
Marcus Origer7210235441243524445424
Matt Audet7210445434335422443422
Matt Love725434353354543443334
Morten Hansen7213343324234253434433
Skylar Hinnant7211443334253544342431
Barry Meijer7115544441134514432412
Evan Speciner7110444524145333442414
Len Liu7115324233253435424322
Matt Wheal7113345433134534432322
Oliver Court7110543243342434443333
Olivier Tremblay7115345433214422353431
Scott Barker7115533343124434432422
SenorLARIATO7113345433234444332223
Adam Watkinson7013443333244534133422
Cameron Krusemark708443432244544343414
Capu Random7010334323234534344244
Christopher Duarte708335242343544143444
Doug Nunnally708444432325544433422
Kevin George705544442444444252405
Paco Silva Martínez705445554434424232433
Rob Reid705353433354535451423
Robert Palmer7010445423224544253322
Seth Chodosh7010434523132444454431
Taylor Mitchell706434432244534552424
Alejandro Giménez Gómez695345344243444433424
Andrew Chupurdy6910445432224534433313
Bryn Edwards Gunn6913533322343445332421
D Chong6910434332134433542434
Jody Plante6913235312124545433513
John Carroll6910343443422524352414
Mark Shaw695534443325433443433
Matt Trebby695454344244434342424
Paul Volsch698353334322524543244
Richard Jaeger697445353214445242424
Rob McCarron6910543312235544351432
Samuel DiMascio697425524344333442514
Santiago Tomasi6910544523133333442433
Tony Albicocco698544434223544351422
Brian Jackson686344344244344341353
Chad Campbell688433343143545442323
Chris Smith687245252324544333433
Goncalo Monteiro6810143412344545432333
James Baldwin685344424423454442532
John Mulligan688455334244444141332
Joseph Remy685445334334434243433
Keenan Carnegie6810524524414124343523
Mario Morrison688545442234525331332
Nnaemeka Odunze687345353244535322323
Paul Leazar6810444522254335332421
Rich Kraetsch6810433432334424342424
Robert Dougherty688435133334335343433
Ryan Smith685234543235554342423
Ryan Wilson6813134434323354223324
Sean Sedor6810334424224445243323
Tomek Cherek6810434433124424442532
Alexander Panos675444423244435342415
Benson Sam673245542343444443414
Brady Livingston675544343334534242333
Chris Bacon676333344353425432424
Jake Daniel675445353334515452312
Joe Gagne675435314344343443424
Kelly Harrass677344432245534352412
Michael Quealy678544443134534432321
Mike Spears678444333134434432523
Ru Gunn675444424134535352414
Scott675444533233534452422
TJ Hawke6710545523533213222442
Tye Liddell675533433333534342425
Wyatt Eddy675445424444533332422
Ajay Sameer668534322134534432532
Aled M665443432324435442334
Andy Clark668343432134534541540
Azri Firman665324254243535354223
Brandon Howard6610443423234534431313
Brian Ubben665544453144544313412
Daniel Mason665434453215354333243
Dave Taylor665345323144535154423
Dylan Harris668445222343544331423
Ed Mills6610343332244433423432
Edgar Morales665144343344544433431
G Brett Williams663435443155534432431
Gregory Davis668455233234453232233
Heather Christianson665443343245434432423
Izzac Mackenroth667444333234324244325
Jason Bullock665444353224445252431
Jeff Tillery665435543234425542204
Martijn Winkel6610344323115443244333
Matt Kennedy665445314434334443323
Matt Rolder665443333334335343424
Niall Hallinan667442443225444144323
Paul Cooke665445333324544341423
Sean Flynn667244423333542451442
Sean N663445354133433553422
Vic666444334334435432430
Antonio Garza657443433143435433313
Benjamin Good6510344113254444332422
Brian Brennan6510543222234424142434
Chris Burnett655444443134233423534
Christopher Griger658434243124324532434
CRVX655345332233444443522
Darren Lyne657545434124434322413
Dominick Gonzalez655544323234535323522
Erin Hotovy655434432324423432544
Filip Pejic655443332344533443305
Frederick Cholowski655544432243534352502
Jake Glowacki655534542125344332325
Jeremy Sexton657344424044434342423
Joe Estrada6510342432144534432412
Kevin Hare655343433234544443502
Lucas McFadden658455223523443233322
MacLean Craig657245333334524333413
Mitch Cowan658544423144434322413
Monty Rimorin655344334345313242444
Riley Hansen655535352233434432522
scott glover6510544453134335232112
Sean Spencer655444324145525351512
Travis McNeill655443413244344352424
Adam Joyce645345433234435332422
Brandon Gordon645335311234554343343
David Mora645434333234444433422
Dee H645153234344444332424
dillon burgess647433333134535432413
Eddy Collazo6410333314225244143424
Greg P645444342244434241523
Jason Lee6413335323233432443031
Kevin Lyon645344332424544452402
Luuk van Egeraat645344354324453214521
Mark Edward Dowling645324343414234443524
Martin Foster647143543343423442332
Michael Zavala646443312423545343323
Michelle Burkey6415333424114422322225
Parker Holland645344433034335544403
Robert Pannell645244343334534442421
Sherman Lee645233423243435433344
Tanner Teat645444333234333333434
Victor Zoest645444332234534442224
Warren Taylor648533432125524243422
Alessandro Tucci635544433224443350323
Andrew Carpenter6310441422242444342412
Andrew Perkins636244332242533332444
Ayaash M637445242233533232522
Ben Gordon635243433245524443411
Bill Knust633434433333434443422
Darren Lynch638342424334324231353
David Penton635433233425543441323
Ferdinand Meyer635534154224434252233
Gabriel Perez637345433424534321411
Guilherme Jaeger635444323422234442425
James Hagan635234233243434344334
Jamie Mohan635343343314333442533
Jeff Chase635434234244435432322
João Vitor Silveira Passos633444444333333441513
lawrence obrien633042442255435445322
Lou Pickney635344323234433453512
Mark Aasal635343332133355343343
Mark Berlowitz635434543135233442413
Matt Brown635444333233535422413
Matt McEwen635444532233534431413
Matthew Bray633343334344525432314
Mogel635543333235543332412
ntaf635343552334334242314
Phil Williams633433432254434423442
Samuel Cooke637343343344424222522
William Housell Jr.637334442253434241341
William Young635344524245424232323
Zach Smith633544344134344244214
Aaron Lomas6211432313243435342311
Benoit Brunette623544442423343332225
Brady Vincent623234443324534534402
Chris Adams625254224344523333422
Dave Christian625544532334442241412
David Neild623334343244534242522
Edward Miguez625334432144535322423
Garrett Kidney628433233253324332432
Hugh Little625244433324434342413
Jacob K Randlett623235423243534452314
Jamie ODoherty623535543234424053412
Jason Woito625444444342422341314
Jesse Carey625444442342234442412
Jordan Greenhalgh625444342234534342312
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Kevin S627444323034434533321
Lee Thomas625334434243432343242
Mark Smith625433542233424442413
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Peter Weinstein625433432335424442412
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SASira623434332344434432513
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Antonio Edwards613343333134544232524
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Mary Robinson615224452224345233522
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Thomas Jayroe615435422143224424433
Alfred Arriola605545333343423332212
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Christian Renoe6010423223234434322421
Collin Miller603434332344534352311
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Jesse B603344333254434332313
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Keith Campbell605443232234434234413
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Michael McDonald605233342224332552424
Mike Bate605433323333445232422
Rodrigo Garcia605233532324334252423
The Mosayat605444323234433332413
Will True605544432124435252221
Abrasive Obelisk593435423044423341424
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Rancho King592335422244435243412
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