Ladies and gentlemen! Wrestling fans of all ages! Welcome back to the WWE Fantasy G1 Climax! If you’re new to the tournament you can catch up on previous night results here. Night 12 features the 6th round of the SmackDown Block.
Here are the SmackDown Block Rankings going into Round 6:
Kevin Owens (4-1) – 8
Shinsuke Nakamura (4-1) – 8
AJ Styles (3-2) – 6
Luke Harper (3-2) – 6
John Cena (3-2) – 6
Sami Zayn (3-2) – 6
Randy Orton (2-3) – 4
Rusev (2-3) – 4
Baron Corbin (1-4) – 2
Dolph Ziggler (0-5) – 0
G1 Climax Night 12: August 6th SmackDown House Show
Luke Harper (3-2) vs. Sami Zayn (3-2)
On Night 10, Luke Harper earned another upset victory in the tournament. This time it was against Randy Orton. Harper has delivered solid performances in all his matches thus far. Sami Zayn also earned his second upset win over tournament favorite AJ Styles. Both men have the same record going into this match. This is an important match that can make or break one of these competitor’s chance of winning the tournament.
Match Highlights: Both men shake hands and go into a lock up. Both men exchange several holds. Zayn gets the better of the exchange and ends up with a standing headlock on Harper. Harper back suplexes Zayn and gets a one count. Harper bounces off of the ropes. Zayn jumps up and hits a hurricanrana. Harper stumbles up to his feet. Zayn whips Harper off of the ropes. On the way back to Zayn, Harper jumps up and hits a hurricanrana of his own. Zayn rolls out of the ring. Harper bounces of off the ropes and hits a suicide dive. Harper rolls Zayn back in the ring and gets a near fall.
Harper locks in a front face lock and does a Gator Roll into a pin. Zayn kicks out at one. Harper keeps the front face lock on. Zayn fights to his feet. Zayn escapes the hold and hits a DDT for a near fall. Zayn goes to the middle rope and attempts a diving crossbody. Harper catches him and hits a Fallaway Slam for a near fall. Harper attempts the Running Powerbomb. Zayn reverses it into a Victory Roll for a near fall. Both men are up on their feet at the same time. Harper throws a clothesline but Zayn ducks and hits a Springboard Tornado DDT. Zayn attempts to cover Haper but he rolls out of the ring from the impact of the DDT.
Zayn bounces off of the ropes and hits a flip dive. Zayn rolls Harper back in the ring for a near fall. Zayn goes to the top rope and attempts the diving cross body again. Zayn hits the cross body but Harper rolls through into a pin. Harper gets a near fall. Harper attempts the Discuss Lariat but Zayn ducks and School Boys Harper for a near fall. Zayn hits a reverse STO and attempts to lock in the Koji Clutch. Harper fights out before Zayn locks it in. Both men are up to their feet at the same time. Harper is up quickly and hits a running big boot for a near fall.
Harper attempts to the Running Powerbomb again. Zayn fights out and throws Harper into the corner with an Exploder Suplex. Zayn attempts the Helluva Kick. As Zayn runs, Harper hits the Discuss Lariat. Zayn kicks out at two. Harper goes for the Running Powerbomb one more time. Zayn fights out and hits the reverse STO. Zayn locks in the Koji Clutch. Harper tries to get to the ropes but can’t reach and is forced to tap out.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Dolph Ziggler (0-5) vs. John Cena (3-2)
Dolph Ziggler suffered his 5th loss in the last round. Ziggler is mathematically eliminated from winning the SmackDown Block. Ziggler, much like Bray Wyatt in the Raw Block, can be a spoiler to the remainder of his opponents in the tournament. On Night 10, John Cena broke the undefeated streak of Kevin Owens. Cena has suffered two upsets so far in the tournament. A third loss will really hinder Cena’s chances of winning the Smackdown Block.
Match Highlights: Both men lock up. Ziggler takes Cena down with a headlock takeover. Cena fights back to his feet and pushes Ziggler into the ropes. Cena hits a shoulder block. Cena bounces of off the ropes. Ziggler jumps up and dropkicks Cena. Ziggler hits a series of elbow drops for a near fall. Ziggler picks Cena up and hits a vertical suplex for a near fall. Ziggler attempts to lock in the Sleeper Hold. Cena fights out before Ziggler can lock it in. Cena hits a dropkick of his own. Ziggler rolls out of the ring to catch his breath. Cena follows him outside. Ziggler pokes Cena in the eye and throws him head first into the ring post. Ziggler then throws Cena into the steel steps.
Ziggler rolls back in the ring and attempts to win via count out. Cena makes it back in the ring before 10. Ziggler yells at the referee and says he was counting too slow. Ziggler attempts to Super Kick Cena. Cena ducks the Super Kick and gets Ziggler up for an Attitude Adjustment. Ziggler fights out and hits the Super Kick for a near fall. Ziggler goes to the top rope and hits a diving elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler yells at the referee again about his count.
Ziggler attempts to hit the Zig Zag on Cena. Cena holds on to the top rope to block it. Cena hits a Fisherman Suplex for a near fall. Cena attempts to lock in the STF. Ziggler quickly gets to the ropes. The referee makes Cena break the hold. As the referee pulls Cena off, Ziggler quickly gets up and pokes Cena in the eye. Ziggler hits the Zig Zag for a near fall. Ziggler grabs the referee and says that was three. The referee says it was two. Ziggler attempts the Five Knuckle Shuffle. As Ziggler runs in to do the drop the fist, but Cena drop toe holds Ziggler and locks in the STF. Ziggler gets to the ropes. Cena drags Ziggler back in the middle of the ring and locks back in the STF. Ziggler taps out and Cena gets the submission victory.
Winner: John Cena
Baron Corbin (1-4) vs. Randy Orton (2-3)
In the last round, Baron Corbin was defeated by Shinsuke Nakamura. Corbin only has one victory in the tournament. A loss tonight will seal Corbin’s fate and he will stand no chance of winning the SmackDown Block. Randy Orton’s mean streak was awakened on Night 8 in his match against Sami Zayn. On Night 10, Orton suffered an upset loss to his former Wyatt Family brother, Luke Harper. Orton is in a foul mood tonight and refuses to let anyone else get in the way of him winning the Smackdown Block.
Match Highlights: Baron Corbin jumps Randy Orton on the way to the ring. Corbin hits the End of Days on the outside. Corbin throws Orton in the ring and tells the referee to start the match. The referee checks on Orton and asks if he is able to continue the match. Orton tells the referee he can continue. The referee backs Corbin up to give Orton time to get back up on his feet. Orton gets back to his feet and the referee calls for the bell. Corbin rushes into clothesline Orton. Orton ducks the clothesline and hits the RKO for the victory.
Winner: Randy Orton
Shinsuke Nakamura (4-1) vs. Rusev w/Lana (2-3)
As mentioned earlier, Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Baron Corbin in the last round. Nakamura is now tied with Kevin Owens for first place. A victory will break the tie and solidify Nakamura at the top of the leader board. Rusev picked up a victory over Dolph Ziggler in the last round. Rusev still has a chance to make a comeback and win the SmackDown Block. In order for him to do that he has to beat the King of Strong Style tonight.
Match Highlights: As soon as the bell rings Rusev charges in drives Nakamura into a corner and delivers several shoulder thrusts. Nakamura falls to a seated position. Rusev backs off and taunts the crowd. Nakamura pulls himself up and hits Rusev with a series of elbow strikes. Nakamura throws a kick, but Rusev catches it. Nakamura kicks him with the opposite leg. Nakamura hits a jumping knee drop to Rusev’s head. Lana yells at Nakamura. Nakamura smiles and waves at her. Nakamura goes to pick Rusev up. As he picks Rusev up, Rusev hits a throat thrust on Nakamura. Rusev then flapjacks Nakamura’s throat on the top rope. The referee tells Rusev to watch the throat. As the referee is talking to Rusev, Lana chokes Nakamura.
Rusev applies an arm trapped headlock. Nakamura starts to fight back up to his feet. Rusev takes him back down and cranks the headlock. Rusev uses Nakamura’s trapped arm to choke him. Nakamura is able to wiggle his leg to the bottom rope. The referee calls for the break. Rusev argues with the referee about the break. Lana takes advantage of the distraction and chokes Nakamura again. Rusev throws Nakamura across the ring with a Bulplex for a near fall. Rusev drops down and starts choking Nakamura. The referee breaks it up and threatens to disqualify Rusev. Rusev attempts a Fallaway Slam. Nakamura fights out and hits a short arm lariat for a near fall.
Nakamura goes to the middle rope and hits a jumping knee for a near fall. Nakamura locks in an armbar. Rusev gets to the rope. The referee asks for the break. Rusev slides out to the apron. Nakamura attempts to suplex Rusev back in the ring. Rusev blocks and drives Nakamura’s throat into the top rope. Rusev goes back in the ring and hits a Machka Kick for a near fall. Rusev attempts to lock in the Accolade. Nakamura slides out before Rusev can lock it in. Nakamura hits an inverted exploder. Nakamura attempts the Kinshasa, but Lana grabs his foot. The referee catches Lana and ejects her from the match. Lana yells at the referee as she makes her way up the ramp. Rusev takes advantage of the distraction and clotheslines the back of Nakamura’s head for a near fall.
Rusev attempts a running splash but Nakamura moves out of the way. Nakamura hits El Nino for a near fall. Nakamura hits several knee strikes to Rusev’s head. Nakamura picks up Rusev and attempts a Death Valley Driver. Rusev fights out and attempts a German Suplex. Nakamura reverses and hits a German Suplex of his own for a near fall. Nakamura locks in a Triangle Choke. Rusev picks Nakamura up and powerbombs him to break the hold. Rusev attempts the Machka Kick again. Nakamura ducks and hits a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Nakamura attempts the Kinshasa again. Rusev ducks the strike and headbutts Nakamura in the throat. Rusev hits another Machka Kick and locks in the Accolade. Nakamura passes out and the referee awards the match to Rusev.
Winner: Rusev
AJ Styles (3-2) vs. Kevin Owens (4-1)
AJ Styles had a very competitive match against Sami Zayn on Night 10. Zayn was able to trap Styles in the Koji Clutch and he had no choice but to submit. AJ is looking to rebound tonight. He is still has a nagging back injury that he suffered earlier in the tournament. Kevin Owens lost his first match of the tournament in the last round to John Cena and is now tied with Nakamura for first place. Owens will have to pull out every trick in the book to ensure a win here. If Owens loses he will lose his grip on first place in the SmackDown Block.
Match Highlights: The bell rings and Owens immediate rolls out of the ring. Owens gets into an argument with a fan in the front row. Owens turns around and AJ hits a Pescado. AJ mounts Owens and throws several punches. AJ rolls Owens back in the ring. AJ attempts the Phenomenal Forearm. Owens dodges the forearm and hits a Super Kick for a near fall. Owens picks AJ up and attempts the Pop Up Powerbomb. AJ reverses it into a hurricanrana. AJ clotheslines Owens out of the ring. AJ looks like he is going to do a Pescado. Owens ducks. AJ instead lands on the apron and connects with a running sliding knee. AJ rolls Owens back in the ring and gets a near fall.
AJ attempts the Styles Clash. Owens reverses it into a back body drop. Owens hits a running senton for a near fall. Owens applies a chin lock. Owens screams “chin lock city!”. AJ fights back to his feet. AJ breaks out of the chin lock and hits the KENTA strike combination on Owens. AJ follows up with a short arm clothesline and a jumping knee drop for a near fall. AJ starts working on Owens’ legs. AJ locks in a single leg crab. Owens gets to the ropes. AJ pulls Owens of off the ropes and attempts to locks in a Figure Four. Owens kicks AJ off. Owens gets up quickly and hits a running clothesline. Owens throws AJ out of the ring.
Owens acts like he is going to do a flip dive but stops at the ropes and says “not today”. Owens rolls out of the ring and drives AJ’s back into the ring post. Owens then throws AJ into the barricade with a Fallaway Slam. Owens rolls AJ back in the ring and gets a near fall. Owens rolls AJ over on his stomach and hits a running senton to AJ’s back for a near fall. Owens locks in the Walls of Jericho and screams “I’m better than Jericho!”. AJ fights to the ropes. Owens takes advantage of the 5 count before he breaks.
Owens attempts to whip AJ into a corner. AJ reverses and whips Owens into a corner. AJ hits a running splash. AJ attempts the Ushigoroshi but his back gives out. Owens hits a Pumphandle Neckbreaker for a near fall. Owens sits AJ on the top rope. Owens attempts a superplex. AJ fights him off and hits a Tornado DDT. AJ then hits a Springboard 450 for a near fall. AJ attempts the Styles Clash again, but his back gives out. Owens capitalizes and hits a backbreaker for a near fall. Owens baseball slide kicks AJ out of the ring. Owens rolls out of the ring and attempts to Powerbomb AJ on the apron. AJ blocks it and back body drops Owens onto the apron.
Both men make back into the ring at nine. AJ is up to his feet first and attempts a Bloody Sunday. AJ’s back gives out again. Owens then tries to suplex AJ. AJ reverses and lands behind Owens and School Boys him for a near fall. Both men are up to their feet at the same time. Owens charges at AJ. As he charges in AJ dropkicks him in the knee. AJ then locks on the Figure Four. Owens gets to the ropes to break it up. AJ takes advantage of the 5 count. AJ grabs Owens foot, slides out the ring smacks it against the post. AJ rolls back into the ring and locks in the Calf Crusher. Owens fights to the ropes. AJ breaks the hold. AJ picks Owens up and goes for the Styles Clash one more time. Owens blocks it and breaks out. Owens attempts the Pop Up Powerbomb again. AJ reverses it into the Calf Crusher. Owens tries to get to the ropes and can’t. Owen submits.
Winner: AJ Styles
Kevin Owens (4-2) – 8
Shinsuke Nakamura (4-2) – 8
AJ Styles (4-2) – 8
John Cena (4-2) – 8
Sami Zayn (4-2) – 8
Luke Harper (3-3) – 6
Randy Orton (3-3) – 6
Rusev (3-3) – 6
Baron Corbin (1-5) – 2
Dolph Ziggler (0-6) – 0
After tonight’s matches, we have a five-way tie for first place. On Night 14 the SmackDown Block will be back in action. Will these 5 men be able to remain tied after Night 14? The following is the line up for Night 14 : Dolph Ziggler (0-6) vs. Kevin Owens (4-2), AJ Styles (4-2) vs. Luke Harper (3-3), Rusev (3-3) vs. Randy Orton (3-3), Baron Corbin (1-5) vs. Sami Zayn (4-2), & Shinsuke Nakamura (4-2) vs. John Cena (4-2).
Night 13 will feature the 7th round of the Raw Block. Here is the full card for Night 13: Cesaro (3-3) vs. The Miz (2-4), Finn Balor (3-3) vs. Bray Wyatt (0-6), Seth Rollins (4-1-1) vs. Neville, Braun Strowman (4-2) vs. Samoa Joe (5-1), and Dean Ambrose (2-4) vs. Roman Reigns (4-1-1).
