Welcome to Night 2 and 3 of my WWE Fantasy G1 Climax Tournament. If you’re new to the series make sure to check out the results from night 1. Night 2 features the first round matches for the Smackdown Block and Night 3 features the second round of the RAW Block.
G1 Climax Night 2: Smackdown Live July 25th
AJ Styles (0-0) vs. Baron Corbin (0-0)
Match Highlights: Match starts with a test of strength and Corbin takes advantage. Corbin hits a backbreaker into a back stretch submission. AJ fights out and nails a Phenomenal Drop Kick. AJ follows up with a Tope, but Corbin moves. Styles lands hard on his back. Corbin drives Styles’ back in the barricade and then into the post. Corbin works over Styles’ back during the match. Styles comes back with a series of clotheslines. Styles hits the Ushigoroshi for a near fall. Styles goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, Corbin catches him in a bear hug. Styles escapes and lands a Pele kick. Styles hits a springboard 450 splash for a near fall. Styles attempts a Styles Clash, but can’t get Corbin up. Corbin hits a Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin argues with the referee. Corbin turns around to an Enzuigiri and Styles rolls him into the Calf Crusher for the win.
Winner: AJ Styles (1-0)
Shinsuke Nakamura (0-0) vs. Dolph Ziggler (0-0)
Match Highlights: Nakamura and Ziggler start with a series of chain wrestling. Ziggler gets the advantage. Ziggler locks in a Sleeper Hold. Nakamura quickly escapes hits a big knee strike to the stomach. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa, but Ziggler rolls out the ring. Nakamura follows and Ziggler hits a big Super Kick. Ziggler rolls back in as the referee counts. Nakamura gets back in on 9. Ziggler hits a Fame-Asser for a near fall. Nakamura comes back with a German Suplex. Nakamura fires up and hits a series of kicks and forearms. Nakamura goes for an inverted power slam, Ziggler reverses, lands on his feet, and hits a Zig Zag for a near fall. Ziggler tunes the band and attempts a superkick. Nakamura catches Ziggler’s foot and spins him around and hits the inverted power slam. Nakamura hits the Kinshasa for the win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (1-0)
Rusev w/ Lana (0-0) vs. Luke Harper (0-0)
Match Highlights: Match starts with Rusev and Harper exchanging shoulder tackles. Harper gets Rusev down and he rolls out the ring from the impact. Harper hits a Suicide Dive. Lana tries to help Rusev up. Harper chases Lana away from Rusev. Rusev hits a spinning heel kick and rolls Harper back in the ring. Everytime Harper tries to mount a comeback Rusev cuts him off. Rusev goes to the second rope and attempts a big splash. Harper rolls out the away. Harper is stalking Rusev for a superkick. Lana grabs Harper’s foot. He turns around and stares at her. Lana lets go and runs away. Harper turns around to a big Machka Kick for a near fall. Rusev tries to get Harper in the Accolade, but Harper slips out and hits a superkick for a near fall. Harper goes for the Discuss Lariat, but Rusev ducks and nails Harper with the Bulplex for a near fall. Rusev gets Harper in the Accolade. Harper gets his foot on the rope. Rusev releases the hold and raises his hand as if he won. The referee tells Rusev the match is still on. Rusev picks Harper up, but Harper hits a big palm strike and then the Discuss Lariat. Harper then follows up with a Running Powerbomb for the three count.
Winner: Luke Harper (1-0)
Randy Orton (0-0) vs. Kevin Owens (0-0)
Match Highlights: Orton takes the advantage early. Orton attempts an RKO early, but Owens pushes him off and slides out the ring. Orton quickly follows Owens outside and continues his attack. Orton delivers a backdrop to Owens on the announce table. Orton rolls Owens back in the ring for a near fall. After a quick poke to the eye, Owens gains the advantage. Owens hits a Sidewinder Suplex for a near fall. Owens follows up with a Cannonball for a near fall. Owens goes for a running senton, but Orton moves. Orton hits the Elevated DDT. Orton stalks Owens for the RKO. Owens reverses it and hits a superkick for a near fall. Owens attempts a Pop-Up Powerbomb. Orton jumps over Owens and hits an RKO only for a two count. Owens rolls out the ring to the floor and Orton follows. As Orton goes to pick Owens up, Owens pokes Orton in the eye again. Owens Irish whips Orton in the steps. Owens then hits a Cannon Ball with Orton against the steps. Owens rolls Orton back in gets a near fall. Owens hits a pumphandle neckbreaker and gets another near fall. Owens goes to Irish whip Orton, but Orton reverses and whips Owens into the ropes and nails him with a big power slam. Orton puts Owens on the top rope and is trying to hit a superplex. Owens cuts Orton off with a series of punches and hits a big Swinging fisherman superplex. Owens gets a near fall. Owens goes to Punt Orton. Orton dodges the Punt and hits an Angle Slam for a near fall. Now Orton goes for the Punt. Owens dodges and hits a Codebreaker for a near fall. Owens screams at Orton “Would you give up already!” Owens goes for what looks to be the Package Piledriver, Orton fights out and goes for an RKO. Owens reverses and rolls Orton up with a school boy. The referee is out of position and Owens puts his feet on the ropes for leverage and gets the win. Owens quickly rolls out the ring screaming “I’m the Legend Killer Killer!”
Winner: Kevin Owens (1-0)
John Cena (0-0) vs. Sami Zayn (0-0)
Match Highlights: Cena and Zayn shake hands to start the match. They lock up and start exchanging headlocks. Cena keeps getting the better of Zayn and Zayn is starting to get frustrated. Cena goes for an Attitude Adjustment early, Zayn fights out. Cena gestures that Zayn barely escaped. They lock up again and this time Zayn is getting the better of Cena. Zayn Irish whips Cena into the corner and runs full force going for a Helluva Kick. Cena drops down and rolls out the ring. Zayn gestures to Cena that he was close to defeat. Cena laughs and rolls into the ring. Zayn quickly grabs Cena and whips him into the ropes and hits a dropkick. Cena rolls back out of the ring. Zayn hits a Plancha and wipes Cena out. Zayn gets Cena back in the ring and hits a standing moonsault for a near fall. Zayn goes to the top rope and launches into a crossbody on Cena. Cena rolls through with Zayn and muscles him up on his shoulders and goes for an Attitude Adjustment. Zayn lands on his feet and hits Cena with a Half and Half Suplex for a near fall. Zayn tries a Hurricanrana but Cena turns it into a powerbomb for a near fall. Cena goes for the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. As Cena gets ready to drop his fist, Zayn kicks him in the face. Cena swings a wild clothesline, but Zayn turns it into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Both men crawl to opposite corners. Zayn goes a Helluva Kick and Cena moves at the last second and Zayn gets crotched. Cena hits a quick Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. Cena attempts to lock in the STF, Zayn reverses. Zayn throws Cena into the corner with an Exploder Suplex. Zayn follows up with a Helluva Kick for a near fall. Zayn confirms with the referee that it was only two. Zayn sets up Cena on the top rope and looks to be going for the Brainbustah. Cena fights back and gets Zayn in a fireman’s carry position. Cena leaps off the top with Zayn and delivers a Super Attitude Adjustment for the win. After the match, both men shake hands and hug.
Winner: John Cena (1-0)
Smackdown Block Rankings After Round 1:
AJ Styles (1-0) – 2
Shinsuke Nakamura (1-0) – 2
Luke Harper (1-0) – 2
Kevin Owens (1-0) – 2
John Cena (1-0) – 2
Baron Corbin (0-1) – 0
Dolph Ziggler (0-1) – 0
Rusev (0-1) – 0
Randy Orton (0-1) – 0
Sami Zayn(0-1) – 0
G1 Climax Night 3: RAW House Show – July 28th
Bray Wyatt (0-1) vs. Dean Ambrose (0-1)
Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose both suffered loses in the first round and need a win here to get on the board. Wyatt and Ambrose are ready to rekindle their rivalry.
Match Highlights: Bray takes control of the match early. Bray starts targeting Dean’s left arm. Dean starts to mount a comeback with a series of chops and punches. Dean clotheslines Bray over the top rope and hits a Suicide Dive. Dean gets Bray back in the ring and hits the Lunatic Elbow Drop for a near fall. Bray get back in control after a big Uranagi. Bray goes back to attacking the left arm and throws Dean’s shoulder into the post. Bray follows up with a shoulder breaker for a near fall. Bray puts Dean’s left arm into a hammerlock and scoop slams Dean on his own arm. Bray quickly hits a senton and most of his weight lands on Dean’s arm. Bray gets a near fall. Dean starts fighting back with one arm. Bray pushes Dean into the ropes, but Dean rebounds with a right arm lariat for a near fall. Dean goes for Dirty Deeds but is having a hard time locking it in. Bray escapes and goes for Sister Abigail. Dean reverses and hits a quick Dirty Deeds for the win. Dean rolls out the ring clutching onto his left arm.
Winner: Dean Ambrose (1-1)
Samoa Joe (1-0) vs. Finn Balor (0-1)
Finn Balor had a spectacular main event with Roman Reigns on RAW, but couldn’t get the job done. Finn looks to pick up his first win, while Samoa Joe looks to get his second win.
Match Highlights: Joe and Finn start off with some chain wrestling. Finn uses his speed to out wrestle Joe. Finn hits a Crucifix for a near fall. Joe is enraged that he almost got pinned so early in the match and takes Finn out with a heavy forearm smash. Joe hits a powerbomb then transitions into a Single Leg Crab and then transitions into an STF. Finn barely gets to the ropes. Joe goes for a running Senton, but Finn moves and Joe crashes to the mat. Finn hits a baseball slide and kicks Joe out the ring. Finn hits a big flip dive. Finn rolls Joe back in and attempts a Bloody Sunday. Finn can’t get Joe up and Joe reverses into the Chimeraplex for a near fall. Joe attempts a Muscle Buster, but Finn fights him off and hits a big front dropkick off the top rope. Finn follows up with a Slingblade for a near fall. Finn dropkicks Joe into the corner. Finn goes on the top rope and goes for the Coup De Grace. Joe moves and hits Finn with the ST-JOE. Joe sits Finn on the top rope and hits the Muscle Buster. Joe then sinks in the Coquina Clutch and chokes Finn out.
Winner: Samoa Joe (2-0)
The Miz w/ Maryse (0-1) vs Braun Strowman (1-0)
The Miz and Maryse tried to cheat their way to a victory in the first round but were not successful. Braun defeated his former Wyatt Family leader and proved that no one can control Braun.
Match Highlights: Miz grabs the microphone and offers Strowman a role in his new movie if Strowman lets him win and helps him win the G1. Miz promises Braun fame and fortune. Miz offers a handshake to Strowman. Strowman grabs Miz’s hand and won’t let go. Maryse waves to the back and out comes Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. Bo and Curtis try to double team Braun as Miz directs them. Braun fights back and hits a double clothesline. Braun nails a reverse chokeslam on Bo Dallas. Then Braun grabs Axel and military presses him out the ring. Now that the ring is cleared the referee finally rings the bell. Miz begs and pleads for Strowman not to hurt him. Strowman grabs Miz, hoists him up and delivers a running powerslam and gets the win.
Winner: Braun Strowman (2-0)
Neville (1-0) vs. Cesaro (0-1)
Cesaro is looking for a win after passing out to the Coquina Clutch in the first round. Neville’s left knee is heavily wrapped after his match with The Miz.
Match Highlights: Cesaro shoots a single leg takedown on Neville’s left leg. Cesaro works on the injured left leg through the match. Neville sticks his thumb in Cesaro’s eye and rakes his back to create some separation. Neville gingerly runs and hits a one-legged dropkick. Neville executes a standing Shooting Star Press for a near fall. As Neville is picking Cesaro up he attacks the injured leg and transitions to the Cesaro Swing. Cesaro spins Neville ten times and hits a big Europen Uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro hangs Neville in the Tree of Woe. Cesaro charges and hits a European Uppercut to the left knee. Neville clinches his knee as the referee checks on him. Cesaro pushes the referee out of the way and picks Neville up. Neville fights back and hits a series of European Uppercuts and follows up with a Tornado DDT. Neville slowly climbs to the top and goes for the Red Arrow. Cesaro moves at the last second and Neville crashes hard on his left knee. Cesaro hits a chop block to the left knee and applies the Sharpshooter for the submission victory. Neville is helped to the back by two referees after the match.
Winner: Cesaro (1-1)
Seth Rollins (1-0) vs Roman Reigns (1-0)
Seth Rollins has been seen heavily icing his neck due to his match with Dean Ambrose in Round 1. Roman’s right shoulder is bandaged up from crashing into the barricade in his match with Finn Balor.
Match Highlights: Reigns and Rollins shake hands at the start of the match. They lock up and go through a series of chain wrestling. Roman gets the better of Rollins and begins to work on the neck of Rollins. Rollins fights out of Roman’s grasp and hits an Enziguri. Rollins starts his attack on Roman’s right shoulder. Roman works out of Seth’s hold and hit a Samoan Drop for one count. Roman whips Rollins into the corner and charges in. Rollins kicks him in the right shoulder and then throws Roman shoulder first into the post. Roman falls out the ring. Rollins flies through the middle ropes with two suicide dives and then goes over the top for a flip dive. Rollins rolls Reigns back in and gets a near fall. Rollins goes for a Pedigree but Reigns fights out and hits a big left-hand punch followed up with a clothesline. Roman starts going for a neckbreaker but does a discuss forearm to the back of Rollins’ head. Roman gets a near fall. Roman sits Rollins on the top rope. Rollins kicks Roman in the face and hits a Blockbuster for a near fall. Rollins hits God’s Last Gift for a near fall. Rollins goes for a Buckle Bomb, but Roman wiggles out and hits a Superman Punch for a near fall. Rollins rolls out the ring. Roman jumps over the top with the “Undertaker Dive” and takes out Seth, but also lands on his shoulder. Roman gets Rollins back in the ring and stalks him for a Spear. Roman charges in, but Seth kicks him in the head and then in the shoulder. Seth hits a Sling Blade for a near fall. Rollins goes for the Rainmaker Knee. Roman fights out and hits a neckbreaker for a near fall. Roman goes for a Crucifix Powerbomb. Rollins wiggles out and gets Reigns up and delivers a Buckle Bomb quickly followed up with the Avada Kedavra. Rollins gets a near fall. Rollins goes to the top rope and goes for a Phoneix Splash, but Reigns moves out the way. Roman is setting up for the Spear. Roman does his taunt and charges in. Rollins jumps up at the last second and Curb Stomps Roman as he’s charging in. Rollins is crawling in for the pin, but time runs out. Referees check in on both men as the screen fades to black.
Winner: Draw
RAW Block Rankings After Round 2:
Braun Strowman (2-0) – 4
Samoa Joe (2-0) – 4
Seth Rollins (1-0-1) – 3
Roman Reigns (1-0-1) – 3
Neville (1-1) – 2
Dean Ambrose (1-1) – 2
Cesaro (1-1) – 2
Finn Balor (0-2) – 0
Bray Wyatt (0-2) – 0
The Miz (0-2) – 0
Stay tuned for the next column that will feature Night 4.
Jeremy Donovan is the Editor-in-Chief for Social Suplex. Follow him on Twitter @JeremyLDonovan.
