Welcome back to the WWE Fantasy G1 Climax tournament! We’re half way through the tournament and we’ve seen some stellar matches. If you’re new to the series, you can catch up on previous nights here. Tonight is the 5th round of the Raw Block. Here are the rankings going into Round 5:
Seth Rollins (3-0-1) – 7
Samoa Joe (3-1) – 6
Braun Strowman (3-1) – 6
Roman Reigns (2-1-1) – 5
Cesaro (2-2) – 4
Dean Ambrose (2-2) – 4
The Miz (2-2) – 4
Neville (1-3) – 2
Finn Balor (1-3) – 2
Bray Wyatt (0-4) – 0
G1 Climax Night 9: August 4th Raw House Show
Seth Rollins (3-0-1) vs. The Miz w/ Maryse & The Miztourage (2-2)
Seth Rollins has been on a roll since Night 1 of the tournament. Rollins defeated Samoa Joe in the last round to keep his undefeated streak in tact. Rollins is still suffering from severe neck pain but is cleared to wrestle tonight. The Miz had a chaotic match with Bray Wyatt in the last round. Despite his wife almost being kidnapped, Miz was able to pull off the victory.
Match Highlights: Before the match, Miz grabs the microphone and says he’s so confident that he’s going to beat Rollins tonight he’s going to put his Intercontinental title on the line.
The bell rings and both men lock up. Miz grabs a headlock and takes Rollins down to the mat. Miz cranks on the hold. Rollins fights to his feet and gives Miz a back suplex. Rollins drops a knee on Miz’s face and goes for a pin. Miz kicks out at one. Rollins picks Miz up and goes for a vertical suplex. Miz reverses into a neckbreaker. Miz applies a headlock again. Rollins fights out and hits an Enziguri that sends Miz flying out of the ring. The Miztourage checks on Miz and starts helping him up. Rollins bounces off of the ropes and wipes them all out with a flip dive.
Rollins rolls Miz back in the ring while Maryse yells at the Miztourage to get up. Rollins hits a springboard clothesline for a near fall. Rollins goes to the top rope and attempts a Frog Splash. Miz moves out of the way and hits a kneeling snap DDT for a near fall. Miz locks in a Full Nelson and cranks on Rollins’ neck. After a couple minutes in the hold, Rollins escapes and kicks Miz in the stomach. Rollins follows up with the Avada Kedavra for a near fall. Rollins hits a Standing Star Shooting Press for a near fall.
Rollins sits Miz on the top rope and attempts a Superplex. Miz fights Rollins off and pushes him down to the mat. Miz hits a Double Ax Handle Smash. Miz hits an inverted backbreaker followed by a neckbreaker for a near fall. Miz starts doing the Yes Kicks. Rollins reverses the last kick into a school boy Superkick. Rollins hits a Slingblade for a near fall. Rollins attempts a springboard knee, but Miz moves and Rollins inadvertently takes out the referee.
Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel rush the ring and jump Rollins. Axel and Dallas hold Rollins down as Miz stomps on him. Miz, Axel, and Dallas mock the Shield fist bump. Miz, Axel, and Dallas get ready to give Rollins the Shield Triple Powerbomb. Dean Ambrose’s music hits and he makes a beeline to the ring with a steel chair. Ambrose starts swinging the chair like a crazy man and cracks Dallas and Axel with the chair. Miz retreats to a corner. Ambrose continues to hit Dallas and Axel with the chair on the outside of the ring.
Ambrose goes back in the ring and is about to hit Miz with the chair. Maryse follows him and hits him with a low blow. Maryse grabs the chair and tells Miz to pick up Rollins. Maryse goes to hit Rollins with the chair. Rollins escapes Miz’s grasp and ducks which causes Maryse to hit Miz with the chair. Miz is knocked out and Maryse is checking on him. Rollins goes to the top rope and goes for a Phoenix Splash. Maryse quickly moves off of Miz and Rollins connects with the splash on Miz. A second referee runs into the ring and makes the three count. Seth Rollins is the new Intercontinental champion.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Neville (1-3) vs. Samoa Joe (3-1)
Neville suffered his third straight loss in the last round to Roman Reigns. Frustration is starting to set in for the King of the Cruiserweights. His left knee injury has been a burden. Neville has done some intense physical therapy during the week to prepare for round 5. Samoa Joe is also frustrated after suffering his first loss of the tournament in the last round to Seth Rollins. Joe considers that win a fluke and plans on choking out his next five opponents.
Match Highlights: The bell rings and Neville rushes Samoa Joe and hits him with a series of European Uppercuts. Joe fires back and takes Neville down with a huge lariat. Joe picks Neville up and strikes him a series of jabs and chops. Joe whips Neville into the corner. Joe charges in and Neville gets his feet up. Neville quickly jumps to the middle rope and hits a front dropkick. Neville hits a Lionsault for a near fall. Neville goes to the top rope. Joe rolls out of the ring.
Neville attempts a crossbody to the outside but Joe catches him and hits a Samoan drop to the outside. Joe follows up with a running senton. Joe rolls Neville back in the ring for a near fall. Joe sits Neville on the top rope and attempts the Muscle Buster. Neville fights out. Neville hits a diving hurricanrana. Neville hits a standing moonsault for a near fall. Neville locks in the Rings of Saturn. Joe picks Neville up while Neville still has the hold locked on. Neville breaks the hold and goes behind Joe. Neville attempts a German Suplex. Joe blocks and hits a Chimera Plex for a near fall.
Joe attempts the Muscle Buster again. Neville fights out and hits a Tornado DDT for a near fall. Neville goes to the top rope and attempts the Red Arrow. Joe moves out of the way and Neville crashes to the mat. Joe locks in the Coquina Clutch. Neville passes out and Samoa Joe gets the win.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Cesaro (2-2) vs. Bray Wyatt (0-4)
On Night 7, Cesaro sought out revenge on Braun Strowman from his attack on Night 5. Cesaro attacked Braun after his match with a steel chair. The Monster Among Men didn’t take that lightly and attacked Cesaro during his match. Due to the attack, Cesaro lost the match and sustained further injury to his ribs. Bray Wyatt has lost four matches in a row. All of Bray’s plans have been foiled by his opponents. Perhaps Bray can use his former relationship with Braun Strowman to secure a victory tonight.
Match Highlights: Before the bell rings the lights go off. When they come back on Braun is standing next to Bray. Cesaro immediately starts attacking Braun. Bray jumps Cesaro from behind. Bray and Braun take turns stomping on Cesaro’s ribs. The referee tries to stop the attack. Braun pushes the referee down. Sheamus’ music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Braun goes after Sheamus while Bray continues to work on Cesaro. Sheamus and Braun brawl into the crowd.
The referee gets back up and separates Bray from Cesaro. The referee asks Cesaro if he wants to do the match. Cesaro shakes his head yes. The referee keeps Bray away so Cesaro can get back to his feet. Cesaro pulls himself up and the referee calls for the bell.
Bray charges in and splashes Cesaro in the corner. Bray hits a running senton for a near fall. Bray rips the tape off of Cesaro’s ribs. Bray hits a gutbuster for a near fall. Bray picks Cesaro up and locks in a bear hug. Cesaro double claps Bray and escapes the bear hug. Bray kicks Cesaro in the ribs. Bray attempts Sister Abigail. Cesaro reverses it into a school boy and gets the win.
Winner: Cesaro
Finn Balor (1-3) vs. Dean Ambrose (2-2)
Finn Balor has had a rocky start to the tournament. In the last round, he was destroyed by Braun Strowman. Luckily Balor made it out of the match without an injury. Braun inadvertently helped Dean Ambrose win his match against Cesaro in the last round. Ironically it was outside interference that cost Ambrose his match on Night 5. Ambrose is expecting a fair fight with Balor.
Match Highlights: Both men lock up and start chain wrestling. Both men exchange several holds and wrestle to a stalemate. They lock up again. Ambrose breaks the lock up and drops an elbow on Finn’s head. Ambrose chops Finn. Finn retaliates with a chop of his own. Both men exchange several chops. Dean drops another elbow on Finn’s head. Dean clotheslines Finn out of the ring. Ambrose hits a suicide dive and wipes Finn out. Dean goes back into the ring and taunts Finn.
The Club’s music hits. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson come down to the ringside and start motivating Finn. Finn has a very confusing look on his face. The referee yells at The Club. The Club says they’re here to watch their good brother Finn. Finn gets back in the ring. Ambrose rushes him as he enters the ring. Ambrose goes for a suplex but Finn knees Ambrose in the head. Finn hits the Prince’s Throne for a near fall.
Finn goes to the top rope and attempts the Coup De Grace. Ambrose quickly gets up and attacks Finn before he can jump off. Ambrose hits a Superplex for a near fall. Ambrose picks up Finn and attempts Dirty Deeds. Finn reverses and hits an overhead kick. Finn attempts the Bloody Sunday. Ambrose blocks it and hits a Russian Leg Sweep. Ambrose goes to the top rope and hits the Lunatic Elbow Drop for a near fall.
Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds again. Finn fights out and hits a Slingblade for a near fall. Finn attempts the Bloody Sunday again. Ambrose reverses and hits the Dirty Deeds. Ambrose goes for a cover. Luke Gallows puts Finn’s foot on the bottom rope. Karl Anderson alerts the referee that Finn’s foot is on the rope. Ambrose realizes what has happened and is furious. Ambrose hits a plancha onto Gallows and Anderson. Ambrose rolls back into the ring. Finn quickly hits the Bloody Sunday and gets the win. Gallows and Anderson go in the ring and raise Finn’s arms. Finn pulls his arms away from them and walks out the ring. Finn says “I didn’t need your help” and make his way to the back.
Winner: Finn Balor
Braun Strowman (3-1) vs. Roman Reigns (2-1-1)
Braun Strowman has been causing havoc every night of Raw Block action. As mentioned earlier Braun attacked Cesaro after their match on Night 5 and attacked him again during his match on Night 7. Braun has attacked Cesaro for a third time earlier tonight. Braun needs to take his sights off of Cesaro and focus on his arch nemesis Roman Reigns. Reigns defeated Neville in the last round. In that match, his right shoulder injury was aggravated. Reigns did some rehab on the shoulder this week but still, has it wrapped.
Match Highlights: As soon as the bell rings, Reigns starts throwing several punches. Roman bounces off the ropes and hits a shoulder block. Braun doesn’t budge. Roman hits another Shoulder Block. Strowman still doesn’t move. Roman runs in for the third time and Strowman takes him out with a big boot. Storwman attempts a big splash but Roman moves. Roman hits several palm strikes. Roman bounces off of the ropes and hits a clothesline. Braun doesn’t go down. Roman goes for another clothesline. Braun attempts to do a clothesline of his own. Roman ducks and bounces off of the opposite ropes and hits a jumping clothesline and takes Strowman off of his feet.
Roman goes for a cover. Strowman kicks out a one. Roman tries to get Strowman up for a Samoan Drop. Strowman blocks it and hits a face first chokeslam for a near fall. Strowman whips Roman into the turnbuckles. Strowman runs in for a shoulder tackle. Roman moves out of the way and Strowman’s shoulder crashes into the post. Roman hits the Drive By for a near fall. Roman attempts the Superman Punch. Braun catches him and tosses him over the top rope.
Strowman goes outside and throws Roman shoulder first into the barricade. Strowman then throws Roman shoulder first into the steps.Strowman goes to lawn dart Roman into the post. Roman slips out and pushes Strowman into the post. Roman gets in the ring at 7. Strowman gets in at 9. Roman hits a baseball slide as soon as Strowman gets in the ring. Strowman rolls back out.
Roman attempts to Spear Strowman through the barricade. Strowman catches him and drives Roman through the barricade with the Running Powerslam. Strowman rolls Roman back in the ring before 10 and gets a near fall. Strowman attempts another Running Powerslam. Roman wiggles off of Strowman’s shoulder and hits the Spear. Strowman kicks out at 2. Roman attempts a second Spear. Strowman clotheslines Roman as he runs in. Strowman attempts another face first chokeslam. Roman blocks and hits a Superman Punch but Strowman doesn’t go down. Roman hits another one and Strowman falls. Roman goes for a cover. Strowman kicks out a 2.
Roman attempts the Spear again. Strowman moves out of the way and Roman goes shoulder first into a turnbuckle. Strowman hits a running dropkick. Strowman goes to the top rope and attempts a Frog Splash. Roman moves at the last second. Roman finally hits the Spear and gets the win.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Here are the rankings after round 5:
Seth Rollins (4-0-1) – 9
Samoa Joe (4-1) – 8
Roman Reigns (3-1-1) – 7
Braun Strowman (3-2) – 6
Cesaro (3-2) – 6
Dean Ambrose (2-3) – 4
Finn Balor (2-3) – 4
The Miz (2-3) – 4
Neville (1-4) – 2
Bray Wyatt (0-5) – 0
At the end of Night 5, Seth Rollins is still undefeated and is the new Intercontinental champion. Seth’s win streak might come to an end on Night 11. He’ll be facing a very angry Braun Strowman. Here is the full card for Night 11: Bray Wyatt (0-5) vs. Samoa Joe (4-1), Dean Ambrose (2-3) vs. Neville (1-4), Roman Reigns (3-1-1) vs. The Miz (2-3), Finn Balor (2-3) vs. Cesaro (3-2), and Seth Rollins (4-0-1) vs. Braun Strowman (3-2).
The SmackDown block is back in action on Night 10. The following matches will take place on Night 10. Night 10: Dolph Ziggler (0-4) vs. Rusev (1-3), Baron Corbin (1-3) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (3-1), Luke Harper (2-2) vs. Randy Orton (2-2), AJ Styles (3-1) vs. Sami Zayn (2-2), and Kevin Owens (4-0) vs. John Cena (2-2).
