[Results] New Japan, 8/10/09

We are now half way through the 2009 G1 Climax and it has turned out to be a very interesting tournament so far - not quite as close and partisan as many are, although there is still time for that. Today's main event was the same as last year's in Yokohama - Tanahashi vs. Makabe - and it was Nagata vs. Makabe the year before that, since Makabe is the local boy. Makabe defeated Tanahashi, then in a slump, last year, but today the two fought to a stalemate in the form of a time limit draw. This gave Makabe his first point but his chances of qualification to the semis appear very slim. Pro Wrestling NOAH's Takashi Sugiura scored his first win of the tournament and it was the big scalp he needed - a victory over Nakanishi following up on losses to Tenzan and Nakamura, and yesterday's draw with Nagata. Nakanishi largely manhandled Sugiura but a late comeback earned him two valuable points. This salvages some hope of a semi final spot for NOAH's dangerous assassin and with Iizuka and Goto remaining as opponents, the worst has possibly passed for him.
Shinsuke Nakamura is unstoppable in the tournament, the brooding and dangerous CHAOS leader continuing his rampage by dismantling another man with a "dangerous" reputation, CHAOS cohort Iizuka, today. Nakamura beat Iizuka quite easily, something no one else has been able to, pinning him following a knee kick. Unless of a major slip-up, Nakamura will be in the semis. Nagata also had a surprisingly easy win today over generation rival Tenzan, whose spirit and fitness again is in question after a poor follow-up to his G1 start. Nagata won what was largely a one-sided match between historically two close rivals, using his backdrop hold to edge ahead of Tenzan in Block B. In a battle of former ECW stars, Masato Tanaka defeated TAJIRI but only by DQ after the Hustle man countered Tanaka's Sliding D with a mist attack. Tanaka is now 3-0 and if this form continues he will be heading to the semi final round. Today's opening G1 match was a tale of turnarounds - as strong starter Omori fell to poor starter Bernard - locking the two on four points each.