00:00Strait forward and fight through the whole thing.
00:02G1 Climax, A Block.
00:04We're going to make a victory for 30 minutes.
00:08Are you worried at all, Rocky?
00:11Are you concerned?
00:13Are you nervous?
00:15Of course.
00:18I think that ZSJ Zack Sabre Jr.
00:22is one of the most dangerous opponents
00:26or dangerous wrestlers in this tournament.
00:30He's a great tournament wrestler,
00:32former New Japan Cup winner,
00:35and he is Submission Master.
00:40He also holds the undisputed
00:43British Heavyweight Championship
00:45that's around his waist right now.
00:49He holds a pinfall victory over Okada.
00:52That happened last July 1st at a RevPro event.
00:55That was in that span of time
00:57where Okada, post-IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign,
01:01went over 40 days before getting a victory.
01:03But it was every bit because it had nothing to do
01:06with the hangover effect on Okada.
01:08It had every bit to do with how good ZSJ is.
01:13So, also pointed words from Zack, Chris,
01:16regarding history of Okada and being submitted.
01:20Yeah, he said...
01:22Well, he was talking about the last time
01:24that Okada was submitted.
01:25That was by Shinsuke Nakamura.
01:28Three years, 11 months to the date.
01:30It was the last time Kazuchika Okada ever tapped out.
01:33In fact, ZSJ, thank you very much,
01:36will look to be doing the same thing again tonight.
01:39So will Zack Sabre Jr.
01:42look to roll up Okada again.
01:45He's got any variety of pinning combinations he could put forth.
01:50And the same can be said with his submission prowess
01:52second to none anywhere in the world.
01:54But Zack Sabre Jr. is facing a Rainmaker
01:57who is as focused as we've ever seen him.
02:01In the best shape that I have ever seen him.
02:03And the IWGP Heavyweight Champion has already gotten a win
02:08over Tanahashi to start his tournament.
02:13What had historically been a draw.
02:16They had met three times, each time one apiece.
02:19Now Okada, with that victory, has an extra point to play with.
02:30And you think about what that extra point could have meant historically to Okada.
02:36He's now 7-0-1, by the way, in his last eight G1 matches.
02:57As the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Okada comes into every G1 match with an enormous target on his back.
03:04And for Zack Sabre Jr., he's gone on record as saying,
03:07I'm going to beat Okada here, and I'm going to claim a title shot,
03:12not at Wrestle Kingdom, but instead Royal Quest.
03:16August 31st, the Copper Box in London.
03:23A ballsy move from ZSJ, who has absolutely called his shot, Ron.
03:28No, and absolutely, and Kazuchika Okada has taken this match very seriously.
03:34I stopped into the locker room and said hello to Okada before coming out here,
03:41and I saw that he had his beef bowl, which that means that this is big match Okada coming today.
03:48It's his tradition, he does it before every big match, every serious match, and it's good to know.
03:57So the beef bowl is the indicator for how serious Okada is taking today.
04:05And we will see what happens as Okada gets set to take on Zack Sabre Jr.
04:12their 1-1 head-to-head in singles matches, Okada having defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
04:19in the IWGP Heavyweight title match that Zack earned by winning the 2018 New Japan Cup,
04:24when, by the way, he submitted four of the top New Japan stars to win that tournament.
04:29Oh, just that, Kevin?
04:31Just that.
04:33Made history in submitting Naito, Ibushi, Sonata, and Tanahashi.
04:40And right away, Zack has Okada tied up, at least for a second.
04:46Now, Okada trying to find an escape.
04:53Immediately putting Okada onto his back.
05:01We know Zack Sabre Jr. dropped his opener to the tournament in Dallas.
05:07to Sonata.
05:08It's a question, sometimes, is Zack Sabre so good that he gets overconfident, Brock?
05:14Absolutely.
05:15We've seen this time and time again.
05:19It's the only weakness and downfall in Zack Sabre's whole repertoire,
05:24is his attitude.
05:28Cockiness, really.
05:33working on the left arm here.
05:35Of course, when they met for the IWGP Heavyweight title,
05:38Zack went after the Rainmaker arm, trying to weaken that.
05:42But Okada was able to persevere.
05:45And in the preview match, he went after the neck and the Rainmaker arm.
05:50So, possibly, we'll see what his game plan might be.
05:56He's doing some work on the left arm of Okada.
06:02That's the thing about Zack's style, is he'll attack the left,
06:07then immediately attack the right, then attack your left leg,
06:11and then before you know it, you're a pretzel.
06:14Tied up here in the stranglehold.
06:15He'll try to break Okada down, and has done so.
06:22Any method of direction?
06:23Oh, Zack could go, but instead, Okada with a quick reversal.
06:28Very nice reversal.
06:31The bridge up.
06:36The hands interlocked.
06:39Reversing the strength can be easier.
06:45And now, Zack has Okada tied in the ropes.
06:48A situation Okada's opponents generally find themselves in.
06:53Zack toyed with Okada, but just for a second.
06:57Oh!
06:57Thought about the drop kick.
06:59And instead, Zack came back up.
07:01But the boot from Okada put Zack Sabre Jr. down.
07:13Oh!
07:15Went for a hip toss and...
07:18But he does get it.
07:22Zack's just all over him though, with those counters.
07:25The uppercut forearm from Okada.
07:26Here comes a drop kick.
07:28Oh, swats him away.
07:29Beautifully done.
07:29And the shoulders are down.
07:31Look at this!
07:32Look at this, two!
07:33Yes!
07:34St. Bethany beat Okada when they met in Rev Pro last July 1st.
07:39Uh-oh.
07:41He's got a...
07:42Two!
07:43Whoa!
07:44Almost a banana split.
07:49Yep.
07:51Oh, man.
07:53Okada!
07:55Okada!
07:56Okada!
07:56Okada!
07:56He's in dangerous territory now, with that banana split.
08:01Ah!
08:03But that's a very unique version of it.
08:06Okada!
08:07Okada!
08:08Okada!
08:09Okada!
08:09Okada!
08:10Okada!
08:11Okada!
08:12Okada!
08:12Okada!
08:12Okada!
08:13Okada!
08:21Okada!
08:22a banana split
08:25oh my gosh
08:26he's got like 3 submissions on
08:29and getting to the ropes
08:30Red Shoes calling for the break
08:33Zach letting go of the hold
08:34let's go of it quickly
08:37but the damage has been done
08:38to the legs of Kazuchiko Okada
08:47just twisting the knee
08:48the joints
08:51so
08:52Rocky you talked about
08:54the neck and arm attack
08:56of Zach last night in the preview tag
08:58the legs presented themselves the opportunity
09:00here in their singles match
09:02and that's the direction Zach has gone
09:07smart
09:10but is this smart
09:12with him toying with Okada here
09:13absolutely not
09:21now daring Okada
09:25Okada with the uppercut answer
09:30now reversed by
09:32Zach
09:34sidesteps the boot
09:35and Okada connects with the elbow
09:38and then collapsing
09:40you know
09:40oh
09:44you think you've got Okada down
09:46you better keep him down
09:48yep I think that was a huge mistake
09:50by ZSJ
09:52to start toying with Okada
09:54instead of just tying him up
09:55and the DDT and Zach's neck
09:59crunches
09:59after that move is delivered
10:01Red Shoes gets to 2
10:03Zach rolls the shoulder up
10:08Okada
10:08Okada winning in
10:09fantastic style in Dallas
10:11in that spectacular main event
10:13it's over a minute
10:15standing ovation for the fans in Dallas
10:17for Okada and Tanahashi
10:19before they even locked up
10:21one of the greatest scenes we've ever seen
10:24and now Okada perched on the top
10:26the elbow drop denied
10:27because Zach gets out of the way
10:30oh
10:31man
10:33Okada went to deliver that flapjack
10:35and Zach was able to slip in a guillotine
10:39and now Okada's
10:41not only being choked out
10:43but he's also holding Zach's weight
10:47Zach going out the back
10:49oh
10:50Okada catches him
10:51great
10:52so
10:54Okada's legs were compromised earlier on
10:57but now the neck of Zach Saber Jr.
10:59after the DDT
11:00and that neckbreaker we just saw
11:03and Okada can now focus on business
11:11he's gonna go back
11:13up to that top rope
11:20elbow drop
11:21oh beautiful
11:22hammers down the elbow
11:23into the chest
11:26he's having some trouble with those knees though
11:33get set for the rainmaker folks
11:37and Okada went 0-2 to start last year's tournament
11:41he's on his way to going 2-0
11:44rainmaker blocked
11:45oh
11:47just high kicked that arm
11:49oh drop kick
11:55here we go tombstone
11:57tombstone on the neck
11:58got it
11:59oh my goodness
12:06here we go
12:07rainmaker no
12:09whoa
12:12into a modified octopus
12:14and now he's got the octopus hold on
12:16manjigatame
12:18pins and needles shooting down the right arm
12:20of Zach
12:20all that neck damage
12:21but look at this
12:23look at that variation
12:28putting all the pressure
12:30on that right arm
12:32the rainmaker arm
12:33of Okada
12:35now he's
12:35oh
12:37the shoulder
12:38he might pop his shoulder out
12:41he might pop his shoulder out
12:42and Okada bites a bit
12:46Okada's gotta grab that leg
12:48and take the leg off of his head
12:51if he wants a chance out of this
12:53oh no
12:57oh
12:57he gets to the ropes
13:07Zach letting go of that submission hold again quickly
13:12but more damage done
13:14to the body
13:15the entire body
13:16of Kazuchika Okada
13:18from head to toe
13:19Zach Sabre Jr.
13:22Zach hasn't got off a lot of offense
13:25but the offense that he's got off
13:27has been very effective
13:31and very impactful
13:33Oh!
13:38Stomping on the tricep
13:39of the rainmaker arm
13:41Zach collapsing in pain
13:43his neck
13:44is causing him
13:45a great deal of difficulty
13:46he had to tear the tape off of his hands
13:48probably because his arms are swelling
13:59the kick to the chest
14:04and this time
14:06ZSJ is not playing games with those kicks
14:09or those strikes
14:12he means every single one of them
14:27Oh!
14:28Right in the mouth
14:32Drops the rainmaker
14:36Slapped the absolute taste out of his mouth
14:39le pique okada catch oh another one another one oh drop kick a vicious drop kick to the back
14:49one more
14:56is it enough to put him away
15:05that was close two and two only going back to the octopus no switching in
15:13two oh my god another near fall so close confirming two
15:22tombstone attempt
15:27zack out attacks the arm how did he escape
15:33backslide no rainmaker no wow
15:41another variation of a flying octopus
15:45flying manjigatame he's got the double wrist lock on
15:52but okada has transition now
15:56spitting rainmaker yes
16:03and now
16:06rainmaker
16:09okada has drilled
16:12zsj and moves to four points
16:31working on the various body parts is what zack saber jr's game is all about but rocky obviously what okada
16:39was able to do was the difference
16:41he was able to deliver some damage to zack saber jr's neck and it really worked out in his favor
16:49oh that's what's so great about okada is he sticks to what he's good at he's good at attacking the
16:54neck and sets up the rainmaker he'll deliver the ddt he'll deliver the flapjack he'll deliver the tombstone it's a
17:01perfect set up for that rainmaker
17:03and the
17:08okada
17:09okada
17:09a lot of ground left to cover
17:13kris is this the point where i say no iw gp heavyweight champion has won the g1 climax tournament since
17:18the year 2000
17:19Je pense que c'est, oui. En fait, il y a deux en la vie.
17:222,000, Kensuke Sasaki, 95, K.G. Moutho.
17:26Could Kazuchiko Kata be No. 3?
17:28C'est la question.
17:30Un homme qui a struggled à trouver des victimes dans l'année dernière.
17:34Oh, par le fait, il a gagné 8-0-1 dans l'année dernière.
17:39Let's not forget,
17:40that is the greatest IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time.
17:45If anybody can break the bad luck of the IWGP Heavyweight Champion
17:52not being able to win the G1 Climax,
17:54it is that man right there, the Rainmaker, Kazuchiko Okada.
17:58You get no arguments from me, Rocky.
18:00We are living in a rarefied air, an amazing age of Okada.
18:05And for Zack Sabre Jr., his dream of facing Okada
18:09at the Copper Box for the IWGP Heavyweight title
18:13may have just gone by the boards.
18:15And the undisputed British Heavyweight Champion is 0-2.
18:20And if you've seen the petulant child come out in Zack Sabre Jr. before,
18:24I have a feeling it is ready to explode in the backstage comments.
18:29And I would warn all the members of the media,
18:31beware when Zack Sabre Jr. comes back your way.
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