New Japan Pro Wrestling hosted their first night of the G1 Special in Long Beach, California tonight (June 1). One major purpose was to start the tournament to crown the first ever IWGP United States champion. The other big event was the championship match between IWGP heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada and challenger Cody Rhodes. Just a little over a week ago, Cody won the Ring of Honor championship. Could he go two for two?
He could not.
The American Nightmare held his own against the champion for a while. However, Cody was often easily distracted. Instead of keeping the pressure on the champion, he’d leave the ring to kiss his wife Brandi, jaw with Gedo, or let the fans distract him. Because of that, the champ was bound to find his way back in the match.
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 2, 2017
When Okada fought back, things started to look so bleak for Rhodes that fellow Bullet Club member Kenny Omega came out threatening to throw in the towel. (This was a call back to the NJPW Dominion show when Cody tried to throw the towel in for Omega when he faced Okada.) Omega tried to get Brandi to throw in the towel but she refused to and the Bucks backed him off.
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 2, 2017
Cody would get a second wind, grab the towel, wipe his face with it, and toss it back at Omega, signaling issues within the Bullet Club.
There was more match to be had as the competitors exchanged their best blows (and each tried to win with the other’s finish). In the end, after a series of reversals and fighting out of Cross Rhodes multiple times, Okada hit the Rainmaker on Cody to earn the 1-2-3.
Make it Rain! pic.twitter.com/3piuvbcMuR
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 2, 2017
After the match, Kenny Omega came back out to the ring and told Okada that tonight was the champ’s night, but they’ve got a date during the G1 climax. After a classic at Wrestle Kingdom and their time limit draw at Dominion, their next match up will surely be highly anticipated.
As for the Bullet Club, if the backstage argument between Cody and Omega after the match is any indication, there may not be room enough for both of them.
VIDEO of the altercation between @CodyRhodes and @KennyOmegamanX following the #G1USA night one main event pic.twitter.com/FAQf4dpgPp
— ProWrestlingSheet (@WrestlingSheet) July 2, 2017
You can find all the results to the G1 special here.