Night 13 of the NJPW G1 Climax 34 tournament features A Block matches in Yokohama.
In the main event, Shingo Takagi (6 points) takes on EVIL (10 points) in a battle of former LIJ stablemates. It will be the sixth career singles meeting between the two, with Shingo currently holding a 3-2 edge.
In the semi-main, Zack Sabre Jr. (10 points) faces Gabe Kidd (6 points). It’s the fifth career singles meeting for Sabre & Kidd, with Sabre up 3-1 all-time.
Shota Umino (6 points) takes on Jake Lee (6 points) in another A Block battle on today’s show.
SANADA (8 points) vs. Great-O-Khan (6 points) is the second tournament bout of the show.
Tetsuya Naito (8 points) vs. Callum Newman (4 points) kicks off the tournament matches on today’s event.
Today’s undercard:
- Yota Tsuji & BUSHI vs. Yuya Uemura & TAKA Michinoku
- Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira vs. David Finlay & Gedo
- Hirooki Goto & Tomoaki Honma vs. El Phantasmo & Jado
- Konosuke Takeshita & HENARE vs. Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
- Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs. Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima
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Recommended Matches
SANADA vs. Great-O-Khan – This was a fun match built around limb work. While SANADA isn’t at his strongest selling an injury, O-Khan more than made up for that with a focused performance.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Gabe Kidd – This was a fantastic clash of styles. Kidd and ZSJ meshed well here, leading to a firey battle to determine the fate of A Block.
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Undercard Results
Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano defeated Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima
Konosuke Takeshita & HENARE defeated Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Hirooki Goto & Tomoaki Honma defeated El Phantasmo & Jado
Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira defeated David Finlay & Gedo
Yota Tsuji & BUSHI defeated Yuya Uemura & TAKA Michinoku
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A Block Results
Tetsuya Naito defeated Callum Newman
This match was what you’d expect from a Naito opener in 2024. It wasn’t horrible, but nothing I’d seek out.
Newman rushed Naito on his way to the ring. Naito tried to hold on outside the ring but a dropkick sent Naito into the barricade, leaving Newman with an early lead over the IWGP champion.
Once the match entered the ring and officially began, Naito dumped Newman to the floor and removed his entrance vestments. He then pulled Newman back in the ring and began to focus on Newman’s neck.
Naito tried for his super hurricanrana, but Newman flipped onto his butt instead of his head. Newman followed up with a pair of kicks to gain some momentum over Naito, but a spinebuster and more neck work ended his rally.
Newman reversed Destino into a knee strike, setting up an OsCutter attempt that he missed. Naito then tried for Destino again, hit it, but only scored a nearfall. To close, Naito hit another Destino and pinned Newman to win the match.
Naito’s victory leaves him with 10 points.
Great-O-Khan defeated SANADA
This match was surprisingly great. I was focused and played to O-Khan’s strengths quite well.
O-Khan opened the match by trying to catch SANADA off guard, initially by pushing him into the ropes before transitioning a choke into a spinning backbreaker of sorts.
After missing an early attempt at Eliminator, O-Khan ate a SANADA magic screw reversing the momentum of the match. SANADA then tried for the rounding body press but landed on his feet, jamming his knee on the landing. This opened the door for a targeted O-Khan attack, forcing SANADA to the floor.
On the outside, O-Khan continued to focus the leg with attacks against the barricade and on the floor. The assault continued in the ring, with O-Khan utilizing multiple holds to establish control in the ring.
A pair of dropkicks bought SANADA some separation. He followed up with a quick plancha to establish control, but his leg stopped him from taking full advantage. SANADA tried for Skull End, only for O-Khan to reverse into a leg hold. SANADA slipped free and hit a partial shining wizard that did more damage to SANADA than O-Khan.
O-Khan delivered a couple of kicks to the back of SANADA’s knee but SANADA managed to answer with a TKO. The follow-up shining wizard was blocked by a stiff right from O-Khan, resetting the match.
O-Khan tried to get the eliminator, but SANADA slipped free. The response O’Connor roll from SANADA was reversed into a sleeper. O-Khan transitioned into a German suplex, but SANADA landed on his feet, leaving him free to hit the shining wizard to the back of O-Khan. SANADA hit a second shining to set up Deadfall, but O-Khan reversed into a facebuster. O-Khan then landed eliminator and pinned SANADA to win the match.
O-Khan keeps his G1 alive with this win, advancing to 8 points.
Jake Lee defeated Shota Umino
Umino reversed the expectations by rushing Lee as the match began. He then pursued Lee to the floor, where he tried having a War Dogs-style fight with Lee. Lee, unsurprisingly, won out here, drove Umino into the barricade, and hit Umino with a chair.
Back in the ring, Lee used basic holds to maintain his control, slowly working over Umino. After an extended period on the back foot, Umino landed a dropkick to gain a bit of momentum. The followup apron DDT and fisherman suplex scored Umino a nearfall.
Lee caught Umino with a knee strike to the midsection to force Umino back to the mat. Lee then kicked Umino while he was down, leading to a count that nearly ended the match.
Umino caught a knee from Lee and dropped him with a forearm. Umino then teased Lee with strikes, leading to an exchange in the middle of the ring. Lee won out and hit a German, only for Umino to answer with Blaze Blade. Umino followed up with ignition, scoring a nearfall.
On his second attempt, Umino hit death rider for a false finish. He picked Lee for another, but Lee reversed into a back suplex. Lee then turned back to his wear-down offense long enough to hit a chokeslam and score a nearfall.
Umino cut off the FBS with a Blaze Blade. He followed up with a second Blaze Blade, but the death rider followup was stuffed. Lee then landed Face Break Shot and pinned Umino to win the match.
Lee’s win puts him at 8 points, while this loss mathematically eliminates Umino from playoff contention.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Gabe Kidd
This match was fantastic. ZSJ was the perfect foil to Kidd’s ego.
Kidd tried chopping down ZSJ early. ZSJ responded by trying to take Kidd to the mat, but Kidd kept chopping. ZSJ fled to the floor, and Kidd continued to chop.
After dozens and dozens of chops, Kidd challenged ZSJ to sit in the ring and trade slaps. After landing a few back-and-forth palm strikes, Kidd bit ZSJ. This fired ZSJ up, leading to a rally.
After being on the receiving end of some high-impact ZSJ strikes, Kidd landed a lariat and a brainbuster. ZSJ responded with some targeted offense, focusing Kidd’s arm to maintain control. Kidd powered through with a suplex to reset the match.
After a short back and forth on the mat, Kidd hit ZSJ with Emerald Flowsion. He then attempted a moonsault, but ZSJ caught him in a triangle. Kidd fought out heavy strikes, but only after receiving heavy damage.
ZSJ tried for the Gotch piledriver, but Kidd stuffed it. When Kidd tried to answer, ZSJ caught him with the Zack Driver. A rebound lariat from Kidd led to another back-and-forth, ending with a choke from ZSJ. Kidd responded by saying he’d never tap out, flipping off the crowd, and passing out.
This win guarantees ZSJ’s spot in the playoffs with 12 points. Kidd has also been eliminated from contention.
Shingo Takagai defeated EVIL
This was horrible.
EVIL rushed Shingo as the match began, taking the match to the floor immediately. He drove Shingo into the barricade and attacked him with chairs to establish a strong lead.
After a long time on the back foot, Shingo hit a leg whip to gain some footing. Takagi’s rally was fairly uneventful, lasting until EVIL landed a lariat to retake control.
Shingo challenged EVIL with a quick strike exchange, ending with a sliding bomber that left Shingo ahead. When Shingo tried to follow up, EVIL bumped the referee and gouged EVIL’s eyes. Dick Togo then hit the ring, helping EVIL take control.
Hiromu ran to the ring to help Shingo but was overwhelmed without backup. A man dressed as BUSHI then appeared only to attack Shingo. Another BUSHI showed up, leading to the reveal that the original was Kaneamaru. From here, House of Torture destroyed Shingo with basically no pushback.
Shingo escaped Everything is Evil and landed a pumping bomber to buy some time. Shingo followed up with Made in Japan, but Dick Togo rang the bell early, breaking up the followup pin.
The referee was bumped again. Kanemaru then hit Shingo with his whiskey bottle, setting up the Magic Killer. Hiromu hit the ring again, causing enough distraction for Shingo to avoid Kanemaru’s whiskey misting. BUSHI then hit the ring and misted EVIL himself.
LIJ cleared the ring of HoT, leaving EVIL alone with Shingo. Shingo hit the pumping bomber. He then transitioned into Last of the Dragon and won the match.
Shingo now rests at 8 points, staying alive in the G1.
