The biggest tournament of the year in pro wrestling kicks off today.
NJPW’s annual G1 Climax begins in Hokkaido with an all-G1 show featuring 10 tournament bouts.
In his final G1, Hiroshi Tanahashi finds himself in the main event of today’s show against Taichi in an A Block matchup.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. faces Ren Narita in B Block in today’s co-main event.
Yota Tsuji and SANADA will go one-on-one in A Block action.
Gabe Kidd takes on Konosuke Takeshita in an intriguing B Block matchup on today’s card.
David Finlay and Ryohei Oiwa match up in another A Block tilt.
Shota Umino and El Phantasmo will square off in B Block.
Yuya Uemura and Boltin Oleg in an A Block matchup is fourth on today’s card.
Great-O-Khan faces Drilla Moloney in B Block.
EVIL and Callum Newman go one-on-one in A Block in the second match in today’s lineup.
Kicking off today’s show and the G1 as a whole, Shingo Takagi vs. YOSHI-HASHI in a matchup of veteran stalwarts in the opening contest.
**********
YOSHI-HASHI defeated Shingo Takagi
A shockingly quick match. Last of the Dragon is a deadly move, so escaping that with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it move was so nice. Clean match, setting the vibe for the unexpected efficiently.
Takagi sent YOSHI-HASHI’s early momentum to a screeching halt with a DDT and a vertical suplex. He continued this with a dropkick, before countering a lariat with a thrust kick and sneaking his own lariat. YOSHI-HASHI’s fortitude fell after a lariat and a Pumping Bomber. Fortunately for him, he reversed Takagi’s Last of the Dragon into a Crucifix Driver for the pinfall.
EVIL defeated Callum Newman
Obvious EVIL win from the start, typical House of Torture shenanigans. However, EVIL and Newman worked well together despite a lack of strong chemistry.
EVIL gained swift control thanks to underhanded tactics while Dick Togoand Bad Luck Fale assaulted Newman on the outside. Newman gained a comeback with an elbow to EVIL, a dive to Fale, and a kick to Togo. Taking advantage of his opponent’s weak left knee, EVIL dodged a top rope stomp by Newman and shoulder-tackled it from behind. A Firebolt gained a nearfall for the young Newman. EVIL catapulted Newman into the referee, leading Togo and Fale to choke and slam the United Empire member. Locked in a Darkness Scorpion, Newman had no choice but to submit to EVIL.
Drilla Moloney defeated Great-O-Khan
The War Dog has been having an exceptional 2025, so a good start thus far in the G1 is a good way to keep his upward trajectory moving. That said, there was little sauce to this match. It was good, but not great.
Moloney sought an early Drilla Killa, but Khan trumped it with his might. The War Dog sent Khan careening into the barricade with a baseball slide. He then tied Khan’s ponytail to the barricade, with Khan barely sliding back into the ring with time to spare. Near the ropes, Khan held Moloney within a Camel Clutch. Vertical suplex offered Moloney a reprieve to survive a stiff exchange, gifting him an opportunity for a Spinebuster. Tenzan Tombstone courtesy of Khan opened a window, but Moloney closed it with a Gore. Moloney evaded a Cobra Claw, ending the match with a Gore and Drilla Killa to Khan for the pinfall.
Yuya Uemura defeated Oleg Boltin
So far, the best match on the card. Boltin’s hotter than ever as 2025 rolls on, and Uemura is a remarkable talent on his own merit. The closing stretch was enough to wake anybody up.
Brisk matwork began this affair, with the strong Boltin gaining the advantage due to his powerful offense. Uemura found his resolve as he controlled Boltin’s arm and stretched it. Despite the damage to his arm, Boltin sent Uemura’s hopes crashing with a couple of slams. Boltin Shake rattled and rolled Uemura, but couldn’t quell a high drop kick from Boltin’s springy opponent. The softened arm of Boltin almost saw an extended arm hold were it not for his resilience and a rope break. A dynamic display of offense won over the Hokkaido crowd, Uemura ultimately succeeded in pinning Boltin via a Deadbolt Suplex.
Shota Umino defeated El Phantasmo
Listen, I love ELP, and Umino’s been slowly winning me over again, but this match was boring. The crowd was forgiving, playing along, but this match was quiet. I know these two can deliver. Not necessarily bad, but not as exciting as it had the potential to be. That said, I want to give credit where it’s due: the match benefitted from the story of their friendship.
Grappling started this match, with Phantasmo getting a nice start, to which he playfully bantered to Umino. What seemed like a hard chop exchange was a ruse for Phantasmo to kick Umino, baiting him into rage for a dopkick. Soaring through the ropes, Phantasmo sent Umino colliding into the barricade. This dominance continued until Phantasmo twisted Umino’s nipples. A Neckbreaker provided Umino a brief comeback. Canadian Revolution by Phantasmo temporarily swung the match back in his favor. Following some quiet offense, Umino won the match with a Second Chapter.
Ryohei Oiwa defeated David Finlay
The psychology and physiology of this match proved a compelling watch. The tactical edge of Finlay, coupled with his ruthless, dirty ways contrasted well with the spirted Oiwa and the indominitable strength of him. In this instance, brawn superceded brains.
Oiwa exploded in the match after some early chess by Finlay. With some backbreaking offfense, Finlay backed Oiwa into the corner for a shoulder collision and a flip back to the center of the mat. Light on his feet, Oiwa bounced for a nice dropkick. Though he slammed Finlay, Oiwa stung his own back in the process. A few foul gestures and hurled profanities later, Finlay tossed Oiwa through the barricade and into the Hokkaido crowd. With utmost bravado, he slammed Oiwa into the mat courtesy of an Irish Curse. Oiwa, maintaning control over Finlay’s midsection, gifting him a weak Doctor Bomb. Using The Grip, Oiwa rent Finlay immobile for the three seconds it takes for a pinfall.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Gabe Kidd
The suspense here was palpable. There were no mental games, no tests of honor or skill. Only a contest of pure, unadulterated will. Takeshita versus Kidd was exhilarating.
High-octane energy immediatley propelled this match, with Takeshita landing a flying shoulder that rattled Kidd. Unsatisfied, Takeshita worked Kidd with a neckhold. Kidd eventually gained control, swinging Takeshita into the rails of the barricade. Surviving the outside brutality, Takeshita regained his composure to send Kidd down with a frightening Blue Thunderbomb. The opponents collided in an attempt to lariat the other; Takeshita was successful in this endeavor. Reversing Takeshita’s Raging Fire into a Brainbuster, Kidd rallied the Hokkaido crowd.
Kidd found his mettle again after a lariat, leaving him to follow up with relentless offense. Takeshita retrieved the momentum with a forearm. Battling on the outside, Takeshita elbowed Kidd down to thunderous effect, nearly ending the match at a 19-count. Despite some hefty strikes that wore on Takeshita, Kidd suffered an elbow to the back of the head, a neck snap, and a sleeperhold that left him unconscious.
Yota Tsuji defeated SANADA
The conflict SANADA has shown sporadically in his time jumping from stable to stable yet unable to fully abandon his nature as a fair wrestler continued well into this match. Using this story to elevate his opponent a win will hopefully serve the oppsing Tsuji well.
Tsuji initially had a fire to him, but SANADA cut him from underneath. Dragged through the barricades and into several chairs in the crowd, Tsuji escaped a countout by the skin of his teeth at the 19-count. Surviving a Shining Wizard, Tsuji dropped to a dropkick to his left leg. As SANADA charged forth, Tsuji pulled out a Gene Blaster for a surprise win.
Ren Narita defeated Zack Sabre Jr
Sabre as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion this go-around made this match more enthralling than it would have been during his first reign. Being an absolute jerk opposed to the nasty tactics of House of Torture made this a captivating watch. Narita brought his A-game here, too. This was a far cry from 2023’s Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Sabre wasted no time ensnaring Narita within his technical clutches, instantly working the legs. Provoking Sabre to the ropes, Narita superceded him to drop him on the mat. Dangling on the ropes, Sabre pulled Narita’s arm and sent him into the guardrails near commentary. Using this opportunity for punishment, Narita tormented Sabre amid the Hokkaido crowd before wrapping his opponent’s knee around the metal ring post on the outside. He continued this too on the inside, hobbling the Brit. The damage continued as he slammed and slammed Sabre’s brittle knee into the mat.
Twisting Narita’s neck, Sabre instantly felt the sting of Narita’s knee targeting. Succeeding an Octopus Hold, Sabre gave Narita karma by working his leg too. Penalty Kicks exhausted Narita’s chest. Feigning incapacitation, Narita lay in wait to a hold. Sabre reversed this at the last moment with a Zack Driver. Firmly in control with hold after hold, Sabre fell victim to Narita biting his calf. Using Souled Out, Narita followed up with Hell’s Guillotine to defeat Sabre.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Taichi
Lately, it seems Tanahashi has been working progressively dirtier as time goes on during this final year. Still, he balances it with the nobility of his babyface tenure. As though he knows he has to gain the advantage he needs to win with time running out. Taichi, in matches like these, feels like a climb that is destined to hopefully pay off someday.
Withstanding early lock-ups, Taichi gained control of Tanahashi using his legs to his advantage. Wrapping Taichi’s legs on the ropes, Tanahashi send him crashing with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. While Red Shoes Umino pleaded for the duo to stop brawling on the outside, Tanahashi pretended to oblige, only to wrap Taichi’s leg on the guardrail and kicking it further in. In the ring, Tanahashi reaped the benefits of his aggressive knee-targeting, applying a hold and adding pressure to it. Holding out through Tanahashi’s merciless knee focus, Taichi pulled out an enzuigiri.
Ripping off his pants to reveal his trunks, Taichi sought a superkick but lost his base after a kick to the knee. Texas Cloverleaf further persecuted Taichi’s hurt knee, but a rope break rescued him. Another Dragon Screw Leg Whip begat a Texas Cloverleaf, with the Ace sinking as low as he could for further abuse. Another enzuigiri gave Taichi a breather, and the fire to survive a first Sling Blade. An Axe Bomber Lariat allowed Taichi perseverence through more Tanahashi offense, with a bridging suplex almost granting him a victory had it not been for his knee giving out. His knee once more giving out, Taichi failed a top rope suplex and ate two High Fly Flows, with a third one giving Tanahashi the victory.
To me, the main players in this tournament feel like YOSHI-HASHI, Taichi, and Tanahashi. At least, they feel the most compelling journeys to follow. Granted, the young stars such as Yota Tsuji, Ryohei Oiwa, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney, and Yuya Uemura have so much momentum ahead of them. Overall, this night of G1 Climax started off average but grew intensity as the night wore on.
