Tag: NJPW G1 Climax 33 - Page 2

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night 10 live results: Tanahashi vs. Goto

Posted on July 30, 2023 by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today with C Block & D Block matches in Aichi at Dolphin’s Arena.

In the main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi face Hirooki Goto in the seventeenth career singles meeting between the two NJPW veterans. Both enter the match with 2-2 records in this year’s G1.

In the semi-main, the 3-1 Tama Tonga faces 2-2 Shingo Takagi in the first career singles meeting between the two.

The full lineup:

D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi (2-2, 4 points) vs. Hirooki Goto (2-2, 4 points)
C Block: Tama Tonga (3-1, 6 points) vs. Shingo Takagi (2-2, 4 points)
D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. (3-1, 6 points) vs. Shane Haste (2-2, 4 points)
C Block: EVIL (2-2, 4 points) vs. Tomohiro Ishii (1-3, 2 points)
D Block: Tetsuya Naito (2-2, 4 points) vs. Alex Coughlin (1-3, 2 points)
C Block: Eddie Kingston (2-2, 4 points) vs. Mikey Nicholls (1-3, 2 points)
D Block: Jeff Cobb (4-0, 8 points) vs. Toru Yano (0-4, 0 points)
C Block: David Finlay (4-1, 8 points) vs. HENARE (1-4, 2 points)

Our live coverage begins at 3 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Recommended Matches

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirsooki Goto – A fantastic match built around selling the ware of the G1. Both men looked good in their agony and delivered a superb, emotional match.

**********

David Finlay defeated HENARE

This match felt like it was going through the mid-tournament motions. Finlay closed out the match with Oblivion.

This win leaves Finlay with 8 points, leaving him awfully close to a guaranteed playoff spot.

Toru Yano defeated Jeff Cobb

This was a short match with Yano trying to spoil Cobb’s perfect tournament. Cobb played some of Yano’s games, but in the end, Yano won. After getting a face full of cold spray, Yano rolled up Cobb, ending his undefeated streak.

While he’s already out of the running, this win gets Yano on the board with 2 points.

Eddie Kingston defeated Mikey Nicholls

This was a bit of a plotting match built around mid-tournament ware. Everything these guys threw out was substantial, even if it wasn’t at a blistering pace. Eddie closed this match out with a spinning back fist.

This result keeps Eddie in the running, 6 points, and eliminates Nicholls from contention.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Alex Coughlin

Unlike most of his G1, Coughlin was unable to control the pace of this match. With the match at Naito’s pace, Naito was able to withstand Couhlin’s pushes for control, eventually leading to the Destino and the win.

This win moves Naito toward the top of D block, with 6 points.

EVIL defeated Tomohiro Ishii

This was a very physical match, but in case you suspected something else, EVIL worked dirty throughout. Ishii matched EVIL’s energy to gain control, leading to multiple colossal exchanges between the pair. To close, EVIL distracted the referee, allowing Dick Togo to kick Ishii low; Evil followed up with Everything is Evil and pinned Ishii for the win.

EVIL remains in strong standing with this win, tieing Finlay atop of C block with 8 points.

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shane Haste

This inter-faction TMDK matchup was competitive throughout. After extended exchanges of moves and strikes, Haste was looking to break from a hold with a powerbomb, but ZSJ caught him in a trap pin, winning the match suddenly.

ZSJ ties Jeff Cobb with 8 points, leading the D block.

Time Limit Draw: Tama Tonga vs. Shingo Takagi

Another by-the-numbers match here. These guys went back and forth in all the typical ways, leading into the move-heavy closing sequence. The clock eventually ran out in about the least climatic way possible.

The draw leaves Tama just behind the C block leaders with 7 points, and Shingo in the middle of the pack with 5.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Hirooki Goto

This match was all about both men being in severe pain from the opening bell. The selling was fantastic throughout, enhancing every moment of this match. Tanahashi is seemingly trying to retire himself with High Fly Flow, which he landed on his second attempt to win the bout.

Tanahashi’s win leaves him just two points behind block leaders, staying steady with 6 points.

**********

Standings

A Block

SANADA (5-0) – 10 points
Shota Umino (2-1-2) – 6 points
Kaito Kiyomiya (2-1-2) – 6 points
Gabe Kidd (2-2-1) 5 points
Chase Owens (2-3) – 4 points
Hikuleo (2-3) – 4 points
Yota Tsuji (1-3-1) – 3 points
Ren Narita (0-3-2) – 2 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (4-1) – 8 points
Will Ospreay (4-1) 8 points
Taichi (3-2) – 6 points
YOSHI-HASHI (2-3) – 4 points
KENTA (2-3) 4 points
Tanga Loa (2-3) 4 points
Great-O-Khan (1-4) 2 points
El Phantasmo (1-3) 2 points

C Block

David Finlay (4-1) – 8 points
EVIL (4-1) – 8 points
Tama Tonga (3-1-1) – 7 points
Eddie Kingston (3-2) – 6 points
Shingo Takagi (2-2-1) – 5 points
HENARE (1-4) – 2 points
Mikey Nicholls (1-4) – 2 points
Tomohiro Ishii (1-4) – 2 points

D Block

Jeff Cobb (4-1) – 8 points
Zack Sabre Jr. (4-1) – 8 points
Tetsuya Naito (3-2) – 6 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi (3-2) – 6 points
Hirooki Goto (2-3) – 4 points
Shane Haste (2-3) – 4 points
Alex Coughlin (1-4) – 2 points
Toru Yano (1-4) – 2 points

Fight Game: Another competitive weekend for combat sports fans

Posted on July 28, 2023March 31, 2025 by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast.

We got right into our Top Five of the week where we discussed the following:

All the competition for eyeballs this weekend with all of the pro wrestling in addition to big UFC and boxing shows
NXT Great American Bash preview
FTR defending the AEW Tag Team titles against Adam Cole & MJF
Why the Roderick Strong part of the MJF/Cole angle brings Cole down
What is going on with Jack Perry and Jerry Lynn?
An update on the NJPW G1 Climax 33 and where the wrestlers stand in the blocks

We also update our previous Wrestling Prospectus segment on Bronco Nima as he wrestled on NXT this week.

Finally, we did a non-wrestling segment at the end to help you get to know your hosts a bit better.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Big Audio Nightmare: G1 Climax 33 check in, Stardom 5Star Grand Prix

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Adam Summers

This week’s two-hour Big Audio Nightmare is back to talk about everything happening in the world of Japanese professional wrestling — dominated this week by the NJPW G1 Climax tournament.

Topics include:

In-depth analysis of each night of the G1 Climax 33 so far
The impact of such a large G1 field on show quality
The utterly fascinating G1 A Block and how each young star has fared
Thoughts on the incredible Kento Miyahara vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima in NOAH
A full review of night 1 of Stardom’s 5Star Grand Prix

All that and much more!

Click Here To Listen (sub needed)

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night nine live results: Okada vs. Ospreay

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Chick Fritts

Kazuchika Okada faces Will Ospreay today in G1 Climax 33 B Block action in a rematch of last year’s G1 finals.

Okada holds a 7-1 career singles record against Ospreay, and a win would lock Okada into the eight-man playoffs round.

In the semi-main, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA can also guarantee a spot in the playoffs round with a win over Ren Narita.

Today’s full lineup:

B Block: Kazuchika Okada (4-0, 8 points) vs. Will Ospreay (3-1, 6 points)
A Block: SANADA (4-0, 8 points) vs. Ren Narita (0-2-2, 2 points)
B Block: KENTA (2-2, 4 points) vs. El Phantasmo (1-3, 2 points)
A Block: Yota Tsuji (1-2-1, 3 points) vs. Hikuleo (1-3, 2 points)
B Block: Great-O-Khan (1-3, 2 points) vs. Tanga Loa (1-3, 2 points)
A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (2-1-1, 5 points) vs. Gabe Kidd (2-2, 4 points)
B Block: Taichi (2-2, 4 points) vs. YOSHI-HASHI (2-2, 4 points)
A Block: Chase Owens (2-2, 4 points) vs. Shota Umino (1-1-2, 4 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Recommended Matches

Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Gabe Kidd – Even if the War Dog run-in is a bit repetitive, it has worked wonders in this tournament. This match played perfectly into the structure of the G1 and both men’s strengths—my favorite match of the tournament.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay – This match was exactly what you would expect from this pair in this format. In effect, this was a big-time main event with two of the most important wrestlers in New Japan condensed into the G1 package. There is no doubt in my mind that this match will have a lasting impact.

**********

Shota Umino defeated Chase Owens

This match featured a lot of outside scrambles and slow mat work. The highlight of the match was also the finish, when Shota escaped the package piledriver, beautifully reversing into the Death Rider to secure the win.

With this win, Shota stays competitive, moving up to 6 points.

Taichi defeated YOSHI-HASHI

This was a strike-heavy encounter, with almost all exchanges being strike based before the closing stretch. In the closing minutes, they graduated to throws, suplexes, and power moves. Taichi won out in the end, hitting Black Mephisto to secure the pin.

This win leaves Taichi with 6 points, keeping him in solid playoff contention.

Double Count Out: Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Gabe Kidd

This match was excellent. Kidd, in War Dog fashion, brutally attacked Kaito before the bout, setting Kaito up for a match full of sympathy building—something no one is better at. Kaito answered violence with violence, leading to passionate exchanges in and out of the ring. In the end, the fight wouldn’t end in the ring, as neither man was willing to back down from a brawl on the outside, leading to a double count out. Even after the bell, the pair brawled for minutes, forcing an army of ring crew to break them up and carry Kaito to the back.

This draw leaves both men in the upper-middle of A block—Kaito with 6 points, Kidd with 5.

Tanga Loa defeated Great-O-Khan

O-Khan controlled a lot of this match by working over Loa’s legs. Loa answered by getting on his feet, launching a comeback, and hitting a reverse piledriver to win.

Loa’s win keeps him alive theoretically with 4 points. This loss eliminates O-Khan from playoff contention.

Hikuleo defeated Yota Tsuji

This match was fairly interesting on a structural level. This could’ve been a typical big man vs. big man match, but instead, Tsuji wrestled as much like a junior as possible while still utilizing his power. Hikuleo ultimately answered with a wicked boot, a scoop slam, and a chokeslam to win the match.

Hikuleo barely stays alive with this win, sitting in the lower end of viability with 4 points.

El Phantasmo defeated KENTA

KENTA tried icing out ELP before the match could begin, but ELP followed him to the floor, leading to extended fighting on the ground. In the bleachers, KENTA drew color from ELP. The pair used weapons, with KENTA gaining significant advantage. The match finally started once KENTA rolled ELP into the ring. KENTA tried for a GTS, but ELP reversed into a pin, stealing the win.

Although he’s out of contention, this win gets ELP on the board with his first 2 points.

SANADA defeated Ren Narita

This was a fairly stale back-and-forth match. There were a few exciting moments, especially during transitions, but in the end, they were sparse. Narita got a lot of control time in the match, but in the end, SANADA won with Deadfall.

This win makes SANADA the first man to qualify for the second phase, standing tall with 10 points.

Will Ospreay defeated Kazuchika Okada

Okada was stoic in his approach, especially early, while Ospreay threw everything at the wall from the open. The mid-to-late match came quickly, with both men hurling bombs as soon as it was viable. Okada focused heavily on wear-down moves, such as the money clip, while Ospreay tried for match-enders like the OsCutter. The closing five minutes were filled with false finishes and giant transitions of momentum. Ultimately, Ospreay was able to finish the job, hitting storm breaker to win the match.

This win leaves Ospreay tied in points with Okada on top of B block. Both men sit with 8 points.

**********

Standings

A Block

SANADA (4-0) – 8 points)
Shota Umino (2-1-2) – 6 points
Kaito Kiyomiya (2-1-2) – 6 points
Gabe Kidd (2-2-1) 5 points
Chase Owens (2-3) – 4 points
Hikuleo (2-3) – 4 points
Yota Tsuji (1-3-1) – 3 points
Ren Narita (0-2-2) – 2 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (4-1) – 8 points
Will Ospreay (4-1) 8 points
Taichi (3-2) – 6 points
YOSHI-HASHI (2-3) – 4 points
KENTA (2-3) 4 points
Tanga Loa (2-3) 4 points
Great-O-Khan (1-4) 2 points
El Phantasmo (1-3) 2 points

C Block

David Finlay (3-1) – 6 points
EVIL (3-1) – 6 points
Tama Tonga (3-1) – 6 points
Eddie Kingston (2-2) – 4 points
Shingo Takagi (2-2) – 4 points
HENARE (1-3) – 2 points
Mikey Nicholls (1-3) – 2 points
Tomohiro Ishii (1-3) – 2 points

D Block

Jeff Cobb (4-0) – 8 points
Zack Sabre Jr. (3-1) – 6 points
Hirooki Goto (2-2) – 4 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi (2-2) – 4 points
Tetsuya Naito (2-2) – 4 points
Shane Haste (2-2) – 4 points
Alex Coughlin (1-3) – 2 points
Toru Yano (0-4) – 0 points

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night eight live results: Sabre vs. Cobb

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today with C Block & D Block matches in Tokyo at Korakuen Hall.

In the main event, Zack Sabre Jr. faces Jeff Cobb in a battle of unbeatens. Both enter the match with 3-0 records in this year’s tournament.

In the semi-main, the undefeated David Finlay faces Tama Tonga.

The full lineup:

D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. (3-0, 6 points) vs. Jeff Cobb (3-0, 6 points)
C Block: David Finlay (3-0, 6 points) vs. Tama Tonga (2-1, 4 points)
D Block: Tetsuya Naito (2-1, 4 points) vs. Shane Haste (1-2, 2 points)
C Block: Eddie Kingston (2-1, 4 points) vs. Tomohiro Ishii (0-3, 0 points)
D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-2, 2 points) vs. Toru Yano (0-3, 0 points)
C Block: Shingo Takagi (1-2, 2 points) vs. Mikey Nicholls (1-2, 2 points)
D Block: Hirooki Goto (2-1, 4 points) vs. Alex Coughlin (0-3, 0 points)
C Block: EVIL (2-1, 4 points) vs. HENARE (1-2, 2 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Recommended Matches

Shingo Takagi vs. Mikey Nicholls – An action-packed match with some color. Wonderful.
Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii – This match was nothing short of fantastic—easily amongst the best matches of the tournament and the best individual performances from both men—a must-watch.
Jeff Cobb vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – Another match that is in the running for “best match of the tournament”. This was ridiculous bell-to-bell action packed full of ZSJ nuance and Cobb’s stunning acts of athleticism—a must-watch.

**********

EVIL defeated HENARE

From the pre-match chair attack to the outside fighting, this was a full-blown HOT match. In the end, a referee distraction left EVIL free to hit a low blow, followed by Everything is Evil for the win.

Evil sits strong in his block with 6 points.

Alex Coughlin defeated Hirooki Goto

This has been a breakout tournament for Coughlin, if I’ve ever seen one. It shouldn’t be a surprise at this point, but Coughlin worked a violent match here. After dominating Goto for the entire runtime, Coughlin dropped Goto with a jackhammer to win his first match in the G1.

With this win, Coughlin avoids mathematical elimination, earning his first 2 points.

Shingo Takagi defeated Mikey Nicholls

With lots of powerful exchanges that built to an explosive finishing stretch, this was a great Shingo outing. Shingo bested a bloody Nicholls with a body press that looked it was supposed to be a pumping bomber; either way, it was awesome.

Takagi sets in the middle of C block with 4 points following this win.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Toru Yano

Even after a challenge from Tanahashi to get serious, this match was anything but. Only after minutes of Yano chicanery Tanahashi closed the match with High Fly Flow.

With this win, Tanahashi moves up to 4 points and eliminates Yano from playoff contention.

Tomohiro Ishii defeated Eddie Kingston

This match was all about Ishii working over Eddie’s injured back in the beginning. Eddie was forced to challenge Ishii with strikes, leading to some electric exchanges. Once the striking ended, the bout exploded into the most impressive back-and-forth in the G1 so far. The war ended once Ishii lifted Kingston for a picture-perfect brain buster.

This win puts Ishii on the board, earning his first 2 points.

Shane Haste defeated Tetsuya Naito

This match was a definite cooler compared to the last, but this was still good. Naito worked the neck during his periods of control, setting up Destino. After kicking out of one, Naito attempted another, but Haste reversed into Bomb Valley Death for an upset victory.

This win leaves Haste with the majority of D block with 4 points.

Tama Tonga defeated David Finlay

In a bit of a dynamic flip, Tama rushed Finlay in the opening moments, which Finlay was able to take advantage of. Finlay took the action to the ring, where the match played out with multiple momentum shifts. After hitting a spear, Finlay hoisted Tama up for a powerbomb, but Tama reversed into a pin, stealing the win.

This win ended Finlay’s undefeated streak and ties Tama with block leaders, sitting at 6 points.

Jeff Cobb defeated Zack Sabre Jr.

My God, this match was incredible. Cobb dominated the early portion of the match; his size played as a constant check to ZSJ throughout the open while remaining agile and grapple-hardy throughout the runtime. ZSJ eventually swung back, utilizing holds to keep himself in the match. In the end, this wasn’t enough, as Cobb connected with throw after throw before finishing the match with Tour of the Islands.

This win leaves Cobb as the only man undefeated in D block with 8 points.

**********

Standings

A Block

SANADA (4-0) – 8 points)
Kaito Kiyomiya (2-1-1) – 5 points
Gabe Kidd (2-2) 4 points
Chase Owens (2-2) – 4 points
Shota Umino (1-1-2) – 4 points
Yota Tsuji (1-2-1) – 3 points
Ren Narita (0-2-2) – 2 points
Hikuleo (1-3) – 2 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (4-0) – 8 points
Will Ospreay (3-1) 6 points
Taichi (2-2) – 4 points
YOSHI-HASHI (2-2) – 4 points
KENTA (2-2) 4 points
Tanga Loa (1-2) 2 points
Great-O-Khan (1-3) 2 points
El Phantasmo (0-3) 0 points

C Block

David Finlay (3-1) – 6 points
EVIL (3-1) – 6 points
Tama Tonga (3-1) – 6 points
Eddie Kingston (2-2) – 4 points
Shingo Takagi (2-2) – 4 points
HENARE (1-3) – 2 points
Mikey Nicholls (1-3) – 2 points
Tomohiro Ishii (1-3) – 2 points

D Block

Jeff Cobb (4-0) – 8 points
Zack Sabre Jr. (3-1) – 6 points
Hirooki Goto (2-2) – 4 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi (2-2) – 4 points
Tetsuya Naito (2-2) – 4 points
Shane Haste (2-2) – 4 points
Alex Coughlin (1-3) – 2 points
Toru Yano (0-4) – 0 points

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night seven live results: SANADA vs. Kiyomiya

Posted on July 25, 2023 by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today with A Block & B Block matches in Tokyo at Korakuen Hall.

In the main event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA takes on NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya in a battle of unbeatens.

In the semi-main, the undefeated Kazuchika Okada takes on fellow CHAOS member YOSHI-HASHI.

The full lineup:

A Block: SANADA (3-0, 6 points) vs. Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0-1, 5 points)
B Block: Kazuchika Okada (3-0, 6 points) vs. YOSHI-HASHI (2-1, 4 points)
A Block: Ren Narita (0-1-2, 2 points) vs. Hikuleo (0-3, 0 points)
B Block: Tanga Loa (1-2, 2 points) vs. El Phantasmo (0-3, 0 points)
A Block: Chase Owens (1-2, 2 points) vs. Yota Tsuji (0-2-1, 1 point)
B Block: Taichi (2-1, 4 points) vs. KENTA (1-2, 2 points)
A Block: Gabe Kidd (1-2, 2 points) vs. Shota Umino (0-1-2, 2 points)
B Block: Will Ospreay (2-1, 4 points) vs. Great-O-Khan (1-2, 2 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Recommended Matches

Will Ospreay vs. Great-O-Khan – A great little inter-faction match that blew past my expectations.
Gabe Kidd vs. Shota Umino – An absolutely violent match with a fantastic set of rallies from Umino.
SANADA vs. Kaito Kiyomiya – This is my new favorite tournament match thus far. A masterfully executed bout, bell-to-bell.

**********

Will Ospreay defeated Great-O-Khan

Even though this United Empire showdown, neither man held their punches. This match featured focused strike exchanges and weapon-based fights on the floor. After multiple false finishes from both men, Ospreay hit a 540° Corkscrew Senton Bomb to win the match.

Ospreay caught block leaders with 6 points.

Shota Umino defeated Gabe Kidd

Kidd opened the match by rushing Umino in the Korakuen crowd, leading to a violent start. Kidd maintained this energy throughout the match’s runtime, dominating Umino for some time; this also opened the door for some of the best rallies in Umino’s career. Ultimately, Umino was able to hold on, hitting a Death Rider to win the match.

Umino earned his first win here, making his way to 4 points.

KENTA defeated Taichi

This match opened with a battle of the belts, with Taichi showing off the KOPW title and KENTA the Defy strap; KENTA used this opportunity to flatten Taichi with his belt before the opening bell. What followed was a silly back-and-forth, ending when KENTA blocked a knee strike with his belt and rolled up Taichi for a quick win.

With this win, KENTA sits at 4 points.

Yota Tsuji defeated Chase Owens

For whatever reason, this was a heavily Owens-controlled match. Only after surviving multiple C-triggers, a Jewel Heist, and an attempted package piledriver was Tsuji able to land a spear to win this match.

Tsuji earns his first win, working his way up to 3 points.

El Phantasmo defeated Tanga Loa

This match certainly happened. After minutes of escalation and moves trading, ELP secured Loa in a crucifix pin to score a sudden win.

With this win, ELP is on the board with 2 points.

Hikuleo defeated Ren Narita

While a little long, this was a decent big-man/little-man match. Hikuleo looked pretty good in this position, and Narita put in a firey performance, as always. In the end, Hikuleo withstood Narita’s rallies, winning with a choke slam.

Hikuleo’s first G1 win earns him 2 points.

Kazuchika Okada defeated YOSHI-HASHI

Okada worked an unserious opening match here, bordering on disrespect for YH. Okada’s lack of consideration for YH opened the door for a prolonged YH offensive sequence. An extended back-and-forth followed, with Okada eventually connecting with the rainmaker to maintain his undefeated streak.

Okada remains the last undefeated competitor in B block, standing tall with 8 points.

SANADA defeated Kaito Kiyomiya

This match was something special. In a rare sight, this was a truly emotional SANADA match, filled with dramatic sequences. The multiple false finishes in the closing moments were nothing short of exhilarating. Ultimately, Kaito’s inability to win the big one in New Japan continues, as SANADA won with a shining wizard with two seconds on the clock.

With this win, SANADA remains the only undefeated wrestler in his block with 8 points.

**********

Standings

A Block

SANADA (4-0) – 8 points)
Kaito Kiyomiya (2-1-1) – 5 points
Gabe Kidd (2-2) 4 points
Chase Owens (2-2) – 4 points
Shota Umino (1-1-2) – 4 points
Yota Tsuji (1-2-1) – 3 points
Ren Narita (0-2-2) – 2 points
Hikuleo (1-3) – 2 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (4-0) – 8 points
Will Ospreay (3-1) 6 points
Taichi (2-2) – 4 points
YOSHI-HASHI (2-2) – 4 points
KENTA (2-2) 4 points
Tanga Loa (1-2) 2 points
Great-O-Khan (1-3) 2 points
El Phantasmo (0-3) 0 points

C Block

David Finlay (3-0) – 6 points
EVIL (2-1) – 4 points
Eddie Kingston (2-1) – 4 points
Tama Tonga (2-1) – 4 points
HENARE (1-2) – 2 points
Mikey Nicholls (1-2) – 2 points
Shingo Takagi (1-2) – 2 points
Tomohiro Ishii (0-3) – 0 points

D Block

Zack Sabre Jr. (3-0) – 6 points
Jeff Cobb (3-0) – 6 points
Hirooki Goto (2-1) – 4 points
Tetsuya Naito (2-1) – 2 points
Shane Haste (1-2) – 2 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-2) – 2 points
Alex Coughlin (0-3) – 0 points
Toru Yano (0-3) – 0 points

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night six live results: EVIL vs. Finlay

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today in Nagano with C Block & D Block matches.

In the main event, EVIL takes on David Finlay in a C Block battle. Both men are 2-0 in the tournament.

In the semi-main, the 1-1 Hiroshi Tanahashi faces United Empire’s Jeff Cobb and his 2-0 record.

Today’s full lineup:

C Block: EVIL (2-0, 4 points) vs. David Finlay (2-0, 4 points)
D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-1, 2 points) vs. Jeff Cobb (2-0, 4 points)
C Block: Tomohiro Ishii (0-2, 0 points) vs. Shingo Takagi (0-2, 0 points)
D Block: Tetsuya Naito (1-1, 2 points) vs. Toru Yano (0-2, 0 points)
C Block: Eddie Kingston (1-1, 2 points) vs. HENARE (1-1, 2 points)
D Block: Hirooki Goto (1-1, 2 points) vs. Shane Haste (1-1, 2 points)
C Block: Tama Tonga (1-1, 2 points) vs. Mikey Nicholls (1-1, 2 points)
D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. (2-0, 4 points) vs. Alex Coughlin (0-2, 0 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Recommended Matches

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Alex Coughlin – This pair has had one of the most consistent tournaments independently, and it’s no surprise that they kept that up in this match.
Eddie Kingston vs. HENARE – This was a fantastic sell-heavy Eddie match.
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shingo Takagi – Filled with bombs, this was exactly the match you would expect from this pair, so if that sounds enticing, check this out.

**********

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Alex Coughlin

This pair has had one of the most consistent tournaments independently, and it’s no surprise that they kept that up in this match.

This match, structurally, was about what you would expect from this pair. Coughlin used his strength in an attempt to wear down ZSJ, while ZSJ caught Coughlin in holds whenever an opportunity presented itself. ZSJ won this battle by utilizing an armbar.

With this win, ZSJ becomes the first man in D block with 6 points.

Tama Tonga defeated Mikey Nicholls

This match was fairly Nicholls-dominant for quite some time. In the end, that didn’t matter, as Tama was able to win with a pair of gun stuns.

Tama has tied C block leaders with 4 points.

Hirooki Goto defeated Shane Haste

This was a strange, brief match. Haste was very aggressive from the opening bell. Goto withstood the rush and turned a rear-naked choke into a pin to win the match in about two minutes. Throughout and after the short runtime, Goto held his midsection as if he was in horrible pain.

Goto advances to 4 points.

Eddie Kingston defeated HENARE

This was a great match built on Kingston’s selling. Even before the opening bell, HENARE put Kingston on the backfoot. Kingston’s rallies were fantastic, including the final one, which saw him rock HENARE with a spinning back fist before collapsing on him for the pinfall victory.

Kingston continues to keep up with the top of the heap, earning his 4th point in C block.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Toru Yano

The highlight of this match was Naito refusing to enter the ring until Yano behaved, resulting in Naito making multiple ring entrances. This game of chicken continued throughout a lot of the runtime. Naito was eventually able to roll up Yano to win the match.

Naito worked his way to 4 points with this win.

Shingo Takagi defeated Tomohiro Ishii

This match was exactly what you would expect from this pair, a lot of heavy striking sequences which turned into powerful move exchanges later in the match. Only after a string of false finishes with the time limit drawing near was Shingo able to close the match with a pumping bomber.

Shingo ended what was beginning to look like a losing streak to earn his first 2 points.

Jeff Cobb defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

This match was built around Cobb overwhelming Tanahashi while Tanahashi tried to find openings in Cobb’s game. Ultimately, Cobb was able to keep up the pressure long enough to with a Tour of the Islands.

Cobb remains undefeated, making his way to 6 points.

David Finlay defeated EVIL

If you thought the Bullet Club melodrama was over, this match stepped in to ruin your day. Throughout the runtime, the HoT and War Dog Bullet Club sub-factions teased all-out war, which eventually came to pass after a ref bump. The match was filled with cheating and your typical Bullet Club goofiness. In the end, Finlay used the shillelagh before landing Oblivion to win the match.

Finlay remains the last undefeated man in C block, standing firm with 6 points.

**********

Standings

A Block

SANADA (3-0) – 6 points)
Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0-1) – 5 points
Gabe Kidd (2-1) 4 points
Chase Owens (2-1) – 4 points
Ren Narita (0-1-2) – 2 points
Shota Umino (0-1-2) – 2 points
Yota Tsuji (0-2-1) – 1 point
Hikuleo (0-3) – 0 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (3-0) – 6 points
Taichi (2-1) – 4 points
Will Ospreay (2-1) 4 points
YOSHI-HASHI (2-1) – 4 points
Tanga Loa (1-2) 2 points
KENTA (1-2) 2 points
Great-O-Khan (1-2) 2 points
El Phantasmo (0-3) 0 points

C Block

David Finlay (3-0) – 6 points
EVIL (2-1) – 4 points
Eddie Kingston (2-1) – 4 points
Tama Tonga (2-1) – 4 points
HENARE (1-2) – 2 points
Mikey Nicholls (1-2) – 2 points
Shingo Takagi (1-2) – 2 points
Tomohiro Ishii (0-3) – 0 points

D Block

Zack Sabre Jr. (3-0) – 6 points
Jeff Cobb (3-0) – 6 points
Hirooki Goto (2-1) – 4 points
Tetsuya Naito (2-1) – 2 points
Shane Haste (1-2) – 2 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-2) – 2 points
Alex Coughlin (0-3) – 0 points
Toru Yano (0-3) – 0 points

Fight Game: Beverly Hills Jack Perry, AEW Blood & Guts review

Posted on July 21, 2023March 31, 2025 by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast.

We got right into our Top Five of the week where we discussed the following:

The story of AEW Blood & Guts, the layout of the match, and not necessarily sticking the landing
Beverly Hills Jack Perry and his new character
The fantastic Collision Tag Team title match between FTR & Bullet Club Gold and which of their two matches was better
Adam Cole and MJF as The Brochachos
The build to Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler in WWE
Thoughts on the beginning of the 33rd NJPW G1 Climax
Jeff Cobb’s green streak of hair

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

July 24, 2023 Observer Newsletter: Great week of wrestling matches, NJPW G1 Climax tournament begins

Posted on July 21, 2023May 16, 2024 by Dave Meltzer

This past week was expected by many to have more great matches than any so far this year, and largely delivered with multiple great and completely different style matches.

Among the great matches of the week were Kento Miyahara vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima on the 7/15 Pro Wrestling NOAH show at Korakuen Hall, FTR vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson on 7/15 in Calgary on Collision in a two out of three fall title match, El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega at TripleMania in Tijuana for the AAA Mega title on 7/15, Tomohiro Ishii vs. David Finlay from the G-1 Climax tournament on 7/16 in Sapporo, Will Ospreay vs. Yoshi-Hashi in the 7/18 G-1 from Yamagata and the Blood & Guts match on 7/19 on Dynamite from Boston.

Every one of these matches was different, including both matches with Omega that couldn’t be more different. Omega noted that one of the reasons he did the stuff he did in the Blood & Guts match, which included taking bumps into glass, thumbtacks, and a bed of nails, is that it’s important to him to show he can excel at any style of wrestling.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s issue.

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night five live results: SANADA vs. Tsuji

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today in Niigata with A Block & B Block matches.

In the main event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA will try to remain undefeated in this year’s G1 as he takes on Yota Tsuji. Tsuji will be looking for his first win after a draw and a loss in his first two G1 bouts.

It will be a battle of two undefeated wrestlers in the semi-main, with 2-0 Kazuchika Okada facing 2-0 Taichi.

Today’s lineup:

A Block: SANADA (2-0, 4 points) vs. Yota Tsuji (0-1-1, 1 point)
B Block: Kazuchika Okada (2-0, 4 points) vs. Taichi (2-0, 4 points)
A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0, 4 points) vs. Shota Umino (0-1-1, 1 point)
B Block: Will Ospreay (1-1, 2 points) vs. KENTA (1-1, 2 points)
A Block: Chase Owens (1-1, 2 points) vs. Hikuleo (0-2, 0 points)
B Block: Great-O-Khan (0-2, 0 points) vs. El Phantasmo (0-2, 0 points)
A Block: Gabe Kidd (1-1, 2 points) vs. Ren Narita (0-0-2, 2 points)
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI (1-1, 2 points) vs. Tanga Loa (1-1, 2 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Recommended Matches

Gabe Kidd vs. Ren Narita – This match was remarkable, easily amongst my favorite from the tournament.
Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Shota Umino – I knew going into this match would be special, and it lived up to all of my expectations and then some—my current favorite from G1 33. This was the best singles performance in Shota’s career.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi – A great, dramatic match and particularly exceptional Taichi outing in the last act.
SANADA vs. Yota Tsuji – As good, if not better, than their IWGP title match.

YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tanga Loa

This was built like a much bigger match than it needed to be. After a ton of dry chops and power move sequences, YH was able to close with a crucifix bomb.

YH has tied the leaders of B Block.

Gabe Kidd defeated Ren Narita

Oh my, this match. From the opening moments, it was electric. Narita and Kidd matched each other’s energy from the open, making for one of my favorite matches from the tournament thus far. Kidd won out in the end after hitting a low blow and a piledriver.

Kidd catches the A block leaders with this win, leaving him with 4 points.

Great-O-Khan defeated El Phantasmo

This match was all about ELP trying to fly and O-Khan trying to ground him. After surviving all of ELP’s dives, O-Khan hit a Tenzan Tombstone Driver on the floor and forced ELP to tap with an iron claw.

This was the most aggressive outing from O-Khan this tournament, and it worked to score him his first 2 points.

Chase Owens defeated Hikuleo

Unsurprisingly, this match was about Hikuleo using his size to bully his former faction mate and Owens trying to weasel his way out of the situation. Also unsurprising, this match was not good. Chase closed with a shot from his knee brace, followed by a knee strike.

Chase continues to keep up with the block leaders, moving up to 4 points.

Will Ospreay defeated KENTA

KENTA worked a very violent match, not giving Ospreay a chance from the beginning. Even after being brutalized with moves on the floor, weapons, and a low blow, Ospreay held on, hitting a Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker to win the match.

With his second win in block action, Ospreay secures 4 points.

Time Limit Draw: Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Shota Umino

This match was a showcase between two very similar wrestlers in different stages of their careers. Throughout the match, Shota held his own, maintaining control for significant portions; this provided Kaito considerable time to sell, which he’s better at than everyone in the world. This match was a breeze, even as it approached the time limit. At different points, it looked like both men would close, but in the end, neither could secure the win.

This draw leaves Kaito ahead in A block with 5 points. Shota is behind with 2 points, both from draws.

Kazuchika Okada defeated Taichi

This was a great match. Okada seemed indifferent throughout the match’s runtime, simply brushing off most of Taichi’s offense. This allowed Taichi to eventually caught Okada with a powerbomb, leading to a prolonged sequence of power moves and nearfalls. Even still, Okada held on, eventually winning with a sudden pin out of a reversal.

Okada retakes the lead of B block, remaining the only man with all wins and 6 points.

SANADA defeated Yota Tsuji

While the stakes weren’t comparable, this was as good as their IWGP match, with the urgency created by the 20-minute time limit playing a significant factor. Tsuji looked incredible at certain points, establishing himself as a threat throughout the match. In the closing seconds, SANADA kicked out of a curb stomp and reversed a spear attempt before landing a moonsault and Deadfall to secure the win.

SANADA maintained his perfect record and retook the lead in A Block with the last perfect record and 6 points.

**********

Standings

A Block

SANADA (3-0) – 6 points)
Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0-1) – 5 points
Gabe Kidd (2-1) 4 points
Chase Owens (2-1) – 4 points
Ren Narita (0-1-2) – 2 points
Shota Umino (0-1-2) – 2 points
Yota Tsuji (0-2-1) – 1 point
Hikuleo (0-3) – 0 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (3-0) – 6 points
Taichi (2-1) – 4 points
Will Ospreay (2-1) 4 points
YOSHI-HASHI (2-1) – 4 points
Tanga Loa (1-2) 2 points
KENTA (1-2) 2 points
Great-O-Khan (1-2) 2 points
El Phantasmo (0-3) 0 points

C Block

David Finlay (2-0) – 4 points
EVIL (2-0) – 4 points
HENARE (1-1) – 2 points
Eddie Kingston (1-1) – 2 points
Mikey Nicholls (1-1) – 2 points
Tama Tonga (1-1) – 2 points
Tomohiro Ishii (0-2) – 0 points
Shingo Takagi (0-2) – 0 points

D Block

Zack Sabre Jr. (2-0) – 4 points
Jeff Cobb (2-0) – 4 points
Shane Haste (1-1) – 2 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-1) – 2 points
Hirooki Goto (1-1) – 2 points
Tetsuya Naito (1-1) – 2 points
Alex Coughlin (0-2) – 0 points
Toru Yano (0-2) – 0 points

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night four live results: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tama Tonga

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today with C Block & D Block matches in Sendai.

In the main event, Tomohiro Ishii faces Tama Tonga in a battle of NJPW veterans. Both are looking for their first win of the tournament.

In the semi-main, Hirooki Goto faces Tetsuya Naito in another matchup of NJPW stalwarts.

The full lineup:

C Block: Tomohiro Ishii (0-1, 0 points) vs. Tama Tonga (0-1, 0 points)
D Block: Hirooki Goto (1-0, 2 points) vs. Tetsuya Naito (0-1, 0 points)
C Block: Shingo Takagi (0-1, 0 points) vs. HENARE (0-1, 0 points)
D Block: Shane Haste (1-0, 2 points) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (0-1, 0 points)
C Block: Eddie Kingston (1-0, 2 points) vs. EVIL (1-0, 2 points)
D Block: Jeff Cobb (1-0, 2 points) vs. Alex Coughlin (0-1, 0 points)
C Block: David Finlay (1-0, 2 points) vs. Mikey Nicholls (1-0, 2 points)
D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. (1-0, 2 points) vs. Toru Yano (0-1, 0 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Recommended Matches

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Toru Yano – While not a must-watch, this was easily the best Yano match since his 2019 encounter with Jon Moxley, and that’s worth a mention. ZSJ is remarkable at everything he does.

Jeff Cobb vs. Alex Coughlin – This was an engrossing match on a structural level and an outstanding performance from Coughlin.

HENARE vs. Shingo Takagi – If you’re a fan of this pairing or big-match-Shingo, this is a must-see.

**********

Results

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Toru Yano

This was an entertaining/clever match, even if it was borderline absurd. From both men having young lion doppelgangers to Yano tapping ZSJ’s legs together, this was a silly Yano match from the beginning. In the end, ZSJ caught Yano with a rollup after Kosei Fujita provided some assistance.

ZSJ takes lead of D block with 4 points.

David Finlay defeated Mikey Nicholls

This was a slow-built match structured around prolonged segments of Finlay control. Finlay utilized this control to close the match with Oblivion.

David Finlay stays undefeated with 4 points.

Jeff Cobb defeated Alex Coughlin

In a cool twist, this match was all about Coughlin proving he could match Cobb’s power. While Cobb did his fair share of power moves, it was all the more impressive when Coughlin stood toe-to-toe. Cobb ultimately ended Coughlin’s hubris with a Tour of the Islands.

Cobb continues his hot start, advancing to 4 points.

EVIL defeated Eddie Kingston

This match didn’t come together at all for me. EVIL, unsurprisingly, worked a dirty match from the opening bell. Eddie attempted to fight off the barrage but fell to Everything is Evil after a Dick Togo distraction.

EVIL remains on top with 4 points.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Shane Haste

Haste established control early and used it to wear down Tanahashi for long stretches. Tanahashi eventually launched a rally, enabling him to hit High Fly Flow and win the match.

Tanahashi is on the board with two points.

HENARE defeated Shingo Takagi

This match was comparable to a Shingo main event in a compressed package. Only after prolonged back-and-forth sequences, multiple major momentum shifts, and false finishes did HENARE manage hit streets of rage to close the match with less than 30 seconds in the match remaining.

HENARE has scored his first win in block action, earning 2 points.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Hirooki Goto

This was the kind of match you would’ve expected from this pairing a few years ago. Both guys were on the ball, leading to dramatic back-and-forth sequences. Naito was able to close with Destino, ending one of his best performances in a long while.

Naito earned his first points in D block.

Tama Tonga defeated Tomohiro Ishii

This was a reasonably standard Ishii affair. Most of the twists were built around Ishii avoiding the gun stun. Once Tama hit the gun stun, he followed up with a Jay Driller to win the match.

Tama scored his first win and two points.

**********

Standings

A Block

SANADA (2-0) – 4 points)

Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0) – 4 points

Chase Owens (1-1) – 2 points

Gabe Kidd (1-1) 2 points

Ren Narita (0-0-2) – 2 points

Shota Umino (0-1-1) – 1 point

Yota Tsuji (0-1-1) – 1 point

Hikuleo (0-2) – 0 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (2-0) – 4 points

Taichi (2-0) – 4 points

YOSHI-HASHI (1-1) – 2 points

Tanga Loa (1-1) 2 points

Will Ospreay (1-1) 2 points

KENTA (1-1) 2 points

Great-O-Khan (0-2) 0 points

El Phantasmo (0-2) 0 points

C Block

David Finlay (2-0) – 4 points

EVIL (2-0) – 4 points

HENARE (1-1) – 2 points

Eddie Kingston (1-1) – 2 points

Mikey Nicholls (1-1) – 2 points

Tama Tonga (1-1) – 2 points

Tomohiro Ishii (0-2) – 0 points

Shingo Takagi (0-2) – 0 points

D Block

Zack Sabre Jr. (2-0) – 4 points

Jeff Cobb (2-0) – 4 points

Shane Haste (1-1) – 2 points

Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-1) – 2 points

Hirooki Goto (1-1) – 2 points

Tetsuya Naito (1-1) – 2 points

Alex Coughlin (0-2) – 0 points

Toru Yano (0-2) – 0 points

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night three live results: Okada vs. El Phantasmo

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today in Yamagata with A Block & B Block action.

In the main event, Kazuchika Okada faces El Phantasmo in B Block. Both enter the match 1-0 in the tournament.

In the semi-main, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA takes on Shota Umino. Umino & Ren Narita went to a time limit draw in their first tournament bout, while SANADA scored a win over Hikuleo.

The full lineup:

B Block: Kazuchika Okada (1-0, 2 points) vs. El Phantasmo (1-0, 2 points)
A Block: SANADA (1-0, 2 points) vs. Shota Umino (0-0-1, 1 point)
B Block: Will Ospreay (0-1, 0 points) vs. YOSHI-HASHI (1-0, 2 points)
A Block: Ren Narita (0-0-1, 1 point) vs. Yota Tsuji (0-1, 0 points)
B Block: Taichi (1-0, 2 points) vs. Tanga Loa (1-0, 2 points)
A Block: Hikuleo (0-1, 0 points) vs. Gabe Kidd (0-1, 0 points)
B Block: KENTA (0-1, 0 points) vs. Great-O-Khan (0-1, 0 points)
A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (1-0, 2 points) vs. Chase Owens (1-0, 2 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

There was nothing “must-see” from tonight’s show. There were some strong individual performances (Okada, Kaito, and Kidd come to mind), but no matches that stand out as particularly great.

Kaito Kiyomiya defeated Chase Owens

This was a simple match structurally. Chase got and maintained the heat for most of the bout. Kaito eventually launched a comeback before winning with the shining wizard.

Kaito now leads A Block with 4 points.

KENTA defeated Great-O-Khan

This was a strange one. The match featured a lot of outside brawling, with both men utilizing chair shots and environmental offense. Back in the ring, the match was built around failed ref bumps, which didn’t even play into the finish. KENTA used the ropes after a rollup to win the bout.

KENTA scores his first 2 points of the tournament.

Gabe Kidd defeated Hikuleo

Ruthless Kidd is such a fantastic addition to this roster. His matches always feel urgent. Kidd rushed Hikuleo before the match could begin, setting up another brawl-heavy bout. Hikuleo won the advantage on the floor, which he maintained in the ring. Kidd eventually landed a low blow and a pile driver to eke out a win.

This was Kidd’s first win, leaving him with 2 points.

Taichi defeated Tanga Loa

This wasn’t great. The match opened as a sluggish strike-heavy affair. The ending sequence was moves-heavy, with Taichi coming out on top with his Gedo Clutch variation.

Taichi remains undefeated with 4 points.

Time Limit Draw: Ren Narita vs. Yota Tsuji

This match played out as you would imagine, with Tsuji using his power to gain and maintain a lead, with Narita’s fire acting as a constant check. As time wound down, both men grew desperate and climbed to the top rope where the match would find its end.

Will Ospreay defeated YOSHI-HASHI

This match was a fairly standard Ospreay affair with a fair bit of back-and-forth. YH survived an awful lot of Ospreay offense, but in the end, a corkscrew senton marked the end.

Ospreay is on the board with 2 points.

SANADA defeated Shota Umino

This was a match with no real urgency, even as the clock ticked on. Just before the time limit, SANADA hit the shining wizard and deadfall to win the match.

SANADA maintains his position on top of A block with 4 points.

Okada defeated El Phantasmo

Okada was indifferent for most of the match, which allowed ELP to gain advantage. After avoiding a Rainmaker, ELP hit CR2, a moonsault to the floor, and a tombstone but failed to finish. In the end, it was an Okada Rainmaker that marked the end for ELP.

Okada finishes the night with 4 points.

Current standings

A Block

SANADA (2-0) – 4 points)

Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0) – 4 points

Chase Owens (1-1) – 2 points

Gabe Kidd (1-1) 2 points

Ren Narita (0-0-2) – 2 points

Shota Umino (0-1-1) – 1 point

Yota Tsuji (0-1-1) – 1 point

Hikuleo (0-2) – 0 points

B Block

Kazuchika Okada (2-0) – 4 points

Taichi (2-0) – 4 points

YOSHI-HASHI (1-1) – 2 points

Tanga Loa (1-1) 2 points

Will Ospreay (1-1) 2 points

KENTA (1-1) 2 points

Great-O-Khan (0-2) 0 points

El Phantasmo (0-2) 0 points

C Block

EVIL (1-0) – 2 points

Eddie Kingston (1-0) – 2 points

David Finlay (1-0) – 2 points

Mikey Nicholls (1-0) – 2 points

Tama Tonga (0-1) – 0 points

Tomohiro Ishii (0-1) – 0 points

Shingo Takagi (0-1) – 0 points

HENARE (0-1) – 0 points

D Block

Zack Sabre Jr. (1-0) – 2 points

Jeff Cobb (1-0) – 2 points

Shane Haste (1-0) – 2 points

Hirooki Goto (1-0) – 2 points

Tetsuya Naito (0-1) – 0 points

Hiroshi Tanahashi (0-1) – 0 points

Alex Coughlin (0-1) – 0 points

Toru Yano (0-1) – 0 points

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night two results: Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb

Posted on July 16, 2023 by F4W Staff

The NJPW G1 Climax 33 continued on Sunday from Hokkaido.

The first round-robin match for those in the C and D blocks were featured on the show.

Jeff Cobb picked up a win over Tetsuya Naito in the main event. He then mocked LIJ’s roll call in his post-match promo. Eddie Kingston defeated Shingo Takagi in his first G1 match on Sunday as well. He hit a series of spinning back fists followed by a Northern Lights Bomb for the win. Kingston would later challenge Takagi to a rematch at either All In or All Out. Aaron Henare also showed off a new face tattoo before his match with Mikey Nicholls.

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night two 7/16 results:

C Block match: David Finlay defeated Tomohiro Ishii

D Block match: Hirooki Goto defeated Toru Yano

C Block match: Mikey Nicholls defeated Aaron Henare

D Block: Shane Haste defeated Alex Coughlin

C Block: Eddie Kingston defeated Shingo Takagi

D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

C Block: EVIL defeated Tama Tonga

D Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Tetsuya Naito

Here’s a look at the G1 standings after night two:

A Block —

SANADA (1-0): 2 points
Kaito Kiyomiya (1-0) — 2 points
Chase Owens (1-0): 2 points
Shota Umino (0-0-1): 1 point
Ren Narita (0-0-1): 1 point
Hikuleo (0-1): 0 points
Yota Tsuji (0-1): 0 points
Gabe Kidd (0-1): 0 points

B Block —

Taichi (1-0) — 2 points
Kazuchika Okada (1-0) — 2 points
Tanga Loa (1-0) — 2 points
YOSHI-HASHI (1-0) — 2 points
Will Ospreay (0-1) — 0 points
Great-O-Khan (0-1) — 0 points
KENTA (0-1) — 0 points
El Phantasmo (0-1) — 0 points

C Block —

Tomohiro Ishii (1-0) — 2 points
EVIL (1-0) — 2 points
Eddie Kingston (1-0) — 2 points
Mikey Nicholls (1-0) — 2 points
Tama Tonga (0-1) — 0 points
Shingo Takagi (0-1) — 0 points
Aaron Henare (0-1) — 0 points
David Finlay (0-1) — 0 points

D Block —

Hirooki Goto (1-0) — 2 points
Zack Sabre Jr. (1-0) — 2 points
Jeff Cobb (1-0) — 2 points
Shane Haste (1-0) — 2 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi (0-1) — 0 points
Tetsuya Naito (0-1) — 0 points
Toru Yano (0-1) — 0 points
Alex Coughlin (0-1) — 0 points

The tournament continues on Tuesday in Yamagata with matches from the A and B Blocks.

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night one results: SANADA vs. Hikuleo

Posted on July 15, 2023 by F4W Staff

NJPW G1 Climax 33 kicked off on Saturday with eight matches taking place in Hokkaido.

The A and B Blocks were both in action to begin the tournament. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA started the G1 strong with a victory over Hikuleo, while Will Ospreay was upset by Taichi. The show also included a 20-minute time limit draw between rising stars Shota Umino and Ren Narita.

Here are the results:

– A Block match: SANADA defeated Hikuleo

– B Block match: Taichi defeated Will Ospreay

– A Block match: Kaito Kiyomiya defeated Yota Tsuji

– B Block match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Great-O-Khan

– A Block match: Shota Umino vs. Ren Narita ended in a 20-minute time limit draw

– B Block match: Tanga Loa defeated KENTA

– A Block match: Chase Owens defeated Gabe Kidd

– B Block match: YOSHI-HASHI defeated El Phantasmo

The show is available to watch for free on NJPW World.

On Sunday, NJPW will again be in Hokkaido for the first C and D Block matches of the tournament.

Here’s a look at the G1 standings after night one:

A Block —

SANADA (1-0): 2 points
Kaito Kiyomiya (1-0) — 2 points
Chase Owens (1-0): 2 points
Shota Umino (0-0-1): 1 point
Ren Narita (0-0-1): 1 point
Hikuleo (0-1): 0 points
Yota Tsuji (0-1): 0 points
Gabe Kidd (0-1): 0 points

B Block —

Taichi (1-0) — 2 points
Kazuchika Okada (1-0) — 2 points
Tanga Loa (1-0) — 2 points
YOSHI-HASHI (1-0) — 2 points
Will Ospreay (0-1) — 0 points
Great-O-Khan (0-1) — 0 points
KENTA (0-1) — 0 points
El Phantasmo (0-1) — 0 points

C Block —

David Finlay
Tomohiro Ishii
EVIL
Tama Tonga
Shingo Takagi
Aaron Henare
Eddie Kingston
Mikey Nicholls

D Block —

Hiroshi Tanahashi
Tetsuya Naito
Hirooki Goto
Zack Sabre Jr.
Toru Yano
Jeff Cobb
Shane Haste
Alex Coughlin

Big Audio Nightmare: NJPW G1 Climax 33 preview & predictions

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Adam Summers

The original alternate here at the EMPIRE~! is back to bring you the world famous New Japan G1 Climax 33 prediction show.

Website subscribers can click below to listen.

This is the annual odyssey where Mike Sempervive and I run down each night of NJPW’s showcase tournament, complete with our predictions for every single match, dropping knowledge and opinion along the way.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)