Two wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals of NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament on Sunday on the final night of B Block matches.
Kazuchika Okada claimed first place in B Block with a 6-1 record and 12 points, defeating Tanga Loa on Sunday. Okada had already secured a spot in the quarterfinals, but now enters the knockout rounds with a top seed. In Sunday’s main event, Will Ospreay defeated El Phantasmo to finish second in B Block, earning a spot in the Thursday, August 10 quarterfinals.
Entering Sunday’s show, Ospreay was in position to advance with a win or a draw against ELP, while Phantasmo could have knocked Ospreay out of contention and secured second place with a win.
As it stands, Okada will take on the second place finisher from D Block on Thursday, while Ospreay will challenge the C Block winner.
The tournament continues on Tuesday, August 8 with the C Block Finals, while the D Block finals will be held on Wednesday, August 9. The quarterfinals are set for Thursday, August 10, the semifinals for Saturday, August 12, and the finals will be held on Sunday, August 13.
B Block’s representatives in the NJPW G1 Climax 33 quarterfinals will be decided tonight on the final night of B Block bouts.
The winner of tonight’s Will Ospreay vs. El Phantasmo main event will join Kazuchika Okada in representing B Block in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Ospreay can advance with a win or a draw, while ELP must beat Ospreay to advance.
Tonight’s card:
B Block: Will Ospreay (4-2, 8 points) vs. El Phantasmo (3-3, 6 points)
B Block: Kazuchika Okada (5-1, 10 points) vs. Tanga Loa (3-3, 6 points)
B Block: Taichi (3-3, 6 points) vs. Great-O-Khan (2-4, 4 points)
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI (2-4, 4 points) vs. KENTA (2-4, 4 points)
Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & BUSHI vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo
Eddie Kingston & Togi Makabe vs. David Finlay & Chase Owens
Tama Tonga & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jeff Cobb & HENARE
SANADA & DOUKI defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa
With Kaito’s tournament being over, this match lacked any real urgency, but this was an entertaining open. Oiwa showed up strong, challenging SANADA in the closing sequence before submitting to Skull End.
This was another fun tag. In more ways than one, this was a tale of two matches with some particularly intense sequences between Nicholls and Ishii while Tanahashi focused Fujita. Tanahashi’s attention paid off as he forced Fujita to submit with the cloverleaf.
After the match, Ishii and Nicholls came to blows again, forcing the ring crew to break them up.
Jeff Cobb & HENARE defeated Tama Tonga & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
This was a totally average match. The closing stretch was Cobb beating down Tenzan before dropping him with Tour of the Islands to win.
David Finlay & Chase Owens defeated Eddie Kingston & Togi Makabe
While not very exciting, this was at least a competitive match, especially when Kingston and Finlay squared off. Finlay won the match for Bullet Club after ending a Makabe rally with Oblivion.
After the match, Kingston and Finlay had a brief staredown ahead of their G1 encounter in Yokohama.
Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & BUSHI vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo
It didn’t take long for this to devolve into a archetypal House of Torture match. LIJ tried their best to keep up, with Naito eventually landing Destino on Togo for the pinfall win.
After the match, EVIL attacked Shingo and tried to shave his head, but LIJ made the save.
KENTA defeated YOSHI-HASHI
This was just KENTA beating the brakes off of YH. KENTA’s attack backfired when he hit himself in the face with a metal staff, opening the door for a YH rally. KENTA cut off YH’s rally with a quick cradle to win the match and earn two more points.
Both of these guys were already eliminated from playoff contention, so this match didn’t change anything in the outcome of the tournament.
Great-O-Khan defeated Taichi
O-Khan wrestled an aggressive match here, maintaining control for quite some time. This turned the match into a ground war, lasting for most of the remaining runtime. After working a head an arm choke for minutes, O-Khan forced Taichi to submit.
This loss eliminated Taichi from playoff contention. O-Khan was already ineligible.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Tanga Loa
Okada was coasting through the early portion of this match, which opened the door for Loa. Loa’s attempts at offense weren’t enough, as a rainmaker marked the end of Loa’s G1.
This win secures Okada first place in B block with 12 points.
Will Ospreay defeated El Phantasmo
This, unsurprisingly, was a highly athletic match filled with dives, speed sequences, and false finishes; if that sounds enticing, this match is for you. The crowd absolutely ate this up, especially as the time limit grew closer. ELP survived an OsCutter and a hidden blade, forcing Ospreay to close with the tiger driver.
It’s Saturday and that means Wrestling Observer Live with yours truly and a lot to talk about.
It’s yet another Saturday packed with tons of wrestling with still plenty to discuss from the past few days like the incredible and violent parking lot brawl on AEW Rampage, the A Block settled in the NJPW G1 tournament, Yota Tsuji pulling twin magic, and SmackDown.
Then, of course, there’s tonight’s WWE SummerSlam and AEW Collision.
Despite all of this wrestling, many people insist on focusing on a negative backstage experience. Is this necessary? It doesn’t affect business, so why are we talking about it?
We’ll talk about that and also how much talents are responsible for getting over. People talk about time and booking, but what about the wrestlers themselves?
Two wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals of NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament on the final night of A Block matches.
SANADA claimed first place in A Block and finished an undefeated 7-0 in Block matches with a win over Chase Owens on Saturday, securing his place in the quarterfinals on Thursday, August 10. In Saturday’s main event, Hikuleo defeated Shota Umino to secure second place in A Block and the second quarterfinals spot from A Block.
Umino, Hikuleo, Gabe Kidd, Yota Tsuji, and Kaito Kiyomiya all remained mathematically alive heading into Saturday’s show. After Kiyomiya’s loss on Saturday to Ren Narita and Kidd’s Saturday loss to Tsuji, only Tsuji, Hikuleo and Umino remained alive heading into the Umino vs. Hikuleo bout. Hikuleo’s outright win negated any potential ties or tiebreak scenarios.
SANADA now awaits the second place finisher in C Block, while Hikuleo will take on the first place finisher from D Block in Thursday’s quarterfinal round.
A Block’s representatives in the NJPW G1 Climax 33 quarterfinals will be decided tonight on the final night of A Block bouts.
SANADA has already secured a spot in the quarterfinals on Thursday with his 12 points, and A Block’s second place finisher is most likely to be decided by tonight’s Shota Umino vs. Hikuleo main event.
Umino, Hikuleo, Gabe Kidd, Yota Tsuji, and Kaito Kiyomiya all remain mathematically alive heading into tonight’s show, however.
Tonight’s card:
A Block: Shota Umino (2-2-2, 6 points) vs. Hikuleo (3-3, 6 points)
A Block: SANADA (6-0, 12 points) vs. Chase Owens (2-4, 4 points)
A Block: Yota Tsuji (2-3-1, 5 points) vs. Gabe Kidd (2-3-1, 5 points)
A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (2-2-2, 6 points) vs. Ren Narita (1-3-2, 4 points)
Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Will Ospreay & HENARE vs. Togi Makabe & El Phantasmo
This was a Bullet Club match, through and through. This match was structured around the heel trio keeping the heels isolated. The ending sequence featured YOH and Gedo, which ended with a YOH superkick; YOH then pinned Gedo for the win.
Unsurprisingly, this was a typical HOT match. The LIJ trio fought back as they could, but in the end BUSHI fell to Everything is Evil.
Will Ospreay & HENARE defeated Togi Makabe & El Phantasmo
In a change of pace, this match was quite light-hearted in the opening moments. The match picked up in the later end, with the UE pair isolating Makabe before HENARE won with Streets of Rage.
This was a competitive match, with GoD and Tenzan providing an adequate challenge for the trio champions. In the end, it wasn’t enough as a High Fly Flow and a sliding lariat scored a win for Ishii, Okada, and Tanahashi.
Yota Tsuji defeated Gabe Kidd
This was a great match.
Tsuji sent his twin brother as a decoy to prevent Kidd’s pre-match attack, scoring him an advantage in the early game. In the ring, the action was intense, with both men lying into each other. The match came to an explosive end once Tsuji hit his spear.
This win moved Tsuji into second place in A block, putting the pressure on for the matches that are to follow.
Ren Narita defeated Kaito Kiyomiya
Narita and Kaito went to war here. In a dynamic, exciting bout, Kaito bombed Narita with a string of big moves. As Kaito looked to close, Narita reversed into a suplex and eeked out a win.
This heartwrenching loss eliminated Kaito from playoff contention.
SANADA defeated Chase Owens
Given Chase’s unfavorability in this, it took a lot of work to buy into. Chase controlled a large portion of this match, attacking SANADA in the ring and out, but in the end, SANADA won out with Deadfall.
SANADA’s perfect G1 continues, advancing to 14 points.
Hikuleo defeated Shota Umino
Shota worked simply, trying to take ok Hikuleo’s legs, while Hikuleo worked to out-power Shota at every turn. The match developed, with both men throwing everything at one another. A sudden scoop slam opened the door for a Hikuleo chokeslam to win the match.
This win secures Hikuleo his 8th point and his spot in the playoffs.
C Block and D Block hit the home stretch on night 12 of the NJPW G1 Climax 33 tournament.
Just one night of Block matches will remain for each group following tonight’s show, headlined by Shingo Takagi (5 points) vs. David Finlay (8 points).
In the semi-main, Zack Sabre Jr. (8 points) faces Tetsuya Naito (6 points) in another potentially pivotal battle.
The full lineup:
C Block: David Finlay (4-1, 8 points) vs. Shingo Takagi (2-2-1, 5 points)
D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. (4-1, 8 points) vs. Tetsuya Naito (3-2, 6 points)
C Block: Tama Tonga (3-1-1, 7 points) vs. Eddie Kingston (3-2, 6 points)
D Block: Jeff Cobb (4-1, 8 points) vs. Hirooki Goto (2-3, 4 points)
C Block: Tomohiro Ishii (1-4, 2 points) vs. HENARE (1-4, 2 points)
D Block: Shane Haste (2-3, 4 points) vs. Toru Yano (1-4, 2 points)
C Block: EVIL (4-1, 8 points) vs. Mikey Nichols (1-4, 2 points)
D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi (3-2, 6 points) vs. Alex Coughlin (1-4, 2 points)
Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
**********
Recommended Matches
Alex Coughlin vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – This was a simple match that worked excellently in the tournament structure.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tetsuya Naito – ZSJ’s red-hot 2023 continues with an excellent performance against Naito. Comfortably the best Naito match in the tournament.
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Alex Coughlin defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
This match featured classic Tanahashi legwork challenged by Coughlin’s power. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a lot of fun. The match ended somewhat suddenly once Coughlin powered Tanahashi into a jackhammer, resulting in a pinfall win.
While Coughlin is mathematically eliminated, this win puts him at 4 points. Tanahashi’s tournament is also on the rocks following this rock.
Mikey Nichols defeated EVIL
This was a total House of Torture match. EVIL initially jumped Nichols and used typical HoT tactics for the rest of the bout. Kosei Fujita eventually helped Nichols clear the ring, allowing Nichols to trap EVIL with an awkward pin to score the win.
This win doesn’t do much in terms of standings. EVIL is still atop of his block with 8 points, while Nichols has been eliminated from playoff contention with only 4 points.
Toru Yano defeated Shane Haste
From blindfolds to an under-the-ring fight, it’s fair to say Yano was Yano in this one. After a prolonged time under the ring, Haste emerged from under the ring with a bucket taped to his head. Once the bucket was removed, Yano bumped Haste, leading to the bucket falling on the referee’s head. Yano dropped Haste with a low blow, and a roll-up closed the match.
This result keeps both men at the bottom of the block and free from playoff contention with 4 points each.
HENARE defeated Tomohiro Ishii
This match was nothing but these guys beating the breaks off of each other. After multiple false finishes, HENARE connected with a stiff sequence of strikes, followed by Streets of Rage to secure the win.
Both of these guys were already eliminated, but this win gets HENARE up to 4 points.
Hirooki Goto defeated Jeff Cobb
Goto sold the damage from the tournament throughout this match, having to withstand Cobb’s freakish strength. Goto busted out some unusual offense, including a code red, which he followed with the GTR to win the match.
This win puts Goto at 6 points, which not only keeps him in playoff contention, but opens up the playoffs for a lot of D block.
Tama Tonga vs. Eddie Kingston
Two beloved babyfaces met and had a match that fits. Tama had a lot in this, but in the end, Eddie was able to win out with a back fist and a northern lights bomb.
Eddie’s win leaves him tied with block leaders at 8 points.
Tetsuya Naito defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
From the opening bell, this match had a decent energy about it. A large portion was spent on mat work before transitioning into a standing finishing stretch. In the closing minutes, both men threw everything at each other, but Naito was able to secure the win with an inside cradle.
This win keeps Naito, and a lot of D block in playoff contention.
Shingo Takagi defeated David Finlay
This was a methodical match from the open, slowly building to a table spot. Finlay eventually powerbombed Shingothrough the table, acting as a mid-match climax. After an extended period of fighting back into the match, Shingo dropped Finlay with Last of the Dragon to win the match.
Shingo advances to 7 points, making C block a chaotic pickem heading into the end of block action.
A Block & B Block have their penultimate Block matches today in Takamatsu as NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament hits the final stretch.
In the main event, 4-1 Kazuchika Okada looks to rebound from a loss to Will Ospreay in a bout against KENTA.
In the semi-main, two of the proclaimed Reiwa Three Musketeers do battle, as Shota Umino battles Yota Tsuji.
The full card:
B Block: Kazuchika Okada (4-1, 8 points) vs. KENTA (2-3, 4 points)
A Block: Shota Umino (2-1-2, 6 points) vs. Yota Tsuji (1-2-2, 4 points)
B Block: Will Ospreay (4-1, 8 points) vs. Tanga Loa (2-3, 4 points)
A Block: SANADA (5-0, 10 points) vs. Gabe Kidd (2-2-1, 5 points)
B Block: Taichi (3-2, 6 points) vs. El Phantasmo (2-3, 4 points)
A Block: Chase Owens (2-3, 4 points) vs. Ren Narita (0-3-2, 2 points)
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI (2-3, 4 points) vs. Great-O-Khan (1-4, 2 points)
A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (2-1-2, 6 points) vs. Hikuleo (2-3, 4 points)
Our live coverage begins at 6 a.m. Eastern time.
**********
Recommended Matches
SANADA vs. Gabe Kidd – I don’t think it’s a stretch to call Kidd an MVP contender at this point—outstanding performance after outstanding performance, and this match is no exception.
Shota Umino vs. Yota Tsuji – This was their first meeting post-excursion, and it did not disappoint.
**********
Hikuleo defeated Kaito Kiyomiya
This match was all about Kaito working from behind to ground the big man. Kaito slowly worked his way to a finish, but in the end, Hikuleo caught Kaito with a chokeslam to win the match.
This win leaves Hikuleo on the upper end of A Block with 6 points, keeping him alive.
Great-O-Khan defeated YOSHI-HASHI
With YH’s tournament on the rocks, you would expect something more urgent here. Instead, O-Khan just coasted through control until YH launched a late rally. After a few nearfalls, O-Khan dropped YH with an eliminator to eliminate him from this tournament.
O-Khan played spoiler here, moving up to 4 points.
Ren Narita defeated Chase Owens
While not great, this match between two guys who are already virtually eliminated was far from awful. Ren put in a strong performance, eventually forcing Owens to submit with the cobra twist.
This win formally eliminates Owens from playoff contention.
El Phantasmo defeated Taichi
These guys worked hard throughout this match, splitting the crowd. After extended back-and-forths and false finishes, ELP secured the Gedo clutch.
This win moves ELP to 6 points, but both men are on rocky ground in B block.
SANADA defeated Gabe Kidd
From before the opening bell, Kidd brutalized SANADA using chairs and environmental offense to take the lead. The SANADA rally that followed was one of the best in his title reign. SANADA caught Kidd with a low blow after eating a closed fist, opening up for deadfall and the win.
SANADA’s perfect run continues, making him the only man in the tournament with 12 points.
Tanga Loa defeated Will Ospreay
This match didn’t play to Ospreay’s strengths whatsoever. Both guys got a lot before Loa took the fight to the outside. On the floor, Loa threw Ospreay into the chairs as the referee’s count climbed. Before Ospreay could get back in the ring, Loa hit him with a spear and beat the count himself to win the match via countout.
This massive upset leaves Loa with 6 points, keeping himself and a lot of B block in playoff contention.
Yota Tsuji defeated Shota Umino
This match opened hot before transitioning into a Shota control segment toward the later middle. The closing sequence saw Tsuji fight back in a furious strike exchange before attempting a spear. Umino reversed into a curb stomp but failed to hit the Death Rider; instead, Tsuji freed himself and connected with the spear to win.
This win moves Tsuji to 5 points, keeping himself and a lot of A Block alive in the process.
Kazuchika Okada defeated KENTA
An underdog KENTA forced Okada to work from behind for the duration of this match. KENTA utilized weapons and wear-down offense to maintain a lead for most of the runtime. Regardless, Okada was able to hit the rainmaker to win the match.
This win makes Okada the only person in B block with 10 points, ensuring his place in the playoffs and eliminating KENTA, YOSHI-HASHI, and Great-O-Khan.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
