G1 Climax 31 Discussion Thread

[Comrade Khan]

If cobb loses to evil im going to be very very angry

 

[Chris]

G1 Climax night 17 (October 18) Preview 【G131】
Last night of A Block action in Yokohama

The G1 Climax is in its final week in Yokohama and Nippon Budokan. Monday October 18 will see the A Block finalist determined, as four remain in the running.

Watch EVERY G1 Climax 31 event live and in English on NJPW World!

Main event: Kota Ibushi (6-2) vs KENTA (6-2)
Singles record: 1-1, G1 record: 1-0 KENTA

Ibushi must win, and have Zack Sabre Jr. lose
KENTA must win and have Shingo Takagi lose, or for Zack Sabre Jr and Takagi to both win

With Ibushi and KENTA at 12 points, events earlier in the card could well mean that this match will determine who makes the finals Thursday in the Nippon Budokan. It’s appropriate, then, that KENTA’s first ever G1 opponent could see him through to his first G1 final. Back in 2019 in Dallas, the Go2Sleep started an opening four win streak for KENTA who ultimately tumbled down the stretch; now if KENTA can defeat Kota Ibushi, he could stand on the precipice of history.

Ibushi has made plenty of history of his own over his career with an unparalleled list of achievements, and could set another one tonight by becoming the first to ever make four consecutive G1 finals. After a shock upset at the hands of Yujiro Takahashi in his first group match, questions circled around Ibushi’s status, having recovered from aspiration pneumonia in the summer. Yet Yujiro provided the only blemish on Ibushi’s track record, which has gotten increasingly convincing with every passing match. Is the G in G1 golden once again?

Zack Sabre Jr. (6-2) vs Tanga Loa (2-6)
Singles record: 1-0 ZSJ

Zack Sabre Jr. must win, and have Ibushi win
Tanga Loa is mathematically eliminated

It was back on may 3 at Dontaku that Zack Sabre Jr. first faced Tanga Loa in singles competition. Then it was a test for Sabre, and for Dangerous Tekkers to prove themselves worthy of challenging then IWGP tag team Champions the Guerrillas of Destiny. ZSJ won the match, but the relatively singles match inexperienced Loa impressed so with his performance that his spot in the G1 was given credibility. Now Sabre must win again to prove himself worthy of being in the G1 Climax 31 final, albeit needing some help from Kota Ibushi in our main event to boot.

With athleticism matching his pure power, Loa’s point score may not have troubled the tournament’s front runners, but each and every opponent has had to work for their two points against him. Should Loa spoil Sabre tonight, it would be a huge step forward in Loa’s career as a singles wrestler, and may reshape conversation around G1 Climax 32 next year.

3rd Match: Shingo Takagi (6-2) vs Yujiro Takahashi (2-6)
Singles record: 2-0 Takagi G1 record 1-0 Takagi

Shingo Takagi must win and have Sabre and Ibushi both lose
Yujiro Takahashi is mathematically eliminated

The 2-0 in question for Shingo Takagi against Yujiro takahashi in singles matches should be tempered somewhat with an asterisk, being that the second win for the Dragon during the Summer Struggle tour came as a result of a disqualification. As Shingo was on the path to facing EVIL in the MetLife Dome, he had Yujiro comfortable under control before the Tokyo Pimp’s teammates in what would soon become HOUSE OF TORTURE hit the ring and drew a DQ.

That all happened in Monday’s Yokohama venue. A fitting place then for Shingo Takagi to claim revenge and help book his place in the finals… Or a fitting place for Yujiro to get his first victory over Takagi and spoil the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion’s G1? Last year, Yujiro seemed to be on track to lose out entirely in the G1 before he scored a monumental final win over Jeff Cobb. Could Yujiro capture final night lightning in a bottle once again?

2nd Match: Tomohiro Ishii (5-3) vs Toru Yano (4-4)
Singles record: 2-0 Ishii

Both men are mathematically eliminated

The last CHAOS derby of the G1 Climax will see Tomohiro Ishii face Toru Yano. Undefeated against the master producer, Ishii looks to be odds on favourite here tonight, but will Stone Pitbull pride lead to a fall against the devious quick thinker?

1st Match: Great-O-Khan vs Satoshi Kojima

Great-O-Khan’s frustration at an opening four match winning streak turning to elimination despite impressive performances was palpable by the final stages of the tournament.

That frustration would have been eased by gaining a definitive win over Tetsuya Naito in his last group match in Yokohama, but with Naito’s withdrawal after night one, he will now have to make do against Satoshi Kojima. Yet just as he showed against Kota Ibushi last week in Sendai, Kojima is intent on reminding the world that unlike his contemporaries in the Third Generation, he has not formally withdrawn from G1 consideration yet, and is more than deserving of a spot next year. A win over the Dominator would certainly put him in the running.​

 

[Chris]

Updated standings:

A Block
*Point totals and records include forfeit wins*

• Kota Ibushi 12 points (6-2)
• Shingo Takagi 12 points (6-2)
• KENTA 12 points (6-2)
• Zack Sabre Jr. 12 points (6-2)
• Tomohiro Ishii 10 points (5-3)
• Toru Yano 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
• Great-O-Khan 8 points (4-5) *eliminated*
• Tanga Loa 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Yujiro Takahashi 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Tetsuya Naito 0 points (0-9) *withdrew with knee injury, forfeited eight matches*

B Block

• Jeff Cobb 16 points (8-0)
• Kazuchika Okada 14 points (7-1)
• EVIL 12 points (6-2) *eliminated*
• Hiroshi Tanahashi 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
• SANADA 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
• Tama Tonga 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
• YOSHI-HASHI 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Hirooki Goto 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Chase Owens 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Taichi 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*

So Okada's fucking LOSS today actually doesn't change anything with Cobb winning bc the winner of the match between them next still wins the block lmao only difference is now Cobb moves on with a draw so it might go 30. A Block is fucked lmao that'll be decided Monday, and I don't really remember who has tiebreakers on who

 

[Chris]

Damn, Taichi looks really banged up. He might have to take Power Struggle off if he's doing the tag league this year

 

[Chris]

Chase Owens's Bobby Eaton tribute

 

[Comrade Khan]

why are 4 ppl tied in a block lmao

 

[Chris]

Kevin Kelly marked out like crazy when EVIL lost

 

[Chris]

Tama beats Okada in his first ever singles main event holy shit what a moment

 

[Kairi HoHo]

Chase Owens's Bobby Eaton tribute

Yeah it was awesome. Since I have three days off of work time to get caught up and I just started watching Day 16. I felt for Taichi I'm learning for hand how to deal with finger injury and having to figure out how to get through. I've broken my Ribs before and good luck trying to sleep because your body is not going to let you at all so if he can has a legit Rib injury he's lucky to have 2 or 3 hours of sleep. Taichi hopefully pulls through and beats Tana to get a Title shot for the IWGP US Title in the future because of it.

 

[CakeWalker]

Wow Tama Tonga with that massive win - and Cobb goes 8-0. this G1 is incredible.

 

[CakeWalker]

I still cant figure out how Block A is going to go at this point - if ZSJ win and so does KENTA, does Kenta go through?

 

[CakeWalker]

I still can't get over that Cobb is flawless at 8-0.

 

[Chris]

Updated standings and the final ones for A Block below. Ibushi is gonna face the winner of Okada/Cobb (or Cobb if they tie) in the finals

A Block
*Point totals and records include forfeit wins*

• Kota Ibushi 14 points (7-2) *A Block winner*
• Shingo Takagi 13 points (6-2-1) *eliminated*
• KENTA 12 points (6-3) *eliminated*
• Zack Sabre Jr. 12 points (6-3) *eliminated*
• Toru Yano 10 points (5-4) *eliminated*
• Tomohiro Ishii 10 points (5-4) *eliminated*
• Great-O-Khan 8 points (4-5) *eliminated*
• Tanga Loa 6 points (3-6) *eliminated*
• Yujiro Takahashi 5 points (2-6-1) *eliminated*
• Tetsuya Naito 0 points (0-9) *withdrew with knee injury, forfeited eight matches*

B Block

• Jeff Cobb 16 points (8-0)
• Kazuchika Okada 14 points (7-1)
• EVIL 12 points (6-2) *eliminated*
• Hiroshi Tanahashi 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
• SANADA 8 points (4-4) *eliminated*
• Tama Tonga 6 points (3-5) *eliminated*
• YOSHI-HASHI 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Hirooki Goto 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Chase Owens 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*
• Taichi 4 points (2-6) *eliminated*

 

[Chris]

G1 Climax night 18 (October 20) Preview 【G131】
Last night of B Block action, and musical guests rock the Budokan

After a month long journey all over Japan, all eyes are now on the Nippon Budokan and the culmination of the G1 Climax. B Block will be determined in the iconic venue tonight, and along with it, the final will be set, it’s winner getting a ticket to the Wrestle Kingdom 16 main event at the start of NJPW’s half century celebrations.
Watch EVERY G1 Climax event LIVE in English on NJPW World!

Main event: Jeff Cobb (7-1) vs Kazuchika Okada (8-0)
Singles record: 2-1 Okada G1 record: 1-0 Okada

Winner decides the block. A draw sees Cobb advance

Never in the history of the G1 Climax had two men reached the 7-0 watermark until this year. Jeff Cobb doubled down in the history making in Yamagata this Thursday, becoming the first in history to make an 8-0 winning streak in the same tournament, meaning he is undefeated this final night, and that the ‘block math’ so complicated in A block is very simple indeed; win, and you’re in the final.

Okada seemed set to join Cobb at the high 8-0 watermark, but the rain was stopped in Yamagata when Tama Tonga struck with a Gunstun and the DSD, handing Okada a shocking first loss, and putting him at a disadvantage in the Budokan; win and you’re in, yes, but if the match were to go to a draw, it would be in Cobb’s favour.

After trading victories in the Tokyo and MetLife Dome, Cobb and Okada face off for the fourth time in two years, potentially with everything at stake. Will Cobb follow his dominant victory over the Rainmaker before the G1 at the MetLife Dome to secure G1 victory for himself and the United Empire? Or will it be Okada banishing bad memories from September to make it rain on the Nippon Budokan?

5th Match: EVIL (6-2) vs SANADA (4-4)
Singles record: 3-2 SANADA G1 record: 2-1 SANADA

Both men are mathematically eliminated

One year since they met in the last day of G1 Climax 30 group action, SANADA will once again face EVIL on the last night of group action. Last year, an O’Connor Roll booked SANADA’s place in the final, but Cold Skull’s 2021 campaign saw him fall by the wayside some time ago, and EVIL’s quest to shroud the G1 trophy in darkness was ended by Jeff Cobb in Yamagata Thursday. Now both wrestle to heal their bruised pride by defeating their former partner.

SANADA started his 2021 by defeating EVIL in the Tokyo Dome, his third singles win over his one time IWGP Tag Team Championship winning partner. As EVIL apparently embarked on an annus horibilis, SANADA would move to challenge for the double IWGP Championships the next month, and by the summer, had won the IWGP Tag Team Championships for the third time in his career alongside Tetsuya Naito.
Yet his G1 campaign has been eclipsed by the phenomenal records of Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada, and the utterly disgraceful conduct of EVIL. The King of Darkness did all he could to cheat his way to the top, only to be stopped by the superhuman Cobb. Now then, EVIL will seek to move forward by going back to his start for the second time this year. During the summer it was a win over long time occasional rival Tomohiro Ishii that seemed to put him on the right (or wrong, depending on perspective) track to challenging for IWGP World Heavyweight gold in the MetLife Dome. Now that his G1 campaign is over, he will seek his twisted brand of ‘justice’ on his former ally before resetting his sights on the end of the year, and a place on the grand stage of Wrestle Kingdom 16.

4th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (4-4) vs Taichi (2-6)
Singles record: 1-1

Both men are mathematically eliminated.

Having wrestled, and defeated, one another in the first round of the New Japan Cup in the past, Tanahashi victorious in 2018 and Taichi in 2020, each knows the pain and disappointment of a tournament exit at the other’s hands. In this year’s G1 however, Tanahashi and Taichi’s exits both came significantly earlier than they had bargained for. After an early fast start, Taichi slumped to six consecutive losses, and with rib injuries exacerbated in every bout.

A win over the IWGP US Heavyweight Champion would certainly ease both the hurt body and the hurt pride. Yet Tanahashi is determined to represent his recently won title to the very best of his ability, something that will require a positive record by the end of the tournament, and to keep that line of contenders as short as possible.

3rd Match: Hirooki Goto (2-6) vs Tama Tonga (3-5)
Singles record: 6-0 Goto G1 record: 2-0 Goto

At the top of the table in G1 Climax, wins and points are everything. The closer you are to the top, the better the chance you have of taking the trophy; points mean prizes after all. Yet when you’re out of the running, it doesn’t necessarily become how many wins you have, but who they’re against that becomes crucial to your narrative.

With his first ever win against Kazuchika Okada in the main event in Yamagata after a thrilling battle against the Rainmaker, Tama Tonga has gone from a ‘just fine’ tournament run to four or six points that may or may not stand him in good stead for inclusion in next year’s field, to an instant front runner, out to ‘rewrite history’. Tonga may only have two more points than Goto tonight, but will be feeling like he can take on the world, while the CHAOS member stares down the barrel of his career worst G1 performance.

After six defeats to Goto over the years one on one will Tama be able to score his first win against Hirooki Goto on the seventh time of asking, and keep fearsome momentum going?

2nd Match: YOSHI-HASHI (-) vs Chase Owens (2-6)
Singles record: 1-0 YOSHI-HASHI

They might not have much in common as personalities, but YOSHI-HASHI and Chase Owens have a lot of similarities as competitors that have stood out in stark highlight through the G1. Both predominantly seen as team players, they have shows heart and determination to push their singles opponents hard through the league. Their considerable wrestling IQs meanwhile have seen sure fire moves get countered on several occasions, leading to nail biting conclusions to their matches, even if they haven’t ended with hands raised.

Indeed, Owens and YOSHI-HASHI both also share a 2-6 record going into the last night of action. The lower point score belies the obvious effort of both men, and tonight will see them fight all out to see who ends their campaign with just one more win on the table.

Before tournament action gets started in the Budokan Wednesday, anime song supergroup JAM Project will be on hand to perform the G1 theme tune, Max the Max, live! Get fired up for the action with this first ever live performance of the theme tune from in-ring!

1st Match (5:30PM local start): Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)

Starting off the action at the earlier time of 5:30PM, Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita will have the chance to show what they can do as the fans arrive to the Nippon Budokan. This special kick off match will see them try and outdo their performance from Yamagata. Can they get some revenge from reddened chests at Hiromu’s hands earlier in the week in Senday singles matches?​

 

[Comrade Khan]

I havent watched it myself, but the consensus seems to be that kota kenta match was a fucking trainwreck