G1 hits Niigata
On Friday July 21, the G1 continues on to Niigata, with A and B Block close to their midway points. With a positive win/loss record crucial to making the elite eight, some may be on the bubble after tonight, and all will be fighting for control.
Watch all of G1 Climax 33 live in English on NJPW World!
Main event: A Block- SANADA (2-0) vs Yota Tsuji (0-1-1)
Singles record: 1-0 SANADA
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA takes on Yota Tsuji as A Block sees the main event Friday night. Tsuji entered the G1 with a lot of hype, but had some of his superstar confidence lost in a defeat to NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya. In Yamagata Tuesday, Tsuji got on the board, but not in the way he liked, only climbing to one point with a draw against Ren Narita. Now, in this rematch from Dominion, he takes on the unbeaten SANADA. Will he be able to enact revenge from Osaka Jo Hall, or will it be SANADA getting to six points in the hometown site of his New Japan Cup victory in March?
7th Match: B Block- Kazuchika Okada (2-0) vs Taichi (2-0)
Singles record: 4-1 Okada
Ever since Taichi was a pre-debut opponent for Kazuchika Okada way back in 2008, the two men have been tied together, but though the Holy Emperor has often brought the fight to the Okada, the results have not been to his favour. Four wins have given Okada a perfect record as the Rainmaker opposite Taichi, but is Niigata the scene of a dramatic shift? Taichi couldn’t have asked for a better start to his G1 thanks to a huge win over Will Ospreay, and after beating Tanga Loa in Yamagata, he has to feel good going into this third bout. For Okada, confidence is always abundant, especially at four points but he must be vigilant in the face of Taichi’s considerable momentum. Who gets handed the first blot on their record tonight?
6th Match: A Block- Shota Umino (0-1-1) vs Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0)
Kaito Kiyomiya had his doubters going into his debut G1, many of whom within the NJPW roster, and the so called Reiwa Three Musketeers in particular. Whether there was home town bravado in the face of the invading NAOH star at play or genuine dismissiveness is uncertain, but at 2-0, Kiyomiya has to have put Shota Umino on notice. After a loss to SANADA in Yamagata, Umino will be frustrated, and badly in need of a victory. Tonight, the last NJPW partner of Keiji Muto takes on the last of many protégés of the Genius- who leaves with two points?
5th Match: A Block- Will Ospreay (1-1) vs KENTA (1-1)
Singles record: 1-0 Ospreay
After a kick from Taichi caused inner ear and balance issues for Will Ospreay on July 15, the IWGP United States Champion suffered a tough loss to Taichi on opening night. Some consolation, though, came out of an announcement from Pro-Wrestling NOAH and Naomichi Marufuji- that as Marufuji celebrates 25 years in the wrestling business on September 17, he will battle Ospreay in a special singles match in Korakuen Hall.
It’s a chance for Ospreay to wrestle one of the key influences on his style and one of the most inspirational figures of his career. As Marufuji inspired a generation, so too did his tag team partner and rival KENTA though, and the BULLET CLUB member could well be affronted that this singles encounter with ospreay hasn’t received as much excitement on the part of the US Champ.
That lack of excitement may be for good reason, as KENTA has tried for shortcut after shortcut in his first two matches to mixed success. When Ospreay gets KENTA into the ring on Friday, he’ll hope to bring the fighter out of a controversial icon- and to repeat his 2019 G1 victory over him in the process.
4th Match: A Block- Hikuleo (0-2) vs Chase Owens (1-1)
Last September, Hikuleo’s departure from BULLET CLUB would cause shockwaves to ripple through the faction. Those shockwaves would eventually result in Jay White being exiled from Japan by Hikuleo himself before being booted from NJPW altogether by Eddie Kingston, and from there to the installation of David Finlay as the leader of the group.
Through all of that controversy, Chase Owens had been conspicuous by his absence, and questions have arisen (and still persist) over where Owens belongs in the ‘savage era’ of BULLET CLUB over which Finlay presides. Certainly Owens himself delivered an emphatic statement as to his own intentions, when shutting down Gabe Kidd on opening night- how will he interact with his former teammate in Niigata, and can he pick up a second tournament win over the big man?
3rd Match: B Block- El Phantasmo (0-2) vs Great-O-Khan (0-2)
It’s been a frustrating start to El Phantasmo and Great-O-Khan’s G1 campaigns. Losing his first to YOSHI-HASHI, ELP fought hard against Okada, but couldn’t escape the Rainmaker. Meanwhile Great-O-Khan, deflated from a pair of disappointing G1s in 2021 and 2022 came up short after a missed straight right hand led to the Rainmaker in Sapporo, before falling to a roll up and a handful of ropes by KENTA. Now scoreless heading into their third bouts, not just a chance, but a requirement for each to get on track.
2nd Match: A Block- Ren Narita (0-0-2) vs Gabe Kidd (1-1)
The first A Block match of the night will see Ren narita take on Gabe Kidd. Two former students of Katsuyori Shibata, Narita and Kidd have taken very different attitudes to their former mentor and his teachings in recent months. Kidd’s brutal attacks outside the ring, and reckless toughness within have brought him to two points off a hard victory against Hikuleo and defeat to Chase Owens. Narita is also at two, but off two draws; draws that have irked the impetuous Narita no end. which man’s decisions will be vindicated somewhat tonight?
1st Match: B Block YOSHI-HASHI (1-1) vs Tanga Loa (1-1)
Singles record: 1-0 Loa
For the first time since February 2021, Tanga Loa and YOSHI-HASHI meet one on one to start the evening. After both men got off to successful starts in Sapporo, both suffered losses in their second bout; YOSHI-HASHI in a hard fought banger with Will Ospreay as Tanga Loa struggled through his still evident knee injury in a brave battle with Taichi. Who will start their Friday night with a bang?
