Nagano sees tournament approach mid way
Night six of G1 Climax 33 will see the action hit Nagano’s Big Hat, as C and D Block battle with the tournament approaching midway.
Watch all of G1 Climax 33 live in English on NJPW World!
Main event: C Block- David Finlay (2-0) vs EVIL (2-0)
A lot of intrigue surrounds a BULLET CLUB derby in our main event as David Finlay faces EVIL for the first time one on one.
Since taking the lead in BULLET CLUB, Finlay has declared that his version of the group has been for ‘killers and savages only,’ urging those underneath him to ‘bring gold, and if you can’t bring gold, bring bodies.’ For EVIL and HOUSE OF TORTURE, this has been a task easier said than done. With singles gold elusive since a spell with the NEVER Openweight title now held by Finlay early in 2022, and career far removed from his double IWGP reign in 2020, one wondered what the King of Darkness’ place was in the BULLET CLUB of 2023, but at 2-0 after tainted victories over Tama Tonga and Eddie Kingston, maybe he’s in with a chance after all.
Finlay for his part has been eerily radio silent on the issue, granting no comment to any speculation surrounding EVIL’s status. One way or the other, with a lot of eyes on this main event, that ‘comment’ could well be made tonight- just how will this volatile situation play out?
7th Match: D Block- Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-1) vs Jeff Cobb (2-0)
Singles record: 1-0 Tanahshi
Following an opening main event win over Tetsuya Naito with another victory against Alex Coughlin Wednesday in Sendai, Jeff Cobb is unbeaten as he heads into battle with the Ace Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi has pledged change through this year’s tournament, but has not been able to fly out the blocks, losing to Zack Sabre Jr. in Hokkaido before bouncing back in Sendai. Can Cobb repeat his 2021 victory over the Ace tonight, or will Tanahashi join him at four points?
6th Match: C Block- Tomohiro Ishii (0-2) vs Shingo Takagi (0-2)
Singles record: 4-1 Takagi
Tomohirio Ishii and Shingo Takagi continue a thrilling and hard hitting rivalry in the sixth match of the night. As hard as both men fight, the results have nonetheless been fairly decisive in Takagi’s favour to date. Yet with both men winless thus far after two matches wrestled, both need points on the board. Will Shingo win out for a fifth time in Nagano? Or will it be Ishii breaking his duck?
5th Match: D Block- Toru Yano (0-2) vs Tetsuya Naito (1-1)
Singles record: 7-3 Naito
Toru Yano and Tetsuya Naito have their own storied history, with ten matches over multiple tournaments, most of which involving who can troll the other harder. That came to a head in their last singles encounter back during G1 Climax 30, where Tetsuya Naito took especially long in taking to the ring and getting ready for his match, much to Yano’s consternation. The 20 minute time limit this year doesn’t include entrances- if it had, we’d be looking at a sure fire draw- but when the bell finally rings on this one, who will be victorious?
4th Match: C Block- HENARE (1-1) vs Eddie Kingston (1-1)
The hard hits keep coming in C Block as HENARE faces Eddie Kingston. HENARE’s ‘Face of Fury’ has certainly made a huge visual impact this G1, and that impact was joined by results in Sendai. A win over Shingo Takagi provided fans arguably the greatest match of the current tournament to date. For Eddie Kingston, his own two points also comes at Shingo’s expense. Their presentation and mentality might be wildly different, but their passion and their record is the same. Who moves to four points tonight?
3rd Match: D Block Hirooki Goto (1-1) vs Shane Haste (1-1)
After a win and a loss each, Shane Haste and Hirooki Goto lock horns Sunday night in Nagano. During World Tag League, Haste and partner Mikey Nicholls were knocked out at the last hurdle by Goto and YOSHI-HASHI, who went on to win the tournament, the titles at the Tokyo Dome, and then a rematch February in Sapporo. Now in singles competition, how might things play out between Goto and Haste?
2nd Match: C Block- Tama Tonga (1-1) vs Mikey Nicholls (1-1)
After a main event victory against Tomohiro Ishii in Sendai, Tama Tonga sets his sights on Mikey Nicholls. Mad Mikey set a strong pace with a victory over HENARE on day two, but didn’t follow through Wednesday night in Xebio Arena. Who can get two more on the board tonight?
1st Match: D Block- Zack Sabre Jr. (2-0) vs Alex Coughlin (0-2)
The first of three TMDK matches in a row tonight will see Zack Sabre Jr. kick off the evening against Alex Coughlin. ZSJ and Coughlin haven’t tied up before, but Sabre certainly knows he can expect a highly aggressive assault, most likely before the bell even rings. If the Deadeye Dreadnought wants points on the board however, he needs to maintain his cool against a ZSJ expert in exploiting and punishing a momentary lapse in concentration.
