A Block finals hit Osaka
After our month long midsummer struggle, it’s finally time to set our quarterfinals. Each block will have a night of final matches over the next four events, starting with A Block in Osaka. It’s a battle for second, bot a hot one with competition intense behind confirmed block winner SANADA.
Watch all of G1 Climax 33 on NJPW World!
Main event: Shota Umino (2-2-2) vs Hikuleo (3-3)
Singles record: 2-0 Umino
Hikuleo advances with a win
Umino advances with a win and Kiyomiya loss or draw
With Shota Umino at six points with two matches in each W/L/D column, and Hikuleo joining him even after a victory against Kaito Kiyomiya Tuesday, it’s possible A Block second place could all come down to this. At the start of both men’s respective excursions, encounters in the UK just before the pandemic saw Umino pick up a pair of wins. Will third time lucky for Hikuleo, a giant who’s come into his own in his last few matches, or will it be ‘Shooter’ in the Elite Eight?
8th Match: SANADA (6-0) vs Chase Owens (2-4)
SANADA has won A Block
Owens is mathematically eliminated
Quietly putting up an unbeaten six match record, SANADA won A Block with two matches still to go, an incredible feat that has to set him as favourite even through the elimination phase. Tonight the stakes are to top Shinsuke Nakamura’s unbeaten block record in 2009, and align himself with the feat of Kazuyuki Fujita, who went perfect in an eight man block in 2005.
For the mathematically eliminated Chase Owens though, the biggest match of his campaign. Having already made excellent use of his experience to rack up points and give even those who defeated him significant issue, Owens knows that while the G1 trophy is out of reach, an IWGP World Heavyweight title shot woud be his- if he can beat the hitherto unbeaten.
7th Match: Yota Tsuji (2-3-1) vs Gabe Kidd (2-3-1)
Singles record: 10-9-1 Tsuji
A win for either man, coupled with a main event draw and Kiyomiya loss or draw creates a tie
In the midst of the pandemic, G1 Climax 30 took place through the autumn of 2020 with block matches preceded by a series of Young Lion clashes. Yota Tsuji, Gabe Kidd and Yuya Uemura wrestled one another time and again, with Tsuji having an upper hand that would be lost by the time the Gene Blast went on excursion. A promising past has given way to a potential filled present, but who can make the final eight?
Kidd, it would seem, had designs more on destruction than overall victory. From the pre tournament press conference, where he leapt over a table to attack Yota Tsuji and bowl over Kaito Kiyomiya, through a wild 2-3-1 record, including a double count out draw with the aforementioned Kiyomiya; punishment took priority over points. yet almost by happy accident, the War Ready Kidd is on the cusp of the elimination phase. For Tsuji, pre G1 hype has given way to mixed results, but buoyed by an impressive victory over Shota Umino in Takamatsu. In the intensely competitive race for second, can the LIJ member beat a career rival to survive?
6th Match: Ren Narita (1-3-2) vs Kaito Kiyomiya (2-2-2)
Narita is mathematically eliminated
A Kiyomiya win coupled with an Umino win creates a tie
Ren Narita would be first to say that his G1 Climax debut has not gone as expected. Unable to secure a two point victory while all around him were getting on the board, Narita was the first of the block to be mathematically knocked out of contention at the hands of SANADA in Ota July 27. With one block match remaining, a chance to restore a large amount of pride in the face of the NOAH outside Kaito Kiyomiya, who needs a win and some help in order to maintain a slim chance of advancement to the Elite Eight.
5th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada vs Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Non title six man action sees NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champions Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Hiroyoshi Tenzan team to face Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and with Hikuleo facing Shota Umino later in the night, Hiroyoshi Tenzan. This match marks the first time in some 16 months that seven time IWGP Tag Team Champions Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga have teamed together; while B, C, and D block standings might be foremost in the minds of the competitors, an outside chance of NEVER contenders being created adds extra motivation.
4th Match: Togi Makabe & El Phantasmo vs United Empire (Will Ospreay & HENARE)
Few would have anticipated at the start of 2023 that El Phantasmo would be forming a team with Togi Makabe for a preview tag in Osaka, but that’s the situation we have. Starting this tour as a man without a factional island, ELP has courted, and earned respect from Hontai and CHAOS opposition, and Makabe will extend a hand tonight in the face of Ospreay and HENARE from the United Empire. With the all important ELP vs Ospreay match Sunday in Osaka deciding advancement to the quarters, a key preview this evening.
3rd Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)
Trios action sees a prelude for Shingo Takagi and EVIL’s meeting in Yokohama Tuesday. The Dragon and The King of Darkness will be facing off in a match that’s likely to determine C Block, and H.O.T will not be hesitant to take advantage of every advantage and ensure EVIL is the one going through.
2nd Match: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, YOH & Hirooki Goto) vs BULLET CLUB (David Finlay, Gedo & KENTA)
Before YOSHI-HASHI and KENTA finish their league campaigns against one another tomorrow, six man action pits CHAOS against BULLET CLUB tonight. Can one of these sides get an advantage before fighting for the final two points and tournament pride Sunday?
1st Match: Just 5 Guys (DOUKI & Taichi) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
Great-O-Khan might have had a weak G1 campaign, but after being first eliminated in his block, he still wants to end things out with a win Sunday at the expense of Taichi. In an opening tag team bout, a chance for he and Jeff Cobb to put in the front end work against a team with the silkiest hair in the game representing Just 5 Guys.
