NJPW G1 Climax 34 - July 20 - August 18, 2024

[Chris]

G1 Climax night 9 (August 3) Preview​

A Block back in action for sixth bouts

If two days, including travel, can be deemed a break, the G1 series will have had its longest for a while by the time it returns to the starting point in Osaka for one night of A Block action August 3. That’s the rigour of the most demanding tournament in all of sports, and the rigours are kicking in indeed. Tonight, the sixth matches of A Block could see the figures get to be too much for some, and elimination could become a factor, while the pressure to step up the fight for the all important top three spots mounts.

Watch ALL the action live in English on NJPW World!
​

Main event: Shingo Takagi (2–3) vs Zack Sabre Jr. (4–1)​

Singles record: 2–2

Nobody gets through the G1 unscathed, and none in the modern era get through undefeated. Zack Sabre Jr. knows that full well, and will be relatively philosophical after a stunning defeat to Shota Umino Monday. Sabre also knows how important it is to get back on the horse, especially when that horse is a Dragon and a familiar rival.

Sabre’s 2021 G1 win over Takagi would earn him a title shot at the then IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, one where Sabre fell short. After a history of challenges and defeats, Sabre has promised this is the year it comes home. Meanwhile Takagi, at 2–3, needs to put away challenging opposition if he’s to be in with a realistic chance of making it out of the block phase himself. Who gets two more points in our main event?
​

8th Match: Shota Umino (3–2) vs SANADA (2–3)​

Singles record: 1–0 SANADA

As SANADA headed into the G1 this year feeling at his physical best after injury woes, he stood in stark contrast to Shota Umino. The Roughneck entered his second G1 off a hip fracture, recovered and rehabbed in barely a month, and things didn’t get any easier for Umino. Shooter’s leg, hip and back have been tested to near braking point on several points in this tournament, but against Zack Sabre Jr. Monday the biggest test was of his heart. Umino somehow gutted through immense pain to come away with his third win of the tournament, but the victory may yet prove pyrrhic.

SANADA is coming off an emotional loss against Tetsuya Naito, but one where he made the most headway against the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in their three bouts this year with more focus and a harder edge than we’ve gotten used to. That hard edge, coupled with frustration could be a dangerous combo for Umino, as the former champion has been pushed into a corner to fight his way out of.
​

7th Match: Tetsuya Naito (2–3) vs Gabe Kidd (3–2)​

A Gabe Kidd with momentum is a dangerous man- even more so than his usual ill tempered self. Tonight Kidd comes off a win that may prove a defining one in his career over Shingo Takagi in Fukuoka, and brings his forward steam to the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

tetsuya Naito made the rare step recently of acknowledging the momentum that Kidd possesses, together with his antihero status that make him, in Naito’s words ‘the kind of wrestler Osaka tends to love’. Expecting this match to be a ‘rare away game for me,’ Naito is prepared to play antagonist to a cult favourite. Having looked at his best in a firey performance with SANADA in Fukuoka, Naito is coming off a win, but still with a negative record that he needs to address tonight, despite what Kidd, or the Osaka faithful have to say.
​

6th Match: Great-O-Khan (1–4) vs EVIL (5–0)​

With the top three point scorers in each block making the playoff phase in G1 Climax 34, EVIL’s ten points on the board, ill gotten as they may be, have put him in a very strong position to advance.

Quite the opposite applies for Great-O-Khan. While there has been historical precedent for the third place G1 finisher in a ten man block scoring eight points, it has only happened once in 2019. Another loss then, effectively writes off the Dominator’s summer, but O-Khan finally got himself on the board in Fukuoka Monday with a richly deserved win over Jake Lee. Can he stop the EVIL run in Osaka to keep himself in the hunt?
​

5th Match: Callum Newman (2–3) vs Jake Lee (1–4)​

It’s been an oft frustrating debut G1 for Jake Lee, who came in with a wave o fhype from hsi betrayal of NOAH and the Good Looking Guys stable to become part of the War Dogs. Though he has been in control of most of his five matchups, he has only come away with a circle in the win column in one of them, that being his first bout opposite SANADA.

That’s put him in a de facto must win scenario against Callum Newman tonight. Newman had his own taste of frustration Monday, when the biggest win of his career against Shingo Takagi was followed up with a interference marred loss against EVIL. Now he wants to get back in winning form in a theoretically winnable bout on paper, but one that Lee will not readily give him.
​

4th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (BUSHI & Yota Tsuji) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)​

A preview of Yota Tsuji vs Ren Narita Sunday in Aichi will see LIJ face H.O.T in tag team action. Last year’s G1 saw Narita and Tsuji go to a time limit draw, before Tsuji vanquished Narita in the New Japan Cup quarterfinal earlier this spring. Can Narita and the HOUSE strike back?
​

3rd Match: Guerrillas of Destiny (Jado & El Phantasmo) vs Just Five Guys (Yuya Uemura & TAKA Michinoku)​

El Phantasmo and Yuya Uemura face off ahead of their Sunday Aichi bout in our third match of the evening. If El Phantasmo is still hurting from the loss of his tag team with Hikuleo, knowing that Uemura and Taichi defeated the giant and the Headbanga in World Tag League last year isn’t going to help.
​

2nd Match: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg vs BULLLET CLUB War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo)​

Sunday in Aichi, Boltin Oleg looks to pick up another win in an impressive debut G1 over the IWGP Global Champion David Finlay. Tonight’s preview sees the big man from Kazakhstan team with his NEVER Openweight 6 man Tag partner Toru Yano, presenting a difficult pair of amateur greats for Finlay and Gedo to try and overcome.
​

1st Match: Shoma Kato, Katsuya Murahsima, Tomoaki Honma & Hirooki Goto vs Konosuke Takeshita, Jeff Cobb, HENARE & Francesco Akira​

Before Konosuke Takeshita and Hirooki Goto square off Sunday, an eight man preview. Without a factional home in NJPW, Takeshita has been put into uneasy teams with United Empire, and there’ll be added unease with Sunday opponents Jeff Cobb and HENARE on the same side tonight to boot.​

 

[Apoho Creed]

Good to know I've got a few days to watch these next few Shows. Oh hey Tanahashi thanks for gracing us with your presence of course he shows up a Day after Uemura did the High Fly Flow twice.

 

[Apoho Creed]

They really had quick a Tag Match to start off the Show. These guys didn't even break a Sweat.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Oleg is raw as hell but what he knows he makes it work for him. Bushi might be due for a new look take the Mask off already you're stuck in Mud dude.

 

[Apoho Creed]

I still think Kanemaru has one good run in him but New Japan is wasting him with these House of Torture bums.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Sabre JR vs Umino and Gabe Kidd vs Shingo are the guys you should be pushing to the Moon and their Matches together proved what I've said countless times till I'm blue in the Face. For sure to me theirs a huge disconnect between what the fans want vs New Japan wants in their Company. Gabe Kidd had me going from tearing up to loving him even further kicking Shingo in the nuts!

 

[Apoho Creed]

Oh my lord Gabe Kidd and Jake Lee are about to merk some Young Lions to start off this July 31st Show. Pray for them.

 

[Apoho Creed]

I would freaking lose it if Shota beats Sanada on the 3rd and it's highly unlikely to see Sanada lose 2 straight.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Gabe Kidd already marking his territory he wants that Never Openweight Title belonging to Henare and he's going to get what he wants. Maybe they face off at Wrestle Kingdom and unify the Titles?

 

[Apoho Creed]

I love seeing Gabe give Henare his props then talk shit about him but he was right about Uemura. Stop trying to be a bland version of a Legend be the best version of yourself.

 

[Apoho Creed]

ELP fucking around and found out and his run is over in the G1 Climax. So sad for him but this might wake him up and get to the ELP that was with Bullet Club.

 

[Apoho Creed]

The staredown with Takeshita and Kidd was lovely. Still I find it funny New Japan trying to make Finlay seem like a somebody. No one is talking about him now nor since becoming the BC Leader and him having a Title within their Company is laughable. Takeshita had a great showing in the Main Event but of course New Japan wants to cater to the BC so that loss was coming a Mile away.

 

[Chris]

O-Khan wrecked Evil

 

[Chris]

Probably not gonna finish the last two matches of today's show until tomorrow so I went ahead and spoiled myself and looked at standings:

A Block —

• EVIL (5-1): 10 points
• Zack Sabre Jr. (4-2): 8 points
• Gabe Kidd (3-3): 6 points
• Shota Umino (3-3): 6 points
• Shingo Takagi (3-3): 6 points
• SANADA (3-3): 6 points
• Tetsuya Naito (3-3): 6 points
• Callum Newman: (2-3): 4 points
• Great-O-Khan (2-4) 4 points
• Jake Lee (2-4): 4 points

B Block —

• Yuya Uemura (3-2): 6 points
• Konosuke Takeshita (3-2): 6 points
• HENARE (3-2): 6 points
• Ren Narita (3-2): 6 points
• Jeff Cobb (3-2): 6 points
• David Finlay (3-2): 6 points
• Hirooki Goto (2-3): 4 points
• Oleg Boltin (2-3): 4 points
• Yota Tsuji (2-3): 4 points
• El Phantasmo (1-4): 2 points

 

[Chris]

G1 Climax night 10 (August 4) Preview​

Aichi sees B Block’s sixth matches

The tenth night of 19 in G1 Climax 34 sees the sixth matchups for B Block in the tournament. As we approach the final stretch, the pressure to break into, and stay in, the top three is mounting in Nagoya’s Dolphin’s Arena.

Watch all the action live in English on NJPW World!
​

Main event: Yota Tsuji (2–3) vs Ren Narita (3–2)​

Singles record 5–1–1 Narita

Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji do battle in a critical main event for both men. Narita has hardly kept his hands clean through any of his three victories, but victories they were, and he stands ahead of Tsuji, who’s currently one win off the pace.

That’s been the story in the past for these two, with Narita being a class before Tsuji in the Noge Dojo despite being younger than the LIJ member. With Narita having seniority and experience, he would consistently pick up wins when the two met as Young Lions, and when he returned from excursion, the best Tsuji could manage in G1 competition last year was a 20 minute draw.

Then, many criticised Narita for not finding himself as a competitor. He responded to that criticism by finding himself in HOUSE OF TORTURE, and while he finds even more vitriol from fans and commentors there, it’s a hate he embraces. It’s also an attitude change that has seen him to success- but not agianst Tsuji, whose one victory over Narita came in the New Japan Cup over the Souled Out version of himself. The statistics may say that narita will find more success tapping into his old self in this main event; that’s not likely to happen, but can he put a stop to the Gene Blast regardless?
​

7th Match: Hirooki Goto (2–3) vs Konosuke Takeshita (3–2)​

Yamaguchi on Wednesday was not kind to Hirooki Goto and Konosuke Takeshita, both men losing to Ren Narita and David Finlay respectively. As each seek to get back on track this should be a physical clash, and one that has emotional connections with Takeshita.

The Alpha remarked before his G1 debut that he had watched Goto as a fan when he was younger, and that he had familiarity with his opponent tonight that Goto did not share. With Takeshita also alluding to the press in his comments about being mentored by Shinsuke Nakamura, will that King of Strong Style influence be most plainly seen against one of his great rivals?
​

6th Match: Jeff Cobb (3–2) vs HENARE (3–2)​

Faction derbies are always entertaining to watch in G1 action, but expectations can be especially high for the sixth match on the card tonight. United Empire vs United Empire is further heightened by this being a first time ver matchup, by it being World TV vs NEVER Champion and it being a clash of two of the most powerful heavy hitters in New Japan. but which man will leave Aichi on eight points and at the top of the group?
​

5th Match: El Phantasmo (1–4) vs Yuya Uemura (3–2)​

The El Phantasmo slump may have reached its nadir in Yamaguchi, after a Tour of the Islands from Jeff Cobb put ELP behind the eight ball at two points after five matches. Without a win tonight, elimination is not quite, but almost certainly guaranteed. Can he pull that win off against Yuya Uemura? After an explosive start, the Heat Storm has dropped his last two, but may be extra motivated by returning to the town where he picked up his first G1 points against Hirooki Goto and David Finlay.
​

4th Match: Boltin Oleg (2–3) vs David Finlay (3–2)​

After a difficult opening weekend for the IWGP Global Champion, David Finlay has been on fire in recent matches, stringing together three successive victories to join the mix at six points. Tonight he seeks to move ahead with what is on paper a winnable bout, but Boltin Oleg is less concerned with paper as he is hurling the tree trunks it’s made from. The big man from Kazakhstan has already surpassed expectations for his debut G1, and the first ever Kazakh born major league pro-wrestler has to find the Global Championship an attractive one. Can he put together a third victory?
​

3rd Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs Just Five Guys (SANADA & TAKA Michinoku)​

Tuesday, Korakuen Hall will see Shingo Takagi and SANADA locking horns in G1 competition. When SANADA left LIJ for Just Five Guys in March of 2023, Shingo Takagi was most vocal against the decision, but the two haven’t settled their differences in the ring one on one- until Tuesday with a key preview tonight.
​

2nd Match: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma vs BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Gabe Kidd & Jake Lee)​

The second match of the evening is a preview for Shota Umino vs Hikuleo Tuesday, but mroe is at play. Earlier in the tour, Umino and Kidd went to a heated and hate fueled battle, ending in Kidd garnering a decisive victory over the Roughneck. What drama will develop when they go face to face again?
​

1st Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shoma Kato & Toru Yano vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman & Francesco Akira)​

Six man action will kick off as Hontai face United Empire. On Tuesday, Korakuen Hall will see a United Empire derby between Great-O-Khan and Callum Newman; will they be on the same page tonight?​