Posted in New Japan Pro Wrestling

NJPW G1 Climax 33 Results (7/15/23): Sanada vs. Hikuleo

   July 14, 2023

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Night One
July 15, 2023
Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center
Hokkaido, Japan

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Bookmark Our G1 CLIMAX 33 REFERENCE SHEET 

A BLOCK: (SANADA, Shota Umino, Hikuleo, Kaito Kiyomiya, Chase Owens, Ren Narita, Yota Tsuji, and Gabriel Kidd)

B BLOCK: (Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, KENTA, Taichi, El Phantasmo, The Great O-Khan, Yoshi Hashi and Tanga Loa)

C BLOCK: (Tomohiro Ishii, Shingo Takagi, David Finlay, Eddie Kingston, EVIL, Tama Tonga, Aaron Henare and Mikey Nicholls)

D BLOCK: (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr, Jeff Cobb, Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, Shane Haste and Alex Coughlin)

Transcription by Josh Lopez 

First Match: (0) El Phantasmo vs. (0) Yoshi Hashi In A G1 CLIMAX 33 B BLOCK Tournament Match

Both men shakes hands before the bell rings. Standing Switch Exchange. Phantasmo with a waist lock takedown. Hashi grapples around Phantasmo. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Hashi applies a side headlock. Phantasmo reverses the hold. Hashi whips Phantasmo across the ring. Phantasmo drops Hashi with a shoulder tackle. Hashi drops down on the canvas. Hashi leapfrogs over Phantasmo. Hashi catches Phantasmo with The Head Hunter. Phantasmo dropkicks Hashi for a two count. Phantasmo with a Vertical Suplex for a two count. Phantasmo with a forearm smash. Phantasmo bodyslams Hashi. Phantasmo with a flying elbow drop for a two count. Phantasmo hooks the outside leg for a two count. Phantasmo stands on the right hand of Hashi. Following a snap mare takeover, Phantasmo kicks Hashi in the back. Phantasmo with a soccer kick. Phantasmo chops Hashi in the corner. Phantasmo with an irish whip. Hashi dropkicks the left knee of Phantasmo. Hashi with a corner clothesline. Hashi chops Phantasmo. Hashi thrust kicks the midsection of Phantasmo. Hashi with a NeckBreaker for a two count.

Hashi whips Phantasmo across the ring. Hashi with a Back Body Drop. Hashi clotheslines Phantasmo over the top rope. Hashi lands The SomerSault Plancha and he is fired up. Hashi rolls Phantasmo back into the ring. Hashi with The BlockBuster for a two count. Hashi goes for The Kumagoroshi, but Phantasmo blocks it. Phantasmo with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Hashi blocks The UFO. Hashi with a blistering chop. Phantasmo dives over Hashi. Phantasmo ducks a clothesline from Hashi. Phantasmo with a SpringBoard Crossbody Block. Phantasmo with a SpringBoard MoonSault for a two count. Phantasmo follows that with The UFO for a two count. Hashi denies The CR II. Chop Exchange. Phantasmo nails Hashi with Sudden Death. Phantasmo delivers Thunder Kiss 86 for a two count. Rollup Exchange. Phantasmo ducks a clothesline from Hashi. Phantasmo thrust kicks the midsection of Hashi. Phantasmo kicks Hashi in the chest. Phantasmo with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Hashi SuperKicks Phantasmo. Hashi with a Lariat. Hashi connects with The Crucifix Bomb to pickup the victory.

Winner: Yoshi Hashi via Pinfall 

Second Match: (0) Chase Owens vs. (0) Gabriel Kidd In A G1 CLIMAX 33 A BLOCK Tournament Match

Kidd repeatedly attacks Owens with a steel chair on the stage. Kidd rocks Owens with a forearm smash. Kidd goes for a PileDriver, but Owens blocks it. Kidd rakes the eyes of Owens. Kidd uppercuts Owens. Kidd slaps Owens in the face. Kidd poses for the crowd. Kidd HeadButts Owens. Uppercut Exchange. Kidd and Owens are brawling in the crowd. Kidd chokes Owens with an umbrella. All hell is breaking loose in Hokkaido. Kidd starts going after the young lions. Kidd lands The SomerSault Plancha off the ramp. Kidd finally brings Owens back to the ringside area. Kidd talks smack to the announce team. Kidd rolls Owens back into the ring and the match will officially start. Owens drops Kidd with a Pump Knee Strike. Owens with two forearm knockdowns.

Kidd reverses out of the irish whip from Owens. Owens kicks Kidd in the face. Owens delivers The Marble Special. Kidd denies The Package PileDriver. Kidd ducks a clothesline from Owens. Kidd decks Owens with a back elbow smash. Owens drives Kidd chest first into the blue turnbuckle pad. Owens with a Falling Lariat for a two count. Misfired Clotheslines. Kidd levels Owens with a Western Lariat. Kidd drills Owens with The BrainBuster for a two count. Kidd with a forearm smash. Kidd toys around with Owens. Kidd is choking Owens with his boot. Kidd puts Owens on the top turnbuckle. Kidd with a blistering chop. Owens dumps Kidd face first on the turnbuckle pad. Chop Exchange. Owens with a Half & Half Suplex. Owens nails Kidd with The C-Trigger. Owens connects with The Package PileDriver to pickup the victory.

Winner: Chase Owens via Pinfall 

Third Match: (0) KENTA vs. (0) Tanga Loa w/Jado In A G1 CLIMAX 33 B BLOCK Tournament Match

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Loa backs Kenta into the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break and Loa obliges. Strong lockup. Stalemate in the corner. Kenta regroups on the outside. Kenta kicks the left knee of Loa. Kenta applies a side headlock. Loa whips Kenta across the ring. Loa shrugs off two shoulder blocks. Kenta proceeds to kick the right knee of Loa. Loa drops Kenta with a shoulder tackle. Loa punches Kenta in the back. Loa hammers down on the back of Kenta’s neck. Loa with a forearm smash. Loa rolls Kenta back into the ring. Loa with clubbing shoulder blocks to the midsection of Kenta. Kenta slides out of the ring. Kenta with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip over the ring apron. Kenta repeatedly stomps on the right knee of Loa. Kenta wraps the right leg of Loa around the steel barricade. Kenta dropkicks the right knee of Loa. Kenta is picking Loa apart on the outside. Kenta with a Mid-Kick. Kenta rolls Loa back into the ring. Kenta talks smack to Loa. Loa with two haymakers. Kenta answers with a toe kick to Loa’s right knee. Loa slaps Kenta in the ribs. Kenta with a Spinning Back Kick. Kenta blocks a boot from Loa.

Kenta kicks the right hamstring of Loa. Kenta puts the right leg of Loa on the middle rope. Kenta with a Running Dropkick. Kenta continues to stomp on the right knee of Loa. Loa blocks a boot from Kenta. Loa with two uppercuts. Loa drops Kenta with a Spinning Uranage Slam. Loa with two corner clotheslines. Loa with a Release German Suplex. Loa follows that with The Falcon Arrow for a two count. Loa goes for Ape Shit, but Kenta pulls down the referee. Kenta drops Loa with a DDT. Kenta viciously attacks Loa with a steel chair. Kenta lays the chair on the right knee of Loa. Kenta goes for The Flying Double Foot Stomp, but Loa ducks out of the way. Loa with a Falling Lariat across the back of Kenta’s neck. Jado rolls the referee back into the ring. Kenta with an inside cradle for a one count. The referee catches Kenta using the middle rope for leverage. Kenta side steps Loa into the referee. Kenta delivers the low blow. Kenta goes for The GTS, but Loa lands back on his feet. Kenta with a Spinning Back Fist. Loa Spears Kenta. Loa connects with Ape Shit to pickup the victory.

Winner: Tanga Loa via Pinfall 

Fourth Match: (0) Ren Narita vs. (0) Shota Umino In A G1 CLIMAX 33 A BLOCK Tournament Match

Narita starts things off with a Running Boot. Umino scores a forearm knockdown. That leads us to a quick standoff in the center of the ring. Forearm Exchange. Narita slaps Umino in the face. Narita drives his knee into the midsection of Umino. Narita with a forearm smash. Narita repeatedly stomps on Umino’s chest. Umino with a running back elbow smash. Umino with forearm shivers. Umino is raining down uppercuts in the corner. Narita with a Soaring Boot. Umino shoves Narita. Narita uppercuts Umino. Narita is choking Umino with his boot. Narita hammers down on the back of Umino’s neck. Narita with clubbing blows to Umino’s back. Narita whips Umino across the ring. Umino with the bypass. Umio with an arm-drag takeover. Umino scores the elbow knockdown. Umino with a basement dropkick.

Umino is putting the boots to Narita. Umino applies the cravate. Umino punches Narita in the back. Umino kicks Narita in the chest. Narita reverses out of the irish whip from Umino. Umino repeatedly kicks Narita in the face. Narita with an amateur style takedown. Narita applies a knee bar. Umino grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Narita abuses the referee’s five count. Narita applies a standing leg lock. Narita transitions into The Figure Four Leg Lock. Narita lets go of the hold at the count of four. Narita repeatedly kicks Umino in the face. Umino with forearm shivers. Narita kicks Umino in the gut. Short-Arm Reversal by Umino. Umino drops Narita face first on the canvas. Umino with a diving corkscrew uppercut. Umino sends Narita to the corner. Umino with a Running Uppercut. Umino with The Bridging Fisherman’s Suplex for a two count. Umino follows that with a Missile Dropkick.

Umino applies The STF. Narita grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Narita blocks The Uranage Slam. Following a snap mare takeover, Umino with hammer and anvil elbows. Narita hammers down on the back of Umino’s neck. Narita with a Spinning Leg Lariat. Narita with a Spinning Back. Narita follows that with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Narita applies The Sleeper Hold. Umino backs Narita into a turnbuckle pad. Umino kicks Narita in the gut. Narita reverses out of the irish whip from Umino. Narita with The Kitchen Sink. Narita goes for The Exploder Suplex, but Umino lands back on his feet. Umino with Two Cross Rhodes. Umino with The Lifting Reverse DDT for a two count. Narita avoids The Ignition. Narita with a knee lift into the midsection of Umino. Umino dumps Narita face first on the top rope. Umino with a Running Uppercut. Umino drops Narita with a Slingshot DDT. Umino kicks Narita in the gut. Umino goes for The Death Rider, but Narita counters with The Exploder Suplex.

Narita with The Bridging Exploder Suplex for a two count. Narita applies another knee bar. Narita transitions into The Narita Special #3. Umino refuses to quit. Narita goes for The Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex, but Umino blocks it. Narita kicks Umino in the face. Narita with Three Running Boots. Exploder Suplex Exchange. Release German Suplex Exchange. Both guys are knocked down after a double palm strike. Second Forearm Exchange. Umino with three uppercuts. Narita and Umino are trading back and forth combo strikes. Narita with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Umino dropkicks Narita. Umino with a Tornado DDT. Umino hits The Ignition for a two count. Umino connects with The Guillotine DDT for a two count. Narita denies The Death Rider. Narita applies The Cobra Twist. Narita with The Bridging German Suplex for a two count. Umino floors Narita with a Pop Up Uppercut as time expires.

Match Result: Time Limit Draw, Both Guys Will Get A Point 

Fifth Match: (0) Kazuchika Okada vs. (0) The Great O-Khan In A G1 CLIMAX 33 B BLOCK Tournament Match

Khan is playing mind games with Okada. Chain Grappling Exchange. Khan hooks the outside leg for a two count. Okada applies a waist lock. Okada with a Back Body Drop for a two count. Khan tackles Okada. Khan applies The Head & Arm Choke. Okada puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Khan applies a Kimura/Leg Lock Combo. Khan works on the right shoulder of Okada. Khan stomps on the right shoulder of Okada. Khan sends Okada back first into a turnbuckle pad. Khan with The Mongolian Chop. The Great Wall Of Khan. Khan with a Vertical Suplex for a two count. Khan applies an arm-lock with his legs. Okada puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Khan toys around with Okada. Khan with clubbing blows to the back of Okada’s neck. Forearm Exchange. Khan whips Okada across the ring. Okada ducks under two clotheslines from Khan. Okada scores three elbow knockdowns. Short-Arm Reversal by Okada. Okada kicks Khan in the gut. Okada drops Khan with a DDT.

Khan chops the left ear of Okada. Okada responds with The Flapjack for a two count. Okada applies The Money Clip. Okada dropkicks Khan off the top turnbuckle. Okada whips Khan into the steel barricade. Okada propels Khan over the barricade with a Running Boot. Okada grabs Khan’s ponytail. Okada hits The Draping DDT on the floor. Okada rolls Khan back into the ring. Khan blocks The Tombstone PileDriver. Okada with clubbing blows to Khan’s back. Okada goes for The Reverse NeckBreaker, but Khan blocks it. Okada drives his knee into the midsection of Khan. Okada punches Khan in the back. Okada uppercuts Khan. Okada ducks a clothesline from Khan. Khan with a Diving NeckBreaker. Okada repeatedly kicks Khan in the face. Khan unloads a series of Mongolian Chops. Khan with a GutWrench Suplex for a two count. Okada hammers down on the back of Khan’s neck.

Khan with The Atomic Drop. Khan applies The Sheep Killer. Khan with a Falling Elbow Drop for a two count. Khan slaps Okada in the ribs. Khan punches Okada in the back. Khan is putting the boots to Okada. Standing Switch Exchange. Okada with a Release German Suplex. Khan answers with three sharp elbow strikes. Okada dropkicks Khan. Okada delivers The Landslide. Khan avoids The Rain Maker. Khan applies The Claw. Okada denies The Eliminator. Okada maintains wrist control. Khan with an arm-drag takeover. Khan connects with The GFO for a two count. Khan goes for The Eliminator, but Okada counters with an arm-drag. Khan pump kicks the right shoulder of Okada. Khan escapes The Cobra Flowsion. Okada plants Khan with The Rain Maker to pickup the victory.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada via Pinfall 

Sixth Match: (0) Kaito Kiyomiya vs. (0) Yota Tsuji In A G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK Tournament Match

Tsuji starts things off with The Suicide Dive before the bell rings. Tsuji repeatedly stomps on Kiyomiya’s chest. Tsuji rolls Kiyomiya back into the ring. Tsuji stands on the back of Kiyomiya’s neck. Tsuji talks smack to Kiyomiya. Tsuji ducks a clothesline from Kiyomiya. Tsuji with a BackBreaker. Tsuji sends Kiyomiya face first into the canvas. Tsuji stomps on the back of Kiyomiya’s head. Tsuji repeatedly stomps on Kiyomiya’s back. Tsuji toys around with Kiyomiya. Forearm Exchange. Tsuji with an overhand chop. Tsuji goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Kiyomiya lands back on his feet. Kiyomiya delivers a chop block. Tsuji with a Tilt-A-Whirl BackBreaker for a two count. Kiyomiya with three overhand chops. Kiyomiya blocks a boot from Tsuji. Kiyomiya with The Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Kiyomiya repeatedly drops his elbow on the left knee of Tsuji. Kiyomiya drags Tsuji to the corner. Kiyomiya wraps the left leg of Tsuji around the steel ring post.

Kiyomiya kicks Tsuji in the back of the head. Kiyomiya rolls Tsuji back into the ring. Kiyomiya continues to target the left knee of Tsuji. Tsuji rocks Kiyomiya with a forearm smash. Kiyomiya answers with a back elbow smash. Kiyomiya with a Diving Forearm for a two count. Kiyomiya repeatedly drives his knee into the left hamstring of Tsuji. Kiyomiya with a low dropkick. Kiyomiya is mauling Tsuji in the corner. Kiyomiya slaps Tsuji in the face. Tsuji with forearm shivers. Kiyomiya dropkicks Tsuji. Kiyomiya wraps the left leg of Tsuji around the middle rope. Tsuji with The Big Boot. Tsuji brings Kiyomiya down with his legs. Tsuji with a flying forearm in the corner. Tsuji ducks a clothesline from Kiyomiya. Tsuji with a Tilt-A-Whirl Headscissors Takeover. Tsuji with a running shoulder tackle. Tsuji Powerslams Kiyomiya for a two count. Kiyomiya dropkicks the left knee of Tsuji. Kiyomiya with another Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Kiyomiya applies The Figure Four Leg Lock. Tsuji grabs the bottom rope which forces the break.

Kiyomiya with a Missile Dropkick. Kiyomiya ducks a clothesline from Tsuji. Kiyomiya with The Bridging German Suplex for a two count. Kiyomiya goes for The Tiger Suplex, but Tsuji blocks it. Kiyomiya uppercuts Tsuji. Kiyomiya goes for another Tiger Suplex, but Tsuji lands back on his feet. Kiyomiya with three uppercuts. Second Forearm Exchange. Tsuji HeadButts Kiyomiya. Kiyomiya avoids The BrainBuster. Kiyomiya dropkicks Tsuji. Tsuji answers with a Pump Knee Strike. Tsuji SuperKicks Kiyomiya. Tsuji with The Falcon Arrow for a two count. Tsuji delivers The Curb Stomp. Kiyomiya escapes The Gory Special. Kiyomiya with The Hurricanrana for a two count. Kiyomiya with a Jumping Knee Strike. Kiyomiya connects with The Tiger Suplex for a two count. Kiyomiya with an Inside Out Driver. Kiyomiya plants Tsuji with The Shining Wizard to pickup the victory.

Winner: Kaito Kiyomiya via Pinfall 

Seventh Match: (0) Will Ospreay vs. (0) Taichi In A G1 CLIMAX B BLOCK Tournament Match

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Chop/Forearm Exchange. Taichi kicks the left hamstring of Ospreay. Running Boot/Running Forearm Exchange. Ospreay blocks a boot from Taichi. Ospreay hammers down on the left knee of Taichi. Taichi avoids The Hook Kick. Taichi with a Spinning Back Kick. Taichi with Two Running Boots. Ospreay regroups on the outside. Ospreay drives his knee into the midsection of Taichi. Ospreay with clubbing blows to Taichi’s back. Ospreay with repeated headbutts. Ospreay tosses Taichi around the ringside area. Ospreay brings Taichi towards the back of the arena. Ospreay whips Taichi into a row of chairs. Ospreay with a forearm smash. Ospreay drops Taichi with a DDT on the floor. Taichi gets back in the ring at the count of sixteen. Ospreay with The Coast To Coast Dropkick. Ospreay nails Taichi with a Draping Cutter to the floor. Taichi gets back in the ring at the count of eighteen.

Ospreay hits Pip Pip Cheerio for a two count. Taichi’s knees crumble as Ospreay goes for the hammer throw. Ospreay talks smack to Taichi. Ospreay kicks Taichi in the back. Ospreay with a Straight Boot. Ospreay with a Pendulum BackBreaker for a two count. Ospreay follows that with a Spinning Pendulum BackBreaker for a two count. Ospreay mocks the crowd. Second Chop/Forearm Exchange. Taichi reverses out of the irish whip from Ospreay. Ospreay kicks Taichi in the face. Taichi dodges The OsCutter. Taichi goes for a Belly to Back Suplex, but Ospreay lands back on his feet. Ospreay with a PK to Taichi’s back. Ospreay with The Falcon Arrow for a two count. Taichi struggles to get back on his feet. Taichi blocks The StormBreaker. Ospreay with a Kawada Kick. Ospreay chops Taichi. Ospreay blocks The Kamagiri. Ospreay with a blistering chop. Ospreay starts favoring his left ear. Red Shoes checks on Ospreay in the corner. Ospreay blocks The Dangerous Back Drop Driver. Ospreay with Chelsea’s Grin.

Ospreay is trying to wake himself up. Ospreay toys around with Taichi. Kawada Kicks Exchange. Taichi floors Ospreay with The Hook Kick. Taichi rips off his pants. Ospreay blocks The Roundhouse Kick. Ospreay with a Lariat. Ospreay goes for The OsCutter, but Taichi blocks it. Ospreay escapes The Black Mephisto. Ospreay hits The OsCutter for a two count. Taichi avoids The Hidden Blade. Taichi with a Kamagiri. Ospreay responds with The Hidden Blade for a two count. Ospreay goes for The StormBreaker, but Taichi lands back on his feet. Taichi with The Gedo Clutch for a two count. Ospreay fires back with a Hook Kick. Taichi with an Axe Bomber. Ospreay with The Rolling Elbow. Taichi blocks The Super OsCutter. Taichi chops away at the back of Ospreay’s neck. Taichi with The Avalanche Dangerous Back Drop Driver. Taichi with a Running Axe Bomber. Back Drop Driver Exchange. Ospreay goes for The Hidden Blade, but Taichi counters with The SuperKick. Taichi plants Ospreay with The Black Mephisto to pickup the victory.

Winner: Taichi via Pinfall 

Eight Match: (0) Sanada vs. (0) Hikuleo w/Jado In A G1 CLIMAX A BLOCK Tournament Match

Hikuleo drops Sanada with The Big Boot. Hikuleo whips Sanada across the ring. Hikuleo goes for a Powerslam, but Sanada holds onto the ropes. Sanada with The Bridging O’Connor Roll for a two count. Hikuleo chops Sanada. Hikuleo sends Sanada shoulder first into the turnbuckle pad. Hikuleo drives Sanada back first into the ring apron. Hikuleo unloads three chops. Sanada sends Hikuleo face first into the steel ring post. Sanada drives Hikuleo back first into the steel barricade. Hikuleo with a reverse hammer throw over the barricade. Hikuleo rolls Sanada back into the ring. Hikuleo with a knife edge chop. Hikuleo sends Sanada to the corner. Sanada side steps Hikuleo into the blue turnbuckle pad. Sanada ducks a clothesline from Hikuleo. Hikuleo with a Back Body Drop for a two count.

Hikuleo goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Sanada lands back on his feet. Sanada ducks under a chop from Hikuleo. Sanada dropkicks the left knee of Hikuleo. Sanada with a Standing Dropkick. Sanada with a low bridge. Sanada dropkicks Hikuleo off the apron. Sanada with The Slingshot Pescado. Sanada plays to the crowd. Sanada rolls Hikuleo back into the ring. Sanada goes into the lateral press for a two count. Sanada applies a front face lock. Hikuleo hammers down on the back of Sanada’s neck. Hikuleo with a knife edge chop. Sanada decks Hikuleo with a back elbow smash. Hikuleo catches Sanada in mid-air. Hikuleo with The Snake Eyes. Hikuleo with a Running Lariat. Hikuleo follows that with a Vertical Suplex for a two count.

Sanada fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Hikuleo goes for a Running Stampede, but Sanada counters with Skull End. Sanada with a Counter Vertical Suplex. Hikuleo avoids The Muto MoonSault. Sanada goes for Skull End, but Hikuleo counters with The Running Stampede for a two count. Hikuleo whips Sanada across the ring. Hikuleo avoids The Death Fall. Hikuleo Powerslams Sanada. Hikuleo goes for a Chokeslam, but Sanada counters with a Knee Strike. Sanada drops Hikuleo with The Shining Wizard for a two count. Standing Switch Exchange. Hikuleo goes for a German Suplex, but Sanada lands back on his feet. Hikuleo blocks The FrankenSteiner. Hikuleo PowerBombs Sanada for a two count. Sanada denies The ChokeSlam. Sanada connects with The Dead Fall to pickup the victory.

Winner: Sanada via Pinfall 

UPDATED A & B BLOCK STANDINGS

THE A BLOCK 

1.) Sanada (1-0) – 2 Points

2.) Chase Owens (1-0) – 2 Points

3.) Kaito Kiyomiya (1-0) – 2 Points

4.) Shota Umino (0-0-1) – 1 Points

5.) Ren Narita (0-0-1) – 1 Points

6.) Hikuleo (0-1) – 0 Points

7.) Yota Tsuji (0-1) – 0 Points

8.) Gabriel Kidd (0-1) – 0 Points

THE B BLOCK 

1.) Kazuchika Okada (1-0) – 2 Points

2.) Taichi (1-0) – 2 Points

3.) Tanga Loa (1-0) – 2 Points

4.) Yoshi Hashi (1-0) – 2 Points

5.) Will Ospreay (0-1) – 0 Points

6.) The Great O-Khan (0-1) – 0 Points

7.) KENTA (0-1) – 0 Points

8.) El Phantasmo (0-1) – 0 Points

POST MATCH COMMENTS 

El Phantasmo: Well, that’s not the way I envisioned my G1 Climax starting. I don’t think anybody envisioned Yoshi Hashi busting up new moves in the opening match in the G1 Climax, fuck. He’s a IWGP Tag Team Champion for a reason and I am not. I’m just getting my feet wet in this new position here in New Japan, trying to be nicer to the fans, trying to be nicer to you guys.

It’s not going to happen overnight, so I got to ice up, watch some Okada matches and get ready for Yamagata. ELP vs. Okada, first time ever, are you excited? Hell yeah, me too. I hope he’s excited. Because if he treats me like a young boy, I’m gonna fucking rip off your nipples, then what you’re going to do Okada? You’re gonna have no nipples. You can’t be the face of New Japan with no nipples, can you? It’s New Japan, you don’t know. But anyways, thank you.

Yoshi Hashi: In the past, I’ve dropped many openers, but today was a different story. As I learned last year from facing Phantasmo, he’s just so naturally talented. He’s got the ability to take off at any moment. As for me, even though this is a singles league, I’m walking in with the swagger of a champion. In that case, I can’t afford to go down so easily. I plan on stacking up the wins and ensuring I’m standing at the end. Next up is Ospreay. No doubt, that man’s a beast. But don’t think for a moment that I don’t have a chance. I’ll seize the moment with my own hands, and somehow find victory.

Gabriel Kidd: Hikuleo, you’re fucking dead.

Chase Owens: Gabe, Gabe, what the hell was that before the match? I get it. I get it. You and your little LA Dojo boys, you’re frustrated, the company didn’t treat you well, I completely get it. And you were doing the right thing. You’re following David Finlay. You guys are hungry. And what happens when you’re hungry, you win championships, just like Clark and Dan, they won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Titles. You guys won the STRONG Titles. You were this close to becoming IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. I don’t know what the hell that attack was before the bell.

Maybe you were trying to test my loyalty, but let me tell you this. I didn’t survive the AJ Styles era, I didn’t survive the Kenny Omega era, I didn’t survive The Switchblade Era without being smart. You see, there’s a reason, nine years, nine years I’ve been in Bullet Club. Hell, 10 years in New Japan Pro Wrestling. That’s right, October will mark 10 years and I’m not going anywhere, anytime soon. The A Block, the rest of you, Shota, Narita, Kaito, Hikuleo, Sanada, Tsuji, you’re next.

KENTA: Do you know what upsets me the most right now? Do you understand what’s bothering me? Yeah, I did lose my opening round G1 match, but even more than that, it’s you, Fatty. Why are you here? Why did you show up? I’ve told you time and time again. Is it so hard for you to understand? You shouldn’t be here. Why are you here? Help me understand. Let’s talk this out. Why did you come? No, I don’t get it. You’ve gotta be kidding me. And what’s with that guy? Was that Tama Tonga? Come on. What the hell? He’s somehow gotten stronger. That finish was insane.

But you know, yesterday … does this theme song ever end? Yesterday’s press conference, did you see it? Let me tell you something. Yesterday, when I went down the aisle calling everyone ugly, Tanga smiled at me. The absurdity of that smile caught me off guard. I think today’s match may have been sealed with that one smile. I called him ugly and he smiled. How humiliating. That’s the best smile I’ve ever seen from him while in Japan. Even though I was criticizing him, he smiled. I was shocked. That’s where I lost this match. Anyway, on to the next one. Grey-Oka.

Did you see his face when I called him ugly? He took deep offense. He was trying to convince me otherwise. But his face proved it. What the hell? He had a real tough guy attitude about it. What the hell? He’s just as ugly as others. I haven’t forgotten that he promised he’d bow down to me when I beat him in G1 before. I think he’s deranged. He can’t see things for what they are. And he’s ugly. Anyway, what I really wanted to say today was, I want to be the kind of man who can smile at someone who calls me ugly. And you, don’t come back here. Promise that you won’t be back here. Don’t lie.

Tanga Loa: Kenta, thank you so much. Thank you for being my first match. Thank you for letting me know I’m ugly because, ugly never looks so pretty when you get a W.

Ren Narita: That guy… I can’t draw with that guy. 20 minutes isn’t enough. Neither is 30 or 60. Don’t limit us. I can’t stand not beating him, in any form. I won’t stand for a draw. I need to beat him. That’s it.

Shota Umino: Damn it! This ticks me off to no end. It doesn’t matter if the limit is 20 minutes or 30, I let him survive for that long. Then that’s on me. But this isn’t the end. Today ended in a draw, but when it’s all said and done, the difference will be clear. I won’t stand to lose to any peer. No matter what, I have to be one step ahead of him the whole way. I’ll make it easy. Narita, make sure you reach the finals. And we can settle this there.

Kazuchika Okada: There’s the first win. To ensure victory, I’ve gotta take every win as they come. April and June weren’t good for me. I’ll make up for it this August. What was the time? The match time? About 15 minutes. With the old time limit, that would have been the halfway point. This way, only five minutes to spare. The pressure’s on to wrap things up in a hurry. But this was just the first one. I now have a better sense of the time limit. Going forward, I’ll continue to get it done the same way.

I don’t intend to take any draws. I’ve been in my share of marathons, but I’ll look to finish these in 10 minutes. O-Khan, keep your head up. I know the attention is on A Block, but don’t get trapped into thinking that those guys are getting preferential treatment. Even if you stumble or face blocks, don’t envy their position. Don’t let jealousy get to you. Just handle your business. Take this advice to heart. Don’t become another Naito.

Yota Tsuji: What can I say at this point? Nakashima, did I light up that green matchstick? What do you say? Yes or no? Which is it?

Kaito Kiyomiya: Yota Tsuji, I’ve been saying that I wasn’t looking at you at all, that was something. He had more fire than I thought he would. Pretty awesome. I could feel the fire of New Japan when I faced Tsuji. I could sense the future of the modern Japanese wrestling athlete in him. But right now, it’s all about me. I have to stand in the spotlight. Next up is Chase Owens. I haven’t faced him since back in Canada. But that was back in the training days. But I realize that we’re both completely different from that time. No stopping now.

Will Ospreay: Rang my bell with that kick.

Taichi: Whoa, that was crazy. Wild. You all thought I was going to lose, didn’t you? This is my hometown. Can’t lose two in a row to the same guy. He’s tough. I know just how strong Ospreay is from last time. It hadn’t been that long. I saw that great match he just had overseas. I started to wonder if I had what it took to beat him. Then I looked at my own belt. Ospreay and some guy had a great match, but Takagi and I went 43 minutes for this belt. I realized that I had a chance. The result is what you saw today.

He’s younger than me and still on the rise. He’ll grow even more and gain more prestige. But today, I beat him cleanly in that ring. You’ll take me a little more seriously now, won’t you? Sanada, I’m coming for your belt. I’m serious. That belt and my YouTube channel are a winning combination. I’ll reach the top as a wrestler and YouTuber. I’ll amaze the world via streaming platforms. I’ll impress the masses in the ring and then on my channel. I’m serious about this. If you were hoping for my win today, like and subscribe. If you were upset at the result and think I’m an idiot, ring that bell anyway.

Hikuleo: There’s a reason he’s a champion. I got a lot to learn. I just gotta learn, forget and move on. Oh, god damn, two more days and then it’s Gabe. You gotta have a short-term memory. Remember the positives, remember the negatives, and just learn from those and keep moving forward. That’s what I got to do.

Sanada: I’m the eldest of this block. But after today’s match, I’m sure I convinced some of you how youthful I still am. But whatever the case, I’m winning this thing. Then I’m choosing my own challenger.

Checkout Episode 369 of The Hoots Podcast 

Author: Josh Lopez