NJPW G1 Climax 33: Night Eight
July 26, 2023
Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan
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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: (4) EVIL w/Dick Togo vs. (2) Aaron Henare In A G1 CLIMAX 33 C BLOCK Tournament Match
Dick Togo attacks Henare with a steel chair before the bell rings. Togo rolls Henare back into the ring. Henare kicks out of multiple pinning predicaments. EVIL applies a Sleeper Hold in the ropes. Henare spills to the floor. EVIL drives Henare back first into the steel barricade. The ring announcer goes down in the process. EVIL wraps a microphone cord around Henare’s neck. EVIL and Henare starts brawling in the crowd. Henare with heavy bodyshots. Henare slams EVIL’s head on the west sign inside Korakuen Hall. Henare HeadButts EVIL. Henare rolls EVIL back into the ring. Henare with combo bodyshots in the corner. Henare with another headbutt. Following a snap mare takeover, Henare kicks EVIL in the back. Henare with a Senton Splash for a two count. Henare ducks a clothesline from EVIL. Back Elbow Exchange. EVIL dodges The SpringBoard Enzuigiri.
EVIL kicks Henare in the face. Henare with a corner clothesline. Henare with The Berzerker Bomb for a two count. EVIL regroups on the outside. Henare gets distracted by Togo. EVIL attacks Henare from behind. EVIL whips Henare over the barricade. EVIL throws Henare into the bleacher walls. All hell is breaking loose in Korakuen Hall. EVIL kicks Henare in the gut. Henare blocks The Fisherman’s Buster. Togo wraps the garrote around Henare’s neck. Henare decks Togo with a back elbow smash. Meeting Of The Minds. Henare with a double clothesline. Henare punches EVIL in the back. Henare HeadButts EVIL. Henare drives EVIL face first into the bleacher wall. Henare rolls EVIL back into the ring. Henare with The Samoan Drop for a two count. EVIL escapes The Ultima. EVIL stomps on the right foot of Henare.
EVIL whips Henare into the exposed steel. Henare drops EVIL with a Running Knee. EVIL avoids The Rampage. EVIL with a corner clothesline. EVIL with The Fisherman’s Buster for a two count. EVIL hits Darkness Falls for a two count. Henare blocks Everything Is EVIL. Henare blocks a boot from EVIL. Henare with a Spinning Heel Kick. Henare with a Rising Knee Strike. Henare follows that with The Rampage. EVIL denies The Streets Of Rage. Henare negates Everything Is EVIL. Double Lariat. Henare HeadButts EVIL. Henare blasts EVIL with The PK for a two count. Henare goes for The Streets Of Rage, but EVIL lands back on his feet. EVIL pulls down the referee. Henare punches through the chair Togo was holding. EVIL delivers the low blow. EVIL connects with Everything Is EVIL to pickup the victory.
Winner: EVIL via Pinfall
Second Match: (4) Hirooki Goto vs. (0) Alex Coughlin In A G1 CLIMAX 33 D BLOCK Tournament Match
Coughlin attacks Goto before the bell rings. Coughlin dums Goto out of the ring. Coughlin whips Goto into the steel barricade. Coughlin poses for the crowd. Coughlin drives a folding chair into the injured ribs of Goto. Goto gets back in the ring at the count of sixteen. Coughlin repeatedly stomps on Goto’s chest. Coughlin is choking Goto with his boot. Goto unloads a flurry of overhand chops. Coughlin kicks Goto in the gut. Coughlin drives Goto back first into the edge of the ring apron. Coughlin rolls Goto back into the ring. Coughlin hooks the outside leg for a two count. Coughlin applies a rear chin lock. Coughlin transitions into a Grounding Cobra Twist. Coughlin rolls Goto over for a two count. Goto puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break.
Coughlin talks smack to Goto. Goto with three overhand chops. Coughlin drives his knee into the midsection of Goto. Goto with forearm shivers. Coughlin answers with an overhand chop of his own. Goto reverses out of the irish whip from Coughlin. Goto blocks a boot from Coughlin. Goto kicks the right hamstring of Coughlin. Goto with a Spinning Wheel Kick. Goto with The Backdrop Driver for a two count. Coughlin hammers down on the back of Goto’s neck. Coughlin with a vicious palm strike. Coughlin goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Goto blocks it. Goto slaps Coughlin in the face. Coughlin denies The GTR. Coughlin rakes the eyes of Goto. Coughlin drives his knee into the midsection of Goto. Coughlin connects with The Jack Hammer to pickup the victory.
Winner: Alex Coughlin via Pinfall
Third Match: (2) Shingo Takagi vs. (2) Mikey Nicholls w/Kosei Fujita In A G1 CLIMAX 33 C BLOCK Tournament Match
Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Takagi kicks Nicholls in the gut. Takagi punches Nicholls in the back. Takagi applies a side headlock. Nicholls whips Takagi across the ring. Takagi runs into Nicholls. Shoulder Block Exchange. Forearm Exchange. Takagi unloads a flurry of right jabs. Nicholls drops Takagi with a shoulder tackle. Takagi drops down on the canvas. Takagi with a back elbow smash. Following a snap mare takeover, Nicholls dodges The Sliding Lariat. That leads us to a quick standoff in the center of the ring. Nicholls kicks Takagi in the gut. Nicholls applies a side headlock. Nicholls with a Belly to Back Suplex. Nicholls drives Takagi back first into the steel barricade. Nicholls with a Belly to Back Suplex on the ring apron. Nicholls with The Delayed Vertical Suplex for a two count.
Nicholls applies The Camel Clutch. Nicholls fish hooks Takagi. Nicholls starts biting Takagi’s forehead. Nicholls toys around with Takagi. Takagi with forearm shivers. Nicholls drives his knee into the midsection of Takagi. Following a snap mare takeover, Takagi dodges The Sliding Lariat. Takagi decks Nicholls with a back elbow smash. Takagi scores a right jab. Takagi with The Ryukon Lariat. Takagi with a running shoulder tackle. Takagi follows that with a Senton Splash. Takagi with a Vertical Suplex for a two count. Takagi sends Nicholls to the corner. Takagi blocks a boot from Nicholls. Takagi with a corner clothesline. Takagi with The Sliding Lariat for a two count.
Nicholls fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Standing Switch Exchange. Nicholls drops Takagi with a DDT. Nicholls with two corner clotheslines. Nicholls puts Takagi on the top turnbuckle. Nicholls with The SuperPlex. Forearm/HeadButt Exchange. Nicholls slaps Takagi in the face. Nicholls with The Death Valley Driver. Nicholls with a Sliding Lariat for a two count. Nicholls is busted open. Nicholls whips Takagi across the ring. Takagi with a Death Valley Driver of his own. Lariat Exchange. Nicholls with a blistering chop. Both guys trade jabs. Takagi HeaadButts Nicholls. Takagi with a shoulder block. Nicholls HeadButts Takagi. Nicholls with a forearm smash. Takagi whips Nicholls across the ring. Takagi ducks a clothesline from Nicholls. Takagi connects with The Pumping Bomber to pickup the victory.
Winner: Shingo Takagi via Pinfall
Fourth Match: (2) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. (0) Toru Yano In A G1 CLIMAX 33 D BLOCK Tournament Match
Yano challenges Tanahashi to a sumo fight. Yano rolls Tanahashi over for a two count. Yano begs for mercy. Tanahashi wants the referee to check Yano. Yano removes all the rolls of tape was hiding. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Tanahashi backs Yano into the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break. Strong lockup. Yano walks Tanahashi into the ropes. Standing Switch Exchange. Tanahashi applies a wrist lock. Yano with a quick rollup for a two count. Tanahashi with a side headlock takeover. Yano answers with the headscissors escape. Yano gets up in Tanahashi’s grill. Forearm Exchange. Tanahashi delivers his combination offense. Yano reverses out of the irish whip from Tanahashi. Tanahashi with a flying forearm smash. Tanahashi attacks the midsection of Yano. Tanahashi bodyslams Yano. Tanahashi goes for The SomerSault Senton, but Yano ducks out of the way.
Yano pulls Tanahashi out of the ring. Yano whips Tanahashi into the steel barricade. Yano pulls out a roll of tape. Tanahashi kicks Yano in the gut. Tanahashi punches Yano in the back. Tanahashi gives a fan at ringside the tape. Tanahashi rolls Yano back into the ring. Tanahashi with a liver punch. Tanahashi reverses out of the irish whip from Yano. Yano removes a turnbuckle pad. Tanahashi blocks the turnbuckle pad shot. Yano with a Dragon Screw Corner Pad Whip. Yano whips Tanahashi into the exposed steel. Yano with an Inverted Atomic Drop. Yano with a double leg takedown. Yano catapults Tanahashi into the exposed steel. Yano goes for The Demon PowerBomb, but Tanahashi lands back on his feet. Tanahashi ducks a clothesline from Yano. Tanahashi with a palm strike. Tanahashi blocks the low blow. Tanahashi with Two Dragon Screw Leg Whips. Yano dodges The SlingBlade. Yano shoves Tanahashi towards the referee. Yano Spears Tanahashi into the referee. Tanahashi avoids the chair shot. Tanahashi swats the chair out of Yano’s hands. Tanahashi hits The SlingBlade. Tanahashi connects with The High Fly Flow to pickup the victory.
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi via Pinfall
Fifth Match: (0) Tomohiro Ishii vs. (4) Eddie Kingston In A G1 CLIMAX 33 C BLOCK Tournament Match
Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Kingston backs Ishii into the ropes. Misfired Chops. That leads us to a quick standoff in the center of the ring. Kingston signals for the test of strength. Ishii kicks Kingston in the gut. Short-Arm Reversal by Kingston. Kingston repeatedly drives his knee into the midsection of Ishii. Kingston with a GourdBuster. Kingston with a Running Double Foot Stomp. Kingston tells Ishii to bring it. Chop Exchange. Ishii drops Kingston with a shoulder tackle. Ishii repeatedly kicks Kingston in the back. Kingston is fighting from underneath. Ishii with a blistering chop. Ishii talks smack to Kingston. Ishii kicks Kingston in the face. Ishii unloads three knife edge chops. Kingston blocks The Backdrop Driver.
Ishii reverses out of the irish whip from Kingston. Ishii with a Backdrop Driver. Kingston kicks Ishii in the face. Kingston decks Ishii with a back elbow smash. Kingston with a Diving Knee Drop. Kingston with a corner clothesline. Machine Gun Chops. Kingston with The Exploder Suplex for a two count. Ishii applies a side headlock. Ishii hammers down on the back of Kingston’s neck. Second Chop Exchange. Ishii blocks The Half & Half Suplex. Kingston with three back fists. Ishii answers with boxing elbows. Kingston ducks a clothesline from Ishii. Kingston with The Half & Half Suplex. Kingston with a Sliding Forearm for a two count. Ishii blocks The Spinning Back Fist. Ishii with Two German Suplex’s. Kingston blocks a lariat from Ishii. Ishii with a short-arm lariat. Ishii dodges The Step Up Enzuigiri.
Kingston avoids The Sliding Lariat. Kingston clotheslines Ishii. Kingston with a Backdrop Driver for a two count. Kingston applies The Stretch Plum. Kingston goes into the lateral press for a two count. Ishii dodges The Spinning Back Fist. Ishii with Three HeadButts for a two count. Kingston answers with three chops. Enzuigiri Exchange. Ishii with Two Running Lariats for a two count. Kingston blocks The Vertical Drop BrainBuster. Kingston with a palm strike. Kingston connects with Two Spinning Back Fists for a two count. Kingston goes for The Northern Lights Bomb, but Ishii lands back on his feet. Ishii drops Kingston with The CodeBreaker. Ishii with a Sliding Lariat for a two count. Ishii plants Kingston with The Vertical Drop BrainBuster to pickup the victory.
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii via Pinfall
Sixth Match: (4) Tetsuya Naito vs. (2) Shane Haste w/Kosei Fujita In A G1 CLIMAX 33 D BLOCK Tournament Match
Naito puts on Haste’s hat. Naito kicks Haste in the gut. Naito with clubbing blows to Haste’s back. Naito dumps Haste out of the ring. Tranquilo Pose. Naito continues to target the back of Haste. Naito rakes the eyes of Haste. Haste reverses out of the irish whip from Naito. Haste dropkicks Naito. Haste puts on Naito’s hat. Haste with a Running Uppercut. Following a snap mare takeover, Haste dropkicks the back of Naito’s neck. Haste mocks Naito. Haste flings Naito’s hat into the crowd. Haste kicks Naito in the gut. Haste goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Naito blocks it. Haste uppercuts Naito. Haste sends Naito to the corner. Naito side steps Haste into a turnbuckle pad. Naito with a NeckBreaker onto the knee. Naito with a forearm smash. Naito slams Haste’s head on the top rope. Naito dropkicks Haste off the ring apron. Naito whips Haste into the steel barricade.
Naito punches Haste in the back. Naito drops Haste with a NeckBreaker on the barricade. Haste gets back in the ring at the count of sixteen. Naito applies the cravate. Haste puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Naito with another NeckBreaker. Naito kicks Haste in the back. Naito stomps on Haste’s chest. Naito reapplies the cravate. Haste goes for a Bodyslam, but Naito lands back on his feet. Naito applies a side headlock. Naito transitions into another cravate. Haste with an am-drag takeover. Naito kicks Haste in the gut. Haste dropkicks Naito. Haste kicks the left knee of Naito. Haste kicks Naito in the face. Haste with a Release Belly to Back Suplex. Haste hits The Falcon Arrow for a two count. Naito dodges The PK. Naito goes for a Hip Toss, but Haste counters with a gut punch. Naito with a deep arm-drag. Naito scores the elbow knockdown.
Naito dropkicks the back of Haste’s neck. Naito with clubbing elbow smashes. Naito drops Haste with The Esperanza. Haste uppercuts Naito in mid-air. Naito with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Haste with a Backdrop Driver. Forearm Exchange. Naito spits at Haste. Haste delivers his combination offense. Short-Arm Reversal by Naito. Naito with The Swinging DDT. Haste blocks The Valentia. Haste kicks the left hamstring of Naito. Haste with a Twisting Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Haste goes for The Bomb Valley Death, but Naito counters with a Reverse DDT. Naito goes for The Destino, but Haste counters with an Inside Out Lariat. Naito hammers down on the back of Haste’s neck. Naito fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Naito connects with The Destino for a two count. Naito goes for another Destino, but Haste counters with The Bomb Valley Death to pickup the victory.
Winner: Shane Haste via Pinfall
Seventh Match: (4) Tama Tonga w/Jado vs. (6) David Finlay w/Gedo In A G1 CLIMAX 33 C BLOCK Tournament Match
Tonga attacks Finlay before the bell rings. Tonga is throwing haymakers at Finlay. Tonga HeadButts Finlay. Tonga slams Finlay’s head on the bleachers. Tonga with a straight right hand. All hell is breaking loose in Korakuen Hall. Tonga throws Finlay into a wall. Tonga stands on Finlay’s chest. Tonga brings Finlay down the bleachers. Red Shoes admonishes Tonga. Tonga is raining down haymakers. Tonga goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Finlay blocks it. Finlay shoves Tonga off the bleachers. Finlay repeatedly stomps on the left knee of Tonga. Finlay slams the chair on the left knee of Tonga. Finlay rakes the eyes of Tonga. Finlay slams Tonga’s head on the ring apron. Finlay stomps on the left hamstring of Tonga. Finlay finally rolls Tonga back into the ring. Finlay drops his weight on the left leg of Tonga. Finlay repeatedly slams the left leg of Tonga on the apron. Finlay with a Seated Senton. Finlay applies the single leg crab.
Finlay DDT’s the left knee of Tonga. Tonga with heavy bodyshots. Finlay rocks Tonga with a forearm smash. Finlay with clubbing blows to Tonga’s back. Finlay goes for a Bodyslam, but Tonga lands back on his feet. Tonga applies a waist lock. Finlay with three sharp elbow strikes. Tonga dropkicks Finlay. Tonga with two back elbow smashes. Tonga with a corner clothesline. Tonga is raining down forearms. Finlay reverses out of the irish whip from Tonga. Tonga with an Inside Out Lariat. Tonga with The Stinger Splash. Tonga Powerslams Finlay for a two count. Tonga with hammer elbows to Finlay’s chest. Finlay blocks The Tongan Twist. Finlay goes for The Blue Thunder Bomb, but Tonga lands back on his feet. Finlay with The Irish Curse BackBreaker for a two count. Tonga blocks The Vertical Suplex. Finlay with a forearm smash. Tonga answers with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Tonga hits The SRC.
Tonga goes for The Supreme Flow, but Finlay gets his knees up in the air. Finlay bodyslams Tonga into the ropes. Finlay applies The Sharpshooter. Tonga grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Finlay goes for a PowerBomb, but Tonga counters with a Back Body Drop to the floor. Tonga with The Slingshot Pescado. Tonga rolls Finlay back into the ring. Tonga lands The Supreme Flow for a two count. Finlay avoids The GunStun. Finlay goes for Into Oblivion, but Tonga lands back on his feet. Finlay blocks The Jay Driller. Finlay with The Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Finlay nails Tonga with The Dominator for a two count. Tonga with an inside cradle for a two count. Finlay uppercuts Tonga. Finlay goes for a PowerBomb, but Tonga lands back on his feet. Finlay uppercuts Tonga. Forearm Exchange. Finlay with Two Rolling Elbows. Finlay Spears Tonga. Finlay goes for a PowerBomb, but Tonga rolls him over to pickup the victory. After the match, Finlay attacks Tonga from behind. Finlay finally PowerBombs Tonga. Finlay clocks Tonga with the shillelagh.
Winner: Tama Tonga via Pinfall
Eight Match: (6) Zack Sabre Jr. w/Kosei Fujita vs. (6) Jeff Cobb In A G1 CLIMAX 33 D BLOCK Tournament Match
Feeling out process after the bell rings. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Side Headlock Takeover/Headscissors Escape Exchange. Sabre gets back to a vertical base. Wrist Lock Exchange. Sabre goes for a wrist lock takedown, but Cobb cartwheels back onto his feet. That leads us to a quick standoff in the center of the ring. Strong lockup. Sabre applies a waist lock. Sabre drop steps into a side headlock. Cobb whips Sabre across the ring. Sabre runs into Cobb. Shoulder Block Exchange. Cobb drops down on the canvas. Cobb leapfrogs over Sabre. Cobb drops Sabre with a shoulder tackle. Sabre regroups on the ring apron. Cobb with a forearm smash. Cobb HeadButts Sabre. Sabre with three uppercuts. Cobb rocks Sabre with a forearm smash. Cobb punches Sabre in the back. Cobb tosses Sabre around the ringside area. Sabre with a Flying Guillotine Choke. Cobb escapes with a Vertical Suplex on the floor. Cobb rolls Sabre back into the ring. Cobb with clubbing shoulder blocks in the corner. Cobb whips Sabre into the red turnbuckle pad.
Cobb slams Sabre’s head on another turnbuckle pad. Cobb with Two HeadButts. Cobb with another hammer throw into a turnbuckle pad. Surf’s Up. Sabre targets the midsection of Cobb. Cobb with a sharp knee strike. Cobb sends Sabre to the corner. Cobb goes for a leaping back elbow smash, but Sabre ducks out of the way. Sabre drops Cobb with The Tornado DDT. Sabre unloads a series of uppercuts. Cobb answers with a forearm shot across the ribs of Sabre. Sabre dropkicks Cobb. Sabre with a Running Uppercut. Cobb launches Sabre to the corner. Cobb blocks a boot from Sabre. Sabre cranks on Cobb’s neck. Cobb goes for The Spin Cycle, but Sabre counters with The Sleeper Hold. Sabre transitions into The Cross-Arm-Breaker. Cobb puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Cobb blocks The Zack Driver. Cobb attack the ribs of Sabre. Chop Exchange. Sabre applies The Triangle Choke. Cobb with a Deadlift Vertical Suplex. Clubbing Sledge Exchange. Cobb with a Lariat. Sabre with an Overhead Wrist Kick. Cobb dropkicks Sabre.
Cobb yanks Sabre out of the corner. Cobb delivers The Spin Cycle. Cobb goes for Tour Of The Islands, but Sabre counters with The Rolling Crucifix for a two count. Sabre applies The Omoplata. Sabre adds a single leg crab. Cobb puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Sabre with three uppercuts. Cobb scores a right jab. Sabre kicks Cobb in the face. Sabre dropkicks the back of Cobb’s head. Cobb goes for The Hawaiian Clutch, but Sabre counters with The Sleeper Hold. Cobb rolls Sabre over for a two count. Cobb with a shoulder tackle. Cobb goes for The Standing MoonSault, but Cobb ducks out of the way. Sabre with another neck crank. Sabre with The Bridging Double Leg Nelson for a two count. Sabre repeatedly kicks the right shoulder of Cobb. German Suplex Exchange. Sabre hits The PK. Cobb responds with The F5,000. Cobb connects with Tour Of The Islands to pickup the victory.
Winner: Jeff Cobb via Pinfall
THE UPDATED C & D BLOCK STANDINGS
THE C BLOCK
1.) Tama Tonga (3-1) – 6 Points
2.) David Finlay (3-1) – 6 Points
3.) EVIL (3-1) – 6 Points
4.) Eddie Kingston (2-2) – 4 Points
5.) Shingo Takagi (2-2) – 4 Points
6.) Mikey Nicholls (1-3) -2 Points
7.) Aaron Henare (1-3) – 2 Points
8.) Tomohiro Ishii (1-3) – 2 Points
THE D BLOCK
1.) Jeff Cobb (4-0) – 8 Points
2.) Zack Sabre Jr. (3-1) – 6 Points
3.) Shane Haste (2-2) – 4 Points
4.) Tetsuya Naito (2-2) – 4 Points
5.) Hirooki Goto (2-2) – 4 Points
6.) Hiroshi Tanahashi (2-2) – 4 Points
7.) Alex Coughlin (1-3) – 2 Points
8.) Toru Yano (0-4) – 0 Points
POST MATH COMMENTS
Aaron Henare: No excuses. No excuses. This is the G1. This ain’t no merry-go-round. God damn you, EVIL. God damnit. Two years in a row, EVIL. You son of a bitch. G1 last year. New Japan World Title Match. It seems every time I’m in the ring with you, you find a way out of fire. Halfway down, G1. There is no fucking excuses. Bring the toughness. Three losses down, but I’ll still show all of you I’m the toughest motherfucker here.
EVIL: A win fitting of the next G1 Climax champion. Remember that.
Alex Coughlin: Yeah, yeah. What did I say? Anybody want to remember? Anybody want to tell me? No! I am finally on the board. And people thought I was gonna go 0-7. Three losses, that means nothing to me. I’ve been a Young Lion for four years. You think losses mean a goddamn thing? No. Just like every other time in my life, I’ve been kicked down, I kept my cool. And what happened when I stuck to my game plan? Oh, I finally came out on top. Goto, we beat you for these belts, right way up, thank god. You almost went out with it upside down, you fucking idiot. And I beat you in singles tonight. No cheap tricks, no garbage. 1-2-3 and that’s just the beginning because they my dogs for-real.
Hirooki Goto: How pathetic. However, The G1 Climax isn’t over yet. Next up, Hiroshi Tanahashi. If anyone can pull me from the depths, it’s him.
Mikey Nicholls: What am I doing wrong? That’s three in a row. You know, maybe they were right. Maybe tag team wrestling is good as it gets for me. Maybe that’s all I am. You know what? If that’s all I am, I’m gonna show you that I belong where I do in the G1. Like I said before, win, lose or draw, you’re going to get the absolute best of Mikey Nicholls. I’m leaving my heart, my soul and my blood in the ring because the mighty don’t kneel.
Shingo Takagi: A win is a win. We gotta remember what we’re here for. Pro wrestling is all about getting that three count. Scoring a fall is all that matters. It’s not just about the moves. It’s about the guts. Two straight wins in the G1 Climax. After two losses in the opening rounds, this is it. Shingo Takagi’s G1 has finally begun. We’ve only just gotten started. I’ve got a lot more to give. Mikey, surely you’re not satisfied with today’s result. I’ll beat you again anytime, you bastard. Two wins, two losses, still not a winning record. I’ve got Tama Tonga next, Tama Chan.
Hey, Okamoto, you know what Tama-Chan and I have in common? Both born in the 57th year of the Showa era. I don’t think they use that calendar where he’s from, but yeah, the same year. You know, on today’s card, Cobb, Naito and Tama Tonga were all born in 1982. As we’d say, the 57th year of the Showa era. I’m well aware of the fact we were born in the same year. Tama-Chan, you may have been in Japan for a long time, but I’m gonna make you feel like you’re back in your first year in the Dojo. For Nagoya, I’ve already got a game plan.
Toru Yano: I guess Hiroshi was the big bopper today.
Hiroshi Tanahashi: With this, my record’s tied at two wins, two losses. Two losses is pretty tough. I wanted to keep it to one, but you never know what’s going to happen. In my time on this earth, I’ve never once given up. I haven’t even gotten tired before. It’s a valuable experience wrestling Toru here even if he’s not a prototypical G1 entrant. It wasn’t a special G1 edition Yano. Just the regular old YTR today. Perhaps that was the point. Maybe it’s a message from him to me. Just do what you usually do, Tana. You’re still good enough. But hey, I might still make a change.
Eddie Kingston: I lost. I lost, that’s all I can say. I gotta go. I gotta see the doctor. I lost.
Tomohiro Ishii: I never thought I’d be fighting Eddie in Japan. In pro wrestling, you never know. He says he likes Japanese Pro Wrestling, right? That he looks up to Japanese wrestlers. Then pursue it more. Experience it. Don’t stop at just liking it. Make it a part of you, in your own way. And if you need help with that, I’ll fight you as many times as you need. I might even fight alongside you. My association with him doesn’t end here. The journey has just begun. Got it? I have EVIL next. He’s getting more and more pathetic by the year. It’s a damn shame. I’m gonna break him into pieces in Nagoya.
Tetsuya Naito: It’s not like I let my guard down. Shane Haste was just that good today. I have two wins, two losses in the D Block. My next official league match is in Nagoya. I’m in a situation where I can’t afford to drop any more points. And I’m up against Alex Coughlin next. But Naito’s summer isn’t over yet. Cabron.
Shane Haste: Ain’t nobody touch my hat and get away with it. You know how expensive that hat is? It’s more expensive than your LIJ hat. I’ll tell you what, you just can’t get them off the internet. No, no, no, it’s one of a kind. Shane Haste’s “Sexy Boy” Party Hat, G1 conference is my lucky hat and I’ll show you if you put that hat on, and try to mix my luck with your luck, it’s like a double negative. It’s a like a luck magnet. And you touched it with yours, and it’s done. Naito, mate, I kept my mouth shut because I don’t know if it’s translation or what, but I keep seeing you complaining about how many people are in this G1, saying that a bunch of us don’t belong here.
I know you’ve said my name. So, I’ll tell you what, I don’t care if I proved you wrong, but I showed you I belong here. My aim for this G1 might not have been to win it, that would have been nice, that would have been something fancy, but I knew a pretty good chance that what I wanted from this G1 is to show the New Japan fans that I belong here. Tag, singles, six man, eight man, 9 man, 10 man, 11 man, 12 man, 13, 14, yes, of course. 15, I suppose that’s a possibility, but I assured you that I belong here. And next time you want to run your mouth about me, I’m gonna get my clippers and I’m gonna shave your head bald because you need a haircut. You look like a straw man out in the fields scaring off the crows.
David Finlay: Get these damn cameras out of my face.
Tama Tonga: Hey, I still won. I’ll take a beating all day. I’ll take it. You’ll never see me give up. Finlay, looks like I disrupted your wins. Undefeated, no more. You can thank me later, bitch.
Zack Sabre Jr: What that fat cunt say? Jeff, yeah, he probably said I’m a fat cunt. I was 3-0 going into today. I’ve started G1’s this well before, but I never make it out of the block. Jeff, well played, well played, mate. Jeff knocked all the banter out of me. All my wit’s gone. This must be what it’s like to be an American. No sense of humor or ability with the english language. I had a George Michael bit, a really good one, a really good one about being on a unicycle, but you’re not getting it.
Jeff, well done. Listen, I’m not gonna get mad, I’m not gonna get angry. I know everyone enjoys when I lose. I lose my shit, don’t I? I smash stuff up. I scream bollocks and wanker in this thing. I’ve done that six years in a row, that doesn’t achieve anything. I’m staying cool as a cucumber, mate. 3-1. Jeffery, I expect you to clear the block with me.
Jeff Cobb: In the famous words of Bob, oh pirates try to rob me. That’s the redemption song. I am on a redemption story. And Zack Sabre Jr, one hell of a fight, one hell of a champion. I’ll give him credit where credit is due. He’s a frontman for a reason. Zack Sabre Jr, good job, but not good enough. You see, since Sapporo, hard match after hard match, and next up in Nagoya, in Aichi, in The Dolphin’s Arena, it’s Yano. Yano, you trying to beat me? You trying to get points? No, no, no, I’m 4-0 right now and I plan to go 5-0. And just like I said earlier, Yano is trying to beat me, dolphin’s, what do you say?
That’s right, no, no, no. See, Yano, I’m gonna make short work of you. What is that saying? Yano, I remember you from last year, man. Last year, you’re trying to do shenanigans, got my hands stuck in my singlet. Not this year. This year, I’m gonna beat you. I’m gonna beat you fast so I can shower and go to the next town and get some high balls. Or better yet, which number shall I drink? Drinking some Sapporo Beer. I was sad, I was made, we, The New Japan talent missed The Sapporo Beer Festival, but it’s okay because the Sapporo’s are on ice and I’m gonna drink them all. Cobb, Out!
Checkout Episode 370 of The Hoots Podcast
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