NJPW G1 Climax 2024.

[Evil Otto]

Wild G1 summer nights at Korakuen is certainly a sweet spot for NJPW.  Tonight's card, at least to me, looked the worst so far on paper in terms of match-ups, but the crowd was super hot for almost everything, they wanted a great time, and the wrestlers obliged by doing fun, interactive stuff to always keep them engaged.   

Gabe matches have become a spectacle on their own, which bodes well for his inclusion on a card like Wrestle Kingdom.  His ascension has been really impressive.  

Great O-Khan is low-key having a really solid tournament this time around.  

Spoiler

Zack running around Korakuen effortlessly evading the goons EVIL and Togo was glorious.  The whole segment was perfect.  

 

 

[lostinube]

Gabe has been protected fairly well in his losses. He basically outsmarts himself in his pursuit of violence.

The crowd ate up SANADA and Takagi. It was a first time match-up that ended with them giving each other a fist bump because they know they hit it out of the park.

Both inter-faction match-ups (Gallum/O-Khan and Gabe/Jake) ended with no hard feelings which the crowd also ate up.

Edited August 6 by lostinube

[barrybonanza]

Really excited for ZSJ vs Gabe Kidd. As cringeworthy as I find some of Kidd's schtick, I think his dynamic with ZSJ is gonna be really funny and entertaining. Should be a good match as well.

[lostinube]

The G in G1 is for Goto! Block B now has five guys (Goto, Finlay, Tsuji, Narita and Takeshita) with 8 points and Jeff Cobb with 10 with two nights left.

[Evil Otto]

I'd like to catch Goto vs. Finlay later, but I'm tapping out for tonight.  I watched the first three B Block matches and I'm fully satisfied already.  

Cobb vs. Oleg was a beastly, burly match.  Boltin's strength is borderline inhuman.  Wow.  

ELP vs. Takeshita was bananas.  Yikes.  Certainly one of the top matches of the tournament.  This could have been one special moment in time, or maybe we're seeing the first stages of a long-term rivalry.  Hard to know, but the chemistry is there.  Exploding bunsen burners perhaps, but chemistry nonetheless.  

 

[The Natural]

"As a fan of the New Japan product, I would love to see Zack Sabre win the G1 and go on to become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion,” Bryan Danielson said. “If you were to ask me whose matches I enjoy the most and what personalities I enjoy the most in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it’s Zack Sabre Jr.

“I don’t know the business metrics and all that kind of stuff. But his interviews are the most compelling to me, and in a very real way. He’s the guy I enjoy watching the most.”

I'm with you, Bryan Danielson. Zack Sabre Jr should have had this big push years ago and won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

[The Natural]

I've only watched a little.of the tournament but followed along. What are the tip top must see matches please and on what nights? Cheers.

[Chaos]

2 hours ago, The Natural said:

I've only watched a little.of the tournament but followed along. What are the tip top must see matches please and on what nights? Cheers.

I was going to make a post asking the same thing. 

[The Natural]

2 hours ago, The Natural said:

I've only watched a little.of the tournament but followed along. What are the tip top must see matches please and on what nights? Cheers.

 

1 minute ago, Chaos said:

I was going to make a post asking the same thing. 

Great minds think alike so the saying goes!

[barrybonanza]

Here are the matches I've watched up till now in this year's G1.

 

326. 20/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34: Tag 1.

Zack Sabre Jr vs The Great O-Khan.

****.

Watched: 26/07/2024.

The G-1! I'm a big sucker for tournaments, AEW's Continental Classic was an absolute blast last year, the most I've been invested in the company for a long time.

The G-1 is still the biggest and best of them though, NJPW forced to invest in new wrestlers since pretty much every notable star they had, left. The Great O-Khan to my mind is New Japan's most under rated wrestler, offering a completely unique and different vibe and style than anyone else on their roster.

This is evident in this match, which begins with O-Khan launching Sabre into the crowd. Sabre gets up and very uncharacteristically, challenges O-Khan to the house style stand and trade shots exchange. a tough guy striker is not Sabre's forte and he looks rather silly doing it, especially standing next to O-Khan. Nice to see Sabre in uncharted territory but sometimes it's uncharted for a reason.

There's not only judo throws in this match, fucking judo throws, but a series of duelling judo throws, a perfect encapsulation of the different energy O-Khan brings to the G1, which needs a wide array of styles to avoid becoming repetitive.

These two have lovely chemistry together, better than their first match against each other, it's like they've figured a rythm between them.

Spoiler

Sabre Jr sneaks a win, which manages to keep O-Khan looking relatively strong.

A fantastic, fun, breezy start to my viewing of this year's G-1!

 

327. 20/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34: Tag 1.

David Finlay vs Yuya Umera.

*** 3/4.

Watched: 26/07/2024.

Yuya Umera has come in ROH Bryan Danielson cosplay, which is cute.

Decent little match, Yuya getting more and more traction and fan adulation as the match goes on. Finlay had bit more of a swagger and confidence to him

than previous, Yuya a very plucky underdog.

335. 21/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34: Night 2.

Gabe Kidd vs The Great O-Khan.

*** 3/4.

Watched: 31/07/2024.

Interesting dynamic to Great O-Khan's matches, he's declared he wants to wrestle every opponent on their own forte, Gabe Kidd's being brawling. Kidd has declared pre match that he wants to wrestle O-Khan on the mat. It is O-Khan's wish that is granted, but the fact both wanted their respective match tells us a lot about the more unique participants in this year's G1. Kidd's a little try hard, but is putting things together with time, his moveset is already there and god he hits hard, that lariat of his is particularly nasty. 

Great little finish to this one, they brawl throughout the match, dove tailing in who has the upper hand over and over,

Spoiler

before Kidd manages to find that one opening to deliver his best shot and get the win.

Fun!

 

336. 21/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34 Night 2.

Yuya Uemura vs Hirooki Goto.

*** 3/4.

Watched: 31/07/2024.

Interesting story, Uemura one of the many new participants in the G1 this year, as decreed by President Tanahashi. Goto, the perennial loser of the G1, aims to prove he's still got a lot to add. Goto doesn't fight particularly heelish, but does apply a boston crab at one point, the move New Japan rookies have to use as their finisher, which is a neat little detail.

Commentary does a fantastic job driving the point that Goto, the veteran, has created numerous new moves of his own invention, whilst Uemura, the youngster, has a reverential dedication to using only the most fundamental of moves. 

And its the fundamentals that work for Uemura, who goes toe to toe with Goto's strike heavy offense,

Spoiler

defeating the Loser with a beautiful belly to belly suplex variation.

Fun match, not quite 4 star territory, but had a bit more emotional depth to it than the O-Khan/Kidd carnage. 

337. 23/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34 Night 3.

Konosuke Takeshita vs Jeff Cobb.

*** 1/4.

Watched: 31/07/2024.

Very bombastic match. Takeshita's clearly still suffering from the aftermath of his match with Ospreay, as this is a very Ospreay-ian match, lots of Moves for Moves sake, no particular story, just a balls to the wall throwing out there of everything both men can provide. Which isn't really for me. Cobb's power is, as always, insanely impressive. Takeshita's striking is so crisp and nasty looking, let's just hope he can dial it down a little with the bombast.

344. 20/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34 Night 1.

Yota Tsuji vs Konosuke Takeshita.

****.

Watched: 04/08/2024.

Takeshita's been piiiiiiiiissing me off lately with his dumb ass, choreographed no sell sequences. Let us hope this match is better.

Thankfully we begin with Konosuke focusing on one of his biggest strengths, a grounded, strike heavy offense, smacking Tsuji with clubbering blows. There's some very impressive feats as well, the height the man gets on his leaps into the air, he's a genetic freak.

They get a little busy in the closing stretches but the finish itself is admirably hard hitting,

Spoiler

Takeshita picking up an impressive victory in his first NJPW performance.

He still has annoying tendencies but for the most part, utilized his profound uniqueness in this one.

345. 24/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34, Night 4. 

Konosuke Takeshita vs Yuya Uemura.

****.

Watched: 04/08/2024.

If there's anyone who will refuse to partake in Takeshita's penchant for Epic Sequences, it's Mr Fundamentals himself, Yuya Uemura.

The youngster drags Takeshita into his kind of match, one with nuance and actual bloody limb work, which Takeshita to be fair follows well. Sadly, having humoured Takeshita, it's Uemura's time to humour Takeshita, as they engage in one of these no sell sequences, the arm Yuya's been targeting for the last 15 minutes suddenly healed. Lovely finish,

Spoiler

a nasty headbutt sequence followed by Uemura's beautiful bridging suplex cover. 

A real mixed match, both wrestlers representing their ideology, one dipping into the other's and vice versa during the match. I enjoy Uemura's less is more schtick, in a world of everyone desperately doing the most, by focusing on doing the fundamentals terribly well, Uemura distinguishes himself. Takeshita, as so often seems to be the case, was a mixed bag, at times selling the injured arm well, other times not so much. Uemura for the most part was a positive influence on Takeshita and the match itself, imbuing it with a bit more balance and nuance than might otherwise have been the case.

 

346. 29/07/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34  Night 7.

Shingo Takagi vs Gabe Kidd.

*** 1/2.

Watched: 04/08/2024.

Dumb, car crash wrestling, fought at a whirlwind pace, two men crashing into each other in a slightly repetitive manner.

348. 03/08/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34 Night 9.

Shingo Takagi vs Zack Sabre Jr.

**** ¼.

 

Watched: 05/08/2024.

 

Best match of the G1 so far. Really interesting clash of styles here, lots of reversals throughout, Sabre Jr like a damn slippery fish that you just can’t quite catch. It’s wrestled at a very brisk pace, about 20 minutes or so fly by, leaving the viewer desperate to watch a longer match between both. I particularly liked the finish, Shingo finally catching that damn slippery fish, able to hold him for long enough without any reversal to drop him with his finisher for the 3 count.

 

349. 04/08/2024. NJPW G1 Climax Night 10.

Hirooki Goto vs Konosuke Takeshita.

**** ¼.

Watched: 05/08/2024.

Ok fine that Shingo/Sabre match was the SECOND best match of the G1 so far. Absolutely loved the story here, with the younger competitor Takeshita overwhelming Goto with the force of his strikes early on. The gritty performance from Goto in coming back to show Takeshita he’s not ready to quit was fantastic, such heart and the crowd were clearly rooting for him. I particularly loved the finish,

Spoiler

both throwing bombs until Goto finally, after fighting from beneath the entirety of the match really, rocks Takeshita with a shot that crumples him, the New Japan camera crew capturing a perfect camera angle to show it as well. Brilliant match, close to 4.5 this one. Takeshita’s best performance of the G1 by far as well. Hirooki Goto! What a man!

351. 06/08/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34 Night 11.

Jake Lee vs Gabe Kidd.

****.

Watched: 06/08/2024.

There's some goofy elements to Gabe Kidd's persona but good god there's rarely a dull moment with him.

An unexpectedly fantastic match here, Kidd's vitality throughout this tournament elevates the tedious Jake Lee to a terrific match. 

Hilariously we start with Lee sauntering to the ring, holding two beers, ready for a nice relaxed evening with his tag partner. Kidd has other ideas and drags Lee into a war, they throw chairs at each other, tables are used as flying weapons, they even go into the Korakeun hall crowd. It works well for the match these two are having but also adds a great bit of variety into the tournament itself, mixing the formula up instead of hour after hour of similar in ring competition. The fans growing adoration for Kidd adds to the match as well, he has such a sense of chaos around him that the fans are giddy by the time they get into the ring and the bell sounds. 

Having had such a chaotic start, the in ring action has a higher sense of urgency and intrigue to it, with the fans now successfully invested.

Spoiler

The finish is absolutely fantastic, Kidd and Lee go back to the outside, Kidd has a chance to take the countout victory but being a total psycho, charges violently at Lee, who dodges, sliding back to the ring as Kidd fails to make it back in time.

Completely surprised, this match was fantastic. Really, really fun.

352. 06/08/2024. NJPW G1 Climax 34 Night 11.

Zack Sabre Jr vs EVIL.

***.

Watched: 06/08/2024.

Variety is the spice of life and here's something else completely different. EVIL and Dick Togo try and cheat their way to a super quick victory, as they so often have tried in the past against ZSJ,

Spoiler

only to be caught by a flash pin and lose in 20 seconds flat. Zack goes to celebrate in the crowd, EVIL and Togo chase him around the arena, popping up all over the place,

like it's a looney tunes film.

 

 

[Horangi]

I did write a list of some matches the other day, but here is a full list. Matches with ** next to them are highly recommended, others are matches I enjoyed so are worth watching if you have the time and/or are a fan of those involved 

Spoiler

20/7 - Osaka:

- Zack Sabre Jr vs Great O-Khan

- David Finlay vs Yuya Uemura

- Yota Tsuji vs Konosuke Takeshita**

- Tetsuya Naito vs Shingo Takagi 

21/7 - Osaka:

- Hirooki Goto vs Yuya Uemura

- Shingo Takagi vs Shota Umino

- David Finlay vs Yota Tsuji**

23/7 - Hiroshima:

- Jeff Cobb vs Konosuke Takeshita**

- Zack Sabre Jr vs Callum Newman

- Shingo Takagi vs Great O-Khan

- Shota Umino vs Gabe Kidd

25/7 - Kagawa:

- Yuya Uemura vs Konosuke Takeshita**

27/7 - Nagasaki:

- Shingo Takagi vs Callum Newman

- Zack Sabre Jr vs Jake Lee

28/7 - Fukuoka:

- Jeff Cobb vs Yuya Uemura

- HENARE vs Konosuke Takeshita

- Hirooki Goto vs Yota Tsuji**

29/7 - Fukuoka:

- Zack Sabre Jr vs Shota Umino**

- Shingo Takagi vs Gabe Kidd**

(I enjoyed Naito vs SANADA but I realise neither guy is high on anybody's list at the moment)

31/7 - Yamaguchi:

- HENARE vs Yuya Uemura

- David Finlay vs Konosuke Takeshita 

3/8 - Osaka:

- Shingo Takagi vs Zack Sabre Jr**

4/8 - Nagoya:

- David Finlay vs Boltin Oleg

- Hirooki Goto vs Konosuke Takeshita**

6/8 - Korakuen Hall:

- Gabe Kidd vs Jake Lee**

- Zack Sabre Jr vs EVIL

- SANADA vs Shingo Takagi**

7/8 - Korakuen Hall:

- Jeff Cobb vs Boltin Oleg

- El Phantasmo vs Konosuke Takeshita**

- Yota Tsuji vs HENARE

- Hirooki Goto vs David Finlay 

8/8 - Yokohama:

- Shota Umino vs Jake Lee

- Zack Sabre Jr vs Gabe Kidd**

Pretty much Zack/Gabe/Shingo in block A, and Goto/Uemura/Takeshita/Cobb in Block B have been the stand outs. I'm all on board with one last Goto hurrah but us Goto fans know to expect disappointment.

[SturmCRF]

I've watched all of it, albeit with varying levels of attention. For instance, Gabe vs Shingo probably ruled, but I was distracted trying to get a baby to sleep. My standouts are-

Takeshita vs Uemura

Takeshita vs El P

Gabe Kidd vs Jake Lee (I know! But trust me, it rules. Incredible atmosphere, Gabe gets the best out of everyone.)

Shingo vs Sanada

Gabe Kidd vs ZSJ

[Evil Otto]

I literally have nothing else to add in terms of match recommendations, other than the fact that I am in full agreement with these recent posts!

2 hours ago, Horangi said:

Pretty much Zack/Gabe/Shingo in block A, and Goto/Uemura/Takeshita/Cobb in Block B have been the stand outs. 

This really sums it up for me.  Great O-Khan stepping up deserves a shout-out in Block A, and the rest of Block B (except silly Narita) have all been reliably good to great.  

I now feel confident in saying that this has been the best G1 Climax in a looooong time.  

 

[Teflon Turtle]

Y'all have some excellent lists, in total agreement. 

I will add some additional tally marks to a few things specifically. Going in to this G1, if I was looking for match recommendations and someone would've written: "pick pretty much any Yuya Uemura match," I would've thought they either confused him with Yota or were under the influence (...why not both?). But, dude has really showed up for this tournament. 

Next, don't sleep on any of the Goto matches. Another "if you would've told me:" I did not have Finlay/Goto as an anticipated match in their block, nor did I think that would main event anything. But it was the main, and it was very, very good. 

I actually fell asleep during my first watch of SANADA/Shingo. Don't let that influence whether you watch the match - when I tried a second viewing, I thought it was great. If they wanted to run with either of those guys as IWGP Heavyweight champion again, putting the other in a Wrestle Kingdom main event opposite the champ would not be out of the question, I felt. They worked really well together. 

I've already said "Gabe Kidd rules" in this thread and he has done nothing that would alter my opinion for the worse even a little bit. His match with ZSJ from the most recent show (day 13) is must-watch, I think.

Finally: shoutout to Chris Charlton on commentary for throwing out Flaming Lips and Simpsons references on day 13, also. He has made Simpsons references before but his commentary last night had "one of us" all over it.

[Ace]

Yuya Uemura is out for the rest of the tournament due to an arm injury.

[Horangi]

Sucks about Yuya, he was having a great tournament and thought he was a good shot of going through.  His match with Tsuji looked like it was building up to something really good until he got hurt. 

Add Takeshita vs Boltin to the recommended list

[The Natural]

6 hours ago, Ace said:

Yuya Uemura is out for the rest of the tournament due to an arm injury.

This a such a physical tournament with wrestlers getting banged up and gutting it out to completion unless they absolutely can't. Surprised Shota Umino and Tetsuya Naito are still going. Umino with his bad hip. Naito with his mileage, eye and knees.

[Horangi]

Spoiler

So anyone have O-Khan advancing in their pick 'ems?

 

[The Man Known as Dan]

Without mentioning specific spoiler, I love the final 3 from Block A.

Edited August 12 by The Man Known as Dan

[lostinube]

They actually did it.

Spoiler

O-Khan beat Naito in the main event to take the final spot in the A Block.

ZSJ beat SANADA to solidify his place at the top.

Takagi beat Lee to keep the hope alive that EVIL didn't advance. (if Lee had won, EVIL was in no matter what)

Umino finally overcomes EVIL with Tanahashi's "help" to finally end that fear.

 

Edited August 12 by lostinube

[Evil Otto]

Tonight was tremendous in every way possible.  Above and beyond my expectations.  

[Teflon Turtle]

I know folks around here aren't high on SANADA, for very valid reasons. But, he and ZSJ have some of the best in-ring chemistry in wrestling. They've had multiple singles matches against each other over the years, and all of them have been a joy to watch. It was kinda crazy to see their match be the 2nd tournament match of the night on the last show given how good it was, though understandable as the stakes were low. 

[lostinube]

Block B is set:

Spoiler

Finlay finishes on top. Despite HOT shenanigans Takeshita beat Narita and Tsuji beat Cobb. Takagi/Khan and Takeshita/Tsuji tomorrow.

 

[lostinube]

Tsuji/Takeshita is the main event tonight with Takagi/O-Khan as the semi-main. Before that, Hartley Jackson, who has been doing shots with AJPW, GLEAT, Zero-1 and others, will be teaming with Zack against Finlay and Gedo in a meeting of the block winners.

[lostinube]

Spoiler

Takagi beats O-Khan and Tsuji beats Takeshita. Saturday is Takagi/ZSJ and Tsuji/Finlay and Sunday is the finals.