NJPW G1 Climax XXXV.

[Niners Fan in CT]

There have been some great matches of course but dammit the booking is getting frustrating.  I've come this far so I will let it play out before saying too much. 

[Horangi]

The people they've been needing to step up have (Yuya, Tsuji, Oiwa etc) which has been great, I think the negative feeling now is that of the 6 finalists, only 1 (MAYBE 2 - Shota could take the last Block B spot, I don't see Narita beating Takeshita) is one of the Reiwa guys, and that 1 (Tsuji) probably doesn't need it as much as the others.

As this tournament has played out, I think the heavily rumoured winner 'leaked' by VOW is looking very much the likely winner

Spoiler

KONOSUKE TAKESHITA - which is fine if it leads to him beating Zack and then dropping to someone else at the Dome, I think a long-term part time champion is the last thing they need right now when they have to build new stars. 

[Evil Otto]

44 minutes ago, Horangi said:

The people they've been needing to step up have (Yuya, Tsuji, Oiwa etc) which has been great, I think the negative feeling now is that of the 6 finalists, only 1 (MAYBE 2 - Shota could take the last Block B spot, I don't see Narita beating Takeshita) is one of the Reiwa guys, and that 1 (Tsuji) probably doesn't need it as much as the others.

As this tournament has played out, I think the heavily rumoured winner 'leaked' by VOW is looking very much the likely winner

  Reveal hidden contents

KONOSUKE TAKESHITA - which is fine if it leads to him beating Zack and then dropping to someone else at the Dome, I think a long-term part time champion is the last thing they need right now when they have to build new stars. 

Spoiler

Yeah, I've had a hunch it would be Takeshita from the start.  He signs a dual contract, is booked once more in the tournament, loses the Never belt to Oleg, not factored in any AEW world title picture yet still heavily protected.  

Don Callis gets to gloat about it on AEW tv, which further puts over New Japan in the process, leading to more tension between Takeshita and Okada.  The signs are all there.  He's the uncrowned champion, arguably the best wrestler in the world (or at least on the short list),  Zack pins him in their first encounter (winning the G1 will rectify that); it's a long list which adds up.  

Personally, I think it's a great idea.  Why this guy doesn't have a belt and isn't sitting at the top of a promotion is beyond me.  His star presence overshadows everyone else in this tournament.  New Japan needs someone like him at this point in time.  I don't think he needs to defeat Zack immediately, but he could do so in the fall.  They could also stretch it out until WK, allowing Zack to have some really great defenses along the way to build him up as an unbeatable prick, which they failed to do in his first reign.  

I'm on board with it, and always have been.  

 

Edited August 11 by Evil Otto

[Curt McGirt]

10 hours ago, Horangi said:

As this tournament has played out, I think the heavily rumoured winner 'leaked' by VOW is looking very much the likely winner

  Hide contents

KONOSUKE TAKESHITA - which is fine if it leads to him beating Zack and then dropping to someone else at the Dome, I think a long-term part time champion is the last thing they need right now when they have to build new stars. 

All I'm thinking if this happens is that 

Spoiler

Don Callis is gonna have something so big to crow about on the air. It'll be fantastic. 

He probably deserves it, though I haven't seen any of the G1. 

 

[dorfus malorfus]

In the last 12 years only 4 different native talent have won the G1 climax -- Tanahashi, Okada, Naito and Ibushi. Omega and Zach are the only other winners. It's kind of incredible that in a roster so vast they've pulled the trigger on almost nobody in over a decade. 

[Salads]

My home internet went out for a week at the beginning of the tournament so RIP my chances of properly catching up, but Oiwa/Uemura reminds me why I like pro wrestling.

[username]

22 hours ago, dorfus malorfus said:

In the last 12 years only 4 different native talent have won the G1 climax -- Tanahashi, Okada, Naito and Ibushi. Omega and Zach are the only other winners. It's kind of incredible that in a roster so vast they've pulled the trigger on almost nobody in over a decade. 

Coincidentally that would be right around the same time the G1 winner got the Wrestle Kingdom title shot/main event. Much like the Royal Rumble that sort of inherently limits how many people will be given the chance to win one.

[Niners Fan in CT]

So much interference.  I cannot stand these Ren Narita matches or EVIL for that matter.  Great to see Takeshita advance to the playoffs.  I don't know who is going to win but Takeshita is the guy who should.  

[The Natural]

19 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

So much interference.  I cannot stand these Ren Narita matches or EVIL for that matter.  Great to see Takeshita advance to the playoffs.  I don't know who is going to win but Takeshita is the guy who should.  

House of Torture fucking suck.

My pick at the start was Yota Tsuji so hoping he wins. If he doesn't, Konosuke Takeshita.

[The Natural]

NJPW G1 Climax 35 remaining schedule:

16 August:

Semifinal match: EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji.

Semifinal match: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Konosuke Takeshita.

17 August:

Tournament finals.

---

It's not going to happen but it would be a hell of a statement if the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion won. I think the last was the then IWGP Heavyweight Championship held by Keiji Muto.

[Teflon Turtle]

The funny thing is, if you take away the HoT shenanigans, I think this year's G1 is the best Narita has looked as a worker since coming back from excursion. I dunno, maybe I'm crazy. While the whole HoT thing doesn't seem to be going anywhere and I don't know how they'll ultimately get elevated from it, being in the stable has at the very least given Narita and SHO the personality they were lacking before. 

Another possible sign of my descent into madness: I get to write the sentence "Y'all should really check out the YOSHI-HASHI vs. ZSJ match from the last block B night" in 2025. I'm not advocating for YOSHI-HASHI to get a run at the heavyweight championship like Goto did. While he supposedly wasn't even meant to be in the G1 this year, he had solid matches through the tournament, and ultimately the story seemed to be that it was all so he could arrive at this match to try to avenge Goto. YH left it all out there and turned in a great performance in this match.

 

Edited August 14 by Teflon Turtle

[Evil Otto]

1 hour ago, Teflon Turtle said:

The funny thing is, if you take away the HoT shenanigans, I think this year's G1 is the best Narita has looked as a worker since coming back from excursion. I dunno, maybe I'm crazy. While the whole HoT thing doesn't seem to be going anywhere and I don't know how they'll ultimately get elevated from it, being in the stable has at the very least given Narita and SHO the personality they were lacking before. 

Another possible sign of my descent into madness: I get to write the sentence "Y'all should really check out the YOSHI-HASHI vs. ZSJ match from the last block B night" in 2025. I'm not advocating for YOSHI-HASHI to get a run at the heavyweight championship like Goto did. While he supposedly wasn't even meant to be in the G1 this year, he had solid matches through the tournament, and ultimately the story seemed to be that it was all so he could arrive at this match to try to avenge Goto. YH left it all out there and turned in a great performance in this match.

 

A lot of wrestlers, Ren included, stepped it up in this year's G1.  People who don't watch regularly (not referring to people who post here) will dismiss the tournament as lacking star power, but the biggest story, by far, is how promising these young prospects are.  There is a great wrestler still within Ren Narita, and yes, we saw it quite a few times during this tournament.  I would hope they tell a story where he eventually breaks away from HoT.  I mean, that has to be the long-term payoff, right?  

Yoshi-Hashi vs. Takeshita was also really great.  The thing that I truly appreciate about Yoshi-Hashi is that he knows he to play his role perfectly and always makes you believe he has a chance.  The Bishamon tag team did wonders for him as it gave him some long-needed legitimacy.  I used to hate him, but he won me over.  He's truly earned his spot.

[dorfus malorfus]

I always thought Wataru Inoue as a heavyweight was so disappointing considering how top shelf he was as a junior. YOSHI-HASHI in a weird way has become what I'd hoped for from the heavyweight Wataru -- a super solid midcard veteran who can job to anyone & everyone but also credibly get a win over anyone in the roster on the right night. Even Bishamon always felt like the non-wet fart version of the Nagata/Inoue tag team. They should put him (HASHI, not retired Wataru) in the G1 semis one year against some monster and give him a million near falls just for the spectacle of it 

[The Natural]

My predictions in bold:

16 August:

Semifinal match: EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji.

Semifinal match: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Konosuke Takeshita.

17 August:

Tournament finals:

Yota Tsuji vs. Konosuke Takeshita.

I picked Tsuji from the start but wouldn't be surprised if Takeshita does.

[Pete]

Man, I'm really hoping 

Spoiler

Tsuji was injured/KO'd at the end there. Because there's no rational reason whatsoever for EVIL to beat him otherwise.

 

[The Natural]

Spoiler

Never expected EVIL to beat Yota Tsuji even with Gedo's love in for House of Torture. What the flying fuck? Only explanation is if Tsuji was hurt. Konosuke Takeshita is going to have to carry EVIL and then some as the G1 especially the final is work rate/match quality first and foremost. I was rooting for Zack Sabre Jr, my fellow Englishman to go all the way as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

 

Edited August 16 by The Natural

[The Natural]

3 hours ago, Pete said:

Man, I'm really hoping 

  Hide contents

Tsuji was injured/KO'd at the end there. Because there's no rational reason whatsoever for EVIL to beat him otherwise.

 

On that:

Spoiler

Haven't watched but that's the only reason for EVIL to beat Yota Tsuji. I feel for Tsuji especially if he was going to win the whole thing like I predicted. Still remember the G1 Climax Final from a few years ago when Kazuchika Okada beat Kota Ibushi as he dislocated his shoulder. I'm sure Okada was going over anyway. If it's not an injury, Gedo needs the book removing. Konosuke Takeshita is going to have his work cut out for him as would have Zack Sabre Jr.

 

[Doragon]

Let's go

Spoiler

EVIL!

 

[Niners Fan in CT]

What the fuck is wrong with Gedo? 

[The Natural]

21 minutes ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

What the fuck is wrong with Gedo? 

Gedo should have lost the book a few years ago now.

[The Natural]

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=111&nr=121287

[Niners Fan in CT]

1 minute ago, The Natural said:

Gedo should have lost the book a few years ago now.

I think everyone would agree that NJPW took too long to push their younger talent right?  So why in 2025 is Gedo still not believing in the young guys?  Hell, the young guys aren't even really that young anymore lol.  

NJPW won't dig themselves out of this rut until the fans have something to believe in.  I agree that Gedo is out of ideas and should hand over the book. 

[EVA]

It seems like intentional booking to set up Take as a big hero who saves the G1 from HoT. However, at least among the Western fanbase, it seems to be backfiring in a big way. Take is even getting heat for being booked to take a spot that “should” go to one of the young NJPW guys.

I’d be curious to know how the Japanese fans are taking this.

Edited August 16 by EVA

[The Natural]

21 minutes ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

I think everyone would agree that NJPW took too long to push their younger talent right?  So why in 2025 is Gedo still not believing in the young guys?  Hell, the young guys aren't even really that young anymore lol.  

NJPW won't dig themselves out of this rut until the fans have something to believe in.  I agree that Gedo is out of ideas and should hand over the book. 

Not pushing the younger talent sooner is another knock on the booking with Kazuchika Okada/Kenny Omega/Will Ospreay leaving and Hiroshi Tanahashi/Tetsuya Naito/Kota Ibushi broken down. Took forever for Zack Sabre Jr to get the main event push last year he should have had years ago. You need to strike when the iron is hot.

I like Yota Tsuji. Yuya Uemura, Ren Narita though wish he was away from House of Torture BS, David Finlay, Ryohei Oiwa and Oleg Boltin. Shota Umino doesn't have it. Problem is the bad booking and just doesn't compare to peak NJPW still fresh in the memories: 2012-2019.

Gedo should have been replaced as head booker years ago. The fans online are really pissed at EVIL beating Hiroshi Tanahashi in his last G1 and now Yota Tsuji in the semi-final. It's inexcusable.

Edited August 16 by The Natural

[The Natural]

I have a fear now EVIL is going all the way because the draw for Wrestle Kingdom 20 is Hiroshi Tanahashi's retirement. Kinda like how the Royal Rumble show in the past has has lesser world championship matches as it's all about the Royal Rumble match.

Edited August 16 by The Natural