NJPW G1 Climax 33 rolls on with Day 11 of the tournament. Featuring 6th Round action between A & B Block competitors.
The tournament’s new format for this year: 4 blocks, 8 wrestlers per block, 2 progress out into the Quarter Finals and it’s a knockout format from there.
Shows feature 8 matches each, 2 blocks getting through a round of match-ups. Finally, there’s a 20 minute time-limit for the matches this year, something to kick up the pace of the action… for everyone except EVIL (I’ll never get that time back).
With that explained, let’s proclaim this year’s “Born in the ring!” slogan and get to these results.
REFRESH FOR UPDATED RESULTS AS THE SHOW ROLLS ON.
A BLOCK
Kaito Kiyomiya vs Hikuleo
Big lad Hikuleo charging in off the bell, met by forearms but winning out in the end by using his power to send the NOAH star over-head. Using that advantage to quickly make use of those ringside barricades.
Back in the ring and Kiyomiya found a footing by literally attacking his opponent’s, stomping on the foot and focusing his attacks on the leg. Hikuleo’s charge a moment later, still grounds the man, but he’s hobbling as he does so.
The damage helping with Kaito’s fight back flow, aiding in him being able to suplex the large gentleman on over for a damn near fall. Also aiding in his survival a moment later, the Tongan nailing a Powerslam, but in landing on the knee was unable to follow up with any pin attempt.
Hikuleo’s Powerbomb attempt reversed with a Rana pin, a near fall sending us into a fast closing spree. Kiyomiya going for a second Rana, caught, but able to hop out onto his feet, only to be span right around with a Powerslam after bouncing off the ropes.
The tall man not hesitating for a second before hoisting the NOAH lad up into a Chokeslam for the win. Keeping himself alive for the final round of the blocks with that victory.
WINNER: Hikuleo (6 points)
B BLOCK
Great O’Khan vs YOSHI-HASHI
O’Khan showing the strength of his ground melody, the lad able to keep singing head choke submission in the center of the ring for the first for minutes. YOSHI-HASHI only just able to hook a leg onto the ropes after taking a fair amount of damage.
The Mongolian shouts ringing out as the chops came raining down, the United Empire man still holding full control. A back-body drop cementing that fact for a “5 minutes passed” near fall.
YH finally showing some offence with a basement dropkick taking O’Khan off his feet, nailing Headhunter soon after as momentum fully swung. The Great One now the man having to fight back in, managing to successfully to do so with an Torture Rack spinning out into a Neckbreaker.
The Claw draining the energy out of the CHAOS man, following up with a Suplex crashing YH over head and a Piledriver resulting in a damn close near fall. O’Khan’s determination costing him as going for the Claw a second time results in a DDT reversal from his opponent.
YOSHI-HASHI fired up and charging in with a lariat, Great O’Khan firing back, but the CHAOS man’s fire breathed heavier as the second lariat grounded. A true back and forth followed. YH following up with a Powerbomb near fall, O’Khan reversing a suplex into a snap one of his own, swinging back yet again as the original suplex was finally nailed into a near fall.
O’Khan doing what he can to end that flow, locking in the Claw to drain his man, but YOSHI-HASHI refuses to die down that easily. YHighting out of the Eliminator and amping up to charge back in… only to be powered up and slammed back down with the Eliminator.
WINNER: Great O’Khan (4 points)
A BLOCK
Chase Owens vs Ren Narita
Cheeky Chase doing what he can to gain an early advantage, the collar-and-elbow tie ups clearly not to his benefit as he resorts to hair pulling the young’un to the mat.
The trash talking afterwards igniting an aggressive violence in Narita, him being the one to take the action to ringside and whip Owens into the barricade. The man making a statement, but soon regretting losing his focus as his opponent dropped him on the apron.
The Bullet Club Canadian assuming control in the ring, Narita using his impressive ground game to get back in, as the cheeky baddie uses his veteran guile. A swift transition into a choke quickly cut off with a simple drop into the ropes.
The Son of Strong Style with a bridge pin, beautifully floating over into going for the knee strike. Owens evading, clapping the ears, nailing a C-Trigger and opts straight for the Package Piledriver. His desperation to hit that killing blow costing him, as Narita wriggled free and locked in the Cobra Twist.
The Canadian escaping, but Narita was able to counter an attempted Jewel Heist right back into the Cobra Twist. Chase Owens tapping out!
WINNER: Ren Narita (4 points)
B BLOCK
El Phantasmo vs TAICHI
A respectful start, tie-ups elevating into a test of strength chop exchange. A swift spin kick from TAICHI ending that, but ELP responded in style with a Rana sending the singing guy to the outside for a dive.
Charlie Horse-ing about ringside, walking TAICHI over the the man’s front row fans for a bit of cheeky chinwag. That play costing ELP, as immediately after his Springboard DDT was met with a straight forearm to the face. The Just 5 Guys chap tying him up and draining the lad’s energy.
Phantasmo’s fight back coming in style, nailing a Spingboard Crossbody and getting right back up with no wasted motion into a Lionsault. The Canadian getting to enjoy his near fall in the sun, the moment fading soon after via TAICHI’s kicks and OFF COME THE PANTS.
TAICHI amping up with the Kawada style kicks, only for ELP to jump with an Enziguri of his own before his opponent could deliver the heavy hitters. Phantasmo hyping up in the corner, only to be caught and soon clobbered on down with a stiff AF lariat.
The Suplex leading into a near fall sends TAICHI into a roaring charge up, who gets walloped with a Superkick outta nowhere! The follow up CR2 attempt immediately cut off and met with a thrust kick of TAICHI’s making.
A hell of a sequence as the pace kicked up a gear. Black Mafisto, no, CR2, no, sulpex, no, O’Conner Role, no, Gedo Clutch 1, 2 – kick out! ELP quickly into a Gedo Clutch of his own, 1, 2- kick out.
Both lads staggering to their fight and roaring with their swings, Phantasmo hitting the final blow with another Superkick. Wasting no motion once again as he quickly rolled TAICHI up with the Gedo Clutch once more for the win.
WINNER: El Phantasmo (6 points)
A BLOCK
Gabe Kidd vs SANADA (IWGP Heavyweight Champion)
No surprise attack tonight with Kidd out first. Immediately changing the aura by ripping the barricades away and storming through the crowd. I lied about that surprise attack by the way, Gabe taking full advantage the instant SANADA posed on the apron. Lamping the man from behind with his NJPW Strong tag team title.
No holding back as the Notts lad crashed a steel chair right into the champion’s noggin. Forcing the ref to start the bell and going for that quick pin, for crashing the man out to ringside and trying to force the count.
Kidd in full no-nonsense mode as he took SANADA out into the crowd, screaming in a poor woman’s face, “MOOVE!” before crashing the champion into the chairs. Making a whole section evacuate so he could launch in with a diving dropkick.
Gabe’s heel antics going magma, but his violence and cusses were eventually met with comeuppance. SANADA fighting back and dragging the man out ringside for some revenge, dropping him down on the concrete with a Piledriver.
However, the champion took too long and Kidd whipped him over the barricade to try and sneak a quick count-out victory. 18, 19 and SANADA only just beats the count.
The cheeky chap antics not stopping as the War Dog went for a full on choke, dangling SANADA from the ropes. Then the Just 5 Guys leader’s momentum was cut off again via a low blow and Jumping Piledriver, the man only just kicking out and surviving.
Not long later karma came in the form of a swift kick to the dick for Kidd. The cheekiness paid back in kind as SANADA was more than willing to give back what he was owed. Following up with a Shining Wizard to set up the Deadfall victory.
The IWGP Heavyweight Champion still at full points this G1.
WINNER: SANADA (12 points)
B BLOCK
Tanga Loa vs Will Ospreay (IWGP US Champion)
Tongan power on full display early on as Loa hossed his opponent about, showing Ospreay he could somewhat counter the Englishman’s speed.
A flying forearm soon cut Tanga down, giving Will a tad of respite, but the power was there to eventually counter him yet again. The Guerilla able to send the United Empire lead to the mat with one straight forearm. The strong fella following up with an impressive Three Amigos, but with the third walking in a stall into the Jackhammer.
A quick sequence leaving both men down, Ospreay nailing the Hook Kick sending Loa into responding with a Blue Thunder. The power of Loa continuing to be a problem for Will, the man able to counter out of a lot of offence.
Ospreay finally able to reverse and set his opponent up for the OsCutter, scoring a near fall but showing there was a way around the power. That said, shortly after Tanga Loa was cutting off a barricade OsCutter, to send Will flying into an evacuated area of seats. The Guerilla Of Destiny following up with a mighty Spear into the even more seats.
Ospreay slowly crawling his way back to beat the count, only for Loa to launch in with a ringside second Spear on 18. The referee count reaching 20 and we have a huge upset with Tanga Loa winning via count out.
WINNER: Tanga Loa (6 points)
A BLOCK
Yota Tsuji vs Shota Umino
Two of our Reiwa young’uns out to impress in soaring style. Tsuji’s tope flying with force as he crashes Umino into the barricade.
Back in the ring and both lads start swinging, Yota nailing his opponent in the ribs and assuming some control. Shota fighting back and rebounding back into the action with a flying uppercut just after the 5 minute mark, the man clutching his ribs between each move.
Tsuji taking full advantage at the 10 minute mark as a suplex into the corner sends Umino crashing out, the man calling for another dive as he amps up. The Shooter catching him, draping him and nailing a running dropkick, finding a stronger footing in the match following a Slingshot DDT back in the ring.
Tsuji cutting off the Death Rider with a whole string of offence, hitting a flash Stomp and then nailing it properly, but the his spear was caught off and Flapjacked down to be tangled in the Crossface. Both men managing to cut each other off and deliver some wear and tear.
15 minutes passed and we enter a straight up strike battle, forearms for days escalating into a series of kicks of Tsuji, counter strikes from Umino and a headbutt grounding them both. Yota collapsing to the mat with his wide grin.
3 minutes remaining and Mr Gene Blast nailed an awesome toss off the top rope, Umino somehow surviving and managing to meet an amped up following Spear attempt with a jumping Double Stomp. Swinging into control with the jumping Swinging Neckbreaker, the elevated Underhook DDT getting the nearest of near falls.
1 minute remaining and it seems we’re destined for a draw. Death Rider fought out of, popped up and nailed with a Spear! Tsuji takes it at the death!
WINNER: Yota Tsuji (5 points)
MAIN EVENT
B BLOCK
KENTA vs Kazuchika Okada
Kazu having to try and best the cheeky chappy in the main event. Will KENTA change his ways at all for the big stage? Ha, of course not.
Okada trying to inject some focused flow as his opponent does everything he can to cut any momentum out from under him. Crashing the Rainmaker around ringside before rolling him back into the ring for some lovely kicks, trapping the man’s head in a triangle to wear him down further.
Whenever Okada found a footing, KENTA was right there crashing him right back out and ruining that flow. Our Bullet Club viper successfully playing that game all the way to the final 5 minutes, the referee crashing down and KENTA signalling it’s weapons time.
The DEFY World Title and kendo stick making an entrance, but Okada swung in to halt the beatings. Kazu fighting back with the 3 minute call, but KENTA firing in with stiff AF palms to the face. The man finally getting series, a couple flying knees crashing Okada down, but there weren’t not enough.
Okada dodging a third and crashing KENTA down, following up with the Landslide and we all know what that means. Rainmaker Clothesline for the win and KENTA is eliminated from the G1.
WINNER: Kazuchika Okada (10 points)
UPDATED BLOCK STANDINGS
A BLOCK
SANADA – 12 points
Hikuleo – 6 points
Kaito Kiyomiya – 6 points
Shota Umino – 6 points
Gabe Kidd – 5 points
Yota Tsuji – 5 points
Chase Owens – 4 points
Ren Narita – 4 points
B BLOCK
Kazuchika Okada – 10 points
Will Ospreay – 8 points
El Phantasmo – 6 points
TAICHI- 6 points
Tanga Loa- 6 points
Great O’Khan – 4 points
KENTA – 4 points
YOSH-HASHI – 4 points
PREVIOUS NJPW G1 CLIMAX 33 RESULTS
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 1 Results 7/15/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 2 Results 7/16/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 3 Results 7/18/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 4 Results 7/19/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 5 Results 7/21/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 6 Results 7/23/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 7 Results 7/25/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 8 Results 7/26/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 9 Results 7/27/23
NJPW G1 Climax 33 Day 10 Results 7/30/23