G1 Climax 31 is halfway done and while the world still waits for a hit, if you’re patient (and who can be!?) there have been some good matches. Waiting on a few more interesting ones. Midway through, Zack Sabre Jr., Tomohiro Ishii and Shingo Takagi are your Block A MVP’s. YOSHI-HASHI is holding it down for Block B and depending on the day Okada or Tanahashi might be too.
“Back to school, it’s a bad situation…”
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 9 (10/3/21)
1. Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Kosei Fujita
Fujita got the business from Kanemaru a couple days after fellow young lion Oiwa received similar. Some guys stretch, some hit an enzuigiri – Kanemaru does both.
2. Toru Yano vs. BUSHI
Another nice BUSHI tope did not save this match of hijinks and trickery. DUD
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Great-O-Khan vs. KENTA
The lesser version of O-Khan’s match with ZSJ, this had a fun dynamic but not enough energy to totally work. O-Khan goes with being a weirdo, KENTA with being a prick. The decision to go 20 minutes stretched out some good content too long, but there was absolutely some fun here.
Highlights from O-Khan: sits on KENTA in the corner, double five-stars his back, sits on his ass for a cradle. Highlights from KENTA: wins a slapfest, throws chairshots, hits a double foot stomp with the O-Khan hat on his head. It worked! ***
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Tanga Loa vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Yujiro did a tope in this match and was just so triumphant afterwards. Otherwise, I guess they tried. Loa hits a nice spear and sit-out powerbomb, Yujiro a scary-for-a-second Olympic slam. Then came Apeshit. **
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Here are two boys who are just brimming with a distinct kind of attitude bell-to-bell. ZSJ tried to out-wrestle Ishii and wreck his arm, Ishii threw chops and just endured holds. Each guy’s ability to sell a moment put it over the top. ZSJ did a few awesome out-of-nowhere arm-grab counters that kept Ishii struggling but eventually a big headbutt set Zack straight. Good times. ****
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
Shingo Takagi is out here running hard each and every night while Ibushi is * whispers* kind of working the G1 like it’s a reunion tour, so it takes a while for Shingo to find his groove if he does at all. Given Ibushi is working lighter and being a little more careful with his movements, the match is less high-impact than their one in the G1 last year. That’s acceptable considering the circumstances, though it also means you’re left with a Really Really Good Shingo/Ibushi match that feels like it’s missing something. I’m so spoiled. ***3/4
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 10 (10/4/21)
1. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens
Back to Korakuen, and Tanahashi is exchanging armbars with Chase Owens. There’s never a moment here where it all clicks and Chase feels like a guy that will actually beat Tanahashi, but after a missed High Fly Flow and V-Trigger and package piledriver (among other things) he just does. **3/4
2. G1 Climax – Block B: EVIL vs. Tama Tonga
The crowd got into Tama Tonga’s little rally here and once again I found myself thinking “OK maybe” — and then the lights went out at Korakuen. When they came back on, EVIL and the referee were laid out, Togo got on the apron, Jado hit Togo with a stick, and EVIL hit Tama with a low blow en route to a win. Weird, poorly executed ending to what was approaching a pretty good match. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Taichi vs. Jeff Cobb
Like the triumph Yujiro experienced over performing a tope, the pride on Jeff Cobb’s face after he cracks Taichi in the face with a real Strong Style (j/k) elbow is just adorable. He throws Taichi around with a lot of suplexes too, but never seems that impressed. That’s the day job I guess. Taichi mostly employed kicks here to gain the advantage, though at one point he just started choking him and it seemed to be the most effective thing. Solid 15-minute match that was a little lifeless. ***
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI
Yes, this ruled. Certain guys just know how to work a New Japan match, and I mean a real serious New Japan match brewing compelling drama out of the simplest things (plus a few really stiff-ass chops). The YOSHI dynamic carried the night again as he brought it to Goto right away and just kept bringing it. They took their time to get things popping but after 15 minutes they got there. YOSHI is looking more comfortable trading counters and signatures than ever, and he absolutely wrecked himself on the final GTR too. ***3/4
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
Like a lot of this year’s G1 you can probably catch a similar match with less clapping and more gasping, but it’s not like Okada and SANADA aren’t up to the job for a nearly 30-minute Korakuen Hall main event. I wish the job expectations were a little higher at this point, but still. SANADA sold his leg at all the right moments if not the whole time, and I liked how they kept having to surprise each other with a sudden move to take over. ***3/4
Happy Thoughts: The undercards remain a mixed bag but the semi-main and main events of nights nine and ten delivered, even if both main events have better examples of themselves in recent history. 3.0 / 5.0
