Folks, the facts are clear: the G1 Climax is departing Tokyo and headed to Hiroshima and Kōchi for nights eleven and twelve. It’s also almost all Block A main events with Great O-Khan from here on out. Let’s go… khan.
“How fast we burn…”
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 11 (10/7/21)
1. El Desperado vs. Ryohei Oiwa
El Despy smacks Oiwa around, refuses a crab hold, and is standing up as he submits him — the man strikes again.
2. KENTA vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Good to see Hiromu, good to see Hiromu vs. KENTA, maybe not so good to see Hiromu vs. KENTA go a whole 20. Hiromu uses his youthful energy to out-pace KENTA early on until, you know – chairs. They had a fine GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title match that felt a few steps behind. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Tanga Loa
I was thinking about how good Ibushi/Hunico could’ve been and then this match suddenly got awesome. Tanga Loa looks more dominant on offense here than ever, mostly because Ibushi bounces and practically bends around for him but also because Loa has embraced the G1 need to just elbow a guy really hard in the face. They have a whole good match with quality near falls and even a reverse hurricanrana from Loa. Might be a rib and everyone’s gonna do one this year. ***1/2
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yujiro Takahashi
When Yujiro bites Zack Sabre’s foot during this match it feels weirdly at home with the Zack Sabre style, probably because before and after it Yujiro actually showed some tricks on the mat and kept up. It carried the match all the way up to the very game finish. Well played. ***1/4
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Toru Yano
I definitely did not expect Shingo to go 25 minutes with Yano and have a G1 epic, and he did not. *1/2
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Great-O-Khan
O-Khan’s strength and size and general weirdness contrasted well here as an obstacle for Ishii, who can run through the motions and manage a great match but is always game when someone’s being extra. They provided the build and near falls of a proper G1 main event, and seeing O-Khan match up in multiple new singles matches against guys in G1 form has been one of the highlights of the G1 so him against the ultimate G1 form guy was cool. There’s an issue with the best thing about the thing being a new thing, but hey — that’s the thing!
Helps that this is plenty stiff too. At one point late in the match O-Khan holds his hands behind his back to absorb some elbows, and they both don’t seem to hold back on a couple headbutts. With so many old favorites inevitably slowing down, it is just nice to see a new bruiser prepared to chop his way into everybody’s hearts for another many more years. ****
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 12 (10/8/21)
1. El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita
El Despy smacks Oiwa around, refuses a crab hold, and when he doesn’t tap out he punches him into submission — the man strikes again..
2. G1 Climax – Block B: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tama Tonga
Friday morning and YOSHI’s working out of a chinlock. Passable if not totally awesome G1 match where YOSHI delivers a reliably triumphant lariat en route to the finish. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Chase Owens
Chase gets bodied by a belly-to-belly suplex towards the end here, but he starts this with a tope and and keeps bringing it to poor Goto who sells and sells and even loses an elbow exchange like the poor bastard he is now. When they really get the action and counters moving Chase is game, but those are brief moments in an otherwise just OK match. **3/4
4. G1 Climax – Block B: SANADA vs. Jeff Cobb
Good match between two guys you want to see just go nuts and they rarely do. Just as I typed that SANADA screamed and went at Cobb with elbows. If you’re gonna dominate though, be more dominant. If you’re gonna be athletic and cool, win more matches. They hit some decent spots but nothing held it together, especially for 15 minutes. **1/2
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
Tanahashi is holding his balls in agony 30 seconds in, so that’s how this match went. Ace sold for EVIL and played tricks for Togo, and while the framework of the match was Ok the current House of Torture act is one of the few things even babyface Tana can’t make lemonade out of. **3/4
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi
Taichi was the Great O-Khan of a few years ago, this weirdo guy who brought something different to the main event while still capably performing the reliable awesome main event. Now he blends in a bit more, but just like he did last year he cut such a pace with Okada that Okada was pestered into having a great match. It’s really a match that just feels like a mid-range Okada title defense, but we’ll take it. They pulled off some of the most dramatic near falls of the tournament here, real serious G1 Climax work. ***3/4
Happy Thoughts: Block A brought it a little for night eleven, but the only stuff I can honestly say may be worth seeking out are the two main events and the weird Tanga Loa gem. 2.25 / 5.0
