G1 Climax 2021 is nearing its’ natural conclusion and I was never a big “math guy” so I don’t get into point logic much until the Finals are physically listed on a matchlist. Okada, Cobb, ZSJ, Shingo, Ibushi and KENTA seem to be doing pretty good though.
“Where people like me are found by people like you…”
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 13 (10/9/21)
1. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
Oiwa and Fujita are on the G1 tour to get smacked around and here they did it together. Despy and Kanemaru are efficient at it, especially Despy who just looked pissed he even had to be there.
2. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Ishii can slot any number of limited wrestlers into his formula and make it work, but this felt like more of a Hiromu match as other than some early tone-setting stuff they played it equal until the end. Ishii was moving and bumping around for Hiromu and while it lacked a little energy or stiffness to make it completely work, it definitely worked. ***1/2
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. KENTA
The unnecessary 20+ minute G1 match becomes necessary when the chemistry is two guys endlessly kicking or countering or wrapping each other into holds of complex nature. This match had all the attitude, two guys with reels of historical evidence that they will kick a man when he’s down. ZSJ eventually catches most opponents into a stretch they can’t escape for victory, but KENTA says no sir and creates one of the best near falls of the G1. The selling is top notch and ZSJ is a bumping madman towards the end too. ****
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Here they are, the wrestlers. A pile of shit. DUD
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Tanga Loa
Other than a standing moonsault from Loa and Shingo headbutting his chestplate (once), this was a lot of time spent on Loa beating up Shingo. The wrestling was nice and physical (also briefly concerning), but by the time Shingo took over and it started clicking, too much time had gone by. Good, solid, that kind of wrestling. ***
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Great-O-Khan
This match rules. Great O-Khan has been a wildcard of a wrestler since he was first introduced and here he is in the main event against THE wildcard of wrestling. Both are cautious as they feel each other out early, and they ensure you believe they genuinely have no idea what to expect of each other. Each guy tries to use takedowns or strikes to find an opening, but when Ibushi randomly busts out a figure-four leglock that just feels like it works too.
Eventually O-Khan uses his sheer mass to control Ibushi for a bit and as Ibushi rallies, O-Khan brings out the big stuff to try to stop it: judo takeover, straight punch to the face, iron claw to counter the Kamigoye. The last one got a gasp from the crowd. I was just going on about how Ibushi seemed to be working lighter with Shingo, and here he and O-Khan got in the ring and just messed each other up. High quality, fun, and sometimes just weird wrestling. ****1/4
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 NIGHT 14 (10/12/21)
1. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Ryohei Oiwa
Hiromu against a young lion brings more than most, a wry smile while taking chops or a knee on the throat for a pinfall. I don’t have a read yet on Oiwa yet but he does do a nice suplex or two before more chops and a crab hold put him down.
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Taichi vs. Tama Tonga
Taichi’s ribs are hurt and taped up, you see. He goes at Tama early and throws him into the guardrail, but it’s those ribs. Those darn ribs. A fine match, a dry match. ***
3. G1 Climax – Block B: SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI
This was similar to the very good match they had in last year’s G1, which “built and built and eventually did get to a really cool vibe of two guys giving their all for the win, even if a fast-paced world might cause one to get impatient with a thing like this.” It’s no YOSHI vs. Goto, but it sure was good. ***1/4
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Kazuchika Okada vs. Chase Owens
Okada can do this kind of match in his sleep, and sometimes it feels like he is legitimately just sleepy at this point. It is in this and the Goto match where Owens proves he can hang down the stretch, though before the stretch continues to be a rough time at the matches. There’s a tombstone piledriver that flips out the crowd and a near fall off the package piledriver that made me wince when I realized how far they had roped me in, but in between that… it’s just questionable. ***1/4
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL
For the first 5 minutes it seemed like EVIL was going to play it straight, maybe remind everybody he can have a match of value with a guy who is always quietly game to have a valuable match. Then Dick Togo grabbed Goto’s leg and, well. Goto sells like a pro as but for an act that seems to genuinely annoy fans, nobody is making good use of that as an actual wrestling device (EVIL and Togo included). **3/4
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb
Tanahashi, 44-years-old and deep into another ridiculous G1 Climax now, provides a reliable baseline but These Days that baseline requires a little more. Cobb’s suplexes and general strength are always impressive and they were here too, but if he’s not conveying a killer instinct the match is hitting a ceiling and this one did. It does close up in an interesting way though, with less of the usual near fall exchanges and more Tanahashi eventually just falling because, yeah — he’s 44-years-old and deep into another G1 Climax. ***1/2
Happy Thoughts: There was a consistency to both of these shows, though KENTA/ZSJ and Ibushi/O-Khan (and YOSHI-HASHI, OK!?) were the only things that didn’t continue the feel of a mid-range G1. 3.0 / 5.0
