New Japan Pro Wrestling blew the roof off the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan over two nights of action-packed matches for the first two nights of the G1 Climax tournament and they are not looking to slow down in any hurry with a huge night three set for July 23 at the sold-out Sun Plaza in Hiroshima. Here’s what you need to know.
TUESDAY!#G1CLIMAX34 continues with six more league matches covering both A and B Blocks in Hiroshima!
Tetsuya Naito vs Jake Lee!
Gabe Kidd vs Shota Umino!
Konosuke Takeshita vs Jeff Cobb and more!
Full preview:https://t.co/xJwCgtkt4D#njpw pic.twitter.com/qaiQ77WMDC
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) July 22, 2024
G1 Climax 34 – Night Three Announced Card:
- Shoma Kato, Tomoaki Honma and Hirooki Goto vs. Katsuya Murashima, Toru Yano and Oleg Boltin
- Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi and Yota Tsuji) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo and Jado)
- United Empire (Henare and Francesco Akira) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay and Gedo)
- B Block: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Jeff Cobb
- A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Callum Newman
- A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Great-O-Khan
- A Block: Shota Umino vs. Gabe Kidd
- A Block: Sanada vs. EVIL
- A Block: Tetsuya Naito vs. Jake Lee
Zack Sabre Jr. Aiming to Continue Winning Streak After Huge Win Over Naito
Zack Sabre Jr. is set to face youngster Callum Newman on Night 3 in what looks set to be one of the most intriguing matchups on the card. Sabre Jr. has made an excellent start to his G1 tournament with a 100% clean record so far.
This is made more impressive by the calibre of his first two opponents in experienced veteran Great-O-Khan and current World Champion Tetsuya Naito.
His next opponent is no light touch either with Newman picking up an upset victory over Shota Umino on Night 1, however, things would not run so smoothly for him against Sanada on Night 2 losing in less than 10 minutes.
Now he faces his biggest challenge with speculation already beginning on whether this may be ZSJ’s year to finally take the crown and challenge the champion come Wrestle Kingdom.
Shota Umino to Build on Tough Start
After losing in a shock defeat to Callum Newman on Night 1 and much speculation on the severity of his injury going into the tournament, many expected this would be a sign of things to come for Umino.
However, this narrative was flipped on its head come Night 2 where the self-proclaimed new Ace of NJPW would take out former-world champion Shingo Takagi and put his first points on the board.
On Night 3, he takes on the vicious Gabe Kidd with a similar 1 win/1 loss record. Both will be looking to edge ahead in the block and this could be the match to look out for that might fall under the radar for some.
Champion Naito Still Looking for First Win
I’m not sure I expected to be writing this so soon after the Japanese wrestling world collectively sighed as they watched Naito take out Jon Moxley in a lackluster match at Forbidden Door at the end of last month. Many expected another dominant reign and even potentially another G1 win.
However as I sit here, Naito almost bizarrely walks into Night 3 of the G1 without a single win. This hasn’t happened since Yoshihiro Takayama walked into the G1 Climax as champion in 2003 and lost both of his opening contests. He will no doubt be looking for a big redemption when he faces Jake Lee on Night 3 making it a gripping affair come July 23.
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