The NJPW G1 Climax 35 has delivered action-packed matches in its first four days, making for an intriguing tournament so far. The tour will take place this Friday and Saturday (July 25 and 26) at the Ota-City General Gymnasium, with respective start times of 6:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. JST (5:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time). ET.
Here are the current tournament standings after four days and a preview of what to expect in the Ota-City double-header:
A Block:
B Block:
G1 Climax 35 Day 5 Card:
- Main event: A Block – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. David Finlay
- 9th match: A Block – Yota Tsuji vs. Ryohei Oiwa
- 8th match: A Block – Taichi vs. EVIL
- 7th match: A Block – Yuya Uemura vs. Callum Newman
- 6th match: A Block – Boltin Oleg vs. Sanada
- 5th match: Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi vs. Rocky Romero & Konosuke Takeshita
- 4th match: Tomoaki Honma & Shota Umino vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Ren Narita
- 3rd match: Jado & El Phantasmo vs. Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.
- 2nd match: Gedo & Gabe Kidd vs. Taiji Ishimori & Drilla Moloney
- 1st match: Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jakob Austin Young & Great O-Khan
Tight Battle for A Block Top Spot
Since the playoffs format was introduced in G1 Climax 32, the top spot for each block has never been more important. The leader of each block after the round robin will receive a bye to the semifinals of the playoffs, where they will wait for their opponents.
There are currently five wrestlers tied at four points in the A Block, and after day five, only three of them will be tied with six. This battle for positioning makes the matches between Boltin Oleg and Callum Newman, Taichi and EVIL, and Yota Tsuji and Ryohei Oiwa even more interesting.
Tanahashi and Finlay Look to Get Back on Track
Then there’s also the main event match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and David Finlay, who both share an identical record so far in this year’s tournament. Tanahashi won his opener against Taichi but then lost to Callum Newman and Boltin Oleg. Finlay lost his first and third matches against Ryohei Oiwa and Taichi, respectively, and was victorious against Sanada in his second.
This is the first time in their careers that they will wrestle in a singles match, and it couldn’t be more significant. With Tanahashi looking to win his fourth G1 and Finlay aiming to take over New Japan, these next two points will be crucial for both men.
G1 Climax Day 6 Card:
- Main event: B Block – Shingo Takagi vs. Konosuke Takeshita
- 9th match: B Block – Shota Umino vs. Ren Narita
- 8th match: B Block – El Phantasmo vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- 7th match: B Block – Gabe Kidd vs. Drilla Moloney
- 6th match: B Block – YOSHI-HASHI vs. Great O-Khan
- 5th match: Katsuya Murashima & Hiroshi Tanashi vs. Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa
- 4th match: Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura vs. Dick Togo & EVIL
- 3rd match: Masatora Yasuda & Taichi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Sanada
- 2nd match: Jakob Austin Young & Callum Newman vs. Gedo & David Finlay
- 1st match: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg vs. Daiki Nagai & Yota Tsuji
YOSHI-HASHI Goes for Four
Four-time IWGP Tag Team champion YOSHI-HASHI is seeking to keep his hot streak alive and remain at the top of B Block against Great O-Khan. He is the only wrestler in the tournament who hasn’t lost a match so far.
The Dominator will look to stop his run and make one of his own. These two men have only had one singles match before this, which O-Khan won, but can he repeat against the determined Headhunter this time around?
Wrestle Kingdom Rematch Between Takagi and Takeshita
Shingo Takagi and Konosuke Takeshita’s first singles match happened at Wrestle Kingdom 19 last January, which was a double-title match for the NEVER Openweight and AEW International championships. The latter was victorious and would go on to accomplish greater things, while the former is now factionless and continues to seek the IWGP World Heavyweight title for a second time.
This match is even more important for The Dragon because his first points in the tournament came via forfeit. The Alpha, on the other hand, seeks to extend his winning streak and reach six points.
Champion vs. Champion
IWGP World Heavyweight champion Zack Sabre Jr. and NJPW World TV champion El Phantasmo will face each other in a battle of champions. This marks their first-ever singles match in Japan, with both men tied at one win apiece in their singles match record.
ZSJ’s only points of the tournament so far also came via forfeit, while ELP lost his first and third bouts. Both champions have suffered two losses so far, making this encounter even more important.
Also on the card is a clash between former friends Shota Umino and Ren Narita, with the latter seeking a win against the former after nine matches. We will also find out if Gabe Kidd is cleared to compete, as he is scheduled to wrestle fellow Bullet Club War Dogs member Drilla Moloney, after forfeiting his last two tournament matches.
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