NJPW G-1 Climax 31 Results & Ratings

Star ratings for every match (~!~!) in the G-1 Climax 31

TOP 10 MATCHES

Shingo/ZSJ – Night 3 – 4.5* 90% A+
Ishii/Shingo – Night 1 – 4.5* 90% A+ (Big Uncle Meltz gave this one 5.5*)
Okada/Tanahashi XIV – Night 2 – 4.25* 85% A
KENTA/ZSJ – Night 13 – 4.25* 85% A
Okada/Cobb – Night 18 – 4.25* 85% A
Okada/Yoshi-Hashi – Night 6 – 4.25* 85% A
Ibushi/ZSJ ft. ZSJ’s promo – Night 5 – 4.25* 85% A
Ibushi/Shingo – Night 9 – 4.25* 85% A
Ishii/ZSJ – Night 9 – 4* 80% A-
Naito/ZSJ – Night 1 – 4* 80% A-

Also recommended:

Ibushi/Ishii – Night 3 – 4* 80% A-
KENTA/Shingo – Night 7 – 4* 80% A-
Okada/SANADA from Night 10. Didn’t quite land with me (was still v good, not great IMO) but others loved it, Meltz hasn’t rated it yet, but he praised it a lot on the 10/07 WON Radio. UPDATE – Meltzer gave it 4.5* in the most recent WON.
Tanahashi/Yoshi-Hashi – Night 16 – 4* 80% A- Awesome little match. Yoshi f’n Hashi baby!
Okada/Tama Tonga – Night 16 – 4* 80% A- YOU FIND ME a better Tama Tonga match

STANDINGS

    BLOCK A (w/Naito's forfeits)

1 – Kota Ibushi – 14 pts (7-2)

2 – Shingo Takagi – 13 pts (6-2-1)

3 – KENTA – 12 pts (6-2)

4 – Zack Sabre Jr. – 12 pts (6-3) (KENTA finished ahead of ZSJ by way of his head-to-head victory)

5 – Toru Yano – 10 pts (5-4)

6 – Tomohiro Ishii – 10 pts (5-4) (Yano finished ahead of Ishii by way of his head-to-head victory, get the fuck all the way out of here forever)

7 – Great-O-Khan – 8 pts (4-5)

8 – Tanga Loa – 6 pts (3-6)

9 – Yujiro Takahashi – 5 pts (2-6-1)

10 – Tetsuya Naito – 0 pts (0-9, forfeits all matches due to injury)

    BLOCK B (aka the Okada/Cobb show)

1 – Jeff Cobb – 16 pts (8-0)

2 – Kazuchika Okada – 14 pts (7-1)

3 – EVIL – 12 pts (6-2)*

4 – Hiroshi Tanahashi – 8 pts (4-4)*

5 – SANADA – 8 pts (4-4)* (Tanahashi is ahead of SANADA by way of his head-to-head victory)

6 – Tama Tonga – 6 pts (3-5)*

7 – Chase Owens – 4 pts (2-6)*
Hirooki Goto – 4 pts (2-6)*
Taichi – 4 pts (2-6)*
Yoshi-Hashi – 4 pts (2-6)*

*= Mathematically Eliminated

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 1 09/18/2021

Kota Ibushi v. Yujiro Takahashi

Yujiro pins Kota w/BIG JUICE (Implant DDT) in 11:31
One of the best matches I’ve seen Yujiro have, one of the worst I’ve seen Kota have.
3* 60% C

The Great-O-Khan v. Tanga Loa

Khan pins Loa w/The Eliminator (Iron Claw Slam) in 17:45
2* Fail, but good effort from the lads

KENTA v. Toru Yano

Yano pins KENTA w/the worst roll-up since Owen/Austin Summerslam 1997 in 11:07
2* Fail, but fun for what it was

Tetsuya Naito v. Zack Sabre Jr.

ZSJ submits Naito w/something called Yes! I Am A Long Way From Home (a seated Octopus Hold-esque thing with knee-related stretch-itude ^) in 27:05
4* 80% A- Great Match, dear sweet Naito injured and out for tourney 🙁

Shingo Takagi v. Tomohiro Ishii

Shingo pins Ishii w/Last of the Dragon (wrist-clutch fireman’s carry driver) in 27:56
4.5* 90% A+ fuckin’ classic match, could easily be match of the tourney, Top 25 MOTYC, Highly recommended

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 2 09/19/2021

EVIL v. Yoshi-Hashi

EVIL pins Yoshi w/EVERYTHING IS EVIL (STO aka clutching leg sweep) in 17:15
3.5* 70% B surprised at how much I liked it considering the participants, some people might hate it.

Chase Owens v. Jeff Cobb

Cobb pins Owens w/the Tour Of The Islands (ppinning body slam) in 12:11
Showcase for Cobb, Chase was a perfectly fine Crash Test Dummy
3.5* 70% B

SANADA v. Tama Tonga

SANADA pins Tonga w/the O’Connor Roll in 19:04
Three-for-three with the shockingly good matches, I got much more out of this than I expected to. It wasn’t must-watch, but v good.
3.5* 70% B

Hirooki Goto v. Taichi

Taichi pins Goto w/the Black Mephisto (Air Raid Crash aka White Noise aka Kryptonite Krunch aka over the shoulder back-to-belly driver) in 18:30
This one lost me a little bit. Goto is a good worker and Taichi isn’t as terrible as people act, but this was the match that felt too long and too same-y. It wasn’t a bad match, but this G-1 is starting to feel like a bit of a slog already.
3* 60% C

Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Kazuchika Okada XIV (FOURTEEN! Bah Gawd)

Okada pins Tanahashi w/the Rainmaker (waistlock ripcord lariat) in 29:36
Yet another great fucking match from the best rivalry of this (or the previous?) generation
4.25* 85% A (Great Match, Recommended)

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 3 09/23/2021

Great-O-Khan v. Toru Yano

O-Khan pins Yano w/The Eliminator (Iron Claw Slam) in 11:30
If there’s a worse match than this in the entire G-1, they fucked up.
1* 20% Bob Sapp percentage

KENTA v. Yujiro Takahashi

KENTA submits Yujiro w/Game Over (Omaplata Crossface) in 15:48
Wellp, KENTA Tried. Slow-starting match with a very good closing stretch, felt much longer than the 15 minutes it went.
Kinda liked the finish where KENTA blocked a low blow and turned it into the crossface.
2.5* Mendoza Line 50%

Kota Ibushi v. Tomohiro Ishii

Let’s Fucking Go
Ibushi pins Ishii w/the Kamigoye (double wrist-clutch knee strike) in 17:42
Great match, and one that didn’t overstay its welcome!! Could you imagine? A pro wrestling match that went the right length in this here G-1?
4* 80% A- (Great Match, recommended)

Shingo Takagi v. Zack Sabre Jr.

ZSJ submits Shingo w/a triangle choke/armbar in 27:57
A God damn incredible wrestling match. Match of the tournament so far.
4.5* 90% A+ WATCH IT NOW, TOP 10 MOTY IN MY BOOK

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 4 09/24/2021

Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Hirooki Goto

Tanahashi pins Goto w/a small package in 14:10
Pretty much exactly what you would expect from older Tana v Goto. Very good wrestling match, old dawg Tana with the crafty veteran finish
3.5* 70% B

Tama Tonga v. Chase Owens

Tonga pins Owens w/the Gun Stun (aka RKO) in 12:53
Actually really dug this match. Tama is having a good tournament
A no-bullshit, straight-up, all-action Bullet Club v. Bullet Club match here.
3.5* 70% B

Yoshi-Hashi v. Jeff Cobb

Cobb pins Yoshi w/the Tour of the Islands (spinning powerslam) in 13:21
Man, when did Yoshi-Hashi get good? Dude rules now!
Jeff Cobb is a dark horse to win this entire thing. He and Shingo have awesome chemistry, I could see that on Wrestle Kingdom again.
3.75* 75% B+

SANADA v. Taichi

Taichi pins SANADA w/the Black Mephisto (Air Raid Crash aka White Noise aka Kryptonite Krunch aka over the shoulder back-to-belly driver) in 25:15 Jesus H
Argh, way, way, way too damn long. 15 minutes too long. 110% too long.
I did find the pec popping contest to be quite hilarious
Average NJPW G-1 match. Really solid wrestling that went an hour past it’s target
2.5* Mendoza Line

Kazuchika Okada v. EVIL

Okada pins EVIL w/the Rainmaker (waist lock ripcord lariat) in 21:46
Hey, Dick Togo sure gets involved a lot in these EVIL matches
Too much, ya might say.
felt longer than the 25 minutes it went, but overall you couldn’t call it a bad match. You’ve seen this one before though.
Okada seems healthy, which is nice. He is Full Okada
3* 60% C

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 5 09/26/2021

Great-O-Khan (6 pts, 3-0) v. Yujiro Takahashi (4 pts, 2-1)

Coming into this match, O-Khan is in 1st place. Yujiro is in a 5-way tie for 3rd place with Ibushi, KENTA, Shingo and Yano.
O-Khan pins Yujiro w/the Eliminator (Iron Claw Slam) in 14:16
Not bad, but my main takeaway/highlight of this match was Pieter. At least they kept it short-ish. An average match, which is a great compliment to these men. I didn’t know they had it in them.
O-Khan remains in 1st place in Block A at 4-0. Yujiro falls out of the 5-way tie for 3rd, moving to 2-2.
2.5* Mendoza Line

Toru Yano (4 pts, 2-1) v. Tanga Loa (2 pts, 1-1)

Coming into this match, Yano is in a 4-way tie for 3rd place with Ibushi, KENTA and Shingo. Tanga Loa is alone in 8th place.
Your standard TYR affair. He’s Santino Guerrero.
Yano pins Loa w/a cradle thingy in 10:46
Loa falls to 9th place, tied with Ishii at 2 pts & 1-2 overall. Yano, at this moment, moves to 2nd place in the group with 6 points and a 3-1 record. I shit you not.
1.5* Better than Yano v O-Khan at least, but not by much

Tomohiro Ishii (2 pts, 1-2) v. KENTA (4 pts, 2-1)

Coming into this match, KENTA is in a 3-way tie for 4th with Shingo & Ibushi. Ishii is behind the pack in 9th place.
KENTA pins Ishii w/a schoolboy roll-up in 21:08
Dang, I really thought Ishii was going to win this match. Famous last words.
Maybe it’s all the NXT 2.0 I’ve been watching, but the camera work in NJPW has been great throughout this G-1.
KENTA joins Yano in 2nd place with a 3-1 record and 6 points. Ishii falls to 1-3 and is alone in 9th place. And the 10th place guy has forfeited all his matches. 🙁
A tad too long, but you can’t go wrong with these fellas.
3.75* 75% B+

Kota Ibushi (4 pts, 2-1) v. Zack Sabre Jr. (4 pts, 2-0)

Coming into this match, Sabre is alone in 3rd place with 4 points, but no losses. Ibushi is in that dwindling pack of guys in the upper-middle.
ZSJ submits Kota in 19:55 with something called Clarky Cat (Bad Balloon Remix ^). A seated Brock lock, with a double leg grapevine around the arms.
ZACK SABRE JUNIOR, NEW JAPAN MAIN EVENTER, STACKING FUCKNN W’s
ZSJ moves into sole possession of 2nd place at 3-0 / 6 pts. Ibushi falls to 6th place, where he is tied with Yujiro Takahashi at 2-2 / 4 pts.
4.25* 85% A Go Get ’em ZSJ (Great Match, Recommended)

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 6 09/29/2021

EVIL (2 pts, 1-1) v. Taichi (4 pts, 2-0)

Coming into this match, Taichi is tied for 1st, and EVIL tied for 2nd. This is a huge matchup in the early going of G-1 31
EVIL wins via technical submission w/The Darkness Scorpion (aka Sharpshooter aka Scorpion Death Lock) in 11:30
I’m a sucker for heel v heel, what can I say.
EVIL moves into (what will become by the end of the show) a big old pack of guys in 3rd place at 2-1
3* 60% C

Chase Owens (0 pts, 0-2) v. SANADA (2 pts, 1-1)

Coming into this match, SANADA needs to win to keep pace with EVIL n’ crew in the 3rd place fuckpack. Owens is looking like the official jabroni of this year’s tourney. It will be interesting to see him v. Jabroshi-Hashi
Chase is performing well in these matches though. Can’t take that away from him.
SANADA pins Owens w/the Muta-sault (Top rope moonsault) in 11:58
SANADA joins the big ol’ fuckpack with EVIL at 2-1 / 4pts.
3.5* 70% B

Jeff Cobb (4 pts, 2-0) v. Hirooki Goto (0 pts, 0-2)

Coming into this match, Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada are the only wrestlers to not have a loss in the block. They both control their own destiny. Win, and remain in 1st.
Hirooki Goto is aggressively shitting his pants, having lost two in a row to beatable opponents (Taichi, and Tanahashi in a match that he dominated but Tana stole)
Cobb pins Goto w/the Tour of the Islands (spinning body slam) in 15:08
Cobb remains undefeated and at this moment is alone in 1st place at 3-0, 6 pts.
Goto is having fun. Hey, you’re alright.
A very good, but not quite a great wrestling match.
3.75* 75% B+

Hiroshi Tanahashi (2 pts, 1-1) v. Tama Tonga (2 pts, 1-1)

Coming into this match, both men are tied, and need to win to keep pace with SANADA and EVIL in the 3rd place fuckpack.
Tanahashi pins Tonga w/a crucifix in 14:17
Tama Tonga is having a pretty damn good tourney. He’s hanging in there.
That’s now two matches in a row where Tana gets his ass beat, but pulls a rabbit out of his hat at the end.
3.75* 75% B+

Kazuchika Okada (4 pts, 2-0) v. Yoshi-Hashi (0 pts, 0-2)

Coming into this match, Okada has been a world beater, and Y-H has been cannon fodder. Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada are the only wrestlers to not have a loss in the block. They both control their own destiny. Win, and remain in 1st.
Okada pins Yoshi-Hashi w/The Rainmaker (waist lock ripcord lariat) in 26:53
This honest to God might be the best match of Yoshi-Hashi’s entire career. Y-H almost goes the distance with the Rainmaker.
Chris Charlton did an unreal job telling the story of Yoshi-Hashi during his entrance. He made you not only believe that Y-H had a shot (lol), but he made you care about the plight of Yoshi-Hashi. He made you legitimately want to see Yoshi-freakin’-Hashi beat Okada in the main event of this show.
Alas
4.25* 85% A Best Match of Y-H’s career, damn. Recommended

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 7 09/30/2021

Tanga Loa (2 pts, 1-2) v. Tomohiro Ishii (2 pts, 1-3)

Coming into this match, both guys are hurtin’ units with one forfeit win apiece. Tanga Loa is in 8th and Ishii in 9th, by way of losing more matches so far.
Ishii pins Loa w/a brain buster in 16:18
This was your classic Bret “The Hitman” Ishii match. Ishii knows how the fuck to put a match together. He knows what his opponent can do, knows what his opponent can’t do, and puts together an entertaining and logical wrestling match based on his and their limitations. It’s always fucking great, his matches manage to feel modern while also feeling familiar to the previous era. Ishii is a goddamn gem and a marvel and we are lucky to have him.
3.5* 70% B

Great-O-Khan (8 pts, 4-0) v. Zack Sabre Jr. (6 pts, 3-0)

Coming into this match, O-Khan is in 1st place in Block A, and ZSJ is in 2nd place. Both men are undefeated. Lets goooo
ZSJ submits Great-O-Khan in 15:26 w/something called How About These Legs (koala-bear style mounted armbar thing..? ^)
This was far more of a scientific match than I was expecting. O-Khan held his own on the mat with Sabre.
If you’ve ever seen / enjoyed a Volk Han match, or if you’re the type who doesn’t complain when a UFC fight hits the ground, you’ll have time for this match. Wasn’t expecting to like this at all, but the human chess match that we got was actually quite enjoyable.
PROFESSIONAL GRAPPLING, it was. But I still want to punch anybody who calls wrestling “graps” on Twitter.
3.5* 70% B

Kota Ibushi (4 pts, 2-2) v. Toru Yano (6 pts, 3-1)

Coming into this match, Kota is struggling to find his form after pneumonia, and Yano has gotten three wins too many.
Ibushi cranks this clown w/the Kamigoye (double wrist clutch knee strike) in 4:03
Well shit. This was exactly what you’re expecting when you read that result. Yano pulls some crazy shenanigans to start, putting a bag on Kota’s head and rolling him in the ring apron like a human burrito (seriously).
And then Kota beat the shit out of him and won, lol
On the whole, a nice surprise (I was halfway worried they’d go 20 as a swerve), and a good tone-setter for the main event. This achieved exactly what it set out to do, which is help re-establish Kota.
3* 60% C

KENTA (6 pts, 3-1) v. Shingo Takagi (4 pts, 2-1)

Coming into this match, Shingo is the Goddamn IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. KENTA is in 3rd, but Shingo is in 6th place in the group. It’s going to be a terribly tough path for the loser of this match, and both need this win to keep up.
Shingo pins KENTA w/ the Last of the Dragon (wrist clutch fireman’s carry driver) in 23:56
This was the story of Shingo holding on for dear life. It seems like they’re telling the tale of the weary champion, which is a familiar story in the G-1 Climax. It’s a war of attrition, and Shingo’s life bar is dwindling.
Probably went a little too long, I could have done without the ref bump, but with the story they are telling (and the length of the previous match) I’m willing to excuse it. KENTA laid waste to Shingo’s arm with a chair in this match though. That will definitely come up again.
4* 80% A- (Great Match, Recommended)

NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 8 10/01/2021

Jeff Cobb (6 pts, 3-0) v. Tama Tonga (2 pts, 1-2)

Coming into this match, Cobb and Okada are the only guys to not have a loss in the block. They both control their own destiny: win, and remain in 1st. Tama Tonga is alone in 7th place, having a rough go of things.
Very good match from two guys who are having awesome tournaments. Tama, shockingly so.
Cobb pins Tama w/the Tour of the Islands (spinning body slam) in 12:43
3,75* 75% B+

EVIL (4 pts, 2-1) v. Chase Owens (0 pts, 0-3)

Coming into this match, EVIL is in the 3rd place fuckpack at 4 pts, and needs to win to keep pace. Chase Owens is looking like a bowl of jabroni salad
On paper this is one of the worst matches possible in the tourney. Cool.
Yep, pretty much exactly what you were expecting here. They picked it up at the end, but far from the best match of the tourney.
EVIL pins Chase w/EVERYTHING IS EVIL in 12:38
2* Below avg

Yoshi-Hashi (0 pts, 0-3) v. Taichi (4 pts, 2-1)

Coming into this match, Taichi is in the 3rd place fuckpack at 4 pts, and needs to win to keep pace. Yoshi-Hashi is looking like a bag of wet laundry. Naw that’s unfair, he’s wrestled very well. But, he is Yoshi-Hashi after all.
Excited / morbidly curious for this one
Boy, they made him earn it, and in the end it was a great story, but this went AN HOUR AND A HALF.
(Not really)
Yoshi pins Taichi w/Karma (pump-handle half nelson driver) in 22:26 (!!)
Yoshi-Hashi gets HIS FIRST EVER WIN AT THE G-1 Climax
Didn’t hate it, but they lost me. I appreciate what they tried to do, but I dunno if they pulled it off
2.5* Mendoza Line avg NJPW match here

Kazuchika Okada (6 pts, 3-0) v. Hirooki Goto (0 pts, 0-3)

Coming into this match, Cobb and Okada are the only wrestlers to not have a loss in the block. They both control their own destiny. Goto is winless and having a shit time overall.
Okada pins Goto w/a sunset flip in 18:06
Weird tournament for Goto. He’s been spinning his tires for a decade.
3.5* 70% B

Hiroshi Tanahashi (4 pts, 2-1) v. SANADA (4 pts, 2-1)

Coming into this match, both men are in the 3rd place fuckpack, and need to win to keep pace.
Very good match, not great, but Tana is still awesome
Tanahashi pins SANADA w/the High Fly Flow (top rope frog splash) in 25:36
3.75* 75% B+ right around the level of the opener

G-1 Climax 31 Night 9 10/03/2021

Great-O-Khan (4-1, 8 pts) v. KENTA (6 pts, 3-2)

Coming into the match, O-Khan sits alone in 2nd with 8 points, but a loss head-to-head vs. ZSJ. KENTA is in the 4th place fuckpack with Ibushi & Yano
Whew. Not what I was expecting. A ref bump, a baseball bat, a ton of chair shots, and of course, a roll-up victory.
Not that it wasn’t entertaining, but I’m fairly confident in calling this bad wrestling.
KENTA wins w/a school-boy roll up in 19:50
2* Below Avg

Tanga Loa (1-3, 2 pts) v. Yujiro Takahashi (4 pts, 2-2)

Not that it was ever in doubt, but we are already at the point where these guys are pretty much toast. Takahashi basically needs to win out, and Loa is probably done even if he does. This is a JABRONI battle that I expect Loa to win.
Loa pins Yujiro w/Ape Shit (Fire Thunder Driver aka Rikishi Driver aka sit-out inverted piledriver) in 12:36
Halfway match overall, and not a bad effort. Just not something you ever need to seek out.
2.5* Mendoza Line

Tomohiro Ishii (2-3, 4 pts) v. Zack Sabre Jr. (4-0, 8 pts)

Coming into this match, ZSJ sits alone atop the block with 8 points and no losses. He is absolutely stretching fools, with four consecutive submission victories. If ZSJ continues to win, he’ll romp to the Block win and the Final.
Tomohiro Ishii lost his first three matches, but has begun to right the ship with his most recent win over Tanga Loa. Ishii is THE STONE PITBULL, and he does not give up, or feel pain or human feelings. You just know ZSJ is gonna try to tap him out. But he does not give up, or feel pain or human feelings.
Let’s goooooo
Ishii pins ZSJ with a brain buster in 18:40
Oh wow, I guess this result was obvious in retrospect, but somehow I didn’t see it coming. Ishii’s style is, in storyline, the perfect match for ZSJ. You can’t trade holds with Sabre. You have to take the fight to him.
Great professional wrestling match here, unsurprisingly
4* 80% A- Great Match, Recommended

Kota Ibushi (6 pts, 3-2) v. Shingo Takagi (6 pts, 3-1)

Coming into the match, KOTA is at 3-2, 6 pts. Shingo is at 3-1, 6 pts. Both men have already lost to the leader, ZSJ. It’s safe to say that the loser of this match will not be winning the block.
Ibushi pins Shingo w/the Kamigoye (double wrist clutch knee bomb) in 23:57
Every bit of everything you wanted and expected from this pairing. Despite my VAST AMOUNT OF LOVE for ZSJ and Ishii, this was match of the night and one of the best of the tourney so far.
4.25* 85% A Great Match, Recommended

G-1 Climax Night 10 10/04/2021

Hiroshi Tanahashi (6 pts, 3-1) v. Chase Owens (0 pts, 0-4)

Coming into this match, Owens is 0-4 but God bless ‘im he’s trying his best. Tanahashi is tied for 3rd in the group at 3-1, 6 points.
WHAT THE FUCK LOL
Owens pins Tanahashi w/the package piledriver in 10:58
Wow. This might be the biggest upset of the tourney so far. Gotta be one of the biggest in G-1 history. I did *not* see this one coming. Owens wins by using the tricks that current Bullet Club leader Jay White has used to beat Tana throughout his career. And when those fail, a fucking package piledriver.
Good on Tana for pulling this match out of Owens. CO is having a good tourney.
3.5* 70% B

EVIL (6 pts, 3-1) v. Tama Tonga (2 pts, 1-3)

Coming into this match, EVIL is tied with Tanahashi at 3rd in the group. Tama Tonga is tied with Yoshi-Hashi (a sentence you never want to hear about yourself) in 7th)
EVIL pins Tama with EVERYTHING IS EVIL (STO aka clutching leg sweep) in 13:47
A bad match that included the lights going out, and numerous other examples of needless horseshit
Somewhat entertaining for what it was, but EVIL matches sort of feel like a waste of time
2* Below Avg

Taichi (4 pts, 2-2) v. Jeff Cobb (8 pts, 4-0)

Coming into this match, Jeff Cobb is undefeated and controls his own destiny. Taichi is having a decent tournament at 2-2.
Cobb pins Taichi w/the Tour of the Islands (spinning body slam) in 15:15
Taichi is having a good tourney here! Of course, being in there with Cobb helps a lot
Matanza Cueto continues to fucking steamroll clowns
3* 60% C

Hirooki Goto (0 pts, 0-4) v. Yoshi-Hashi (2 pts, 1-3)

Coming into this match, Yoshi-Hashi is somehow ahead of Goto. As is Chase Owens. As are every other competitor in the B Block. Goto comes into this match alone in last place, 0-4, 0 pts. Dark times for Hirooki. Yoshi-Hashi is fresh off his first ever G-1 win, and hopes to keep that momentum going.
Goto pins Yoshi w/the GTR (reverse DDT lariat back breaker..?) in 16:57
One of the sneaky matches of the tournament. It probably wouldn’t make a top 10 list, but this was a ton of fun. Two tag team partners beating the shit out of each other for pride.
Match of the night by a slim margin
3.75* 75% B+

Kazuchika Okada (8 pts, 4-0) v. SANADA (4 pts, 2-2)

Coming into this match, ~~Jeff Cobb~~ Okada is undefeated and controls his own destiny. ~~Taichi~~ SANADA is having a decent tournament at 2-2.
Okada pins SANADA w/the Rainmaker (waist lock ripcord lariat) in 29:14
DOWN TO THE WIRE IS TOO DAMN LONG
This was every SANADA/Okada match you’ve ever seen. A hot stretch wasn’t quite enough to make it great overall, and the outcome was never in doubt for a second which did hurt it.
3.75* 75% B+

G-1 Climax Night 11 10/07/2021

Kota Ibushi (8 pts, 4-2) v. Tanga Loa (4 pts, 2-3)

Tanga is having a tough go of things at 4 pts / 2-3. Ibushi enters the day tied at 2nd place with KENTA and O-Khan, 8 pts / 4-2.
Ibushi pins Loa w/the Kamigoye in 13:42
Oh snap! Maybe the best Tanga Loa match of all time? This was Loa’s best match in the tourney by a pretty safe distance, and yeah I think it was the best of his entire career. Yet another solid showing from Ibushi who is one of the absolute best in the world
At this moment, Kota Ibushi is the first to 10 points, and sits alone atop Group A
3.5* 70% B

Zack Sabre Jr. (8 pts, 4-1) v. Yujiro Takahashi (4 pts, 2-3)

Coming into this match, ZSJ remains at 1st place with 8 pts / 4-2. Yujiro is a pimp, he walks with a limp at 4 pts / 2-3
Really like Kevin Kelly pointing out that Yujiro has tapped out 4 times already this year, and is susceptible to the submission
ZSJ submits Yujiro w/ THE TESCO MEAL DEAL (head scissors armbar w triangle choke thing ^) in 14:15
Worst ZSJ match in the tourney so far, but still very watchable. It felt like a FIGHT at the very least. They really tried to sell Yujiro as a threat down the stretch.
ZSJ now takes sole possession of 1st overall, at 10 pts / 5-1 with a win over Kota Ibushi.
3* 60% C

Toru Yano (6 pts, 3-2) v. Shingo Takagi (6 pts, 3-2)

Coming into this match, these men are somehow ties at 6 pts / 3-2. Bah gawd. I would bet my house on Shingo here.
Shingo pins Yano w/Last of the Dragon (wrist-clutch fireman’s carry driver) in 8:17
I quite enjoyed it. Yano held his own, but it was mostly Shingo dodging Yano’s chicanery and bullshit, and winning cleanly and decisively.
3* 60% C

Tomohiro Ishii (6 pts, 3-3) v. Great-O-Khan (8 pts, 4-2)

Ishii sits alone in 7th at 3-3, but it looks like he is heating up, having just dethroned the undefeated ZSJ. I fully expect TI to win this here. Great O-Khan came into the day tied at 2nd with KENTA and Kota Ibushi, 8 pts / 4-2.
Ishii pins O-Khan w/a brain buster in 26:26
Ishii rules so goddamn much. And hey you know what, O-Khan has greatly impressed me in this G-1 too. Good showing here.
A HARD HITTING, MEAN GUY MATCH~!~! to quote the great Big Vinny V, Vincent Verhei.
I could reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally do without the headbutts in this post-Shibata world though.
3.75* 75% B+

G-1 Climax Night 12 10/08/2021

Yoshi-Hashi (t-7th, 2 pts, 1-4) v. Tama Tonga (t-7th, 2 pts 1-4)

Coming into this match, both men are struggling, fighting to eat at 2 pts / 1-4. Yoshi-Hashi has had an awesome little tournament in the ring, with very good matches v. Goto and Okada. TT has done very well for himself too.
Yoshi pins Tama w/Karma (pump-handle half nelson driver) in 13:14
Your standard NJPW opener from two guys who are having a strong tournament. Nothing you need to go out of your way to see, but a good match to open this here program
3* 60% C

Hirooki Goto (t-7th, 2 pts, 1-4) v. Chase Owens (t-7th, 2 pts, 1-4)

Coming into this match, both men are struggling, fighting to eat, wonderinnnn’ when they’ll be free at 2 pts / 1-4. Owens got a shocking win over Tana in the opener of the last B Block show, and hopes to ride that momentum forward.
Goto pins Owens w/the GTR (reverse DDT lariat back breaker..?) in 12:41
Here’s a problem with the G-1, or more specifically, how Gedo books the G-1. GOTO DID NOT NEED THIS WIN. It would have been so much more impactful for Chase Owens to get the W in this meaningless match, fresh off maybe the biggest upset in G-1 history over Tanahashi.
As good or better than the first match but MY LORD did the wrong guy win this match here. 3.5* but loses a half star for the cop-out ending. They could have done something with Goto here, but instead he’s just gonna have a mediocre tournament and Owens is not gonna capitalize on his W at all. Cool, cool.
3* 60% C

SANADA (6th Place, 4 pts, 2-3) v. Jeff Cobb (t-1st, 10 pts, 5-0)

Coming into this match, ~~Jeff Cobb~~ ~~Okada~~ Jeff Cobb is undefeated and controls his own destiny. ~~Taichi~~ SANADA is having a decent tournament at ~~2-2~~ 2-3.
Cobb pins SANADA w/the Tour of the Islands (spinning body slam) in 14:17
Cobb is 6/6 with clean wins in the middle via his finisher. This is how you fucking G-1 bros
Best match of the show so far by a pretty safe distance.
3.5* 70% B

Hiroshi Tanahashi (4th Place, 6 pts, 3-2) v. EVIL (3rd Place, 8 pts, 4-1)

Coming into this match, Tanahashi has ~~8 points at 4-1~~ wait Jesus Christ he lost to Chase Owens somehow, 6 points at 3-2. EVIL sits alone in 2nd in the group, 8 pts / 4-1.
EVIL pins Tanahashi w/ EVERYTHING IS EVIL (STO) in 17:22
This was like a joke that wasn’t funny, and then alllmost became funny, but they didn’t go far enough with it. They were half-pregnant with this one. They should have gone another 5 minutes after EVIL hit the STO IMO. Just really get fuckin’ wacky with it. This was just a slightly better version of your typical EVIL match.
3* 60% C

Kazuchika Okada (t-1st, 10 pts, 5-0) v. Taichi (4 pts, 2-3)

Coming into this match, ~~Jeff Cobb~~ Okada is undefeated and controls his own destiny. ~~Taichi~~ ~~SANADA~~ Taichi is having a decent tournament at ~~2-2~~ 2-3.
Okada pins Taichi w/the Rainmaker (waist lock ripcord lariat) in 23:10
Yet another very good main event from somebody who is still arguably the very best wrestler in the entire world
(Okada, not Taichi)
3.5* 70% B

G-1 Climax Night 13 10/09/2021

Zack Sabre Jr. (1st Place, 10 pts, 5-1) v. KENTA (4th Place, 8 pts, 4-2)

Coming into this match, ZSJ essentially controls his own destiny. If he keeps winning, he’s going to the final. ZSJ’s remaining matches after this: v. Toru Yano, v. Tanga Loa.
KENTA is in 4th, and needs this one badly, to keep not only himself but this whole group alive.
The placement on the card, combined with the fact that it’s all but over if ZSJ loses, makes me think KENTA is the clear favourite here. Kenta -1000
KENTA pins ZSJ w/the Go To Sleep (Fireman’s carry into dropping knee strike) in 22:24
FUCK YES. They sold me on the draw here, but in the end, KENTA’s chicanery was too much for ZSJ to overcome. A great wrestling match. Awesome action, awesome commentary by Kevin Kelly, and a good bit of storytelling both in the micro and macro.
At his moment, Kenta moves to a tie with Ibushi and ZSJ, all at 10 points, 5-2. KENTA faces Ibushi on the last night of Block competition
Match of the show by a comfortable distance, at at this moment one of the 4-5 best of the tourney
4.25* 85% A Recommended Match

Toru Yano (7th place, 6 pts, 3-3) v. Yujiro Takahashi (9th Place, 4 pts, 2-4)

Oh man, this is a worst match of the tourney contender. Coming into this match, I wish I were watching something else.
Toru Yano wins via count-out when he handcuffs Yujiro under the ring in 10:23
Gah. Especially after the previous match, this was a clunker. Handcuffs and bags over heads and dudes hiding under the ring and all kinds of wacky nonsense.
I don’t hate Yano as much as most, but I had no time for this so deep into the tournament. TEN minutes? Frig off
1* Big Fail

Shingo Takagi (3rd Place, 8 pts, 4-2) v. Tanga Loa (8th Place, 4 pts, 2-4)

Coming into this match, Shingo needs to win out and hope ZSJ drops a few. Loa is mathematically eliminated at 2-4 with a bunch of losses v the good wrestlers, but he’s had a solid tourney in the ring, and is maybe coming off of his career best match v. Ibushi.
And hey, this may have been his new best match ever!
Shingo pins Loa w/ Last of the Dragon (wrist-clutch fireman’s carry driver) in 19:08
Too long, but a very good professional wrestling match. Loa is officially CARRYABLE~!
(although he did slip off the middle rope aka Bret’s rope doing some powerslam thing, could have been much worse than it was for Shingo)
3.5* 70% B

Kota Ibushi (2nd Place, 10 pts, 5-2) v. Great-O-Khan (6th Place, 4-3)

Coming into this match, O-Khan has lost 3 in a row and plummeted down the leaderboard after a hot start. Ibushi has done the exact opposite, and was actually the first to 10 points in the group. He comes into the night in 2nd place, by way of his head-to-head loss to ZSJ.
Ibushi pins O-Khan w/the Kamigoye (double wrist-clutch knee strike) in 20:22
Man, O-Khan’s ground game continues to impress me. Dude can fuckin ‘RASSLE
Ibushi’s everything-game continues to impress me also
Ibushi is healing up from pneumonia and slowly working back into GOD-tier shape. You love to see it.
3.75* 75% B+

G-1 Climax Night 14 10/12/2021

Taichi (t-5, 4 pts, 2-4) v. Tama Tonga (9th Place, 2 pts, 1-5)

Coming into the day, Taichi is tied with Goto, SANADA and Yoshi-Hashi in 5th place with 4 points.
Tama Tonga is having a worse tournament than Taichi on the leaderboard, but a better tournament in the ring.
Tama pins Taichi w/the Stun Gun in 12:58
Pretty standard match, but I did quite enjoy Taichi saying “SHOW ME YOUR FIYAH” to Tama
3* 60% C

Yoshi-Hashi (t-5, 4 pts, 2-4) v. SANADA (t-5, 4 pts, 2-4)

Coming into the day, both guys are tied with Goto and Taichi at 5th place, 4 points. It’s a loser leaves town match! It’s also a winner leaves town match.
SANADA submits Y-H with the Skull End (Dragon Sleeper) in 17:32
Standard G-1 match here. Good work in the ring, 5-7 minutes too long. I’m probably underrating this, but gah we are in the mucky-muck of the G-1
2.5* 50% Mendoza Line

Kazuchika Okada (t-1, 12 pts, 6-0) v. Chase Owens (10th Place, 2 pts, 1-5)

Coming into this match, Okada is undefeated and controls his own destiny.
Fresh off of the biggest win of his career, Chase Owens lost to Goto in his previous match. So hey this is probably a foregone conclusion.
Okada submits Owens w/a crippler-crossface style Money Clip (Anaconda Vice) in 15:37
It was a foregone conclusion.
Best match of the show so far, but not great. Other than Yano (and arguably SANADA), pretty much everybody has had a really strong tournament.
3.5* 70% B

Hirooki Goto (t-5, 4 pts, 2-4) v. EVIL (10 pts, 5-1)

Coming into the day, Goto is tied in the 5th place fuckpack.
EVIL is alone in 3rd place with 10 points, but needs the big dogs to mess up in order to have a shot.
EVIL pins Goto w/EVERYTHING IS EVIL (STO) in 14:16
As far as EVIL matches go, this was highly watchable, but if you’ve seen it once you’ve seen it 1000 times.
3* 60% C

Hiroshi Tanahashi (6 pts, 3-3) v. Jeff Cobb (t-1, 12 pts, 6-0)

Coming into this match, Jeff Cobb is a BIG DAWG.
Tana is having a great tourney in the ring, but a mediocre one on the leaderboard.
Cobb pins Tanahashi w/the Tour of the Islands (spinning body slam) in 19:05
I really liked this. God bless ’em, they hooked me. JUST WHEN I THINK I’M OUT
Wouldn’t call it a great match, but it was right on that line.
3.75* 75% B+

G-1 Climax Night 15 10/13/2021

Tomohiro Ishii (t-5, 8pts, 4-3) v. Yujiro Takahashi (4 pts, 2-5)

Coming into this match, Ishii is still alive with 8 points and only 3 losses. He needs to win his final two matches and get a little bit of help.
Yujiro is for all intents and purposes in last place, 4 points, 2-5. But hey, he has Pieter.
Ishii pins Yujiro w/the brain buster in 17:00
Man, Ishii made a whole meal of food out of this one. They really had you believing that Yujiro would actually win this match over Ishii, who still had a mathematical shot to win this thing. Ishii kicked out of pretty much everything Yujiro had to offer, and beat him clean in the middle with his move. A very good, hard-hitting wrestling match here. One of the best i’v ever seen Yujiro have.
3.75* 75% B+

KENTA (t-2, 10 pts, 5-2) v. Tanga Loa (8th place, 3 pts, 2-5)

KENTA is hot hot hot, having won his last two matches.
Tanga Loa is cold cold cold on the scoreboard, but is probably coming off the two best matches of his pro wrestling career, v. Ibushi and V. Shingo
KENTA pins Loa w/a school boy in 22:12
TWENTY TWO MINUTES. Argh. This ain’t it, chief.
2* Fail, but good effort

Toru Yano (t-5, 8pts, 4-3) v. Zack Sabre Jr. (t-2, 10 pts, 5-2)

Coming into this match, Yano is INEXPLICABLY still alive
ZSJ has lost 2 of his last 3, and is cooling after a hot start. He’s still in great shape though, provided he can manage to win out
Plz oh Vegan Athiest God, let ZSJ win this in 37 seconds
ZSJ submits Yano w/ an armbar in 6:42
Arguably 6 minutes too long, but naw this was actually a ton of fun. Probably the best Yano match of the 31st G-1 Olympiad
3.5* 70% B

Shingo Takagi (t-2, 10 pts, 5-2) v. Great-O-Khan (7th Place, 8 pts, 4-4)

Shingo comes into the day tied for 2nd, needing this match to keep up with the Joneses.
O-Khan has somehow fallen below Toru Yano.
Despite those two facts, I’m smelling upset here.
Shingo pins O-Khan w/the Last of the Dragon (wrist-clutch fireman’s carry driver) in 25:50
Wellp, Shingo is awesome. Very good main event wrestling match here. In a vacum it was probably great, but sometimes these matches fail to stand out in the G-1 environment. The gift and the curse.
3.75* 75% B+

G-1 Climax Night 16 10/14/2021

Taichi (t-6, 4 pts, 2-5) v. Chase Owens (10th Place, 2 pts, 1-6)

Coming into this match, both guys are mathematically eliminated and having a party, a party for two.
Owens pins Taichi w/the package pile driver in 12:05
I loved Taichi’s selling in this match, although it may have been actual pain if that’s a shoot rib injury.
The story of the WAR OF ATTRITION was on full force here.
3* 60% C

Hirooki Goto (t-6, 4 pts, 2-5) v. SANADA (5th place, 6 pts, 3-4)

Coming into this match, both guys are mathematically eliminated. They aren’t in it for love, and thus are outta here.
SANADA pins Goto w/an O’Connor roll in 15:32
It was every Goto v Sanada match you’ve ever seen. Not bad in any way, but nothing you will remember on your death bed, or even next week.
3* 60% C

Hiroshi Tanahashi (4th place, 6 pts, 3-4) v. Yoshi-Hashi (t-6, 4 pts, 2-5)

Coming into this match, both guys are mathematically eliminated. That don’t impress me much!
Tanahashi pins Yoshi-Hashi w/the High Fly Flow (top rope frog splash) in 14:13
God Tana is so great. They got the crowd into it as much as they possibly could have in this era.
Not quite as good as the Okada match, but HIGH on the list of best Yoshi-Hashi matches of all time.
Fuck it, gun to my head I’m calling this a great match. They really hooked me
4* 80% A- (Recommended Match)

Jeff Cobb (t-1, 14 pts, 7-0) v. EVIL (3rd Place, 12 pts, 6-1)

Coming into this match, Cobb controls his own destiny. Win, and move on. EVIL has won entirely too many matches and needs to lose here and frig off.
Cobb pins EVIL w/the Tour of the Islands in 16:43
GRAHHHHHHH way, way, way too long. But at least the right man won. Wasn’t terrible but it felt 10 minutes longer than it was.
3* 60% C

Kazuchika Okada (t-1, 14 pts, 7-0) v. Tama Tonga (t-6, 4 pts, 2-5)

Coming into this Match, Okada controls his own destiny. Win, and move on. Tama Tonga is having a good tournament in the ring, but a bad time in the standings.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha no fucking way
TAMA TONGA pins KAZUCHIKA OKADA w/a God Damn Double Under-hook Pile Driver in 24:45
Tonga reverses an Okada move into his finisher (the gun stun), and then makes up a MEGA DEATH KILL finisher on the fly, and fucking beats Okada with it.
Well hey. The Tama Tonga push is officially on.
A great match. Okada has, just in this tournament, now had the best matches of Yoshi-Hashi and Tama Tonga’s career.
Seriously. Find me a better Tama Tonga match
4* 80% A (Recommended Match)

G-1 Climax A BLOCK FINAL Night 17 10/18/2021

Tomohiro Ishii (5th Place, 10 pts, 5-3) v. Toru Yano (6th Place, 8 pts, 4-4)

Both men are mathematically eliminated, despite the strong push from Ishii at the end
Yano pins Ishii w/a back slide in 11:08
Ugh. Well Ishii remains incredible. Fun match for what it was, BUT WHY WAS IT???
3* 60% C

Shingo Takagi (t-1, 12 pts, 6-2) v. Yujiro Takahashi (9th place, 4 pts, 2-6)

SHINGO WINS THE GROUP WITH: W v Yujiro, AND L from BOTH Ibushi AND ZSJ
OR SHINGO WINS THE GROUP WITH: W v Yujiro, AND L from ZSJ, AND DRAW in KENTA/Ibushi
Yujiro is in last place, for all intents and purposes. This should be a drubbing.
Shingo and Yujiro go to a double count-out DRAW in 13:36
Oh shit, I did not see that coming. Well, heck.
LOVED the finishing stretch to this, no shit. You could argue that they no-sold each others’ finishers on the floor down the stretch and that’s …bad? And I mean, it’s not ideal. But I still really liked the finish.
3* 60% C

Tanga Loa (8th place, 4 points, 2-6) v. Zack Sabre Jr. (t-1, 12 pts, 6-2)

ZSJ WINS THE GROUP WITH: W v Loa, AND L from KENTA
OR ZSJ WINS THE GROUP WITH: W v Loa, AND DRAW in KENTA/Ibushi
Loa is eliminated, but is having a sneaky good tournament. This one gives me pause.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Loa pins ZSJ w/a roll-up reversal in 17:31
But let it be said, Tanga Loa has just, once again, topped his previous best match ever. This is now three consecutive Best Matches Of Tanga Loa’s Career
Great run for ZSJ, but man they really should have just pulled the Frank Trigg on ZSJ.
3.75* 75% B+

Kota Ibushi (t-1, 12 pts, 6-2) v. KENTA (t-1, 12 pts, 6-2)

Oof. Ok, here we go.
IBUSHI WINS THE GROUP WITH: W v KENTA, AND L from Zack Sabre Jr.
Simple enough.
KENTA WINS THE GROUP WITH: W v Ibushi, AND L from Shingo
Also simple.
OR THE FORBIDDEN SCENARIO – A THREE-WAY TIE WITH A TIED HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
So. The first tie breaker is head-to-head record. If you tie someone, whoever won the match you guys had gets the tiebreaker. But in a group of 3 or more tied wrestlers, the tiebreaker becomes “most points accumulated vs those tied wrestlers”
If KENTA, Shingo and ZSJ all win, they would all finish with 14 points, AND all have 2 points vs matches with each other. (Shingo beat KENTA and lost to Zack. Zack beat Shingo and lost to KENTA. KENTA beat Zack and lost to Shingo)
BUT APPARENTLY~!~!~~!
KENTA WINS THE GROUP WITH: W v Ibushi, AND W‘s for BOTH Zack Sabre Jr and Shingo — According to NJPW’s own website.
According to some Reddit post I found three years ago, the third tiebreaker is time spent in the ring? I also seem to remember Kevin Kelly alluding to total match times a few times in this tournament, including on the 10/14 Night 16 show.
I cannot find a primary source for the third tiebreaker anywhere. If anybody has one plz feel free. Hopefully if this scenario plays out, they will at least explain it. I’m not sure if the times are already set in stone or what the deal is. Maybe ZSJ can win the block if he submits Tanga Loa in like 45 seconds.
LOL, Never mind all of that shit ^ it ended up coming down to this – the winner of this match would win the block
Ibushi pins KENTA w/the Kamigoye (double wrist clutch knee strike) in 26:16
KENTA came in saying his goal was not to have a good match. And they did not!
Too many count-out teases, too much garb, low on the list of Ibushi matches I’ve ever seen and honestly it was Kota’s single worst match of the tournament. Worse than the first one v Yujiro.
2.5* 50% Standard NJPW Fare in the main event of the A block. Very disappointing match and show overall.

G-1 Climax B BLOCK FINAL Night 18 10/20/2021

Yoshi-Hashi (t-7, 4 pts, 2-6) v. Chase Owens (t-7, 4 pts, 2-6)

Both guys are toast
Yoshi-Hashi wins w/Karma (pump-handle half nelson driver) in 8:27
About as average as a New Japan match has ever been
2.5* 50% C

Hirooki Goto (t-7, 4 pts, 2-6) v. Tama Tonga (6 pts, 3-5)

Both guys are swimmin’ with the fishes, but Tama Tonga is coming off by far his biggest career W, over Okada on the last G-1 fucking Climax show.
Not only that, but Goto is 6-0 lifetime vs Tama Tonga! SIX AND OH
If they follow up Tama’s huge W with a loss to GOTO I will fucking riot. I will riot in my own living room.
Goto pins Tama Tonga w/the Goto-Sanshiki (roll up w/leg hook) in 15:19
LIKE, lol
This is twice now that somebody wins the biggest match of their career in this tournament and then IMMEDIATELY loses to Hirooki Goto. Fuck all the way off Gedo. Why not just let Tonga build on his win. Why not just let Chase build on his win. Goto going 3-6 or 1-8 wouldn’t change anything
Good match with a terrible cop-out finish
3* 60% C

Hiroshi Tanahashi (4th place, 8 pts, 4-4) v. Taichi (t-7, 4 pts, 2-6)

Both guys are wearing concrete boots
Taichi pins Tanahashi w/the Gedo Clutch in 14:58
Hahaha, wow, didn’t see this match layout coming. Essentially, this was Heel Tanahashi (the greatest treat, the rarest unicorn) vs babyface, plucky scrappy Taichi. Wut? HEEL TANA working over the injured ribs of Taichi, only to lose when the valiant plucky young man out-wrestles him. Whoda fuckin’ thunk such a goddamn wild thing
3.5* 70%

SANADA (5th place, 8 pts, 4-4) v. EVIL (3rd place, 6-2)

Both guys ain’t gonna be seen around here no more
EVIL pins SANADA w/EVERYTHING IS EVIL (STO)
DO YA LIKE WEAPONS AND DISTRACTIONS? Boy, you’ll love this!
I did enjoy the start of this, where EVIL tried to just ring the bell and forfeit. But man, did you have to put EVIL over after he tried to walk out? IDK
At this stage of the game, between two people who are mathematically eliminated, this just felt like a colossal waste of our precious time on Earth
2* Average

Kazuchika Okada (2nd place, 14 pts, 7-1) v. Jeff Cobb (1st place, 16 pts, 8-0)

The winner of this match wins their half of the G-1.
Fun fact, Jeff Cobb would be the first man to ever go a clean 9-0 in a G-1 Block. Other people have been undefeated, but never in a 10-man block.
Okada is coming off a SHOCKING loss to Tama Tonga, but he still controls his own destiny. A win here v Cobb would give him 16 points and the head-to-head tiebreaker.
LETS GOOOOOOOO
Okada pins Cobb w/the Rainmaker (waist lock ripcord lariat) in 23:35 TO WIN THE B BLOCK of the G1 Climax 31.
x
4.25* 85% A