So close to history, you can almost taste it!

Kazuchika Okada wants the G1 Threepeat, but in his way is EVIL! Will The King of Darkness deny us all a historic moment in the Climax finals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Master Wato & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Kaito Kiyomiya & HAYATA; Kaito & Hayata win.
• Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Ren Narita & Minoru Suzuki; Narita & Suuzki win.
• 10 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Toru Yano, YOH, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Togi Makabe; Bullet Club wins.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• 8 Man Tag: TMDK VS Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Ryusuke Taguchi & Eddie Kingston; Tanahashi, Ishii, Taguchi & Eddie win.
• 10 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS El Phantasmo & The Guerrillas of Destiny; ELP & The GOD win.
• G1 Climax 33, Semifinal: Kazuchika Okada VS EVIL; Okada wins and advances to the finals.
• G1 Climax 33, Semifinal: Tetsuya Naito VS Will Ospreay; Naito wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

10 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS El Phantasmo & The Guerrillas of Destiny!

So what if Taichi and Sanada didn’t make it this far in the G1 Climax? The Holy Emperor is still KOPW Champion and The Cold Skull is still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! But Taichi did lose to the Headbanga, so there’s a golden ticket owed. Will Douki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taka Michinoku help the champs make it through here? Or will ELP, Jado, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Hikuleo find a way to beat Just5Guys?

The teams sort out and fans chant for “E L P! E L P!” As such, ELP starts against the Heel Master. They fist bump at the bell and fans rally up. The two circle, tie up, and ELP headlocks. Kanemaru powers out but ELP runs him over! Things speed up, ELP slides under the boot to headlock takeover. Kanemaru headscissors, ELP kips free to sweep the legs! Cover, ONE! Kanemaru sweeps and covers, ONE! They both dropkick and those cancel out! Fans fire up as ELP handsprings back up. ELP and Kanemaru take a step back, ELP offers a tag, and Loa takes it. Fans rally as The Silverback storms up, but Kanemaru drops back.

Taichi tags in and fans rally. Taichi shoves Loa so Loa throws a forearm. Taichi throws a kick, Loa throws a forearm, repeat! They go back and forth, then Loa ROCKS Taichi. Loa headlocks, Taichi powers out and they RAM shoulders! Loa nods and Taichi runs, to RAM him again! Fans rally as Loa stays up! Loa runs, but Taichi BOOTS him! Taichi runs, but Loa scoops! But Taichi slips free, shoves him but Loa bucks the O’Conner to kick low. Loa whips Taichi to ropes, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! Loa gets right up to CLOBBER Taichi! Fans fire up but Taichi backs away and tags in Douki.

Douki eggs Loa on, but panics a little as Hikuleo tags in! Fans fire up as the smallest and the tallest meet! Douki wants a timeout, reaches out to tag, but no one is there for him! Fans rally up for Douki so he has no choice now! Leo catches Douki, hauls him right up, but Douki fights out of the Canadian Rack to UPPERCUT! Leo swings, Douki dodges and he dropkicks a leg out! But Leo clamps onto Douki’s neck! Douki ENZIGURIS free! Douki runs, but into a scoop and SPINOUT SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Douki survives but Leo covers again, TWO! Leo drags Douki over and tags in Tama.

The Good Bad Guy puts Japones Del Mal in the corner to rain down fists! Fans count along all the way to nine, and Tama pulls back, but then he tags in ELP! ELP climbs up to continue where Tama left of! ELP goes up to nine, winds up, and tags in Jado! The Master Heater climbs up, and he throws down fists! Jado goes to nine, then tags in Loa! Loa goes up and he rains down fists from both sides! He goes so fast, and gets to eight, then tags in Leo! Leo has to stand Douki back up, but Douki CHOPS! Douki CHOPS and CHOPS, even after taking a total of 35 punches! Leo clamps onto Douki, then CHOPS him down!

Douki writhes and fans rally up. Leo drags Douki back up, whips him to a corner, then runs in, but into BOOTS! Douki goes up, leaps, but Leo catches him! Kanemaru runs in but Leo BOOTS him down! And then Leo runs in at Kanemaru in the corner! Kanemaru BOOTS Douki to keep Leo back! Then Kanemaru CROSSBODIES and they take Leo down! Fans fire up as Douki and Leo crawl. Hot tag to Sanada! Sanada whips, Leo reverses but Sanada ducks ‘n’ dodges and dropkicks a leg out! Then Sanada DROPKICKS Leo! Leo stays up, runs back in, but Sanada dumps him out! Leo gets up but Sanada DROPKICKS Leo back down!

Leo gets to his feet but Sanada PLANCHAS! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. Sanada then puts Leo back in the ring, climbs up a corner, and leaps, into Leo’s grip! GOD- NO, Sanada slips out, tilt-o-whirls, and dragon sleepers! But Leo spins around to suplex HIGH and HARD! Fans fire up while both men are down, hot tag to Tama! Tama throws body shots and UPPERCUTS and he has Sanada in a corner. Tama fires elbows, whips corner to corner but Sanada reverses. Tama comes right back but Sanada gets around to back suplex. Tama lands on his feet, but Sanada elbows him away!

Sanada goes up the corner but Tama ducks the Quebrada! But then Sanada fireman’s carries! But Tama turns that into a TONGAN TWIST! Fans fire up and Tama brings Sanada up. Tama scoops, but Sanada fights free! Sanada dodges the superman punch to O’Conner SKULL END! ELP stomps Sanada but then everyone rushes in! J5G clears out ELP and the GOD, except for Douki as Leo TOSSES him out. Everyone brawls outside, Sanada puts Tama in a drop zone and goes up! ROUNDING BODY PRESS but he has to land through! Tama clinches for an EXPLODER! Fans fire up as both men are down!

Tama and Sanada crawl, hot tags to Jado and Taka! Jado runs Taka over, and again! Jado whips, Taka kicks him, but Jado LARIATS! Fans fire up with Jado and he drags Taka up. Taka pokes him in the eye! But Jado still gets an arm for the takedown, CROSSFACE! Taichi storms in to stomp Jado down! The rest of J5G keeps the others out, but Loa slips in. Kanemaru dropkicks the legs out! Loa falls out, Jado is in a corner, and Kanemaru ELBOWS him! Feed to a SOBAT, front kick, then Sanada and Taichi DOUBLE GIRI SANDWICH! Douki goes up top, Taichi puts Jado int he drop zone. DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!

Fans fire up and Taka has Jado all to himself! Scoop to the MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Cover, ELP breaks it!! Kanemaru goes after ELP but ELP fires hands! ELP runs, but Kanemaru dropkicks the legs out! Loa CLOBBERS Kanemaru, Taichi AX BOMBERS Loa! Tama gets Taichi for a TONGAN TWIST! Tama rushes Douki but Douki shoulders into him! Douki slingshots, DAY- GUNSTUN!! Fans fire up as OFF COMES THE VEST! Sanada is there, Tama rushes him, but Sanada denies the Gunstun! SHINING WIZARD! Leo returns, Sanada dodges, but then runs into the POWERSLAM!

Taka SUPERKICKS Leo! Taka runs, into the choke grip! And he can’t reach Leo’s eyes to poke them! So he kicks him in the shin, then pokes him in the eye! Taka runs, but into SUDDEN DEATH! Leo then drags Taka up, GODSEND!! They drag Jado onto the cover! Jado and team win!

Winners: El Phantasmo & The Guerrillas of Destiny, by pinfall

Incredible teamwork from the former Bullet Club members! Will these five stick together and take the fight to Finlay’s War Dogs? Wait, speaking of, Finlay shows up! He has Gedo, Gabe and Coughlin with him. ELP and Tama dare them to do something. Gabe spits at ELP, so ELP spits back! The War Dogs stand down for now, bragging that they have belts and the others don’t. Will the War Dogs soon lose those belts to those they replaced in the club?

G1 Climax 33, Semifinal: Kazuchika Okada VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!

The Rainmaker knows he is just two matches away from history, but that means winning again right here! Will it rain on the G1 Climax Finals yet again? Or will the King of Darkness make sure Everything is Evil’s?

Well of course Evil attacks before the bell! Fans boo but what did they expect from Evil? He then CHOKES Okada with the House of Torture shirt! The ref reprimands, Evil lets off, and fans rally up for Okada. The ref helps Okada get his robe put away and the bell rings. Evil CLUBS Okada down, covers, ONE!! Evil is annoyed with the ref already but fans keep booing him. Evil stomps Okada and Okada scowls. Evil CLUBS Okada and Okada stands up. Okada wins back but Evil rakes the eyes! Fans boo but Evil kicks Okada out to the apron. Evil then brings Okada over to whip him into railing!

Evil RAMS Okada into the timekeeper’s area! Down goes Abe-san! Fans boo more but Evil grabs the mic and uses the cord to CHOKE Okada! Evil tells Okada to give up already but the ref reprimands. Evil finally lets off Okada and goes back into the ring. Fans rally for Okada even harder now as the ring count starts. Okada rises at 5 of 20, stands at 8, and slides in at 10. Evil clinches to scoop and SLAM! Cover, TWO! Evil is again annoyed with the ref, but he kicks Okada around. Evil kicks and kicks, but Okada kicks and tosses Evil out! Okada then goes out, but Evil fights the scoop! Evil CLUBS away on Okada, to whip him into railing!

Okada staggers and flops over, and Evil goes looking for chairs under the ring. Evil brings one out but the ref takes that from him. So Evil just brings out another! Evil CHOKES Okada with the chair! Fans boo and Dick distracts the ref! Evil lets off, gets back in the ring, and the ref has no idea what just happened. Evil wants the count, so the ref gets in the ring. The ring count starts again, Okada sputters at 5 and stands at 11. Okada hobbles his way over to slide in at 13. Fans cheer but Evil is right on Okada to TOSS him back out! Evil distracts the ref, and now Dick creeps up! Dick JAMS Okada with the chair!

Dick puts Okada in for Evil, Evil covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO!! Evil is frustrated but the ref says his counts were fair. Fans still rally for Okada as Evil paces around. Evil stands on Okada’s face, then drags him up. Okada pushes Evil away, so Evil gives him toying kicks. Okada stands, and he ROCKS Evil with a forearm! And another! And another! Evil kicks but Okada blocks! Okada spins Evil but Evil blocks a kick! Evil rakes the eyes again! The ref reprimands, fans boo, but Evil runs into a BOOT from Okada! Fans fire up as Okada scowls at Evil. Okada waits on Evil to rise, and then he ROCKS Evil again!

Okada fires off forearms, whips, but Evil reverses. Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges to ELBOW Evil down! Fans fire up and Okada drags Evil back up. Okada whips Evil to a corner, runs in to ELBOW, and then he kicks low to DDT! Cover, TWO! Okada keeps his cool and fans rally up again. Okada waits on Evil to rise, then Alabama Lifts. But Evil fights that off and bails out! Fans boo but Okada storms out after Evil. Evil kicks low, whips, but Okada reverses! Evil hits railing hard, and then Okada DDTS him to the floor! Fans fire up with Okada and he puts Evil in the ring. Okada drags Evil up again, but Evil blocks the gut wrench!

Evil claws Okada’s face again! The ref reprimands, Okada goes to a corner, and Evil runs in. Okada dodges, then puts Evil up top, to DROPKICK him to the floor! Fans fire up and the ref goes out to check Evil. Okada goes out to fetch Evil but Dick shouts at him. Okada storms up on him but Dick says okay, sorry! But then Dick tries a cheap shot! Okada blocks the kick and he DECKS Dick! Fans fire up and Okada puts Evil in the ring. Okada drags Evil up, scoops and SLAMS, then he goes up the corner! Okada jumps but has to roll through as Evil moves! Okada runs back in but Evil pulls the ref in the way! Okada SPLASHES the ref in the corner!

Fans boo as Evil runs up, but Okada catches him to a MONEY CLIP! Evil reaches out but then here comes the rest of the House boys! Sho & Yujiro beat Okada down and fans boo as hard as they can! Sho & Yujiro stomp Okada down, they put one out on him, and then drag him back up. They hoist Okada up for a DOUBLE FISHERMAN BUSTER! Dick then goes up, the others stand Okada up on his head, and Dick leaps for the NUT CHOP!! Evil grins and fans boo even harder. The ref is back in, Evil covers, TWO!!! Okada survives and fans fire up! Okada sputters but Evil drags him back up to a fireman’s carry, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!!!

Fans are thunderous as Okada survives again! Evil stands back up, fans rally but Evil slashes his throat. Evil drags Okada up, reels him in, EVERYTHING- NO, Okada slips around to the MONEY CLIP!! Evil fights up, and he RAMS Okada into a corner! Evil is fere, runs back in, but into BOOTS! But then Dick drags Okada out! Okada BOOTS Dick into railing, and he BLASTS Sho into railing! Okada reels Evil in but Yujiro gets on the apron! So Okada shoves Evil into Yujiro! Yujiro falls, Okada hits the BACK2BACKBREAKER! And it’s back to the MONEY CLIP!! Evil endures but he’s turning purple already!

Fans rally as Okada squeezes as tight as he can! Evil reaches out but Okada drags him away! Wait, Dick gets on the apron! The ref stops him, but Okada lets Evil go! Sho runs in to CLOBBER Okada into the ref! Fans boo but Dick gets back in and he uses the SPOILER CHOKER on Okada! Okada fights up to his feet, but Yujiro is there with is pimp cane! Okada BOOTS Yujiro first! Sho runs in with his “Murder Tool,” but Okada BOOTS him too! Dick lets Okada go to kick low! Okada runs, into a DROPKICK! Okada then DROPKICKS Yujiro! Sho kicks low, runs, but into a DROPKICK! Fans are thunderous as Okada stands tall!

Okada drags Evil up as the ref returns again. Okada whips, Evil avoids the dropkick, and Evil shoves the ref into Okada now! The ref goes down, Evil ripcords Okada LOW BLOW MAKER!! Fans boo but Evil drags Okada back up. Evil runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!!! Okada survives and Evil can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous and Evil drags Okada up, to EVERYTHING- NO, Okada slips out to GERMAN SUPLEX! Okada holds on and fans fire up! Okada drags Evil back up, ripcords, but Evil falls down under the lariat! Okada is annoyed, and he drags Evil around. Evil is dead weight, but Okada thinks he’s playing possum.

Okada drags Evil up, Evil shoves the ref! But Okada blocks the low blow! Scoop and LANDSLIDE! Fans fire up and Okada brings Evil up, ripcord, RAIN- EVERY- NO, Okada blocks! And spins, but Evil SWATS the discus away! Evil swings but Okada blocks! Okada tries again but Evil SWATS another lariat! Okada spins again, but Evil catches him for EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! No one can believe it but Okada survives Evil’s best shot!! Evil slashes his throat, and he drags Okada back up! EVERYTHING- NO, Okada slips out, Alabama Lift, back drop cover! TWO!! Evil escapes, swings, but into EVERYTHING IS EVIL!?!

Fans are thunderous as Okada uses Evil’s own finisher, and then scoops, EMERALD FLOWSION!! And then, ripcord and RAINMAKER!!! Cover, OKADA WINS!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

The deck was stacked the entire time, but Okada still found a way to win! Will nothing stop The Rainmaker from becoming the G1 History Maker? Is the Threepeat all but inevitable?

G1 Climax 33, Semifinal: Tetsuya Naito VS Will Ospreay w/ The United Empire!

The Uncontrollable Charisma is making it his personal mission to main event WrestleKingdom before he calls it quits. But the IWGP United States Champion also wants to be the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Who meets Okada in the finals of what is becoming the biggest G1 Climax ever?

The fans are already fired up for Ospreay as he waits on Naito. Naito takes off the entrance attire slowly and the fans rally up for him now. Great-O-Khan gets the Ospreay fans to get louder, and Naito finally finishes with the pants. The bell rings and fans are thunderous already! Naito and Ospreay stare down, then slowly circle. They approach, but Naito backs away. Fans duel as the two circle more, and Ospreay storms up, but Naito backs away to a corner. Ospreay backs up and the two reset. They tie up, go around, and Ospreay wrenches to a wristlock. Naito spins, wrenches back, and hammerlocks.

Ospreay reaches back to headlock, but Naito pushes his forearms in. Ospreay spins, Naito facelocks, but Ospreay switches that onto Naito. Naito gets around to a waistlock and then a full nelson, but Ospreay uses his own leg as leverage to pry that open. Ospreay wrenches an arm to a wristlock and he wrangles Naito to the mat. Naito fights right up to wrench and hammerlock Ospreay. Ospreay goes to ropes and Red Shoes calls for the break. Naito lets off slowly, a forearm still in Ospreay’s face. Naito then pats Ospreay’s shoulders, but Ospreay ROCKS Naito! And ROCKS and CLUBS and whips, but Naito holds ropes.

Naito BOOTS Ospreay, CLUBS him, then runs to RANA! And then tilt-o-whirl, but Ospreay slips free! Naito dodges Hidden Blade, and the roundhouse, to tranquilo! Fans cheer and then Naito bails out. Ospreay scowls but he waits in the ring as Naito takes his time on the outside. Red Shoes makes sure the United Empire leaves Naito alone, and Naito rolls back in. Fans rally, the two feel things out, and they knuckle lock. Naito then kicks low, CLUBS Ospreay, and CLUBS him again! Ospreay blocks the whip, then CHOPS! Fans fire up and Ospreay brings Naito around to CHOP again! Ospreay whips corner to corner, runs in, but Naito BOOTS him!

Naito goes up but Ospreay CHOPS him to the floor! Fans fire up and Ospreay takes aim. Naito stands up, into the PLANCHA! Fans fire up again as Naito goes down! Ospreay brings Naito up, ROCKS him, and then whips Naito, but Naito reverses! Ospreay LEAPS over the railing and lands safe in front of the fans! Naito rushes in but Ospreay ROCKS him! Ospreay leaps off the railing to PIP PIP CHEERIO! Fans fire up but Red Shoes wants this back in the ring. Ospreay drags Naito up, puts him in the ring, and fans applaud. Ospreay covers, ONE! Naito is still in this but Ospreay sits him up to KNEE in the back!

Ospreay KNEES Naito in the back again, then stands him up. Ospreay bumps Naito off buckles, then CHOPS him! Naito staggers, catches his breath, but Ospreay gives him a Kawada Kick and a CHOP! And then again, and then a scoop to a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer and Ospreay just stares down at Naito. Ospreay drags Naito back into a chinlock, and Naito endures the knee digging into his back. Ospreay pulls Naito back more, but fans rally as Naito endures. Naito fights up, throws elbows, but Ospreay clamps on with a COBRA TWIST! Naito endures again, and Naito pries the hold open to HIP TOSS!

Ospreay gets up to BOOT! Ospreay whips, Naito reverses and hip tosses into a BACKBREAKER! Ospreay writhes but both men are down as the fans rally up. Both men stand, Naito throws forearms and whips, then arm-drags, elbows, and basement dropkicks! Fans rally, Naito puts Ospreay in a corner to whip corner to corner, JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! COMBINACION CABRON! Fans fire up and Naito poses! Naito paces, drags Ospreay up, and then cravats for the neck wrench. Ospreay endures, throws body shots, but Naito CLUBS him! Naito whips, for another HIP TOSS BACKBREAKER! Ospreay writhes and Naito covers, TWO!

Naito clamps right on, LEG SCISSOR NELSON! Ospreay endures, fights around, but Naito pulls on Ospreay’s nose. Red Shoes reprimands, Ospreay fights around, but Naito drags him away from ropes! Ospreay kicks his way around, and he reaches out for the ROPEBREAK! Naito claims he needs help, but Red Shoes reprimands. Naito holds, but Red Shoes makes him let go. Naito drags Ospreay up, hammerlocks and half nelsons, but Ospreay CLUBS him away! Naito CLUBS Ospreay and whips, but Ospreay handsprings! NEURALIZER KICK! Fans fire up while both men are down again! Ospreay then goes to the apron to take aim!

Naito rises, Ospreay springboards in, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, Ospreay encourages them to get louder. Ospreay runs in at Naito, to clothesline him up and out! Fans fire up and Ospreay points to the corner! Ospreay goes up, but Naito hurries after him! Naito anchors Ospreay, brings him down, but Ospreay throws elbows! Naito gives them back, they brawl on the apron! Naito gets the edge, then turns Ospreay around! But Ospreay elbows back! And CHOPS! Ospreay goes up the corner, but Naito stops Ospreay! To bring Ospreay out for a DRAPING APRON NECKBREAKER!!

Naito then brings Ospreay out along the apron, for a DRAPING NECKBREAKER to the floor!! Red Shoes checks Ospreay while fans fire up again. Naito drags himself up and into the ring, the ring count starts and the Empire fans Ospreay. But Ospreay is still down at 10 of 20! And then 13! 15! Ospreay stands at 18, and slides in at 19! Naito DROPKICKS Ospreay, then hammerlocks and half nelsons! GLORIA!! Cover, TWO, PLUMA BLANCA!! Naito busts out his take on the Koji Klutch and Ospreay is caught! Ospreay pries at the hold, the Empire coaches him, and the fans are thunderous as Ospreay endures!

Ospreay kicks around, reaches out, but he’s turning red! He’s fading! Ospreay gets a second wind, and kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! Naito lets go and fans fire up again. Ospreay goes to a corner, Naito hauls him up top, then climbs up after him! Naito fires forearms, goes to the very top, but Ospreay throws body shots! Ospreay pushes Naito down, then hurries after him, but Naito throws a HEAVY back elbow! Naito puts Ospreay up top backwards, then goes up after him again! SUPER POISON-RANA BUT OSPREAY LANDS ON HIS FEET!! Fans are thunderous and Naito turns around, into a CHOP!

Ospreay runs in, into a BOOT! Naito goes up, reels Ospreay in, but Ospreay blocks Esperanza to hang Naito out to dry! Ospreay throws knees, goes to the corner, and he springboards for a GUILLOTINE SHOOTING STAR!! Then Ospreay drags Naito up for a SITOUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Naito survives and fans are thunderous again! But Ospreay prepares his elbow! Ospreay aims from the corner as Naito rises, and Ospreay runs in, but Naito dropkicks the legs out! Ospreay ducks the enziguri to HOOK KICK! Ospreay springboards, but Naito just moves aside! ROLLING JACKKNIFE BRIDGE, TWO!!!

Ospreay swings, Naito dodges, but then Ospreay dodges to FLYING BLADE?!?! Cover, TWO!!! Naito survives, we pass 20 minutes, and Ospreay hauls Naito up! Naito fights the underhooks, so Ospreay tries a traditional lift, POWER- SATELLITE DDT?!?! Naito turns it around on Ospreay and fans are electric! The Empire fans off Ospreay as he and Naito stir. Ospreay manages to sit up but then he flops back over. Naito shakes out the cobwebs, Ospreay drags himself up with the ropes, and they both head to each other. Ospreay chops, but it wasn’t as strong as usual. Ospreay swings again, Naito dodges and ENZIGURIS!

Naito whips, Ospreay reverses, Naito wrenches, TORNADO DDT!! And then scoop, for VALENCIA!!! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay survives and fans are electric again! Naito drags Ospreay up, scoops, and SLAMS! Then he goes to the corner?! Naito hasn’t done this in awhile… STARDUST FLOPS!! HIDDEN BLADE!!! But Ospreay can’t make the cover!! Both men are down and the fans are erupting! The Empire fans Ospreay and coaches him up but Naito has plenty of fans on his side. Ospreay crawls for Naito as Naito stirs. Ospreay grabs at Naito’s arms but the fans are loudly behind Naito!

Ospreay throws a forearm! Naito wobbles, but he comes back with a smile to ROCK Ospreay! Ospreay stares Naito down, to ROCK him in return! Ospreay encourages the fans to fire back up, and Naito smiles as he returns. Naito ROCKS Ospreay, Ospreay ROCKS Naito! Naito ROCKS Ospreay and Ospreay roars! Ospreay ROCKS Naito, Naito ROCKS Ospreay, the forearms keep going! Naito wobbles so Ospreay ROCKS him again! And again! Naito goes to ropes, comes back, and ELBOWS! And elbows, and elbows, and elbows! Ospreay drops to his knees and fans fire up again! We’ve hit 25 minutes as Naito brings Ospreay up!

Naito throws more of those HEAVY back elbows! Ospreay drops to knees again, but Naito just brings him back up! Naito throws even MORE of those elbows, but Ospreay HEADBUTTS! Naito SLAPS! Ospreay SUPERKICKS! Kawada Kick! CHOP! HOOK KICK!! Naito wobbles, Ospreay HOOK KICKS again!! And then HOOK KICKS again!! Naito falls, Ospreay throws down a haymaker! Red Shoes stops Ospreay so he can check Naito! Naito is down, so a standing count begins! Fans are thunderous as Naito stirs at 5 of 10, and only starts sitting up at 7! Naito hears 8, and he pushes Red Shoes away!

Naito grins as he dares Ospreay to keep going. HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? HOW?!?! Ospreay drags Naito up, springboards, OSCUTTER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?!?!? Fans can’t believe Naito is still in this, but Ospreay just scoops and SLAMS! And even SPITS on Naito! Ospreay goes up, aims, LEAP OF FAITH!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? The most punctuation I’ve given because just HOW?!?! No one can understand how Naito has survived all this damage, but Ospreay just decides to add more! Ospreay drags Naito up, underhooks, STORM- RANA?!?!? Cover, TWO!!!! Naito stands, into a SUPERKICK!!!

Ospreay drags Naito up again and runs, but Naito dodges! Only to fall back over! Naito avoided the Hidden Blade but that last kick must’ve rattled him! Ospreay drags Naito back up, fans are thunderous, but Ospreay ripcords to HIDDEN BLADE!!! Naito may have ducked but it wasn’t enough to avoid it all! So Ospreay underhooks, Canadian racks, DESTINO!?!?! Naito drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay clinches and scoops, but Naito DESTINOS again!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?!??!?! WHERE WHAT HOW?!?! But Naito doesn’t question it, he just goes again! DESTINOOOOOOO~!!!!! Cover, NAITO WINS!!!!

Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

In just short of half an hour, Naito wins this classic showdown!! With how hard they fought and Ospreay still losing, how much harder will Ospreay have to fight if he wants to win a G1?

As for Naito, Hiromu Takahashi gets off commentary to get Naito some water. Naito is okay and he stands up. Naito gets his hat and the mic to say, “BUENAS NOCHES, RYOGOKUUU~!” Naito says this is the first of two nights for NJPW G1 Climax here in Ryogoku, and he hopes everyone here enjoyed tonight’s show. The fans cheer, they sure did! Naito continues by saying that tomorrow, it is THE G1 Climax Finals. Will it be Okada? Or Naito? Fans cheer for Naito, but Naito says that the answer is naturally… TRANQUILO! Assen na yo. So he hopes he sees everyone right back here tomorrow night.

And of course, NJPW G1 Climax in Ryogoku, night one, can only end with the roll call! “Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Yota! Titan!” Oh, wrong order. Okay, sorry, one more time. Fans cheer and Naito starts over, “Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!!” The fans are ready as we all get just 24 hours rest. Will Naito hit it out of the park and take that G1 Climax trophy home? Or will he end up on the losing side of Okada’s historic threepeat?

My Thoughts:

Awesome stuff in the semifinals, and quite a lot going on in the other matches, too. I probably could’ve caught that 8 Man Tag of TMDK VS Tanahashi, Ishii, Taguchi & Eddie. Luckily I skimmed because I would’ve missed Henare going after Eddie Kingston after the match! Henare clearly wants the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, and that G1 match of theirs was so good, why not have another? Maybe Eddie wins, maybe Henare wins, hard to say depending on plans AEW/ROH might have for Eddie. Eddie still has unfinished business with Claudio Castagnoli so maybe Eddie drops the NJPW Strong title to Henare so Eddie can then take that ROH title off Claudio.

Great 10 Man Tag for Just5Guys VS the Former Bullet Club Club. When Jado and Taka finally tagged in, I knew that was the finish, but what great chaos during that entire segment. Great win for ELP and the Guerrillas, and I do like that Finlay and his guys showed up to confront them. Both factions won tonight, so they all have momentum going into the various title feuds between them. ELP or Hikuleo could go for the NEVER Openweight title, Tama & Loa could go after the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag titles, and it’d all be great matches either way.

And of course, awesome stuff out of both G1 Climax semifinals. I figured Okada would make it through to the finals, but I was really surprised he did it all by himself. But Henare going after Eddie and his team did plant the seed that Okada would be alone, no Dream Trio to help him. And then Naito VS Ospreay just went to a different level, even for this point in the tournament. All those false finishes, I really thought Ospreay was getting this. But at the same time, we saw Okada VS Ospreay during the round robin, and it’d just seem like a given that Okada wins the rematch to have his threepeat. But with it being Naito now, and Naito’s own story of #OneMoreWrestleKingdom is perhaps the only thing strong enough to counter the historic moment. Even if Okada loses, this could still be a historic G1 finals.

My Score: 9/10