We’re just one step away from history!

Zack Sabre Jr. or Shingo Takagi, David Finlay or Yota Tsuji, who will win here to head for the G1 Climax 34 Finals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Mikey Nicholls & Robbie Eagles VS YOSHI-HASHI & Shoma Kato; Mikey & Robbie win.
• Gabe Kidd & Jake Lee VS Hirooki Goto & Tomoaki Honma; Gabe & Jake win.
• Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo & Jado VS Konosuke Takeshita, Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; Konosuke, Cobb & Callum win.
• 10 Man Tag: The House of Torture VS Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi; The House of Torture wins.
• Six Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• G1 Climax 34 Semifinal: David Finlay VS Yota Tsuji; Yota wins and advances to the finals.
• G1 Climax 34 Semifinal: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Shingo Takagi; ZSJ wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

G1 Climax 34 Semifinal: David Finlay w/ Gedo VS Yota Tsuji!

The Rebel is riding high after getting a first round bye, for he is the top seed coming out of B Block. However, that’s only allowed Gene Blast to build momentum by facing Konosuke Takeshita in the Wild Card match! Will Yota get another win on the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion? Or will Finlay force NJPW to acknowledge him as he makes it to the finals?

The bell rings and the fans rally up for “YO-TA! YO-TA!” Finlay says that doesn’t matter, and he steps to Yota. They get face to face, and Yota smiles. Finlay fires a forearm, Yota fires back, and they go back and forth, fast and furious already! Finlay gets the edge, backs Yota down, but Yota puts him in a corner to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay turns it around! Finlay fires forearms, then HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! The ref reprimands, Finlay whips corner to corner, but Yota comes back to RUN Finlay over! The fans cheer while Yota paces. Finlay sits up, shoves Yota, but Yota ROCKS Finlay.

Yota brings Finlay around to ROCK him again, but Finlay throat chops! Finlay whips, Yota reverses and kitchen sink KNEES! Finlay flounders, Yota covers, ONE! Yota keeps Finlay down with a body scissor squeeze! Finlay endures, pries at the feet, but Yota goes to chinlock. Finlay fights that, but Yota puts on more pressure. Finlay reaches out and has the ROPEBREAK! Yota lets go, the fans rally up, and Finlay stands. Finlay fires a body shot, but Yota fires a BODY BLOW! Finlay doubles over, but Yota stands him up in the corner. Yota CHOPS Finlay, then RAMS him into the corner again and again. The ref counts so Yota lets off.

Yota then stomps Finlay, whips, but Finlay holds ropes to block. Yota ROCKS Finlay, then gets space. Yota runs back in, but Finlay FLAPJACKS him off the corner! Then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Finlay grinds his forearm into Yota’s face! The ref reprimands, Finlay claims it was a cover. Finlay drags Yota up, whips him to a corner hard, and Yota bounces off buckles. Finlay has a cocky cover now, TWO! The fans rally for “YO~TA! YO~TA!” but Finlay talks smack. Finlay then scoops to BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO, but Finlay clamps on with a CAMEL CLUTCH! Yota endures, has an arm free, but Finlay pulls back!

Finlay has both arms and then gives clubbing crossface forearms! Yota still endures as the fans rally up, and Yota fights his way forward! Finlay pulls harder, but Yota still reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Finlay lets off, but he flexes on Yota. Finlay then stands on Yota, and he throws up the Too Sweet. The fans boo but Finlay steps away. Finlay talks more trash, then he drags Yota up. Yota fires forearms on Finlay! Finlay ROCKS Yota back! Finlay whips, Yota reverses and scoops to BACKBREAKER! Finlay bails out, the fans rally up, and Yota smiles. Yota builds speed to DIVE into a forearm!

The fans boo but Finlay talks trash as he drags Yota out, and RAMS him into railing! Gedo cheers Finlay on as he RAMS Yota into more railing! The ref reprimands, but Finlay brings Yota up and around, to RAM into even more railing! Yota staggers, but Finlay refreshes the ring count so he can stalk Yota more. Finlay RAMS Yota into railing again, then leaves him behind. Yota slumps into No Man’s Land, so Finlay goes looking for plunder. The fans rally for Yota but Finlay smiles as he brings out a TABLE! And a second table! Finlay has those both set up at ringside while Gedo distracts the ref.

The fans rally for Yota but Finlay flips them off. The fans boo Finlay but he keeps arranging furniture. The tables are right by commentary, and Finlay goes after Yota. Finlay stomps Yota, drags him up and over, and reels him in! But Yota fights the bomb! Yota CLUBS Finlay, fires more forearms, but Finlay RAMS him into railing! The ref reprimands but Finlay goes up the corner. Finlay soaks up heat with the Too Sweet, then goes back to Yota. Finlay pushes Yota into the ring, but Yota stands to SUPERKICK!

The fans fire up as Yota builds speed, and he DIVES! Finlay is sent up and over railing! The fans rally while Yota rests against railing. The ring count starts while Finlay stirs. Yota stands at 5 of 20, wags his finger, and fires back up! The fans cheer as Yota puts Finlay in at the ten minute mark. Finlay takes a swing but Yota dodges to fire forearms. Yota whips, Finlay reverses, but Yota RANAS! Finlay stands, Yota RUNS him over! Yota then half nelsons for a GUTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Finlay is tougher than that but the fans rally behind Yota. Yota grins as he brings Finlay up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay fights free!

Finlay rolls Yota up, TWO! BASEMENT UPPERCUT! Finlay smiles now as he crawls back to Yota. Finlay drags Yota up, clinches, but Yota slips free to BACKBREAKER, COMPLETE SHOT, and STOMP! The fans fire up for the Yota combo and Yota brings Finlay to a corner. Yota puts Finlay up top, then CHOPS! Yota goes up as the fans rally, and he goes to the very top! But Finlay shoves him down! Yota lands safe on the apron to ENZIGIRI! Finlay flops down, and now we’re near Finlay’s tables! Yota APRON STOMPS Finlay, then drags him closer! The fans fire up as Yota then BOOTS Finlay! Finlay dangles, and Yota grins!

Yota runs up, but Finlay avoids the flying stomp! Yota lands safe on the ground, but Finlay FLYING AX HANDLES! Direct hit, and then Finlay torture racks! Finlay POSTS Yota going backwards! The fans boo but both men are down on the outside! The fans rally for “YO~TA!” but Finlay says he’s the man, not Yota! Finlay drags Yota up, puts him in the ring, and then drags Yota up to clinch. IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Yota’s tougher than that and the fans rally again. Finlay gets annoyed, but he drags Yota back up and in. Canadian Rack, but Yota slips free to backslide! Finlay rolls through, and he blocks Yota’s knee!

Finlay spins Yota to BACKBREAKER, and then cover! TWO! The fans fire up but Finlay is annoyed again. We pass 15 minutes as Finlay tells everyone to quiet down. Finlay calls his shot, and he drags Yota up. Finlay reels Yota in to Canadian Rack, CANADIAN- NO, Yota slips free again! Finlay rushes up, Yota catches him and suplexes, but Finlay fights it! Finlay wrenches out. Yota dodges, Finlay SPEARS into the V-TRIGGER!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives and the fans fire up with Yota! Yota drags Finlay up, puts him on the top rope, then climbs! Yota goes to the very top, brings Finlay up to join him, for a SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!!

Finlay survives but Yota’s right on him! ORANGE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay stays in this but Yota keeps moving! CURB STOMP!! The fans are thunderous as Yota stands tall! Yota goes back for Finlay, drags him around, and then goes up, and up, and MAROON- NO, Finlay dodges! Yota comes back, into a ALLEY-OOP into the buckles! Finlay then reels Yota in, CANADIAN HAMMER!! But Finlay falls over, he can’t make the cover! The fans are thunderous again while both men are down! The fans rally for “YO~TA! YO~TA!” as he and Finlay stir. Gedo coaches Finlay, and there are fans of the War Dogs making themselves known as Finlay rises.

Finlay storms his way over to Yota, and he aims for the tables! Finlay lifts Yota, but Yota sunset flips it! TWO!!! Finlay escapes, ROCKS Yota, then ROLLING ELBOWS! Yota grins, brings Yota up, and he POWERBOMB- NO, Yota RANAS Finlay and himself to the apron! A rough landing for both men but Finlay gets up to bring Yota back in! The fans go nuts as Yota fights the lift! Yota back drops Finlay onto the apron! Finlay staggers away while Yota catches his breath. Yota then storms over to Finlay as we reach 20 minutes. Yota drags Finlay up, brings him around, and then Alabama Lifts! But Finlay fights free!

Yota POSTS Finlay! Yota aims, and SUPERKICKS Finlay down! Finlay sputters, Yota grins, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota points to the tables and the fans fire up! Yota Alabama Lifts, but Finlay fights again! Finlay lifts, POWERBOMB through the tables! Well, more like through one, and the other just kinda gets knocked over! Either way, the fans go nuts while Yota is down in the wreckage! The ref checks on Yota, the fans rally up again, and it seems Yota is okay to continue. Both men are down on the outside so a ring count starts. Finlay sits up at 6 of 20, drags himself with the apron, but Yota stirs at 10.

Finlay rolls into the ring, Yota crawls away from the wreckage. Yota stands at 15, but drops to his knees! He’s still down at 17! Finlay is celebrating at 18, but Yota springs to life at 19.5!! But Finlay is on him with INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Yota survives and Finlay is furious!! The fans are thunderous but Finlay rains down palm strikes from all sides! Yota does his best to guard but the ref notices Finlay switching to closed fists! The ref gets Finlay to stop, and the fans boo Finlay while he flips everyone off. Finlay stalks Yota to ropes, daring him to stand up. Yota grits his teeth and fires himself up, to swing! Finlay ducks, and Yota falls!

Finlay drags Yota back up, reels him in, and POWERBOMBS him down! Cover, TWO!! Yota is still in this and the fans fire back up! Finlay is frustrated now, and he asks Yota, “How long are you going to keep doing this?” Finlay hoists Yota up to BUCKLE BOMB! And then POWERBOMB at center!! Cover, TWO!!!! Yota is still in this and the fans fire up! Yota hits Finlay from below, but there’s not much there. Even so, the fans still cheer “YO~TA! YO~TA!” We hit 25 minutes as Finlay BUCKLE BOMBS Yota again! And then another BUCKLE BOMB! Yota slumps down, but Finlay drags him in, for another- RANA!! Cover, TWO!!!

Finlay escapes, runs up, into a GENE BLASTER!!! But Yota can’t make the cover! The fans are electric as he crawls over, TWO!!! Finlay survives because of the delay, and Gedo pounds the apron. The fans rally up harder, too, and Yota grits his teeth again. Yota drags himself up with ropes, and the fans are behind him as he takes aim again. Finlay rises, Yota CURB STOMPS him down! Yota roars and the fans fire up again! Yota drags Finlay up and around, to go up and up and MAROON CRUSH!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Finlay survives but Yota just fires up more! The grin is back as Yota rises again!

Gedo shouts at Finlay but the fans rally behind Yota! Yota powers up, takes aim, and runs in, SNAP CRADLE!! TWO!!! Yota escapes but Finlay holds on! OVERKILL- BLOCKED!! The fans fire up as Finlay fires furious forearms to get free! Finlay winds up, but Yota catches the arm into a cording hold! Finlay fires more forearms, Yota HEADBUTTS him! And then cording holds that arm! DEADBOLT PLEX!!! A shoutout to Heat Storm before a GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, YOTA WINS!!!

Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (advances to the G1 Climax 34 Finals)

An amazing victory, with a powerful tribute to his rival and friend, Yuya Uemura! And with this, Yota is one step away from not just the biggest match in his career, but the biggest moment in wrestling history! Will Yota soon pull off the historic double tournament championship?

G1 Climax 34 Semifinal: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ TMDK VS Shingo Takagi!

And now, time to determine the other half of the finals! The Front Man could not make The Rampaging Dragon #JustTapOut during the round robin phase, will he find a way to do it here and now? Or will Takagi find a way to make this a Los Ingobernables de Japon Climax?

The bell rings and the fans fire up already. Takagi and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and and Takagi waistlocks. ZSJ switches, nelsons, but Takagi fights that to switch back. ZSJ wrenches to wristlock, but Takagi wrenches in return. ZSJ rolls free and the fans cheer. The two reset, feel things out again, and ZSJ headlocks. ZSJ wrenches, steps over, then cravats for a neck wrench. Takagi endures, throws a body shot, but ZSJ avoids the clubbing. ZSJ cravats again, but Takagi throws ZSJ away. ZSJ comes back, Takagi bypasses, then blocks a boot! ZSJ ducks the lariat, RAMS into Takagi, then whips, but Takagi reverses.

Takagi goes to hip toss but ZSJ makes it a COBRA TWIST! Takagi arm-drags free, then ELBOWS, JABS, and YUKON- NO, ZSJ catches the lariat, but Takagi stops the Pele! ZSJ avoids the senton, snapmares Takagi, but Takagi UP KICKS before the neck twist! ZSJ avoids the sliding lariat, but Takagi avoids the Penalty Kick! The two back off and the fans fire up again! Takagi and ZSJ catch their breath and reset again. The fans rally, and now things are even between “TA-KA-GI!” and “ZAKU!” The two knuckle lock, but ZSJ puts pressure on a wrist. They complete the knuckle locks, and go shoulder to shoulder in a Test of Strength.

Takagi powers up to put pressure on the hold, and ZSJ drops to his knees! The fans rally, ZSJ fights up, and ZSJ rolls back to reverse the pressure onto Takagi! Takagi drops to his knees, but he powers up. They spin, and ZSJ NORTHERN LIGHTS! Takagi gets up but ZSJ arm-drags! ZSJ STOMPS the arm, then fires up! The fans cheer and Takagi goes to ropes. ZSJ waits on Takagi, he goes to a corner, so ZSJ storms up to go after the arm. ZSJ brings Takagi out of the corner to bend the arm and twist the wrist. ZSJ isolates the arm to STOMP it again! The fans cheer while Takagi goes to the apron and shakes the arm out.

ZSJ waits again, and Takagi rolls back in. ZSJ storms up but Takagi fires body shots. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Takagi to a corner! And UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ wrenches the arm, hits an ELBOW BREAKER, then wrenches again for another ELBOW BREAKER! We pass five minutes as ZSJ wrenches again, but Takagi blocks the elbow breaker with a SLEEPER! ZSJ slips out the back to SLEEPER, but Takagi powers up and out to whip ZSJ to a corner! ZSJ bounces back and into a backslide! TWO, but Takagi STOMPS ZSJ’s hands! And NECK TWISTS! The fans cheer as Takagi uses ZSJ’s tricks against him!

ZSJ sits up, Takagi storms over, and Takagi clamps on a chinbar. ZSJ endures the neck wrench, even as Takagi puts pressure. Takagi drags ZSJ up, ZSJ swings, but Takagi hooks and spins him! ZSJ fights the suplex so Takagi SWINGING NECKBREAKERS! ZSJ bails out of the ring but Takagi pursues. Red Shoes has TMDK stay back, and Takagi drags ZSJ up. Takagi whips ZSJ hard into railing! ZSJ drops to his knees, but Takagi clamps on with a chinlock. ZSJ endures, Takagi lets off, and Takagi stomps ZSJ. Red Shoes says to bring this into the ring, but Takagi SMACKS ZSJ off the apron. And SMACKS him off the apron again!

Takagi tries a third time but ZSJ blocks to body shot, and UPPERCUT! Takagi fireman’s carries to SNAKE EYES off the apron! ZSJ falls and the fans fire up with Takagi! Takagi stomps ZSJ as the ring count starts. Takagi takes a moment to shake out the bad arm, and we hit 10 of 20. Takagi drags ZSJ up and in at 12, and the fans applaud. Takagi then slingshot KNEE DROPS! Takagi digs his knee in, but lets off as Red Shoes brings up being in the ropes. Takagi drags ZSJ up to facelock and he grinds the hold. ZSJ endures the not quite guillotine, so Takagi rolls him back, and has a headlock! ZSJ keeps his shoulders up but Takagi denies the headscissors.

Takagi traps an arm, ZSJ still goes to headscissor! Takagi shrugs that off again, so ZSJ kicks and kicks and scoots his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Takagi lets go. Takagi drags ZSJ up but ZSJ CHOPS! And CHOPS! Takagi JABS and ZSJ falls over! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi defends it was a palm strike. Takagi puts ZSJ in a corner to LARIAT! The fans rally up as ZSJ sits down, and Takagi drags ZSJ up. Takagi reels ZSJ in to scoop and SLAM, then he drops a BIG elbow! And another! And then fakes the senton to KNEE DROP on ZSJ’s back! The fans cheer as Takagi stands back up.

We pass 10 minutes as Takagi drags ZSJ up. ZSJ fights the suplex and throws down elbows! Takagi CLUBS ZSJ, waistlocks, but ZSJ wheelbarrows then drops down, victory roll into NECK TWIST! And a basement dropkick! The fans rally up while both men are down again. ZSJ stands first, and he UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! ZSJ whips, Takagi reverses but ZSJ UPPERCUTS on the run! The fans fire up again while ZSJ catches his breath. Takagi goes to a corner, ZSJ runs in to UPPERCUT again! And then HALF HATCH, with BRIDGE! TWO! Takagi is still in this and the fans rally up.

ZSJ drags Takagi up, but Takagi JABS, JABS and CHOPS, but ZSJ blocks! Takagi fights free of the takedown to ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint and DDT! Takagi hurries to bring ZSJ back up, and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! ZSJ is tougher than that, but Takagi fires up! The fans rally, and Takagi says, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up more now that the time has come! Takagi storms up on ZSJ, reels him in, but ZSJ fights the suplex! ZSJ reaches out for ropes, so Takagi pushes him forward and GERMAN SUPLEXES on the rebound! The fans fire up while ZSJ tumbles away! Takagi hears the fans rally more as he storms over.

Takagi whips ZSJ and KNEES him at ropes! Takagi then fires more knees down low! ZSJ coughs, Takagi whips, but ZSJ turns knee into roll-up, and roll-up into a KNEE SMASH ELBOW DROP COMBO! The fans fire up while both men are down again! ZSJ rises and grabs the leg to KICK it! And KICK it again! ZSJ wrenches the foot to then drop a knee on it! Takagi clutches his leg while ZSJ takes a breath. ZSJ then drags Takagi around again, turns Takagi over and steps through, to then hook up both legs! The fans rally as Takagi resists, but ZSJ still wants the arms. ZSJ can’t get them, so he just DOUBLE STOMPS the legs!

The fans rally and duel as we pass 15 minutes. Red Shoes checks the legs, but Takagi says he’s still in this. ZSJ eggs Takagi to get up then, but Takagi goes to ropes first. Takagi shakes out the legs, hobbles over, but ZSJ rolls to get the leg! ZSJ has the takedown, then a HEEL HOOK!! Takagi rolls fast and manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and ZSJ lets off quickly. ZSJ then watches Takagi crawl away. Takagi keeps his legs behind him but ZSJ still KICKS! And KICKS! And KICKS Takagi ELBOWS! YUKON- NO, ZSJ blocks the lariat to PELE the arm! Takagi still ROLLING ELBOWS! ZSJ KICKS and UPPERCUTS!

Takagi falls, sits up, but into a PENALTY KICK! Takagi is right up to PUMPING BOMBER!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! ZSJ rolls to a corner, Takagi heads over, and Takagi brings ZSJ up to the top rope. Takagi fires ridge hands to CHOP ZSJ, then he climbs. Takagi brings ZSJ to the very top, to SUPERPLEX! And a roll through for a MAGIC SCREW! Shoutout to Cold Skull, and both men are down again! Takagi powers up and brings ZSJ around. Takagi pump handles but ZSJ slips free to O’Conner! Takagi bucks that, but ZSJ trips him up! Body scissors and JAPANESE- NO, Takagi blocks the clutch to REAR NAKED CHOKE!

The fans fire up as ZSJ endures and moves around! The body scissors are on and Takagi squeezes tight! ZSJ endures, so Takagi makes it a GROUND COBRA TWIST! ZSJ still fights, still reaches out, even as Takagi THRASHES! ZSJ kicks fere of the body scissors to have the ROPEBREAK! Takagi drags him up fast, pump handle and MADE IN JAPAN!! But Takagi can’t make the cover! The fans rally up more as Takagi rises. Takagi starts up the “OI! OI! OI!” and the fans join in! Takagi brings ZSJ up, pump handles again, but ZSJ fights the lift! So Takagi HEADBUTTS and HEADBUTTS and POINT-BLANK LARIATS!

ZSJ drops to his knees, Takagi stands him up to pump handle and- NO, ZSJ slips out to waistlock. Takagi fires elbows but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ runs, but Takagi LARIATS at ropes! Takagi keeps moving, ZSJ ducks under, and both men run, PUMPING BOMBER TAKEDOWN! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ sunset flips! TWO and Takagi prawn holds! TWO!! Both men stand, we hit 20 minutes, and ZSJ boots the lariat to scoop! ZACK DRIVER!! But ZSJ can’t make the cover, either!! The fans rally as hard as they can, “TA-KA-GI!” “ZAKU! ZAKU!” Takagi and ZSJ stir, and ZSJ sits up first. ZSJ takes off the wrist tape, then stands back up.

The fans rally as ZSJ KICKS Takagi, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Takagi blocks! DRAGON- NO, ZSJ steps through the screw to NECK TWIST! Takagi sits up, ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and the fans fire up! ZSJ stands Takagi to scoop, but Takagi slips free, GROUND COBRA CRADLE! TWO!! Toehold, into a HEEL HOOK!! Takagi flails, reaches out, but ZSJ pulls on the foot with his behind-the-back grip! ZSJ then drags Takagi away to center! HEEL HOOK!! Takagi endures, pulls at his hair, but ZSJ twists the foot! Takagi scrambles to the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer while ZSJ lets go in frustration!

ZSJ catches his breath while he waits on Takagi. Takagi sits up, and he eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ steps up to stand Takagi, but Takagi fires off more ridge hands! But ZSJ catches the lariat, wrangles Takagi to the mat, then STOMPS the arm! The fans rally more as ZSJ rests in a corner. Takagi rises, ZSJ steps up, but into a Gory Especial! But ZSJ reaches back to have a SLEEPER! And then IRON OCTOPUS! Takagi endures, powers out, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Takagi hobbles but he gets moving, to PUMPING BOMBER!! But he again cannot make the cover! The fans rally as hard as they can while Takagi sits up.

ZSJ is dazed but Takagi brings him around. Takagi roars, pump handles, and torture racks, but ZSJ slips into a SLEEPER! BACKPACK SENTON!! But ZSJ has a TRIANGLE HOLD!! Takagi endures as ZSJ squeezes tight! We pass 25 minutes, and Takagi deadlifts ZSJ! ZSJ shifts around but Takagi uses that for LAST OF THE DRAGONS!!! Cover, TWO!?!? ZSJ survives and the fans are thunderous! Takagi pounds the mat and roars, and the fans fire up with him! Takagi winds up to LARIAT! ZSJ stays up, so Takagi LARIATS again! ZSJ is still up, Takagi leans on the ropes, and Takagi comes back to LARIAT! ZSJ still stays up!

ZSJ storms over, Takagi fires boxing elbows! ZSJ SLAPS! And fires off fast hands! Takagi JABS! Takagi ducks the roundhouse, and he narrowly avoids kicks to the leg! ZSJ runs up but Takagi meets him, DOUBLE LARIATS! Takagi roars, but ZSJ ROUNDHOUSES and LARIATS!! Cover, ONE?!?! Scoop and ZACK DRIVER!!! Cover, TWO?!?! But into an ANKLE LOCK!! ZSJ has the grapevine and the fans are thunderous as Takagi endures!! But how much more does he have left!? ZSJ shifts, HEEL HOOK!!! Takagi bites his finger to ignore the pain, and he tells Red Shoes to wait! But then ZSJ THRASHES, and Takagi TAPS! ZSJ WINS!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by submission (advances to the G1 Climax 34 Finals)

The Submission Master has just slain the Rampaging Dragon! No LIJ G1 Finals, what is Takagi to do for the Fall now?

As for ZSJ, it sinks in that he’s going to the finals. And speaking of those finals, Yota Tsuji returns to the ring so that he and ZSJ can meet face to face. The fans cheer both guys as they stand in the ring. ZSJ says in both English and Japanese that may the best man win, then offers a handshake. Yota smiles and accepts. The fans cheer, and Yota makes his return to the back. ZSJ then gets the mic, but goes into the crowd! ZSJ wants to be among the fans as he addresses them! In Japanese, ZSJ says, “Ryogoku… See ya tomorrow!” And that’s it! The fans cheer as ZSJ heads out, but will The Front Man make this a mighty G1 Climax?

My Thoughts:

Another awesome night for NJPW and the G1, though I really only had time for those G1 matches. I skimmed the tune-up tag matches, though, and the dysfunction of ELP and Jado is growing. That combined with this story building against House of Torture via the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles, that final straw is coming where ELP is no longer a “Guerilla of Destiny.” And with Evil pinning Yano in that big 10 Man Tag, that pretty much solidifies it, we’ll be seeing Evil and any two House of Torture guys facing Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg for the titles soon. War Dogs also win because Taiji Ishimori is going after Douki and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, that’ll be good stuff.

The United Empire’s Great-O-Khan, Henare & Akira winning was good stuff because Khan is clearly aiming for the world title during the Fall. He got the most recent singles win off Naito so I suppose he’d be up first when it comes to those “golden tickets” won during the round robin. Now, I don’t see Khan winning, but this is a great move to elevate Khan to be more than just KOPW Champion. And of course, two amazing matches in the semifinals. For just a moment, I thought Finlay was getting this, but it was so awesome for Yota to win in part thanks to Yuya’s finisher. And ZSJ winning the main event was the right call, ZSJ has been doing great work for so long, he deserves this moment.

For that matter, ZSJ deserves even the win in the finals. As great as Yota making history winning both tournaments in one year would be, that honor feels too big for a young guy like him, even if he is one of the “Reiwa Musketeers.” I don’t think any of the “golden tickets” takes the title from Naito, so it’s much better for ZSJ to have the Right to Challenge contract and go to WrestleKingdom 19.

My Score: 9/10