Published in · 6 min read · 10 hours ago
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A Block in Nagasaki
The A Block takes center stage on night five of G1 Climax 34, with the fourth matches of their campaign in Nagasaki seeing them approach the midway point.
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Main event: Tetsuya Naito (1–2) vs EVIL (3–0)
Singles record: 4–2 Naito
Being the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and defending G1 winner has made Tetsuya Naito the biggest target in the lineup. That’s been evident with the aggression Shingo Takagi, Zack Sabre Jr. and Jake Lee have all brought to El Ingobernable, and it’s safe to say that Naito has endured more damage than most of the field of 20 to this point.
Yet while that has put paid to an effective full Destino on this tour, it has forced Naito to lean on highly tuned survival instincts. A counter Destino to Jake Lee in Hiroshima into a pinning combination saw him to his first two points and backstage El Ingobernable stated that the more momentum his competition brought, the more he’ll be able to use that momentum against them.
Hope then, against EVIL? The King of Darkness has a ton of momentum behind his six points, and though Gabe Kidd all but turned asdide outside distractions for a thrilling opening night performance, EVIL has more or less lived up to pre campaign promises of having ‘the worst match of the card, but getting results’. It all means the fans in Nagasaki will be pulling extra hard for Naito, but in this first match for he and his former pareja since G1 Climax 32, will EVIL come away with his first win over El Ingobernable since 2020?
9th Match: Zack Sabre Jr. (3–0) vs Jake Lee (1–2)
Teaming with Jake Lee back in 2022 for a Tatsumi Fujinami Anniversary event, Zack Sabre Jr. found much to like in the would be Smart Bastard. Sabre would later state that he had hoped Lee, then a free agent would make his way to NJPW rings, something that has indeed come to pass, albeit via Pro-Wrestling NOAH and now as the War Dogs’ newest member.
While Sabre’s praise may well have found the ear of the imposing hard hitter, it’s unlikely that the self confessed ‘liar and betrayer’ found those words going to his heart. ZSJ is well versed in the artistry of bastardry himself and will be prepared for an aggressive Lee in Nagasaki, but can he hand the giant his third consecutive loss while heading to 4–0?
8th Match: Shota Umino (1–2) vs Great-O-Khan (0–3)
Night three of the tour in Hiroshima was a trying one for both great-O-Khan and Shota Umino. Against Shingo Takagi, O-Khan once again brought an impressive, firey and hard hitting performance, but once again his name wasd in the L column. For Umino meanwhile, just 48 hours after points on the board gave a valuable shot of confidence, being all but run out of the gym by an aggressive Gabe Kidd who further strained Umino’s hip and lower back swung the pendulum of momentum away from him.
Now, it’s a crucial match for both. Umino needs to assert himself as physically and mentally capable of getting himself into the top three mix come league’s end, while for O-Khan, another loss puts him on the bubble of elimination.
7th Match: SANADA (1–2) vs Gabe Kidd (2–1)
Singles record: 1–0 SANADA
While Gabe Kidd’s debut G1 in 2023 saw the wild man’s brawling style lead to more losses than wins, the STRONG Openweight Champion has been able to pair his violent tendencies with enough focus to be 2–1 after three bouts. Notably that includes avenging a 2023 loss to Shota Umino in convincing style in Hiroshima; now he seeks to avenge another G1 33 loss to SANADA.
Last year SANADA was victorious as part of a dominant run through his league table, but, as Kidd pointed out, left the bout with a bicep tear that led to his downfall in the G1 and ultimately as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Kidd feels as if he’s inside the head of the former champ, but will SANADA retain his cool to move even after four matches?
6th Match: Shingo Takagi (2–1) vs Callum Newman (1–2)
After a stunning upset win over Shota Umino on night one, Callum Newman has quickly gained an education in just how tough the G1 Climax can be against SANADA and Zack Sabre Jr. Now he faces another hard lesson against Shingo Takagi, himself fresh off defeating Newman’s United EMpire teammate in A Block, Great-O-Khan. Can Newman channel the spirit of his protege Will Ospreay to a match of the year (and match winning) performance?
5th Match: Tomoaki Honma & Hirooki Goto vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Yota Tsuji & BUSHI)
Sunday in f*ckuoka will see a rematch from the New Japan Cup final as Hirooki Goto and Yota Tsuji throw down in the main event. Tonight a preview of that bour brings TYomoaki Honma and BUSHI into the mix.
4th Match: BULLET CLUB War Dogs (David Finlay & Gedo) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
War Dogs and HOUSE OF TORTURE have already butted heads twice in A Block as EVIL scored ill gotten wins over both Gabe Kidd and Jake Lee. Sunday is the only time B Block sees a battle between the two BULLET CLUB satellite groups meanwhile, and the only involving its Savage King leader David Finlay. What hints will this preview offer of what to expect in f*ckuoka?
3rd Match: Just Five Guys (Yuya Uemura & TAKA Michinoku) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira)
Before Yuya Uemura and Jeff Cobb meet in f*ckuoka on Sunday, tag team action pits Just Five Guys against United Empire. Both Cobb and Uemura have particular fondness for the f*ckuoka region, but only one will walk out of the weekend with two more points- the pace gets set tonight.
2nd Match: Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Jado) vs Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano
As El Phantasmo continues to work at finding his smile and results, he and Jado face down two thirds of the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champions in Boltin Oleg and Toru Yano. Can ELP get a win ahead of his G1 bout with the Big Man From Kazakhstan Sunday?
1st Match: Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima vs HENARE & Konosuke Takesh*ta
HENARE and Konosuke Takesh*ta will be opponents on Sunday in f*ckuoka, but will form an uncomfortable alliance in Nagasaki to face Young Lions in our opening tag team bout. While Kyle Fletcher and Will Ospreay’s AEW presence forged a mutual connection to Takesh*ta, the United Empire and Don Callis’ Family are not affiliated, and nor are HENARE and Takesh*ta. Or might that change?
