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From Hokkaido, Japan:
Thoughts on Shota Umino: Umino's G1 Climax journey has ended before it really began. This is not the first time that a wrestler gets injured at the start of a G1 and is withdrawn from the tournament. Tetsuya Naito tore his left meniscus in 2021. Yuya Uemura injured his arm in 2024. Gabe Kidd injured his knee in 2025. A wrestler can always bounce back in the G1 the following year or in another tournament. Umino will not get a chance to build a story with Gabe Kidd for the IWGP Global Title in the B Block. Kidd was set up to be the hottest and most hated heel going into the G1, with Umino chasing Kidd in singles G1 matches to possibly win the tournament and get back to a Global Title rematch. That all could still happen in undercard tag matches either in New Japan's September event (DESTRUCTION in Kobe) or October (King of Pro Wrestling). However, Umino's journey will lack the drama with him coming off the injured bench, while Gabe Kidd will be battle tested and War Ready. The Super Jr. Tag League and World Tag League tournaments will happen in the fall and winter, which will not give Umino his individual moment to shine. Umino must wait another year to build his legacy in the G1 Climax.
The show begins with Hiroyoshi Tenzan coming out to ringside to address the crowd, and join the Japanese commentary team. Tenzan will be retiring on August 15 at the Ryogoku Sumo Hall, in Tokyo. He will wrestle Satoshi Kojima in his final match at that event.
1 - Taisei Nakahara and Toru Yano vs. Tatsuya Matsumoto and Aaron Wolf
Wolf forces Nakahara to tap out to a Boston Crab.
2 - Zane Jay and Callum Newman vs. Dick Togo and Ren Narita
Narita kicks Jay in the groin. Narita and Togo hit a Magic Killer on Jay and Narita pins Jay.
3 - Masatora Yasuda and Yuya Uemura vs. Hartley Jackson and Zack Sabre Jr.
Jackson pins Yasuda with a Jagged Edge.
G1 Climax 36 Matches:
4 - B Block: Gabe Kidd vs. Drilla Moloney
Kidd comes through the crowd like a Death Rider. He throws the IWGP Global title belt on the concrete. Kidd flipped off the fans and disrespected New Japan and put over AEW.
Kidd and Moloney brawl into the crowd. Kidd throws a chair into Moloney's face and is bleeding from the forehead. Moloney punches Kidd in the head until he is bleeding too.
Kidd hits a Rebound Lariat, and two brainbusters. Two count. Kidd hits a third brainbuster. Two count. Kidd goes for a superplex, but Moloney headbutts him off the ropes and lands a flying elbow. Moloney hits a pop-up powerbomb and follows with a Gore. Two count. Kidd hits a spear. Moloney with a Back Suplex. Moloney hits a Package Piledriver and follows with a Drilla Killa.
Moloney pins Kidd.
Drilla Moloney has 4 points.
Gabe Kidd has 2 points.
Moloney quickly grabs the IWGP Global Title and declares himself the number one contender.
This was good business by Kidd, the professional wrestler. He puts over his former teammate in front of the Japanese fans, with clean win, and he leaves ringside without any theatrics.
5 - A Block: Great O-Khan vs. SANADA
They fight to the outside of the ring. O-Khan hits SANADA with a chair three times and hit a Tenzan Tombstone Driver on a chair. SANADA gets counted out. O-Khan is declared the winner.
Great O-Khan has 2 points.
SANADA has 0 points.
O-Khan drags SANADA in the ring and blasts him again in the head with a chair. No House of Torture interference.
6 - A Block: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Jake Lee
Lee attacks with knees to the chest and gut. Lee misses Face Break Shot and Takeshita powerbombs him. They trade strikes and kicks. Lee with Chokeslam. Two count. Takeshita hits a Power Drive Knee. Two count. Lee with a brainbuster and a front face choke. They trade more elbow and strikes. Takeshita hits Raging Fire. Takeshita pins Lee.
Konosuke Takeshita has 2 points.
Jake Lee has 2 points.
7 - A Block: Boltin Oleg vs. Yuto-Ice
Lots of strikes and kicks in this match. Oleg gets angry and hulks up. Oleg stomps on Yuto and pushes the referee aside. Oleg hits a shotgun dropkick to the head. Yuto rakes Oleg in the eyes. They trade more strikes. Oleg hit a Kamikaze. Yuto kicks out. Oleg hits an F5. Oleg with a powerbomb. Two count. Oleg holds onto Yuto and deadlifts him two more times for powerbombs. The referee stops the match because Yuto looked unconscious. Oleg is declared the winner.
Boltin Oleg has 2 points.
Yuto-Ice has 2 points.
OSKAR on English commentary leaves the booth to help his partner. Yuto is limp and OSKAR carries him back to the locker room.
Good booking here. Oleg gets over as a monster. Yuto never gives up or pinned, but he is too tired to continue. Both look strong at the end of the match. OSKAR added in commentary how he and Yuto would mock Oleg for getting all the opportunities in New Japan, while they were on European excursions. OSKAR's commentary added a lot to building up both Oleg and Yuto.
8 - A Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Ryohei Oiwa
Another match full of strikes. Oiwa worked over Takagi's left arm. Takagi hit a Back Suplex and Made in Japan. Oiwa kicks out. Oiwa applies an arm submission, but Takagi gets to the ropes. Takagi hits Last of the Dragon, but his arm is hurting to make the cover. Takagi hits a Pumping Bomber. Two count. Takagi hits the Burning Dragon. Takagi pins Oiwa.
Shingo Takagi has 2 points.
Ryohei Oiwa has 2 points.
9 - A Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Yota Tsuji
The crowd was behind Goto in the early moments. They traded stiff shots and strikes. Goto's chest was bruised from Tsuji's chops. Tsuji hurt Goto's back with long Boston Crab. Tsuji goes for a Gene Blaster, but Goto turns it into a ushigaroshi. Tsuji hits a brutal running knee smash. Goto hits a Taiten Bomb off the top rope. Two count. Goto hits a lariat and GTW. Two count. Tsuji reverses out of a GTR and hits a series of strikes. Tsuji with a sit down side slam. Two count. Goto blocks a Gene Blaster and hits a Shoten Kai. But Goto is unable to make the cover. Goto hits a several headbutts and a chop to the neck. Tsuji hits a Gene Blaster. Goto kicks out at two. Goto hits a Muramasa kick. Goto hits a GTR, followed by a GTR-Kai. Goto pins Tsuji.
Hirooki Goto has 4 points.
Yota Tsuji has 2 points.
Goto puts over Tsuji and thanks the fans for coming, in the first night of the G1 Climax in Japan.
With Shota Umino's withdrawal from the tournament, all Umino's opponents in the B Block receive an automatic 2 points, except Zack Sabre Jr., who already defeated Umino in Chicago.
Current Standings:
|
A Block |
Points |
|
Konosuke Takeshita |
2 |
|
Yota Tsuji |
2 |
|
SANADA |
0 |
|
Shingo Takagi |
2 |
|
Jake Lee |
2 |
|
Boltin Oleg |
2 |
|
Hirooki Goto |
4 |
|
Great O-Khan |
2 |
|
Yuto-Ice |
2 |
|
Ryohei Oiwa |
2 |
|
B Block |
Points |
|
Calum Newman |
4 |
|
Zack Sabre Jr. |
2 |
|
Shota Umino |
0 |
|
Yuya Uemura |
2 |
|
Ren Narita |
2 |
|
Drilla Moloney |
4 |
|
Gabe Kidd |
2 |
|
HENARE |
2 |
|
Aaron Wolf |
4 |
|
OSKAR |
4 |
Thank you for reading.
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