Following night 12 of NJPW’s G1 Climax tournament Zack Sabre Jr and Kota Ibushi sit atop the A Block tied at 10 points each.
Toru Yano and Shingo Takagi, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, had the most entertaining bout of the night. As soon as the bell rung in their bout Yano pulled out a bag for himself and Shingo. Yano puts his bag over his head asking Shingo to do the same. Shingo does. Yano employs sneaky style by dumping his mask and rolling up Shingo for a two count.
Shingo puts a bag over Yano’s head shoulder tackling him to the mat for a two count. On the floor, Yano whips Shingo into the barricade and sprays sanitizer in his eyes. Yano sprays some more sanitizer in one of the bags then puts it over Shingo’s head. Yano rolls Shingo under the ring as the official begins their count.
Yano makes sure Shingo is germ free. Courtesy: NJPW.
Shingo and Yano both tear off a turnbuckle each for a showdown in the middle of the ring. Shingo clotheslines Yano and his turnbuckle down to the canvass. Yano pulls another fast one by pushing the official into Shingo, slinging him into the exposed buckle for a two count. That just makes Shingo even angrier. Shingo hits a Pumping Bomber, pulls Yano’s t-shirt over his head, blasts him with a sliding lariat and a Last of the Dragon to notch another two points.
The winner of the G1 Climax Tournament is awarded with a championship match at Wrestle Kingdom.
A Block Standings
| Name | Points |
|---|---|
| Zack Sabre Jr. | 10 |
| Kota Ibushi | 10 |
| Kenta | 8 |
| Great-O-Khan | 8 |
| Shingo Takagi | 8 |
| Tomohiro Ishii | 8 |
| Toru Yano | 6 |
| Yujiro Takahashi | 4 |
| Tanga Loa | 4 |
| Tetsuya Naito | Withdrawn due to injury |
NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 2021 – Night 12 Results
El Desperado versus Ryohei Oiwa
Desperado makes the Young Lion submit to a simple leglock.
Winner: El Desperado
Kenta versus Hiromu Takahashi
It doesn’t take long for Kenta to bring things to the floor and introduce Hiromu into the steel barricades. Kenta runs the table whipping Hiromu into an exposed turnbuckle, battering Hiromu all around the ring. Hiromu makes a comeback by launching Kenta over his head and into a turnbuckle. Kenta shoves Hiromu into the official. Both go down. Kenta retrieves a steel chair from under the ring. Kenta drops the chair after Hiromu demands that he beat him with it. Hiromu runs off the ropes. Kenta throws the chair in his face and smashes him over the back with it. Kenta dumps Hiromu with a draping DDT on the steel chair for a two count. Kenta pushes Hiromu into the exposed corner and rolls him up for the victory.
Winner: Kenta
Tonga Loa versus Kota Ibushi – G1 Climax 31 Match
After a long, hard battle Ibushi beats Loa with a Kamigoye.
Winner: Kota Ibushi
Zack Sabre Jr. versus Yujiro Takahashi – G1 Climax 31 Match
Sabre Jr. extends his G1 winning streak by making Yujiro submit.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.
Toru Yano versus Shingo Takagi – G1 Climax 31 Match
Winner: Shingo Takagi
The Great-O-Khan versus Tomohiro Ishii – G1 Climax 31 Match
Ishii spikes Kahn with a Brainbuster.
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii