The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, SANADA, continued his momentum on day five of the G1 Climax as he matched up with Yota Tsuji in the main event. This is a rematch from their title bout back at Dominion.
The match began with some chain wrestling and then both men started reversing everything the other was throwing at them. Tsuji picked things up when he hit a hurricanrana, and then the fight was taken to the top of the stage. At the top of the stage, SANADA would take a run at Tsuji, only to be hit with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Tsuji with the suicide dive. Credit: NJPW
Tsuji carried SANADA back to ringside and dropped him with snake eyes onto the apron. Now back in the ring, Tsuji hit a bodyslam and then a leaping headbutt. Tsuji made the mistake of going for a Stinger Splash, SANADA moved out of the way and then hit him with a back-body drop. SANADA now hit two dropkicks before leaping over the top rope with a tope onto Tsuji on the outside.
Unfortunately for SANADA, Tsuji came right back with another hurricanrana and then hit a suicide dive through the ropes. He was now successful in hitting the Stinger Splash and tried to follow that with a superplex, but it was reversed. SANADA then hit him with a rope-hung twisting neck breaker and then a TKO.
Tsuji now reversed an O’Connor roll into his own version of Skull End, he released the hold to hit a moonsault from the top rope. That was followed with a falcon’s arrow and he then went for a Gory Special, but SANADA turned it into a poisonrana. SANADA now hit a shining wizard and then went for Deadfall, but Tsuji cartwheeled out of it. Tsuji hit a bicycle knee, a headbutt and then a brutal stomp.
He was then looking for the finish with a spear, but he was caught mid-leap with a cutter. SANADA followed that with a moonsault from the top and then ended the match with Deadfall to beat Tsuji.
G1 Climax 33 – Standings
Block A
Block B
Block C
Block D
G1 Climax 33 – Night Five Results
YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tanga Loa — G1 Climax 33 B Block Tournament Match
Loa was seemingly overpowering HASHI throughout this entire bout, but he could not use that power to get the job done. HASHI would reverse a power slam into a crucifix bomb to earn his second tournament victory.
Winner: YOSHI-HASHI
Ren Narita vs. Gabe Kidd — G1 Climax 33 A Block Tournament Match
Kidd has been attacking all of his opponents on the apron, but today Narita was prepared for that and turned to face him as he attempted his attack. The match did eventually make it to the ring and in the closing moments, Kidd pushed the referee and low-blowed Narita. Kidd followed the low blow with a leg-trapped piledriver to get the win.
Winner: Gabe Kidd
El Phantasmo vs. Great-O-Khan — G1 Climax 33 B Block Tournament Match
Both ELP and O-Khan are winless to start this G1, so today both were looking to earn their first points of the tournament. Unfortunately for ELP, O-Khan locked him in the Subaru Ozawa Sheep Killer LUNA and forced him to submit.
Winner: Great-O-Khan
Hikuleo vs. Chase Owens — G1 Climax 33 A Block Tournament Match
The giant that is Hikuleo, has not looked too good to start the G1 as he has lost his first two bouts. Today he was up against his former friend, Chase Owens, but it was just more of the same for Hikuleo. Owens faked a knee injury, hit Hikuleo with his knee brace and then won the match with a C-Trigger.
Winner: Chase Owens
Will Ospreay vs. KENTA — G1 Climax 33 B Block Tournament Match
DDT on the outside. Credit: NJPW
After Ospreay lost his tournament opener, he did not look like a man prepared to lose another match. KENTA did control most of this match after hitting Ospreay with a DDT on concrete, but Ospreay battled back. He hit KENTA with a flurry of superkicks and finished the job with a Stormbreaker.
Winner: Will Ospreay
Shota Umino vs. Kaito Kiyomiya — G1 Climax 33 A Block Tournament Match
A fight till the end. Credit: NJPW
Kiyomiya was undefeated entering this match and Umino has yet to get his first victory of the G1. Today these men truly gave it all they had, Kiyomiya hit a tiger suplex and Umino landed a brutal spike DDT. They both battled to the end, but just as Umino was calling for a Death Rider the bell sounded and the match was a draw.
Winner: Time-limit draw
Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi — G1 Climax 33 B Block Tournament Match
Bad luck for Taichi. Credit: NJPW
Okada and Taichi were both undefeated and whoever won this bout would stand alone in first place of B Block. Taichi looked great to begin the match and when Okada went for a missile dropkick it was reversed into a powerbomb. He followed that with a flurry of back-body drops, and both men then exchanged enzigiris. Taichi was then looking for the finish, but Okada dropped down and stole the win by stacking Taichi up. Even with Taichi dominating this entire match from start to finish, it was not enough to beat The Rainmaker.