United Empire goes to war at G1 Climax

Sanada, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and Kazuchika Okada remain undefeated and the leaders of blocks A and B in the G1 Climax Tournament. Both have won four matches in a row for a total of eight points each after night seven during which Sanada defeated Kaito Kiyomiya in an incredible bout and Okada beat fellow Chaos stable member Y0shi-Hashi.

The most contentious match of the night though was between United Empire members Will Ospreay and The Great-O-Khan. They certainly didn’t hold anything back from one another. Khan stood in front of Ospreay with his hands behind his back daring him to chop him again and again. He barely moves. Ospreay puts his hands behind his back but cannot stand against The Mongolian Chops. He is driven to his knees. Grimacing, Ospreay stood up for more punishment though.

Ospreay caught Khan with a boot to the mush off the ropes. Ospreay ran for the ropes again. Khan backdropped him into the lights of Korakuen Hall. Khan barely got a one count with a vertical suplex. Khan trapped Ospreay in a corner. He went to sit on the top rope as he usually does to show his superiority but Ospreay slipped out and broke things up with a hurricanrana.

Ospreay takes a seat…well…several seats. Courtesy: NJPW.

Ospreay flipped off the ropes kicking Khan in the head as the audience got behind him. Ospreay dove onto Khan with a plancha. A flying elbow off the top rope got Ospreay a two count. Khan slammed Ospreay face-first on a turnbuckle before hitting him with a big boot for a two count. Ospreay blocked some more Mongolian Chops dragging Khan around the ring by his hair. Khan interrupted an OsCutter clamping down on Ospreay neck. He then just heaved Ospreay over the top rope to the floor below. Ospreay landed awkwardly clutching his left leg. Khan whipped Ospreay ribs-first into the steel barricade.

Fans sitting on the floor had to flee their seats as Khan threw Ospreay into them. Khan dragged Ospreay back to the ring where he beat on him with a steel chair. I guess friendship goes out the window when a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is on the line.

In the ring, Ospreay stunned Khan with a hook kick to the head. Khan dodged a Hidden Blade throwing the official at Ospreay. Khan sprayed his green mist into Ospreay’s eyes scoring a two count with a roll-up and a Northern Lights Suplex.

While Ospreay was telling the official that he is blinded and cannot see Khan clotheslines him over the top rope. Ospreay hits the ring apron with his head on the way down. Khan splashes Ospreay on the floor.

Ospreay and Khan show no hard feelings after their match. Courtesy: NJPW.

Ospreay flips right out of The Eliminator, hits two hook kicks but is driven to the mat by a Khan clothesline. Khan gets a two-and-a-half. Khan lands a moonsault for another two count. Ospreay halts another Eliminator with knee to the face. Khan kicks out of an OsCutter but not the Leap of Faith splash from the top rope. After the match is over Khan and Ospreay shake hands and hug it out.

G1 Climax 33 – Standings

Block A

Block B

Block C

Block D

G1 Climax 33 – Night Seven Results

Will Ospreay versus The Great-O-Khan – G1 CLIMAX 33 B BLOCK TOURNAMENT

Winner: Will Ospreay

Shota Umino versus Gabe Kidd – G1 CLIMAX 33 A BLOCK TOURNAMENT

Umino gets his first ever G1 victory with Death Rider.

Winner: Shota Umino

Taichi versus Kenta – G1 CLIMAX 33 B BLOCK TOURNAMENT

Taichi has Kenta pinned but there is no official to the make the count. Kenta uses the Strong Openweight Championship belt to block Taichi’s kick. He punches him in the “lower abdomen”, rolls him up for the victory.

Winner: Kenta