G1 Climax 33 rolled on today and today’s show featured a battle between two TMDK members, Zack Sabre Jr. was going head-to-head with Shane Haste in a D Block battle.
The match began with some chain wrestling, with both men matching arm drags and head scissors. Sabre then began focusing on the arm of Haste, but Haste reversed out of a hold and kicked Sabre in the spine. He pretended to feel sorry for kicking his teammate and then big-booted Sabre in the head. Both men were now trading European uppercuts and then big boots, but Haste caught Sabre with a dropkick.
Haste was now using his technical abilities on Sabre, but Sabre quickly showed him who the real technical wizard is. After an exchange of holds Haste started laying into Sabre with some kicks, but Sabre caught him with a kick of his own. Sabre now delivered a head crank to Haste, followed by a half-suplex.
With Haste reeling Sabre went to lock in a kimura, but Haste reversed that into a falcon arrow. Haste was now giving Sabre some stiff forearms, but Sabre delivered a slap in return and now both men were slapping the taste out of each other’s mouths. They then both took each other down with a big boot, but Sabre jumped up and hit the seated Haste with a PK.
European Clutch. Credit: NJPW
Haste then blocked a Zack Driver and hit Sabre with a sit-out powerbomb, but it only got him a two-count. He then went for a running kick, but Sabre ducked and tripped Haste into an STF that he transitioned into an arm crank that turned into a head, arm and leg hold. Haste was able to make it to the ropes and then as Sabre was looking for another PK he was caught by a big lariat that Haste followed with a back suplex.
Haste now hit a second lariat and went for Bomb Valley Death, but Sabre reversed that in mid-air into a triangle submission. Sabre then turned that hold into a European Clutch pin and was able to get the win and move to eight points.
G1 Climax 33 — Standings
Block A
Block B
Block C
Block D
G1 CLIMAX 33 — NIGHT TEN RESULTS
HENARE vs. David Finlay — G1 Climax 33 C Block Tournament Match
Finlay is sitting atop C Block with his three wins thus far and that momentum carried into today. He reversed Streets of Rage from HENARE and rolled him Into Oblivion to move to eight points.
Winner: David Finlay
Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb — G1 Climax 33 D Block Tournament Match
Yano finds his way to victory. Credit: NJPW
Cobb came into this bout undefeated at 4-0 and Yano has yet to earn a single victory at 0-4. Those records proved to mean nothing today as less than two minutes into the match Yano sprayed Cobb in his eyes and rolled him up to steal the win.
Winner: Toru Yano
Mikey Nicholls vs. Eddie Kingston — G1 Climax 33 C Block Tournament Match
Eddie Kingston is coming off his amazing match against Ishii where he came up short and today he will meet Nicholls who has been an awful part of this G1. Nicholls was able to get some offence in, but Kingston caught him with a spinning back fist and got the victory.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Tetsuya Naito vs. Alex Coughlin — G1 Climax 33 D Block Tournament Match
Coughlin has been extremely disappointing in his first G1 and that continued this morning. Just when it seemed Coughlin was going to get the win with the Jackhammer, Naito slipped out and turned it into a Destino.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito
Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL — G1 Climax 33 C Block Tournament Match
In typical House of Torture fashion, EVIL attacked Ishii as soon as he entered the ring and took that advantage with him the entire match. After hitting Ishii with everything in sight and Dick Togo got involved many times, EVIL hit Everything is Evil to steal a win.
Winner: EVIL
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shane Haste — G1 Climax 33 D Block Tournament Match
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.
Tama Tonga vs. Shingo Takagi — G1 Climax 33 C Block Tournament Match
Tonga wants 20 more seconds. Credit: NJPW
Takagi desperately needed some points here today in order to stay alive in this G1, but unfortunately, he would not get the two points he needed. Both Tonga and Takagi battled to the end with both men looking for their finisher. In the end, Tonga was finally able to hit a Gun Stun, but it was too late and the time expired. Takagi stays alive, but he is holding on by a thread and Tonga now sits one point back from the top of C Block.
Winner: Time Limit Draw
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto — G1 Climax 33 D Block Tournament Match
The Ace gets the win. Credit: NJPW
Neither Tanahashi nor Goto have been all too impressive so far, both sitting at 2-2 with four points each. Today it was The Ace getting the best of Goto, he hit a sling blade, Aces High and finally a High Fly Flow for the victory.