The G1 Climax is officially out of the block stage and today the playoffs begin with the quarterfinals. Hikuleo versus Tetsuya Naito, Will Ospreay versus David Finlay, SANADA versus EVIL and Kazuchika Okada versus Zack Sabre Jr. Those eight men enter today, but only four will be left after this show wraps up.
Okada and Sabre was the main event, the match began with some typical chain wrestling and both men trading some blows. Sabre was able to knock Okada down with some kicks, but that riled up Okada. He jumped back up took Sabre to the outside and whipped him into the barricades, he followed that with a draping DDT over the barricade onto the floor. Sabre crawled his way back into the ring only to be met with a neckbreaker.
There was a different look in the eyes of Okada today, he was bashing the head of Sabre with some sharp elbows. However, when he went for another DDT, Sabre reversed and spiked Okada’s shoulder into the mat. He followed that with a neck crank before hitting a dropkick to the back of Okada’s head. Sabre now leaped off the second rope to hit Okada with a European uppercut before locking in one of his signature joint manipulation submissions.
A signature Okada dropkick. Credit: NJPW
Okada did break the hold and hit Sabre with a knee-drop neckbreaker before catching Sabre with a dropkick in mid-air. He then hit a clothesline and went for a second one, but Sabre ducked and hit Okada with a German suplex. However, Okada came right back and hit a German suplex of his own followed by a dropkick. He was now looking for the finish again, but it did not work and he ended up in a Cobra Twist from Sabre.
Okada somehow made it to the ropes, and both men were now trading stiff strikes. Sabre was able to connect with some brutal uppercuts, but Okada then got him with a dropkick and a landslide. He then called for the Rainmaker, but Sabre reversed and dropped Okada with a Zack Driver. Both men were now on their knees trading shots, they eventually made it to their feet to continue with the strikes. In the midst of the strikes, Sabre grabbed wrist control and hit Okada with a brutal lariat.
He held onto Okada’s wrist and tried to catch Okada with a roll-up, but he kicked out at two and hit Sabre with a shotgun dropkick. Sabre jumped right back up to hit Okada with a PK and Okada jumped back up too to hit a dropkick. These men were now both out on their feet slapping each other across the face. Following the slaps, Okada hit a discus clothesline and then went for the Rainmaker. However, Sabre ducked and turned it into another brutal-looking submission.
Okada following his five-star main event. Credit: NJPW
No matter the hold though, Okada was not going to submit and he broke the hold to hit Cobra Flowsion. He then got Sabre back up to finally hit the Rainmaker and punch his ticket to the semifinals of the G1!
THE G1 CLIMAX 33 SEMIFINALS WILL BE:
Tetsuya Naito versus Will Ospreay
EVIL versus Kazuchika Okada
G1 CLIMAX 33 NIGHT 17 RESULTS
Los Ingobernables de Japón (Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi) vs. TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls)
Takahashi hit Fujita with a Time Bomb to get the victory for LIJ.
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japón
Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki
Narita and Umino brawled on the outside while ELP caught Tenzan with a Sudden Death to get the win.
Winners: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga
Just 5 Guys (Taka Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi) vs. Bullet Club (Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin, Chase Owens & KENTA)
Gabe Kidd threw the referee to the side and hit Michinoku in the jaw with a closed fist to steal a win.
Winners: Bullet Club
Eddie Kingston, Tomohiro Ishii & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. United Empire (HENARE, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb)
Eddie Kingston defeated HENARE by hitting him with a Backfist to the Future.
Winners: Eddie Kingston, Tomohiro Ishii & Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hikuleo vs. Tetsuya Naito — G1 Climax 33 Quarterfinal Match
Destino. Credit: NJPW
The younger and much larger Hikuelo seemed like he was going to overcome the veteran, Naito. Near the end of the match, he dropped Naito with a massive side slam and he then called for the chokeslam. However, in mid-air, Naito turned the chokeslam into a Destino and he followed that with a second Destino to advance to the semifinals.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito
Will Ospreay vs. David Finlay — G1 Climax 33 Quarterfinal Match
Hidden Blade. Credit: NJPW
The leader of the United Empire against the leader of Bullet Club, this was sure to be a hard-hitting match. Finlay was up to his usual tactics, bringing this bout outside the ring and setting up a table, however when he went to use the table Jeff Cobb of United Empire removed the table. Bullet Club was also getting involved at ringside, they got many cheapshots in on Ospreay.
Despite Bullet Club’s cheating, Ospreay did not quite, he hit Finlay with a brutal Oscutter on the apron and then power-bombed Finlay through the table he set up. Ospreay was trying to close in on the win, he went for the Leap of Faith from the top rope, but Finlay pulled the referee on top of his chest to absorb the impact. This led to an all-out brawl between Bullet Club and United Empire, and Finlay ended up hitting Ospreay with the shillelagh. That illegal shot was not enough to keep Ospreay down and after just a little while later Ospreay hit a Storm Breaker for the victory.
Winner: Will Ospreay
SANADA vs. EVIL — G1 Climax 33 Quarterfinal Match
Everything is EVIL. Credit: NJPW
The IWGP World Champion, SANADA, has yet to lose a single match this tournament and he wanted to continue that hot streak tonight. SANADA started the match quite well, but then EVIL brought a steel chair into the mix. Anytime SANADA seemed to be gaining control, there would be some HoT shenanigans.
However, SANADA was able to remove Dick Togo from the contest and really pick up some steam. He hit EVIL with an enzigiri, a shining wizard and then wanted Dead Fall. But to the shock of all, EVIL blocked Dead Fall and hit Everything is Evil to beat the world champion and advance to the semifinals!