The NJPW G1 Climax 35 tournament continued with an intense night eight in Osaka, featuring four pivotal B Block matches. The main event showcased the first-ever singles encounter between IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. and former NEVER Openweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita, highlighting the significance of the Konosuke Takeshita G1 Climax contest. Both competitors pushed their limits as they battled for crucial points in the ongoing tournament.
Sabre began the night in a challenging position, tied for seventh place in the B Block with 4 points, seeking momentum to climb the standings. Takeshita entered the contest with 6 points, sharing third place in a tight four-way tie. Supporting bouts included Shota Umino facing Shingo Takagi in the semi-main event, with Umino holding 6 points and Shingo lagging behind with 2. Ren Narita, holding the B Block lead at 8 points, confronted Drilla Moloney, who had 6 points. The night’s action kicked off with Great-O-Khan and El Phantasmo, setting the tone for what would become a high-stakes evening.
Tag Team Matches Previewed Friday’s A Block Show
Before the singles competition began, five undercard tag team matches set the stage by previewing upcoming action on Friday’s A Block show. Daiki Nagai and Yota Tsuji secured a victory over Masatora Yasuda and Taichi in a contest emphasizing the progress of younger wrestlers. Nagai’s resilience and Tsuji’s skill proved decisive in a match marked by fast-paced exchanges and technical holds.
Yuya Uemura and Shoma Kato overcame Hiroshi Tanahashi and Katsuya Murashima, with Uemura’s submission expertise leading to a tap-out finish. The pairing demonstrated growing cohesion, while Murashima impressed with his intensity against experienced opponents.
House of Torture members SANADA and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated United Empire’s Callum Newman and Jakob Austin Young. The match stood out for Newman’s particularly strong performance, highlighted by aggressive offense and defense against the seasoned competitors. Despite intensifying momentum from Newman, Kanemaru sealed the win following a Whiskey Mist attack and a Gedo Clutch pin.
TMDK’s Hartley Jackson and Ryohei Oiwa defeated House of Torture’s Dick Togo and EVIL in a solid match marked by classic heel tactics from House of Torture. Jackson overcame an early Senton and choking attempts before applying a vertical suplex that set up Oiwa’s submission victory by Juji-gatame.
Oleg Boltin and Toru Yano earned a hard-fought victory against BULLET CLUB War Dogs David Finlay and Gedo in a highly entertaining contest. While both sides displayed flashes of brilliance, Yano’s cunning and opportunistic use of a Low Blow helped clinch the win with a roll-up pin over Gedo.
Powerful B Block Singles Battles Stir the Crowd
The tournament’s singles matches delivered gripping, intense moments that gradually escalated in drama and skill. Great-O-Khan triumphed over El Phantasmo after a late surge, overcoming a series of high-impact moves like the Tope Suicida and a moonsault. Khan’s decisive finishing maneuver, the Super Eliminator from the top rope, secured his critical three-count victory in this tightly contested encounter.
Drilla Moloney’s victory against Ren Narita showcased relentless aggression and stamina, marking the bout as one of the night’s most underrated contests. Moloney endured interference and adversity from the outside but ultimately subdued Narita after a punishing sequence culminating in the Drilla Killa pinfall.
Shingo Takagi and Shota Umino engaged in a thrilling contest that highlighted both wrestlers’ skill and determination. Umino’s early leg targeting and effective use of the STF submission held promise, yet Takagi’s resilience emerged strong in the closing stages. Despite Umino’s spirited offense, Takagi’s Burning Dragon finisher ultimately clinched the win, demonstrating his superior conditioning and ring awareness.
Zack Sabre Jr. and Konosuke Takeshita Deliver a Technical Masterpiece in Main Event
The main event featured a gripping showdown between IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. and Konosuke Takeshita, marking their first-ever singles meeting. Takeshita began composed, skillfully evading Sabre’s intricate submission attempts, displaying impressive calm under pressure. Sabre’s growing frustration, especially when struggling for rope breaks, sparked a ruthless change in his approach, allowing him to seize the advantage.
The battle unfolded as a strategic and technical affair. Sabre meticulously targeted Takeshita’s left leg, inflicting damage with precise holds, including twisting limb stretches that forced Takeshita into painful contortions. Takeshita fought back fiercely, regaining momentum with powerful strikes such as lariats and kicks. Both wrestlers exchanged reversals and near-falls, with Takeshita landing a Blue Thunderbomb and Sabre responding with a Zack Driver, neither able to secure an immediate finish.
In a dramatic and punishing sequence, Sabre’s relentless control culminated as he locked a submission hold—clinging tightly around Takeshita’s neck despite a drop to the outside ring area. Takeshita’s struggle ended when he was forced to tap out, granting Sabre a hard-earned victory that boosted his standing in the tournament.
Implications for the Rest of the G1 Climax 35 Tournament
Tonight’s matches, especially the thrilling main event between Zack Sabre Jr. and Konosuke Takeshita, have significant implications for the G1 Climax 35 standings. Sabre’s win may revive his hopes in the B Block, while Takeshita’s narrow loss underscores the competitive intensity of the tournament as he remains in contention but with a diminished margin for error.
The victories by Shingo Takagi and Drilla Moloney add layers of intrigue to the fight for top positions, emphasizing how every match plays a critical role in determining who advances toward the tournament finale. The undercard tag matches also provided valuable previews of upcoming storylines and emerging talent in NJPW.
As the tournament progresses, fans can expect continued displays of high-level wrestling, strategic match-ups, and escalating rivalries, particularly involving top contenders like Sabre, Takeshita, and others fighting for supremacy in the G1 Climax 35.
“What a match! Takeshita started out unfazed by the holds and submissions, calmly ekeing out of whatever Sabre threw at him. Sabre’s irritation at reaching for a rope break causing him to change tactics and be ruthless gave him all the edge. It was only a waiting game from there, and all Sabre had to do was hold on. Fantastic story.”
—New Japan News
