The top star in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and its top champion have already secured their places in the knockout rounds of G1 Climax 33. Lots of other competitors have work left to do in the critical final match of round robin action that begins this weekend in Osaka.
That’s the main takeaway from examining the standings in every block after Night 12 of NJPW’s big summer tournament, as every wrestlers has now competed six times. Undefeated IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada is through, as is Kazuchika Okada, who has lost only once so far.
Every other spot in the quarterfinals is up for grabs, particularly in C and D Blocks, where three men are tied in points scrambling for just two spots. Let’s take a look at where things stand headed into the final two nights of round robin matches.
G1 Climax 33 A Block standings
- Sanada – 12 points (has clinched A1 seeding in quarterfinals)
- Hikuleo – 6 points
- Kaito Kiyomiya – 6 points
- Shota Umino – 6 points
- Gabe Kidd – 5 points
- Yota Tsuji – 5 points
- Ren Narita – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Chase Owens – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
Analysis: While Sanada is through, only Narita and Owens are out of the running for the second spot from this block. Narita can still play spoiler against Kiyomiya, Tsuji and Kidd will need both a win and some help, and the biggest match figures to be between Hikuleo and Umino, who are both on six points. Hikuleo owns a tiebreaking victory over Kiyomiya, who fought Umino to a draw, so if two men end up with eight points each, this could be very interesting.
G1 Climax 33 B Block standings
- Kazuchika Okada – 10 points (has clinched a spot in quarterfinals)
- Will Ospreay – 8 points
- El Phantasmo – 6 points
- Taichi – 6 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Tanga Loa – 6 points (eliminated from advancing)
- KENTA – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Great-O-Khan – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Yoshi-Hashi – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
Analysis: Okada is through, but needs at least a draw against Tanga Loa to ensure he is the B1 seed in the quarterfinals. Similarly, Ospreay controls his own destiny — if he defeats El Phantasmo, he could even move up to top seed in the block if Okada stumbles. On the other hand, a draw against ELP will at least clinch a quarterfinal appearance, while a loss would mean Phantasmo advances instead.
G1 Climax 33 C Block standings
- David Finlay – 8 points
- EVIL – 8 points
- Eddie Kingston – 8 points
- Tama Tonga – 7 points
- Shingo Takagi – 7 points
- Mikey Nicholls – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Henare – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Tomohiro Ishii – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
Analysis: Five men still have a shot at the two quarterfinal spots, and four of them take on someone from that same group on the final night of round robin matches. Only Tonga has what on paper is an “easy” match against Henare, and avoiding an upset will leave him with nine points. Finlay and Kingston could join him there with a draw, or the winner could end up with 10 in what figures to be one of the most critical matches still remaining. EVIL can clinch a spot by beating former stablemate Takagi, while Shingo and Tama could both get to nine points and also wrestled each other to a draw.
G1 Climax 33 D Block standings
- Jeff Cobb – 8 points
- Tetsuya Naito – 8 points
- Zack Sabre Jr. – 8 points
- Hiroshi Tanahashi – 6 points
- Hirooki Goto – 6 points
- Shane Haste – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Alex Coughlin – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
- Toru Yano – 4 points (eliminated from advancing)
Analysis: There could be quite the logjam at 8 points if a few men fighting for their G1 Climax lives come through. Goto can join ZSJ there by beating him, as can Tanahashi if the Ace defeats Naito. Meanwhile, Cobb figures to be in the best shape: His final match is against the already eliminated Haste, plus he owns tiebreaking wins against Naito, ZSJ and Tanahashi if he slips up.