Tag: NJPW

Katsuyori Shibata on New Three Musketeers: ‘We hate each other anyway’

Time to open the Forbidden Door for Katsuyori Shibata to face some of his old NJPW contemporaries?

Once upon a time, before he returned from a serious head injury that could have killed him and well before he became a fixture in AEW and ROH, Katsuyori Shibata was part of what New Japan Pro-Wrestling called “The New Three Musketeers.” Intended as the next generation of the original incarnation of The Three Musketeers (Keiji Muto, Masahiro Chono and Shinya Hashimoto), the trio included some names you might recognize: Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that since Shibata enjoyed the least professional success of the group (due in large part to a detour into MMA), The Wrestler doesn’t look back fondly on that part of his career. Or maybe it’s just part of his current, “I don’t like jokes” persona.

Either way, Shibata was asked about The New Three Musketeers by RJ City on the latest episode of “Hey! (EW)” and he didn’t hold back his irritation about the question.

Using his phone to translate, which is also part of his ongoing gimmick, Shibata said, “It’s nothing to do with me wrestling in AEW. We hate each other anyway.”

The bit for the whole interview is that City is flustered by Shibata’s responses, as you can see below.

Though they currently work for three different companies, Shibata, Tanahashi and Nakamura have come together on occasion, including for Antonio Inoki’s wake last fall.

Shibata hasn’t shared a ring with either of The New Three Musketeers since 2016, but given AEW’s close working relationship with NJPW, crossing paths with Tanahashi is something that could still happen. At least based on his exchange with City, it doesn’t sound like it would be a friendly reunion. Maybe something for Tony Khan and Rocky Romero to keep in their back pocket for the next Forbidden Door.

Rainmaker’s big decision: Would Kazuchika Okada fit best in WWE or AEW?

Both WWE and AEW have different strengths to offer Kazuchika Okada if he decides to make a career move in 2024.

Few things capture the imagination of pro wrestling fans like big stars migrating from one promotion to another. In just the last few months, we’ve seen it play those scenarios play out several times.

Jade Cargill was a big deal as a homegrown AEW star who signed with WWE. CM Punk made huge waves by returning to WWE, something long thought to be a pipe dream. And hardcore wrestling fans are salivating over the opportunity to see Will Ospreay in AEW on a regular basis beginning next year.

Yet in terms of his status within his current company, no wrestler who’s rumored to be considering a change is bigger than New Japan’s Kazuchika Okada. Since his return in 2012, the Rainmaker has become “the man” for NJPW, carrying the company on his back and accomplishing pretty much everything meaningful there is to achieve.

That’s also why it’s easy to believe reports, like the one in Sports Illustrated this week, that Okada is thinking hard about joining a top U.S. promotion once his contract expires next year. At 36 years old, if Okada wants to prove himself in North America while he’s still in his prime, this is the time.

Both WWE and AEW are said to have interest in Okada, and why wouldn’t they? When one of the best wrestlers in the world, one with a proven track record of fantastic in-ring performances and undeniable presence, is available, it’s not hard to daydream of ways to put his talents to use.

The question, then, is a simple one: Would WWE or AEW be a better fit for the Rainmaker? Let’s run through the pros and cons for each company. Note that because wrestler pay never really gets disclosed, we’re not going to include financial considerations, real as they may be, as the assumption is that both companies would pay Okada what he’s looking for if they want him enough.

Okada to WWE

Pros:

If Okada was to join WWE, he’d have the knowledge that someone almost as prominent as he was in New Japan blazed a trail for him. That would be Shinsuke Nakamura, someone who is said to still be close with Okada. Just like soccer players often help players from the same country settle in at new clubs, Nakamura would be a big help easing Okada’s transition.

There’s no question that the WWE style, while expanding somewhat toward longer matches now that Paul “Triple H” Levesque is at the creative helm, would mean less wear and tear on Okada’s body. And while both top U.S. companies have experience using managers as mouthpieces for talent who could use a boost on the microphone — which could be important since Okada isn’t a fluent English speaker — WWE has the best in the business in Paul Heyman.

Above all, WWE is simply the best in class in the wrestling industry. Its video packages and presentation are second to none, and Okada’s chances of becoming a star who transcends pro wrestling are optimized if he signs there. Almost every North American wrestler dreams of making it on the biggest possible stage, and if Okada has a similar motivation if and when he makes the jump, he’ll have a hard time passing up that opportunity.

Cons:

Are we sure that Nakamura’s WWE tenure is one Okada will see as a blueprint for his own? Though Shinsuke has been around the main event scene at times and just had a world title shot against Seth Rollins at Payback (possibly not a coincidence, given WWE’s reported interest in Okada), he’s often been more of an upper midcard type, with a tendency to get lost in the shuffle for months at a time. Okada will rightfully expect more, but there are a lot of big players in WWE at the moment, especially with Punk back.

Even if each match is less strenuous on average, the WWE schedule remains a grueling one, and Okada would likely be working more dates overall than he ever has to this point. Does he want to do all the extra appearances and things that come with being a WWE Superstar?

Finally, there’s simply the big unknown. It’s reasonable to expect that more WWE fans know who Okada is than, say, a decade ago, but there are still tons of people who watch WWE and no other kinds of wrestling. The always online types will be excited about the Rainmaker’s arrival, and the company will do its best to make him seem like the top guy he is — announcers are certainly allowed to mention success in Japan on the air, for instance. Yet there’s always going to be the chance that Okada doesn’t have the impact he’d want or many would expect.

Okada to AEW

Pros:

There’s a comfort level AEW can offer that WWE simply can’t. The audience absolutely knows Okada, as he’s appeared on both weekly TV and pay-per-views in the past, along with both editions of the co-branded Forbidden Door cards with NJPW. A decent chunk of the locker room consists of people he’s been in the ring with at least once, and that’s not even counting Ospreay.

If Okada wants to keep doing the types of matches that rack up five-star ratings from Dave Meltzer, this is the company in which to do it. Tony Khan would certainly indulge the Rainmaker in some lengthy bouts, particularly on PPV where AEW is unafraid to go past the standard three-hour running time.

And if Okada’s end goal is becoming a world champ in a North American promotion, AEW is the place with a clearer path. Yes, there’s only one world title there as opposed to WWE’s two (or three, depending on how you feel about Roman Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, itself an amalgamation of two titles), and it’s sometimes been held for long periods of time. But even with the big names on AEW’s roster, it’s hard to picture Okada not having a place on a short list of serious contenders very soon after signing.

Cons:

AEW isn’t as hot as it was over the prior two years, so Okada would be joining at what is arguably its lowest point in its relatively short history. It’s possible that he would see that as an opportunity rather than a strike against it, and maybe an appeal to help it become the “in” thing in U.S. wrestling again would work. But it’s also possible Okada looks at AEW and sees a promotion that is simply not as attractive as it might have been at the beginning of 2023.

Familiar faces also could work both ways. Okada has already wrestled Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, and the list goes on. He’s had tremendous battles with Jay White and Ospreay. Been there, done that. Fans would no doubt want to see him run it back, but is that what Okada wants? True dream matches pitting him against wrestlers he’s never faces before mostly lie elsewhere.

If Okada decides to make a move, the decision between WWE and AEW is going to come down to his own personal preferences, which is as it should be. AEW offers more familiarity, both with the talent and the fans, as well as a greater chance that he’ll be positioned as one of the top stars sooner rather than later.

In WWE, Okada would likely have to modify his style a bit but would reap potential benefits in terms of less physical strain and a much higher upside in terms of becoming a household name outside of wrestling fans. He could also satisfy the diehards with never before seen pairings, but at the risk of becoming just another cog in a very big wheel.

He could also very well decide neither company feels right and remain in NJPW. Whatever choice Okada makes could end up telling us a lot about him as a person, and it’s going to be fascinating no matter which road he ends up taking.

Mercedes Moné is training for her return … but to where?

Mercedes Moné is almost ready to return to the ring, but will it be with NJPW, AEW or somewhere else?

Mercedes Moné is almost ready to be back in a wrestling ring again. Source? Mercedes herself.

Moné posted a video to her official YouTube channel today titled “The countdown begins” and showing her working hard to get back in ring shape. The former Sasha Banks has been out of action since May, when she sustained an ankle injury facing Willow Nightingale at NJPW Strong Resurgence.

The big question now is where exactly Moné will pop up next when she’s ready for her next match. NJPW and STARDOM seemed hopeful they could keep her in the fold, with Rocky Romero telling WrestlePurists he expected to speak with her soon while adding that “I don’t know what she’s going to want to do when she comes back.”

There has been ongoing speculation that she might sign with AEW, to the point where she was a top guess for that company’s mystery signing at Full Gear that turned out to be Will Ospreay. Moné teased possibly showing up at Full Gear back in early October.

And in the “all things are possible” spirit that saw CM Punk make his recent return to WWE, some have wondered if a Sasha Banks reunion could be in the cards as well. With Paul “Triple H” Levesque at the creative helm, things have changed quite a bit since Banks and Naomi (now Trinity in Impact Wrestling) staged their well publicized walkout during the May 16, 2022 episode of WWE Raw.

Any promotion would benefit from having Moné on its roster, so it really comes down to what she wants to do now that she’s healthy again. Maybe, like she did today, she’ll provide the next big hint herself.

Tetsuya Naito wants to return ‘as soon as possible’ following eye surgery

Naito should be well recovered in time for his big Wrestle Kingdom showdown with Sanada.

Tetsuya Naito is scheduled for one of the biggest matches of his career, and certainly one that may define the late stages of that career, when he faces Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on Jan. 4 at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Yet the LIJ leader would prefer not to wait that long to step back in the ring.

The issue is that Naito is recovering from eye surgery that he recently had to fix a long-term issue with his right eye. It’s the third surgery he’s had since 2019.

Naito was released from the hospital today, and told Tokyo Sports that he didn’t foresee having any problems living his daily life while he recuperates. He did say he’d need probably two weeks off before he started working out strenuously again.

As for getting back to active competition, Naito made it clear he’d prefer if that happened sooner rather than later (h/t Fightful for the translation).

I don’t want to take too much time off, and it’s sad and frustrating not to have my name on the card. I would like to return to competition as soon as possible.

The 41-year-old Naito has been IWGP Heavyweight Champion and IWGP Intercontinental Champion on multiple occasions (including one reign while holding both titles), but has never held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship created by the unification of those two titles.

He’s also headlined several previous editions of Wrestle Kingdom, though there is a feeling that this may be his last chance to do so. The good thing for New Japan fans is that it doesn’t sound like his eye surgery will prevent him from returning ahead of his intriguing matchup with his former teammate at the Tokyo Dome.

Zack Sabre Jr. wants Bryan Danielson again: ‘We have to run it back’

ZSJ says he and the American Dragon still haven’t determined who’s the best technical wrestler.

There’s little doubt that Zack Sabre Jr. and Bryan Danielson are two of the very best technical wrestlers on that planet. But as for who is the best among them, we still don’t have a definitive answer.

AEW WrestleDream was supposed to settle that debate, as the two men squared off in what Tony Khan without hyperbole (for once, his critics might say) billed as a dream match. Sabre, always quick with a turn of phrase, dubbed it “Submissions in Seattle.”

Danielson won that encounter in front of his hometown fans, which should have ended things between them. Yet ZSJ protested, saying the American Dragon needed to resort to strikes and not holds to win.

Because of that, Sabre told NJPW1972.com he would like to face Danielson again, something that both NJPW and AEW fans would likely love to see.

I can acknowledge Bryan Danielson somewhat graciously, but I’m still furious that our bout in Seattle did nothing to settle the matter of who is the best technical wrestler in the world is. Only that he’s a scoundrel that resorted to a strike because he knew he couldn’t match the tekkers. So there’s no doubt we have to run it back when the time is right.

While ZSJ has generally been a heel in New Japan, he does give credit where he feels it’s due. And he offered some high praise for Danielson during the interview as well, noting that they have history that dates back years.

I bought the first Ring of Honor tape back in the day, so I don’t think there’s another American wrestler who’s had such an influence on me, directly and indirectly.

The question now would be when they might be able to do battle again. Danielson is currently recovering from surgery to repair a broken orbital bone, but AEW expects he could be back before the end of 2023.

Wrestle Kingdom is looming in January as a possibility, but recent events in AEW hinted toward a Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada at that show if Bryan is healthy in time. Looking further down the road, WrestleDream has already been confirmed for a 2024 return, while Forbidden Door is expected to be on the schedule as well.

Whenever it happens, fans will be the real winners. And maybe this time no one will be a “scoundrel” and we’ll finally have the “Sabre or Danielson” question answered once and for all.

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Will Ospreay says relocating to US, joining WWE ‘on the table’

Will Ospreay to WWE, AEW or Impact sounds more possible than ever in 2024.

With all due respect to MJF, the hottest free agent in pro wrestling in the months ahead may be Will Ospreay.

Widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers on the planet, the 30-year-old Englishman has called New Japan Pro-Wrestling his home since 2016 while continuing to compete in other promotions as well. U.S. fans who may have been unaware of his NJPW work have had a chance to see him a handful of times on AEW shows within the past 18 months.

Ospreay’s contract with NJPW will be up in February, and he’s said there’s still a chance he could re-sign there. He’s also gone on the record as saying he didn’t want to live in the U.S., narrowing his choices down to Japan or England.

But in a new interview with Metro this week, Ospreay broadened his stance on where he could call home thanks to support from his partner. That, in turn, led the outlet to ask him if he would consider the biggest possible move: to WWE.

Ospreay didn’t rule it out.

I mean, we have spoke about it more. I’m now open to the idea of stretching myself out that little bit more.

As age has become more apparent to me and my body is hurting more and more, I’m open to all avenues. I’ve had a lot of talks with my friends about this, and I have spoke to the missus.

Although we’ve spent so much money on our new kitchen, we are open to the idea of relocating to the United States.

He went on to tease a potential matchup with Seth Rollins, which would no doubt get many fans salivating stateside.

But “open to all avenues” could mean Impact Wrestling, a company Ospreay has said he’s also talking to and could use him as the big hook for its recently announced rebranding as TNA in 2024. One would assume Tony Khan is courting him for AEW as well.

That said, it’s hard to argue against the idea that Ospreay joining WWE would be the most intriguing possibility for next year. And for the first time, he’s making it sound like it could actually happen.

Could Adam Copeland wrestle in the NJPW G1 Climax? He’d like to

Adam Copeland in the G1 Climax? It’s not as crazy as it may have once sounded.

It’s pretty clear by now that Adam Copeland wasn’t willing to just ride off into the sunset as a part-time performer in WWE. Though he may be approaching the end of his career, he wants to go out as a full-timer in AEW, and has talked up the number of never-before-seen matchups he’d like to see come together.

Could some of those come against talent from New Japan Pro-Wrestling? It’s certainly on the table given the close working relationship between AEW and NJPW, and competing at the Tokyo Dome is something that is apparently on Copeland’s bucket list.

He spoke about that in a little more detail during a recent appearance on The Batleeground podcast (h/t Fightful for the transcription).

That’s pretty exciting and a by-product of coming here is, ‘oh wait, hold on a second, Tokyo Dome.’ That’s on the checklist.

Copeland said some of those dream scenarios simply weren’t possible after his initial retirement in 2011, but now that he’s in AEW, “I can get them done, and that’s pretty fun.”

Something else he thinks might be “pretty fun”? Entering the G1 Climax tournament. While grueling, with tough matches several times a week during July and August, it’s a prestigious event that would allow Copeland to step in the ring with the widest number of New Japan stars possible thanks to its round robin format and tendency to feature eliminated competitors in multi-man tag matches.

Eddie Kingston famously had the G1 on his personal wrestling bucket list until he got an opportunity to compete in the tournament this year. Copeland referenced Kingston’s stay in Japan to participate when asked about his own thoughts on entering the G1.

We’d have to carve out some time, I guess. Eddie [Eddie Kingston] did it this year, so it’s a possibility.

For now, Copeland has his hands full with the talent in AEW, particularly old friend Christian Cage. He said this week he wouldn’t fight Cage, but you know how that goes. Just know that if Copeland is truly considering a G1 run, he’s definitely not easing into retirement any time soon.

Tony Khan isn’t buying NJPW, but something is going to happen at AEW WrestleDream (we think)

Is AEW buying NJPW? Doesn’t look like it, but there remains some mystery surrounding AEW WrestleDream.

Every AEW media call with Tony Khan on the week of a pay-per-view starts with a similar disclaimer from the company’s PR reps: Please try to keep the questions about the upcoming show, and no two-part questions. Inevitably, however, there are some queries that kind of, sort of skirt the first part, and ahead of WrestleDream, there were some involving a rumor that’s kind of a doozy: that Khan was looking to or perhaps already had purchased New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Wild? Yes. Completely born from unreliable internet sources? Naturally. But just plausible enough, especially with the promotion of WrestleDream promising to “end a chapter in wrestling history and begin a new era in AEW” (with Khan narrating the ads himself, no less), that it was worth asking about?

Definitely.

So Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp did just that early in this week’s call. Khan never outright said “no, I’m not buying NJPW” in so many words, which some people have zeroed in on, but he did seem bemused by the rumor and how or why it started.

“I think it’s really good that we created a lot of speculation around WrestleDream, but I’m a little surprised as to how that speculation picked up,” Khan said in response to Sapp. “Specifically, the transactional nature of it, because we have such a great partnership right now, and we’re doing such great things with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. So I was a little … I was a little surprised to see that.”

That wasn’t quite the end of it. Asked later in the call if he would care to debunk the rumor completely by clarifying what he meant by “a new era in AEW,” Khan said he wasn’t going to do that.

“I definitely have no intention of clarifying what I meant by those comments, I want people to order the pay-per-view,” Khan said, laughing. “I think the internet kind of ran away with the speculation based on … I don’t know what, honestly. I’d love for somebody to go back and look who was the first person to say that, and we can track back where the speculation came from. Because certainly, I don’t know if that particular aspect of it is very credible.”

In his four years of running AEW, Khan has proven to be extremely media savvy and a master of not really answering questions while sounding like he is — not unlike the top football or basketball coaches. With that in mind, his answers make it sound like something is going down at WrestleDream, but not AEW buying NJPW. Probably.

It’s definitely intriguing, and that was probably the point of it all from Khan’s perspective. AEW WrestleDream goes down Sunday, Oct. 1 from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

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NJPW G1 Climax 33 final results: Naito achieves his destiny with 3rd G1 win

See how Tetsuya Naito held off Kazuchika Okada’s attempt to win his third straight G1 Climax.

Sanada is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Will Ospreay may be the best wrestler on the planet right now. Neither man is in the G1 Climax 33 final tonight in Tokyo, yet one can’t help but feel New Japan Pro-Wrestling is telling the exact story it wants to tell to finish off another eventful tournament.

That’s because Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito not only know each other all too well, they both have compelling narratives woven into their quest to win this G1. If Okada comes out on top, he’ll be the first ever to win three G1s in a row, and it will be his fifth overall. He’s already a NJPW legend, but those numbers will put him arguably in a class all his own.

For Naito, he’s said for several years that his next Wrestle Kingdom main event would likely be his last, and that winning the G1 would be the best way to ensure he gets that final opportunity. All of us feel the ticking of time and the urgency to accomplish certain goals, making him one of the more relatable characters in wrestling today.

And while Okada and Naito have had their share of epic encounters in the past, neither is exactly the same as the last time they met on a stage this big. Okada seems more businesslike and joyless, almost “mercenary” as Kevin Kelly described him. Naito appears to be feeling the grind of the G1 more than ever before, to the point where the narrative is how much he’ll have left in the tank for the final.

It’s going to be a fascinating showdown and we can’t wait to see how it plays out.

G1 Climax 33 final results:

Kaito Kiyomiya and Ryohei Oiwa def. Toru Yano and Oskar Leube by pinfall (Kiyomiya pins Leube)

This is … kind of  weird match to end Kiyomiya’s G1 experience, but the fans in the arena don’t seem to mind. He certainly seems unamused by Yano’s antics and treats him to a high elbowdrop.

Leube can move for his size, and will finally get to go home soon after 17 months straight in Japan. Kiyomiya looks like he wants to end things for the German, but Leube manages to kick out after a missile dropkick and gets his own near fall with a running powerslam.

Shortly after, however, Kiyomiya wipes out Leube with a Shining Wizard, and that’s all she wrote.

Shota Umino, Master Wato, Yuji Nagata and Tomoaki Honma def. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Ren Narita and Yuto Nakashima by pinfall (Umino pins Nakashima)

Hey, it’s Umino and Narita smacking each other around once again. Every other combatant in the match has to come together to pull them apart, and finally Wato and Desperado tag in for their respective teams.

Nakashima gets Wato in a Boston Crab and just shrugs off shots from Honma. And of course, Suzuki and Nagata get to renew their eternal rivalry as well.

But it all cycles back to Umino and Narita, except only the Shooter is able to tag in. That’s bad for Nakashima, who takes a Death Rider and is down for the three count.

After the bell, Umino and Narita need to be separated yet again, eventually leading to six of the eight men shoving and talking smack. And then that breaks down into a six-man brawl, geez.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Eddie Kingston and Yoh def. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Tiger Mask by pinfall (Yoh pins Tiger Mask)

Who do fans want to see in against Ishii? Maybe some Tenzan? They get that early on, plus some help from Kojima against the Stone Pitbull as well.

Yoh shows off some theatrics as well, with Kevin Kelly teasing him for taking some of Tom Lawlor’s supply of denim shorts. Kojima gets the fans going by treating Kingston to his own version of Eddie’s machine gun chops, which end up coming right back at him.

Yoh is nearly able to pin Tiger Mask, but Tanahashi and Ishii fare more poorly while working together. That leaves Yoh isolated and nearly defeated by Tiger Mask.

The junior heavyweights seem like they are going to finish things among themselves, and indeed they do, with Yoh getting the pin. There’s some extracurricular activity after the bell here too, but nothing quite like the previous match.

TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste and Kosei Fujita) def. Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Ryusuke Taguchi and Boltin Oleg by pinfall (Haste pins Goto)

This feels like bad news for a random group of guys to take on TMDK, even with the tag team champions involved, but we shall see. Quick tags allow the stable to torture poor Taguchi, especially when ZSJ and Fujita get rolling together.

The momentum changes when Oleg tags in, with his power making a difference. He even chops down Sabre a few times, and his raw strength allows him to escape from a choke too.

Haste is able to get the pinfall in the end, and over Goto too, which seems like it’s setting up a title challenge for Haste and Nicholls.

Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Hikuleo, El Phantasmo and Jado def. Bullet Club (David Finlay, KENTA, Chase Owens, Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd) (Loa pins Owens)

Is Finlay going to bite someone early on? Yes, yes he is. The War Dogs don’t like seeing their leader get double teamed by Tonga and Jado, though, and they hit the ring to touch off a brawl that involves all eight men fighting to the outside.

ELP seems to be the only one who can stem the BC tide, and he nearly pins Kidd after an impressive flurry of offense. Coughlin tries to muscle up Hikuleo but needs help from Kidd, and together the War Dogs knock the big man out to the floor.

Tanga Loa is feeling it against Owens, but Chase gets assistance from Finlay and KENTA when he calls for it. Just when Loa looks like he’s about to be pinned by a la magistral cradle, he reverses the pin and holds on for three. Bullet Club tries to attack after the bell with title belt shots but get repulsed in short order.

Finlay screams for his belt, but Tama holds it aloft while ELP and Hikuleo have the NEVER tag straps as well. Take notes here.

Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi and Bushi) def. United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan and Henare) (Tsuji pins Ospreay)

The Empire attacks as LIJ is doing its fist circle, because that’s the time to do it. LIJ recovers nicely, however, with Tsuji using Hiromu as a weapon against Henare … until he has to fight the powerhouse one on one.

Hiromu has to tangle with Cobb, then Ospreay, then gets sat on by Khan, so he’s not having a fun time tonight. Khan even tries to get Hiromu to kiss his boot but takes a nasty dragon screw for that.

Khan does force Shingo to kiss his boot, which won’t sit well with the Dragon. LIJ rallies behind Tsuji until he ends up fighting all of United Empire alone.

The inevitable string of signature moves includes Bushi blasting Cobb over the barricade with a dive to the floor and Tsuji nearly pinning Ospreay. Will fights back with an Oscutter but his cocky cover doesn’t keep Tsuji down.

Yota hits a big spear, then another and covers for the win, a big pin for him.

Kingston re-emerges to attack Henare as soon as the United Empire match is over, and the two men brawl all the way to the back.

House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Sho and Dick Togo) def. Just 5 Guys (Sanada, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Douki) by pinfall (Sho pins Taichi)

House of Torture wastes no time starting a brawl and zeroing in on Sanada while they do so. The actual match action starts with Douki and Kanemaru taking it to Togo, to the delight of pretty much everyone, we presume.

Despite his arm injury, Sanada looks healthy enough to fling himself from the ring to the floor on multiple sides of the ring. He covers EVIL but only gets two.

EVIL and Sho target the injured left arm, but he fights back bravely and tags in Taichi. He gets to do his tearaway pants thing and has Sho tapping out, but the ref is distracted and doesn’t see it.

After House of Torture takes out the ref, weapons come into play for both sides, with the House getting the better of the exchange. Just when Taichi comes to the rescue, Sho hits him with a wrench, then follows with Shock Arrow, and the revived ref makes the three count.

Sho picks up the KOPW belt and admires it, demanding a microphone too. He says that title doesn’t have any value because the champion is too weak, making it clear he plans to change that.

Meanwhile, EVIL has the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and uses it to lay out Sanada. To make matters worse, House of Torture handcuffs Sanada to the ropes, and EVIL gets Togo to make the ring announcer read a statement that says Sanada is not a fitting champion and has to give his title to EVIL.

Taichi gets laid out again, and it appears EVIL and Sho are going to keep those belts with them.

Masahiro Chono, the only man with five G1 Climax wins, is out on Japanese commentary with Tanahashi to see if Okada can match his mark.

Tetsuya Naito def. Kazuchika Okada by pinfall in the G1 Climax 33 final

The fans seem to be backing Naito more than Okada, which the Rainmaker seems to notice prior to the opening bell. He has his share of supporters as well, no question.

The first break in the corner is a clean one, which draws some applause and gets Okada to raise an eyebrow. They wrestle to the mat, with Naito applying a side headlock.

Okada appears he isn’t going to give a clean break along the ropes, but Naito is ready for him. He sends Okada to the floor but has no plans to dive out and hits his pose instead.

Naito avoids a charge while returning to the ring and takes Okada to the mat, pressing into his back with a knee. A high flapjack gets Okada a chance to compose himself, and his supporters come to life.

A snapmare leads to a low dropkick for the Rainmaker. They head to the apron, where Okada spikes Naito directly on top of his head. Okada whips his foe into the metal guardrail, and the ref begins counting again. Naito is back in and gets sent to the mat, and Okada arrogantly tells Red Shoes he should count the pinfall with just his boot on Naito’s chest.

Both men run the ropes, and Naito manages to yank Okada down with a neckbreaker. He hits a dropkick to the side of Okada’s head and hits a pair of neckbreakers for a near fall.

Out on the floor, it’s Okada’s turn to taste the steel. Naito drapes him over the guardrail and executes a neckbreaker onto the metal. Red Shoes makes his count and reaches 19 before the Rainmaker returns under the ropes.

Naito uses his legs to squeeze Okada’s neck and arms on the mat. Okada fights back and now both men are slow to rise. Naito hauls himself up using the ropes, but he misses a running corner kick and gets dropkicked off the top, bouncing down to the floor.

An Irish whip is reversed and sends Okada hard into the guard rail. His response is a good one: a tombstone piledriver on the floor. Back in the ring, Okada hits a high angle German suplex and a spinning clothesline.

Okada misses a Rainmaker but hits a dropkick, and Red Shoes checks on Naito before starting his count. Naito stirs at six and the count stops. He hits a big DDT as well.

Elbow shots put Okada face first on the mat, but Naito picks him up and drills home some elbow shots. They head to the top rope, where Naito’s Frankensteiner gets a near fall, and he immediately transitions to a submission hold. Okada is getting squeezed but waves his finger to signal he isn’t giving up, and he breaks the hold by reaching the rope with his boot.

Esperanza is on target and has Naito stalking. A DDT sets up Valentia, but it’s only good for two. So Naito bodyslams Okada and launches into the Stardust Press, which he misses just as he did against Ospreay in the semifinal.

A shotgun dropkick knocks Naito back, but he fights to avoid a tombstone. Naito’s small package is good for two, and he runs the ropes to deliver a forearm shot. Both men are slow to rise as the crowd chants loudly for Naito.

An Okada dropkick leads to a Falcon Arrow, and now the Rainmaker is feeling it. Neither man’s finisher can hit, but Okada does hit a lariat before nearly getting rolled up. Destino is next, but Okada kicks out at two.

A short exchange of counters leads to a second Destino, then a third, and that’s enough to keep even Okada down for three.

Okada receives applause as Young Lions help him to the back. Chono presents Naito with the G1 flag and does the LIJ salute with him before posing for pics.

With his LIJ teammates joining him in the ring, Naito says he thinks people across the country enjoyed this G1. He thanks the fans who attended in person from the bottom of his heart.

Naito says he hates the word “always” and says he’s more about the now — and he is the focal point right now. He leads the biggest roll call of the summer before the streamer cannons go off.

NJPW G1 Climax 33 semifinals results: Naito, Okada will do it again

The G1 Climax 33 semifinals featured a wild main event between Tetsuya Naito and Will Ospreay.

It’s almost time to crown a G1 Climax 33 champion. But the men who will compete for that honor on Sunday will definitely have to earn it on Saturday.

The G1 Climax semifinals are the big matches on the card tonight in Tokyo, and both of them could serve as a main event on any show. Alas, only one can be the true main event (ahem, take notes WWE), and in this case, it will be Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay.

NJPW has cleverly framed the tournament as a bit of a trap game for Ospreay after his two instant classic matches with Kenny Omega earlier this year. Might he ease up just a little bit or take his eye off the ball?

As it turns out … no, and here he is in the semifinal, almost expected to make the final. Yet playing the underdog with his back against the wall suits Naito just fine, and he should pull out all the stops in what is being sold as his last real chance to win a Wrestle Kingdom main event spot.

The other semifinal is no joke either. EVIL has been calling himself Mr. G1, even as he’s had plenty of help from his House of Torture running mates so far. The problem for him is that Kazuchika Okada really is the man who owns this tourney, having won the last two in a row. Even worse for his opponents, the Rainmaker seems more businesslike than usual, so EVIL will need to conjure something truly special to send him to defeat.

This is a true late night affair for American fans, but it’s time to be “Born in the Ring” for the penultimate time.

G1 Climax 33 semifinal results from Tokyo:

Hayata and Kaito Kiyomiya def. Master Wato and Hiroyoshi Tenzan by pinfall as Kiyomiya pins Tenzan

Plenty of discussion among the English commentary team about how Kiyomiya might be feeling after a disappointing G1, as well as how Hayata hasn’t been pinned or submitted in forever.

The matchup that gets the crowd into it the most is actually Hayata vs. Tenzan, believe it or not. Tenzan calls his brainbuster out like he’s an anime character, but that doesn’t win it for him. He does have Kiyomya in trouble, however, which is something.

It doesn’t last long, alas, and a Kiyomiya Shining Wizard secures a NOAH victory.

Ren Narita and Minoru Suzuki def. Tomoaki Honma and Shota Umino by submission as Narita taps out Honma

Umino and Narita get a chance to go right after each other, as they’ve been doing often during the G1 tag matches. Suzuki gets a strong reaction once he tags in, with Kevin Kelly and Chris Charlton noting that he’s still looking to hurt people despite being something of a fan favorite now.

Of course, the crowd also loves when Honma hits his falling headbutt after some double team offense with Umino, but the veteran then gets isolated against Narita, and that goes poorly for him once he’s in the abdominal stretch.

Bullet Club (Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin, Chase Owens, Kenta and David Finlay) def. Yoh, Toru Yano, Togi Makabe, Yoshi-Hashi and Hirooki Goto by pinfall as Finlay pins Makabe

Kelly says he sees big things for Yoh coming this fall, but for the time being, he’s getting worn down by Bullet Club. Also his shirt gets a elbow drop from Kidd. Owens heads over and talks with Kelly during the match as well.

Finally, Chaos gets some momentum and is able to bring some numbers to bear against Coughlin. But that doesn’t last long, with Finlay sending Makabe to Oblivion. Coughlin and Kidd pose with the IWGP Tag Team Championship belts afterward, which of course belong to Bishamon, not them.

United Empire (Henare, Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi, Yota Tsuji and Shingo Takagi) by submission as Henare taps out Bushi

There’s weirdly a lot going on early between Khan (in short trunks tonight!) and Tsuji, who both look to one-up each other in terms of making the other look silly. Cobb and Takagi match power, as do Henare and Takagi.

Henare looks like he’s going to ride a wave to a pin of Bushi, but Shingo makes the save. The masked man is still in some trouble though, and Henare is able to make him tap out.

Ryusuke Taguchi, Eddie Kingston, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi def. TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Zack Sabre Jr.) by pinfall as Kingston pins Fujita

Sabre certainly doesn’t look like his enthusiastic self after coming close to the G1 semis but crashing out just short. Taguchi is quite the opposite, though Ishii doesn’t seem amused by his playcalling.

There’s a fun spot where Tanahashi thinks he’s taken out someone with his butt, turns to realize all of TMDK is standing behind him and his teammates have been cleared out. He looks sheepish for a second then bravely says he’ll take them all on, even though he fares poorly in that quest.

Kingston gets to work against Fujita, and despite some of the others intervening, Eddie is able to get the pin.

Henare returns and lays out Kingston, hitting him with Streets of Rage. Looks like he’s gunning for Eddie’s gold, and he pummels the Mad King with more right hands.

Jado, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo, Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga def. Just 5 Guys (Taka Michinoku, Douki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi and Sanada) as Jado scores the pinfall (with a lot of help)

Face El Phantasmo continues to be a delight. Also the fans are urging on Douki to take on Hikuleo despite the massive size difference. Poor Douki ends up taking corner punches from just about everyone on the other team as they keep tagging out just before the 10th punch.

Sanada vs. Hikuleo is a much better matchup, though the world champ sells his injured left arm here too. Sanada notably switches arms for Skull End, though ELP makes the save anyway.

Jado and Take both want and get tags in. Jado beats his fellow veteran to a crossface but ends up getting stomped by all of Just 5 Guys. Douki delivers the double stomp, and a Michinoku Driver nearly wins it before Jado is saved.

Here comes the inevitable sequence of signature moves from everyone, which ends with Jado getting dragged over Taka to get the three count.

After the match, Finlay and Bullet Club War Dogs return to ringside for a confrontation with ELP, Tonga and Hikuleo. Finlay tells Tonga he got lucky before leaving.

Kazuchika Okada def. EVIL by pinfall in a G1 Climax 33 semifinal match

True to form, EVIL gets in his first shots before the bell rings. He uses a mic cord to choke the Rainmaker on the outside while telling his foe to give up. There’s a count from the ref and a cover once Okada returns to the ring, but you know he’s not going down that easily.

Okada is hurled into the barricade, and EVIL uses a chair to press down on his chest. The Rainmaker has to kick out several times, and EVIL steps on his head while planning his next move.

A big boot finally gets Okada into it. There’s a DDT as well, and a cover for two.

EVIL decides to roll to the outside, but this time it’s him tasting the steel and taking a DDT on the floor. A dropkick to EVIL while he’s seated on the top turnbuckle sends him right back outside.

Dick Togo tries to get in Okada’s face and takes a forearm shot. But the ref takes a bump, and here come EVIL’s House of Torture teammates. Sho and Yujiro Takahashi do a double fisherman’s buster, and Togo comes off the top with a chop to Okada’s groin. With the ref revived, EVIL covers but can get only two.

EVIL hits Darkness Falls but it’s still not enough to win it, and the fans are urging Okada to rally. Everything is Evil is reversed into the Money Clip, so EVIL shoves his foe into the corner, and suddenly House of Torture goons are getting dropped left and right.

Okada reapplies the Money Clip and drops to the mat. Togo tries to intervene again, so Sho attacks from behind and the ref takes another bump. Togo chokes the Rainmaker, who somehow battles the odds and starts dishing out dropkicks to Sho, Yujiro and Togo.

The ref takes a third bump, and now he and the two combatants are down. Okada recovers quickest for a German suplex but EVIL wilts to the mat to escape a Rainmaker.

A Falcon Arrow has Okada looking good, but he has to dig down deep to kick out of Everything is Evil. He finally hits the Rainmaker, slams Evil and hits a second Rainmaker to advance to the final.

Tetsuya Naito def. Will Ospreay by pinfall in a G1 Climax 33 semifinal match

Naito has never beaten Ospreay one-on-one, losing both singles matches against him last year. He would dearly like to change that here, even though if anything, Ospreay is even better now. The fans sound like they are very much behind him, though there are cheers for Ospreay too.

Neither man is in a hurry to rush in once the bell rings, and Naito backs off even more when his foe leans in. They work an exchange of standing holds, then more on the mat. Red Shoes calls for a break along the ropes, but Ospreay hammers his foe on the break.

Both men evade each other in a quick flurry, giving Naito a chance to strike his pose before he heads outside and circles the ring. Ospreay gives him space to roll back in.

Now some strikes crash home, with Naito staggered a bit before he’s sent all the way to the floor. Ospreay wants to fly and does so with a plancha.

Ospreay comes off the barricade to hit a flying forearm shot. Back in the ring they go, with Naito kicking out quickly.

Naito is getting kicked and chopped around and has to kick out again after a backbreaker. He rallies to hit the Combinacion Cabron, and Ospreay sells the pain he’s in as he gets tortured a bit on the mat.

Ospreay roars back with his springboard handspring head kick, getting his fans into it. A springboard forearm follows, with Naito kicking out at two.

After getting clotheslined over the top rope, Naito looks like he’s a target for something spectacular, so he hustles to join Ospreay on the apron. Will wants an Oscutter, but Naito catches him first with a neckbreaker on the apron and another on the floor.

Red Shoes makes his count, and Ospreay is barely back in at 19. Naito is right on him with Gloria for two, then switches to the Pluma Blanca, pressuring his opponent’s neck. Naito tries a poison rana off the top, but Ospreay lands on his feet. Wow.

With Naito strung over the top rope, Ospreay launches into a shooting star press, and he follows with a Liger Bomb that gets a close near fall. Will wants the Hidden Blade, but Naito evades that and an Oscutter and early gets a three. Ospreay responds with a running forearm shot and a near fall again.

Now Ospreay wants Stormbreaker, but Naito counters with a huge DDT and both men are down. Naito hits an enzuigiri and a DDT, then Valentia for his own narrow near fall.

The fans respond as Naito hits a body slam, but he crashes and burns off the top turnbuckle. Ospray connects on a Hidden Blade but can’t cover. Red Shoes tells the men he’s going to count if they don’t get moving, so they crawl toward each other, forehead to forehead.

Forearm shots land both ways, with Naito flashing a bit of a grin. Naito hammers Ospreay down with elbow strikes as the 25-minute mark passes by. The announcers note that Ospreay has taken tons of abuse to the neck, and not just tonight.

A fired up Ospreay hammers home hook kicks, three in a row. Red Shoes pulls Ospreay back and makes a standing count. There’s the Hidden Blade again, and Naito somehow kicks out. Same after an Oscutter.

Ospreay uses a body slam to set up a move off the top rope but even that isn’t enough. “Are you freaking kidding me?” yells Kelly.

Naito dodges the Hidden Blade but looks spent. He stumbles down again but manages to reverse a Stormbreaker into a DDT, then hits the Destino that gets ever so close but doesn’t win it. A second Destino is on target, and that’s finally a wrap.

Hiromu Takahashi rushes in from the announce table to check on his teammate. Naito still has enough left to get on the mic, telling the fans it was a hell of a ride and he hopes they enjoyed it.

Tomorrow is the final. Will it be Okada or will it be Naito? The answer, of course: tranquilo. Naito says he’ll see everyone right here tomorrow, then laughs as he gets the LIJ roll call wrong the first time.