G1 Climax Day One

New Japan’s annual G1 Climax Tournament, undoubtedly the biggest annual tournament in wrestling, began yesterday, and we had the usual mix of hot matches and upsets on the first night of competition.

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Yutaka Yoshie [2] beat Togi Makabe [0] (12:23) with a diving body press.

Totally expected. Makabe will likely end up with 0 points, but he may get a single point, if later results indicate a pattern.

2. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi [1] vs. Toru Yano [1] went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.

This was a surprise, but it might not be a big one. With Tanahashi losing to Takeshi Rikio at the NOAH Dome Show, it’s possible that New Japan didn’t want a guy they plan on giving a big push to, Yano, losing to a guy who himself just lost to an outsider. With that said, I think the best Yano seems destined to get out of the rest of his matches his a win over Makabe, if that, and clean jobs in the rest. Tanahashi will probably win most of the rest of his matches. This is the result that makes it possible that Makabe could theoretically get at least one point, with a possible draw against someone.

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Osamu Nishimura [1] vs. Minoru Suzuki [1] went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.

This is the Day One match I want to see the most. I’m a big fan of Nishimura and Suzuki, and watching them wrestle for thirty minutes can only be a good thing.

4. G1 Climax - Block A:Tatsumi Fujinami [2] beat Kendo Kashin [0] (4:50) with a ground Cobra Twist.

The result isn’t that much of a surprise. The length of the match is, but I would put that down to them not wanting to risk Fujinami going long in matches that don’t need to go any length of time.

5. G1 Climax - Block B: Kazuyuki Fujita [2] beat Tatsutoshi Goto [0] (3:19) with a front sleeper.

The result and length of the match is no surprise, as Fujita should only go long against super workers, which Goto is not, and any losses Fujita suffers in the G1 should be against potential challengers for the IWGP belt, and Goto doesn’t warrant a title shot by any stretch of the imagination.

6. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [2] beat Manabu Nakanishi [0] (14:38) with a triangle choke hold.

No surprises here, as Nakamura seems set for another big push, as he prepares to take another foray into MMA, which is a terrible idea.

7. G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono [2] beat Yuji Nagata [0] (17:02) with an inside cradle.

Not much of a surprise here, as both men seem assured of finishing well, so either man could have won here. Not a definitive win for Chono, as he got the pinfall with a cradle rather than a big move, but a win nonetheless.

8. G1 Climax - Block A: Toshiaki Kawada [2] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [0] (19:08) with a face kick.

The only logical result here, Kawada making an impact with his first ever G1 match with a win over Tenzan. This is exactly how the 2003 tournament began, with Tenzan losing to the outsider. Tenzan went on to win the 2003 tournament, and with Tenzan predicting a third consecutive G1 Climax win and being in dire need of being rebuilt, we could see the same results this year too.

The big matches of the second day, which takes place tomorrow, see Kawada take on Fujinami, Tenzan take on Chono, and, in a rematch of their IWGP Title match last June, Fujita takes on Tanahashi. I’m thinking we’ll see Kawada, Tenzan and Fujita walk out the victors, though it is possible Chono might win against Tenzan. Other bouts see Yoshie take on Yano (Yoshie winning or a draw), Nakamura take on Makabe (Nakamura winning), Goto take on Nakanishi (Nakanishi winning), Nishimura taking on Kashin (I have a feeling Kashin will win this, but I hope I am wrong), and Nagata v Suzuki (Nagata winning).

This years G1 started off well, and I’m hoping that continues, as this years G1 really needs to be kickass, not only for New Japan, but wrestling in general.