The one and only G-1 Climax 2003 thread

[Guest Dangerous A]

Damn, this folder is fucking dead. Here goes nothing.

 

 

Let's keep all things pertaining to the G-1 Climax this year to this thread and see if we can break 15 total replies, huh.

 

 

For starters, Kazunari Murakami is out and Manabu Nakanishi is in for Block A. I have mixed feelings on this one. I like Murakami. He brings a different game to the table. That game isn't necessarily good, but it's fun at times. I wanted to see Chono and Co. deal with Murakami dicking it up with his stiff kicks and punches. Nakanishi provides better name recognition to the tourney, but I feel Murakami is more fun. I get the feeling they'll use the G-1 to start rebuilding Nakanishi from his embarassing knockout loss to TOA, the Samoan Beast. He probrably won't win, but it'll be interesting to see where he ends up.

 

 

Block B has the least interest because it's a shoo in for Takayama and Nagata isn't far behind in shoo in status. Block A has 4 legit contenders for the final four with Chono, Nakanishi, Tenzan, and Akiyama with Nishimura a dark horse.

 

 

Personally, I think Tenzan wins this year. What do you think?

[Guest Black Tiger]

Semi-Finals: Akiyama beats Nagata, Tenzan beats Takayama

 

Finals: Tenzan beats Akiyama.

 

I'm a little glad that TOA knocked out Nakanishi, since it ensures that Nakanishi won't get the Inoki treatment and get pushed down the fans throats.

 

Yasuda, Yoshie, and Nakamura seem to be the candidates for last place. Nakamura would make the most sense, but he's so incredibly over and talented that he's looking to go over someone or at least take a big star to the time limit.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Akiyama needs to get his win back from Nagata after the fuckin mauling he took a few weeks back.

 

If Tenzan wins, what is gonna make me think that he's the next big threat to the belt when he's come up short six times already?

[Guest Black Tiger]

Why will Tenzan look like a credible IWGP Contender now?

 

Because his excursion to Canada helped rekindle his strength, he'd have beaten the current and former IWGP Champion, as well as a former GHC Champion, and his own mentor Masahiro Chono.

[Guest bort]

finals:tenzan over Akiyama

 

semis: Akiyama over nagata

 

semis:tenzan over takayama

 

i heard a idea that i liked with chono going over takayam for the title and then tenzan winning the G1 and beating chono for the title in a student vs teacher match, i hope it happens that way

[Guest Black Tiger]

Tournament starts tomorrow, Tenzan vs Akiyama face off in the final match of Block A. I think Akiyama will pick up the win, so Tenzan can get it back in the finals.

 

It was cool of Stuart to run that prediction contest and even more cool of Rob Hunter (Goldenboytapes) and Trent Waters (JapanTapes) to offer a free tape to the winner.

[Guest Sykotic2002]

I think Chono will finish kind of low in the G1 this year, so when he challenges Takayama for the IWGP title later this month he will be an underdog. No one wil lgive him a chance of winning the title, so that when he does win it will be more surprising. I think he should beat Tenzan in their match in the tournament match, so Tenzan will still be eluded of his win over Chono. Tenzan then gets his win over Chono for the IWGP title.

[Guest Black Tiger]

First Day Results are in:

 

G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [2] beat Katsuyori Shibata [0] (10:14) by referee stop.

 

Looks like Nakamura is placing low this year, the new guys always get a nice lead before getting buried by the end

 

G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata [2] beat Yutaka Yoshie [0] (12:51) with a backdrop hold.

 

Good, Yoshie sucks and he deserves last place

 

G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi [2] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [0] (14:04) with a German suplex hold.

 

Expected result here, Nakanishi won't get pushed huge since he lost to TOA, but he's still a top name in NJPW

 

G1 Climax - Block A: Masahiro Chono [2] beat Osamu Nishimura [0] (24:08) with an inside cradle.

 

Chono always beats Nishimura, not much of a suprise here.

 

G1 Climax - Block B: Tadao Yasuda [2] beat Yoshihiro Takayama [0] (11:16) by referee stop.

 

Yasuda gets to avenge his recent losses, no biggie as Takayama will still place high at the end.

 

G1 Climax - Block A: Jun Akiyama [2] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [0] (19:43) with a wrist-clutch Exploder

 

Tenzan is my pick so this is actually good news, Tenzan is going to start out low but then go on a rampage and start kicking ass and taking names en route to winning it this year

[Guest BionicRedneck]

This is a sad day for wrestling. Tenzan's mullet is gone! NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Mullet or no mullet...Tenzan is still a badass.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

I'd like to believe that, but what if the mullet was the source of all his powers?

[Guest Black Tiger]

If Tenzan wins this year, then it can be aruged that his mullet was holding him back for all those years of failed G-1 and IWGP Title shots.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Day two has come and gone now,

 

Block B: Yutaka Yoshie [2] beat Shinsuke Nakamura [2] (12:31) with a diving body press.

 

Too bad the awesome Nakamura had to job to the suckfest that is Yoshie. Hopefully Nakamura still gets a good standing while Yoshie gets to wallow in the botton of the block

 

Block B: Katsuyori Shibata [2] beat Tadao Yasuda [2] (1:14) by pinfall.

 

A repeat of Yasuda from last year, my predictions had Yasuda in 3rd or 4th place in his block. I guess I'm not going to win this year

 

Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan [0] (15:14) with a Dragon suplex hold.

 

More good news for those who are rooting for Tenzan, he'll get to pull his big comeback and take the whole tournament. Nice to see Tanahashi getting a win as well, since he lost yesterday

 

Block A: Osamu Nishimura [2] beat Jun Akiyama [2] (27:17) with a ground Cobra Twist.

 

Probably an awesome match, Nishimura is awesome on the ground and Akiyama was a big amaresu star. Akiyama has to lose at least one match though or it will look like NOAH guys are owning NJPW guys

 

Block A: Manabu Nakanishi [4] beat Masahiro Chono [2] (11:39) with a cross knee scissors hold.

 

Kind of disapointing here, since Chono is Mr. G1 and all.

 

Block B: Yoshihiro Takayama [2] beat Yuji Nagata [2] (14:05) with a German suplex hold.

 

Takayama wins again, both of these guys are a lock for the semi finals anyways, so it didn't really matter who won here. Takayama is the champion though. So he can't be jobbing left and right.

[Dangerous A 0]

After day 2, looks like a ton of parity going on. I don't see anyone breaking away until sometime after day 5. Nakanishi starting off 2-0 is obvious damage control because of the K-1 incident. Tenzan pretty much has to win all the rest of his matches in the block or else. The new look isn't working! Nakamura getting beat by Yutaka "assfest" Yoshie was disappointing. Weird that they would book Yasuda to go over Tak on Day one only to lose to Shibata in dominating fashion the next day. I like that since I like Shibata while I loathe Yasuda's wrestling existence.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Yasuda wasn't dominated. He just layed down and allowed Shibata to pin him.

 

Maybe Tenzan needed the mullet after all.

[Dangerous A 0]

I didn't see that Yasuda lied down. I just saw that Shibata had beaten him so quickly. How lame. This is G-1. What a ripoff.

 

After tabulating some, I think Tenzan has to win his remaining 3 matches and will probrably have to wrestle a playoff with someone else to reach the final four. That is if he's even booked to go all the way.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Rememner TenKoji in the 2001 G1 tag league? They started out dead last and then bounced back to win it?

 

That sucks about Yasuda laying down. Yasuda always gets the weird booking in these things. Last year he jobbed to Kenzo Suzuki in 37 seconds, only to come back and get a pinfall over Nakanishi and then beat Nagata by countout. Then he gets beat by Nishimura in like two minutes.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Day three results are in.

 

Block B: Katsuyori Shibata [4] beat Yutaka Yoshie [2] (9:17) with a right kick.

 

Good, keep Yoshie at the bottom

 

Block A: Masahiro Chono [4] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] (13:11) with a Yakuza kick.

 

Nice to see Chono getting wins again. I'm a big fan of Tanahashi but he needed to lose here.

 

Block B: Yoshihiro Takayama [4] beat Shinsuke Nakamura [2] (7:08) with a knee kick.

 

Rookie vs IWGP Champion, what did you expect? I would like to see Nakamura get one more win though, maybe over Yasuda

 

Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan [2] beat Osamu Nishimura [2] (25:56) with a kakaekomi crab hold.

 

Tenzan is finally winning, time for his big comeback en route to winning it. The elimination process will have him JUST make the semi finals

 

Block B: Tadao Yasuda [4] beat Yuji Nagata [2] (12:21) with a Tiger Driver.

 

Yasuda's lack of logical booking shows up again. He lays down for Shibata, and then beats the top guy. I really hope Nakamura beats him.

 

Block A: Jun Akiyama [4] beat Manabu Nakanishi [4] (16:35) with an inside cradle.

 

Nice to see this result, there isn't much point of booking an outsider (especially a big name like Akiyama) if he won't get a monster push. I like Nakanishi (most of the time) but he shouldn't be winning this tournament.

[Dangerous A 0]

Now that we are over half way done, here's how things look from my perspective.

 

Block A

 

 

Tenzan: Needs to win his next 2 against Chono and Nakanishi. He probrably will. I could see him getting a tie with someone and have to wrestle a playoff for a final four spot.

 

Akiyama: He's pretty much going to the final four. He may drop to Chono or tie but no way he jobs to Tanahashi.

 

Tanahashi: He's finished. Was never a real threat to go to the final four anyways. No way in hell he goes over Akiyama and Nishimura.

 

Nishimura: I see him beating Tanahashi and going to a time limit with fellow Gotchism partner Nakanishi.

 

Nakanishi: Needs to job to Tenzan to get him over the hump for points. Will either job or draw with Nishimura, leaving him 1 point or so out of the final four.

 

Chono: Could theoretically still get to the final four, but I don't see him going over both Tenzan and Akiyama. Plus if he did, that would fuck up their going to the finals.

 

Block B

 

Takayama: Will be there for the final four. Pretty much a lock. His only 2 matches left are Shibata and Yoshie, who have no business beating Tak this year.

 

Yoshie: Done. Stick a fork in him. That's a good thing. He doesn't deserve to be pushed. Fuck Yoshit.

 

Nakamura: Super Rookie isn't going anywhere either. I didn't like him jobbing to Yoshit, but that's more bias than anything else. Hopefully Nakamura gets a win over Yasuda because we shouldn't have Yasuda going to the final four.

 

Yasuda: I'm getting scared with this booking. I hope to God that he doesn't get to the final four. Problem is his only two matches left are Nakamura and Yoshie, two guys who are seen as below Yasuda. If they both go over Yasuda, then ok. But then I have to ask what was the point of putting Yasuda over both Nagata and Takayama?

 

Shibata: No chance to go to the final four. He's done. He doens't deserve it either. Maybe next year, but definitely not this year.

 

Nagata: Nagata is in the same boat as Tenzan if he wishes to make it to the final four. The thing is his next two opponents are Shibata and Nakamura. Like Yasuda, they are viewed as below Nagata and may job. I just hope NJ has sense and books Nagata in the final four instead of Yasuda.

 

After 3 days, I'd say we are looking at Akiyama, Tenzan, Takayama, and Nagata in the finals. They should finish like this

 

Block A 1) Akiyama 2) Tenzan

Block B 1) Takayama 2) Nagata

 

That would give us Akiyama vs Nagata and Tak vs Tenzan. I see Akiyama getting his win back from Nagata from their last encounter and Tenzan overcoming Tak. Then Tenzan makes sure the outsider of the tourney doens't win and boom. Tenzan is your 2003 G-1 Climax winner.

 

Of course, I could be completely wrong on all of this.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I really don't understand where NJ is going with how Yasuda is being booked, he's got wins over the top two guys in the company right now, but then he lays down and lets his fellow Makai member pin him. Nakamura actually has a win over Yasuda already on 1/4, so I really don't see Yasuda jobbing for him again, although stranger things have happened.

 

Shibata is probably going to finish second to last, I think Yoshie is primed for last place. Shibata vs Nagata from June ended with Nagata getting counted out, so he's jobbing to Nagata for sure, and I don't see Shibata going over Takayama either.

 

Akiyama is headed right for the finals, his only other real threat is Chono, and with his bad wheel, it's easy to explain how a NOAH guy could beat him.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Day Four Results are in

 

Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [4] beat Tadao Yasuda [4] (7:38) by TKO.

 

This probably Super Rookie's last win of the tournament. Not too shabby seeing as be beat both members of Makai

 

Block A: Osamu Nishimura [4] beat Manabu Nakanishi [4] (13:45) with a backslide.

 

I was expecting Nakanishi to go over here, since Nishimura got the win last year in their semi final qualifying match.

 

Block B: Yoshihiro Takayama [6] beat Yutaka Yoshie [2] (12:31) with a German suplex hold.

 

Go home Yoshie, let REAL wrestlers participate in the G1

 

Block B: Yuji Nagata [3] vs. Katsuyori Shibata [5] went to a double countout (13:17).

 

Kind of shocking here, this puts Shibata at #2 in Block B and it puts Nagata almost in last place.

 

Block A: Jun Akiyama [6] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] (16:08) with a wrist-clutch Exploder.

 

This was probably an awesome match. Akiyama still runs roughshod. He probably had his only group stage loss already, but he may get another one. I doubt it though

 

Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan [4] beat Masahiro Chono [4] (21:21) with the Anaconda Vice

 

Tenzan is on the comeback trail! Tenzan gets his first ever win over his mentor in singles action with his new finisher (anyone know what it is?)

[Guest Black Tiger]

Group stages are over and done with,

 

Block B: Yutaka Yoshie [4] beat Tadao Yasuda [4] (13:01) with a diving body press.

 

neither man deserves much of a high ranking, but I'd rather Yoshie than Yasuda

 

Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi [4] beat Osamu Nishimura [4] (14:03) by countout.

 

Nice to see a young guy getting elevated here. Tanahashi is very talented

 

Block B: Yuji Nagata [5] beat Shinsuke Nakamura [4] (11:32) with a backdrop suplex.

 

Rookie vs former IWGP Champion, suprised?

 

Block A: Hiroyoshi Tenzan [6] beat Manabu Nakanishi [4] (14:50) by TKO.

 

Tenzan and Nakanishi are longtime rivals, but I don't think I've ever seen a singles match between the two (I know they've happened) Tenzan's path to victory continues here and he gets a win over his long time rival

 

Black B Yoshihiro Takayama [8] beat Katsuyori Shibata [5] (6:38) with a German suplex hold.

 

Expected result here, nobody would buy a Shibata victory, unless Makai cheated like crazy

 

Block A: Masahiro Chono [5] vs. Jun Akiyama [7] went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired

 

Figures, the draw ensures Akiyama into the semi finals and it doesn't make Chono look too weak

 

The semi finals are now set. Tenzan vs Takayama and Akiyama vs the winner of the Nagata/Shibata decision match (Nagata can avenge his loss in June)