G1 Climax 33 B Block Preview: The Current Generation Clash

The G1 Climax 33 is finally here and we are ready to preview the B Block. This year’s B Block is full of veterans of the tournament and a four-time winner in Kazuchika Okada and a whole host of champions and former champions. While A Block is the New Generation I would say that the B Block is the current generation which has some of its brightest stars. We have Will Ospreay who is the IWGP United States Champion, Taichi who is the KOPW Champion and YOSHI-HASHI is one half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. Along with these, we have KENTA, Tanga Loa, El Phantasmo and Great-O-Kahn rounding out the B Block.

This year is a little different, we have an even bigger selection of wrestlers than before while continuing the four-block format from the previous year. On top of that, the time limit for each tournament bout has been reduced from 30 minutes to 20, making for an even more fast-paced and frantic set of matches this year. The last three nights will see the top two scoring participants from each block enter the playoff stages, fighting it out to be crowned the winner of the G1 Climax 33 and a guaranteed match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at next year’s Wrestle Kingdom.

Kazuchika Okada: The Rainmaker

Kazuchika Okada has won the G1 Climax four times since his debut and The Rainmaker is looking for his fifth and third in a row. Okada has had an interesting few years but finally got himself back on top at Wrestle Kingdom only to be defeated a few months later by New Japan Cup winner SANADA. Since then Okada has been a Never Openweighht Six-Man Tag Team Champion and lost by submission to Bryan Danielson at Forbidden Door, he is looking for a big win and to establish himself as the top star in New Japan.

We all know Okada likes to make history and is all about the big moments but will he be able to go for the hat trick? I am unsure, he is in a very very strong block this year and has some tough competition, but making the top two, now that might happen.

I won the last two G1s but without cheers, so tomorrow, bring the noise. B Block have a very strange interpretation of the word ‘suit’, but all the same we will tear it up and Okada will win.

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]

Will Ospreay: The Assassin of the G1 Climax 33

Will Ospreay has had a meteoric rise in New Japan, excelling and reaching the top of both the Junior Heavyweight and now Heavyweight division and now he’s looking to do it again. He hasn’t won the G1 Climax yet, it’s something that is obviously on his bucket list and this year might be the time. He is in a tough block with the likes of Kazuchika Okada, Taichi and El Phantasmo.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it to the playoffs as one of the top two in his block. His only roadblock might be The Rainmaker Kazuhika Okada but he might be able to get one over on him and even win this year.

Sorry about Gabe Kidd (after the prior block’s brawl), one too many highballs. Everyone here’s feeling good, especially your boy who walked into Canada and took back the IWGP US Championship. Nobody has said anything about me in this conference yet, because they know nobody is on my level. The B in B Block stands for ‘Billy’ and G stands for ‘Goat’. The G1 is mine.

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]

Taichi: The King of Pro-Wrestling

Taichi is the current King of Pro-Wrestling and looking to win this year’s G1 Climax and face his friends and stable mate SANADA. I don’t think Taichi will win, he might surprise us by making it to the top two in his block, but will he get past the playoffs? I’m not sure but the last few years has seen Taichi really come into his own and compete in high-profile matches. His G1 success would be great for his fans and even if he doesn’t make the playoffs, I predict he will be a high scorer this year.

I said before, now that SANA-bro has it, I want that IWGP World Heavyweight title for the first time. I’m here as a dual career pro-wrestler and YouTuber, so I’ll do all I have. The more results means the more subscribers. Love or hate me, ‘like’ ‘share’ and ‘subscribe’. Thank you.

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]

KENTA: Bullet Club’s Killer Instinct

KENTA has recently just lost his NJPW Openweight Championship to Eddie Kingston putting him on the back foot coming into this year’s G1. KENTA has had a few bad years when it comes to injury and that has really hindered him in a lot of ways but hopefully, this will be the start of something new for him. I don’t think KENTA will win the B Block but he might get a few points, what he needs to do this year is rediscover the old KENTA, and bring that brutal fighting spirit back to his skill set.

Hello Sapporo, G1 Climax 33 is going to be my G1. Look at my block, so many ugly faces. As you can see, I won ‘best looking’ in my block already. So tomorrow, I will beat everyone and win. Get ready.

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]

YOSHI-HASHI: The Head Hunter

YOSHI-HASHI has been a revelation in the last few years, really coming into his own and becoming a real beacon of the Heavyweight Tag Team division. I think he will have a really good G1 Climax this year, raking up a fair few points. Obviously, the points are the most important part of the G1 but I have a feeling he will be out there producing some of the best matches this year. It took me a while to truly understand YOSHI-HASHI but now I do, I just love him. He won’t win but he will give it a good try.

To be honest, I was very nervous about something today. I didn’t wear a suit. I figured it would be hot, so a sport jacket and tee would be fine. But then I worried, what if everyone would be in suits? I’m glad only Okada is wearing a suit. You look cool. I am an IWGP Tag champion, but this is a singles tournament and I want a singles belt. I will do all I can to last out, and show KENTA what a real handsome man looks like.

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]

Tanga Loa: The Returning Guerrilla Seeks Out His Destiny

Tanga Loa is finally back in New Japan after a year-long absence due to an injury to his knee, a torn MCL to be exact. He is looking to get himself back in the swing of things and establish himself as a singles star, he does great in the Heavyweight Tag Team division but can he do the same in the G1? This is his second year participating and I think he will get a few points but I don’t see him winning. He is on a climb at the moment but his story will really centre around his injury this year.

Thank you. It warms my heart to hear your voices. I apologise for my injury. I’m just so happy to see all of you. Every night I will perform in front of you and give you all I have. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it so very much.

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]

El Phantasmo: The Headbanger’s Redemption

El Phantasmo is one of the most electrifying and creative wrestlers that New Japan has seen in many years. The Canadian is in this year’s G1 for the second time and doesn’t have the problem of competing in the Best of the Super Jrs to contend with. He feels that really held him back last year and he is looking for redemption in the G1 Climax 33. Will he do it?

I am unsure, I would love him to make it to the playoffs but I just don’t see it happening this year, especially being in a block with Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada. He will definitely get some points but he will be putting on some great matches and isn’t that what we all talk about anyway.

ELP complained of a ‘sore throat’ and had a prepared statement read that has been omitted for space and bandwidth. The statement issued multiple backhanded compliments to the rest of B Block, while heaping sincere and earnest praise on Tanga Loa’s ‘sweet tits’.

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]

Great-O-Kahn: United Empire’s Big Bad

I don’t think the Great-O-Kahn is going to win this year’s G1 Climax but he will definitely be playing spoiler in this year’s B Block. Kahn is a big beefy boy who likes to cause pain and is kind of the enforcer, in a lot of ways, for the United Empire. He isn’t the only one, Jeff Cobb also fills that enforcer role, but they are both very different in their approach.

The Great-O-Kahn might not rack up the point this year but he will put on a show and beat down anyone who gets in his way, be that a detriment to him winning. I don’t think he really cares about that aspect of the G1, but who knows? The Great-O-Kahn is a bit of a mystery and that’s how he likes it.

No comment. 

G1 Climax 33 Press Conference [B Block]