G1 Climax 33: Night Seven | TUE JULY 25 2023 | Tokyo

Welcome to night seven of the G1 Climax 33 taking place in Korakuen Hall, Tokyo. It’s an exciting night of action from the A Block and B Block with SANADA and Kazuchika Okada leading their blocks. Elsewhere the next generation is fighting to rack up the points in A Block while B Block is looking very interesting, despite there still being two front runners after tonight.

This year is also 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.

B Block: Great-O-Kahn [United Empire] Vs Will Ospreay [United Empire]

We have an all United Empire opening match with Great-O-Kahn facing off against Will Ospreay. This is the best Great-O-Kahn has looked all tournament, I don’t know if it’s the buzz of the Korakuen Hall crowd or being in the ring with a teammate, but he really does shine here. The great thing about faction warfare in Japan, especially if they are a tight unit is that they won’t go easy on one another. This match has everything including some mist from O-Kahn. There are huge moves, big chops and high-flying moves, surprisingly from Great-O-Kahn, who seems to be gaining his confidence back through this match. He just can’t seem to put Ospreay away who kicks out of everything.

Winner: Will Ospreay

Rating: ****.5

A Block: Shota Umino Vs Gabe Kidd [Bullet Club: War Dogs]

Gabe Kidd attacks Shota Umino during his entrance but that means they will be fighting in the famous teared seating of Korakuen Hall. Kidd definitely has the upper hand but he always does after getting the jump on his opponent, the difference tonight is, he hasn’t been able to use the outside as much as he has in previous nights. This crowd loves Shota and hates Kidd, especially after trying to chock Umino with a towel and rubbing it on his crotch. By the five-minute mark, Shota comes back to life and really brings the fire to Kidd.

Gabe Kidd just won’t let his frustrations go, beating Umino down again and again. Kidd mocks Shota even further, calling him ACE and even spitting on him. Shota doesn’t take any of this, fighting back again and delivering a nasty-sounding Uppercut that Claudio would be proud of, He is electrifying tonight and tops it off with a picture-perfect Death Rider.

Winner: Shota Umino

Rating: *****

B Block: KENTA [Bullet Club] Vs Taichi [Just 5 Guys]

This is a first-time match-up between KENTA and Taichi, who have both worked in NOAH previously, at different times, as well as being trained in the All Japan Dojo. While KENTA was the prodigy of Kenta Kobashi Taichi was under the learning tree of Toshiaki Kawada. Both are also champions with KENTA being the DEFY Champion and Taichi holding the KOPW Championship.

After several minutes of both men showing off their belts to the crowd, the match gets started with KENTA attacking Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taichi. This match is very short but packed full of action and possibly one of the best ref bumps of all time. You just need to see this one. Have a fun time and enjoy it.

Winner: KENTA

Rating: ****

A Block: Chase Owens [Bullet Club] Vs Yota Tsuji [L.I.J]

Chase Owens is looking tonight to spoil Yuta Tsuji’s chance of making it to the playoffs. Owens has the experience here and is ready to school this young punk but will Tsuji be able to get the upper hand? He does, on the outside while the referee starts counting them out. Every time Tsuji gets any momentum here we see Chase Owens stop it in its tracks.

Does Tsuji give up? Hell no he doesn’t, fighting back and trys to make Owens come to blows with him. The crowd are fully behind him here and that is when magic happens. Now he has time, he can use his speed and strength against the veteran, oh and he does. Tsuji throws everything at his opponent, making sure that he is the one to stand tall at the end of this bout.

Winner: Yota Tsuji

Rating: *****

B Block: El Phantasmo Vs Tanga Loa [Guerrillas of Destiny]

There is always something fun about the Korakuen Hall shows, it’s as if the wrestlers just are more free and the crowd are more interactive. Tonight and the start of this match is no exception. These two have a lot of history, yet despite everything with Bullet Club, both are now out of that faction. They shake hands and hug before ELP takes his shirt off and encourages Tanga Loa to do the same. after a lot of coaxing from the crowd, he finally gets his shirt off and then they begin the match.

It’s faced paced with both men looking incredible. Loa is all strength while El Phantasmo is all speed and risk. They just work so well together and deserve their flowers, especially Tanga Loa who has always been lowkey one of the best wrestlers flying under the radar in New Japan. This match has so much back and forth that you don’t know who is going to win. After the match, the two seem to still be on good terms and maybe have formed an alliance.

Winner: El Phantasmo

Rating: *****

A Block: Hikuleo [Guerrillas of Destiny] Vs Ren Narita [Strong Style]

Ren Narita is determined to gain his first two points tonight but will the huge and strong Hikuleo stand in his way? Well for the first five minutes of the match, it doesn’t look that way with Hikuleo’s strength instantly coming into play delivering a huge chop that echoes around Korakuen Hall. What Narita needs to do here is get the taller man down on the floor, which he does but despite his skill, he finds it hard to hold any submission holds for long enough. This match is brutal with Narita fighting from beneath the whole match but despite his fighting spirit and submission expertise, Hikuleo is too much for him.

Winner: Hikuleo

Rating: ****.75

G1 Climax 33 Semi Main Event | B Block: YOSHI-HASHI [CHAOS] Vs Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS]

In the semi-main event, we have an all CHAOS match with the man who would be the star, YOSHI-HASHI, facing off against the final boss, Kazuchika Okada. He hasn’t been defeated in Korakuen Hall in the G1 in almost a decade and doesn’t want to start losing now. YOSHI-HASHI isn’t playing around tonight, he is fast, hard-hitting and looking fantastic against The Rainmaker. Despite these two only having three singles matches in their careers since returning from excursion, they know each other very well.

From Young Lions to stable mates YOSHI-HASHI and Okada know one another like the back of their hands. This is a pure fight with the former throwing everything at the latter and never giving up. Both are very determined to win and unlike many Okada matches he doesn’t have the upper hand, this doesn’t start slow, it is fast, to begin with, an absolute war between two men who love and respect one another. It only ramps up as it goes on with a flurry of moves from both men. What a match and what a statement from YOSHI-HASHI.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada

Rating: *****

G1 Climax 33 Main Event | A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya [Pro Wrestling NOAH] Vs SANADA [Just 5 Guys]

Our main event sees IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA face off against the young star of NOAH Kaito Kiyomiya. Both men have been under the learning tree of the great and legendary Keiji Muto, which you can see here, both try and hit Shining Wizards on one another but both block. Their styles are very similar and it is resulting in a very fast-paced competitive match with neither man able to really be on top for long.

Kiyomiya is explosive here and willing to take big risks, throwing himself to the outside and knocking SANADA down, getting the upper hand finally. But that doesn’t last for long as SANADA unlocks that vicious streak that emerged during the New Japan Cup. Kiyomiya targets the knee of SANADA with Dropkicks and a Dragon Screw Leg Whip to set up for the Figure Four Leg-Lock. After a long time, SANADA makes it to the ropes with less than five minutes until the time limit elapses.

SANADA gets up and looks strong despite his knee giving him trouble. He manages to lock in a Skull End and goes up top for the Moonsult, he misses and stagers down to his knees. Kiyomiya hits a Shinning Wizard but can’t capitalize, these men are spent with two minutes left. One man has to win and SANADA just about manages it, with two seconds left of the time limit. What a match.

Winner: SANADA

Rating: *****