The annual and prestigious NJPW G1 Climax tournament, which is in it’s 33rd year, is set to kick off July 15th at the Hokkai Kitayell in Sapporo, Japan in front of an expected capacity crowd. G1 Climax 33 is broken into 4 blocks (A,B,C,D) and will feature 32 participants. Matches from the A & B block will be featured on opening night. Every match will have a 20 minutes time limit. For each win participants receive 2 points, for each draw 1 point and zero points for a loss.
The main event will see the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA face Hikuleo in A Block action. Hikuleo, who is a former NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion, holds big singles victories against KENTA and Jay White. This will be the biggest match of Hikuleo’s career. As SANADA is the odd on favorite to win the match, Hikuleo will be looking to score a big upset in his debut G1 Climax tournament match.
In another anticipated A Block match, Pro Wrestling NOAH superstar Kaito Kiyomiya will be making his G1 Climax debut as he faces one Los Ingobernables faction member Yota Tsuji who is also making his G1 debut. Kiyomiya is the first Pro Wrestling NOAH G1 Climax representative since 2016. Tsuji returned from excursion recently and immediately reached main event status in NJPW. Kiyomiya has vowed to win the G1 Climax 33 and bring more eyes on him and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Tsuji invaded Pro Wrestling NOAH at a recent show to attempted to intimidate Kiyomiya by taking a seat and watching Kiyomiya’s match. This match is expected to be an intense one as both competitors will be looking to score that first win.
In a B Block match up, Kazuchika Okada will face United Empire’s Great-O-Khan in their first one on one match in two years and a half years. Okada, who had won the last two G1 Climax tournaments is the clear favorite here to come out victorious and earn his first two points. Great-O-Khan will be looking to score an upset by defeating Okada and making a huge statement that he is serious about winning the G1 Climax 33 tournament.
In what should be another explosive A Block match, two of the NJPW proclaimed Reiwa Three Musketeers Shota Umino and Ren Narita are set to do battle. Both are leaders of the new generation of stars that NJPW has been producing to lead the promotion into the future. Narita and Umino had teamed a number of times ahead of G1 Climax 33 and have come to blows often despite being on the same side. Umino has the advantage going into July 15th as he is 5-0-2 in singles matches against Narita. This match could very well steal the show.
There are 4 other matches scheduled for the opening night of G1 Climax 33.
Here is the full line up for NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night 1:
- Main Event: A Block Match: SANADA vs Hikuleo
- B Block Match: Taichi vs Will Ospreay
- A Block Match: Yota Tsuji vs Kaito Kiyomiya
- B Block Match: Kazuchika Okada vs Great-O-Khan
- A Block Match: Shota Umino vs Ren Narita
- B Block Match: KENTA vs Tanga Loa
- A Block Match: Chase Owens vs Gabriel Kidd
- B Block Match: YOSHI-HASHI vs El Phantasmo
The opening night of G1 Climax 33 will be airing live on NJPW World subscription streaming service.
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