This year’s G1 Climax 34 tournament is underway in New Japan Pro Wrestling and we’re already through night eight. The young guns of NJPW have showed out very well and it’s made for an exciting watch in each block.
The updated tournament MVP after eight nights of action is none other than Konosuke Takeshita. Night after night he’s delivered some intense matches worthy of the G1 tournament.
This guidebook will track results, standings, and the must-see matches throughout the tournament.
Night One Results - 7/20/24
Oleg Boltin defeated Ren Narita
Callum Newman defeated Shota Umino
Henare defeated El Phantasmo
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Great-O-Khan
Jeff Cobb defeated Hirooki Goto
Jake Lee defeated Sanada
Yuya Uemura defeated David Finlay
Evil defeated Gabe Kidd
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Yota Tsuji
Shingo Takagi defeated Tetsuya Naito
What To Watch - Night One
So, as I mentioned earlier, Henare is the MVP of the tournament so far. His match with El Phantasmo is something I’d try to watch just because it’s an entirely different style of match from everything else.
Takeshita vs. Tsuji was fun and fast-paced. Both guys are two of the young standouts in the tournament, so watching them lock horns right out of the gate was a blast.
Shingo Takagi vs. Tetsuya Naito wasn’t the match it was a few years ago, but it carried historical relevance with Takagi getting that G1 win over Naito. Some really rough moments of confusion and missed spots, but the win for Shingo is worth seeing — especially if you’re a regular G1 tournament follower.
Night Two Results - 7/21/24
Sanada defeated Callum Newman
Henare defeated Oleg Boltin
Gabe Kidd defeated Great-O-Khan
Ren Narita defeated El Phantasmo
Evil defeated Jake Lee
Yuya Uemura defeated Hirooki Goto
Shota Umino defeated Shingo Takagi
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Tetsuya Naito
Yota Tsuji defeated David Finlay
What To Watch - Night Two
Again, Henare. His match with Oleg Boltin was a “meat” match and delivered to that end.
Shota Umino vs. Shingo Takagi was a fun back and forth encounter. Umino got to show off and Takagi laid a good base foundation for him to do so.
Tsuji vs. Finlay was excellent. Match of the night with hard-hitting G1 style action. This match is why NJPW is high on both Tsuji and Finlay as future top stars.
Finally, Yuya Uemura is 2-0 in his first G1 and leads his block. This will be a story to follow. So far, it reminds me of Jon Moxley running the table early in his first tournament and fizzling later due to the grind of the tournament. I can see the same booking occurring for Yuya.
Night Three Results - 7/24/24
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Jeff Cobb
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Callum Newman
Shingo Takagi defeated Great-O-Khan
Gabe Kidd defeated Shota Umino
Evil defeated Sanada
Tetsuya Naito defeated Jake Lee
What To Watch - Night Three
Gabe Kidd vs. Shota Umino. That’s the match. This thing was great. Two young talents that were working with something to prove out there and result was a hard-hitting affair with intense aggression from both men.
The Takeshita vs. Cobb match is worth your time as well. The feats of strength by both guys were impressive, but especially on the part of Takeshita, who is just a beast. Not as good as Kidd vs. Umino, but a fun watch.
Night Four Results - 7/25/24
Yuya Uemura defeated Konosuke Takeshita
David Finlay defeated Henare
El Phantasmo defeated Yota Tsuji
Ren Narita defeated Jeff Cobb
Hirooki Goto defeated Oleg Boltin
What To Watch - Night Four
The match of the night and the match of the tournament thus far took place in the main event. Yuya Uemura and Konosuke Takeshita was wonderfully violent and included a really unique suplex/bridge/pin combination by Uemura. This match with fresh talent is the overall highlight of the tournament and reason to watch it. Same thing with Umino vs. Kidd from night three. Great stuff.
Night Five Results - 7/27/24
Callum Newman defeated Shingo Takagi
Sanada defeated Gabe Kidd
Shota Umino defeated Great-O-Khan
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Jake Lee
Evil defeated Tetsuya Naito
What To Watch - Night Five
Well, this was the weakest night of action thus far. That said, Callum Newman vs. Shingo Takagi is where to spend your time. Newman played the underdog well and Takagi put him over relatively strong. The rest of the night is somewhat skippable.
Night Six Results - 7/28/24
Hirooki Goto defeated Yota Tsuji
David Finlay defeated Ren Narita
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Henare
Jeff Cobb defeated Yuya Uemura
Boltin Oleg defeated El Phantasmo
What To Watch - Night Six
Night six was the Konosuke Takeshita show. He and Henare had a good old fashioned slobberknocker and it was such a blast to see. Henare has been a standout performer this year in the G1 and these matches are why.
Night Seven Results - 7/29/24
Tetsuya Naito defeated SANADA
Gabe Kidd defeated Shingo Takagi
Shota Umino defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
Great-O-Khan defeated Jake Lee
Evil defeated Callum Newman
What To Watch - Night Seven
The best night of action thus far in the tournament. Two standout matches in particular. First, Gabe Kidd and Shingo Takagi. These guys put on the exact match you’d want to see. Hard-hitting, intense, physical, but with selling too. Great stuff and a big win for Kidd. Second, Shota Umino vs. Zack Sabre Jr. Umino plays the underdog so well and it a match against a submission torturer like ZSJ, it played even better. Thumbs way up. It’s in matches like this where you see the tremendous upside of Umino.
Night Eight Results - 7/31/24
David Finlay defeated Konosuke Takeshita
Ren Narita defeated Hirooki Goto
Jeff Cobb defeated El Phantasmo
Henare defeated Yuya Uemura
Yota Tsuji defeated Boltin Oleg
What To Watch - Night Eight
Konosuke Takeshita does it again. He and Finlay put on the match of the tournament so far and said match had the spot of the tournament as well. Takeshita diving out of the ring and onto a pile of steel chairs is a good enough reason to watch this match, but the psychology and physical prowess is an even better one. Honorable mention to Henare vs. Uemura. Not as classic as Takeshita vs. Finlay, but certainly as physical and memorable. Thumbs up.
G1 Climax 34 Standings
A Block
Evil (5-0): 10 points
Zack Sabre Jr. (4-1): 8 points
Gabe Kidd (3-2): 6 points
Shota Umino (3-2): 6 points
Shingo Takagi (2-3): 4 points
Callum Newman: (2-3): 4 points
Sanada (2-3): 4 points
Tetsuya Naito (2-3): 4 points
Great-O-Khan (1-4) 2 points
Jake Lee (1-4): 2 points
B Block
Yuya Uemura (3-2): 6 points
Konosuke Takeshita (3-2): 6 points
Henare (3-2): 6 points
Ren Narita (3-2): 6 points
Jeff Cobb (3-2): 6 points
David Finlay (3-2): 6 points
Hirooki Goto (2-3): 4 points
Oleg Boltin (2-3): 4 points
Yota Tsuji (2-3): 4 points
El Phantasmo (1-4): 2 points
What do you think of the G1 Climax 34 tournament so far? Let us know in the comments!
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Great review. I like the tourney thus far. Exciting matches and fast-paced action.