New Japan Pro Wrestling
G1 Climax 32, Day 7
July 27, 2022
Korakuen Hall; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
The undercard
SHOW, EVIL sub. Yuto NakashimaL, Hiroshi Tanahashi (arm bar).
El PhantasmoW, KENTA p. Royce IsaacsL, Tom Lawlor (CR2): ELP and Filthy had quite the connection in this match: clap battles, purple nurples and chest hair pulls.
Great-O-KhanW, Jeff Cobb sub. Bad Dude TitoL, JONAH (Sheep Killer).
Gedo, Chase OwensW, Juice Robinson, Jay White p. Ryohei OiwaL, David Finlay, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada (C-trigger).
BUSHI, SANADAW, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito sub. TAKA MichinokuL, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Lance Archer (Skull End).
The report card
Will Ospreay vs. Yujiro Takahashi (D Block)
Result: Ospreay p. Takahashi (Hidden Blade).
In short: Regardless of the opponent, Ospreay upholds his own standard in singles matches. Yujiro was along for the ride here, but that’s OK because his heart was mended before the opening bell.
Highlights
+ Yujiro was reunited with Pieter, who very briefly ran off with El Phantasmo, prior to the match. Truly a Macho Man-Miss Elizabeth moment.
+ Ospreay hit Yujiro with the AJ Styles Special: a leaping forearm followed by a springboard 450.
+ Yujiro landed a satellite DDT and followed with Pimp Juice for a good nearfall.
+ Kudos for the ending sequence. Yujiro blocked an OsCutter, went for Big Juice, got hit with a pop-up forearm, and Ospreay cracked him with Hidden Blade to win.
Lowlights
– Outside of the satellite DDT, Yujiro moved like he was dipped in concrete before the bout.
Grade: B-
Toru Yano vs. Bad Luck Fale (A Block)
Result: Fale p. Yano (school boy).
In short: It was a brief match that included both participants sitting on folding chairs. Yano was sent off an exposed turnbuckle before being rolled up.
Highlights
+ Fale yelled that the bout was “too long,” to the English announce team afterward.
Grade: D
Hirooki Goto vs. Aaron Henare (C Block)
Result: Goto p. Henare (GTR).
In short: Henare is rewarding NJPW for putting him in the tournament. This was a great, if not flashy, scrap.
Highlights
+ Henare is revealing his complete offense in these singles opportunities. Everything has looked solid.
+ Henare punctuated a stiff strike exchange with a knee strike.
+ Goto got starched by roundhouse kick.
Grade: A-
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tama Tonga (B Block)
Result: Ishii p. Tonga (Vertical-Drop Brainbuster).
In short: It’s tough to criticize an Ishii main event, but this match lost its flow near the end and probably went too long. A high mark is still in order — just not as high as it could have been.
Highlights
+ Ishii ate Tama’s chops in the corner before applying his patented delayed sell.
+ Ishii spun Tama out of his shoes with a new staple: the Shoulder Tackle from HellTM.
+ Tama displayed his speed while staying in control.
+ At the end, Ishii used a smooth transition from a blocked Gun Stun to the brainbuster, sealing the win.
Lowlights
– Ishii suplexed out of a Gun Stun attempt but, maybe due to the camera angle, it looked like both guys just fell down.
– The pair got jammed up prior to Tama hitting a brainbuster. The hiccup broke momentum.
Grade: B+
Block standings
A Block
Kazuchika Okada 2-0-0 (4)
Bad Luck Fale 2-1-0 (4)
Jeff Cobb 1-1-0 (2)
Lance Archer 1-1-0 (2)
Toru Yano 1-2-0 (2)
JONAH 0-1-0 (0)
Tom Lawlor 0-1-0 (0)
B Block
Jay White 2-0-0 (4)
Tama Tonga 1-1-0 (2)
Chase Owens 1-1-0 (2)
SANADA 1-1-0 (2)
Taichi 1-1-0 (2)
Tomohiro Ishii 1-2-0 (2)
Great-O-Khan 0-1-0 (0)
C Block
Hirooki Goto 2-0-0 (4)
Zack Sabre Jr. 2-0-0 (4)
EVIL 1-0-0 (2)
Hiroshi Tanahashi 1-1-0 (2)
Aaron Henare 1-2-0 (2)
KENTA 0-2-0 (0)
Tetsuya Naito 0-2-0 (0)
D Block
Will Ospreay 2-0-0 (4)
El Phantasmo 1-1-0 (2)
David Finlay 1-1-0 (2)
Juice Robinson 1-1-0 (2)
Shingo Takagi 1-1-0 (2)
Yujiro Takahashi 1-2-0 (2)
YOSHI-HASHI 0-1-0 (0)
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