Kazuchika Okada will meet Tetsuya Naito in the finals of the G1 Climax 33 Tournament.
The pair booked their spot in the finals on August 12th with Okada getting the better of EVIL while Naito saw off Will Ospreay.
Okada moved into the semi-finals after finishing with a 6-1 record in Block B, and then getting the better of Zack Sabre Jr. Interestingly, this is the same record he achieved in 2022 when he went on to win the entire tournament. Meanwhile, Naito topped Block D with a 5-2 record and beat Hikuleo in the quarter-finals.
How Many Times Has Kazuchika Okada Won The G1 Climax?
Kazuchika Okada won the G1 Climax in 2022 and in 2021, to add to wins in 2012 and 2014. The victory put Okada second on the all-time list of G1 winners, moving him past Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Hiroshi Tanahashi who both have three wins.
By contrast, Naito hasn’t made the finals since 2017 when he beat Kenny Omega to claim the win. This was his second in the tournament after defeating Tanahashi in the finals in 2013.
Should Okaka defeat Naito he’ll move level with Masahiro Chono with five victories.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling has held an annual tournament under various guises since 1974, with Antonio Inoki racking up 10 wins between its inception and 1988.
Recently Kazuchika Okada spoke about how he doesn’t think he has much time left in wrestling.