The final of the G1 Climax 32 tournament has now been confirmed, with a former champion looking for more glory.
Following 19 nights of action contested by 28 of the very best professional wrestlers that New Japan Pro Wrestling has to offer, only two huge names remain standing. Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada.
Heading into the semi-finals Ospreay had emerged at the top of Block D while Okada had topped Block A.
On night 19, Ospreay saw off the challenge of Tetsuya Naito in the first-ever meeting between the pair. While Naito targeted Ospreay’s neck which had taken a vicious beating from Juice Robinson just 24-hours earlier, the British star kept fighting back. The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion eventually scored the win with the Stormbreaker.
In the other semi-final Kazuchika Okada continued his quest for a fourth victory in the prestigious tournament after overcoming Tama Tonga. In the closing stretch Tonga looked to be within touching distance of a shock win after delivering a huge Gun Stun. However, he wasn’t able to make the cover quick enough and Okada responded with a Rainmaker to grab the victory.
The finals are set to take place on August 18th in Tokyo. Should Okada claim the G1 crown he will move clear as the second most successful wrestler in the tournament’s history. He currently shares that honour with Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Masahiro Chono currently leads the way with five victories.
New Japan have held an annual tournament under various guises since 1974, with Antonio Inoki racking up 10 wins between it’s inception and 1988.
The G1 Climax as we know it today was established in 1991.
You can find all the details from the tournament to date here.