鷹木 信悟 vs グレート-O-カーン - 優勝決定トーナメント「ファーストステージ」：NJPW G1 CLIMAX 34（2024年8月15日）
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00:00Today's semi-final, G1 Climax 34,
00:04the first stage of the tournament to determine the winner.
00:09We will have a one-on-one match without time limit.
00:30G1 CLIMAX 34
00:34G1 CLIMAX 34
00:59The G1 Climax tournament historically has become
01:02synonymous with the concept of opportunity.
01:06You earn your opportunity to be involved
01:08in a tournament of this prestige, of this nature,
01:11for what is on the line, the G1 Climax trophy,
01:14to definitively call yourself the best professional wrestler
01:18to grace Japan.
01:21GreatOcon has taken that opportunity to reinvent himself.
01:24Even though this is the same GreatOcon it looks like from the outside,
01:28it's been a different GreatOcon that has been turning up the heat
01:31match after match after match.
01:33And after an early start with a long losing streak,
01:37it was ended and it has been all victory ever since.
01:41All gas, no break for GreatOcon.
01:43GreatOcon first came into New Japan Pro Wrestling
01:47at the finals of the 2020 G1 Climax,
01:51against Will Ospreay against Kazuchika Okada.
01:56And we all thought, well, GreatOcon, his first debut G1,
01:59is going to go on a massive tear.
02:01Did not happen. 22, did not happen.
02:0320, 23, almost a rout.
02:05A lot of people thought that GreatOcon would have to qualify
02:08to get here, into the G1.
02:10And then, oh, and four, well, GreatOcon's done.
02:13He's toast, but he's put it all together ever since.
02:16Can he get, what, three more and be the G1 winner?
02:21United Empire,
02:23United Empire,
02:25Grand Order Sponsor,
02:28and G-Store Ambassador,
02:32and KOPW 2024 Position Dominator,
02:38GreatOcon!
02:46The path to GreatOcon's potential final walker, though.
02:51Past Shingo Takagi, past Zack Sabre Jr.,
02:54two men he has never, ever beaten in his career.
03:21It was an emphatic start to this tournament on the opposite end of the playing field for Shingo Takagi.
03:45A main event victory over Tetsuya Naito,
03:48defeating his own LIJ partner and the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Nabuk.
03:55Shingo Takagi has followed up with victory after victory,
03:57suffers a lot here and there,
03:59finds himself here tonight,
04:01standing across the ring from the KOPW champion in GreatOcon,
04:05a man that, already in this tournament,
04:08Shingo Takagi has beaten in singles action.
04:11Does that put Takagi leagues above Ocon in the mental game tonight?
04:16Shingo Takagi, I think, feeling the pressure,
04:19almost much like GreatOcon,
04:20has never advanced beyond the league stage until this year,
04:25already having a personal best in his career.
04:28But it's not that, it's the pressure of knowing that next month, September,
04:32what, September the 8th, we're gonna turn around,
04:35and he's gonna be in his hometown,
04:37completely sold out, months in advance,
04:39promoting his 20th anniversary career special event,
04:43you're gonna see it live on NJPW World,
04:45will he be able to do it as G1 Champion?
05:10And the winner, Martin Hasami.
05:14I feel like Shingo Takagi has been to the top of the mountain,
05:18he has been IWGP World Heavyweight Champion,
05:21and he even won MVP for that year in 2021,
05:26but he wasn't acknowledged as, really,
05:29worldwide, globally, the best professional wrestler in the world,
05:32even though, in my opinion, he was three years ago.
05:35Sure.
05:36And a lot of that because of the pandemic that was going on at the time.
05:40Globe being closed off at the time for the rest of the country.
05:43Exactly, it was difficult to have those international matchups.
05:46Shingo Takagi, if he can win the G1 Climax,
05:50especially in this field,
05:51and achieve the greatest achievement in all of professional sports,
05:55that cements Shingo Takagi,
05:57and he goes down absolutely as an all-time.
06:01For GreatOcon, you're closer,
06:03well, nearer the beginning of his story than the end,
06:06as perhaps opposed to Shingo Takagi,
06:08here's his chance to really prove himself,
06:12that he is the dominator,
06:13he's been saying he is for the last four years.
06:23I think Chiba feels like a Takagi crowd, though.
06:27I'd argue it's been shocking to see the overwhelming support
06:31that GreatOcon has had in the latter half of this tournament.
06:34Doesn't that speak to, though, his whole vision as KOPW champion?
06:38The uniter of the fiefdom.
06:39Sure.
06:40Going out to all of these towns that we've been across,
06:42all across the G1 Climax,
06:44it will continue, even if GreatOcon wins the G1,
06:47he'll be defending that KOPW title,
06:49even when the cameras aren't here,
06:51when you and I aren't here.
06:52He wants to defend that championship,
06:54when you and I aren't here.
06:55He wants to defend that championship in these little towns,
06:58in these little venues.
06:59Make all those connections with children,
07:02old ladies, families, everybody,
07:05and unite them under the GreatOcon.
07:12These two men have their own versions
07:13of what New Japan Pro Wrestling should like,
07:18what it should be about.
07:19Shingo Takagi wants to stand atop,
07:21GreatOcon does as well.
07:24Very interesting you draw on the KOPW aspect of GreatOcon.
07:27Shingo Takagi, arguably one of the best men
07:29to have ever held that championship,
07:30longest reign as KOPW champion within one calendar year.
07:33And part of that work-out,
07:35part of that created one of those early wins
07:37for Shingo Takagi over GreatOcon,
07:40back in Aichi a couple of years ago,
07:43and that was in GreatOcon's wheelhouse,
07:46an MMA match,
07:47both the guys in gis and Shingo Takagi
07:49still able to defeat GreatOcon.
07:51That really sent GreatOcon in a slump in 2023.
07:57But I think GreatOcon started this G1
08:00trying to adapt himself,
08:01wrestle to the styles of his opponents,
08:03but then he found his confidence in his own style,
08:06his own breed of professional wrestling,
08:08his own breed of combat,
08:09and that's what's brought him to the dance here
08:11in the first round of the playoffs.
08:13Discussion of that point,
08:14Shingo Takagi did defeat GreatOcon during that run
08:17where Takagi was,
08:18or Ocon rather,
08:19was trying to match the energy,
08:20was trying to match the style of all of his opponents,
08:23including Takagi.
08:24Yeah, look what he's doing here though.
08:25He's going straight to his grappling influences,
08:29looking for that front chancel there,
08:30parried into the corner.
08:35GreatOcon now,
08:36an 11-match win streak as of recent,
08:40was not halted by LIJ's own Tetsuya Naito.
08:44Very well could be halted by Shingo Takagi here tonight.
08:47It is an absolute toss-up as to who's going to win
08:50not only this match,
08:51but our next match as well.
08:52Very little understanding as to
08:55really what the future of New Japan could look like at this point.
08:58No, really, if you win the G1 Climax,
09:00you know what I mean,
09:01that allows you to forge the future of New Japan,
09:05progress enormous in your image.
09:08The only other part of that puzzle, rather,
09:11is the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
09:13Right.
09:15The precedent has been set
09:17of a World Heavyweight Championship challenge
09:19for the G1 Climax winner,
09:20but again, men like David Finlay
09:22say that they want to go against that
09:23and maintain their own status as Global Heavyweight Champion.
09:26Who's to know that GreatOcon's going to want to challenge
09:28for the World Heavyweight title?
09:29You're right, you're right there.
09:30I do know, I'm pretty certain that Shingo Takagi
09:33would want to challenge Tetsuya Naito.
09:35Absolutely.
09:36I think that's the direction he would go in,
09:38but maybe he might turn around and say,
09:40hey, I want to do it at my 20th anniversary event.
09:43Let's do it September the 8th.
09:44I mean, it could really take any direction.
09:48Oh, look out!
09:49Climax winner could easily have their claim.
09:53They're going to claim their destiny
09:54wherever they want to do it is on their own terms.
10:00GreatOcon has been working a lot of the mat game
10:02the latter half of this tournament.
10:03It worked out very, very well for him against Tetsuya Naito.
10:14What he's doing there.
10:15He can just...
10:16Kamo kicking up, got a scissor on that right arm
10:19and now he's going to try and take care of the left.
10:22Obviously, GreatOcon knows full well
10:25he wants to avoid pumping bomber.
10:28Especially if it leads to, was it not,
10:30Shingo Takagi using the pumping bomber into the pinfall
10:33that created the victory earlier on in this tournament.
10:36That's GreatOcon thinking, well,
10:38if there's anything I want to avoid,
10:40anything I want to neutralize,
10:42it's that move tonight.
10:44Talk a little bit about Shingo
10:45utilizing that move more so than he ever has before
10:48in his career in this G1.
10:50At first it felt like desperation
10:51and then it became strategy for Shingo Takagi.
10:54Not often that you see a strike immediately into a hole, right?
10:57Yeah, sure.
10:58And sometimes that's how a lot of guys chance upon finishes.
11:02You know, I didn't think this would finish the match,
11:04but hey, it did.
11:05It worked out for me.
11:07But that's one of the things that marks out Shingo Takagi
11:11as one of the headsters,
11:12the number of ways that he can beat him.
11:14Whereas GreatOcon seems to have chanced on a winning combination,
11:18that facebreaker out of the sheet killer
11:21into the eliminator, which is one in his last few here.
11:42Ah!
11:44GreatOcon full control right now of that right arm of Shingo Takagi.
11:47It is the pumping bomber delivering arm.
11:50Could easily be switched to the left if Takagi needed to be,
11:53but that power not clearly there right now on the right.
12:03GreatOcon is not really stressed.
12:05He's not really rushing.
12:07He's going to take his time, work his game plan here.
12:10GreatOcon's barely broke a sweat at this point.
12:12It's because he's been working this ground game so much
12:14as he has against Shingo.
12:15Almost a version of the labelle lock there
12:17as he punches the arms as a hammer lock on the right arm there.
12:24It's almost like, yeah, I mean, we say best defense is good offense.
12:27Take care of that arm,
12:29and that is work that is going to help GreatOcon on the back end.
12:33The deeper we go into this matchup,
12:35should say there's no time limit, by the way.
12:37We do have to have a winner in both of these last two contests.
12:46There's pressure in this situation for GreatOcon and Shingo Takagi.
12:51You are not through unless you beat one another.
12:54You are not through unless you beat Zack Sabre Jr.
12:57and Ryo Goku Sumo Hall.
13:00Shingo's already done that in this tournament.
13:02GreatOcon did not manage to do so our opening night in Osaka.
13:08Great, ah, nice block there.
13:10You're going to try and put your grip back.
13:13GreatOcon stopped taking control,
13:15and now the jab's opening up with the left.
13:18Ah, that double hand palm strike, right arm plaguing Shingo.
13:21Wanted that bomber and instead slid right out.
13:23Yep, got that claw with the sleeper
13:25and drives right back into Shingo Takagi.
13:28Ah, can't take your time, though, with GreatOcon lurching at your back.
13:32Takagi!
13:34It's our semi-main event of the evening.
13:36No time limit as you said.
13:38Backpack dropped right down.
13:40A little bit of distance.
13:41Shingo Takagi certainly has the gas tank.
13:44We've often talked about it.
13:45Has won the longest match we've had so far in this tournament.
13:49Thanks, Chris Samson, for the stats.
13:5023.14 was that match against Tetsuya Naito on night one.
13:54And has wrestled in this tournament.
13:57Total of two hours, 26 minutes, and 17 seconds.
14:01That's the second longest in ring time of anyone in this tournament behind Yohji Suzuki.
14:18And a Tenryu style combination here out of Shingo Takagi.
14:24Short jab, chop to the chest.
14:26Short jab, chop to the chest.
14:30Takagi now keeps grabbing at that right arm.
14:32It's going to become a problem if Okan does not fall anytime soon.
14:37That dangerous driver Takagi is another step forward for Shingo.
14:40Yukon style.
14:41And this is definitely a Yukon style.
14:43Oh, it's not time yet.
14:50Lack of a time limit here tonight, Chris.
14:52Let's hold on a minute.
14:53Let's put a pin in that.
14:54Put a pin on this.
14:55Cover.
14:56And it's only two.
14:58Now it might be time.
15:00Is it?
15:04It is.
15:13Yeah.
15:14Tea time.
15:23Okan, come on.
15:32Okan, come on.
15:47Snapmare for Shingo.
15:48Off the ropes.
15:49Off the ropes.
15:50Wanted to slide in.
15:51And almost caught by that head and arm choke.
15:53Great Okan has used this to perfection throughout the tournament.
15:56Nice.
15:57Nice transition as well.
15:59Called the audible as Shingo got free.
16:06It's ten minutes that have passed here.
16:07I got to ask you, Chris.
16:08With this and our main event having no time limit associated with it.
16:11In this match, Shingo, Great Okan, who does that benefit?
16:15That's a good question.
16:16That's a good question.
16:17I would think generally Shingo has a better gas tank than Great Okan traditionally.
16:25It also hammers home the fact that Zack Sabre Jr. and David Finley are in a much more advantageous position.
16:31Not having to wrestle in this hard-fought singles environment tonight.
16:36As shoulders press right on the mat here.
16:39Taking right in and right down.
16:41Stays right on the top of Shingo Takagi as Great Okan.
16:46You have to know Zack Sabre Jr. is watching this matchup from the TMDK locker room alongside Hartley Jackson.
16:51They have to be talking game plan and strategy.
16:53Especially seeing what it's like when Great Okan does take it technical with someone on the mat.
16:57No one does that better in practice.
17:00Especially seeing what it's like when Great Okan does take it technical with someone on the mat.
17:03No one does that better in pro wrestling than Sabre Jr.
17:06Should the two meet, world might implode.
17:09I mean, you're exactly right.
17:10At the same time, Zack Sabre Jr. is someone who knows how to beat Great Okan.
17:14Has proven that he can beat Great Okan in this tournament perhaps.
17:23It's like watching Great Okan submission offense.
17:25Shingo Takagi submission defense.
17:29Whatever it may take for Sabre Jr. to scout out what's next in real dojo.
17:33Ah, but you can't plan for this, Chris.
17:35What you talked about.
17:36We talked earlier on about doing the work on the front end.
17:39Shingo Takagi is the back cover to get free.
17:46These dragon chops from Takagi.
17:50He's harking back to your favorite Tenzan in the style of those chops.
17:55Go, go, go!
17:57And follows right in.
17:59Don't turn your back on Takagi.
18:02For just a second, Great Okan struck that right to Shingo Takagi.
18:08He thought, I'm going to pull a Shingo.
18:10I'm going to try and lariat him.
18:12And when he went for the ropes, that's when distance was closed.
18:19Great Okan's got to get back on game plan.
18:21If I was with the United Empire in Great Okan's corner,
18:25that's what I would tell him.
18:26It was working great before.
18:28Get back on the right arm, Great Okan.
18:33Shingo really grasping on to that right forearm, though.
18:36The right shoulder all the way up has been targeted by Okan.
18:40Corner bomber with the right arm, though, going to pan out.
18:43But man, how much more damage has Takagi just done to that right arm?
18:47Exactly right.
18:48And of course, we've seen the right forearm injury.
18:51Yuya Uemura eliminated from competition in this tournament.
18:55Could be the same deal, Shingo.
18:58This is how Shingo advanced to this point in block A.
19:01And it's a superplex a long way down.
19:07Okan now panicked, grasping at that lower spine.
19:11Takagi might have to stay on the attack right there.
19:15And you know what would get that done.
19:17Last of the dragon made in Japan.
19:19Both set shockwaves down that spine.
19:31The pain, the pain in that right arm.
19:35Wouldn't this be absolutely gut-wrenching if Takagi could beat Okan,
19:40but still have to withdraw?
19:43Be an easy path for Zack Sabre Jr. into the finals.
19:47But Zack doesn't want that easy path.
19:53And Shingo Takagi cannot afford to give it.
19:59We're getting down to the wire here, folks.
20:01Here we go.
20:02Shingo Takagi.
20:05Could have been made in Japan in-bound.
20:14Oh no, oh no.
20:16The power just isn't there, Chris.
20:18The bull-headed stubbornness of Shingo Takagi.
20:22I must win on my own terms.
20:24Pumping bomber does not follow through.
20:27Even if that arm is broken to pieces, he'll keep swinging for the fences.
20:40Butcher-style chops here from Takagi.
20:42Great Okan fading down to the knees.
20:46Shingo, no, no, no.
20:47Cut the arm, did Okan.
20:53Oh, to separate the ligaments in Shingo Takagi's arm.
20:56He's got it, he's got it.
20:57This one might be done.
20:59Asami right there.
21:00Shingo's got to try and get his foot to the legs.
21:02Yes, very close to the legs, way away right here for Shingo Takagi.
21:06But yeah, turns right into Great Okan there.
21:09Look, I mean, Great Okan's got his hook over the neck.
21:13That was great application.
21:25It is 15 minutes that have passed in this match.
21:27And listen to this audience here tonight in Makuhari.
21:34You talked earlier in the tournament about a Hiroki Goto groundswell.
21:38We're hearing it for Great Okan.
21:43Oh.
21:44Oh, went down to the back of the knee.
21:46Nice defense.
21:49As much as we talk about the technical game for Okan,
21:52there is one for Takagi.
21:56A little faintly seen here.
21:57Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
21:59Cheerful.
22:04Grapple feet Okan in Shingo's feet.
22:08Moves through his neck to hit the canvas.
22:12Okay.
22:17And that shot to the neck does nothing good to the arm of Shingo Takagi.
22:23Great Okan posts up in the corner and got that pump kick down.
22:27Sends down the Rampage Dragon.
22:29This could be it right here.
22:30This is it.
22:31If he can land this, Okan is through to the semis.
22:36Very few have kicked out of the Eliminators throughout this entire tournament.
22:39And it might not be here.
22:41Oh, no.
22:43Shingo running through, pumping power.
22:45What a hit.
22:46No.
22:47He caught out.
22:48He caught out.
22:49He caught out.
22:50Oh.
22:52He got the jump out in Osaka, but not tonight.
22:55Not yet.
23:04Shingo Takagi has to continue pushing Great Okan outside of his comfort zone.
23:10Take him out of your wheelhouse, Takagi.
23:14Oh, northern shot.
23:17And Great Okan follows through with one of his arms.
23:23And it's going to be all here, Eliminator.
23:25No.
23:26Backslide down.
23:27Okan, shoulders down.
23:28Only two.
23:30Whoa.
23:40No.
23:41No more.
23:48This crowd here tonight in Chiba would have zero issue with either one of these men walking away with the win.
23:59Right now, it's looking like Shingo, though.
24:03It's looked like Shingo in the past.
24:05It's been Shingo in the past.
24:06Before Shingo went into this G-Rider loss to Brian Danielson, using those BCC-like elbows to wear down Great Okan.
24:16And that loss in the Owen Hart tournament for Shingo was a flip switch.
24:29Oh.
24:32Shingo singled for it.
24:33Great Okan caught it out.
24:37Oh.
24:40Oh!
24:42And it's a false crack from Great Okan.
24:44No, no, no, no, no.
24:45Takes it right down.
24:46Back to the technique.
24:47Back to the technique.
24:49Taking it right in on that right arm here, Chris.
24:52He's got a separate arm.
24:53He's got one.
24:56Fujimoto arm bar applied here from Great Okan.
24:59And Shingo has the power to the ropes.
25:02Okan won't let that happen.
25:04Transition's out.
25:07Shingo's trying to block it.
25:09But he hasn't got a grip.
25:10He's giving it up.
25:11Cross arm breaker.
25:17He's got a lead for it.
25:18Can Shingo put those on his back?
25:19And now he is.
25:20This could be it right here.
25:21Shingo may not give up.
25:23He's got to try and tap against the pressure any way he can.
25:26Now he does.
25:28Oh.
25:32Okan.
25:33Okan.
25:34Oh my God.
25:35What is this?
25:37No!
25:41A super eliminator turned into a heinous DDT by Shingo Takagi.
25:54Great Okan was almost made an elimination.
25:56But it is Shingo Takagi keeping this one alive for the time being.
26:04Shingo!
26:07Shingo!
26:09Shingo!
26:10Shingo!
26:1620 minutes on the clock.
26:17Has potential to be the longest match of this tournament by far.
26:20It might not be much longer though.
26:22No Takagi.
26:23If Okan has something to say.
26:25Nothing to say right now.
26:27German and Okan's up.
26:28A big bomber.
26:32No!
26:34Left side.
26:35Left side.
26:37Left side was an Okan style version of that pumping bomber.
26:41And it wasn't quite strong enough.
26:44If he could have his way at full speed.
26:46Full power would have been done.
26:49It might be academic.
26:51Shingo's got to close the deal right here.
26:53Now.
26:54On the shoulders.
26:55Last of the track guard.
26:59And Shingo Takagi.
27:01It is through to the 7th round of blocking.
27:18Many people are professional wrestling walker in their careers.
27:21They have their white whales.
27:32On August 17th.
27:34At the Ryogoku tournament.
27:37The first match of the semi-final.
27:41Takagi Shingo vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
28:01The big red dragon.
28:08I couldn't think of anybody having a more perfect game plan.
28:16And it's still not getting it done.
28:21It was a hell of a run for Great Okan.
28:23And that run was had.
28:24It did not lead him in to the semi-finals.
28:28The furthest Great Okan has made it by far.
28:30In G1 Climax before.
28:32What a loss for Okan.
28:34What a victory for Shingo Takagi.
28:36And I got to touch on this point right now while we have it.
28:38Shingo Takagi.
28:39That right arm so heavily damaged.
28:41You want to talk about a perfect game plan.
28:44It's being discussed right now in the TMDK locker room.
28:47Nobody better at the limb targeting aspect of this sport.
28:51Than Zack Sabre Jr.
28:53And it's Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi this Saturday at Ryogoku.
28:58You say what I think.
29:00I think you think the same.
29:02I might be saying it, Chris Charlton.
29:04Is he coming home?
29:05It might be.
29:06Coming home.
29:07Well, we won't know yet.
29:09Shingo Takagi will be coming home.
29:13For his 20th anniversary.
29:15And he might still be coming home as the G1 Climax 34 winner.
29:27Six men left in G1.
29:29Taken down to five.
29:31But five will soon come to four.
29:34Four will come to two.
29:35Those two will meet in the main event in Ryogoku Sunoha.
29:38We're going to take that five to four right now in our main event.
29:41Kanousuke Tsukesta.
29:42Second place in Block B.
29:44Takes on Yota Tsuji at third.
29:47It is one on one.
29:48It is to see who faces off against the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion,
29:53Damon Finley.
29:54But keep in mind, Chris, we'll talk about it as the match gets underway.
29:56Kanousuke Tsukesta.
29:57Far from 100% walking into our main event tonight.