New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax 31 returns after a few nights off for the 31st ever G1 Climax event to emanate from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The B Block returns for their third night of tournament action, headlined by Kazuchika Okada taking on CHAOS unit-mate and “King of COVID Korakuen” YOSHI-HASHI. The semi-main event will see Hiroshi Tanahashi taking on the increasingly vocal defender of The Bullet Club’s honor, Tama Tonga. The card is rounded out with a NEVER Openweight and Ring Of Honor TV Title match re-match with Jeff Cobb against Hirooki Goto, Chase Owens still looking for his first G1 points against SANADA, and Taichi looking to match his Dangerous Tekkers partner by going 3-0 to begin his G1 tournament as he takes on EVIL in the night’s opening match.
This, of course, isn’t the last you’ll hear from me for this year’s G1. In daily preview posts, I am dissecting each tournament matchup, including 2021 and recent singles performance, individual head-to-head histories, and miscellaneous applicable research. Round robin tournaments are great equalizers for data: each wrestler competes in the same schedule throughout the tournament by facing each other wrestler once. So, as the tournament goes on and data points become more relevant, I’ll be including some advanced metrics and probabilities for each card as well. I’ll also help to dissect the complicated tiebreakers and other tournament nuances as they come up. I’ll also be back tomorrow with a similar preview of B Block.
Of course, you can find interactive tables for NJPW’s 2021, detailed results and statistics of all 1576 G1 Climax matches to date, and This Year’s Tournament at SportOfProWrestling.com, and you can let me know what you find when you drill down by dropping me a line on Twitter @TheChrisSamsa.
NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night Six (B Block)
Date: September 29, 2021
City: Tokyo
Venue: Korakuen Hall
Time: 6:30pm JST
Watch: NJPWWorld (With Live English Commentary)
Local Time Conversions:
G1 Climax 31: B Block Results To Date
G1 Climax 31: B Block Table
B Block – G1 Climax Matches in Korakuen Hall
Main Event
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Kazuchika Okada [4] vs. YOSHI-HASHI [0]
Korakuen Hall, one of Japan’s most storied venues, has played host to 173 G1 Climax matches prior to this year’s slate and the building often hosts some of the hottest crowds of the tournament with main events that only the Korakuen faithful could love. September 29th should be no different. On paper, you see a main event of Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI, and most would think that this is a skippable card. There’s no way perennial underdog YOSHI-HASHI will defeat the resurgent and dominant Kazuchika Okada. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll realize that YOSHI-HASHI has the home field advantage here. Over the last 13 months, YOSHI-HASHI has won over Korakuen crowds time-and-time-again in NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship matches. YOSHI-HASHI won his first New Japan title in Korakuen Hall against a team that included Kazuchika Okada, so can he be the man who breaks Okada’s 16 match winning streak in Korakuen, not to mention Okada’s long-standing winning streak against YOSHI-HASHI.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
- Kazuchika Okada’s 14 singles victories in the last 365 days are tied with SANADA and KENTA for third most in NJPW.
- YOSHI-HASHI’s 10 singles losses in the last 365 days are tied with EVIL for second-most in NJPW.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- Interesting to note that YOSHI-HASHI actually has more overall victories on the year than Kazuchika Okada and a similar overall winning percentage. (.566 – Okada, .549 – YOSHI-HASHI).
Head To Head History
History in Korakuen Hall
- Kazuchika Okada enters his match with YOSHI-HASHI with a SIXTEEN singles match winning streak in Korakuen Hall dating back to December of 2013. His last loss here occurred in August of 2013 during G1 Climax 23 against Hirooki Goto.
- Okada is 25-9 overall in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 10-2 G1 Climax record.
- YOSHI-HASHI is 9-11 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 3-3 G1 Climax record.
- Since August of 2020, YOSHI-HASHI has won eight NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship Matches at Korakuen Hall. That includes the tournament final match against Kazuchika Okada, SHO, and Toru Yano.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
G1 Climax – All Time
- Okada’s 58 G1 Climax wins are seventh-most all-time, and fourth-most among this year’s field. If he keeps his typical pace, Okada has a very good chance of surpassing Naito and Goto for second all-time (Tanahashi-87, Naito-60, Goto-59).
- Only Kenny Omega (.690) and AJ Styles (.737) hold better all-time G1 Climax winning percentages than Kazuchika Okada (.682)
- This is Kazuchika Okada’s 10th consecutive G1 and his 10th overall.
- Kazuchika Okada won the G1 Climax tournament in 2012 and 2014 and he has not appeared in a G1 Final
- Okada has defeated every wrestler in the B block that is not a first-time match for him.
- Kazuchika Okada has been the IWGP Heavyweight Champion during five of the last eight G1 Climax tournaments.
- This year marks the first time that Kazuchika Okada has participated in consecutive G1 Climax tournaments without the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
- Kazuchika Okada holds the highest average points over the last five years of G1 competition at 12.6. He has not reached the finals during that time.
- Only Masahiro Chono (1994-2002) and Hiroshi Tanahashi (2007-2015) have won multiple tournaments at longer intervals than what would be Okada’s seven-year drought if he were to win this year’s tournament.
- Between 2014 and 2015, Kazuchika Okada won nine-straight G1 Climax matches, a streak that was finally broken by Hirooki Goto.
- Between 2018 and 2019, Kazuchika Okada went 13 straight G1 Climax matches without suffering a loss, though Tanahashi and Okada did go to a Time Limit Draw to end the 2018 tournament. This streak was finally broken when SANADA defeated Okada in the longest G1 Climax block match to render a decision.
- This is YOSHI-HASHI’s 5th G1 entry, his second consecutive.
- Among this year’s B-Block competitors, YOSHI-HASHI has only defeated SANADA, Chase Owens, and EVIL. His .100 winning percentage against B Block competitors is the worst in the tournament.
- YOSHI-HASHI has the third-worst all-time G1 Climax winning percentage among wrestlers with over 20 G1 Climax matches. Only Tomoaki Honma and Wataru Inoue are worse.
- YOSHI-HASHI is still seeking his first singles victory over six of his nine G1 Climax B Block competitors, including Okada.
Match Four
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi [2] vs. Tama Tonga [2]
Tama Tonga and Hiroshi Tanahashi both enter their Korakuen Hall match with two points, a 1-1 record in block competition to date. IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, Tanahashi enters as the favorite, but Tama Tonga certainly hasn’t forgotten their match in G1 Climax 26. Tama Tonga pulled off the upset in Fukushima in 2016, will he be able to deploy the same strategy in 2021 and continue his quest to defend the throne of The Bullet Club?
Recent History – 2021 Singles
- With a win in his match with Tama Tonga, Hiroshi Tanahashi will become tie Toru Yano and Kota Ibushi for the second-most singles victories in NJPW in 2021.
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
- Only three wrestlers have wrestled in more singles matches over the last year than Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 21: Shingo Takagi (27), Tetsuya Naito (26), and Kota Ibushi (24).
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
Head To Head History
History in Korakuen Hall
- Hiroshi Tanahashi is 43-26 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 10-4 record in G1 Climax matches.
- Tanahashi’s 3 hours, 28 minutes, and 14 seconds of total G1 Climax match length in Korakuen is fourth-most all time.
- Tama Tonga is 1-7 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 1-3 record in G1 Climax matches.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
G1 Climax – All Time
- This is Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 20th consecutive G1 and his 20th overall.
- Tanahashi’s 20th G1 ties him with Yuji Nagata for second-most G1 Climax tournaments. Hiroyoshi Tenzan holds the record with 21 tournaments.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 153 G1 Climax matches are the most all-time.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 40 hours, 59 minutes, and 26 seconds of total G1 Climax match time is the highest all time, and nearly ten hours longer than Yuji Nagata (30:59:56), who has amassed the second most G1 match length.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 11 point average over the last five tournaments is the second-highest average points per tournament, only behind Kazuchika Okada’s 12.6.
- Tanahashi is one of three three-time G1 Climax winners (Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan)
- Tanahashi has reached six G1 Finals, tied for the most all-time with Masahiro Chono.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 7 time limit draws in G1 competition are by far the most all-time. Kazuchika Okada’s 4 are second-most among competitors active in this year’s G1.
- Tanahashi has lost eight G1 matches by submission, most of this year’s competitors and third-most all time.
- Tanahashi is one of four B Block competitors with a historical winning percentage against his block opponents over .500.
- This is Tama Tonga’s fourth G1 Climax entry, and his first since 2018.
- Tama Tonga is seeking his first singles victory against five of the nine competitors in B Block.
- Tama Tonga’s 11 minute and 42 second average G1 match length is the lowest among this year’s B Block wrestlers.
Match Three
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Hirooki Goto [0] vs. Jeff Cobb [4]
If you look at historical G1 performance, you’d expect these roles to be reversed. Goto, a perennial G1 Climax contender, enters his match with Jeff Cobb at 0-2, while Cobb, in his third tournament after going 4-5 in the last two tournaments, enters at 2-0, dominating his first two matches. Goto and Cobb have quite a bit of history, having battled for the NEVER Openweight Championship and The Ring Of Honor Television Championship, the latter in this very building.
Goto holds the series against Cobb 2-1, but as the wrestlers are clearly on different trajectories, it will be fascinating to see if Goto can keep up with the rising United Empire muscle.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 180 Days Singles
- Hirooki Goto last won a singles match on March 5 when he defeated Taichi in the first round of this year’s New Japan Cup
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- Jeff Cobb’s +42 fall differential (winning falls minus losing falls) is the best in NJPW. Shingo Takagi is 2nd. Next best after them is at +24.
Head To Head History
History in Korakuen Hall
- This will be Hirooki Goto’s 19th G1 Climax match in Korakuen Hall. With this match, he will pass Tetsuya Naito for the second-most Korakuen Hall G1 Climax Matches (Toru Yano is first with 20).
- Hirooki Goto’s 4 hours, 26 minutes, and 38 seconds of total G1 Climax match length is second highest, just 23 minutes behind Tetsuya Naito.
- Hirooki Goto is 39-27 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 10-8 record in G1 Climax matches.
- Jeff Cobb is 2-1 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 1-1 record in G1 Climax matches.
- Jeff Cobb’s first singles match in Korakuen Hall was against Hirooki Goto when he defended his Ring Of Honor World Television Title against Hirooki Goto.
- Since August of 2020, Hirooki Goto has won eight NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship Matches at Korakuen Hall.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
G1 Climax – All Time
- Hirooki Goto boasts the third-most G1 Climax victories among this year’s G1 Climax competitors. Only Hiroshi Tanahashi (87) and Tetsuya Naito (60) have more G1 wins than Goto. With Naito surrendering all of the matches in this year’s tournament, Goto will very likely surpass him to regain second place on the active list.
- This is Hirooki Goto’s 14th consecutive G1 and 14th overall.
- Hirooki Goto has been to two G1 Climax finals, winning his first (2008) and losing the other (2016).
- Goto is one of four B Block competitors with a historical winning percentage against his block opponents over .500.
- Goto has averaged 9.2 points per year over the last five tournaments.
- Goto has the second-most G1 Climax losses among this year’s field with 54.
- Hirooki Goto’s 113 all-time G1 Climax matches are the sixth-most all-time. During this year’s tournament, Goto will pass Togi Makabe for fifth.
- This is Jeff Cobb’s 3rd consecutive G1 and his 3rd overall.
- Cobb has ended both of his previous G1 Climax tournaments with 8 points.
- Jeff Cobb’s 4 hours, 14 minutes and 41 seconds of Total G1 Climax match length is the lowest among B Block competitors who are not making their G1 Climax debut.
Match Two
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
SANADA [2] vs. Chase Owens [0]
SANADA and Chase Owens square off in a first time singles match as Owens continues to seek his first G1 Climax points.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
- Only Kota Ibushi and Shingo Takagi have more singles victories than SANADA over the last 365 days.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- This will be SANADA’s 100th match in NJPW this year.
- SANADA’s 27 hours, 47 minutes, and 4 seconds of Total Overall Match Length this year is the highest in NJPW. His 99 matches are also the most in NJPW this year.
Head To Head History
- This will the first singles match between SANADA and Chase Owens.
History in Korakuen Hall
- SANADA is 11-5 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall since joining the New Japan roster. Four of his five losses have occurred during the G1 Climax tournament, including a loss to YOSHI-HASHI last year, losses to Kota Ibushi and EVIL in 2019 and a loss to Minoru Suzuki in 2017.
- Chase Owens is 4-3 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall. He enters his match with SANADA on a three-match winning streak in Korakuen.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
G1 Climax – All Time
- This is SANADA’s 6th G1 Climax entry and his 6th overall.
- SANADA has first-time matches with Jeff Cobb and Chase Owens during this year’s tournament.
- SANADA reached the finals for the first time in last year’s tournament, ultimately losing to Kota Ibushi in the final match.
- SANADA has averaged 8.8 points in his first five G1 tournaments, topping out at 12 points during last year’s tournament.
- SANADA and Kazuchika Okada participated in the longest G1 Climax match to ever render a decision when SANADA defeated Kazuchika Okada in 29 minutes and 47 seconds during G1 Climax 29.
- This is Chase Owens first G1 Climax tournament.
- Seven of Owens’ nine G1 Climax block matches will be first-time matchups, including SANADA.
- Chase Owens is seeking his first singles victory against every single member of the B Block.
Match One
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Taichi [4] vs. EVIL [2]
Taichi looks to remain undefeated in the night’s opener against EVIL. Taichi has been giving maximum effort through the beginning of his tournament and it has paid dividends with victories over Hirooki Goto and SANADA. Taichi looks to add to his key tiebreakers with a victory over EVIL. EVIL will certainly have Dick Togo in tow, ready to strike when the opportunity rises, but the crafty veteran Taichi may be ready for such tactics, given his historically nefarious ways.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 180 Days Singles
- Among wrestlers with more than three singles matches in the last 6 months, Taichi, at 6-1, has the best winning percentage in NJPW at .857.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
Head To Head History
- This will be the first singles meeting between Taichi and EVIL.
History in Korakuen Hall
- Taichi, at 0-2 is the only wrestler not making his debut who has never won a G1 Climax match in Korakuen Hall.
- EVIL is 10-4 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall. All four of his singles losses in Korakuen have occurred during the G1 Climax tournament. He is 5-4 in the G1 Climax in Korakuen.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
G1 Climax – All Time
- This is Taichi’s 3rd consecutive G1 and 3rd overall.
- Taichi has ended both of his first two G1 tournaments with 8 points.
- Among B Block competitors, Taichi is still looking for his first singles victory over Kazuchika Okada, SANADA, Chase Owens, and EVIL.
- Taichi is one of four B Block competitors with a historical winning percentage against his block opponents of .500 or above.
- This is EVIL’s 6th consecutive G1 entry and 6th overall.
- EVIL has averaged 10 points through his first 5 G1 tournaments. That is third highest among B Block competitors (Okada, Tanahashi)
- YOSHI-HASHI is the only wrestler in the B Block that EVIL has a winning record against historically.
- EVIL matched his career-high with 12 points during last year’s G1 Climax.
- EVIL has defeated the IWGP Heavyweight Champion twice during the G1. In 2017, EVIL defeated Kazuchika Okada. In 2020, EVIL defeated Tetsuya Naito.
All Wrestlers – G1 Climax Matches in Korakuen Hall
