The B Block of G1 Climax 31 crosses the half way point with their fifth block match of the tournament, emanating from Korakuen Hall on October 4. One of Kazuchika Okada’s more recent rivalries reignites when he faces off with SANADA in a main event that could very well go the distance. The semi-main event will pit NEVER Openweight Six Man Champion team mates against each other as Hirooki Goto looks to score his first points of this year’s G1 Climax against YOSHI-HASHI. Jeff Cobb will look to stay undefeated in this year’s tournament as he faces Taichi in a NEVER Openweight re-match. Early in the card, Bullet Club – House of Torture leader EVIL will take on the man who is baiting Bullet Club leader, Jay White, back to japan when he does battle with Tama Tonga. And the night will open up with perennial G1 favorite, Hiroshi Tanahashi facing Chase Owens as Chase Owens continues to seek his first G1 Climax victory.
Below, you’ll find the statistics, information, and notes that I sent to the NJPW English Broadcast team for tonight’s event.
NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night Ten (B Block)
Date: October 4, 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 [8] vs. SANADA [4]
Recent History – 2021 Singles
- SANADA and Okada have logged almost exactly the same singles match length thus far in 2021. Less than three minutes separate them and they land fourth and fifth on the year in NJPW.
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
- Okada’s 15 singles victories and SANADA’s 14 singles victories are third and fourth most in NJPW over the last 365 days.
- SANADA’s 26 minute and 34 second average losing match length over the last year is second highest in NJPW.
- Kazuchika Okada’s 26 minute and 11 second average losing match length over the last year is third highest in NJPW.
Recent History – Last 180 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 90 Days Singles
- Only Shingo Takagi has more singles victories over the last 90 days than Kazuchika Okada’s 6.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- SANADA’s 101 matches are the most in NJPW this year.
- SANADA’s 28 hours, 24 minutes, and 38 seconds of Total Overall Match Length this year is the highest in NJPW.
Head To Head History
- Kazuchika Okada leads the all-time series with SANADA 7-1, including a 2-1 record in G1 Climax matches.
- In G1 Climax 29, SANADA defeated Kazuchika Okada in 29 minutes and 47 seconds, the longest G1 Climax match ever to render a decision.
- Four of the last five matches between Kazuchika Okada and SANADA have extended past the G1 Climax time limit of 30 minutes.
History in Korakuen Hall
- SANADA is 12-5 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. He defeated Chase Owens on September 29th here.
- Kazuchika Okada enters his match with SANADA with a SEVENTEEN 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 26-9 overall in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 11-2 G1 Climax record.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
- Through 4 matches, Kazuchika Okada leads the tournament with 1 hour, 36 minutes and 21 seconds of total match length.
- Okada’s 24 minute and 5 second Average Match Length is the longest in the B Block.
G1 Climax – All Time
- Okada’s 60 all-time G1 victories are tied with Tetsuya Naito for fifth all-time. Okada is 2 wins away from tying Shinsuke Nakamura for fourth.
- Kazuchika Okada’s .690 all-time G1 winning percentage is tied with Kenny Omega for the second best among wrestlers who have participated in 10 or more G1 Climax matches. AJ Styles leads with the best all-time record and a winning percentage at .737.
- Okada’s 25 hours, 31 minutes and 16 seconds of Total G1 Match Length is fifth highest, and less than 90 minutes behind Tetsuya Naito who is fourth.
- This is SANADA’s 6th G1 Climax entry and his 6th overall.
- 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.
- 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 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.
Individual G1 Climax Tournament Schedules
Kazuchika Okada
(W) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(W) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
(W) September 29, Korakuen Hall: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
(W) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hirooki Goto
October 4, Korakuen Hall: Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: Kazuchika Okada vs. Chase Owens
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga
October 20, Nippon Budokan: Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
SANADA
(W) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: SANADA vs. Tama Tonga
(L) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: SANADA vs. Taichi
(W) September 29, Korakuen Hall: SANADA vs. Chase Owens
(L) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: SANADA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
October 4, Korakuen Hall: SANADA vs. Kazuchika Okada
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: SANADA vs. Jeff Cobb
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto
October 20, Nippon Budokan: SANADA vs. EVIL
Match Four
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Hirooki Goto [0] vs. YOSHI-HASHI [2]
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
- YOSHI-HASHI’s 10 singles losses in the last 365 days are second-most in NJPW. Goto’s 9 are third-most.
Recent History – Last 180 Days Singles
- Hirooki Goto’s last singles victory occurred on March 5 when he defeated Taichi in the first round of the new Japan Cup.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
Head To Head History
- Including the tournament final, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI have won eight NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship matches in Korakuen Hall in the last year+.
History in Korakuen Hall
- YOSHI-HASHI is 9-12 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 3-4 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.
- This will be Hirooki Goto’s 20th G1 Climax match in Korakuen Hall. With his match last Wednesday, he passed Tetsuya Naito for the second-most Korakuen Hall G1 Climax Matches (Toru Yano is first, now with 21).
- Hirooki Goto’s 4 hours, 41 minutes, and 46 seconds of total G1 Climax match length is second highest, just 23 minutes behind Tetsuya Naito.
- Hirooki Goto is 39-28 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 10-9 record in G1 Climax matches.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
G1 Climax – All Time
- Hirooki Goto boasts the fourth-most G1 Climax victories among this year’s G1 Climax competitors. Only Hiroshi Tanahashi (87) and Tetsuya Naito (60), and Kazuchika Okada(60) have more G1 wins than Goto. With Naito surrendering all of the matches in this year’s tournament, Goto has a chance to surpass him to regain third 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.
- 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 Hirooki Goto.
Individual G1 Climax Tournament Schedules
Hirooki Goto
(L) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi
(L) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(L) September 29, Korakuen Hall: Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb
(L) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: Hirooki Goto vs. Kazuchika Okada
October 4, Korakuen Hall: Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: Hirooki Goto vs. Chase Owens
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA
October 20, Nippon Budokan: Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
YOSHI-HASHI
(L) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL
(L) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jeff Cobb
(L) September 29, Korakuen Hall: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kazuchika Okada
(W) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi
October 4, Korakuen Hall: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Hirooki Goto
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tama Tonga
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: YOSHI-HASHI vs. SANADA
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
October 20, Nippon Budokan: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Chase Owens
Match Three
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Taichi [4] vs. Jeff Cobb [8]
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- Jeff Cobb’s +44 Fall Differential (Winning Falls minus Losing Falls) is the highest in NJPW this year.
Head To Head History
- Jeff Cobb and Taichi have split their first three singles meetings and they have a 1-1 record in G1 Climax matches.
History in Korakuen Hall
- Taichi lost to EVIL at Korakuen Hall last Wednesday, bringing him to 0-3 in G1 matches at Korakuen Hall. He is the only wrestler not making his debut who has never won a G1 Climax match in Korakuen Hall.
- Jeff Cobb is 3-1 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 2-1 record in G1 Climax matches. Cobb defeated Hirooki Goto here last Wednesday.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
- Jeff Cobb has been dominant. He is undefeated and he holds the second-shortest average match length in the B-Block at 13 minutes and 22 seconds.
- Taichi’ a average winning match length of 21:53 is third longest in the B Block.
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 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, 29 minutes and 49 seconds of Total G1 Climax match length is the lowest among B Block competitors who are not making their G1 Climax debut.
Individual G1 Climax Tournament Schedules
Taichi
(W) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: Taichi vs. Hirooki Goto
(W) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: Taichi vs. SANADA
(L) September 29, Korakuen Hall: Taichi vs. EVIL
(L) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: Taichi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
October 4, Korakuen Hall: Taichi vs. Jeff Cobb
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: Taichi vs. Kazuchika Okada
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: Taichi vs. Tama Tonga
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: Taichi vs. Chase Owens
October 20, Nippon Budokan: Taichi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Jeff Cobb
(W) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: Jeff Cobb vs. Chase Owens
(W) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: Jeff Cobb vs. YOSHI-HASHI
(W) September 29, Korakuen Hall: Jeff Cobb vs. Hirooki Goto
(W) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: Jeff Cobb vs. Tama Tonga
October 4, Korakuen Hall: Jeff Cobb vs. Taichi
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: Jeff Cobb vs. SANADA
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: Jeff Cobb vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: Jeff Cobb vs. EVIL
October 20, Nippon Budokan: Jeff Cobb vs. Kazuchika Okada
Match Two
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
EVIL [6] vs. Tama Tonga [2]
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
Head To Head History
History in Korakuen Hall
- EVIL is 11-4 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall. All four of his singles losses in Korakuen have occurred during the G1 Climax tournament. He is 6-4 in the G1 Climax in Korakuen after defeating Taichi at Korakuen last Wednesday.
- Tama Tonga’s loss to Hiroshi Tanahashi on Wednesday brought him to 1-8 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 1-4 record in G1 Climax matches.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
G1 Climax – All Time
- 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.
- 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, including Cobb.
- Tama Tonga’s 11 minute and 1 second average G1 match length is the lowest among this year’s B Block wrestlers.
Individual G1 Climax Tournament Schedules
EVIL
(W) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: EVIL vs. YOSHI-HASHI
(L) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: EVIL vs. Kazuchika Okada
(W) September 29, Korakuen Hall: EVIL vs. Taichi
(W) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: EVIL vs. Chase Owens
October 4, Korakuen Hall: EVIL vs. Tama Tonga
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: EVIL vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: EVIL vs. Hirooki Goto
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: EVIL vs. Jeff Cobb
October 20, Nippon Budokan: EVIL vs. SANADA
Tama Tonga
(L) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: Tama Tonga vs. SANADA
(W) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: Tama Tonga vs. Chase Owens
(L) September 29, Korakuen Hall: Tama Tonga vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
(L) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: Tama Tonga vs. Jeff Cobb
October 4, Korakuen Hall: Tama Tonga vs. EVIL
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: Tama Tonga vs. YOSHI-HASHI
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: Tama Tonga vs. Taichi
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: Tama Tonga vs. Kazuchika Okada
October 20, Nippon Budokan: Tama Tonga vs. Hirooki Goto
Match One
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi [6] vs. Chase Owens [0]
Recent History – 2021 Singles
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 11 singles victories this year in NJPW are the third most, only behind Shingo Takagi and Kota Ibushi.
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 180 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 90 Days Singles
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
Head To Head History
- This will be the first singles match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Chase Owens.
History in Korakuen Hall
- Hiroshi Tanahashi is 44-26 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall, including a 11-4 record in G1 Climax matches.
- Tanahashi’s 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 29 seconds of total G1 Climax match length in Korakuen is fourth-most all time.
- Chase Owens is 4-4 in singles matches in Korakuen Hall. His loss to SANADA on Wednesday snapped a three-match winning streak at Korakuen.
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
- Chase Owens’ 12 minute and 27 second average match length is the shortest in the B Block.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 20 minute and 55 second average match length is the second-longest in the B Block. Okada at 24:05 is the longest
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 155 G1 Climax matches are the most all-time.
- Tanahashi’s 90 G1 Climax wins are the most all-time.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 41 hours, 39 minutes, and 19 seconds of total G1 Climax match time is the highest all time, and over 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, the most among 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 Chase Owens first G1 Climax tournament.
- Seven of Owens’ nine G1 Climax block matches will be first-time matchups, including Hiroshi Tanahashi.
- Chase Owens is seeking his first singles victory against every single member of the B Block.
Individual G1 Climax Tournament Schedules
Hiroshi Tanahashi
(L) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
(W) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
(W) September 29, Korakuen Hall: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tama Tonga
(W) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA
October 4, Korakuen Hall: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
October 20, Nippon Budokan: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi
Chase Owens
(L) September 19, EDION Arena Osaka: Chase Owens vs. Jeff Cobb
(L) September 24, Ota City General Gymnasium: Chase Owens vs. Tama Tonga
(L) September 29, Korakuen Hall: Chase Owens vs. SANADA
(L) October 1, Hamamatsu Arena: Chase Owens vs. EVIL
October 4, Korakuen Hall: Chase Owens vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
October 8, Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium: Chase Owens vs. Hirooki Goto
October 12, Xebio Arena Sendai: Chase Owens vs. Kazuchika Okada
October 14, Yamagata City General Sports Center: Chase Owens vs. Taichi
October 20, Nippon Budokan: Chase Owens vs. YOSHI-HASHI
