The B Block heads to the first ever G1 Climax card in Kochi in their sixth night of G1 competition. Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada look to continue separating themselves from the rest of the block while the rest of the block scratches and claws to stay within striking distance.
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.
Find interactive tables for NJPW’s 2021, detailed results and statistics of all 1581 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 Twelve (B Block)
Date: October 8, 2021
City: Kochi
Venue: Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium
Time: 7:00pm JST
Watch: NJPWWorld (With Live English Commentary)
Local Time Conversions:
G1 Climax 31: B Block Results To Date
G1 Climax 31: B Block Table
Main Event
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Kazuchika Okada [10] vs. Taichi [4]
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
- After Shingo Takagi’s 8 minute victory over Toru Yano, Kazuchika Okada’s 25:07 average match length is now trending towards being the longest in G1 Climax history. Tetsuya Naito’s 23:05 average from last year is the current record.
- Okada’s longest G1 average coming into G1 Climax 31 was 21:02 in G1 Climax 29.
- Kazuchika Okada’s 29 minute and 14 second win over SANADA was the fifth longest G1 Climax match ever to render a decision.
- During this year’s tournament, Kazuchika Okada has won the third and fifth longest G1 Climax matches to ever render a decision.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
- Kazuchika Okada’s 11 singles victories are the third-most in NJPW this year, tied with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano, behind Shingo Takagi and Kota Ibushi.
- Okada’s .786 Singles winning percentage is second best in NJPW. Only Will Ospreay’s .889 is better.
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 90 Days Singles
- Kazuchika Okada is an NJPW best 7-1 over the last 90 days. His only loss was at the hands of Jeff Cobb at the MetLife Dome.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
Head To Head History
- Since returning from excursion, Kazuchika Okada is 2-0 against Taichi, both of their matches occurred in 2020.
G1 Climax – All Time
- Okada’s 61 all-time G1 victories are fifth all time. With Okada’s next win, he will tie Shinsuke Nakamura for fourth-most all time.
- Kazuchika Okada’s .693 all-time G1 winning percentage is second best all-time 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 in 19 matches.
- Okada’s 26:00:30 of Total G1 Match Length is fifth highest, now just 41 minutes behind Tetsuya Naito for fourth.
- 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.
- This is Taichi’s 3rd consecutive G1 and 3rd overall.
- Taichi has ended both of his first two G1 tournaments with 8 points.
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
(W) 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
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
(L) 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
Match Five
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi [6] vs. EVIL [8]
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
Recent History – 2021 Singles
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 11 singles victories are the third-most in NJPW this year, tied with Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano, behind Shingo Takagi and Kota Ibushi.
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 90 Days Singles
- Only Shingo Takagi and Kazuchika Okada have more singles wins in the last 90 days than Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 6.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- EVIL’s 54 overall losses are second-most in NJPW in 2021. Only Yujiro Takahashi (60) has lost more overall matches than EVIL this year.
- EVIL’s 96 matches this year are fifth most in NJPW.
Head To Head History
- Hiroshi Tanahashi leads the all-time series with EVIL 3-2 with a 2-1 record in G1 Climax matches. Their series has been bookended by EVIL victories, one in the 2017 New Japan Cup and one in last year’s G1 Climax.
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 156 G1 Climax matches are the most all-time.
- Tanahashi’s 90 G1 Climax wins are the most all-time.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 41 hours, 50 minutes, and 17 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 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.
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
(W) 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
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
(L) 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
Match Four
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
SANADA [4] vs. Jeff Cobb [10]
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
- Jeff Cobb’s 13:44 average match length is the second shortest in the B Block.
- SANADA’s 22:13 average match length is the second longest in the B Block, but SANADA’s wins have been swift, his average winning match length is over 11 minutes shorter than his average loss.
- SANADA’s 29 minute and 14 second loss to Kazuchika Okada was the fifth longest G1 Climax match ever to render a decision.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
- SANADA’s 14 singles victories over the last 365 days are fifth most in NJPW.
Recent History – Last 90 Days Singles
- Jeff Cobb’s 6-1 record over the last 90 days is second best in NJPW. Only Kazuchika Okada’s 7-1 record is better.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- SANADA’s 102 matches in 2021 are the most in NJPW.
- Jeff Cobb’s 64 overall wins are second most in NJPW in 2021. Only the Great-O-Khan with 67 have more than Cobb.
- Cobb’s +45 fall differential is still the best in NJPW.
Head To Head History
- This will be the first singles match between SANADA and Jeff Cobb
G1 Climax – All Time
- 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 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, 57 minutes and 51 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
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
(W) 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
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
(L) 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 Three
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
Hirooki Goto [2] vs. Chase Owens [2]
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
- Chase Owens’ 10 minute and 58 second victory over Hiroshi Tanahashi was Tanahashi’s 7th shortest G1 Climax loss, his third shortest in the last 10 years.
- Chase Owens’ 12:09 average match length is the shortest in the B Block.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 180 Days Singles
- Hirooki Goto snapped a 7 match losing streak with his victory over YOSHI-HASHI at Korakuen Hall.
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
Head To Head History
- This will be the first singles match between Hirooki Goto and Chase Owens.
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 Kazuchika Okada (61) have more G1 wins than Goto.
- 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.
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
(W) 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
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
(W) 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
Match Two
G1 Climax 31 B Block Match
YOSHI-HASHI [2] vs. Tama Tonga [2]
G1 Climax 31 – Tournament To Date
- YOSHI-HASHI’s 19:22 average match length is the third longest in the B Block. His average winning match length (albeit one win) is the second highest.
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
- YOSHI-HASHI is tied with Yujiro Takahashi with the most singles losses in NJPW in the last 365 days.
Recent History – Last 180 Days Singles
Recent History – Last 90 Days Singles
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
- YOSHI-HASHI’s 16:41 overall total match length is the third highest in NJPW. Of course, many of those ring-minutes have occurred during NEVER Openweight Six-Man Championship Matches.
Head To Head History
- This will be the first singles match between YOSHI-HASHI and Tama Tonga
G1 Climax – All Time
- 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.
- 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 YOSHI-HASHI
- 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
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
(L) 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
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
(L) 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 One
El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita
Recent History – 2021 Singles
Recent History – Last 365 Days Singles
Recent History – 2021 Individual Overall
