New Japan Pro Wrestling continued the 31st G1 Climax on Monday. The show kicked off with one of the biggest upsets in G1 Climax history, Bullet Club’s Chase Owens got his first ever G1 Climax victory against none other than Hiroshi Tanahashi. The win was not only important for being Chase’s first win in the tournament, it also puts the Texas Heavyweight Champion at the front of the line to challenge for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
I did it!!!!!! I am undefeated against The Ace Hiroshi Tanahashi!!! https://t.co/w6feVAzNf9
— chase owens (@realchaseowens) October 4, 2021
Owens was able to get the victory clean as a whistle, but not so for fellow Bullet Club member EVIL. Despite consistent sportsmanship in the many Bullet Club vs. Bullet Club matches this year, EVIL pulled out every dirty trick in the book to beat Tama Tonga. Eventually, EVIL had SHO turn out the lights long enough for Dick Togo to choke Tama with the garrote, followed by a low blow, and EVIL got the win with his STO of the same name.
Jeff Cobb crushed Taichi in an instant-classic. Cobb has been unstoppable throughout this tournament, and steamrolled through the IWGP Tag Team Champion. Cobb isn’t the only unbeaten titan at 10 points. Kazuchika Okada continued his unbeaten streak with a win over the near-constant thorn in his side, SANADA.
The match nearly went to the 30-min time limit, but Okada pulled out the win with less than a minute remaining. SANADA has had Okada’s number in previous tournaments, but The Rainmaker has been imbued with new motivation this year, and now is set for a collision with Jeff Cobb that is likely to determine the block winner.
SEE ALSO: G1 Climax Results (NIGHT 1) (NIGHT 2) (NIGHT 3) (NIGHT 4) (NIGHT 5) (NIGHTS 6 & 7) (NIGHTS 8& 9)
Plus NEVER 6-Man Tag Champs Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI had a tense battle. Goto got his first points of the tournament by putting down his plucky underdog partner. YOSHI-HASHI refused an offered handshake after the win.
Here are the full results:
10/4
NJPW G1 Climax 31
Night 10
Available on NJPWWorld.com
- B Block: Chase Owens (2) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (6) by pinfall via Package Piledriver. (10:58)
- B Block: EVIL (8) def. Tama Tonga (2) by pinfall via EVIL. (13:47)
- B Block: Jeff Cobb (10) def. Taichi (4) by pinfall via Tour of the Islands. (15:15)
- B Block: Hirooki Goto (2) def. YOSHI-HASHI (2) by pinfall via GTR. (16:57)
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada (10) def. SANADA (4) by pinfall via Rainmaker. (29:14)
The G1 Climax will continue on Oct. 7th at 5:30am ET on NJPWWorld.com
