NJPW G1 Climax Elite 8 Now Set

The last 8 men left standing in the NJPW G1 Climax are now known.

The G1 Climax is the most gruelling annual tournament in all of wrestling and now eight NJPW stars have reason to celebrate after making it through their blocks to complete the Elite 8.

Block A was won by reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada who was the only competitor to emerge from the block stage with a perfect 7-0 record and 14 points. Finishing six points behind Sanada was Hikuleo who also moves on to the next round.

Kazuchika Okada won block B with 12 points and his only loss so far came against Will Ospreay. Ospreay also qualified from the block in second place despite losses to Taichi and Tanga Loa. Block C proved fruitful for Bullet Club as David Finlay and EVIL both qualified on 10 points with Finlay topping the group due to him defeating EVIL in the tournament.

Block D was the last to be decided and now following a win over Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito has qualified in first place ahead of Zack Sabre Jr. who also defeated Hirooki Goto. Much like block C, the top two finished on 10 points but Naito tops the group due to already defeating Sabre Jr.

Which NJPW stars will face off in the Elite 8?

There will be a battle between former IWGP Tag Team Champions in Funabashi Arena on August 10th as Sanada clashes with EVIL for a place in the semi-finals. Kazuchika Okada will take on Zack Sabre Jr. while one non-Japanese star is guaranteed a semi-final place as David Finlay meets Will Ospreay.

The last quarter-final bout pits Tetsuya Naito against Hikuleo. The semi-finals take place on the 12th of August at Ryogoku Sumo Hall and the G1 Climax 33 final takes place one night later in the same venue as NJPW’s annual showpiece tournament comes to an end.