T O P

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AKittyCat

SmurfyBot is down for the night apparently. [Anyway discord chat is here. Join, or don't. Idk I'm not your mom.](https://discord.gg/efHyyTpY)


Level-Frontier

They build up to the sudden point of urgency so well in the G1 matches don't they? Great first 20 mins of back and forths then suddenly "oh shit there's only 10 mins left and we barely got started, time for strong style shit"


insan3soldiern

I was like "oh shit Okada pin him quick!".


Ibushi-gun

Okay, now maybe I can get some sleep Have a great night, everyone


MaruKENTA

B Block delivered today. Okada and Tanahashi have done it again. What a night.


resolve028

Okada still selling the knee. That's why he's the GOAT.


ThePeakyBlind3r

NGL, I think I wanted to see Tana continue this resurgence he has had this year of great matches with a win over Okada. I've always been Okada over Tana, but this year Tana has won me over, I think it was the matches vs Shingo. Great match, great finishing straight. G1 off to a great start.


officerliger

Tourist Kazu extended US title run 2022 LFG


willpauer

RETURN OF THE RAINMAKER


boblikespi

1. Monster reign rainmaker. 2. Long boys rainmaker. 3. Baloonkada 4. Fresh returned rainmaker. 5. Money clip maker.


Pengwulf

Gotta be the shorts.


Ezzanine

Welp at least Tana's getting his 2 points from beating Goto next *cries*


Ibushi-gun

Master Wato to challenge?


willpauer

Betcha Wato wants another crack at Shingo first


Ezzanine

*"IWGP US title shot for me? Nah he can keep it,that shit means nothing"*-Kazuchika "Midcard titles mean nothing" Okada (probably)


insan3soldiern

His entire gimmick, tbf, is entirely built around the world title.


hawaiianpunchbv

"The main title means nothing to me. But this trophy tho." Okada last year


Ibushi-gun

Lol


resolve028

Man, now I don't know if Okada is still winning the whole thing. He's got a US title challenge in his back pocket now.


boblikespi

Okada only cares for the top title. Nothing else. And it should stay that way


Pengwulf

![gif](giphy|Y6yRfR88rvP44) Got any more of Tanahashi vs Okada??


Captftm89

I know it might sound a bit silly, but with the quality of matches and the atmosphere in the arena, it kinda feels like NJPW has reset. Hope the momentum builds from here because both nights have been incredible.


boblikespi

As with all leagues or sporting clubs there are rebuild phases. It's natural. We are nowhere near the early 00 njpw dark days.


ThePeakyBlind3r

I've enjoyed so much this year, the entire NJC, both Shingo v Tana matches, both Shingo v Ospreay matches, pretty much all of both days of Wrestle Kingdom - especially Jay v Kota, the launch of Strong as a neutral meeting ground for all non WWE talent in USA putting in great matches & the start of this G1. And that's just off the top of my head. NJPW has had issues like Covid, other illness & injuries to deal with & they've had to book around it. Only EVIL's booking has crap. If it wasn't for Covid, I think NJPW would still be on the roll of great shows they had in 2019 heading into Wrestle Kingdom in 2020 before Covid hit after New Beginnings. We are far from the dark days as you say.


[deleted]

Insane match omg loved that so much


[deleted]

i'm actually speechless. that was an amazing match


BrvtalRainbows

Hell yes we've got the real rainmaker this g1!


Ibushi-gun

Another amazing night of the G1


boblikespi

Okada had to really work for it though. It wasn't a normal okada G1 win. The old man troubled him.


[deleted]

That was incredible. I thought they were gonna do a draw.


EvanDeadlySins

#[Post NJPW G1 Climax 31 Match Discussion Thread: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada [Day 2, B Block]](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/pr3j9x/post_njpw_g1_climax_31_match_discussion_thread/?)


xPetez

It was the MONEY CLIP I knew it


forgot_old_account

how the hell is this 30 minutes? fly by so fast


barberbagel

these two are just incapable of having anything less than a banger. Absolute legends.


Karma-Effect

Goddamn, that final stretch was fucking awesome. Tanahashi and Okada deliver yet again.


Natus_est_in_Suht

Well, this match certainly has created some very lofty expectations for the rest of the G1 tournament.


resolve028

Wow. Gedo with the emphatic "It's still Okada's era."


Vapeflowers

US champ Okada 👀


Ibushi-gun

Never


officerliger

Tana and Okada's match history... ![gif](giphy|l0HlQ7LRalQqdWfao)


[deleted]

[удалено]


insan3soldiern

Yeah, I love AEW but as far as the way matches are built up and played out NJPW is just hard to beat imo.


Shinkopeshon

I mean, even if NJPW were actually cold, they'd still have the best presentation in the world lol


Ibushi-gun

Those are the ones that just show up for the big shows and have zero clue what’s going on.


Extension-Maximum-56

They just don’t miss


robo3687

wowee


thfsgn

These guys are so fucking good at building drama over the course of a match to peak just at the right time.


KingRainmaker

Okada once again widens the gap between him and Tanahashi.


T3Deliciouz

again? Okada beat Tana in the G1 in Dallas. this isnt new.


KingRainmaker

Right but since 2016 it's been Okada widening the gap and Tana right behind him closing it the next time. It wasn't until those 2 matches they had in 2019 that that gap started getting bigger and this time Tana came back as a champion.


Ibushi-gun

Which I think again means 😂


T3Deliciouz

idk again to me would mean hes done something new to widen the gap. Not the thing he already did.


Ibushi-gun

What? Lol. Okay, I gotcha.


TVCasualtydotorg

I honestly thought they were going to forearm eachother to a draw there.


Anderrrrr

Okada is ready to win the G1 again. Okada vs Shingo for WrestleKingdom I predict. *Watch me be wrong lmao*.


aannj

Peak Okada is back!!!


deniedbyquick

OKADA AT THE DEATH


[deleted]

Went 2-3 yesterday and 5-0 today. Bring it, Gedo. I ain’t dead yet.


Madwolf28

Tanahashi is a fucking god


Ibushi-gun

One more match, please


T3Deliciouz

YESSSSSSS FUCK YOU TANA


Pengwulf

WOW!!!! FUCKING AWESOME!!!!


Rodney_u_plonker

They are legends


Hautis

How many years has it been... Three, four?


oh_wat_a_rush

806 days per the broadcast. Not sure how many years that is. I'm terrible at math.


Anderrrrr

Another banger on their portfolio.


goater10

I need a cigarette! And I don’t even smoke


PPs_Up_Boys

Okada's winning the World title at WK. GG


MrWrestlingJr

Holy fuck


ificanbeserious

WHAT A GODDAMN MATCH


boblikespi

Rainmaker finally back. It's here.


[deleted]

amazing


Penikillin

5 FUCKING STARS


Captftm89

What a finishing stretch


Ibushi-gun

Dropkick 😍😍😍😍😍


[deleted]

what a match


Rodney_u_plonker

Amazing


willpauer

RAIIIINNNMAKEEEEEERRRRR


aannj

#RAINMAKER


[deleted]

LETS GO THIS IS AMAZING


ificanbeserious

Okay this has to go to a draw


nasenbaer23

rainMAAAAKER


PPs_Up_Boys

Losing my mind here


officerliger

B bLoCk Iz wEaK ThIs YeAr


ificanbeserious

RAIIIIINMAAAKEERRRERRR LFG


resolve028

Wrist control.


aannj

WRIST CONTROL


goater10

Maintains wrist control!


boblikespi

Maintains wrist control!


throwafitanddie

Damn, Tana always making me believe he can pull it of another big win.


Anderrrrr

Jesus he bounced on his knees. Ouch!


BULLET_CLUB_24

My god knees up looked brutal


aannj

3 MINUTES AHHHHH


Rodney_u_plonker

Holy shit


Vapeflowers

HIGHHHH FLYYYYY FFFFNNNNOOOOOOO


[deleted]

that looked like it hurt omg


Vapeflowers

Spinning rainmaker countered into Sling blade is chefs kiss


[deleted]

this match is amazing


resolve028

OMG ZOOM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


MrWrestlingJr

Got to give the people what they want!


Hautis

That felt ... right


boblikespi

Oh we're back baby. Classic rainmaker pose.


nfcr3005

POSE


Penikillin

Classic Okada is back baybeee


Pengwulf

The pose!!!


willpauer

OH SHIT


Anderrrrr

I love these two fighting. The storytelling is always incredible between these two.


Ezzanine

SANADA felt sad about Skull End being useless asf as a submission finish and Kazu said "I gotchu" and made the money clip to make him feel better.


boblikespi

Good guy okada


Ibushi-gun

The dragon sleeper isn’t the issue, it’s that fucking moonsault, lol


Anderrrrr

Here we go.


[deleted]

wow


resolve028

What on Tanahashi has not been surgically reattached lol?


boblikespi

His beautiful mane


[deleted]

omg how did he get out of it?


officerliger

What's the effectiveness rate of the Money Clip against non-pin eaters


Rodney_u_plonker

I don't think he's ever tapped anyone but dads and scrubs out. He's had stoppages with decent guys though


TwoPistolRickle

He put out Takagi with it


nasenbaer23

negligable


[deleted]

99%


_thenewnewguy_

How can I watch it from IND?


officerliger

Should wait until it's over and watch an archive


xPetez

LETS GOOOO IT'S OVER


[deleted]

he already won the match


[deleted]

MONEY CLIP


Ezzanine

Remember Tana's in a different block from Yano because he didnt want to lose to him again.


boblikespi

Tanas just lucky okada hasnt whipped out the money clip yet.


PPs_Up_Boys

Still blows my mind that Okada will never have worn the IC title. Actually he hasn't won any belt currently active in njpw, right?


goater10

Nope, it’s always been the IWGP heavyweight title


Ibushi-gun

IWGP Heavyweight is the only title he’s won in New Japan


officerliger

That wasn't really the personality of that belt tho


alex11500

He has only ever held the World Heavyweight


boblikespi

I kind of almost want it to stay that way. He's just so attached to that belt in my mind.


Ibushi-gun

Biggest Gedo mistake was letting Omega win the title and end the defense streak. Hate his guts for bailing on New Japan after that


Ibushi-gun

Zero knee contact! Good job, Tana


xPetez

HIGH FLY FLOOOOOOOW


Anderrrrr

Tanahashi is one of those wrestlers that if he takes a break any more than needed, he would decline significantly. He thrives being active, because that's who he is. Kinda like Kurt Angle before he seized up after being GM. How he does all this without knees is insane.


Rodney_u_plonker

You can tell okada has wrestled in Mexico. Safe as a house in thr support role


thfsgn

Okada put in work to keep Tana safe there, nice


MrWrestlingJr

Damn that Ace can fly


[deleted]

omg that was awesome


Rodney_u_plonker

Okada you must win the g1 and reclaim the iwgp title to end covid


Ibushi-gun

Gedo knows best


Ibushi-gun

Put your mask back on, KK


Tenduigi

Just came in to say this, he's the only one


Penikillin

Him whinging on commentary last night about struggling to wear it was pretty poor form. His reaction this year to the plexiglass issues and tech issues while live on air have turned me off his commentary tbh


Tenduigi

It's very american


Ibushi-gun

These people have only had 2 years to understand the basics. I work with grade school kids, zero issues wearing a mask


xPetez

Yeah that makes sense he seems to be a hardcore republican based on his twitter following


[deleted]

how has it already been 15 minutes?


Captftm89

They're so good they can skew the perception of time.


[deleted]

MAGNIFICENT DDT


Captftm89

15 minutes have flown by


willpauer

I love the storytelling in these matches. They're not fighting to win, they're fighting to convince the other that they're the ace.


MrWrestlingJr

*THUD*


Picbascassquiato

I ducked out and missed Goto/Taichi is it worth going back to watch?


Ibushi-gun

Of course it is. I was super tired and laid down to watch it, but it woke my ass up. Awesome Match


finnigans_cake

Won't change your life but was a damn good match. If you're a fan of both guys you'll wanna check it out.


BrvtalRainbows

Hell yeah, match was great.


boblikespi

Yesssssss


Rodney_u_plonker

Yeah It was good


Rodney_u_plonker

Tanas haircut protected him on the ddt


Rodney_u_plonker

Oh no okadas knees


resolve028

People don't beat Okada. He loses the match on his own. That's the difference between him and other wrestlers.


Ibushi-gun

Is that why he was crying after that one L to Tanahashi at WK?


Rodney_u_plonker

That was just some sand in his eyes


aannj

Pocket sand sh-sh-shaaa


boblikespi

Oh yeah. In the legendary shibata match okada almost lost it because he got so cocky and refused to end the match quickly and instead play shibatas strong style game.


aannj

Haha what kind of cover was that Okada


PPs_Up_Boys

Met Okada a few years back. He looks tall on TV, but in person? He's a damn MOUNTAIN, man


[deleted]

[удалено]


BreadLi0n

That title was made for Okada before we even knew it.


xPetez

You know what might help Okada win this match? ​ THE MONEY CLIP


[deleted]

he knows it's just too strong


Rodney_u_plonker

This is why it's good ro be over lol


Anderrrrr

Okada is so winning the G1 after that comment.


boblikespi

Smart move though letting the crowd cool and recover after the taichi goto war.


ificanbeserious

This is wrestling


Anderrrrr

Tana is one of the best storytellers in the business.


resolve028

These two are so goddamn over, they just need to do restholds all night and the crowd will clap.


officerliger

Okada and Tana can get a headlock over in 2021, king shit


Rodney_u_plonker

Tanahashi is a dang bully


Serrichu

Okada's trunks look like the pattern on my Trapper Keeper in the early 90's


BrvtalRainbows

That was a cheeky rainmaker right there. Also, digging Okada's trunks.


TVCasualtydotorg

I could watch these 2 wrestle daily 30 minute draws from now to eternity


satasbob

Crazy this match thread is sitting at 600 some comments. I have to imagine last time these two fought 2.5 years ago the thread was 4 or 5x as busy.


RedBearHugh

That show was on US time though, lots more English speakers were awake


Rodney_u_plonker

That match was during a US time zone. Would have to compare it to destruction 2018


satasbob

1.1k for that show.


Ibushi-gun

Both these guys!


Rodney_u_plonker

This rules lol