The G1 Climax 28 tournament will go down in history as one of the most unique in the history of the event.
Hiroshi Tanahashi would walk away from the G1 with the briefcase this year. Leading up to his victory, however, there were several big moments in the tournament. NJPW counts down the top-5 in the video below:
Top 5 Heated Moments From the G1 Climax 28
5. Sanada defeats Toru Yano
Sanada found a unique way to defeat Toru Yano. The two wrestlers frequently like to tie their opponents up in knots but it would be Sanada who would gain the upper hand this year. He wrapped Yano’s hands around the guardrail with athletic tape and left Yano there to be counted out.
4. Kota Ibushi defeated Kenny Omega
Tomohiro Ishii was the first to defeat Kenny Omega in the G1 Climax this year. It was Omega’s loss to Kota Ibushi on the final night of the round-robin which cost him the block, however.
The two Golden Lovers teammates hadn’t found since they were back in DDT.
3. Tomohiro Ishii defeats Kenny Omega
Ishii and Omega have met 4 times in single’s action. They’ve each beaten the other twice. Ishii defeated Omega in the 1st round of the New Japan Cup in 2017 but then lost a single’s match to him 2 months later at Wrestling Dontaku.
Omega then defeated Ishii in the finals of the inaugural IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship tournament in Long Beach last year. Ishii then even the series between the two on August 4th when he defeated Omega in B Block action.
2. The Firing Squad Ejected
The Firing Squad spent the entire tournament interfering in matches, getting disqualified, and abusing referees. They were finally ejected from the building on the final night of the round-robin tournament.
NJPW President Harold Meij assured fans the Kota Ibushi vs Kenny Omega match would go on without interference and it did.
1. Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – Time Limit Draw
In the final match of the A Block, Tanahashi and Okada went to a time limit draw. Tanahashi only needed a draw to advance but Okada needed a win. Tanahashi will put his briefcase on the line against Okada at Destruction in Kobe on September 23rd.
