wrestling / TV Reports
Sambus’ NJPW G1 Climax 36 Night One Review 07.11.26
Image Credit: NJPW
Loading...Helloooo 411! It is G1 season for New Japan Pro Wrestling, which means it’s time for Theo Sambus to emerge from hibernation for the duration of the tournament. Yes, I shall be providing coverage here shortly after each event (and you’ll have plenty of options for the G1 as our very own Kevin Pantoja will also be providing reviews), with a potential for live coverage of the G1 Climax Finals. We’ll see how it goes! Anyway, it’s great to be back in the reviewing saddle, so let’s head to Chicago for our blockbuster first night, featuring both A Block and B Block matches.
Location: Chicago, IL
Venue: NOW Arena
Commentators: Walker Stewart & Chris Charlton
[B Block] Aaron Wolf (0) vs HENARE (0)
Aaron Wolf is making his G1 debut here in his debut year of pro wrestling – let’s see how he fares. HENARE takes Wolf to the floor with a big elbow, and they get into a strikefest around the ringside area. Back in the ring, HENARE delivers some lariats but Wolf won’t go down. Uranage from Wolf takes HENARE off guard! Wolf continues the assault with a corner clothesline, suplex and an elbow drop for 2. Spinning wheel kick knocks Wolf down. HENARE goes for a spear but Wolf catches him and puts a stop to that. Strikes exchanged, HENARE locks the arms for a Full Nelson but Wolf escapes with some judo throws. Angle Slam attempt is blocked, HENARE interlocks the fingers again with the Full Nelson applied, but Wolf reaches the ropes. Powerslam from Aaron Wolf, and both men are down on the mat. Reverse Angle Slam is attempted, HENARE again escapes, and the two men trade chops. Standing hook kick from HENARE, headbutt from Wolf!! But you don’t headbutt HENARE, he no-sells it. HENARE runs at him, Wolf muscles him up for the Angle Slam! Follows it up with the Reverse Angle Slam! 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Aaron Wolf
Time: 8:59
Rating: **3/4 – You don’t want to overexpose Wolf at this stage, so having shorter matches like this where he can get his stuff in while continuing to learn and grow is a smart use of him. Judging by this performance, he’s certainly ready for this opportunity. A fine start here.
[A Block] Shingo Takagi vs Jake Lee
Something seems to have gone amiss with the English commentary for some reason, I’ve only got the option for Japanese in this match? Old school. Shoulder blocks from Shingo take Lee down and to the outside, where Shingo follows him and whips him into the guard rail. Lee is really pushing the clowning as he seems to be getting a good response from the crowd with it. Back suplex and a cover, Shingo kicks out at 2. Shingo wakes himself up and they get into a strike exchange before Lee applies a front chancery. Shingo is draped over the top rope, and a knee lift knocks him to the floor. Lee tries a running kick, Shingo catches it and pulls him off the apron, then delivers a Death Valley Driver! Back in the ring, a superplex (almost a brainbuster) connects, cover, 1, 2, NO. It’s SHINGO TIME! Made in Japan attempt, no, Lee with a shot to the gut, running PK! Chokeslam attempted, Shingo fights out of it, running boot to the face is caught in the corner. But Lee fires off a German suplex, only for Shingo to come back with a capture lariat into a pin attempt for 2. Last of the Dragon! 1, 2, NO! Goes for another, blocked. Throat thrust, headbutt. Lee misses the FBS, half nelson suplex! But Lee follows up with the Face Break Shot, 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Jake Lee
Time: 10:13
Rating: *** – I’m not sold on Lee’s clowning character but it sets him apart from being just another generic guy, even if that kind of thing has been done countless times before. Good match, as Shingo is basically allergic to having anything subpar.
[B Block] Ren Narita vs OSKAR
OSKAR’s been killing it in the tag division so I am stoked to see how he does in his first G1. Narita attacks before the bell, going for the leg to try and knock the big man down. He wraps the leg around the ringpost a couple of times, and as OSKAR gets back into it, we see Narita trying to grab something from under the ring, which he fails to do. Big boot on the outside misses, and Narita takes the opportunity to wrench on the leg. Steel chairshot to the knee, ah so we’re still getting House of Torture shenanigans I see? OSKAR claws his way back into the ring to beat the count, and Narita applies a figure four, but OSKAR reaches the ropes. Narita shoves the ref in front of OSKAR, then attacks the knee once more, but OSKAR manages to launch him overhead with a sky-high back body drop. Body slam attempt but OSKAR can’t get him up with the injured leg. Finally manages it, slaps some feeling back into the leg but he misses the leg drop, and Narita immediately locks in a stump puller. He tries to smash the knee into the ground but OSKAR kicks him away. Once more, chopblock to the back of the leg takes OSKAR off his feet. Haha crowd is chanting ‘House of Bullshit’. Huge chop from OSKAR takes Ren down. Guillotine from Narita catches OSKAR off guard. OSKAR to his feet, front chancery applied by Narita but OSKAR works out of it and locks in a sleeper. Narita kicks back at the leg to break it. Berlin Fall countered into another stump puller, twists the legs up, OSKAR still reaches the ropes. Narita up top, dives right into a Berlin Fall attempt but it’s blocked, only for OSKAR to lock in the nightmare sleeper once more. And Narita is out!
Winner: OSKAR
Time: 9:34
Rating: *** – HoT BS was kept to a minimum, so this was one of the more enjoyable Narita matches I’ve seen in a while, no doubt helped by a great performance from OSKAR. I always appreciate solid limbwork, and they kept the focus on OSKAR’s legs, which he sold well. Not sure if this would count as an upset, but it’s cool to see the two G1 newbies win in their first matches.
[A Block] Yuto-Ice vs Great-O-Khan
Another G1 debut, this time for Yuto-Ice. GOK stomps on the foot of Yuto-Ice, who follows up with a big boot. Stomps in the corner, Yuto-Ice sets him up for a running attack but GOK rolls to the floor. O-Khan grabs a steel chair and bounces it off the back of Yuto-Ice. He grabs a ringside chair and places Yuto-Ice’s head in it, tees it up and SMACKS another chair right into him. O-Khan toys with his opponent back in the ring, paintbrushing his head with his boot. Mongolian chops keep Yuto-Ice on the mat, and O-Khan spits at him now, which fires Yuto-Ice up. GOK welcomes some strikes but trips him up and Yuto-Ice falls flat on his face. Yuto-Ice gets back into it with a hair pull, some kicks, but GOK bites the forehead. Kick to the gut, more in the corner now, and Yuto-Ice has him set up once more. Bomboclat knee strike, 1, 2, NO. Another kick is caught, GOK bites him once more, misses a pump kick, but a roundhouse kick from Yuto-Ice knocks GOK down. Running PK, 1, 2, shoulder up. Another roundhouse misses, low blow by O-Khan with the referee out of position, and the Railgun connects. 1, 2, NOOO! Yuto-Ice is still in this one. Straight right hand from O-Khan, claw applied as GOK bounces his head repeatedly into the canvas. Yuto-Ice kicks his way out of an Eliminator attempt. Cruella knee strike! 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Yuto-Ice
Time: 11:10
Rating: **3/4 – And that’s it, 3 for 3 with G1 debuts giving favorable results. Yuto-Ice is pretty over, and so far I am enjoying this push for the new blood; the G1 should absolutely be about establishing bona fide stars, and this is a great first-footing on that path. Decent match without being too memorable, save for Yuto-Ice kicking out of the Railgun.
[B Block] Shota Umino vs Zack Sabre Jr
A Wrestle Kingdom rematch here. Quick work early on, reversing each other’s attempt, until Umino catches ZSJ with a basement dropkick to the knee. Neck crank from Sabre Jr turns the momentum. Uppercuts in the corner, Sabre Jr applies a hammerlock and then ties up the legs, transitioning into a bow and arrow. Umino comes back with a dropkick as the announcers make the 5-minutes elapsed announcement….which they haven’t done for the other matches as of yet? Draw incoming? Umino fires off some elbows in the corner. Fisherman’s suplex with a bridge, 1, 2, ZSJ kicks out. Drop toe hold into the middle rope, and Umino delivers the leaping DDT onto the apron, Zack SPIKING on his head there. Jackknife-style powerbomb from Umino back in the ring, 1, 2, no. They work up on the turnbuckles, and ZSJ applies a modified octopus stretch, before delivering a sunset bomb! PK is caught, and Umino unleashes a huge elbow strike. PK connects this time, but Umino comes right back with a tornado DDT. Second Chapter is reversed, and Sabre Jr locks in an armbar. Transitions to the other side, wrenching both arms back, wrist being twisted too. Crucifix submission now but Umino reaches a foot to the ropes. Elbow bent back, ZSJ goes to stomp it, doesn’t hit flush. Umino comes back with a SHOTA DRIVER! Both men back to their feet, rising knee in the corner from Umino, and a strike knee connects, 1, 2, NO. ZSJ kicks a lariat away, Pele kick to the arm now, and the PK connects. HUGE lariat from Umino, but Sabre Jr with a ZACK DRIVER out of nowhere, 1, 2, NOOO! Zack looks for it again, Umino tries to roll him up but Zack rolls through into a rear naked choke. ZACK DRIVER connects once more, 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr
Time: 16:10
Rating: **** – Our first great match of the G1, with both men on absolute top form. Umino looked driven and energized, Sabre Jr hit that sweet spot between focusing on the submissions and firing off bombs to catch Umino off guard, and it resulted in an exciting, pacey, back and forth contest.
[A Block] Hirooki Goto vs SANADA
What on EARTH is SANADA wearing?!! Golden mirrored gear, with a hat that is honestly almost as big as he is. Wild. SANADA offers a handshake, Goto accepts, and SANADA cheapshots with a kick to the leg. Hip toss from Goto, basement dropkick in return from SANADA. They spill to the outside, where SANADA wraps the leg of Goto round the guard railing and kicks it. SANADA gets Goto in the Paradise Lock and hits the dropkick to the ass. 1, 2, no. Spinning wheel kick in the corner and a back suplex from Goto, covers, 1, 2, no. Goto tries to get him on his shoulders, denied, another basement dropkick from SANADA, followed by an ushigoroshi from SANADA! How dare he!? Back suplex on the apron, and SANADA drapes Goto over the edge, whipping off a Magic Screw to the floor. Goto beats the count at 18 to get back in the ring. Another Magic Screw delivered, cover, 1, 2, no. SANADA up top, moonsault misses but he lands on his feet. Goto with his own ushigoroshi now to turn the tide, but he can’t cover. Skull End locked in, Goto counters, but SANADA comes back with a shining wizard. Reverse GTR, lariat by Goto, and both men are down. Skull End applied once more, again Goto counters out of it, moonsault from SANADA into the Skull End! Body scissors applied too, Goto tries fighting back. Moonsault connects, cover, 1, 2, NO. Waist lock from Goto, SANADA shrugs him off, and Goto comes right back with the GTW! GTR reversed into a backslide and a shining wizard, SANADA can’t capitalize though. SANADA with a roll through and sits out into a cover for 2. Goto has a Skull End of his own applied, and then delivers the GTR! 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Hirooki Goto
Time: 12:03
Rating: ***1/4 – So SANADA has the big return but then goes on a series of losses? Any sort of momentum is gone, but that’s fine to be honest – Goto always goes into G1 Mode and puts on some bangers in the tournament, so I’m fine with him building a head of steam here. Enjoyable counter wrestling from two guys that know each other well.
[B Block] Yuya Uemura vs Callum Newman
Newman spits at Uemura before the bell and we’re off to a hot start with both men coming to blows. Arm drags from Uemura, Newman misses a stomp, and Uemura locks in an armbar. Newman has a taped up shoulder after suffering a recent injury, only being cleared to compete this past Monday. Uemura wrenches on the affected arm. They battle to the outside and out into the crowd, where Newman headbutts Uemura to sit him in the ringside seats, then takes a run up for a huge dropkick, sending the chairs flying.
As Uemura makes it back into the ring, Newman catches him with a boot to the face. Springboard crossbody from the middle turnbuckle from Uemura, armdrags to follow. Underhook suplex gets a 2, and Uemura keeps control with a hammerlock until Newman reaches the ropes. Newman with a flying rear naked choke, lovely stuff! German suplex whipped off by Uemura, Newman up though, dropkick from Uemura, both men go down. Spin kick by Newman, goes for an F5/Make Way, Uemura counters and grounds Newman, looking for a LeBell lock, transitions back into an armbar after Newman tries a cover. Uemura wrenches on the arm more, Newman with the Prince’s Curse out of nowhere, 1, 2, no. Newman clocks Uemura with a lariat, Make Way again countered, DEADBOLT suplex! He goes up top, Lion Shiner crossbody, 1, 2, no. Back up top! Newman to his feet…avoids it, Excalibur double stomp! Newman gestures at the crowd, misses the punch, can’t get the Prince’s Curse, Pele kick from Uemura, and a hurracanrana, 1, 2, NO. Dragon suplex! 1, 2, NO. He looks for Deadbolt once more but Newman punches his way out of it. Kiss the Crown by Newman, 1, 2, no. Make Way! 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Callum Newman
Time: 15:43
Rating: ***3/4 – Cracking match here, lots of counter wrestling to keep the pace up. I like the idea of Uemura fighting from the bottom through the tournament, so a couple of early defeats make sense for him. Newman has had a delightfully eventful 2026 hasn’t he? I’m expecting a strong tournament showing from him.
[A Block] Boltin Oleg vs Ryohei Oiwa
Rocky Romero joins commentary for this next match. After a brief pop for Red Shoes, Oiwa and Oleg grapple with neither man getting the advantage. Test of strength goes back and forth until Oleg drives Oiwa into the corner. They jockey for position with a belly-to-belly suplex, Oleg gets the best of it. Flying body sausage, 2 count. Chops exchanged, Oiwa gets Oleg to the mat and delivers a senton for 2. Armdrags by Oiwa, and he works over the arm, delivering a leg drop followed by a scissor hold. Irish whip, Oleg shoulder blocks Oiwa up and down to the canvas. Corner splash, deadlift gutwrenches, Boltin shake! The Boltin Bomb follows for 2. Oleg tries to go up top with Oiwa on his shoulders, Oiwa slips to the apron and wrenches the arm. Both men on the apron now, suplex attempt denied…Oiwa ends up shoving Boltin into the ringpost.
Back to the ring, Oiwa connects with a basement dropkick and looks for a hammer lock. Oleg tries a body slam, Oiwa rolls through, Tenzan suplex! 1, 2, no. Hammerlock, head scissors takedown, Oleg rolls through to get him on his shoulders, Death Valley Driver by Oleg to break the hold. The Verdict! 1, 2, NO. Torture Rack applied now as Oiwa flails. He tries to fight out of it by putting pressure back on the arm, but Oleg muscles him up and hits a Kamikaze, covers, 1, 2, no. Chaos Theory almost completed but Oleg reverses into a German of his own, with a bridge! Oiwa with an armbar again and BRIDGES to apply pressure on the arm, beautiful. Oiwa has a sleeper now but Oleg ascends the ropes with Oiwa on his back…he falls backwards to break it, but Oiwa won’t break the hold. London Dungeon/Ark Clutch locked in tight, and Oleg has to tap!
Winner: Ryohei Oiwa
Time: 13:28
Rating: ***1/4 – More good limbwork here, with Oiwa looking particularly impressive. He’s another one I’ll be keeping my eye on during this year’s G1 as I could see some standout performances coming from him. I do like Oleg, but his offense can get a little samey, predominantly relying on his signature moves. Hopefully this year he’ll have the chance to expand his repertoire.
[A Block] Konosuke Takeshita vs Yota Tsuji
Feeling out process as we get underway, hurracanrana from Tsuji sends Takeshita to the outside, and Tsuji follows with a tope suicida. Back inside the ring, Tsuji delivers a suplex, flatliner to follow, and he applies a camel clutch to make Takeshita HUMBLE! Overhand chop lights up the chest of Takeshita in the corner. And again. Elbows to the top of the head in the corner, and tilt-a-whirl backbreaker keeps Tsuji firmly in control. Splash in the corner, and he tunes up the band…but here comes Takeshita out of nowhere with a running knee! Tsuji to the floor, Takeshita with a tope con hilo and the momentum carries him forward, smacking hard on the floor.
Back in the ring, flying forearm connects from Takeshita. Curb stomp from Tsuji is denied, and he walks into an exploder for a 2 count. He tries for another exploder, but Tsuji counters and hits the curb stomp this time. Head trap double stomp follows, standing switches from both men as they look for a German, only for Takeshita to hit the Bastard Driver right into the wheelbarrow German! Tsuji cuts off the next attack with a knee strike, but runs right into a Blue Thunder Bomb! 1, 2, NO.
Powerdrive Knee attempt, Tsuji rolls through on it though and locks in a Boston Crab! He sits down deep for added pressure. Now he shifts his weight and hits almost a sit-out reverse Styles Clash? Wow. Poisonrana from Takeshita, Tsuji comes back up looking for Gene Blaster but Takeshita cuts him off with the POWERDRIVE KNEEEEE! 1, 2, NOOO! Inside cradle from Tsuji gets 2, Takeshita looks for Raging Fire but nope. Tries again, Tsuji with a big slap and a headbutt. Silver Lining! 1, 2, NOOO. Tsuji is back up, Takeshita too, and they stand in opposite corners…Tsuji rushes in for a rising knee, Marlowe Crash is denied. Takeshita goes up top…Tsuji elbows out of it, headbutts from Takeshita though….back suplex off the top rope. Think they were looking for a Blue Thunder but they couldn’t get the spin. Red Shoes is about to make the 10 count as both men are down, but at the last second they both stop his hands. On their knees, trading shots now. To their feet, superkick from Tsuji. Takeshita fires himself up and delivers a series of shots until Tsuji slaps the chest again. Takeshita takes the elbow pad off, blocks a knee and hits a knockout blow. Powerdrive Knee is countered with a Gene Blaster! 1, 2, NO. Tsuji hits a Powerdrive Knee of his own! 1 count kickout! GENE BLASTER! 1, 2…NOOO! Tsuji takes another run up as Takeshita gets to his feet….FIRE BLASTER! And that’s it, 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Yota Tsuji
Time: 20:52
Rating: **** – That Fire Blaster is SICK, Tsuji fires it off with such force and aggression. Love it! This didn’t have the drama or spectacle that accompanied their epic Wrestle Kingdom encounter earlier this year, but it was still an excellent contest with very little in the way of down time, packing a lot into twenty minutes and keeping it engaging. Great choice for the Night One main event.
So with Night One done and dusted, our first standings end up as follows:
[A Block]
Yota Tsuji – 2-0-0
Ryohei Oiwa – 2-0-0
Jake Lee – 2-0-0
Yuto-Ice – 2-0-0
Hirooki Goto – 2-0-0
SANADA – 0-0-0
Great-O-Khan – 0-0-0
Konosuke Takeshita – 0-0-0
Boltin Oleg – 0-0-0
Shingo Takagi – 0-0-0
[B Block]
Aaron Wolf – 2-0-0
OSKAR – 2-0-0
Callum Newman – 2-0-0
Zack Sabre Jr – 2-0-0
Shota Umino – 0-0-0
HENARE – 0-0-0
Ren Narita – 0-0-0
Yuya Uemura – 0-0-0
Drilla Moloney – 0-0-0 (yet to compete)
Gabe Kidd – 0-0-0 (yet to compete)
And that’s a wrap. Thanks for joining me! I’ll be back on Saturday for Night Two, capped off by Hirooki Goto vs Yota Tsuji! See you then, folks.
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