NJPW G1 Climax 34 (night 1): The Smart, The Worst, Unpredictable Wins/Losses, & AEW+TK Influence

Welcome to an epsidoe of the Squared Cirlce Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows! Today, I'm reviewing night 1/opening night of the G1 Climax 34.

G1 Season is upon us, and night 1 — the opening night for the G1 Climax 34 — has happened. I’m shocked, in awe, and mostly head-scratching. In this episode, I review all matches except for one, questioning the decisions of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and discussing the influence of AEW and Tony Khan. Overview:

The G1 Climax tournament is supposed to build new stars, new stories, and feuds. However, with the random wins and losses, nothing makes sense at this moment. The writing is on the wall: Tony Khan doesn’t want any of his guys to lose to NJPW wrestlers. This might change as the tournament progresses, but I doubt it. The impact of AEW politics is evident in the tournament's early stages.

The Smart G1 Climax 34 Match: Gabe Kidd vs. EVIL

EVIL and the House of Torture are known for their interference and shenanigans. This match, however, was clean, taken outside among the Japanese fans, which has become Gabe Kidd’s calling card. The smart segment was the ref bump situation. Usually, in House of Torture matches, the babyface is naive to the obvious ref bump, followed by chaos. In this match, Gabe Kidd threw the ref out in a rage, leading to minimal interference until Dick Togo choked Gabe Kidd, and EVIL used his finisher for the win. The ending fell flat, but the match was well-executed.

The Worst G1 Climax 34 Match: Callum Newman vs. Shota Umino

My constructive criticism is nothing personal. Callum Newman’s constant high spots without storytelling made the match feel like two rookies in wrestling school. Shota Umino, who recently recovered from an injury, can have good matches but went along with Newman's pace, resulting in a sloppy performance. It felt like neither wrestler had a grip on the other. Callum needs to develop a character beyond just being fast. Shota, mentored by Jon Moxley, also needs to step out of his mentor's shadow and find his unique style. This match was the worst of the night, highlighting that both wrestlers are still green.

AEW+Tony Khan’s Influence in the G1 Climax 34: Yota Tsuji vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Tony Khan’s reluctance to let his wrestlers lose is evident. Yota Tsuji, who recently had a documentary made about him, should have been pushed as part of the Reiwa Musketeers. Instead, he lost to Konosuke Takeshita, who represents AEW more than DDT Pro. Takeshita should have had more NJPW matches before the tournament to make his win believable. Tsuji has put in the work and should be allowed to win more to solidify his status. This match exemplifies Tony Khan’s influence and NJPW’s inability to say no to him. Final Thoughts: The G1 Climax 34 is supposed to build new stars and stories. However, with random wins and losses and external influences, it’s hard to make sense of the direction. NJPW needs to balance pushing young talent without making it feel rushed or influenced by external politics. Links:

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