00:00C'est parti pour la G1 Climax, A-Bloc, 30 minutes, et on va faire un match.
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00:33But tonight, as we roll forward in Block A competition,
00:38we take you to the longest reigning ever IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in history.
00:44A man whose edge has just been turned up a notch every single continuous night of this tournament.
00:51It has brought him now to eight points on the board.
00:54The Hanare, Sonata, if he wants an opportunity to lock in his spot in the playoffs,
01:00it has to come here, and it has to come with some help.
01:04Sonata's best odds at this point should the odds work out in his favor.
01:08A victory tonight puts Sonata at 10 points and will need to tie with other members of Block A.
01:16And we have our best statisticians on standby, Chris Sampsov, sportandprowrestling.com,
01:21will be giving us updates all throughout the evening on the way that our Block Math is lined up.
01:30The 5th of guys, 1802cm, 100k, Sanata!
01:38He is Japan's most handsome man.
01:44Coming into this match, Walker, I think Sanata is the more balanced wrestler.
01:48He's got a more balanced repertoire of nerves.
01:51However, however, in my humble opinion, Zack Sabre Jr. is the greatest technical wrestler alive today.
02:09Many more beyond yourself seem to hold that same opinion than aren't.
02:13Zack Sabre Jr. dubbed the best technical wrestler in the world when he defeated none other than the American Dragon,
02:21Bryan Danielson, back in Osaka in February of this year.
02:25But even prior to that victory, you still could have labeled Zack Sabre Jr. the best technical wrestler in the
02:31world.
02:31But it has been such a heavy conversation point for Zack Sabre Jr.
02:37It is the reason that he leaves Block A.
02:39And not only that, Zack Sabre Jr., yes, he's still playing for tournament action.
02:44Yes, points are still on the line.
02:46But Zack has already locked in his place as number one in Block A.
02:51Will certainly make his way into the semi.
03:03He's got a little nuance there on the side of the head when wiping his feet.
03:07Very, very British culture there by Zack Sabre Jr.
03:14The respect Zack Sabre Jr. has for the squared circle.
03:18A respect that I know you have as well.
03:19You've been very vocal about that throughout your career.
03:21The same respect that Sonata also has for this ring.
03:25Yes, sir, what a difference it's been not having a torn bicep this year.
03:29Yes.
03:29How different has it been?
03:31A lot more calm, a lot more cool, a lot more Sonata.
03:34Yes.
03:36A lot more effective inside the ring as well.
03:39Yes, sir.
03:40Eight points on the board for Sonata.
03:41Zack Sabre Jr. at 12.
03:44And the bell sounds were officially underway.
03:46A victory puts you two points higher on the board.
03:49Could match Sonata at 10.
03:51Could advance Zack even further at 14.
03:58I can't really pick out who's the fan favorite here.
04:04Talk a little bit of history here.
04:06First ever meeting, March 18, 2018, New Japan Cup.
04:11Zack Sabre Jr. defeating Sonata in the semifinals.
04:14It was Zack who would go on in this very building to win that year's New Japan Cup.
04:18It's one of the many reasons that Nagaoka is such a special town for Zack Sabre Jr.
04:25And Sonata, born and raised in this region, has won a lot in this arena,
04:31has lost a lot in this arena.
04:33But Zack Sabre Jr., on the other hand, has never lost a singles match in Aure Nagaoka before.
04:40And that 2018 meeting took them all the way to 2021 summer struggle in Osaka.
04:47The final match these two had in singles action.
04:49Sonata and Zack Sabre Jr., a 24-minute draw.
04:52Double pin.
04:54And there's very much a chance we could see those same tactics attempted here for
05:00Zack Sabre Jr. and Sonata, keeping it right in the center of the ring.
05:05Very technical start to this one, Renard.
05:06Very technical, very surprising.
05:08But Zack does seem to have the upper hand.
05:11See how cool he is, even though he's got that straight jacket locked in.
05:14Look how calm Zack's face is.
05:16And that's what makes the difference between a technical guy and other guys.
05:19Look at him, he's still calm.
05:20He knows he's in trouble, but he knows how to escape.
05:23He's confident in his abilities.
05:25And split up, single leg taken down.
05:28Oh, very British ankle lock there.
05:31And there we go, into the cover.
05:34Very quick, only one.
05:35Zack just one step ahead, one second ahead.
05:42There's something he's very good at doing, is taking time to breathe on the right side.
05:47Although he is giving Sonata, who looks visibly blown up there, a chance to breathe.
05:54Might be Zack Sabre Jr.'s undoing.
05:58If there's any two people that know each other very well, it is going to be these two.
06:02Three, three and one record.
06:04Sonata three wins, Zack three wins.
06:06And then that one draw happening in their final singles appearance.
06:09Keep in mind, that singles match was all the way back in 2021.
06:12A lot has changed for Sonata and for Sabre Jr. over the past three years.
06:16Cover here, brought back down.
06:18Zack Sabre Jr. has those shoulders in.
06:19And Sonata floats in over, shoulders down again.
06:23And Sonata's shoulder, Zack's shoulder, back and forth and back and forth here.
06:28And someone wants a cover.
06:31Someone wants a win.
06:32And Sonata, no.
06:34Almost got it.
06:35Imagine if that would have been a three.
06:38Woo!
06:40Sonata been watching those types very well.
06:45Talk about a lot changing between these two men.
06:47Sonata has held a world title.
06:49Zack Sabre Jr. has not in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
06:52But Zack, a lot has changed for him physically.
06:53Put on a lot of size over the past three years.
06:55I mean, he's deceptively big to begin with.
06:57Yes.
06:57He pretends to be a skinny vegan guy, but standing next to him, I'm like,
07:01wow, you're deceptively large.
07:05I mean, they're in the ring next to Sonata.
07:07He looks a lot smaller, but Sonata's a big man, don't get me wrong.
07:10Absolutely.
07:16Beautiful V taper there.
07:19Going back to the knuckles of Zack Sabre Jr., I want to be doing this.
07:23Whoa!
07:25Both move their pawns four to square.
07:29You know, Sonata and Zack have always had an affinity for one another's styles of wrestling.
07:34It was G1 28 where both men competed for 11 minutes, 28 seconds.
07:39And in the entirety of that match, neither man utilized the ropes once.
07:44Wow.
07:45It's a perfect ringer in the ring of this man.
07:46Yeah, it led to Sonata's famous comments about pro wrestling being about more than
07:50getting dropped on your head.
07:52And while I know that you find yourself wrestling a style that goes quite the opposite of that,
07:56we are definitely seeing a lot of that here between Sonata and Sabre Jr.
08:00keeping it dead center for the most part.
08:02True, true.
08:03But I think that might be part of the reason why this whole tournament block doesn't really
08:06work in my favor.
08:07But here we go, updating it to strikes right here.
08:10Now, I feel like Zack has the striking edge in this.
08:13He likes working and strikes into his game like that kick, that PK he does.
08:17The kick to the left bicep.
08:19Now, was it the left bicep that Sonata tore?
08:21Yeah.
08:22I guess it's gonna play a part later on, but we'll see who's the tougher.
08:29Oh, my God.
08:31Oh.
08:35Now, Zack Sabre, he's a country boy from the rural areas outside London, man.
08:39He's not a pushover, but neither is Sonata.
08:52He has a snap on these shots a lot more from Zack than Sonata.
08:57He has a snap on these shots a lot more from Zack than Sonata.
09:04Zack starting to feel the pain in his own right arm delivering these shots.
09:10Those chiseled pecs of Sonata feeling the damage.
09:12But doing the same damage to Zack as well.
09:15Yeah, especially after that match with Gabe the other day, man.
09:17Oh, yes.
09:18How much damage would he have sustained in that match?
09:21And they are still going.
09:38Oh, and Zack fades out.
09:41Well, one understated thing about Zack Sabre, Jr. is he is very durable.
09:45He could take a hiding and come back, man.
09:53It's an opportunity tonight for Zack Sabre, Jr. to break his all-time G1 point record.
09:58Currently set his record at 12.
10:00Could advance to 14.
10:02And it's Sonata.
10:04What's his own twist?
10:06No, no, no, no.
10:09Surprisingly, 50-50 match today so far.
10:12Yeah, very hard to make the technicality with Zack Sabre, Jr., but Sonata.
10:16It's a sharp kick, and I think Sonata just turned that tide.
10:19Doing such a great job at keeping up with Zack at every single pace.
10:23I spoke five seconds too early.
10:26And here we go.
10:27Sonata knows what's in mind.
10:29Zack's felt it before.
10:30Plancha right over the top.
10:33I hear the thought on the right side there.
10:36Where comes his hands in line.
10:39It is these people in Nagaoka that Sonata connects so heavy with.
10:46This being the site of his new Japan Cup 2023 victory.
10:52Hometown boy, in a sense, as well as Sonata.
11:10Sonata has Zack on the shoulder.
11:13Zack, oh, twisted out.
11:15And dropkick right to the back of that neck.
11:22You know, there's some people that could be in a position like Zack Sabre, Jr.,
11:26having locked his spot into the playoffs and want to take their foot off the gas.
11:30We're not seeing Zack take his foot off the gas whatsoever right now.
11:32Nah, man, he doesn't give anyone an inch.
11:34Just like his wrestling, he's not living that technical game fall down on the outside there.
11:41Smart, smart man.
11:44A very surprisingly humble man also.
11:50We'll see how humble Zack gets if he can walk into a G1 Climax playoff situation.
11:57One of the Tigers suplex and instead Sonata right back out with the pump kick here for Zack.
12:01There it is.
12:01Takes the target to that left bicep here.
12:04And bam, dropkick right to the knees.
12:08Zack wants to go high on Sonata.
12:10Sonata's gonna take it low on Zack.
12:12You go look at that left bicep though.
12:15It's noticeably pumped.
12:18And shorter than the other one.
12:19And here we go.
12:20One screw up there.
12:29Every shot to the neck is a dangerous one for Sonata.
12:32Susceptible to stingers, we've talked about that before is Sonata.
12:38It was like a temporary paralysis when you go through situations of that nature.
12:43But Sonata not feeling it now.
12:44Feeling Nagaoka shining wizard underneath.
12:47Oh, caught that leg of Zack.
12:54I think that the leg switching there is a lot worse than the full rotation.
13:00Pulling on the PCL, pulling on the ACL.
13:06Although we've talked about the joint strength of Zack Sabre Jr. before.
13:12I think that's a good one for that rounding body.
13:14Yep, wants it up top.
13:15Sonata, rounding body press.
13:18Oh, didn't get all of it.
13:19Sonata walks in.
13:22He was about three centimeters away from kneeing him in the head.
13:26Zack Sabre Jr. with so much ring awareness.
13:29He saw it coming.
13:30Oh, beautiful, beautiful.
13:32Zack Sabre Jr. could have this match won right here.
13:35Got a fight chicken in there.
13:38And just uses the left hand.
13:40Try and cause any further damage he can.
13:42Pulls back on the right arm and in his stretch.
13:45Pillar to post.
13:46Off your leg.
13:47Fingers.
13:48Oh, my gosh.
13:49We need a verbal submission from Sonata right here.
13:52Hooking on both shoulders, both elbows, both sets of fingers.
13:58The wrist.
14:04Got to remember that bicep as well.
14:06He doesn't have the power to get out of that.
14:08Yeah, you're right.
14:09Now the leg.
14:10Oh, holds in on the leg now.
14:11The quad turns him over.
14:12Rotates right.
14:13That is incredible, incredible technicality from Zack Sabre Jr.
14:21Well, Sonata, you'll look at the look in his eyes.
14:25There's pain on the face of Sonata, and Zack keeps it tight up here.
14:30All points of leverage.
14:31Look at that.
14:32At the end of every joint, he's right there.
14:34This is a long time to be in a hold like this for Sonata.
14:37I mean, even if he finds his way out of this, it's going to be a hard-fought
14:40and uphill battle going forward.
14:44Swinging his leg around, he's caught his leg.
14:46No, wait a minute.
14:48Shoulders is down for a brief moment, and Zack stays right on top of Sonata once again.
14:53He's got it deep.
14:54Oh, wow.
14:56That transition to put pressure on the neck there.
14:59There you go, Pirates Crucifix, Reverse Pirates Crucifix.
15:04With that Jujukatame with the arm.
15:07It is artistry from Zack Sabre Jr.
15:11Insane, this is like some Salvador Dali stuff right here.
15:15Surrealizing.
15:17How long can Sonata last in these holds?
15:22He's got the neck as well.
15:23Oh, wow, wow, wow, wow.
15:26By their toes, Sonata escapes.
15:29However, just like you said, how damaging is he?
15:32Wow.
15:33That had to have been nearly, what, two minutes straight of just all of your body
15:37parts being stretched out.
15:38Let me tell you, two minutes to a normal person.
15:40If that was Zack Sabre Jr., that feels like two hours.
15:44Insanity.
15:46And look at the calm demeanor in Zack's face right now.
15:52It's okay, I'm all right.
15:55Let's see how all right Sonata is going forward.
15:58This is, see him grasping at that head, grasping at that shoulder.
16:04Now it's switching from a battle of the body to a battle of will now, man.
16:09Back of the head slot.
16:11And it is a 30 minute time limit that we do have here tonight.
16:15The longest to have ever gone, 26-35 in their first ever meeting, back in Cup 2018.
16:22Summer's a lot harder this tour, man.
16:24Oh, yes.
16:25So, wow, I can tell, I can see why everybody's feeling shorter.
16:31That's the matter shows life.
16:33Here we go, back to those kicks, telling you about.
16:39Sonata, very little movement in his arms.
16:41Same as we saw Yuya Uemura in the main event of Block B.
16:44Just those arms dangling down, very little strength at this time.
16:47Has to find that strength back to walk away with the win.
16:52Even putting on holds does your endurance down, man.
16:56All right.
16:56So look at Zack.
17:21He put his hand up on the wrong side.
17:24Sonata.
17:25Oh, wait a minute.
17:26Oh, come on.
17:27Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
17:28What's that sleeper hold?
17:29Got it.
17:30Right, right back down.
17:31Hero being clutched.
17:32Hold on a minute.
17:33He's got it.
17:35And that was the exact ending to their match in 2021.
17:39What's the shining?
17:39Shining Wizard cut down.
17:40So it's coming.
17:41Zack here, Zack here.
17:42Come on, come on, come on.
17:44Oh, push down, push in.
17:47No, no, no, no, no, no.
17:48Yes.
17:50And shoulders down, Hero clutch.
17:55Whoo.
17:56I have no idea which way this is going to go, Walker.
17:59It is a complete 50-50, but it's now turned 51-49.
18:04Sonata gets the last shot in.
18:06Whoo.
18:06He needed that, man.
18:07Good, smart, smart offense going low off for the high attacks.
18:11This is insane.
18:14And listen to the crowd here, Nawaoka.
18:18Losing their goddamn minds.
18:22Sonata has been firing off on all cylinders the last half of this tournament.
18:28And this last half brings him in, Shining Wizard.
18:37So sequential.
18:38Oh, wait a minute.
18:40Once that kill shot, the dead fall.
18:42And instead, Sonata got the boot up.
18:44Just the nick of time.
18:46And middle rope brought in.
18:48One skull and instead.
18:50Zack twisting out.
18:52Who keeps control over the top?
18:54Wow.
18:56And it's so.
18:58Hey, Josh.
18:59Sonata.
19:00It's deeper.
19:01It's cinched in deeper.
19:03This could be it right here.
19:04Zack starting to fade to his knees.
19:09And it's the kill shot.
19:10Dead fall.
19:11No, no, no.
19:18It's all coming.
19:20It is.
19:21Zack Driver.
19:22Zack Driver.
19:22He got him.
19:24Zack Driver.
19:24One, two, three.
19:26Zack Saber Jr. has done it.
19:3114 points on the board.
19:34I don't think I've ever seen anyone get 14 points before.
19:37Before the last.
19:38Oh, wait.
19:38This is the last one.
19:39This is the last one.
19:41Zack Saber Jr.
19:43Beats his own career best in G1 Climax points.
19:4714 points on the board for the front man.
20:15It was already confirmed, but it's an official announcement tonight.
20:21One of the people right here.
20:23The top of Block A sits Zack Saber Jr., a confirmed five, into the semifinals.
20:35And this is coming up for the Florida.
20:38Yeah, this is Zack Saber Jr.'s house to destroy if he wants to.
20:42Building Ade Nagaoka from New Japan Cup to now a G1 Climax victory, which could be on the horizon.
20:50To the end there, it looked like a dead ball was on the menu, but he turned it around.
20:56Insanity.
21:03A lot of people believe that a G1 Climax trophy will make its way to the UK for the very
21:09first time.
21:12I mean, they lost the Rugby World Cup, they lost the Soccer World Cup, but I think,
21:17I think they have a shot at pro wrestling, brother.
21:25Like I was saying at the start, Sonata's a more balanced wrestler, but he tried to take it to Zack
21:30in his own arena of technical.
21:33I think if he stuck to the high-flying, he would have had an edge.
21:38Not taking anything away from Zack Saber, that was an amazing win.
21:44All right, he's coming home, darling!
21:46Very honorable win for the leader of the G1.
21:51I mean, I'm good, I'm good on the G1, but that match watching Zack Saber Jr. 1, it was a
21:57delight, man.
21:58Oh, I loved it here.
22:02Coming up next, folks,
22:03Shingo Takagi and Jake Lee one-on-one.
22:06Woo, woo, woo!
22:07Woo, woo, woo!
22:08Woo, woo, woo!
22:08Woo, woo, woo, woo!
22:10Woo, woo, woo, woo!
22:12Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo!
22:14Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo!
