NJPW G1 Climax 34 finals live results: Yota Tsuji vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
After weeks of tournament action, it now boils down to just one match.
The finals of this year’s G1 Climax tournament will see Zack Sabre Jr. face Yota Tsuji. It is the first time either man has made it to the finals, ensuring that whoever wins will win the tournament for the very first time. At Saturday’s semifinals, Sabre defeated Shingo Takagi while Tsuji defeated David Finlay.
Last year’s tournament saw Tetsuya Naito defeat Kazuchika Okada to win the G1 Climax for the third time. He went on to defeat SANADA at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January to win the IWGP World Heavyweight title. After briefly losing the title to AEW’s Jon Moxley, he regained it at Forbidden Door earlier this summeer.
The winner of this year’s tournament will earn the right to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight title at Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4, 2025 at the Tokyo Dome.
Our live coverage of the G1 Climax 34 finals begins at 2 am eastern.
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Undercard Results
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima, & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Shoma Kato, Tiger Mask & Yuji Nagata
Taichi defeated Katsuya Murashima
Mikey Nicholls & Robbie Eagles defeated Francesco Akira & Konosuke Takeshita
Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori defeated DOUKI, SANADA & TAKA Michinoku
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma defeated David Finlay, Gabe Kidd & Jake Lee
EVIL, Ren Narita, SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, El Phantasmo, Oleg Boltin & Shota Umino
BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito defeated Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Jeff Cobb
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G1 Climax 2024 Final: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Yota Tsuji
ZSJ opened the match by taking Tsuji to the mat. In the opening scramble, Tsuji held his own, not allowing ZSJ to establish control. Tsuji managed to drop ZSJ with a pair of shoulders before turning to heavy chops to keep ZSJ on the back foot.
ZSJ stuffed a suplex and landed an arm whip to ground Tsuji. ZSJ then began to slowly focus the arm, using intentional strikes to establish a solid lead. As Tsuji tried to fight back with forearms, ZSJ locked in a hold, forcing Tsuji to reverse with a suplex.
Tsuji dropped ZSJ on his back, sending him to the floor. Tsuji followed up with a tope that sent ZSJ crashing into the crowd. Tusji kept the pressure on by slamming ZSJ into the apron and the barricade before bringing him back into the ring. Back inside, Tsuji locked ZSJ in body scissors to continue to wear him down.
After a double gut buster, Tsuji threw ZSJ back to the mat, but ZSJ caught him with a sudden neck crank to reverse momentum. ZSJ then began to stretch out Tsuji. Tsuji answered by clubbing ZSJ with laraits. ZSJ tried answering with lariats of his own, but Tsuji’s proved too powerful. Tsuji hit a falcon arrow and a curb stomp for a two-count.
Tsuji pulled ZSJ to the top rope, but ZSJ pulled him down, slamming his targeted arm across the rope. ZSJ followed up with a dropkick to the limb, furthering the focused attack. ZSJ landed a few strikes before attempting an armbar that forced Tsuji into the ropes.
Tsuji blocked a Zack Driver attempt, but ZSJ kept up the pressure with an uppercut and a punt to keep Tsuji grounded. Tsuji eventually caught one of ZSJ’s follow-up kicks, landed a knee strike, and followed up with a knee strike to retake control of the match.
Tsuji tried for Marlo Crash but missed, allowing ZSJ to attempt the European clutch. ZSJ followed up with a German suplex, but Tsuji bounced out with a Gene Blaster, sending ZSJ flying across the ring and out of Tsuji’s reach.
Once both men returned to their feet, they stood in the middle of the ring and began to trade strikes. Tsuji won out with a well-placed strike to the midsection. Tsuji landed a curb stomp and carried ZSJ to the corner, where he hit Marlo Crash for a two-count. Tsuji then tried for Gene Blaster, but ZSJ reversed into a Fujiwara armbar. Tsuji managed to power out and land a powerbomb to stay in control.
ZSJ challenged Tsuji with some stray slaps, but Tsuji answered with a headbutt. Tsuji then carried ZSJ to the top rope and hit a super-17 crosses for a nearfall. Tsuji tried for a deadbolt suplex, but ZSJ blocked and launched into a rally. When ZSJ attempted the Zack Driver, Tsuji reversed into one of his own, scoring him another nearfall.
Tsuji set up for a Gene Blaster again, but ZSJ reversed into a European clutch. After Tsuji was kicked out, ZSJ tried for another tricky pin attempt, but it also failed. Tsuji answered by hitting a stunner before trying for another Gene Blaster. ZSJ caught him in another complex hold, tying both his arms and legs up in the middle of the ring. Tsuji was unable to escape and, therefore, submitted to ZSJ.
Zack Sabre Jr. has won the G1 Climax.