G1 Climax 32

The 2022 logo of G1 Climax

**B Block:**

* Tama Tonga (10 points)

**D Block:**

* Will Ospreay (8 points)

The **G1 Climax 32** is a professional wrestling tournament promoted by the Japan-based New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The tournament started on July 16 and was concluded on August 18, 2022. It was the fifteenth edition of G1 Climax and the forty-eighth edition of the tournament counting its previous forms under different names.

Considered NJPW's most important tournament, the G1 Climax features twenty eight wrestlers, divided into four blocks of seven ("A", "B", "C" and "D"). Each participant faces all six other wrestlers within the same block in singles matches. The winner of each block is determined via a point system, with two points for a win, one point for a draw, and no point for a defeat; each night of the event sees the seven members of one block compete for the tournament, while the members of the non-competing block perform in tag team matches that have no influence of the tournament results. On the final day of the event, the winners of a tournament consisting of the winners of the four respective blocks face each other in a singles elimination tournament to determine the winner of the G1 Climax, who gained a future match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom, NJPW's biggest yearly event.

As usual, the tournament took place over several cities and locations; the 2022 edition marked the first time in two years that the G1 Climax tournament is taking place in the summer since the 2021 Olympic Games, while coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.

At twenty-eight participants, it is the largest field in G1 Climax history and the most amount of competitors since 2014. The tournament will also run in a four-block round-robin format for the first time since 2000. The tournament will also see the G1 Climax debut of Tom Lawlor, Jonah, whom will mark their debut in Japan, El Phantasmo, Aaron Henare, and David Finlay. as well as Lance Archer's first participation since 2019.

The tournament will be broadcasted live on TV Asahi and Fighting TV Samurai in Japan, AXS TV in the United States, in tape delay, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling World worldwide.

## Background

On April 9, 2022, during the fifth night of Hyper Battle '22, NJPW officially announced the 2022 edition of the tournament between July 16 and August 18; it was announced that the tournament would be held at in August, marking the first time in two years that the tournament would be held in the summer.

#### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, other wrestling promotions began to cancel or postpone their shows in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. At the end of February 2021, following recommendations by the Japanese Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus outbreak, NJPW canceled the events between March 1 and March 15 including the promotion's Anniversary Event and the first and the second round of New Japan Cup. On March 23, NJPW also canceled the 2020 Sakura Genesis event, which was originally scheduled to take place on March 31. On April 8, NJPW canceled more events from April 11 through May 4, leading to the cancelation of both nights of 2020 Wrestling Dontaku and would also cancel the whole Best of the Super Juniors tournament as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 6. Various wrestlers such as David Finlay, El Phantasmo, KENTA, the Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa), Jay White, Juice Robinson, Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, and Robbie Eagles were unable to work on NJPW events due to travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, NJPW wrestlers and staff created the *NJPW Together* project in order to do bring content to NJPW World with interviews and old archived matches. On May 6, NJPW announced that their Wrestle Dynasty event would be postponed to 2021, due to the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On June 8, during an online press conference, NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that the promotion would start to held shows on June 15, starting with the *Together Project Special* and the return of the 2020 New Japan Cup between June 16 and July 11, with all shows being held behind closed doors. It was also that the finals of the New Japan Cup and the Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall would be the first shows to allow fans into the arena, but only a third of the venue's normal capacity, after the Japanese Government lifted some restrictions on many regions in Japan. On August 11, NJPW announced that all G1 Climax show would have a limited number of wrestlers participating on the tour, with B block wrestlers not competing on A block shows throughout the tour, due to prevention measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 6, it was announced that the 2020 Best of the Super Juniors would be resumed alongside the 2020 World Tag League, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, with the tounaments taking place between November 15 until December 11. With both tournaments consisting of ten nights, taking place on alternate days opposed to each other with the exceptions being the first round on November 15, final round on December 6 and the finals on December 11.

On November 29, 2021 Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that foreigners would be banned from entering Japan, due to the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant from South Africa, with those being permitted woud be forced to abide by a 14-day quarantine. The following day, NJPW President Takami Ohbari, in an interview with *Tokyo Sports*, addressed the situation stating that new travel restrictions implemented in Japan due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant would not apply to talent that already had visas. However, due to the decrease of COVID-19 cases in Japan in light of the Omicron variant, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on February 12 that on March 1, it would start letting foreigners to arrive Japan, only for essential reasons such as professional, study, family reunion and health or humanitarian reasons, with those being permitted being forced to abide by a 3-day quarantine. On April 6, the Japanese government announced that it would lift its travel ban on 106 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, with the people arriving from these 106 countries not being subject of an entry denial. However, the Japanese government clarified that despite lifting the travel ban from these countries, it would not mitigate the current restrictions. On April 9, it was reported by *Fightful Select* that NJPW was starting to work on securing visas to bring its foreign talent to Japan for events in the future, including this year's Best of the Super Juniors and this year's edition of the G1 Climax. Previously, several foreign wrestlers were not allowed to wrestle in Japan due to the on-going restrictions caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However due to the restrictions, many big names that wanted to work in Japan were not allowed due to the company not wanting to bring more talent at the time.

## Tournament Rules

As per usual G1 Climax tradition, the tournament features twenty wrestlers, divided into four blocks of seven participants ("A", "B", "C" and "D"). Each participant faces all seven other wrestlers within the same block in singles matches, with the winner of each block being determined via a point system, gaining two points for a win, one point for a tie, and no point for a defeat; each night of the event sees the ten members of a same block compete for the tournament, while the members of the non-competing block perform in tag team matches that have no influence of the tournament results, typically facing their future tournament opponents. In case of several wrestler sharing the top score, the results of the matches those wrestlers had when facing each others in the tournament act as tiebreaker, with the one having the most wins over the other top-scorers determining the winner of the block.

On the final day of the event, the respective winners of both blocks face each other in a singles-elimination tournament to determine the winner of the G1 Climax, who would gain a future match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, NJPW's top championship, at Wrestle Kingdom, NJPW's biggest yearly event; if the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion himself wins, he gets to pick his opponent at Wrestle Kingdom. The low-card matches have a twenty-minutes time limit, while the matches of the tournament have a 30-minutes time limit (with the time limit being reached resulting in a tie); the semifinal and final matches between the four block winners has no time limit.

## Participants

The twenty-eight participants were officially announced on June 12, 2022. The list included participants who were outside Japan due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including Tom Lawlor, Jonah and David Finlay and Lance Archer, returning after a two-year hiatus. The tournament will also included the debut appearances for Finlay, Jonah, Lawlor, Aaron Henare, and junior-heavyweight El Phantasmo.

For the first time since 2000, the tournament will be spread across four blocks, with seven competitors in each block, while this year's edition marks the largest participants number of all time. The list with the participants spread across the blocks was announced on June 20.

## Tournament

### Final Standings

 Block A
 **Kazuchika Okada** | 10
 **Jonah** | 8
 **Lance Archer** | 6
 **Tom Lawlor** | 6
 **Jeff Cobb** | 6
 **Bad Luck Fale** | 4
 **Toru Yano** | 2

## Results

### Night 1

The first night of the tournament took place on July 16, 2022 at Hokkai Kitayell in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo.

### Night 2

The second night of the tournament took place on July 17, 2022 at Hokkai Kitayell in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo.

### Night 3

The third night of the tournament took place on July 20, 2022 at Xebio Arena Sendai in Sendai, Miyagi.

### Night 4

The fourth night of the tournament took place on July 23, 2022 at Ota City General Gymnasium in Ōta, Tokyo.

### Night 5

The fifth night of the tournament took place on July 24, 2022 at Ota City General Gymnasium in Ōta, Tokyo.

### Night 6

The sixth night of the tournament took place on July 26, 2022, at Korakuen Hall in Bunkyo, Tokyo.

### Night 7

The seventh night of the tournament took place on July 27, 2022, at Korakuen Hall in Bunkyo, Tokyo.

### Night 8

The eighth night of the tournament took place on July 30, 2022, at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Aichi.

### Night 9

The ninth night of the tournament took place on July 31, 2022, at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Aichi.

### Night 10

The tenth night of the tournament took place on August 2, 2022, at Hamamatsu Arena in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.

### Night 11

The eleventh night of the tournament took place on August 5, 2022, at Item Ehime in Matsuyama, Ehime.

### Night 12

The twelfth night of the tournament took place on August 6, 2022, at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Namba, Osaka.

### Night 13

The thirteenth night of the tournament took place on August 7, 2022, at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Namba, Osaka.

### Night 14

The fourteenth night of the tournament took place on August 9, 2022, at Hiroshima Sun Plaza in Nishi-ku, Hiroshima.

### Night 15

The fifteenth night of the tournament took place on August 10, 2022, at Hiroshima Sun Plaza in Nishi-ku, Hiroshima.

### Night 16

The sixteenth night of the tournament took place on August 13, 2022, at Machida Municipal Gymnasium in Machida, Tokyo.

### Night 17

The seventeenth night of the tournament took place on August 14, 2022, at White Ring in Nagano.

### Night 18

The eighteenth night of the tournament took place on August 16, 2022, at Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

### Night 19

The nineteenth night of the tournament took place on August 17, 2022, at Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

### Night 20

The final night of the tournament took place on August 18, 2022, at Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

## Notes

1. ↑ Toru Yano was removed from the match after Jay White was scratched because of heat stroke-like symptoms, making the match a six-man tag instead of an eight-man.
2. ↑ Gedo replaced Jay White, who was scratched on August 9 because of illness.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *ja: 【新日本プロレス】G1 CLIMAXが３年ぶりに夏開催！大会日程発表！*. YouTube (2022-04-09). Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Paez-Pumar, Luis 2019-07-02. A Guide To New Japan Pro Wrestling's G1 Climax, The Best Wrestling Event In The World . Deadspin. Retrieved on 2019-07-24.
3. ↑ 新日本プロレス最大級の大会「G1 CLIMAX 32」テーマソングを担当決定！ . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2022-07-23). Retrieved on 2022-08-22.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 *ja: 【新日本プロレス】G1CLIMAX32 出場選手発表！【2022.7.16開幕】*. YouTube (2022-06-12). Retrieved on 2022-06-12.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 NJPW announces dates for G1 Climax 32 tournament . Wrestling Observer Newsletter (2022-04-09). Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
6. ↑ NJPW Announces Dates For G1 Climax 32 . Fightful (2020-02-09). Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 G1 Climax 32 is coming soon! 【G132】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2022-04-09). Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
8. ↑ Burch, Liz 2020-03-10. How coronavirus concerns are impacting Tampa Bay area events . *WTSP*. Tegna Inc.. Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
9. ↑ NJPW events cancelled until Saturday March 21 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020-03-10). Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
10. ↑ Regarding refunds for Sakura Genesis 2020 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020-03-31). Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
11. ↑ April 12-18 events cancelled . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020-03-31). Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
12. ↑ NJPW events cancelled until May 4 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020-04-08). Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
13. ↑ More incredible content coming as part of the NJPW Together Project! . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020-03-05). Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
14. ↑ NJPW postpones Wrestle Dynasty at Madison Square Garden to 2021  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2020-04-07).
15. ↑ Special Online Press Conference (EN subtitles) . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020-06-08). Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
16. ↑ Regarding G1 Climax 30 tour participants【G130 】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020-08-11). Retrieved on 2020-09-07.
17. ↑ NJPW to run World Tag League, Best of the Super Juniors concurrently  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2020-10-06).
18. ↑ Renner, Ethan 2021-11-30. NJPW PRESIDENT CLARIFIES WILL OSPREAY'S WRESTLE KINGDOM 16 STATUS . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2021-11-30.
19. ↑ *ja:【新日本】１・５東京ドームでＩＷＧＰ世界王座挑戦のオスプレイは来日可能の見込み　大張社長が明言* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2021-11-30). Retrieved on 2021-11-30.
20. ↑ Japan to let in foreign workers and students starting this month  (in English). Nikkei Asia (2022-02-12). Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
21. ↑ Japan to lift COVID entry ban for 106 countries including U.S.  (in English). Reuters (2022-04-06). Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
22. ↑ Lee, Joseph 2022-04-09. [NJPW Acquiring Visas For Foreign Talent To Come to Japan NJPW Acquiring Visas For Foreign Talent To Come to Japan ] (in English). 411Mania. Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
23. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2022-04-09. NJPW reportedly securing Japanese visas for foreign talent  (in English). Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2022-04-11.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax: All you need to know as tournament kicks off . Daily Mirror (2018-07-14). Retrieved on 2019-07-24.
25. ↑ NJPW reveals 28-man G1 Climax 32 field  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2022-06-12).
26. ↑ G1 Block lineups revealed! 【G132】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2022-06-20). Retrieved on 2022-06-20.
27. ↑ 2022.07.16 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
28. ↑ 2022.07.16 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
29. ↑ 2022.07.17 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
30. ↑ 2022.07.17 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 2022.07.20 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 2022.07.23 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 2022.07.24 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 2022.07.26 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 2022.07.27 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 2022.07.30 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 2022.07.31 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 2022.08.02 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 2022.08.05 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
40. ↑ 2022.08.06 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
41. ↑ 2022.08.06 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
42. ↑ 2022.08.07 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
43. ↑ 2022.08.07 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
44. ↑ 2022.08.09 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
45. ↑ 2022.08.09 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
46. ↑ 2022.08.10 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
47. ↑ 2022.08.10 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
48. ↑ 2022.08.13 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
49. ↑ 2022.08.13 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
50. ↑ 2022.08.14 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
51. ↑ 2022.08.14 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
52. ↑ 2022.08.16 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
53. ↑ 2022.08.16 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
54. ↑ 2022.08.17 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
55. ↑ 2022.08.17 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
56. ↑ 2022.08.18 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
57. ↑ 2022.08.18 G1 CLIMAX 32 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).