A shocking turn of events at the G1 Climax 35 semifinals saw Konosuke Takeshita defeat Zack Sabre Jr. to advance to the finals, where he'll face EVIL. Takeshita's victory is a monumental upset, given Sabre's status as the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and his previous dominance over Takeshita in the tournament. This win sets up a compelling finale between two of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's biggest stars.
The Road to the Semifinals
The G1 Climax 35 tournament featured 20 competitors split into two blocks, A and B, all vying for a spot in the final four. After a grueling round-robin phase, the final playoff picture was set. EVIL emerged as the A Block winner with 12 points, followed by David Finlay with 10 points. Yota Tsuji, with 10 points, secured the third and final playoff spot from the A Block.
In the B Block, Zack Sabre Jr. finished at the top with an impressive 14 points, securing a bye directly into the semifinals. The other B Block playoff spots went to Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita, who both finished with 12 points.
The playoffs began with two high-stakes quarterfinal matches. In the first, Konosuke Takeshita defeated David Finlay in a brutal, table-smashing encounter. Takeshita's perseverance was tested when Finlay powerbombed him through two tables on the arena floor, but he managed to beat the 20-count and rally for the victory. In the second quarterfinal, Yota Tsuji overcame Shota Umino in a hard-fought battle, earning his semifinal spot against EVIL.
The semifinal match between Konosuke Takeshita and Zack Sabre Jr. was a clash of styles, pitting Takeshita's high-impact offense against Sabre's technical wizardry. Takeshita came into the match with an aggravated knee injury, a direct result of his brutal quarterfinal bout with Finlay. This was a crucial factor, as Sabre relentlessly targeted the knee throughout the match, employing a variety of brutal submission holds.
The match was a back-and-forth affair with both men showing incredible resilience. Takeshita, despite his injury, managed to hit his signature moves, including a Poison Rana and the Power Drive running knee. However, it was a previous meeting in the G1 that was fresh on everyone's mind, where Sabre defeated Takeshita via submission. This time, Takeshita was determined to not let history repeat itself.
In the closing moments, Takeshita's power proved to be the difference. He fought through the pain and the submissions, finally landing his finisher, the Raging Fire, to put an end to the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion's G1 run. The crowd erupted as the referee's hand hit the mat for the final time, sealing Takeshita's first-ever G1 final appearance.
Takeshita's monumental victory not only avenged his previous loss to Sabre but also established him as a serious contender for the G1 Climax trophy. The stage is now set for a final showdown against the leader of the House of Torture, EVIL, in what promises to be an explosive main event to determine the winner of the G1 Climax 35. 🏆