When it comes to New Japan Pro Wrestling, it is known for some of the best matches in history. In particular, the annual G1 Climax tournaments have provided fans with Match of the Year contenders.
Alongside the big matches, fans also love to see wrestlers reach the 30-minute time limit in a war of attrition.
Yet, the tournament has seen the complete opposite. With New Japan, sometimes quantity doesn’t always mean quality and many shorter matches have caught the attention of fans.
Here is a look at the six shortest matches in G1 Climax history.
7. TAJIRI vs. Takao Omori – 2009 Day 7 – 1 minute 5 seconds
When it came to the G1 Climax, New Japan brought some of the best and most diverse talent from Japan. The match between veterans TAJIRI and Takao Omori in the 2009 G1 was no different.
Both men went into their match on four points and there was a lot to gain.
The match itself lasted just over one minute and with two seasoned athletes, fans expected a lot.
Yet, after some basic offence, the match was ended via disqualification after TAJIRI used his green mist and was caught. In the end, Omori won, but not in the way he would like.
Although fans expected TAJIRI to use his mist for the win, many fans expected it to go a lot longer.
Although sometimes fans love a quick match, this seemed to be an exception as fans wanted to see a proper bout between two veterans. It is proof that these kinds of matches don’t always work.
6. Toru Yano vs. Kota Ibushi – 2015 Day 15 – 50 seconds
When it comes to Kota Ibushi, his matches are quick, full of action, but usually intense.
Yet, when he faced Toru Yano in the 2015 G1 Climax, there was no denying it would be very different from his other bouts.
As expected, Yano came into the match hoping for a quick finish and easy one and that’s exactly what he got.
As soon as the bell rang, Yano went to take off a turnbuckle while Ibushi ran towards his opponent for a quick start.
Yet, uncharacteristically, after Yano failed to remove it, Ibushi finished the task and Yano fell victim to his own tactics.
At first, it seemed like Ibushi had momentum even after a failed initial roll-up from Ibushi and twisting moonsault.
Yet, Yano managed to distract Red Shoes Unno and hit a low blow to eventually get a roll-up victory.
Although fans have come to love Yano’s tactics during this match, this was when Ibushi was the firm fan favourite.
Despite this, fans in the crowd loved this short match and it was definitely a shock to Ibushi. It was this match that helped to cement Yano’s legacy of quick G1 matches.
5. Yutaka Yoshie vs. Kensuke Sasaki – 2002 Day 3 – 41 seconds
Although recent years have seen Yano set several records with short G1 Climax matches, this seemed to be the norm in the early 2000s.
In 2002, it saw two of the shortest matches in the tournament’s history and the first came from Yutaka Yoshie and Kensuke Sasaki in their block A match.
In their match, the duo battled for only 41 seconds, which wasn’t as rare as many expected back then.
Kensuke Sasaki got the win in the end, and it was enough to keep him in the upper portion of the block leaderboard.
Although the two had been wrestling in the tournament for many years, this was by far their shortest match while wrestling in New Japan!
Despite the tough competition, neither man advanced to the finals, with Sasaki earning six points and Yoshie finishing bottom of his block with two.
In the end, the tournament was won by legend Masahiro Chono, but it was definitely a year that saw a range of matches going from under a minute to time limit draws.
4. Genichiro Tenryu vs. Masahiro Chono – 2004 Day 5 – 38 seconds
In 2004, the G1 saw an increased number of participants. For the first time, there was a format where the second and third runners-up from each block in a four-person tournament.
The two finalists advanced to a second four-man tournament also featuring each block winner where the winner was decided.
The company also decided that any double count-out or DQs would result in zero points for both competitors.
Yet, it also held the record for one of the shortest matches in G1 history between two legends. During this tournament, Masahiro Chono battled Genchiro Tenryu.
Although many fans probably expected a world-class bout, they only saw a match lasting 38 seconds, which was almost unheard of. Tenryu got the win in record time.
Although neither man made it all the way, they both took part in the first four-person tournament.
Yet, Masahiro Chono fell to the future King of Strong Style Shinsuke Nakamura and Tenryu lost to the future Ace of New Japan in Hiroshi Tanahashi.
It was a tournament that saw legends and wrestlers who would soon take over Japanese wrestling.
3. Tadao Yasuda vs. Kenzo Suzuki – 2002 Day 1 – 37 seconds
The line-up for the G1 Climax in 2002 was full of wrestlers that can be called nothing less than veterans now.
Like with the previous match, the bout between Tadao Yasuda and Kenzo Suzuki was also extremely short, which seemed to be the trend in these sorts of tournaments. Yet, it didn’t always seem as if the match would be so short.
As the bell rang, Yasuda was in the ring, waiting for Suzuki to start. With this, the referee started the count and the crowds were shocked as Hiroshi Tanahashi came out for the distraction.
As this is happening, Suzuki comes out from the crowd and hits his patented finisher to get the win.
Although it might have seemed normal at the time, it seems impossible to believe that The Ace would do something like that.
It was long before the days of pure babyface fans love, but it was proof that wrestling has always been a game of intelligence. With the help of Tanahashi, Suzuki got an easy win.
2. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Kazunari Murakami – 2001 Day 3 – 36 seconds
Back in 2001, it was a lot more common for matches not to go as long as expected. In particular, very few matches in the A block during this tournament went over 10 minutes, and this was by far the shortest.
Looking back, this was a match between two legends and it only lasted 36 seconds!
As expected with a match of this length, not much happened in terms of action. In the ring were two men full of skill and personality and many fans expected a technical battle.
Yet, just after 36 seconds, Fujinami managed to defeat Murakami with a classic inside cradle.
Although it might have seemed short and disappointing, it is the best tactic in a tournament as gruelling as the G1.
With only four points during the tournament, it was a vital win for Fujinami but was nothing compared to what he’d achieve later on in his career.
1. Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano – 2020 Day 10 – 18 seconds
Toru Yano has dominated the list when it comes to shortest G1 matches, and it is not surprising to see him take first place.
His bout against fellow CHAOS member Hirooki Goto in 2020 was another classic match in the duo’s G1 saga which had seen several very short matches.
The latest bout was no different and finally some retribution for Hirooki Goto.
Before the match began, Yano offered his hand to fellow CHAOS members as a sign of respect. Unsurprisingly, Goto didn’t fall for Yano’s tricks again.
As soon as the bell rang, with an offer of a T-shirt, Yano tried to get the win, but Goto hit a stiff lariat and with a fancy roll-up followed by a Goto Shiki, he got the win.
In the end, the ring entrances lasted almost six times longer than the match itself.
After suffering two G1 losses to Toru Yano in a row, it was an instant classic, with the match finishing before it even managed to start.
Although it was short and didn’t have much action, it is still a fan favourite. It is matches like this that are why many love watching Yano in the G1 Climax year after year.
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