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New Japan's premier tournament, the G1 Climax has commenced with the first show being held in Ota City General Gymnasium on July 14. Considered one of the most grueling tournaments in New Japan, the G1 Climax is considered a major event in Japan and is covered by all the major news publications in the country.
The 17-day tournament will conclude at Nippon Bodukan on August 12. The winner of the tournament will get a title shot of his choosing at Wrestle Kingdom next year.
This year's tournament is more stacked than ever before with veterans like Hiroshi Tanahashi, Minoru Suzuki and Kazuchika Okada vying for the coveted prize whilst newbies like Hangman Page and Jay white will be looking to a make a name for themselves during the course of the tournament.
With last year's tournament being declared the best in the company's history by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this year's edition has a lot to live up to.
So, without further ado, here are our picks to win the G1 Climax this year :
Note: We have kept Kenny Omega and Tetsuya Naito out of this list as history dictates that no one superstar has won the G1 twice in a row and the reigning champion hasn't been able to win the tournament.
#5 Zack Sabre Jr.
Zack Sabre Jr has had one of the best rookie years in New Japan history. After signing with the promotion in February 2017, the Brit shocked the entire wrestling world by making the ace of New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi submit in his very first G1 match last year.
He then participated in the New Japan Cup in which he defeated Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi and Evil en route to the finals. In the finals, the Brit once again made Tanahashi tap out thereby becoming the second gaijin to win the New Japan Cup.
Placed in Block B with the likes of the Current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Tama Tonga and Tetsuya Naito, the Suzuki Gun member is expected to make a lot of his opponents tap out to his array of submission moves.
#4 Hiroshi Tanahashi
One of the most prolific performers in New Japan history, Hiroshi Tanahashi has had quite the rocky year ever since losing the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Minoru Suzuki earlier this year.
The Ace of New Japan has failed in his quest to recapture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship not once but twice this year. First, he lost to Zack Sabre Jr. in the finals of this year's New Japan Cup which would've earned him an IWGP Heavyweight championship match.
He then lost to Kazuchika Okada in the main event of Wrestling Dontaku for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship where ironically Okada eclipsed Tanahashi record of 11 successful title defenses.
Tanahashi will be on a path of redemption at this year's G1 where he is placed in Block A with his arch nemesis Kazuchika Okada.
#3 Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada's historic championship reign came to end at this year's Dominion event where he was defeated by Kenny Omega in a 2 out of 3 fall match without any time limit.
The Rainmaker's 720-day reign saw him break numerous records including the record of being the longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion and most successful title defenses. Okada also became the first Japanese wrestler to be ranked no.1 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated annual list of top 500 Singles wrestler in 2007.
The leader of CHAOS is placed in Block A with the likes of Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jay White, Hangman Page, and Evil. The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion will be looking to regain his lost glory and will be looking to take a step closer to regaining the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
#2 Tama Tonga
Tama Tonga is undoubtedly one of the most underrated performers in the New Japan roster. One of the founding members of the Bullet Club, the Tongan has always lived under the shadow of his popular stablemates like Prince Devitt, AJ Styles and more recently Kenny Omega and Cody. But it seems that he has had enough.
About a week about ago, I wouldn't have put Tama Tonga in this list but his recent actions have led me to believe that he is one of the strongest contenders to win the G1 this year.
At the G1 Special in San Fransisco, Tama Tonga turned on the Bullet Club with this brother Tonga Load and father Haku after the fantastic main event match between Bullet Club members Cody and Kenny Omega for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
The Tongan trio laid out every member of the Bullet Club (except for Bad Luck Fale who didn't appear in the event) and declared themselves as equals in the Bullet Club and dissed the car fight between Omega and Cody.
The Bad Boy of New Japan in placed in Block B with Kenny Omega with whom he is excepted to a long feud especially after the events of the G1 Special in San Fransisco.
#1 Kota Ibushi
I have written a detailed piece as to why Kota Ibushi should win the G1 this year which you can read here. But the cheap plug aside, Kota Ibushi is the strongest contender to win the G1 this year given the long history he has with the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega.
The Gold Star hasn't been able to hit his stride ever since moving up to the heavyweight division in 2014. His only major accomplishment has been winning the New Japan Cup in 2015. His first and only shot at the heavyweight championship was against AJ Styles at Invasion Attack in 2015 which he lost.
Ibushi is placed in Block B with his Golden Elite/Lovers stablemate and the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega. He will be looking to prove himself in the heavyweight division and face Omega in the main event of the WrestleKingdom next year for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Who is your pick to go all the way? Let us know in the comments section below!
