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Match 5 - Togi Makabe Vs Kazuchika Okada
These two former G1 winners and IWGP Heavyweight Champions have fought 4 times in the past and this will be the fifth singles encounter between the two. Makabe has been surprising the fans thus far, defeating YOSHI-HASHI, and more notably, Minoru Suzuki to gain 4 points in the G1.
Makabe has been picking up steam and fans anticipating that he wouldn't do very well are fairly surprised. Makabe is the old veteran in the G1, similar to Yuji Nagata last year, but with Makabe being 47 years old and having television deals he is quite the character in NJPW.
On the other hand, you have the most famous man in Japanese wrestling in the modern era in the form of Kazuchika Okada. Okada's list of achievements only needs to be traced back to 2013 when he returned from excursion, joined CHAOS and debuted as the 'Rain-Maker'.
Gedo by his side, Okada hasn't done well at the beginning of this G1 losing to Jay White and Bad Luck Fale, standing now on 0 points, but this could all change. The G1 is special in that the standings within the blocks can change in the space of one or two matches, and whoever wins this bout of the veteran vs the new guard could very well change the standings and have an opportunity of going to the Finals at the Nippon Budokan.
Prediction - Okada. Kazuchika Okada needs to gain points and win a match in the G1 and I believe he'll hit his stride with Makabe. Okada hasn't won a singles match since being defeated by Kenny Omega in a 2 out of 3 falls, no time limit match at Dominion 6.9 at Osaka-Jo Hall.
Okada will win a match but it needs to be someone who's in the lead so that he can halt their progression a bit and Makabe fits that role. I believe Okada could come back and make the finals but it's a rough road ahead for the 30-year-old.
