NJPW G1 Climax 28: B Block Preview and Predictions
G1 CLIMAX 28 kicks off in 3 days as NJPW heads to its birthplace in Ota for two nights‼︎ Okada vs Jay, Omega vs Naito! For Tanahashi, Ibushi, Suzuki, a Tama Tonga striking out from the Bullet Club, and for fans the world over, the countdown is on! https://t.co/VZk5PreSNe #g128 pic.twitter.com/7z3N8eIh4V
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) July 10, 2018
Juice Robinson – IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion
The new IWGP US Heavyweight Champion won’t be getting too much time to rest, as he enters the G1 Climax tournament. This marks Juice’s second appearance in the tournament. Last year was eventful, as he was able to get a flash pinfall victory over Kenny Omega with a rollup. Juice, having recently won the US title in the same way, is looking to improve his standing and upset Omega again.
Tama Tonga (Bullet Club Firing Squad)
Tama Tonga has just been a part of one of the biggest angles of the year in NJPW, as The Firing Squad debuted. Tonga joined with his father, Haku, and his brother Tanga Loa, and beat down the rest of the Bullet Club. The Bullet Club Firing Squad was formed, and you know that Tonga is going to try and make a major impact this year. I expect that Tama Tonga is going to get the pinfall over Kenny Omega this year to set up a title match.
If this happens, I expect the match to take place at the September 30th Long Beach show, as NJPW returns to the US. This feud was hinted at last year when Tonga showed disdain towards Omega during the tournament, but seemed to be resolved when Omega defeated him. Tama Tonga, however, was simply biding his time and waiting for the chance to attack. Bullet Club was not fine.
Hirooki Goto (CHAOS) – NEVER Openweight Champion
Hirooki Goto will be making his 11th G1 Climax appearance here, debuting in the G1 in 2008. Goto has won the G1 Climax once in 2008. Hirooki Goto has been a mainstay in the upper midcard of NJPW for years. Goto is one of the wrestlers that has always been able to deliver great matches, but somehow is still underrated. Hirooki Goto is someone that shouldn’t be ignored or underestimated, because when you do, he makes you pay with a brutal headbutt and a GTR.