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NJPW: 5 Ways The Landscape of New Japan Shifted With G1 Supercard

By Corey Collins

NAGAOKA,JAPAN - MARCH 23: Kazuchika Okada enters the ring prior to the Semi Final bout during the New Japan Cup of NJPW at Aore Nagaoka on March 23, 2019 in Nagaoka, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
NAGAOKA,JAPAN - MARCH 23: Kazuchika Okada enters the ring prior to the Semi Final bout during the New Japan Cup of NJPW at Aore Nagaoka on March 23, 2019 in Nagaoka, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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The Submission Master and The Fallen Ace

The stories of Zack Sabre Jr and Hiroshi Tanahashi in New Japan have been as interesting in the past year as they may have ever been.

In the 2018 New Japan Cup, Sabre was able to submit Tanahashi in the final round to become just the second foreigner to win the tournament. Since then, it’s been Zack Sabre Time all the time with nary a bump in the road along the way.

For Tanahashi, the road to Madison Square Garden and G1 Supercard has been far less kind. After being separated from the IWGP Heavyweight Title since 2014, Tana reclaimed his familiar prize for an 8th time at Wrestle Kingdom 13.

The glory of rising back to the top of the New Japan roster would be short-lived, though, as Tanahashi would drop the championship to Jay White the following month in Osaka.

For Tanahashi, the path back to the title would necessitate a win in the 2019 New Japan Cup.

While Tanahashi was able to avenge his loss to Sabre in last year’s tournament by catching ZSJ in a surprise pin in the quarterfinals, he would fall to another rising star in SANADA in the semifinals.

Since winning last year’s G1 Climax to earn his Tokyo Dome title shot, Jay White suggested that Tanahashi’s time had come and gone and that his beaten-down body could no longer compete with men such as himself.

With the Switchblade Shock at The New Beginning, a loss in the New Japan Cup, and the results of G1 Supercard it may be time to accept White’s words.

By way of submission, ZSJ put an end to Tanahashi’s MSG dreams. Leading up to the event, Tanahashi spoke endlessly about his excitement to compete in the building and continue the legacy of Tatsumi Fujinami.

For Tana, winning in Madison Square Garden at G1 Supercard was more than just a matter of pride – it was a necessity.

What becomes of The Ace of the Universe, then, after tapping out to Zack Sabre Jr in the center of the ring in the world’s most famous arena? Can he bounce back in the second half of 2019, or has his flame been snuffed out by a new generation on the rise?

For Sabre, this may be yet another sign of the changing times in New Japan. With the loss of names like Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Chris Jericho to All Elite Wrestling, the need for wrestlers who have connections to western audiences is more crucial than ever as the company looks to expand.

With the fallout of the main event of the evening, could Sabre parlay his huge victory over Tanahashi at G1 Supercard into a G1 Climax victory and an eventual shot at Okada in the Tokyo Dome?

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