NJPW G1 Climax 29: A-Block preview and predictions

Kota Ibushi (L):

This is not Ibushi’s first rodeo as far as the G1 is concerned, but it is his first tournament as a contracted New Japan employee. This doesn’t sound especially important to begin with, but it’s worth noting the persistent rumours that New Japan have been leery of pushing Ibushi in the past due to his insistence on remaining a freelancer.

Whether or not that’s true, it’s certainly the case that Ibushi has seen greater success in recent months than he has in previous years: a brief stint as NEVER Openweight Champion was superceded by a reign as IWGP Intercontinental Champion.

That Ibushi has tasted New Japan gold twice this year is not insignificant: his previous reigns as Junior Heavyweight Champion came to an end with his last win in 2014. This could finally be Kota Ibushi’s time, and not a moment too soon.

“The Golden Star” remains one of New Japan’s most exciting performers; he’s unpredictable, capricious and incredibly talented, and it’s long past time for Ibushi to shoot to the very top of the NJPW hierarchy.

Josiah: I think this is quite notable as well. Ibushi, previously, has never been under a full time NJPW contract. Ibushi has, for years, been one of the best wrestlers in the world. Completely content to carve his own path, he refused a WWE contract that would have likely seen him left on 205 Live.

Ibushi, instead, continues to impress all around the world. Since (apparently) signing a lifetime contract with NJPW, I expect to see him do very well in this tournament. I wouldn’t even be shocked to see him win it. I expect him to have some of the best matches of the whole tournament, and Ibushi will likely try his best to make sure he does.

EVIL (Los Ingobernables de Japon) (J):

EVIL is one of NJPW’s top tag team stars with SANADA. The member of Los Ingobernables de Japon is known for his elaborate entrances and costumes that help intimidate his opponents. EVIL has been quietly climbing the ranks in every single G1 and he can’t be counted out at all. EVIL has victories over Okada and several other top stars in New Japan.

Having earned a title shot previously against Okada thanks to pinning him in the G1, EVIL was not able to defeat him. EVIL will be looking to get another win over Okada, and as it stands, will have to compete against his tag team partner SANADA as well. Expect EVIL’s run to be very interesting.

SANADA (Los Ingobernables de Japon) (L):

Los Ingobernables de Japon’s resident strong, silent type, SANADA has slowly begun to emerge as a potentially brilliant singles competitor after several years propping up the tag division with partner EVIL. On paper, SANADA almost has it all: handsome, quietly charismatic (if not scintillating on the mic), strong and athletic, impressive in the ring.

Those who’ve suggested that SANADA is a singles champion in the making could well be proven right in this tournament. SANADA’s clash with EVIL will be well worth watching; New Japan know how to tell a story, and a friendly rivalry between two people who know one another as well as these two is bound to result in something exciting.

Bad Luck Fale (Bullet Club) (J):

Bad Luck Fale is the resident big man in NJPW, always posing a challenge to the top guys in the G1.

In recent years, he has upped his cheating in the tournament, seeing himself get disqualified several times. Fale has gotten title shots against Okada and Tanahashi in the past, but has never successfully unseated the champion.

Fale, a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion, is never to be underestimated. He will play spoiler in a few matches this time around, and I fully expect Fale get a few big wins in this tournament.

Laura: A friend recently described Fale as ‘a Russian Roulette’ wrestler, which seems fair – you’ll either get an enjoyable performance or complete rubbish, with little in the way of moderation. I’m still sour on Fale after last year’s underwhelming G1, rife with Bullet Club nonsense, so I’m interested to see whether he’s any better this time around…

Lance Archer (Suzuki-gun) (J):

Lance Archer is another big man that has seen great success in a tag team in NJPW. With his partner, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Archer has won the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles several times.

Archer is now a singles star, as Davey Boy Smith Jr. has left NJPW, and he will be looking to make a major impact. Don’t let Archer’s size fool you – this big man can do a moonsault and he is deceptively fast. Look for Archer to pick up a few big wins here this time around.