It is the most wonderful time of the year. It is NJPW G1 Climax 34 A Block time! The G1 Climax is arguably the most prestigious pro wrestling tournament in the world. The 34th edition of the G1 remains in its traditional summer slot.
This particular tournament returns to the G1’s traditional format of two ten-wrestler blocks. We even have a competitor from All Elite Wrestling in this year’s tournament. We have the makings of another truly memorable G1 Climax tournament.
The G1 Climax tournament will have two ten-wrestler blocks competing in a very grueling round-robin tournament.
The top three wrestlers from each block will compete in the quarterfinals on August 16th, the semifinals on August 17th, and the finals on August 18th. Let us take a closer look at the A Block field, which starts on July 20th.
NJPW G1 Climax 34 A Block:
Tetsuya Naito
We start with the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Tetsuya Naito regained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door in June, defeating Jon Moxley.
Naito also won the G1 Climax last year as well. Can the 42-year-old star handle all the pressure that comes with defending the G1 title?
The problem with being the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion heading into the G1 is that everyone in your block will set their sights on you.
And if you beat the champion in your block, you generally will receive a title shot in the near future. With some great veterans like Shingo Takagi, EVIL, Zack Sabre Jr. and SANADA in his block, it will be a difficult few weeks indeed for Naito.
Shingo Takagi
Shingo Takagi is entering his sixth straight G1 tournament. Even though Shingo Takagi is a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, he has never advanced out of the group stage in this prestigious tournament. Is this the year he finally breaks through in the G1?
He will find out right away on Night One. He faces defending G1 Climax winner and current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito.
Defeating the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon would certainly set Shingo on the right track to finally break through in the G1.
Shota Umino
Can Shota Umino’s second run in G1 be even better than the first? Shota Umino earned six points in the G1 Climax in 2023. He just missed making the quarterfinals. The talented 27-year-old New Japan star is in need of a big moment this year.
His 2024 has certainly been a bit of a disappointment. He lost his match at Wrestle Kingdom. He lost to EVIL for the NEVER Openweight Champion at New Beginning. He lost to Jack Perry in the first round of the New Japan Cup.
He even lost to his mentor Jon Moxley for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Strong Resurgence. Can Umino use the G1 to turn 2024 around?
Jake Lee
Jake Lee was one of the biggest stars in Pro Wrestling Noah. He even won the GHC Heavyweight Championship in 2023.
But it all changed at Noah Destination on July 13th, as Jake Lee joined the Bullet Club War Dogs. He also announced that he would be leaving Pro Wrestling Noah as well.
Now that he has turned his back on Pro Wrestling Noah, what comes next for the newest member of Bullet Club? He will be making his debut in the G1 Climax in 2024.
He will also get another shot at Tetsuya Naito after their impressive match at the All Together pay-per-view. It is certainly put up or shut up time for Lee in the A Block.
EVIL
It is impressive to see just how unpopular House of Torture has become in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2024.
The group’s constant interference in matches has forced NJPW officials to give themselves more power to stop House of Torture’s underhanded tactics in recent weeks.
It came to a head at NJPW Dominion in June when EVIL lost his Lumberjack Match and his chance for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Jon Moxley.
What will EVIL do now? After his heartbreaking loss, he returns for his 9th G1 tournament. He had his best run in the tournament last year making the semifinals. Can he get back on track in 2024 and improve on last year in the loaded A Block?
Great-O-Khan
It has been an interesting year for Great-O-Khan in 2024. He has placed his focus on the KOPW Championship. He is the current Provisional KOPW Champion after winning the title at NJPW Dominion in a Catch Rules Match.
After spending the year focused on the crazy world of the KOPW Championship, can he refocus on the grueling G1? He has had some modest success in his previous three tournaments. But can he finally make the jump to the next level in his 4th try?
Gabriel Kidd
Gabriel Kidd spent last year’s G1 debut simply brutalizing his opponents. He didn’t even really care if he won matches as long as he inflicted damage along the way. The vicious Bullet Club War Dogs member is back for his second G1 in 2024.
But this year he has more momentum heading into the tournament. He won the Strong Openweight Championship over Eddie Kingston at the Resurgence show. With this new momentum, can he increase his success in his second try?
Zack Sabre Jr.
Zack Sabre Jr. has put a lot of pressure on himself heading into his 8th G1 Climax tournament.
He has vowed to be the first non-Japanese wrestler to win in the Tokyo Dome main event since Brock Lesnar in 2005. With a victory over Bryan Danielson at NJPW New Beginning, he has been called “the best technical wrestler in the world” as well.
Last year was Sabre Jr.’s best performance in the G1 Climax as he made the quarterfinals. With all the pressure he has put on himself, can he win the tournament he so clearly desires? He certainly has the skills to do so in 2024.
SANADA
SANADA had quite a year in 2023. He held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the majority of the year.
He even went on a hot streak at last year’s G1. He went undefeated in the A Block before his injuries caught up to him. He lost in the quarterfinals to EVIL.
SANADA’s 2024 has not gotten off to a great start. He lost the World title at Wrestle Kingdom and the rematch just a month later.
He even lost matches for the IWGP Tag Team titles and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Titles this year. Can he regain his momentum in the G1? It is best to never count out someone as talented as SANADA.
Callum Newman
To say it would be a shock to see the 21-year-old Callum Newman in the G1 would be an understatement. He had spent most of 2024 in tag team action with the United Empire. He bravely challenged Tetsuya Naito in a losing effort at NJPW Dominion.
But Newman shocked the world in the G1 A Block Qualifying Tournament. He defeated NJPW veterans Yujiro Takahashi, Kenta and Yoshi-Hashi to earn the final slot in A Block.
Can he ride his momentum to surprise some of the veterans in the A Block? He certainly has nothing to lose and everything to gain in the loaded A Block.
