It is G1 Climax time! It is arguably the most prestigious pro-wrestling tournament in the world that is a highlight of the summer months of the wrestling year. The 2019 tournament is one of the most stacked in New Japan’s history. This year will be extra special with the G1 opening night taking place in Dallas, Texas on July 6th of G1 Climax 29. With the likes of Will Ospreay, Kenta, Jon Moxley having their G1 Climax debuts, it should be a fun tournament to behold. Here is our Preview: NJPW G1 Climax 29 A Block.
G1 Climax tournament will have two ten wrestler blocks competing in a grueling round-robin tournament. The winners of A Block and B Block will compete in the Final on August 12th. Let us take a closer look at a loaded A Block field:
Preview: NJPW G1 Climax 29 A Block
A Block:
Bad Luck Fale
We start with the former “Underboss” of the Bullet Club. This will be his sixth G1 Climax tournament appearance. New Japan fans are always very mixed on Fale. He isn’t like the rest of the New Japan wrestlers who will give you a technical classic. Fale is simply a big wrestler who is going to devastate his opponents with some power moves. He is not the sort of wrestlers you would want to face in the middle of the grueling G1 tournament and taking a beating from Bad Luck Fale.
Bad Luck Fale was averaging about ten points each G1 Climax. Last year he got his lowest total with only six points. He will be out for some revenge in this loaded A Block.
Evil
What is Evil’s place in Los Ingobernables de Japon? He has had a frustrating year in New Japan wrestling with little success in 2019. What will he do in his fourth straight G1 tournament?
While Evil has never won a block in this tournament, he has pulled off some major upsets. For example, he beat Okada in 2017 tournament. What will he do in this difficult A Block? And what will happen when he faces his longtime tag partner Sanada? EVIL needs to gain some momentum in 2019.
Hiroshi Tanahashi
It is the Ace of New Japan Wrestling and the defending Champion of this tournament. Tanahashi is a three-time Champion of this tournament but the storyline always seems to be his injuries. He has been producing an insane quality of matches for nearly twenty years and had participated in this grueling tournament for eighteen straight years. Unreal.
Tanahashi won the IWGP Championship earlier this year at Wrestle Kingdom before losing it quickly to Jay White. Since then he has been a New Japan Cup semifinalist and battling injuries as well. But a chance to compete against Okada, Ospreay, Sabre Jr. should be more than enough to see “The Ace” at his best going into the G1 Climax 29 tournament.
Kazuckika Okada
It is the IWGP Heavyweight Champion trying to win the G1 Climax. It is his eighth tournament and he is in a far different place than last year when he had recently lost the title and missed out on winning his Block. His momentum finally changed as he overcame his rival Jay White at G1 Supercard in April.
He has been on a role and getting the chance to start with his great rival Tanahashi on July 6th. We have some dream matches with Kenta, Zack Sabre Jr., and Kota Ibushi. Will the two-time G1 champion get a third crown?
Preview: NJPW G1 Climax 29 A Block
KENTA
Kenta showing up at NJPW Dominion was one of the most shocking moments of 2019 in pro wrestling. Kenta was floundering on WWE 205 Live before he left the roster in February 2019. Many expected him to return to his home base of Pro Wrestling NOAH where he became one of the biggest stars in the world. Then he made his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut instead and announced he was entering the G1 Climax.
Since he never wrestled in New Japan, most of his matches will be fresh. It will be interesting to see how he interacts in his biggest spotlight in nearly five years. Kenta will want to prove he is among the best wrestlers in the world and will get a chance to prove it starting on July 6th against Kota Ibushi.
Kota Ibushi
Kota Ibushi came so close to winning the G1 in 2018. He lost in an incredible match to Tanahashi. Will this be the year he finally breaks through?
It helps that this is the year that Kota committed fully to New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has had some wonderful moments as he won the NEVER Openweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship. But is he finally going to break through and get to the next level of competing for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He seems to be one of the heavy favorites in the tournament. He will have a lot of competition in this block to get there in 2019.
Lance Archer
It is a surprising return to the G1 for Lance Archer. He hasn’t competed in the G1 since 2014. After years of focusing on tag team wrestling, it has been interesting to see how he does in singles competition again.
Lance Archer will be motivated to wrestle in his hometown of Dallas against Will Ospreay. on July 6th. He has focused on Okada on the recent tours as well. He could be a dark horse to steal some valuable points in this very long tournament.
Sanada
Sanada is always the wrestlers who fall just short. This year he lost in the finals of the New Japan Cup to Okada. He had another shot at Okada at Wrestling Dontaku in May but lost that match as well.
Sanada is one of the best technical wrestlers in the company but always comes up short in these big matches. With a third chance at Okada and some interesting opponents like his tag partner Evil, he will get a chance at a breakthrough performance in 2019.
Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay has been the talk of the wrestling world in recent months. “The Aerial Assassin” has been arguably the best wrestler in the world in 2019 as he has turned in some amazing matches in the heavyweight and juniors division in New Japan.
He has recently won the Super Juniors tournament and now will be one of the few Junior Champions in history to enter the G1 itself. As he has committed himself full-time to New Japan Pro Wrestling, this debut appearance in the G1 Climax 29 should allow himself to showcase his talents to a whole new audience.
Zack Sabre Jr.
Zack Sabre is a great wrestler for the G1 Climax. His unique technical style is perfect for breaking down opponents in this month-long tournament. He has had a lot of success against both heavyweights and juniors in the last few years. We also have a major New Japan show coming up in late August. Would G1 Climax winner Zack Sabre Jr. have a nice ring to it at the G1 Climax 29?
