G1 Matches to look out for!

Hi guys,

We're almost half way through the 2019 and with Summer approaching, that can only mean one thing: NJPW G1.

For those of you who don't know what the G1 tournament is, let me try and explain it in a nutshell:
There are 20 men in two blocks of ten who fight against each other over a series of matches. The winners of the block (the one with the most wins) will battle each other on the final night. Whoever wins, gets a briefcase entitling them to a main event title match at the Tokyo Dome for Wrestle Kingdom the next year. Unlike other briefcases, the winner of this tournament can lose his opportunity before the title match takes place.

Block A

Kazuchika Okada v Hiroshi Tanahashi
I don't think crowds in NJPW will ever get tired of seeing the Rainmaker and the Ace going at it in a single's match. This is probably one of the best rivalries in the history of the company and, even as new friends..., the match is going to be throttle and no one is going to take the other lightly. Obviously, as reigning IWGP champ, Okada has a massive target on his back and Tanahashi knows this. A win over Okada would mean a future title shot, even if without winning the tournament. Tanahashi on the other hand maybe has even more to prove. After losing the title on his first defence and then losing again to Jay White last tour after coming back from injury, the Ace needs to prove that he still has it. Both are amazing wrestlers and its no doubt going to be an amazing match. In terms of picking up the win, I don't see Okada losing his first match of the G1 and especially one against Tanahashi.

Will Ospreay v Zack Sabre Jr
The battle of the British boys and two men who know each other extremely well. This match up between Ospreay and ZSJ is a singles match we have never seen in NJPW, but one that many British wrestling fans love watching. What is always so exciting about this is the clashing of styles. Yes, both men grew up in the UK and would've been taught the basic fundamentals, but that's where the similarities end. Ospreay was more inspired by the lucha libre style of wrestling whereas ZSJ's is fundamentally old British World of Sport style with a fresh twist. We've got the aerial and fearless style of Ospreay v the submission master and technical wizard in Sabre Jr. This clash of styles makes the match up even more exciting and it will involve one man adapting to his opponent. In terms of winner, as a proud Brit, I refuse to choose between my fellow country men. However, no doubt that it will be one of my favourite matches of the tournament.

EVIL v Sanada
As soon as the blocks were announced, we saw the usual LIJ G1 tension start to arise. None is more evident than this match in itself where we see not only faction members but also a successful tag team having to compete against each. Evil and Sanada both have really different styles. Evil is definitely the stronger of the two competitors. However, not only is Sanada more agile and athletic, but he has this potential that comes out in big match situations. After his success in the G1, it might seem like Sanada has got the advantage over his LIJ partner but never count out the King of Darkness who is always on a path of destruction. As well as being on of my most anticipated matches in Block A, it might be one of the ones I'm most looking forward too in the entire tournament.

Kenta v Zack Sabre Jr
A first time match up, as I looked at the matches Kenta is having, his bout against fellow Brit ZSJ is the one my eyes were drawn too. From the get go, we know it's going to be a technical masterpiece and one that is going to be a throwback to British wrestling and good old mat wrestling. Both men are extremely proficient with their strikes and have a great technical ability in the ring which makes them pretty evenly matched. However, does Kenta have an advantage by coming in with something to prove and a huge chip on his shoulder. By the time I post this, we're still not sure if Yoshi Hashi managed to take ZSJ G1 space, but for the sake of this match, I really hope that isn't the case. If it is on, I have to give Sabre Jr the win because he may just be the best technical wrestler in the world and one of the best overall wrestlers in the world.

Lance Archer v Will Ospreay
After the amazing match the two guys had in the NJPW Cup last year, I'm actually really excited to watch this match again. On the one side, we have the mahoosive and total badass American Psycho Lance Archer and then we have the agile but also badass Aerial Assassin and IWGP Jr champion Will Ospreay. It would be easy to say that Archer is going to win this straight up and I can see why you'd think this. He's big, he's strong, he's agile, he's full of fire and we've seen him step up his game in the last few months. However, Ospreay beat Archer in the NJPW Cup and has beat other huge heavyweights such as Fale. With all that momentum of the last few months on Ospreay's side, it gives him a great advantage going in. However, I don't think I can pick a winner because both will go in full throttle and have the ability to beat the other.



Block B

Tetsuya Naito v Shingo Tagaki

Another LIJ match means another match that I'm so excited for. Even though the stakes are probably not as high and the story may not be as deep as Evil v Sanada. We've seen in the past, Naito state that he does think like Takagi is a strong competitor and has sometimes been better than him in tag matches, so it will be interesting to see what happens. Although Tranquilo, Tetsuya Naito is one of the best wrestlers in the world from the way he holds himself in the ring to his fearless attitude. Also, Naito is the IC champ and wants to prove himself to get to that final and become a double champ, but will Takagi be his toughest competitor. Although picking up his first loss to Will Ospreay, he's beaten everyone else in the Jr division and even picked up a win against veteran Kojima. I wouldn't take Shingo lightly. However, as Naito is one of my favourites to win, I don't see Takagi beating him but it may well be his only loss in the tournament.

Hirooki Goto v Tomohiro Ishii
The two Chaos members who are the epitome of always the bridesmaid but never the bride in terms of getting the IWGP Heavyweight title. Both guys are such work horses and always get the backing of the fans and their fellow Chaos team mates but never seem to get the big one. As current NEVER champion, Ishii has a target on his back and wants to elevate the title to the heights it deserves. Big and tough as hell, Ishii won;t take any prisoners. As a fellow NEVER weight champion, Goto is also coming into this tournament with a chip on his shoulder. We haven't seen him since he lost to Jay and we all know he's coming in with a vengence. He's an amazing wrestler and has so much heart. Even though these guys are faction members, I don't doubt for a second that this is going to be an all out brawl. I love both guys so much, but I would love to see Goto get the win and actually manage to get that title for once.

Tetsuya Naito v Jay White

I think this is a first time singles match up between the King of Tranquilo and the Switchblade and what better place to have it then the G1. As I said before, Naito has a lot riding on this G1 and has made his target clear. However, Jay White also so much to prove. Like Tanahashi, he lost the IWGP heavyweight title on his first defence against Okada at MSG. White thinks he deserved his re-match a lot earlier and is really bitter that he has to go through an entire tournament to get his shot. However, it could be his year. After a great start to the G1 last year, his willingness to do anything to win and with Gedo in his corner, he will fight tooth and claw to win. However, Naito isn't afraid of getting dirty and sneaky so it will be an amazing match to watch. Either man could win and as two of my favourites to win the whole thing, I just can't pick who I want to win. However, if Jay win's this match and the G1, maybe he'll beat Naito in the dream to be double champ.

Jon Moxley v Jay White
Of course, being a huge Jay White fan, there wasn't just going to be one match of his that I'm looking forward too. This match was something I was literally hoping to see when the announcement's for the G1 was first made and I'm so happy we get to see it. Obviously Moxley is the US champion and the newest NJPW member so he's got a lot of momentum and no one really knows what to expect. However, if anyone can beat Moxley, it's White. As I said before, he's got a lot to prove and he's not going to let some NJPW newbie (even a veteran like Moxley) take over his yard. As much as people's eyes are getting drawn to NJPW because of Jon Moxley and they expect him to win, I have to say that I want Jay White to win this. I think that getting the win over a major star like Moxley is something White needs and something he is more than capable of doing. Also, I'd love to see White with another run of the US title and a win would get him that!

Tomohiro Ishii v Taichi
We've had a few matches between Ishii and Taichi over the last few months and I'm really glad that we get to see it again. Obviously Ishii won the NEVER title of Taichi earlier last month so the Holy Emperor will be out to get a shot at that title again. However, Ishii will not let go of the title he's become synonymous with easily. The reason that I'm so excited about this match is the fact that I think Ishii really brings out the best in Taichi. For someone who likes using Suzuki Gun tactics, whenever Taichi gets in the ring with the Stone Pitbull, we see these glimpses of a proper and really talented wrestlers. Ishii just has this ability to bring out a fire in wrestlers and Taichi is no exception. As much as I love Ishii, I really do think that Taichi might pull of the win and I really hope it's clean and in a way that shows off how talented a wrestlers Taichi is. 

So, obviously I've just picked a few out of a massively stacked card, but these are the ones that stood out to me personally. It's crazy how good the line up for this G1 is and the matches the company are giving us are ones that we could only dream about at some point.

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Until next time,

Bye