NJPW G1 Climax #G127 Wrestlers, Blocks and Matches Released

NJPW G1 Climax G127 Wrestlers, Blocks and Matches Released

NJPW Pro Wrestling announced the wrestler competing in this year annual G1 Tournament and have split the wrestlers into Block A and Block B.

A Block


Hiroshi Tanahashi
Togi Makabe
Yuji Nagata
Hirooki Goto
Tomohiro Ishii
YOSHI-HASHI
Bad Luck Fale
Tetsuya Naito
Zack Sabre Jr.
Kota Ibushi

B Block


Satoshi Kojima
Juice Robinson
Michael Elgin
Kazuchika Okada
Toru Yano
Kenny Omega
Tama Tonga
EVIL
SANADA
Minoru Suzuki

I laid out a scenario in my previous blog (which you can read here http://jonswrestleview.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/njpw-g1-climax-tournament-2017.html where I thought that Okada and Omega could be the final Group A vs Group B match.

However as you can see from the Blocks Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada have been drawn in Group B so will have a match against each other in G1 Tournament in will be a pivotal match I think in deciding the winner of the group.

Also in my previous blog I mentioned that I really wanted to see Kenny Omega vs Kota Ibushi.

Unfortunately they have been drawn in separate groups so to obtain Omega vs Ibushi both men will have to win their groups, its a possibility and could happen if I did it would be a G1 finals match for the ages!!

So with the Blocks now drawn what do I think could happen?

The following matches have been announced for NJPW G1 Climax (credit to wrestlezone.com)

July 17th

Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

July 20th

Minoru Suzuki vs. Kenny Omega
SANADA vs. EVIL

July 21st

YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito
Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

July 22nd

Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA
Kenny Omega vs. Tama Tonga

July 23rd

Togi Makabe vs. Hirooki Goto
Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii

July 25th

Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
Toru Yano vs. Kenny Omega

July 26th

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi

July 27th

Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega
Minoru Suzuki vs. EVIL

July 29th

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI

July 30th

Juice Robinson vs. Kazuchika Okada
Satoshi Kojima vs. Kenny Omega

August 1st

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
Yuji Nagata vs. Tomohiro Ishii

August 2nd

Kenny Omega vs. EVIL
Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki

August 4th

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

August 5th

Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
Satoshi Kojima vs. SANADA

August 6th

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito

August 8th

Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
Kenny Omega vs. SANADA

August 11th

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
Kota Ibushi vs. Hirooki Goto

August 12th

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega

I'm trying to look at this with a logical head so here goes,

The Dark Horses and Wrestlers to look out for

If NJPW really want to mix things up then they could look at these talents for winning G1 G127

Dark Horses

Evil

Evil is a wrestler who I think has been overlooked and underused a little in NJPW. I'm a fan of his theme music, entrance and his wrestling. Evil is an interesting wrestling character and not something you see much of in Wrestling in 2017. G1 Could be an interesting opportunity for him to develop and is definitely one to watch on this Tournament.

Kota Ibushi

Kota Ibushi is back. After being Tiger Mask W, NJPW has allowed Kota Ibushi to return! To be honest personally I very interested and excited to see his matches as Kota Ibushi again.

I really wanted to see Omega vs Ibushi (as I mentioned above) in my heart I would love to See Kenny Omega vs Kota Ibushi in the final - although a lot of people say it may not be possible, I cling onto hope that it could be, just imagine how great that match could be.

Ibushi is such a unique wrestler that he could be a dark horse in his tournament.

Zack Sabre Jr

I have got to say that I'm very happy to see my fellow Englishman Zack Sabre Jr in the G1 this year. Representing Suzuki-Gun Zack Sabre will have some smashing matches in this G1 G127 Tournament in my opinion especially against Kota Ibushi, Naito and Yoshi-Hashi. This could be a stand out tournament for Zack Sabre to show NJPW even more how good he is.

The Favourites

Tanahashi

Tanahashi is a world class wrestler but in my opinion he doesn't need to win G1. 

Tanahashi just Overcame Naito to become  IWGP Intercontinential champion. Tnahashi at this stage of his career does not in my opinion need to win G1 in 2017. There could be plenty of possibilities for Feuds for him for Wrestlekingdom 12 for IWGP Intercontinential championship.

Naito

Naito had a great 2016 and a fantastic 2017 - he was IWGP intercontinental champion and was only Stopped by Tanahashi as mentioned above at NJPW Dominion. Naito has all the tools to be IWGP World Champion again and he is a good bet for this Tourament and is a strong possibility to be in the final.

Kenny Omega

Personally I still believe that 2017 is about the redemption of Kenny Omega and although Naito has a good chance in this G1 I think the Kenny Omega is going to become the x2 G1 Winner and cement his Japanese legacy even further and settle his ongoing battle with Okada at Wrestlekingdom 12 in their final IWGP World Title match.

i'm a huge Kenny Omega fan and i want and crave to see the Omega story evolve and cant wait to see where it ends, as i mentioned above i hope the dream final is Ibushi vs Omega!

Kazuchika Okada

The Current IWGP World Champion Kazuchika Okada has had an incredible run and amazing matches during his run with the belt he has had to fight hard but has overcome obstacles put in front of him, although he and Kenny Omega drew and had a classic wrestling match at NJPW Dominion which is Match of Year in my opinion.

Kazuchika Okada as world champion isn't fancied as much to win the tournament due to winner getting a title shot, but a IWGP world Champion has won the tournament before and I could see NJPW doing this again although I think this would bee detrimental to the other talent in G1.

Thanks For Reading

@jon422002

Jonathan Orchard