Wednesday 23rd September has A Block action but B Block action takes centre stage on the 24th. We remain in Sapporo to see if B Block can take the plaudits again like it did this weekend. With another stacked night perhaps we will get another MOTY contender?
Yota Tsuji v Yuya Uemura
At the time of writing it is just before night 3. As such we don’t know the night 3 result yet. However, one thing we should expect is a highly competitive match here. Uemura got the win over Tsuji on night 1 in Osaka. These 2 have fought each other 35 times incredibly at NJPW events with 21 draws. Could it be a 22nd tonight? Either way, this Young Lions battle will be a great look into the future.
Hirooki Goto (0pts) v SANADA (0pts)
NJPW have been running polls throughout the G1 on who people think will win each block. Interestingly, Sanada is by far and away the favourite to win B Block. B Block contains 3 former IWGP Heavyweight Champions and 3 former G1 Climax winners, that includes Goto. So, it makes you think just how popular Sanada is. He came so close on a number of occasions last year to dethroning Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. People are obviously ready for Sanada to win the big one. He will have to put that humiliating defeat to Toru Yano behind him.
Goto had his own humiliation been forced to tap to old enemy Kenta on night 2. For Goto the question whether his best years are now behind him have to be asked. Surely, Sanada has to win this one over the 2008 G1 winner to give himself a chance of winning this year as so many expect him to.
Hiroshi Tanahashi (0pts) v Toru Yano (2pts)
Tana and Yano have faced each other so many times over the years. Their matches have ranger from sub 3 encounters to 30 minutes draws in the G1. Don’t expect a 30 minute draw here. The days of Yano putting on an amateur wrestling classic are gone, expect the Sublime Master Thief to use every dirty trick available. Yano doesn’t care how he wins. He’s as likely to win by countout as any method, just ask Sanada.
For Tanahashi, he is coming off an epic encounter with Naito. His only chance now for a title shot is to win the G1 which is more than capable of doing. But is the Ace no longer the Ace? He’s had a very rough few months and Yano is last guy you want to face knowing momentum is needed.
Juice Robinson (2pts) v KENTA (2pts)
A battle between 2 guys who went to NXT and struggled but came to New Japan Pro Wrestling and rebuilt their careers. Juice was a young man with loads of potential while Kenta was already Japanese wrestling royalty. Regardless of their path they ended up at the same destination. With 2 points a piece this encounter has given both some breathing room.
Kenta is the heavy favourite but you get the feeling Juice is one big singles performance away from breaking through. The crowd love him but the Flamboyant one is just missing something. Maybe a big win over a high profile star like Kenta might do it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Juice can do it here.
YOSHI-HASHI (0pts) v EVIL (0pts)
If you listened to Juice Robinson’s post match comments in regards to his win of Yoshi-Hashi then you’ll get Yoshi-Hashi’s standing in the eyes of many. Good performer but he’s no major player. The Chaos mainstay has had a good run this year but Evil should be too much.
The defeat ZSJ was a shock. Evil really needs a good run in the G1 to establish himself after a mixed response to his Double Championship run. Let’s be honest here, for Evil to be thought of as a too guy he can’t lose to Yoshi-Hashi. A convincing win is essential for the King of Darkness. Expect The Spoiler Dick Togo to get involved and make sure Darkness Club gets 2 points.
Tetsuya Naito (2pts) v Zack Sabre Jr. (2pts)
This should be a good one. Not only did Naito and ZSJ win their respective openers, they won 2 cracking matches. As such they both have huge momentum. Whoever wins this will take instant control of B Block and become an early favourite.
Los Ingobernables de Japon v Suzuki-gun matches always have an interesting dynamic. Theoretically there are rules, do not expect either guy to stick to them. This will be a combination of technical showcase, high athleticism and dirty tricks. ZSJ will probably control the pace of the match but when ZSJ gets cocky that’s when he make mistakes.
This writer is a massive fan of both. In fact, these 2 guys might be my top 2 in NJPW so I’m very excited about this one. I’m giving the edge to ZSJ at this point however. The win would mean more for him. Match of the Year contender though? Well, this is the G1.
