A Month That Can Change Everything
Previewing NJPW G1 Climax 28.
Last week, England got knocked out of the World Cup by Croatia. It was my homeland’s first semi-final since 1990, as well as the first England semi-final to have occurred during my lifetime. The last time England made it far, they lost in a penalty shootout to West Germany. Dreams were broken in 1990 and the nation is weeping once again in 2018.
Now you may be wondering why I have decided to start this article by referencing the World Cup. Soccer and pro wrestling have very little in common, and it could be seen by many as me just airing my grievances. But there is a reason for this choice of introduction: In just under two days, what I feel to be the “World Cup” of professional wrestling tournaments is due to kick off (excuse the pun) in Japan. Of course, I am talking about the 28th annual NJPW G1 Climax Tournament.
Since I began following NJPW intensely in 2013 (I had been following New Japan prior to this, but 2013 was when the current product became more accessible), I have come to love the G1 Climax Tournament. The G1 Climax is a showcase for what makes NJPW so great; traditional Japanese wrestling venues, unparalleled match anticipation and outstanding quality pro wrestling. Furthermore, I can honestly say, hand on heart, I have seen more great pro wrestling matches throughout my time watching the G1 Climax than before I saw the G1 Climax for the first time.
Spanning over 30 days, 20 participants (including past and present IWGP champions) from four different continents and six different countries will battle in a round-robin singles match tournament, across two blocks, to decide the number-one contender of an IWGP Heavyweight Championship of their choice, at Wrestle Kingdom 2019. The stakes could not be higher and like the World Cup, the path could not be harder.
But for many of the competitors involved, the tournament is not just about that main event spot at Wrestle Kingdom. The tournament is also a chance for all those underestimated competitors to make a name for themselves against the established guard in the company. The impact the tournament has had on certain wrestlers’ careers is staggering. Without impressive G1 Climax performances and shocking upset wins, who knows what would have come of Tomohiro Ishii, Katsuyori Shibata or Tomoaki Honma.
The tournament is also an opportunity for international wrestlers to make their mark in the heavyweight division of NJPW. This year, international aces “Switchblade” Jay White and Adam “Hangman” Page make their anticipated debuts in the G1 Climax, facing tough competition in their block from former winners Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada. It is a who’s who of pro wrestling talent, all vying to be crowned G1 Climax champion.
Plus, the intrigue surrounding many of the over 90 matches cannot be underestimated:
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Juice Robinson vs. Tetsuya Naito
Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
Jay White vs. Minoru Suzuki
In modern day pro wrestling, there are very few times you legitimately do not know what will happen. Often, we can correctly speculate results from experience or even cheat by reading so called “dirt sheets” for the outcomes. But with the G1 Climax, the results are kept so secret we just do not know what will happen. Who will win, who will lose, who will draw.
We don’t know.
Four weeks ago, I (and the whole English nation) did not expect my country to get out of the group stages. England’s international reputation was at an all-time low and we all thought it was over before it began. Yet, slowly but surely England gained confidence and proved everyone wrong. There were upsets. There were historic wins. And there were crushing defeats echoing the G1 Climax.
That is why I have called this article “A Month That Can Change Everything.” One month can turn a nobody into a star. One month can make people care again. And one month in the G1 Climax tournament can truly change everything.
Tournament Information
You can watch the entire G1 Climax tournament live with English commentary by subscribing to New Japan Pro Wrestling’s streaming service NJPW World: njpwworld.com/#googtrans(en)?utm_source=20180625&utm_medium=g1tokusetsu&utm_campaign=g1site
You can also follow the tournament through the official G1 Climax 28 website: www.g1climax.jp/en/
Finally, I will be tweeting my thoughts throughout the tournament via Twitter (@SteJay215).
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