The World Cup might be nearing an end but the G1 Climax starts on Saturday. The annual tournament showcases the best of NJPW’s Heavyweight Division. Here’s everything you need to know before the tournament kicks off.
Correction: This originally referred to The World Cup as “over,” when The World Cup is in fact not over.
What Is This G1 Climax You Speak Of?
The G1 Climax is a round-robin tournament that sees 20 wrestlers in compete for the chance to headline Wrestle Kingdom. The 20 wrestlers are broken into blocks of 10. Everyone wrestles everyone else in their blocks. 2 points per pin/submission. 1 point for a 30-minute draw. The wrestlers with the most points in their block face off in a final match that will determine the #1 Contender to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. It’s been going on since 1991 and is considered one of pro wrestling’s most prestigious tournaments. It’s been won by legends like Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and others.
Where Can I Watch The G1 Climax?
Every night of the tournament will be broadcast live on NJPWWorld.com and will even feature English Commentary on all nights.
Who’s In This Year’s G1?
Glad you asked, here’s a list:
Block A:
- Hiroshi Tanahashi (2x G1 Climax winner)
- Kazuchika Okada (2x G1 Climax winner)
- Jay White (1st G1 Climax)
- Togi Makabe
- YOSHI-HASHI
- Bad Luck Fale
- EVIL
- Hangman Page (1st G1 Climax)
- Minoru Suzuki
- Michael Elgin
Block B:
- Kenny Omega (1x G1 Climax winner) -IWGP Heavyweight Champion
- Kota Ibushi
- Hirooki Goto (1x G1 Climax Winner) -NEVER Openweight Champion
- Juice Robinson -IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion
- Tetsuya Naito (2x G1 Climax winner)
- SANADA
- Tama Tonga
- Toru Yano
- Zack Sabre Jr.
- Tomohiro Ishii
Who Might Win?
Tanahashi, Okada, Naito & Ibushi are all favorites to win.
RELATED: G1 Climax Prediction From This Week’s New Japan Pro Wednesday
When Is The G1 Climax?
July 14th toAugust 12th. Here’s a handy list of all of the matches. Highly anticipated matches are marked with an *.
7/14 5:30am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki*
- Togi Makabe vs. YOSHI-HASHI
- Michael Elgin vs. EVIL
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White*
- Bad Luck Fale vs. Hangman Page
7/15 2am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Tama Tonga*
- Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA*
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Toru Yano*
- Kenny Omega vs. Tetsuya Naito*
- Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.*
7/16 5am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White*
- Togi Makabe vs. Minoru Suzuki
- Michael Elgin vs. Hangman Page
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale
- YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL
7/19 5:30am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Kota Ibushi*
- Hirooki Goto vs. Kenny Omega
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito
- Toru Yano vs. Zack Sabre Jr.*
- SANADA vs. Tama Tonga
7/20 5:30am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
- Togi Makabe vs. EVIL
- Michael Elgin vs. Jay White
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Hangman Page*
- YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki
7/21 5:30am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Tetsuya Naito
- Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii*
- Toru Yano vs. Kota Ibushi*
- Kenny Omega vs. Tama Tonga*
- SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
7/22 3:30 am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hangman Page*
- Togi Makabe vs. Kazuchika Okada
- Michael Elgin vs. YOSHI-HASHI
- Jay White vs. Minoru Suzuki*
- EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale
7/26 5:30am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Kenny Omega*
- Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano*
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- Tetsuya Naito vs. Tama Tonga*
- SANADA vs. Kota Ibushi
7/27 5:30am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
- Michael Elgin vs. Minoru Suzuki
- Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI*
- Jay White vs. Bad Luck Fale
- EVIL vs. Hangman Page
7/28 5am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Toru Yano*
- Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kota Ibushi*
- Kenny Omega vs. SANADA
- Tama Tonga vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
7/30 6am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
- Togi Makabe vs. Bad Luck Fale*
- Michael Elgin vs. Kazuchika Okada
- Jay White vs. Hangman Page*
- EVIL vs. Minoru Suzuki
8/1 5:30am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. SANADA
- Hirooki Goto vs. Kota Ibushi*
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tama Tonga
- Toru Yano vs. Tetsuya Naito*
- Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr.*
8/2 5:30am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL*
- Togi Makabe vs. Hangman Page
- Michael Elgin vs. Bad Luck Fale
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki*
- Jay White vs. YOSHI-HASHI
8/4 4am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega*
- Toru Yano vs. SANADA*
- Tetsuya Naito vs. Koba Ibushi*
8/5 2am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Michael Elgin
- Togi Makabe vs. Jay White*
- Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL*
- YOSHI-HASHI vs. Bad Luck Fale
- Hangman Page vs. Minoru Suzuki
8/8 5:30am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Tomohiro Ishii
- Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr.*
- Toru Yano vs. Kenny Omega*****
- Kota Ibushi vs. Tama Tonga
- Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA*
8/10 5:30am EDT
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada*****
- Togi Makabe vs. Michael Elgin
- Jay White vs. EVIL*
- YOSHI-HASHI vs. Hangman Page
- Bad Luck Fale vs. Minoru Suzuki*
8/11 5:30am EDT
- Juice Robinson vs. Hirooki Goto
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. SANADA
- Toru Yano vs. Tama Tonga*
- Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi*****
- Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.*
8/12 2am EDT
- A Block Winner vs. B Block Winner.
Do I Need To Watch The Whole G1?
No, that’s what I’m here for. WrestleZone will be providing live coverage of the entire tournament.
Thanks, Ross.
No problem, imaginary NJPW newbie.
