The G1 Climax is a 20-man round robin styled tournament that is considered NJPW’s most prestigious tournament of the year. The winner will receive an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Once the G1 ends on August 12, the winner does have to defend their title opportunity until next January, so winning the G1 doesn’t necessarily guarantee a future title shot.

Over the weekend, the G1 participants were announced and here’s what this year’s blocks look like:

A Block

* Hiroshi Tanahashi (17 time entrant, 17th consecutive entry)
* Togi Makabe (15 time entrant, 15th consecutive entry)
* Michael Elgin (4 time entrant, 4th consecutive entry)
* Kazuchika Okada (7 time entrant, 7th consecutive entry)
* Jay White (G1 Debut)
* YOSHI-HASHI (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Bad Luck Fale (5 time entrant, 5th consecutive entry)
* Hangman Page (G1 Debut)
* EVIL (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Minoru Suzuki (8 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)

B Block

* Juice Robinson (2 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
* Hirooki Goto (11 time entrant, 11th consecutive entry)
* Tomohiro Ishii (6 time entrant, 6th consecutive entry)
* Toru Yano (13 time entrant, 12th consecutive entry)
* Kenny Omega (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Kota Ibushi (4 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)
* Tama Tonga (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Tetsuya Naito (9 time entrant, 9th consecutive entry)
* SANADA (3 time entrant, 3rd consecutive entry)
* Zack Sabre Jr. (2 time entrant, 2nd consecutive entry)

All 19 G1 shows will be live and feature English commentary, which can be seen on NJPW World (about $9 a month to sign up).

Source: WrestlingINC

The G1 Climax is a 20-man round robin styled tournament that is considered NJPW’s most prestigious tournament of the year. The winner will receive an opportunity to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Once the G1 ends on August 12, the winner does have to defend their title opportunity until next January, so winning the G1 doesn’t necessarily guarantee a future title shot.

Earlier today, the participants were announced and included current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega. If Omega loses any match, that typically sets up future matches and it’s rare for the champion to win the tournament, but would solidified his dominance over the division. Those making their debuts in this year’s tournament are Hangman Page and Jay White.

Here is the full list:

* Kenny Omega
* Michael Elgin
* Jay White
* Hiroshi Tanahashi
* Togi Makabe
* Juice Robinson
* Kazuchika Okada
* Hirooki Goto
* Tomohiro Ishii
* Toru Yano
* YOSHI-HASHI
* Bad Luck Fale
* Tama Tonga
* Hangman Page
* Tetsuya Naito
* EVIL
* SANADA
* Minoru Suzuki
* Zack Sabre Jr.
* Kota Ibushi

NJPW will be announcing blocks and key match-ups in the next couple days.

Also, NJPW Lead Announcer Kevin Kelly tweeted out that all 19 G1 shows will be live and include English Commentary on NJPW World (about $9 a month to sign up).

Source: WrestlingINC

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: (C) El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Roppongi 3K – Winners: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Desperado

David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Jay White – Winner: Juice Robinson & David Finlay

Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki – Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki

NEVER Openweight Championship: (C) Hirooki Goto vs. Michael Elgin vs. Taichi – Winner: Michael Elgin via Pinfall to win the NEVER Openweight Championship

IWGP Tag Team Championship: (C) EVIL and SANADA vs. The Young Bucks – Winners: The Young Bucks via Pinfall to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship

Rey Mysterio, Jushin Thunder Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Marty Scurll, Hangman Page & Cody – Winners: Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: (C) Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi – Winner: Hiromu Takahashi via Pinfall to win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: (C) Tetsuya Naito vs. Chris Jericho – Winner: Chris Jericho via Pinfall to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship

https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/1005389043302129666

IWGP Heavyweight Championship (No Time Limit/2 of 3 Falls): (C) Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega – Winner: Kenny Omega via 2 falls to 1 to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship

https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/1005413619457290242

Post-match, Omega hugs the Young Bucks who are now in the ring and also Ibushi. Omega thanks the fans and wants to take NJPW to the next level. Omega says people told him to be different, take the pay check, be “tranquilo” (crowd pops for that), but he’s here to change the world with his best friends. He says goodbye and good night, but out comes Cody for a moment. Crowd boos. Cody heads towards the ring, turns around, and then heads to the back. Bucks lift Omega on their shoulders and Omega goes around to shake hands with some of the fans.

NJPW Dominion will take place this Saturday at 3am ET.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship (No Time Limit/2 of 3 Falls): (C) Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: (C) Tetsuya Naito vs. Chris Jericho

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: (C) Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi

IWGP Tag Team Championship: (C) EVIL and SANADA vs. The Young Bucks

NEVER Openweight Championship: (C) Hirooki Goto vs. Michael Elgin vs. Taichi

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: (C) El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Roppongi 3K

Rey Mysterio, Jushin Thunder Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Marty Scurll, Hangman Page & Cody

David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Jay White

Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki

We probably will not have the results posted until some time Monday.

In March of 2017, former IWGP Tag Team Champion Tomoaki Honma suffered a career-threatening injury after being the recipient of a draping DDT by Jado during a six-man tag team match. Following the move, the match was immediately stopped due to Honma being unable to move anything from the neck down. It was later reported that he had injured his cervical vertebrae, and had to stay in the hospital for nearly four months.

Following the injury, Honma was forced to forfeit his opportunity at the IWGP Tag Team Championship, and New Japan stated that his in-ring return is “tentative.” Thankfully, days after the injury, Nikkan Sports reported that he was able to regain movement of lower limbs, and “grasp objects on the upper extremities.” Still, it was reported that Honma was “recovering a lot,” and a return to the ring was undetermined. In November, Honma was training and taking bumps again in hopes for an in-ring return soon.

Fifteen months later, Honma has fully recovered, as he appeared at the block finals of the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament and issued an open challenge for any tag team to compete against him and Togi Makabe at the Kizuna Road show on June 23rd in Yamagata.

With over 20 years in the pro wrestling business, the 41-year-old Honma has competed for various promotions in Japan, most notably Big Japan, All Japan, New Japan, and Pro Wrestling NOAH. In February of 2007, Honma joined NJPW’s G.B.H. (Great Bash Heel) faction, and stayed loyal to the group until it dissolved. G.B.H. reformed in 2013 with Honma and former leader Makabe, feuding with CHAOS and Bullet Club.

At Wrestle Kingdom 10, Honma won his first title in New Japan, as he and Makabe defeated Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. They retained the titles for three months before losing them to Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa at Invasion Attack.

Source: WrestlingINC

AXS TV announced NJPW‘s “G1 Special in San Francisco” will air live on July 7.

The press release states:

“The event marks NJPW’s most ambitious foray into the U.S. market to date, with a crowd of over 10,000 expected at the historic Cow Palace in Daly City, California. Wrestling Hall of Famer Jim Rossand former UFC Heavyweight Champion and NJPW veteran Josh Barnett will call the action ringside as the best wrestlers in the world, including “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, enter the ring …”

“G1 Special in San Francisco” begins at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.

“As New Japan Pro Wrestling continues their U.S. expansion, we are proud to provide a platform for NJPW and TV Asahi to bring their electrifying events to as many fans as possible through our live, primetime broadcasts,” said AXS TV Fights CEO Andrew Simon. “The Cow Palace has a rich history of major pro wrestling events and we are excited to continue that tradition with our presentation of the G1 Special in San Francisco.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet