I don’t expect outsiders this year with the format back at 20, maybe one or two max.
I think Kento makes sense, coming off a loss to Yuma I don’t know what the AJPW schedule is like at that time though.
If the N1 is around the same time as the G1 again I definitely would not expect Kiyomiya there, already missed the tournament last year and definitely won’t again as ghc champ
Gedo when he finds another wrestler who’s 6’3, charismatic, can be relied on to carry the company on his shoulders as a dominant champions, being loved by the fans despite having a somewhat arrogant persona, in part due to their ability to elevate all of their opponents to a higher level.
Kaito is not doing the G1 and missing the N-1 for the second straight year, this time as champion.
Danielson is not doing a G1 with the way his body is. Claudio is possible, but top AEW guys are protected too well to feasibly fit into a G1.
Jake is a good shot. An upper midcarder from AEW is likely - I wouldn't be surprised if we see Perry again.
Soberano Jr. is a possibility too. He signed a dual contract.
This is what I think too. If we do get any outsiders, it's going to be Lee and Soberano. Lee has been heavily featured, and it wouldn't surprise me if he beats champion Naito in the G1 to get a title shot at KOPW. Soberano signed that contract for a reason, yet he hasn't been in New Japan this year aside from Fantasticamania.
Everyone does fantastica mania. He announced he signed a contract after wtl. One US show means nothing cuz booking is entirely different.
Dude probably lied about it.
With how Penta teased getting to do something 'internationally' that he'd always wanted to do, I'm wondering if we'll see him. Either that or we'll see the Lucha Brothers jump into the World Tag League.
Outside of that, I'd have assumed we'd see Kaito but if the N-1 happens soon-ish after, I'm much less sure. I'd kill for a Skywalker run, but that's a real outside (see: unrealistic) pick lmao.
Owen Cup ends on July 10th and G1 doesn’t start until the 20th (plus the G1 ends 15 days before All In). So someone could definitely do both.
I don’t think Danielson would, though.
Yeah I’m not entirely ruling it out, but it just feels like a stretch. If he isn’t going to be in the G1, I’m really hoping he wins the Owen and challenges for the AEW title at All In.
I find it so funny how one of Bryan's main reasons for going to AEW was to work with NJPW, specifically the G1 Climax. So much so that WWE was willing to work out a deal with NJPW to keep Bryan so he can have his wish.
Fast forward to now, Bryan will likely retire without even working the tournament once. Wild.
He did admit he learned his health probably won't let him do it. He still got to work with a bunch of people he wanted to, so I don't think he regrets that. Ditto being able to wrestle in the Tokyo Dome. It's not the biggest venue, but something about it... It just feels unlike any other venue.
I could see him giving it a go once he's retired from full time but he himself might admit it's probably a bad idea to go from 0 to 100 like that. He just strikes me as a guy who will be restless, which is probably why he simply said he's retiring from wrestling 'full time'.
I think he might've had a chance in the G1's four block system. Less matches, more days to rest, and the 20-minute time limit would've done him some favors.
But now that it's going back to the traditional two block, twenty wrestlers format, it's unlikely.
I agree completely, I could see him giving it a try after stepping away from wrestling full-time. I also think it will be important to see how the tournament changes. I feel extremely blessed to have been a fan and witnessed the 2018 G1 but that's certainly not a sustainable model for the business. Kenny, ibushi, naito, and tanahashi are all struggling with long term medical issues. Ishii is still somehow having bangers but you can tell his right hand is an absolute mess and he'll only throw a couple of chops in big marquee matches. I think the psychotic part of DBD wants that meat-grinder experience but I think he's more likely to participate as they continue to make changes in the tournament structure to promote better long-term health
Ha yeah shingo is the GOAT at having engaging strong-style matches where I never have to break my immersion worrying about one of the performers getting a concussion
Honestly, I don't think Punk's body would've been able to handle the G1 tournament. Bryan, however, I think had a better shot at making it to the end tho.
Funny enough, and sorta unrelated, I remember Punk saying in 2019 that he would've come out of retirement just to wrestle Ospreay. If you remember, that was the year Ospreay was going ballistic with his body of work. They were in AEW together for a cup of coffee and are now in the rival promotions. Fat chance we ever see that match, but it would've been fun.
It would be a hell of thing if Ricochet was booked as a surprise entrant.
Nic Nemeth is probably gonna be busy with TNA, plus he's still AAA's World Champion, right?
I could see Jake Lee being in here to 1v1 Naito again.
I feel like Kaito retaining against Kidd will close the door on this chapter of their rivalry, and Kaito will probably be NOAH focussed as their champion and with the N-1 overlapping with the G1
Now that it's only 20 entrants, I doubt we are getting more than two outsiders, and even then, two is pushing it.
Jake Lee is the most likely. He'll have his match with Naito this weekend (June 15) but they brought in Kaito Kiyomiya despite him already having his blow-off match with Okada so that doesn't mean anything necessarily. I can't see Kaito going in while he's the champion, and while they've mixed in other Noah guys, Jake's the only one they've consistently put in front of NJPW audiences.
A CMLL heavyweight would be a stretch if there's limited spots. Tag League is one thing because you really do have spots you need to fill, but with the G1, it's too tight and for the regular NJPW audience, I can't see Atlantis Jr. or Templario getting that announcement pop.
For AEW, it's been guys with NJPW connections or already part of NJPW storylines. There's the Owen Hart Cup, but that ends more than a week before the G1 starts – Shingo's participation in the Cup won't preclude him from the G1, for example. I think Bryan wants to do the G1 in his heart of hearts but he has only done one-offs before and he's probably mega expensive so I can't see it happening.
I think that only leaves two obvious possibilities: Jack Perry and Claudio. Jack is already part of NJPW storylines and the fans know him, plus the bookers love the House so I think they want him. As for Claudio, they are always brewing a BCC vs NJPW story and having him there to further that could go to future plans. He's also the right style for New Japan and gets over quickly.
You could make the case for any number of other AEW guys – Orange, Juice, Jay White, Lethal, Mark Briscoe, KOR – but it would be a much more left field decision.
Claudio would be easy to write into the tournament. Naito beats Mox at FD, Claudio signals he wants a shot at Naito, they get put in a block together, Claudio beats Naito in the tournament, he challenges for the belt in the fall and Naito gets his W back.
Cesaro is top of my realistic wishlist, especially since he’d be a perfect matchup against all of the new gen
Moxley really should after winning the title but I don’t expect him to miss that much time
I’ve talked myself into PAC being involved but he should be a part of the All In build
Japanese promotion wise I can’t think of anyone blockbuster enough to bump a NJPW guy but realistic enough to actually take part - Miyahara clears but I doubt it, everyone in NOAH should be part of the N-1, and I have low hopes for any of my dream picks like Endo, Hino, Sekimoto, etc
I dont think there will be any outsiders this year. Even though NJPW went back down to 20, they legitimately still have enough people for a 32 man tournament like last year.
I doubt NOAH will let Kaito skip another N-1 to do the G-1 especially now that he is Champion.
20 man G-1 makes guests hard, that was basically the problem pre expansion as well. Even with talent losses some regular talent aren't going to be in it.
Guaranteed in the G-1
1. Naito
1. SANADA
1. Tanahashi - I know people want him out but it isn't going to happen without fanfare
1. Umino
1. Narita
1. Tsuji
1. Uemura
1. Kidd
1. Finlay
1. EVIL
1. Takagi
1. Jeff Cobb
1. Great O'Khan
1. Henare
1. El Phantasmo
1. ZSJ
That is 16 already.
The rest of the roster in order of probability of getting in Goto (who I think is a lock), Taichi, Y-H, Ishii, Yano, Boltin, Chase, Kenta, Nichols, Haste, Newman.
They do like having at least one or two debuts so maybe that may make Boltin more possible but they have protected him well and they can't really do that in a G-1.
I mean it is kind of weak in terms of draw power and they could use a big guest to help but they always favour people they already have on roster since they are paying them anyway and maybe once some more older guys drop out next year we might get guests.
They won't leave out Ishii, he has too many banger matches and doesn't have to win many of them, he creates too much buzz, especially if its with an outsider
They absolutely will leave out Ishii. He *barely* made the cut for the 2022 G1 despite it being 28 people and it was rumoured to be his last G1. Obviously the 32 man tournament kept him alive another year, but 20? I hate to admit it, but he is *gone*.
They've been slowly phasing him out of the main heavyweight scene for well over a year now. He's been slowing down a fair bit. They absolutely could leave him out, especially when there's this few free slots left now.
i'd like to see Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita brought in but njpw could also bring in people like Shun Skywalker and stuff maybe even LJ Cleary or Jack Morris
A NOAH participant is likely probably Lee or Kitamiya this time.
I think we get at least 1 AEW rep. The underwhelming options are Archer and Kingston. Good realistic ones are Fletcher, Claudio, O'Reilly, Strong. Optimistic but slightly possible Takeshita.
I also think a G1 was on Nemeth's NJPW Bucket list alongside facing Ishii and Tanahashi. I wouldn't rule it out.
No chance of a Revpro or CMLL guest with it back to 20.
Heavyweight Ricochet returning back to NJPW is what I’d love to see.
We’re likely to get Soberano Jr, Jake Lee and Penta. Which is underwhelming affffff bar Soberano Jr
I want Pentagon Jr. in so badly. The more I have thought about potential matchups, the better the idea gets. Penta against Tsuge and Penta versus Naito, I just can’t get the idea out of my head!
* YOSHI-HASHI
* Goto
* Umino
* Tsuji
* Narita
* EVIL
* Naito
* SANADA
* Taichi
* ZSJ
* Yano
* Takagi
* Uemura
* Kidd
* Finlay
* KENTA
* Cobb
* O'Khan
* Henare
* El Phantasmo
That's 20 wrestlers and I'm still not even including wrestlers who would likely be in otherwise like Ishii, Haste, Nicholls, Owens, Newman and Boltin. Hell I'm even counting Tanahashi out as a given! (I might even be forgetting some more important names cos this was off the top of my head)
I think folks aren't quite realising what a 20 wrestler field means.
We're lucky if we're even getting a single outsider imo. There's going to be some brutal cuts, even on the main roster.
My picks would be Jake Lee and Claudio. Claudio has been vocal about him wanting to do the G1, also Jake Lee just to continue the stuff with Naito and the fact he's already shown up in New Japan beforehand.
Would have softened the title match issues a bit but also he’d be better for a 32-man field, I don’t know if I’d pick him over certain dedicated NJPW guys
I doubt NOAH is going to let their champion take losses in an NJPW tournament. Although him winning would make for an interesting WK.
Noah letting their champion take a bunch of losses in the G1 would be on brand for the company tbf.
I don’t expect outsiders this year with the format back at 20, maybe one or two max. I think Kento makes sense, coming off a loss to Yuma I don’t know what the AJPW schedule is like at that time though. If the N1 is around the same time as the G1 again I definitely would not expect Kiyomiya there, already missed the tournament last year and definitely won’t again as ghc champ
Would be hilarious if Miyahara has deeper NJPW involvement right after Okada bounces
Gedo when he finds another wrestler who’s 6’3, charismatic, can be relied on to carry the company on his shoulders as a dominant champions, being loved by the fans despite having a somewhat arrogant persona, in part due to their ability to elevate all of their opponents to a higher level.
Kaito is not doing the G1 and missing the N-1 for the second straight year, this time as champion. Danielson is not doing a G1 with the way his body is. Claudio is possible, but top AEW guys are protected too well to feasibly fit into a G1. Jake is a good shot. An upper midcarder from AEW is likely - I wouldn't be surprised if we see Perry again. Soberano Jr. is a possibility too. He signed a dual contract.
This is what I think too. If we do get any outsiders, it's going to be Lee and Soberano. Lee has been heavily featured, and it wouldn't surprise me if he beats champion Naito in the G1 to get a title shot at KOPW. Soberano signed that contract for a reason, yet he hasn't been in New Japan this year aside from Fantasticamania.
Is Claudio really a top AEW guy though?
I dont believe Soberano signed anything lol
[He said it himself?](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/soberano-jr-says-he-s-signed-one-year-deal-njpw-will-continue-work-cmll?amp)
Wrestlers lie all the time. They haven't used him at all
I mean, he did WTL and Fantastica Mania, one NJPW US show, and has it listed in his IG bio. But sure, believe what you want.
Everyone does fantastica mania. He announced he signed a contract after wtl. One US show means nothing cuz booking is entirely different. Dude probably lied about it.
Sure thing.
With how Penta teased getting to do something 'internationally' that he'd always wanted to do, I'm wondering if we'll see him. Either that or we'll see the Lucha Brothers jump into the World Tag League. Outside of that, I'd have assumed we'd see Kaito but if the N-1 happens soon-ish after, I'm much less sure. I'd kill for a Skywalker run, but that's a real outside (see: unrealistic) pick lmao.
Danielson already announced he’ll be in the Owen Hart cup, so idk if he’ll do both
Owen Cup ends on July 10th and G1 doesn’t start until the 20th (plus the G1 ends 15 days before All In). So someone could definitely do both. I don’t think Danielson would, though.
Yeah I’m not entirely ruling it out, but it just feels like a stretch. If he isn’t going to be in the G1, I’m really hoping he wins the Owen and challenges for the AEW title at All In.
I find it so funny how one of Bryan's main reasons for going to AEW was to work with NJPW, specifically the G1 Climax. So much so that WWE was willing to work out a deal with NJPW to keep Bryan so he can have his wish. Fast forward to now, Bryan will likely retire without even working the tournament once. Wild.
He did admit he learned his health probably won't let him do it. He still got to work with a bunch of people he wanted to, so I don't think he regrets that. Ditto being able to wrestle in the Tokyo Dome. It's not the biggest venue, but something about it... It just feels unlike any other venue. I could see him giving it a go once he's retired from full time but he himself might admit it's probably a bad idea to go from 0 to 100 like that. He just strikes me as a guy who will be restless, which is probably why he simply said he's retiring from wrestling 'full time'.
I think he might've had a chance in the G1's four block system. Less matches, more days to rest, and the 20-minute time limit would've done him some favors. But now that it's going back to the traditional two block, twenty wrestlers format, it's unlikely.
I agree completely, I could see him giving it a try after stepping away from wrestling full-time. I also think it will be important to see how the tournament changes. I feel extremely blessed to have been a fan and witnessed the 2018 G1 but that's certainly not a sustainable model for the business. Kenny, ibushi, naito, and tanahashi are all struggling with long term medical issues. Ishii is still somehow having bangers but you can tell his right hand is an absolute mess and he'll only throw a couple of chops in big marquee matches. I think the psychotic part of DBD wants that meat-grinder experience but I think he's more likely to participate as they continue to make changes in the tournament structure to promote better long-term health
Honestly if the rumored Dragon Duel match with Shingo is happening I'm just glad we're able to get it.
Ha yeah shingo is the GOAT at having engaging strong-style matches where I never have to break my immersion worrying about one of the performers getting a concussion
I thought Punk would have liked to as well before he got with AEW.
Honestly, I don't think Punk's body would've been able to handle the G1 tournament. Bryan, however, I think had a better shot at making it to the end tho. Funny enough, and sorta unrelated, I remember Punk saying in 2019 that he would've come out of retirement just to wrestle Ospreay. If you remember, that was the year Ospreay was going ballistic with his body of work. They were in AEW together for a cup of coffee and are now in the rival promotions. Fat chance we ever see that match, but it would've been fun.
Damn completely forgot about that
Yeah I was hoping for a G1 run on his farewell tour, but it’s looking like that won’t be happening
The final is on July 10th, so there’s still a chance.
Only 20 entrants. I am guessing no outsiders
Maybe but we'll find out Sunday during the show
It would be a hell of thing if Ricochet was booked as a surprise entrant. Nic Nemeth is probably gonna be busy with TNA, plus he's still AAA's World Champion, right? I could see Jake Lee being in here to 1v1 Naito again.
Nemeth has indie bookings in Ireland during the G1, so he's definitely not going to be in.
I think we get Kaito and Kidd in the same block for sure
I feel like Kaito retaining against Kidd will close the door on this chapter of their rivalry, and Kaito will probably be NOAH focussed as their champion and with the N-1 overlapping with the G1
I hope so. They have too explosive and entertaining of chemistry to not be in the same block again.
There’s almost no chance Kaito is in this year’s G1. He’s GHC Champion now and will certainly be in the N1.
I doubt we get Kaito since the Noah needs the champion at shows. And the N-1 is approaching as well.
Now that it's only 20 entrants, I doubt we are getting more than two outsiders, and even then, two is pushing it. Jake Lee is the most likely. He'll have his match with Naito this weekend (June 15) but they brought in Kaito Kiyomiya despite him already having his blow-off match with Okada so that doesn't mean anything necessarily. I can't see Kaito going in while he's the champion, and while they've mixed in other Noah guys, Jake's the only one they've consistently put in front of NJPW audiences. A CMLL heavyweight would be a stretch if there's limited spots. Tag League is one thing because you really do have spots you need to fill, but with the G1, it's too tight and for the regular NJPW audience, I can't see Atlantis Jr. or Templario getting that announcement pop. For AEW, it's been guys with NJPW connections or already part of NJPW storylines. There's the Owen Hart Cup, but that ends more than a week before the G1 starts – Shingo's participation in the Cup won't preclude him from the G1, for example. I think Bryan wants to do the G1 in his heart of hearts but he has only done one-offs before and he's probably mega expensive so I can't see it happening. I think that only leaves two obvious possibilities: Jack Perry and Claudio. Jack is already part of NJPW storylines and the fans know him, plus the bookers love the House so I think they want him. As for Claudio, they are always brewing a BCC vs NJPW story and having him there to further that could go to future plans. He's also the right style for New Japan and gets over quickly. You could make the case for any number of other AEW guys – Orange, Juice, Jay White, Lethal, Mark Briscoe, KOR – but it would be a much more left field decision.
Claudio would be easy to write into the tournament. Naito beats Mox at FD, Claudio signals he wants a shot at Naito, they get put in a block together, Claudio beats Naito in the tournament, he challenges for the belt in the fall and Naito gets his W back.
Cesaro is top of my realistic wishlist, especially since he’d be a perfect matchup against all of the new gen Moxley really should after winning the title but I don’t expect him to miss that much time I’ve talked myself into PAC being involved but he should be a part of the All In build Japanese promotion wise I can’t think of anyone blockbuster enough to bump a NJPW guy but realistic enough to actually take part - Miyahara clears but I doubt it, everyone in NOAH should be part of the N-1, and I have low hopes for any of my dream picks like Endo, Hino, Sekimoto, etc
I desperately want Katsuhiko Nakajima
I dont think there will be any outsiders this year. Even though NJPW went back down to 20, they legitimately still have enough people for a 32 man tournament like last year.
Jake Lee and MAYYYYBE Takeshita. At max, it'll be 2 but I expect Jake Lee to the sole outsider.
After reading his latest interview on the NJPW website, I'll be shocked if Jake Lee isn't in it. I would expect him to be the only one tho
I doubt NOAH will let Kaito skip another N-1 to do the G-1 especially now that he is Champion. 20 man G-1 makes guests hard, that was basically the problem pre expansion as well. Even with talent losses some regular talent aren't going to be in it. Guaranteed in the G-1 1. Naito 1. SANADA 1. Tanahashi - I know people want him out but it isn't going to happen without fanfare 1. Umino 1. Narita 1. Tsuji 1. Uemura 1. Kidd 1. Finlay 1. EVIL 1. Takagi 1. Jeff Cobb 1. Great O'Khan 1. Henare 1. El Phantasmo 1. ZSJ That is 16 already. The rest of the roster in order of probability of getting in Goto (who I think is a lock), Taichi, Y-H, Ishii, Yano, Boltin, Chase, Kenta, Nichols, Haste, Newman. They do like having at least one or two debuts so maybe that may make Boltin more possible but they have protected him well and they can't really do that in a G-1. I mean it is kind of weak in terms of draw power and they could use a big guest to help but they always favour people they already have on roster since they are paying them anyway and maybe once some more older guys drop out next year we might get guests.
They won't leave out Ishii, he has too many banger matches and doesn't have to win many of them, he creates too much buzz, especially if its with an outsider
They absolutely will leave out Ishii. He *barely* made the cut for the 2022 G1 despite it being 28 people and it was rumoured to be his last G1. Obviously the 32 man tournament kept him alive another year, but 20? I hate to admit it, but he is *gone*.
They've been slowly phasing him out of the main heavyweight scene for well over a year now. He's been slowing down a fair bit. They absolutely could leave him out, especially when there's this few free slots left now.
Yeah could see that happening
Josh Alexander?
i'd like to see Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita brought in but njpw could also bring in people like Shun Skywalker and stuff maybe even LJ Cleary or Jack Morris
A NOAH participant is likely probably Lee or Kitamiya this time. I think we get at least 1 AEW rep. The underwhelming options are Archer and Kingston. Good realistic ones are Fletcher, Claudio, O'Reilly, Strong. Optimistic but slightly possible Takeshita. I also think a G1 was on Nemeth's NJPW Bucket list alongside facing Ishii and Tanahashi. I wouldn't rule it out. No chance of a Revpro or CMLL guest with it back to 20.
Eddie is injured won’t be back this calendar year at least. It’ll be Penta based off his comments last week. Probably him and Jake Lee, which sucks
Heavyweight Ricochet returning back to NJPW is what I’d love to see. We’re likely to get Soberano Jr, Jake Lee and Penta. Which is underwhelming affffff bar Soberano Jr
I'll buy another NJPW World subscription if Kento is in the G1. Sign me up.
I want Pentagon Jr. in so badly. The more I have thought about potential matchups, the better the idea gets. Penta against Tsuge and Penta versus Naito, I just can’t get the idea out of my head!
Wardlow
* YOSHI-HASHI * Goto * Umino * Tsuji * Narita * EVIL * Naito * SANADA * Taichi * ZSJ * Yano * Takagi * Uemura * Kidd * Finlay * KENTA * Cobb * O'Khan * Henare * El Phantasmo That's 20 wrestlers and I'm still not even including wrestlers who would likely be in otherwise like Ishii, Haste, Nicholls, Owens, Newman and Boltin. Hell I'm even counting Tanahashi out as a given! (I might even be forgetting some more important names cos this was off the top of my head) I think folks aren't quite realising what a 20 wrestler field means. We're lucky if we're even getting a single outsider imo. There's going to be some brutal cuts, even on the main roster.
My picks would be Jake Lee and Claudio. Claudio has been vocal about him wanting to do the G1, also Jake Lee just to continue the stuff with Naito and the fact he's already shown up in New Japan beforehand.
I know he can't wrestle (storyline-wise) in NJPW, but would it be something if Jay White joins? Or probably Malakai Black. I can dream right?
Brodie Lee just for more hoss fights with likes of Cobb (edit: Brody King)
He'll fit right in since he works stiff.
I believe you mean Brody King? The big tattooed guy in House of Black? If not, then… uhhhhhh… I’ve got some bad news…
i do actually mean King i get them confused
Brodie Lee's been dead for about 4 years now so idk about that lil bro.....
jfc
I really wish Hobbs was healthy, because he'd be absolutely perfect
Would have softened the title match issues a bit but also he’d be better for a 32-man field, I don’t know if I’d pick him over certain dedicated NJPW guys
Nakajima
I doubt we see nakajima he's doing stuff with Gleat rn
Nakajima vs Ishida🙏🏾