Johnny Legacy's Deep Thoughts
G1 Climax 29 Wrap-Up
Another G1 has come and gone, and as always it was spectacular. And this edition will always have a special place in my heart, as I was able to attend the opening night in person in Dallas, my first ever New Japan show in person and one of the best wrestling experiences of my life. This was also the second consecutive year that I watched every single tournament match. OK, enough bragging, now to humble myself by showing how bad my predictions were. Well, some of them.
A Block
Kota Ibushi (projected 12-14, actual 14)- One year after becoming the first person to ever make the finals of Best of the Super Juniors, the New Japan Cup and the G1, Ibushi becomes the first person ever to win all three. The New Japan Tournament Triple Crown. After an 0-2 start Ibushi reeled off seven straight wins, including taking down the Rainmaker in the last A block match to make his second straight G1 final. Along the way he had another 5 star classic with Ospreay, and an emotional victory over one of his two wrestling "gods", Hiroshi Tanahashi. An early legit ankle injury in his opening match with KENTA limited what he could do in the ring, but it only allowed Ibushi to prove that he doesn't need the crazy dives to win or have great matches. He's one of the best pure strikers in the game, and when he gets in that "zone" you know he's about to murder someone. Now that Ibushi has committed fully to NJPW after years of wandering and free agency, New Japan is ready to commit to him too. Come January 4 I expect him to walk out the new IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Will he get a chance to fulfill his wish of winning the heavyweight and Intercontinental titles on consecutive nights? We will see. Ibushi has been a star for a while, but he's about to become New Japan's next megastar. Mega Golden Star.
Kazuchika Okada (projected 12-14, actual 14)- In my preview I said Okada will get his points, but something will happen to keep him out of the final. That something was finally losing a singles match to SANADA, and Ibushi's 7-0 finish. The streak of no reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion winning the G1 in nearly two decades will continue. Okada made us believe though, much as he did two years ago and Kenny Omega did last year, as this was the third straight year the champion had a blistering start only to falter at the very end. Even if there's a fall title change (Suzuki!), Okada should have it back by Wrestle Kingdom to have his rematch with Ibushi. Should Ibushi beat Okada two straight times? Well, everyone needs their kryptonite. Even the Rainmaker.
Will Ospreay (projected 6-12, actual 8)- Despite being a junior a huge run was never out of the question in for Ospreay. In the end he didn't hit double digits, but along with Shingo he did have the best junior run ever in a G1. More than that, he went into the tournament as my wrestler of the year in 2019, and walked out still in the lead for that honor. His highlights include adding to his legit match of the year candidate pile with Ibushi, to go along with his matches with Shingo (BOTSJ Final) and Dragon Lee (Dominion), picking up a win over childhood hero KENTA, and beating the Ace himself in what could be a true generational torch passing moment. I think that New Japan sees Ospreay as the guy that can take Kenny Omega's spot as the gaijin face of the company, and it's not hyperbole to say the ceiling for his career is limitless. He's already said that he wants to continue to face both junior and heavyweight competition. And he won't stop taking on tournaments! After becoming the first man to ever wrestle in the New Japan Cup, Best of the Super Juniors, and G1 in the same year, he's already booked to be in the Super J Cup barely two weeks after the G1.
Bad Luck Fale (projected 6-10, actual 8)- Before 2018 Fale was a regular double digit G1 performer, but after a disastrous year last year this was a decent recovery. Fale was only DQ'd once after a whopping 6 in '18. On the minus side, unlike last year he was actually pinned. After a 1-5 start Fale won his last three matches, and in one of the more fun surprises of the tournament, won all three with wrestling moves. Fale the amateur master. You have to think Fale's usefulness in the G1 is winding down, especially with Lance Archer poised to take the monster role. His Bullet Club partner Chase Owens was one of the stars of the prelim tag matches, the unofficial C Block champion, and next year it might be time to see what the perennially underrated Crown Jewel can do in a G1, maybe taking Fale's spot. If they make it back from storming Area 51.
KENTA (projected 8-12, actual 8)- I said in my preview that KENTA could get a big run, but he could just as equally get a couple of signature wins but end up with a so-so point total. Halfway through the tournament it looked like option A, but by the end it was option B. KENTA started strong with a 4-0 start, including beating Ibushi and Tanahashi in his first two. But then he ran into the Rainmaker (a match I thought he'd win to get a fall title shot), and never recovered. The collapse played well into his story of frustration after years of injury, discomfort in America and underwhelming NXT run. And then KENTA turned the wrestling world on its head by pulling off an absolute picture perfect turn and joining Bullet Club on the Final night. BC and KENTA are a great match, especially with how he's been received by NJPW crowds, and I can't wait to see where he goes from here.
EVIL and SANADA (projected 8-12, actual 8)- The LIJ stablemates and tag partners always seem to end up joined at the hip in any G1 analysis. The adage in the past was that SANADA gets the buzz and EVIL gets the wins, but that was turned on its head a little this year. EVIL did get the big win over SANADA head to head on night 5. EVIL also handed Ibushi his second straight, and last, tournament loss on night 3. He struggled for any real momentum after that. Meanwhile, SANADA beat Sabre on night 1 to start Sabre's nosedive, but then lost four straight. He recovered to win three of his last four, including finally beating Okada in a singles match, handing Okada his first loss of the tournament and adding a new chapter to one of the best under the radar feuds going on in wrestling today. Maybe next year will finally be the year one of these guys can break through the glass ceiling.
Hiroshi Tanahashi (projected 10-14, actual 8)- Last year I predicted the G1 downfall of the Ace, and he set a 20 man tournament points record and claimed his third G1 crown. This year I stuck to my guns, and it happened even bigger than I expected. Even after hitting a rough patch I expected Tanahashi to at least get up to double digits. This was the first time ever in a 20 man field he didn't get to at least 10 points. What the future might hold for Tanahashi was a major storyline during the stretch run of the tournament. He lost to Okada for the first time in a G1 the opening night, and later he lost to both Ibushi and Ospreay in what really felt like torch passing moments. Time is a predator that stalks us all. Even when you're a once in a century talent.
Zack Sabre Jr (projected 10-14, actual 8)- One of my two biggest predictions whiffs, though in fairness I don't know if anyone could have seen this coming. ZSJ had established himself as one of the best tournament wrestlers in the world and had 10 and 12 points in his first two G1s. All that crashed and burned after an awful 0-3 start this year and could never fully recover. The only positive that can be taken from this is that it should be nothing more than a radar blip in the long term and he should be back to his old self well in time for next year's tournament. Oh, and though I don't personally agree with his politics, ZSJ blaming his lack of focus on the current UK political situation was a very nice touch.
Lance Archer (projected 4-10, actual 6)- Although Archer was the only man in the tournament not to hit at least 8 points, he impressed in every single one of his matches. There's no doubt his career has been revitalized as a singles wrestler after his longtime tag partner Davey Boy Smith Jr left for MLW, with some choice words for NJPW management on the way out. With only 6 points a spot in next year's G1 is far from secure, but if he gets back in he can easily take over Fale's role as the tournament's monster. Don't be surprised if before the end of this year he gets a shot at the NEVER Openweight title and/or the IWGP US title.
B Block
Jay White (projected 10-14, actual 12)- White struggled out of the gate, starting 0-3, and losing all three matches to former CHAOS teammates that he betrayed by going to Bullet Club. But apparently he had everyone just where he wanted them. White promised to win his final six and win the block, and when Jay White promises something, he delivers. He got the help he needed and took out Naito in the last B block match to make his first G1 final. A year ago White was still growing into both his character and his wrestling style, and some of his G1 matches were repetative not that great. This year, he's solidified himself as one of the best counterwrestlers and strategists in the business, and, as Rocky says, the most hated man in New Japan. This won't be his last final. Even though it might be out of White's character to go after anything but the top title, an extended feud with Naito over the IC title could be coming this fall.
Hirooki Goto (projected 4-6, actual 10)- Whoops. While I thought Goto was just about done after an almost nonexistent 6 last year, it turns out his career G1 roller coaster was on the way back up. It's no excuse, but I did write my preview before it came out that he had been training with Shibata to get ready for the tournament. He looked better physically, and looked much more motivated this year. He started the tournament with a huge, emotional win over Jay White, and also picked up wins over Ishii and Moxley along the way. But, as usual with Goto, when it came down to it he choked in the big moment on the last block night. Will the roller coaster go back down next year? Only time will tell.
Jon Moxley (projected 10-12, actual 10)- Moxley had an absolutely tremendous tournament. He's wrestling like a man reborn. Like KENTA, he got off to a great start, opening 5-0 and pulling away in the block, including a win over Naito. But then he got Yano'd and never got his groove back, falling back to the pack and getting caught up in the meat grinder that B block was this year. Almost every Moxley match felt like a dream match, seeing the former Dean Ambrose face off against some of New Japan's best, something previous only reserved for dream card fantasy booking. Or 2K. Unfortunately New Japan is likely limiting how much they do and plan for him, as his AEW contract doesn't allow them to book him for shows outside of Japan. Still, it was a great showcase for what Moxley can do without the shackles, and should have us all excited for his AEW return just in time for them to start its weekly show. I just hope he gets to wrestle in Japan as much as his schedule allows.
Tetsuya Naito (projected 12-14, actual 10)- I've been saying since last spring that I though this was Naito's year not only to win G1 again, but to go on to Wrestle Kingdom and FINALLY beat Okada in the Tokyo Dome. It turns out, he was only man in B block to fall short of his points projection. This was the first year since 2015 Naito didn't get at least 12 points, and has to be called a huge disappointment. It looks like he's going to be the man to hold down the Intercontinental title for a while instead of fulfilling his dream of being the first ever New Japan double champion. Who will challenge him this fall? Moxley, Taichi, White and Yano all could claim a shot. Or will it be someone from outside the G1? Either way, expect Naito to go into the Tokyo Dome still with the IC title.
Toru Yano (projected 6-8, actual 8)- The sublime master thief is back! After slipping to 6 points last year while trying to be "fair play" Yano, he returned to his old ways this year and reaped the rewards. He made a statement early by picking up a huge upset over Naito his first match, and followed it up by beating White on night 6. He then was the one that killed Moxmentum halfway through. There's few things in wrestling more guaranteed to bring a smile to my face than a Yano G1 match, and I hope there's many more years to come for him in the tournament. Also, for some reason I really want to visit Hokkaido now.
Shingo Takagi (projected 6-10, actual 8)- The other half of the best G1 performances ever for juniors. It's no surprise that he announced he's moving up fully to heavyweight as soon as the tournament was over. Shingo's always seemed to be one slightly large bowl of noodles away from the 100kg cutoff. After going 9-0 in BOSTJ block matches he had a fine showing here, and even better his buzz did nothing but build and build the entire tournament. When it hit the stretch run everyone was talking about Shingo. And he saved the best for last, capping off his tournament with back to back stellar performances in main event slots (a loss to Naito and a win over Ishii), then beat Goto on the final night to knock him out of contention. The future is wide open and bright. The NEVER Openweight title would be a good starting point. I need more Shingo vs Ishii, assuming Ishii retains at Royal Quest. New Japan has a new star here.
Juice Robinson (projected 4-10, actual 8)- In his New Japan career to date Juice had not been known as a great tournament wrestler. Just the opposite. But thanks to his new, refocused attitude following losing the US title to Moxley, this was a whole new Juice. As someone who's never really been a fan of his, I was very impressed with what he brought to the table this year. He expectedly got his revenge on Moxley by knocking him out of contention on the last night, and also picked up a win over Goto. He also had, in my opinion, the most shockingly great match of the whole tournament, absolutely tearing the house down with Ishii on night 10. A rubber match with Moxley for the US title will likely be the first order of business for Juice in the fall.
Tomohiro Ishii (projected 8-10, actual 8)- Ishii does what Ishii does. There's few guys that step up their game for G1 season like the Stone Pitbull. Even though he's rarely in contention at the end, he always leaves a list of 4+ star matches behind. His biggest win was over White. His story with Taichi is not over, and as I said earlier the world needs more Ishii vs Shingo. But first, KENTA and Bullet Club await.
Taichi (projected 4-10, actual 8)- Taichi closed his tournament in style, getting a win over Ishii in a spectacular match where he put all the BS aside and straight up fought. For the rest of the run, we got a mix of lazy heel Taichi and fighter Taichi. As Kevin Kelly so aptly puts it, Taichi is not a max effort guy. Aside from Ishii, his biggest win was finally getting a win over Naito on night 4, greatly assisted by the Iron Fingers bequeathed by Iizuka. I've never been a fan, but I give him credit that, unlike YOSHI-HASHI last year, I wasn't completely sick of him when the tournament was over. Getting to see Miho Abe so much doesn't hurt either.
Jeff Cobb (projected 4-8, actual 8)- Cobb ended up at the top end of my projection in his first tournament, a good score, but his tournament was also lacking a big, signature win or moment to truly make it memorable. All his wins were against other guys in the 8 point jam up. I wouldn't say his debut tournament was as successful as, say, Hangman Page's last year. The crowds in Japan didn't get behind him the way they did Page. I have nothing but respect for Cobb's athleticism and wrestling ability, he is a truly great athlete. But he's someone I don't see as a future main eventer, just a solid midcard guy. We'll see how his development goes the next couple of years, if his New Japan dates increase and if he's invited back into the G1 next year.
MVP: Last year Kota Ibushi was the clear winner of this to me. This year? Dear Lord. Ibushi, Ospreay, Okada, Moxley, Ishii and Shingo could all make claims. Hell, even Yano. So you know what? In the spirit of the tournament winner, Ibushi thanking everyone in the tournament for making it so great, the whole damn field is the MVP this year. The old adage is you need two to tango in making a truly great match, and when you're putting on what was, top to bottom, likely the best G1 of all time, it takes everyone's effort to make that happen. Congratulations to everyone in New Japan for making this G1 live up to the name and then some. Let's do it again next year.
