NJPW G1 Climax 31

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Just setting this one up with a month to go until the event. We should start getting names soon so once they come in we can start marking it down in here 

Can use this as predictions if anything until then 

[Deleted]

With a good amount of talent in the US I wonder if there will be a US G1 this year. White, Juice, Finlay, Osprey, and the Strong crew would make an interesting tournament.

[Alice Syndrome]

Aug 18, 2021 11:26:03 GMT -5 @bagins said:

With a good amount of talent in the US I wonder if there will be a US G1 this year. White, Juice, Finlay, Osprey, and the Strong crew would make an interesting tournament.

Wouldn't count that one. Ospreay shouldn't be working until at least next spring with how bad his neck was.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

I think Kojima gets his last G1 run this year.

[Deleted]

Aug 18, 2021 11:39:51 GMT -5 Alice Syndrome said:

Aug 18, 2021 11:26:03 GMT -5 @bagins said:

With a good amount of talent in the US I wonder if there will be a US G1 this year. White, Juice, Finlay, Osprey, and the Strong crew would make an interesting tournament.

Wouldn't count that one. Ospreay shouldn't be working until at least next spring with how bad his neck was.

At Resurgence he cut a promo saying he was medically cleared and refuses to got to Japan because of being stripped of the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. Now, that could be complete kayfabe just so Ospreay can get back on NJPW shows, or he could be serious about being good to go. Regardless I think a US G1 would be awesome.

[Alice Syndrome]

Aug 18, 2021 11:56:22 GMT -5 @bagins said:

Aug 18, 2021 11:39:51 GMT -5 Alice Syndrome said:

Wouldn't count that one. Ospreay shouldn't be working until at least next spring with how bad his neck was.

At Resurgence he cut a promo saying he was medically cleared and refuses to got to Japan because of being stripped of the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. Now, that could be complete kayfabe just so Ospreay can get back on NJPW shows, or he could be serious about being good to go. Regardless I think a US G1 would be awesome.

He posted an x-ray on his twitter a few weeks after dropping the belt, and if that was real, he's out for a LONG time getting it fixed

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Barring whatever happens with Shingo’s fever and Ospreay’s claim to the title, I have Ibushi, then maybe Jay White, then Okada as my primary favorites so far.

[AwamoriRock]

I really want them to crack and use awesome GLEAT guys but Chase Owens being in it gives me a feeling it’ll largely be in house and no surprises.

[Convoy]

Officially no White, Juice and Suzuki. I never expected Ospreay or Finlay to be competitors, but both are on the US shows taking part during the G1 as well.

Tana might've hinted at some native outsiders, but it's all second-hand info, as I can't find an interview with him saying that.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Aug 19, 2021 0:39:07 GMT -5 Convoy said:

Officially no White, Juice and Suzuki. I never expected Ospreay or Finlay to be competitors, but both are on the US shows taking part during the G1 as well.

Tana might've hinted at some native outsiders, but it's all second-hand info, as I can't find an interview with him saying that.

If there were ever a time to use some AEW guys...

[Deleted]

Chase Owens being in automatically makes this the worst g1 ever.

This is 100% the year to reach out and bring in some outsiders. Theyre desperate for it. Wont happen though.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

G1 Climax 31

Block A:
KENTA
Toru Yano
Tanga Loa
Kota Ibushi
Tetsuya Naito
Zack Sabre Jr.
Great-O-Khan
Shingo Takagi
Tomohiro Ishii
Yujiro Takahashi


Block B:
EVIL
Taichi
SANADA
Jeff Cobb
Yoshi-Hashi
Tama Tonga
Hirooki Goto
Chase Owens
Kazuchika Okada
Hiroshi Tanahashi

[chrom]

Rather underwhelming lineup this year

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

I just can't see them having Ibushi make it to the G1 Final again for the 4th year in a row

You can never go wrong with an Okada/Naito matchup so I will go with that to decide the winner. I'd have to think they are doing some type of American bracket because of the obvious missing guy in Jay White

[Mozenrath]

I am fully expecting some fantastic matches, but also some real filler. That said, I mean, it'd be cool if we get some people rising to the occasion. You know it's a bit of an odd year when YOSHI-HASHI is in the G1, and he's not in the bottom 3 of guys who have a justifiable reason to be in it. Of course, his stock has risen the last couple of years, so, we'll see.

Sort of surprised Zack and Taichi aren't swapped, just since NJPW likes having Taichi and Naito matches, as well as Sabre vs SANADA, but I mean, they did just feud, so changing it up is fine.

I predict a lot of Bullet Club intrigue, particularly in the B block, especially if SHO is out in EVIL's corner for any of the CHAOS matches. Like, even with his detached role as leader, I imagine Okada would want to confront him for his actions. Goto's certainly going to be pissed.

Counting up the stables, since I feel like it:

Bullet Club has the most members competing, at 6. Of them, KENTA and EVIL obviously are way higher on the totem pole than Yujiro and Chase, probably higher than Tanga and Tama, but certainly in singles.

CHAOS has 5 members in. Okada, obviously, is the one to watch, though Ishii tends to steal the show in G1s, and Goto usually has a good showing. Yano's Yano, and YOSHI-HASHI's probably going to be lucky if he gets more than 3 wins. Still, I do find myself having warmed up to him a little bit during the NEVER 6-Man reign, since he has busted his ass to be less of a punchline.

LIJ's only at 3 members this year, with Suzuki-Gun and United Empire at 2, each. Cobb's probably going to have a strong showing, since NJPW seems to really been liking him for this Okada feud. Great O-Khan, uhh, guess he's probably got some unfinished business with Naito, but I otherwise am not really sure what to expect out of him. As IWGP champion, there's going to be a lot of pressure on Shingo to perform. I expect some strong matches from him and obviously a good performance, but I have my worries he may overexert himself.

[Mozenrath]

Sept 5, 2021 6:58:06 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

I just can't see them having Ibushi make it to the G1 Final again for the 4th year in a row

You can never go wrong with an Okada/Naito matchup so I will go with that to decide the winner. I'd have to think they are doing some type of American bracket because of the obvious missing guy in Jay White

Yeah, for any of the issues with this year's lineup, I legitimately am stumped on who I think makes it to the finals. I wouldn't be shocked if Ibushi doesn't, but I do see him possibly beating Shingo for at least a consolation prize, though Naito beating Shingo would also be kind of intriguing.

[mystermystery]

I don't really follow NJPW so I have no clue on build and stories but have watched the last two G1s so I'll do what I've done before and just root for Ishii.

[clifford]

Stacking the G1 with Bullet Club has got to be some sick joke on Gedo's part. I'm still not over Tama's shitshow in the 2018 G1.

They obviously want this House of Torture and potential Bullet Club civil war storyline as a big part of the G1, but it's going to come at the expense of the tournament's quality.

[Mozenrath]

Sept 5, 2021 7:34:24 GMT -5 mystermystery said:

I don't really follow NJPW so I have no clue on build and stories but have watched the last two G1s so I'll do what I've done before and just root for Ishii.

Honestly, rooting for Ishii's always a good move.

Angle-wise, I guess the big things would be that EVIL recruited SHO from CHAOS to join the Bullet Club, so Okada, Goto, and YOSHI-TASHI would probably have particular beef with him for their matches. O-Khan and Cobb are probably going to have beef with Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. since I think they're positioning them to be tag belt challengers soon. Cobb's got a rivalry with Okada as of late. Otherwise, this doesn't really seem to be that angle-heavy a G1 so far.

EDIT: oh, forgot the obvious one. EVIL and Yujiro for a while now have been provoking other Bullet Club members, with EVIL not respecting Jay White as leader. The Tongans have firmly been behind Jay White as leader and regard EVIL with contempt. KENTA's been I think comparatively quieter. EVIL has suggested that Jay should be suspicious of some BC members, which could be bluster, or it could be something that bears fruit. Gedo for his part is obviously a Jay White guy, but as he recruited EVIL, I think he has largely tried to smooth over conflict.

All of this is further complicated by Kenny Omega and the other Elite provoking Bullet Club, with KENTA having teamed with Omega reluctantly, and Jay confront Omega on an Impact show, but with no conflict yet because he turned his attention to Finlay and Juice Robinson. I only mention this in case it ends up being part of the bigger story at play here, but I don't think it's necessarily going to come up in the G1 since the principle players are in the US.

[Mozenrath]

Sept 5, 2021 7:46:47 GMT -5 clifford said:

Stacking the G1 with Bullet Club has got to be some sick joke on Gedo's part. I'm still not over Tama's shitshow in the 2018 G1.

They obviously want this House of Torture and potential Bullet Club civil war storyline as a big part of the G1, but it's going to come at the expense of the tournament's quality.

Yujiro and Chase have no business being in the G1, but they're obvious filler. Tanga's also probably not going to do any good, but he at least is fairly credible.

I think part of it is the House of Torture angle, but it's also just a "who is available?" issue. Jay White and Suzuki are in the US, Ospreay's got COVID, guys like Moxley or Archer are in the US obviously, too, I think Kojima's in the US, I forget. Nagato swore off competing in another G1, and I am really not sure if Makabe, Honma, or Tenzan really want to put themselves through a G1 at this stage of their lives.