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COMPLETE NJPW G1 CLIMAX 33 PREVIEW

G1 Climax 33 Preview

One of New Japan's signature events begins July 15 and continues through August 13.   

The four Blocks of competing wrestlers are as follows:

A Block

SANADA

Shota Umino

Ren Narita

Yota Tsuji

Hikuleo

Chase Owens

Gabe Kidd

Kaito Kiyomiya

B Block

Kazuchika Okada

YOSHI-HASHI

Tanga Loa

El Phantasmo

Taichi

Will Ospreay

Great O-Khan

KENTA

C Block

Tama Tonga

Tomohiro Ishii

Shingo Takagi

Mikey Nicholls

Aaron Henare

Eddie Kingston

David Finlay 

EVIL

D Block

Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hirooki Goto

Toru Yano

Tetsuya Naito

Zack Sabre Jr.

Shane Haste

Jeff Cobb

Alex Coughlin

Each wrestler will face every man in his Block.  Every win earns two points.  The top and second place winner in each Block will get to the semi-finals in a tournament style bracket until one winner is declared.   The winner earns a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at Wrestle Kingdom in January.

A Block Preview

Kaito Kiyomiya is the only wrestler from NOAH who is in the tournament.  For most of the wrestlers in A Block, this will be their first G1 Climax.  These first-timers will get an education from SANADA and Chase Owens, and they can only benefit from being in the ring with these veterans.   I see SANADA and Kiyomiya winning the top two spots and entering the semi-finals.

B Block Preview

On paper, there are a lot of good potential matches in this Block.   Ospreay vs. O-Khan.  Ospreay vs. Okada   KENTA vs. Taichi.  Okada vs. El Phantasmo.  Tanga Loa is coming back from a long injury break.  My main concern is injuries.  Ospreay already injured himself in the New Japan Cup earlier this year, and had a brutal match with Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door.   Will he be in his top form for this tournament?  If everyone remains healthy, I see Okada and Ospreay winning and qualifying for the semi-finals.

C Block Preview

The four potential winners of this Block are EVIL, David Finlay, Shingo Takagi and Tama Tonga.  David Finlay and Tama Tonga could continue their feud but Finlay beat him convincingly for the NEVER Openweight Title at Wrestling Dontaku.  Finlay's time is now.  Shingo still holds the KOPW Championship is out of the World Title picture at this point.  EVIL still has Dick Togo and the rest of House of Torture in his back pocket.  I see EVIL and David Finlay in the semi-finals for C Block.

It is also interesting to note that Eddie Kingston, the current New Japan Strong Champion, is the only wrestler, consistently performing in the United States, to make the trip to Japan to participate in the G1 Climax.  With all the New Japan talent that traveled to Canada for Forbidden Door, one would think that Tony Khan would want to contribute some of his AEW talent back to New Japan for the G1.  It is disappointing to see only one wrestler from the States willing to perform.   However, the G1 is a grueling tournament and an endurance test.  Most wrestlers may not want to spend 45 days on the road away from home and potentially not get over.  Khan still has to consider filling Wembley Stadium on August 27.

D Block Preview

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Hirooki Goto and Toru Yano are the veterans in this Block and in the tournament.   I can see these matches being placed in the middle of the cards.  Yano will be the comedy master and bring his tricks to the ring.  Zack Sabre Jr. is the NJPW TV Champion so he does not need to win.  Naito has been talking about being in main event of Wrestle Kingdom one last time.  Cobb has been drifting in limbo since he and O-Khan lost the IWGP Tag Team belts.  Cobb does deserve another shot at the top of the card.  Naito and Cobb will earn their way into the semi-finals.

Stay tuned for results from New Japan's G1 Climax 33.

Thanks for reading.

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