New Japan Pro Wrestling’s annual G1 Climax is widely regarded as the greatest tournament in pro wrestling today. Two blocks of competitors will compete in a round robin format to determine the number 1 contender to Kenny Omega’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship at January 4th’s Wrestle Kingdom.
SEScoops staff writers Ian Carey and Jake Jeremy made their predictions for Night 2 of the tournament, which takes place this Sunday July 15th.
(You can check out the Predictions for Night 1 here)
Ian Carey – So we have night 2 in the B Block – Omega vs Naito in the main event
so this is interesting because hints have been dropped by both sides that an LIJ vs Bullet Club feud is coming
Jake Jeremy – Wouldn’t they want to do a Firing Squad vs Elite feud first?
Ian Carey – Omega making that comment about how the Japanese wrestlers don’t go to the gym as much as the others on the roster. That was all to build to an eventual rivalry
they are doing that first but this will come after
it could be a year from now, it could be longer, but eventually
Jake Jeremy – So who wins? Can Omega really lose this quick?
Ian Carey – Kevin Kelly was mentioning on commentary how Evil and Naito got upset at that. I think Omega wins but enough Naito is somehow kept strong/I think Naito is winning the block though and I imagine Omega is going to drop matches to Tama Tonga and Kota Ibushi
Jake Jeremy – So you have an Okada vs Naito final?
Ian Carey – Exactly, i know Okada’s on a losing streak but i think he turns it up and comes back to win the block
Jake Jeremy – Ok so the matches are:
Juice Robinson vs Tama Tonga
Hirooki Goto vs SANADA
Tomohiro Ishii vs Toru Yano
Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito
Kota Ibushi vs Zack Sabre Jr
Ian Carey – Speaking of Tama Tonga; I have him beating Juice which may set up a US title match down the line except I also figure Tonga is going to beat Omega and get a heavyweight title shot…anyway here’s my predictions for Night 2:
- Tama Tonga beats Juice Robinson
- SANADA beats Hirooki Goto
- Toru Yano beats Tomohiro Ishii
- Kenny Omega beats Tetsuya Naito
- Zack Sabre Jr beats Kota Ibushi
Jake Jeremy – I’m seeing Tama taking the win as well. I know that Juice is the new US Champion but Firing Squad are the ‘in thing’ right now
Ian Carey – How Zack Sabre Jr does this tournament should be interesting, they’ve sort of established this year that he can beat anyone…he used a Michinoku Driver in his tag match today for the win (Night 1)
Jake Jeremy – Zack Sabre Jr won the PROGRESS Super Strong Style 16, he’s won wXw 16 Carat Gold and he’s won PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles I think?
Ian Carey – He won the New Japan Cup and beat Okada a couple of weeks ago…In other words, he’s glad he didn’t sign on to be a part of 205 live
Jake Jeremy – Of course, I forgot about the cup! So here’s my predictions for Night 2
- Tama Tonga beats Juice Robinson (I think this might be via DQ)
- SANADA beats Hirooki Goto
- Tomohiro Ishii beats Toru Yano
- Kenny Omega beats Tetsuya Naito
- Zack Sabre Jr beats Kota Ibushi
Jake Jeremy – I think that the only difference we have is Yano!
Ian Carey – B Block is going to be more fun to follow I think
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So here’s the full predictions:
Ian Carey
- Tama Tonga beats Juice Robinson
- SANADA beats Hirooki Goto
- Toru Yano beats Tomohiro Ishii
- Kenny Omega beats Tetsuya Naito
- Zack Sabre Jr beats Kota Ibushi
Jake Jeremy
- Tama Tonga beats Juice Robinson (I think this might be via DQ)
- SANADA beats Hirooki Goto
- Tomohiro Ishii beats Toru Yano
- Kenny Omega beats Tetsuya Naito
- Zack Sabre Jr beats Kota Ibushi
What are your predictions for Night 2? Let us know in the comments.