The G1 Climax 28 tournament is 3 shows into their 19 show tour. To keep everyone up-to-date with the tournament thus far we’ve put together a list of the most recommended matches thus far in the tournament. Below that we have the upcoming scheduled with key matches highlighted and the updated standings.
All matches and events air with english commentary on NJPWWorld.comÂ
Recommended Matches G1 Climax 28 (Nights 1 – 3) (Non-Spoiler)
1. Zack Sabre Jr. vs Kota Ibushi (night 2) (B Block)
2018 has been a breakthrough year for Zack Sabre Jr in NJPW. Winning the New Japan Cup solidified him as someone who will have IWGP-endorsed titles around his waist at some point.
At a recent NJPW Strong Style Evolved UK show, ZSJ pinned Kazuchika Okada. ZSJ has defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJ Cup Finals), Tetsuya Naito (NJ Cup opening round), and Okada this year. He’ll get a chance to wrestle Omega later in the tournament, which is pretty much the only big name he has left to beat.
This match from night 2 in the B block is also a rematch from the quarter-finals of the New Japan Cup when the referee stopped the match after Ibushi passed out in a submission. Ibushi is the only of ZSJ’s 4 opponents in the tournament not to actually submit.
2. Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito (night 2) (B Block)
If you’re an NJPW fan this match doesn’t require any selling. They are the two most popular stars in the company, including Kazuchika Okada.
Here are just a few other statistics as to why this match was important:
- It’s a rematch of the finals last year when Naito defeated Omega.
- In 2016, Omega defeated Naito in the round-robin en route to winning the tournament.
- It’s just the 3rd time they’ve faced each other in a single’s match.
- Omega’s recent comments about how the Japanese wrestlers don’t go to the gym as much as the international wrestlers do seems to have hit a nerve with Naito. Omega frequently makes statements about not liking LIJ. At some point, an LIJ vs Bullet Club rivalry is coming.
- Since Omega is the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a win here would put him in line for a future shot against Omega.
- They are also the last two men to win the G1.
- This match is currently the highest-rated by users of the statistics-based website, Cagematch, with a 9.53 rating as of this writing.
3. Hangman Page vs Bad Luck Fale (night 1) (A Block)
This is the first match of the Bullet Club OG vs The Elite angle. It’s not recommended viewing so much for its athleticism as it is for its spectacle and storyline development.
Also, Bad Luck Fale keeps shouting “F*** em” and that’s pretty funny.
4. Hangman Page vs Michael Elgin (night 3) Â (A Block)
Kevin Kelly pointed out on commentary that these two met three times in Ring of Honor. This would have been when Page was just developing. He really shows just how much he’s developed in this match. His style meshes with Elgin’s strongman style well. Elgin is all slimmed down and looks to be in great shape too.
5. EVIL vs Michael Elgin (night 2) (B Block)
Speaking of Michael Elgin being in good shape, he demonstrated this in a different way during this match. Elgin and EVIL do some reversals and sequences in this match which are pretty impressive to see.
6. Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada (night 1) (A Block)
The story behind this match is White has said ever since he joined CHAOS that one day he’d face Okada. White is sort of the black sheep of the stable and Rocky Romero has frequently mentioned this on commentary.
Romero would grow further frustrated with White as this match wore on. White and CHAOS is a storyline which could take time to develop or it could combust quickly, we’ll just have to see.
Other recommended matches
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Minoru Suzuki (night 1)
- Jay White Hiroshi Tanahashi (night 3)
- Bad Luck Fale vs Kazuchika Okada (for storyline purposes…) (night 3)
Upcoming Schedule
Single’s champions are highlighted
“Night 4 (B Block)
July 19th, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs Kota Ibushi
- Hirooki Goto vs Kenny Omega
- Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito
- Toru Yano vs Zack Sabre Jr
- SANADA vs Tama Tonga
Night 5 (A Block)
July 20th, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Bad Luck Fale
- Togi Makabe vs EVIL
- Michael Elgin vs Jay White
- Kazuchika Okada vs Hangman Page
- YOSHI-HASHI vs Minoru Suzuki
Night 6 (B Block)
July 21st, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs Tetsuya Naito
- Hirooki Goto vs Tomohiro Ishii
- Toru Yano vs Kota Ibushi
- Kenny Omega vs Tama Tonga
- Every Kenny Omega match is important because it can lead to a future title match. This match, however, is also important for storyline purposes. If Tonga wins this match it could set up a Tama Tonga vs Kenny Omega IWGP Heavyweight title match at the September 30th show in Long Beach. That is just speculation, however.
- This is a big match in the career of Tama Tonga.
- SANADA vs Zack Sabre Jr
Night 7 (A Block)
July 22nd, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Hangman Page
- Togi Makabe vs Kazuchika Okada
- Michael Elgin vs YOSHI-HASHI
- Jay White vs Minoru Suzuki
- EVIL vs Bad Luck Fale
Night 8 (B Block)
July 26th, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs Kenny Omega
- Hirooki Goto vs Tou Yano
- Tomohiro Ishii vs Zack Sabre Jr
- Tetsuya Naito vs Tama Tonga
- SANADA vs Kota Ibushi
Night 9 (A Block)
July 27th, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Togi Makabe
- Michael Elgin vs Minoru Suzuki
- Kazuchika Okada vs YOSHI-HASHI
- Jay White vs Bad Luck Fale
- EVIL vs Hangman Page
Night 10 (B Block)
July 28th, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs Toru Yano
- Hirooki Goto vs Tetsuya Naito
- Tomohiro Ishii vs Kota Ibushi
- Kenny Omega vs SANADA
- Tama Tonga vs Zack Sabre Jr.
Night 11 (A Block)
July 30th, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs YOSHI-HASHI
- Togi Makabe vs Bad Luck Fale
- Michael Elgin vs Kazuchika Okada
- Jay White vs Hangman Page
- EVIL vs Minoru Suzuki
Night 12 (B Block)
August 1st, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs SANADA
- Hirooki Goto vs Kota Ibushi
- Tomohiro Ishii vs Tama Tonga
- Toru Yano vs Tetsuya Naito
- Kenny Omega vs Zack Sabre Jr
Night 13 (A Block)
August 2nd, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs EVIL
- Togi Makabe vs Hangman Page
- Michael Elgin vs Bad Luck Fale
- Kazuchika Okada vs Minoru Suzuki
- The first time these two met was in 2013. Suzuki defeated Okada that night. Okada has won the last 4 NJPW matches between them, however. His victories include 2 IWGP Heavyweight title defenses and 2 matches in G1 round-robin matches.
- The last time they faced each other was actually outside NJPW, however. They met in the main event of Minoru Suzuki’s 30th Anniversary “Great Pirates Festival”. In the pouring rain, the two went to a time limit draw.
- Jay White vs YOSHI-HASHI
Night 14 (B Block)
August 4th, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs Zack Sabre Jr
- A Zack Sabre Junior victory here would put him in line for a shot at the IWGP United States Championship. ZSJ is one of the big names NJPW has to showcase to their European audience and Juice is becoming that for their American audience.
- This seems like it could be an important match for NJPW’s international markets but it could also just be a good wrestling match.
- Hirooki Goto vs Tama Tonga
- Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega
- Toru Yano vs SANADA
- Tetsuya Naito vs Kota Ibushi
Night 15 (A Block)
August 5th, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Michael Elgin
- Togi Makabe vs Jay White
- Kazuchika Okada vs EVIL
- YOSHI-HASHI vs Bad Luck Fale
- Hangman Page vs Minoru Suzuki
Night 16 (B Block)
August 8th, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs Tomohiro Ishii
- Hirooki Goto vs Zack Sabre Jr
- Toru Yano vs Kenny Omega
- Yano’s inclusion in the G1 seems to really upset some people. His comedy is also seen as a way of breaking up the monotony of serious single’s matches but some feel the G1 should be a straight-up serious tournament.
- Omega and Yano matches in this tournament before have been both hilarious and controversial. This one will likely be as well. Yano is saying he is trying not to cheat this tournament but somehow I don’t see that holding up…
- Kota Ibushi vs Tama Tonga
- Tetsuya Naito vs SANADA
Night 17 (A Block)
August 10th, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada
- This will be the main event of the night and is arguably the biggest rivalry in NJPW history.
- We won’t know exactly what is on the line until match time, however.
- Togi Makabe vs Michael Elgin
- Jay White vs EVIL
- YOSHI-HASHI vs Hangman Page
- Bad Luck Fale vs Minoru Suzuki
Night 18 (B Block)
August 11th, 2018
- Juice Robinson vs Hirooki Goto
- Tomohiro Ishii vs SANADA
- Toru Yano vs Tama Tonga
- Kenny Omega vs Kota Ibushi
- The Golden Lovers collide!
- They’ve met each other twice before, each time in DDT in 2008. Ibushi won both matches.
- By the time this match comes about, we’ll no more about how it could impact the standings.
- Tetsuya Naito vs Zack Sabre Jr
Night 19 (Finals)
August 12th, 2018
- A Block Winner vs B Block Winner”
G1 Climax 28 Results (Nights 1-3)
Night 1 (A Block)
July 14th, 2018
- Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Minoru Suzuki
- Togi Makabe defeated YOSHI-HASHI
- Michael Elgin defeated EVIL
- Jay White defeated Kazuchika Okada
- Hangman Page defeated Bad Luck Fale via DQ
Night 2 (B-Block)
July 15th, 2018
- Tama Tonga defeated Juice Robinson
- Hirooki Goto defeated SANADA
- Tomohiro Ishii defeated Toru Yano
- Kenny Omega defeated Tetsuya Naito
- Kota Ibushi defeated Zack Sabre Jr
Night 3 (A Block)
July 16th, 2018
- Jay White defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Togi Makabe defeated Minoru Suzuki
- Michael Elgin defeated Hangman Page
- Bad Luck Fale defeated Kazuchika Okada
- EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI
Standings:
Block A
- Michael Elgin – 4pts
- Togi Makabe – 4pts
- Jay White – 4pts
- EVIL – 2pts
- Bad Luck Fale – 2pts
- Hangman Page – 2pts
- Hiroshi Tanahashi – 2pts
- Minoru Suzuki – 2pts
- Kazuchika Okada – 0pts
- YOSHI-HASHI – 0pts
Block B
- Hirooki Goto 2pts
- Kota Ibushi 2pts
- Tomohiro Ishii 2pts
- Kenny Omega 2pts
- Tama Tonga 2pts
- Tetsuya Naito 0pts
- Juice Robinson 0pts
- Zack Sabre Jr 0pts
- SANADA 0pts
- Toru Yano 0pts
