[NJPW G1 CLIMAX 24 Preview – by CP/BushidoRX]
I have gotten a few questions of people asking me what they should be on the look out for in this years G1. My basic answer is everything, but for some trying to digest 11 days full of singles matches can be quite a challenge, especially for those who do not have a lot of free time. The main events of course are the clear standouts for their own reasons, but I will post something for a few other matches that happen to catch my attention as well.
(As announced earlier this day, Kota Ibushi has been removed from the tournament and is expected to be replaced. All the Ibushi parts/matches have been cut from the post, but I will update this post accordingly if and when a replacement is officially announced by NJPW.)
NJPW’s G1 CLIMAX 24 – League Info
https://puroresuspirit.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/njpws-g1-climax-24-league-info/
NJPW Event Cards for July & August 2014
https://puroresuspirit.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/njpw-event-cards-for-july-august-2014/
Day 1, 7/21/2014 @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center
The reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion will be headlining the first day of the G1 as he takes on the man he has beat twice now in singles matches, as well as for the IWGP belt, Kazuchika Okada. Okada has a lot to prove as he aims to finally get the victory of Styles, while Styles himself is looking to keep what he calls the “young boy” in his place.
The two mixed martial artists turned wrestlers in Shinsuke Nakamura and Katsuyori Shibata will finally face off once more in singles action come the opening day of the G1. This match can easily be seen as a rematch from their singles match exactly 10 years ago as Shibata claimed the win over the then up and coming Nakamura. Positions have changed between the two in since that match happened and it will definitely be interesting to see who picks up the win.
The two brawlers in Hirooki Goto and Togi Makabe will be facing off on what can expected as a heavy hitting battle.
Then Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi will be rekindling their past feuds as they are set to face off. Naito and Yujiro have bee both close friends and bitter enemies over the years. Both know each other very well and this match could honestly go either way.
Day 2 – 7/23/2014 @ Aomori Prefecture Budokan
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Doc Gallows will be headlining the show in what could potentially be a look back at the Tana vs. Giant Bernard matches in the past. This marks Gallows first appearance in the G1 and this will be his chance to leave a solid impression against one of the best in NJPW, if not Japan today.
Shinsuke Nakamura will be taking on Davey Boy Smith Jr. on this day. The two have exchanged wins over the other before, but currently Nakamura leads with 2 straight single match wins over Smith heading into the match. This match could go either way, but we should expect a solid match from the two, if their past encounters mean anything.
Day 3 – 7/25/2014 @ Yamagata City General Sports Center
The headlinging match will see Togi Makabe and Kazuchika Okada doing battle. Okada currently holds multiple victories over Makabe, so it should be interesting to see if Makabe can finally get some much needed revenge.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Satoshi Kojima will be the semi-final with what I hope to be a solid encounter. Both men have delivered much in the past I personally expect nothing less here.
Hirooki Goto and Minoru Suzuki will also be facing off on this day with Goto potentially looking to enact some revenge following his loss to Suzuki in this years New Japan Cup.
Day 4 – 7/26/2014 @ Akita Prefectural Gymnasium
Day 4 will once more see Hiroshi Tanahashi taking on Katsuyori Shibata in singles action as the main event of the night. The two have been known as heated/intense rivals in the past and that will surely come through in this match as well.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Karl Anderson will be facing off as well on the show in what could be a look back at the G1 CLIMAX 22 final in 2012. Anderson is currently sitting on the wrong side of the loses against Okada and it seems it is could be now or never for him to shift some momentum back in his favor.
Then last years G1 CLIMAX 23 Winner Tetsuya Naito will be facing against the IWGP Heavy Champion AJ Styles in what could be good match in the making.
Day 5 – 7/28/2014 @ Sendai Sun Plaza Hall in Miyagi
This day will see the rematch for this years Wrestle Kingdom semi-main event as Tetsuya Naito takes on Kazuchika Okada.
A fromer IWGP IC Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi will be taking on the current IWGP IC Champion in Bad Luck Fale. Tanahashi tends to stand well against the bigger and stronger competitors with Fale looking to prove himself as strong force in NJPW. A win over Tana would certainly do that for Fale, but a win for Tana could put him back in line for a potential shot at the IC belt.
Day 6 – 7/31/2014 @ Shizuoka Act City Hamamatsu
Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii are set to main event this show in what should be a solid match all around. Ishii has really held his own this year and has delivered some early match of the year contenders during his reign as the NEVER Champion. Both men can deliver fantastic matches and this one could very well be another.
Satoshi Kojima vs. Katsuyori Shibata could also be a match to keep an eye on its own right. Both can bring their own form of intensity when need be.
Day 7 – 8/1/2014 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
Ishii will once more be headlining a G1 night as he takes on Shinsuke Nakamura. Both men have stated in the past that they mutually respect one another and have been friends for years. With that said though, the CHAOS duo are competitors when it comes to the ring and this is definitely one to keep an eye on.
The veteran Yuji Nagata taking on Katsuyori Shibata should be solid as well.
The first ever singles encounter between AJ Styles and Minoru Suzuki certainly has some intrigue heading into it.
Day 8 – 8/3/2014 @ Osaka BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM
The main event of this years Wrestle Kingdom will be coming around full circle as Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura once more face off in singles action. Both have traded wins and loses against one another with the IC belt on the line and now with neither holding the belt both will be looking to distance themselves as a true rightful next contender.
Yujiro Takahashi and Kazuchika Okada willl finally face off in a singles match after Yujiro left CHAOS to join Bullet Club a few months back.
Day 9 – 8/4/2014 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
In yet another revenge match from earlier this year, Kazuchika Okada and Hirooki Goto will once more be set against one another in the main.
Both BULLET CLUB members AJ Styles and Karl Anderson will be facing off as well this night in what could easily be one of the more intriguing matches of the show. Anderson has been close to the IWGP Heavy belt before, but has seemingly lost his place in the singles running in the recent times. Many questions have arose since the announcement of this match as if it could end up be a mutual contest or a first signs of a split in the group.
Day 10 – 8/6/2014 @ Takamatsu City Gymnasium, 1st Stadium in Kagawa
Doc Gallows will main event his first ever NJPW show as he takes on one of the top wrestlers in Shinsuke Nakamura. This will mark the first ever singles encounter between the two, so it could very well go either way.
Tomohiro Ishii and Katsuyori Shibata will once again face off in the G1 in what is a rematch from last years show. Both showcased a very solid match and much of the same could, if not more, be expected this year.
Day 11 – 8/8/2014 [@ Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in Kanagawa
Then the final day of the official block matches of the G1 will take place on this day. The main will see Minoru Suzuki taking on Kazuchika Okada in what could be a replay of their exhanges in 2013 with Suzuki beating Okada and then Okada getting the revenge win following. This match could also be a make of break for one of the two in terms on the final position for the final.
Shinsuke Nakamura and Bad Luck Fale will face off once more this year following Nakamura wins over Fale in the New Japan Finals earlier this year and then Fale with the win over Nakamura for the IWGP IC belt in June. Fale will surely be aiming to solidify himself as the true IC Champion as Nakamura could very well be looking to earn another chance at the belt.
New Japan is also seemingly putting an emphasis on Yuji Nagata vs. Tomohiro Ishii and AJ Styles vs. Togi Makabe as must see’s. I’d also add Tetsuya Naito vs. Karl Anderson to that list.
Day 12 – 8/10/2014 @ Seibu Dome in Saitama
All that is left is the final match of the G1 which will take place on August 10th. The top ranked wrestler from each block will then compete to become the champion and earn a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight belt, unless they happen to already hold the belt… who is AJ Styles.
I almost cannot make a call on who will win this year G1, but if I had to make guess at all I would have to say Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi’s only G1 win was in 2007 and it is almost a guarantee that he will end up against AJ Styles sooner than later. Given their past singles encounters in New Japan and TNA.
Puroresu Spirit 
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