Block A: Bad Luck Fale, Hirooki Goto, Kota Ibushi, Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe, Yugi Nagata, Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Yoshi-Hashi

Block B: Michael Elgin, Evil, Satoshi Kojima, Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, Juice Robinson, Sanada, Minoru Suzuki, Tama Tonga, and Toru Yano

Omega definitely has a good chance of making it to the Finals with the competition he's got in the way as opposed to the people in Block A, but it looks as though we're getting the third match between Okada and Omega sometime in the G1.



And thankfully, Ibushi and Omega are in separate Blocks, hopefully saving that for Wrestle Kingdom.

The 30 minute time limit for G1 matches intrigues me knowing that we will be getting an Omega v Okada 3 match with a shorter time limit that their first two matches.

That being said, looking forward to this weekend. It's nice will be able to watch so much NJPW on AXS as opposed to New Japan World.

So it's pretty much Naito vs Kenny with Naito winning G1. I sort of see someone being fucked over by a Yano win, maybe Okada or Minoru.

Still feel like Okada is going to be dropping that title to Cody Rhodes, and building a story line that is Rhodes vs Omega going forward. Guess we will find out more this weekend. Either way I'm FN hyped for G1.

Match to decide who goes to the final, 30 minute draw, Omega gets through on points, sets up Okada vs Omega at WK 12.

Put your house on it.

#hottake

Well I really don't think Kenny will win. If Gedo really wants this feud to be like Tana/Okada then he has to not face off at all Major events, Naito/Okada at WK will be the better call as Naito can do nothing wrong right now that the fans will be sour with him and think about the story that this year, no stupid vote from having his WK Main event taken away from him

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Match to decide who goes to the final, 30 minute draw, Omega gets through on points, sets up Okada vs Omega at WK 12.

Put your house on it.

#hottake

Honestly think this could very well be the situation at hand. But Okada also has a title defense against Rhodes on Saturday correct? I could see him dropping the title there to be honest.

Of course, but the issue is you have the hottest set of matches today, arguably the best story in a decade in the wrestling world. If NJPW want to truly expand, then they need to cash in on it because the Western crowd is invested in Omega and his story to become the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. And whether we want to admit it or not, many aren't going to keep their attention. People will tune out of NJPW and any opportunity they had in creating genuine, consistent interest in the product outside of the country slowly dies. Global expansion is clearly important to them and yes they can sell Okada, Naito, Tanahashi, their national talent, but none of them have the following Omega does.

It's shit because I want a full reign for Naito. He deserves the WK main event and a second G1 win. But if the future for the company is to expand, something has to give. If Omega doesn't win G1, people will check out of NJPW and won't come back. Is it sad? Fucking oath it is but it's a fair amount of what seems to be an important crowd for the company lose.

Johnny Nova wrote:

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Match to decide who goes to the final, 30 minute draw, Omega gets through on points, sets up Okada vs Omega at WK 12.

Put your house on it.

#hottake

Honestly think this could very well be the situation at hand. But Okada also has a title defense against Rhodes on Saturday correct? I could see him dropping the title there to be honest.

Cody could win it, I wouldn't be surprised, but he's not going any further than King of Pro Wrestling. Cody vs Omega might be something they'll do at some point but it won't be the centerpiece of their biggest show.

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Johnny Nova wrote:

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Match to decide who goes to the final, 30 minute draw, Omega gets through on points, sets up Okada vs Omega at WK 12.

Put your house on it.

#hottake

Honestly think this could very well be the situation at hand. But Okada also has a title defense against Rhodes on Saturday correct? I could see him dropping the title there to be honest.

Cody could win it, I wouldn't be surprised, but he's not going any further than King of Pro Wrestling. Cody vs Omega might be something they'll do at some point but it won't be the centerpiece of their biggest show.

Yeah I feel like they will just wrap back around to Omega vs Okada, but I think we might get Rhodes vs Omega before Okada vs Omega IV for instance. Rhodes makes sense if they are trying to appeal to the American Audience as far as having a recognizable name for WWE fans not familiar with the product to latch onto as their champion.

Johnny Nova wrote:

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Johnny Nova wrote:

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Match to decide who goes to the final, 30 minute draw, Omega gets through on points, sets up Okada vs Omega at WK 12.

Put your house on it.

#hottake

Honestly think this could very well be the situation at hand. But Okada also has a title defense against Rhodes on Saturday correct? I could see him dropping the title there to be honest.

Cody could win it, I wouldn't be surprised, but he's not going any further than King of Pro Wrestling. Cody vs Omega might be something they'll do at some point but it won't be the centerpiece of their biggest show.

Yeah I feel like they will just wrap back around to Omega vs Okada, but I think we might get Rhodes vs Omega before Okada vs Omega IV for instance. Rhodes makes sense if they are trying to appeal to the American Audience as far as having a recognizable name for WWE fans not familiar with the product to latch onto as their champion.

I think part of that appealing to the US Audience is the creation of the IWGP United States Championship (WHICH LOOKS ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS BY THE WAY). I doubt NJPW puts the IWGP title on an American AND create a title that will probably be contested/defended in the US. One, but likely not both.

April Song wrote:

Johnny Nova wrote:

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Johnny Nova wrote:

Jamie O'Hara wrote:

Match to decide who goes to the final, 30 minute draw, Omega gets through on points, sets up Okada vs Omega at WK 12.

Put your house on it.

#hottake

Honestly think this could very well be the situation at hand. But Okada also has a title defense against Rhodes on Saturday correct? I could see him dropping the title there to be honest.

Cody could win it, I wouldn't be surprised, but he's not going any further than King of Pro Wrestling. Cody vs Omega might be something they'll do at some point but it won't be the centerpiece of their biggest show.

Yeah I feel like they will just wrap back around to Omega vs Okada, but I think we might get Rhodes vs Omega before Okada vs Omega IV for instance. Rhodes makes sense if they are trying to appeal to the American Audience as far as having a recognizable name for WWE fans not familiar with the product to latch onto as their champion.

I think part of that appealing to the US Audience is the creation of the IWGP United States Championship (WHICH LOOKS ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS BY THE WAY). I doubt NJPW puts the IWGP title on an American AND create a title that will probably be contested/defended in the US. One, but likely not both.

The other piece to this is how long Okada has held the title, he doesn't really need it at this point. Putting it on Cody Rhodes however would help Rhodes in the similar way it helped Styles in NJPW. It's possible they stay strong with Okada and have him drop it to Naito down the line but I am banking on Rhodes being the one to take it and then Omega going after the title, leading to an Okada v Omega with Omega defending the title to change it up a bit. Basically a way to reset the match count etc. I could be completely off base though. Time will tell.