Every NJPW G1 Climax 28 Entrant Ranked From Least To Most Likely To Win

2. Tetsuya Naito

Wrestle Kingdom 12 called for 'El Ingobernable,' but Tetsuya Naito went full 'Stardust Genius,' reverting to the old babyface persona that tanked his New Japan career in the first place. It cost him what should have been a glorious IWGP Heavyweight Championship coronation against Kazuchika Okada, and he's been on a long, hard road to recovery ever since.

Naito's stock has cratered in recent weeks. Blindsided by Chris Jericho at Dominion 6.9, he was broken, battered, and beaten down by 'The Alpha,' losing his IWGP Intercontinental Title in the process. Now, his own LIJ stablemates are showing dissent. In kayfabe terms, the man's career is approaching disarray.

There's every chance Gedo could continue this theme by having Naito embark on a miserable tournament run, low-lighted by a loss to his protege, SANADA. But victory is just as likely. After falling to Okada at WK12, Naito's Tokyo Dome story is still to be resolved. He's still NJPW's most popular wrestler: his moment has to come eventually, and there's no way a booker of Gedo's skill doesn't capitalise before it's too late.