NJPW G1 Climax 2018: 10 Things You NEED To Know

10. Juice Robinson: Champion

Juice Robinson's is one of modern wrestling's great underdog stories, and after spending the past three years shaking off his post-NXT stink, the former CJ Parker now holds his first piece of New Japan gold.

He felled IWGP United States Champion Jay White in a wild brawl at G1 Special in San Francisco. It was an exemplary clash, and one that not only served as a coming out party for White's 'Switchblade' character, but also signalled Juice's transition from plucky also-ran to divisional figurehead. A huge leap forward for a popular gaijin star, and one that ensures Robinson will be a massive part of NJPW's American expansion going forward.

This'll be Juice's second G1 Climax. He was last year's breakout star, delivering sterling performances against some of the biggest names in the company while scoring shock victories over veterans Michael Elgin, Satoshi Kojima, and most notably, Kenny Omega. Each pinfall was celebrated like a championship win, but now that he's a gold-holder himself, Robinson should enter with a reprised sense of self-worth, confidence, and fire.

Don't expect Juice to look as shocked as last year when he defeats an Omega, Naito, or Ibushi. The man's a star now.