Tetsuya Naito Pulled From NJPW G1 Climax
Tetsuya Naito is OUT of NJPW's signature tournament. Here's what's happening instead...
One of New Japan Pro Wrestling's top stars is out of this year's G1 Climax tournament.
Per NJPW's official announcement, Tetsuya Naito has been pulled from the competition after suffering a knee injury. There's no word on the extent of the damage to his left meniscus and MCL, though he is unable to compete for the rest of the tour and will be out of action for an undetermined period of time, forcing New Japan to adjust.
Naito had wrestled one G1 bout so far, losing to Zack Sabre Jr. on the opening night (18 September). His remaining opponents will be granted two points for victory via forfeit.
With Naito out of the competition, NJPW has organised a series of special non-tournament matches for the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion's intended opponents. They are as follow:-
- September 23 (G1 Climax 31 night three): Tanga Loa vs. Yuji Nagata
- September 26: G1 Climax 31 night five): Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
- September 30: G1 Climax 31 night seven): Yujiro Takahashi vs. BUSHI
- October 3: G1 Climax 31 night nine): Toru Yano vs. BUSHI
- October 7: G1 Climax 31 night 11): KENTA vs. Hiromu Takahashi
- October 9: G1 Climax 31 night 13): Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiromu Takahashi
- October 13: G1 Climax 31 night 15): Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima
- October 18: G1 Climax 31 night 17): The Great-O-Khan vs. Satoshi Kojima
Naito, 39, finished third in his block of last year's G1 Climax, accumulating a 6-3 record.