10 Incredible Dream Matches NJPW Will Give Away In The 2018 G1 Climax
Block Bookings
The release of the 2018 G1 Climax's schedule brought about a long-awaited visualisation of the incredible matches and rematches booked as part of the legendary round robin tournament.
Subverting the typical magic of the surprise pro wrestling dream match, the G1 instead offers the combinations up front - the two ten-wrestler blocks are listed in advance to allow fans the opportunity to salivate and pontificate on the potential ramifications of the various pairings promised.
Announcing the dates and times of the matches midway through Tuesday's Kizuna Road card, flicks through the diary allowed for yet more fantasy booking, as battles between favourites became bigger by virtue of their placement on the calendar. The featured clashes within this very list are - on paper - amongst the best this year's tournament has to offer, but it's worth considering the mental and physical state of the competitors as the event progresses.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega won't be permitted to rest on his Dominion success, whilst Kazuchika Okada will still be expected to remain the gatekeeper of NJPW's god-tier even in the absence of the title he managed to defend more times than anybody in the history of the organisation. That both will kickstart their respective blocks in grueling fashion against Tetsuya Naito and Jay White respectively highlights the huge toll the event will inevitably take.
It's an endurance battle unlike much else in wrestling. For the audience, it's merely an exercise in superlative fan service...
10. Tetsuya Naito Vs. Zack Sabre Jr
There's probably no wrestler more in need of a strong G1 than Tetsuya Naito. Though still 'Tranquilo' in the face of the massive setbacks he's faced in 2018, the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon will tacitly hope to stroll through his B Block battles en route to his second consecutive Climax win.
Losses to Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom, Minoru Suzuki at Wrestling Dontaku and Chris Jericho at Dominion were all huge disappointments for the character in kayfabe, but the contests also failed to match the standards set by other opponents of those respective foes.
Zack Sabre Jr was just one of the wrestlers to push then-IWGP Champion Okada beyond the level Naito managed, and similarly had the measure of the former Intercontinental Champion when the pair battled in this year's New Japan Cup. Riding a wave of confidence from that assured run, he'll hope to maintain forward momentum against the fallen 'Stardust Genius'. Not least with potential trouble brewing in LIJ...