10 NJPW Stars Who NEED A Memorable G1 Climax Run

6. EVIL

Tetsuya Naito Table
NJPW1972.com

EVIL was last year selected to defeat IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada in the traditional G1 major upset, setting up the traditional King Of Pro-Wrestling Title match. This was and perhaps remains a step beyond him. Both matches were objectively very good, but there was a mechanical, almost cynical quality to them. EVIL lacked the main event aura and even the one-to-watch intrigue to receive him as a contender. It was a spot of mathematics from booker Gedo, suffering from the attendant coldness.

In New Japan Pro Wrestling, EVIL and his like are not left to rot; at Dominion, EVIL saved stable leader Tetsuya Naito from a further onslaught at the crazed hands of Chris Jericho in order to set up a shot at his newly-won Intercontinental Title match. Hilariously, Jericho grabbed the headset from Don Callis and asked who EVIL was. To explain and justify himself, EVIL must enter a strong showing throughout the G1 - in flattering defeat and by claiming one notable victory in a key spot: Minoru Suzuki.

Suzuki, however, must also be kept strong to both put over the magnitude of that loss and to remain in long-term contention...

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!