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

5. Zack Sabre Jr.

Zack Sabre Jr G1 USA
njpw1972.com

He might not be the favourite, but no wrestler's G1 Climax run looks as interesting as Zack Sabre Jr.'s at the moment.

The Englishman embarked on a solid run in last year's tournament, taking notable scalps in Hiroshi Tanahashi, Bad Luck Fale, and Tomohiro Ishii. He has since broken out as a genuine upper-tier star. March's New Japan Cup run saw him blitz through three big-timers in Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Tetsuya Naito, and former hot prospect SANADA, much to the world's surprise.

NJPW strapped the rocket to him, and were rewarded with an outstanding IWGP Heavyweight Title bout at Sakura Genesis 2018, which stands as one of the finest of Kazuchika Okada's epic two-year reign.

If recent crowd reactions are anything to go by, ZSJ has arrived. He's over as hell, bubbling just below the Naito/Ibushi level of stardom, and after going full-time with the company earlier this year, ready to boil over.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.