NJPW G1 Climax 2017: Early Favourites To Win

2. Kazuchika Okada

Kazuchika Okada G1 Climax 24
NJPW

Kazuchika Okada's chances of winning a third G1 Climax may well depend on the outcome of his Dominion re-match against Kenny Omega. If Omega wins that match, Okada must become the clear favourite for the G1. If Okada retains his title at Dominion, attention will turn to who is likely to face 'The Rainmaker' inside the Tokyo Dome in January 2018.

Okada, winner of the G1 in 2012 and 2014, is having a truly special in-ring year so far in 2017. 'The Rainmaker' has given fans a huge variety of incredible matches already. His six star classic with Omega has been discussed to death, but his follow-up defences against Minoru Suzuki, Katsuyori Shibata, and Bad Luck Fale were special in their own right too. If the year ended in May, Okada would have Wrestler of the Year in his back pocket.

Only Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Masahiro Chono have won the G1 Climax on more than two occasions. If anyone can join that immensely privileged club, it is Kazuchika Okada. If he comes up short against Omega on 11 June in Osaka, it will be difficult to see anyone other than Okada standing tall at the end of the G1.

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Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.