NJPW G1 Climax 2018: 10 Things You NEED To Know
5. Switchblade, Dethroned
Jay White lost in San Francisco, but his match with Juice Robinson was the most important bout he's had all year.
'Switchblade' had struggled to impress since returning from excursion. Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated him in an underwhelming Wrestle Kingdom clash, and his United States Title victory over Kenny Omega drew cricket chirps a few weeks later. The work wasn't delivering, fans couldn't connect with the character, and though his role as CHAOS' saboteur provoked intrigue, this didn't carry over to what he was doing in the ring.
Everything came together at the G1 Special. Jay battered Robinson all over ringside, bursting many a steel barricade, then getting into an apparent shoot confrontation with announcer (and former UFC Champion) Josh Barnett after knocking Jim Ross to the floor. Accident or not, it made White the most hated man in the building for the first time in his New Japan career.
Suddenly, Jay's story is one of the G1's most interesting, and he'll almost certainly defeat CHAOS leader Kazuchika Okada on day one. That match is pivotal. If he delivers against 'The Rainmaker,' he's ready to ascend, and a strong tournament run will only amplify the tension between him and the rest of New Japan's biggest babyface stable.