NJPW G1 Climax 30: Every Participant's Chance Of Winning Ranked From Worst To Best
5. Shingo Takagi
There are a few major reasons why Shingo would be a good candidate to win the G1 Climax this year. He has momentum on his side after a fantastic reign with the Openweight championship, he has extensive personal history with Tetsuya Naito in real life and as a current member of LIJ, and he recently dropped the Openweight title to Minoru Suzuki, leaving him free to challenge for the two titles at Wrestle Kingdom if he was victorious.
However, he hasn't been in New Japan for that long all things considered and despite his successes, it might be seen as too soon to run the Naito and Shingo rematch at the Tokyo Dome. He didn't get much of a showcase in the New Japan Cup, usually a good sign for G1 Climax success, didn't work a singles match at the Dome at Wrestle Kingdom this year and lost several early matches in his tournament last year.
Despite these potential hindrances, it wouldn't be the first time that the G1 tournament elevated a performer into an instant main eventer and Shingo has the credibility with audiences to make a big push work. He's a major contender and would be celebrated if he won the tournament.