NJPW G1 Climax 30: Every Participant's Chance Of Winning Ranked From Worst To Best

Taichi is wonderful, one of the most underrated wrestlers in the world. Since the New Japan Cup last year, he has wrestled with intensity, impressing in last year’s G1, and having a sensational series with Tomohiro Ishii and most importantly, getting victories over main event talents like Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi in this year’s New Japan Cup.

Now one half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Taichi's success as a midcarder ensures he'll get a few victories over the course of the tournament but is not likely to pull out the victory here.

For one thing, he’s fought Naito so many times over the last couple years. They wrestled three times last year, and twice the year before that. Their chemistry is very solid, but they lack the immediate brutality and extensive personal history to make a 6th match between the two a tantalising Tokyo Dome main event.

Taichi’s incredibly talented and is being rewarded for years of hard work. He has a great tag team with ZSJ right now, a motivated angle to work with and purpose heading into the G1 Climax tournament so The Holy Emperor will be okay without the trophy.