NJPW G1 Climax 30: Every Participant's Chance Of Winning Ranked From Worst To Best
13. Zack Sabre Jr
The other half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Zack Sabre Jr is above his tag team partner here due to the history he shares with Tetsuya Naito.
In 2018, right after Naito’s surprising Wrestle Kingdom loss to Kazuchika Okada, ZSJ ended up costing the leader of LIJ both the G1 Climax and New Japan Cup with surprise victories. He even ended up winning the latter to challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight title in an unsuccessful effort. He’s clearly seen as someone worthy of high profile singles matches, impressing at Wrestle Kingdom numerous times, and is viewed as someone who can confidently defeat men like Naito and Tanahashi.
However, he is working in the same block with Naito and it seems like their issues in the past will be resolved with a triumphant Destino as Naito takes his revenge on the dastardly Brit. In another year, he would have a chance but it doesn’t feel right in 2020.
Zack has the potential to be a top guy in NJPW and is clearly liked by the bookers, but his focus on the tag team scene right now makes it unlikely that he'll also take a G1 Climax win.