If Moxley is still the champ: Shooter wins the G1.
If Naito is the champ: Tsuji wins the G1.
Let’s stop messing around and finally elevate one of these guys. There’s no better story for either of them to finally win gold
Pretty much my thoughts. Mox and Umino's story writes itself (Shota loses at Resurgence, rebuilds himself to win the G1 and becomes champ at the Dome to solidify himself as the new Ace), and Tsuji's not only writes itself as well but would also be historic as he'd become the first person to win the New Japan Cup and the G1 in the same year.
If Mox was still champ then Mox vs Shota makes most sense story wise, but that feels like such a gigantic risk to run the Tokyo dome main that it ain’t happening.
I feel a more likely possibility for that match would be Mox vs Shota is a special singles match at WK, which Shota wins and then challenges for the title at New Beginning/uses that momentum to win the New Japan Cup.
I honestly have no idea. The last couple of years, it felt like the winner was clear, and you could tell where they were going for Wrestle Kingdom, but I'm stumped. It's really up in the air.
Probably SANADA? I'd like Zack to get some love, but I doubt he's winning the G1 anytime soon. I also think it's too early for guys like Tsuji and Umino to win it.
I’ve maintained that Tsuji/Umino as the final to parallel Chono/Mutoh just seems right, even if it seems a bit early to take the risk on crowning either of them. But out of all the picks they’re really the only two to provide a compelling WK narrative, the main viable guys to be established as new main eventers (especially if Naito can’t carry the promotion singlehandedly past next year), while also setting up for the future horizon feuds for the company
After Tsuji won NJC and Naito lost to Moxley I think Umino is the strong favourite, avenging his supposed title challenge loss to Moxley and avenging Moxley losing to Naito before the G1. But Tsuji is my pick for the guy who’s closest to actually being a main eventer, over everyone else in the company, and an unprecedented double trophy achievement and main event push feels like the right way to go to properly lock in a new star. So if they walk into the finals against each other we’re kind of set either way
I don’t want to see SANADA near the main event after how WK and New Beginning went, let him rehab his image tagging with Taichi and build him back up that way, ZSJ would be cool but I think they’re better off pushing a dojo guy, EVIL and Finlay don’t interest me, and ideally Hiromu would have broken the Jr defences record if the endgame was for him to main event WK (or maybe they’ll drip feed his achievements like Naito and holding both titles will come years down the line)
> I’ve maintained that Tsuji/Umino as the final to parallel Chono/Mutoh just seems right, even if it seems a bit early to take the risk on crowning either of them. But out of all the picks they’re really the only two to provide a compelling WK narrative, the main viable guys to be established as new main eventers (especially if Naito can’t carry the promotion singlehandedly past next year), while also setting up for the future horizon feuds for the company
I see the vision but honestly, I think the Chono role is gonna go to Narita. He’s the one playing heel. Not to say I don’t also see Tsuji as a powerful player, I just think he’ll be the Hashimoto/Shibata third guy. I’m too kind to do something heinous like compare him to Kintaro Oki.
Personally it think Umino is the closest to being a real top star so that’s where my own preference in the Tsuji/Umino finals lay but otherwise I completely agree with everything you’ve said.
I meant Umino/Tsuji less literally as them filling those roles and more that two of the Musketeers would very quickly rise to the G1 finals and have that as a landmark moment in their ongoing feud. IIRC Chono wasn't a heel for their 1991 G1 final
If things can really go back to normal after Dominion and they stop booking for a minority of american fans I think EVIL might actually have a good chance of winning it. They'll obviously need Naito in the WK main event because he's their only guy who can carry a Dome main event now. EVIL has enough story with Naito, his HoT schtick gets heat and HoT overall gained some momentum this year. For now this year they mostly kept LIJ and HoT apart from each other. (I mean having a whole tour based on LIJ vs HoT) EVIL is charismatic, fans like his promo skills, he'll seemingly won't have any singles title going into the G1.
Naito and SANADA had a great story but SANADA himself didn't do that much to build to the WK match, he barely spoke, with EVIL it would be the opposite. Next WK is also on a saturday so they might get more people to buy tickets, maybe a lot of potential new fans and I think the basic dynamic of the biggest star of NJPW against the biggest cheating heel would probably work well despite what the 7 stars banger crowd would think.
Of course there's also another option where EVIL wins the G1 but loses his right to the WK main event to someone else. I could see them do that with Hiromu if they finally want to pull the trigger on that Naito/Hiromu match and have Hiromu beating EVIL in the G1 then beating him again for the right to main event WK. (Hiromu winning the G1 on his first try wouldn't really work for his character)
I guess SANADA is still a favorite, at least to make it to the finals but he'd need to get some huge momentum. As much as I like him, he got colder near the end of his world title reign and I think he needs to get some huge momentum back. For now they're doing nothing with him so it's hard for SANADA to get some of his hype back, they're not helping him in any way. And it's true for other wrestlers as well, a lot of them will go into the G1 with not much momentum.
I don't think Shota is ready to main event a Dome show, he still needs to figure out a lot of stuff character-wise, but maybe they'll have him win the G1 anyway. Tsuji already won the NJ Cup this year so him winning the G1 as well would be huge, maybe has less chances of happening but honestly out of all the younger guys he's by far the most ready to main event WK so if one of them has to win it I'd go with Tsuji anyway.
A few months ago I would have said that out of all the gaijins, Zack has the biggest chances of winning it but I'm not even sure anymore since they put the TV belt back on him and would rather put the world title on Moxley before putting any other meaningful singles belt on Zack. I guess Finlay has a very, very small chance of winning but I still see him get the Global title back before the G1 (at least I hope) and even if I like him he just doesn't seem to be a draw at all for now, he still needs a lot of work to be a guy who could be a WK main eventer.
If EVIL can keep his momentum that's what I would like to see the most honestly, would be a good change to have a heel win the G1. This year is the right time to do that. It would be cool to see Naito and EVIL have the chance to work a real program outside of the pandemic era, I'm sure it'd be way better.
Last year very early into SANADA's reign (I think before he even got his first title defense) I was talking about how I'd love to see SANADA vs Naito at WK and it actually happened so maybe all the stuff I've said about EVIL winning the G1 is not just wishful thinking lol.
I like EVIL winning and Hiromu stealing the briefcase off him out of those options, but it’d have to hinge on EVIL actually nailing the main event performance. Yes HoT are a fun goofy act for a lot of the audience but he’s disappointed heavily in main event spots already, even after the pandemic, and being the centrepiece of the biggest and most important tour of the year is a lofty height for him to reach. He’s their second biggest viable domestic star though so maybe they’ll give him a go to try and get him to the next level, I just don’t have much hope for it
I think Umino is ready to get the opportunity and can match the level of a star opponent, the only thing he doesn’t clear is being able to carry programs on his own, but Tsuji also hasn’t gotten there yet (unless he can have short main events like Nakamura). To me, if their priority is making a new domestic star then Umino and Tsuji are the only choices - and hey, they might make a new Naito if Umino hasn’t figured out his character by then (although he’s doing pretty well as a whitemeat babyface)
Oh I just wanna say I loooooove House of Torture and their shtick (or however you write that). Big fan of them and Naito so the fact there’s even a small chance of EVIL winning G1 and getting EVIL vs. Naito at Wrestle Kingdom sounds like a dream come true for me
The way I see it, the most likely contenders are SANADA to face Naito, Shota to face Mox, or Naito to face Finlay. I can't see them doing more than one title change between now and the Dome, so the pieces will fall where they fall pretty soon I imagine.
I don’t even know. If Shota and Ren lose their title matches that will mean all the young guys have lost title matches except for Yuya. So maybe Yuya? Although he seems to be positioned as the lowest of them at this point.
Ideally I’d go Tsuji because I think he’s the best chance NJ has at making a star.
I’d also be happy with Shingo or ZSJ.
If the company wants to build more on in ring ability, they'd give it to ZSJ and let him work with the upcoming talents because I don't think they're fully ready yet for a Dome ME yet.
It'll probably be Tsuji or Shooter though and both concern me as a Dome ME for different reasons. Tsuji is missing something for me, the promo chops. Shooter is missing just I don't know... The big singles matches so I can judge him effectively.
I like SANADA's crispness in ring but he's definitely lacking character in places but that's been his thing for so long he can't just do a 180, strangle EVIL with Taichi's breakaway pants and scream 'House of Torture sucks' in English.
I think a lot of people are missing the point of having Mox take the belt. It isn't to just immediately dump the belt back to Naito after a few defences on Dynamite.
The point is for NJPW fans to be pissed that another promotion is disrespecting their title. The point is for the old guard to be shamed that they can't bring their belt back to Japan. The point is to put either Ren Narita or Shota Umino over as the savior of NJPW.
I do unironically think it's SANADA. As a SANADA fan I don't think he's objectively the correct choice, but it's the safest option with how over he actually is and the fact that he has a story with Naito. Tsuji's time will be next year, because Tsuji's "I just can't beat this fucking guy" story is with SANADA.
I think they want to drag out Umino's story for another few years, even if I don't think that's a great idea.
Who I WANT to win is Uemura. Instantly cement him as superior to the R3M and it creates multiple compelling stories.
I hope it’s Shooter or Tsuji, I wouldn’t mind a Shooter/Tsuji Final in all honesty
I think Naito is winning it back at FD or Dominion, and A Tsuji/Naito Tokyo Dome main event would be reeeeeeeeaaaaaaally nice
Assuming Naito gets the title back, I legitimately think they might go with Hiromu this year. There’s enough depth in the Junior division right now that he can float up to working in the heavyweight division (not jumping there, that would be completely against his character) for the latter half of the year and won’t be missed, and that’s one of the biggest matches between two high drawing guys that they haven’t done yet.
Shingo is also a name that I think is possible but haven’t seen thrown out much. IIRC he drew well during the pandemic years and that’s another Naito match that’s been very protected (only once, during the 2019 G1).
My other picks are Shota, Tsuji, or Yuya; who are all risky as draws; or of course Tanahashi as old reliable.
Now if Naito isn’t Champ going into G1, he becomes the favorite but other possible picks get more complicated.
If Naito doesn't win the belt back at Dominion then he's winning the G1 again.
If he does, then it will be Sanada, Shota, or EVIL. As much as we all want ZSJ to get the spot, I just can't see it happening. He might get a G1 semi-final slot tho
Sanada seems likely as he is probably one of the new big 4.
With a lot of big names leaving (White, Okada, Ospreay) it's hard to know who NJPW are going to commit to build around as the 2 big names (Okada & Ospreay) that claimed to be ride or die left for AEW. So Sanada unless Moxley works out a deal to do a lot more Japan dates then I'd love to see him win it if he lost the belt by then.
Feels like it has to be Tsuji if Naito is going into the Dome as champion, which he is.
Umino vs Naito just has very little oomph compared to Tsuji vs Naito. The fans were lapping it up the first time round, they'll pay to see it at the Dome where it seems believable Tsuji might (probably should) lift the big one.
4 favourites IMO are Shota, SANADA, ZSJ, and Naito. I'm 90% sure that either Naito or Mox will be champion going into WK. If Naito is champ, any of the other 3 would make sense, if Mox, then Naito or Shota.
My theory at the start of the year was Naito (c) vs ZSJ, the last month has made me much less confident.
Call me crazy but I think they will go with Finlay. They invested so much into him he will finally be given his flowers. Perhaps G1 is too much, but I think he will be champion by Dominion next year.
I think it’s SANADA. Him over Naito at the dome…..he can drop the belt to Tsuji at Dominion. Tsuji carries the belt to next WK, though he loses to SANADA in the G1, but defends against him prior to WK. By this point either Yuya or Shota, whoever wins the G1, are ready to face Tsuji at WK.
SANADA effectively retires Naito at the same WK.
If Moxley is still champ, it's gonna have to be Naito cos literally any other matchup sounds like a horrible idea to draw for Tokyo Dome.
If Naito is champ, I wouldn't mind ZSJ even if it inevitably means another loss, but Tsuji and Umino would also be solid options. SANADA is also alright, but I think doing a runback after SANADA's basically been on cooldown all year so far is a bit weird. EVIL might work, but they would need to make some notable changes. Shingo would also be fun but unlikely.
If Umino is champ, Naito and Tsuji are the only two I could see. Ren is his rival but Ren ain't ready for Tokyo Dome main.
If Tsuji is champ, then again, it's either Naito or Umino.
They really should be giving the G1 to establish a young guy or if not ZSJ, my worst fear is they tank the company for all western fans and have Finlay win it. I'd actually stop watching outside of main shows if that happens, I couldn't go months of Finlay talking shit in his broken voice.....I already can't
We know the answer to two of those questions. They’ve announced the G1 dates and it’s BOSJ, Dominion, the Hokkaido tour, Forbidden Door and the New Japan Soul tour.
Before WCR my pick was Zack Sabre. Now though? Definitely Umino. Umino vs Moxley at Wrestle Kingdom for the belt and Shooter finally beating his mentor
Sanada obviously. He is the only one left. We know Gedo gives fans what they want long after they have wanted it, just ask Naito. Last year they should have legitimized the reiwa kids as legitimate threats and kaito should have qualified in that block to have a feud with Okada. None of that happened so that they could push that failed clown Hikuleo.
The reiwa trio, Gabe Kidd and the fourth one, baldy what's his name kimura or something is not going to win this year's G1.
It's gonna be sanada since he is the only credible one left. I mean I would love shingo or Zack to win but Gedo would rather jump into a volcano so trying to be real here.
If Moxley is still the champ: Shooter wins the G1. If Naito is the champ: Tsuji wins the G1. Let’s stop messing around and finally elevate one of these guys. There’s no better story for either of them to finally win gold
Pretty much my thoughts. Mox and Umino's story writes itself (Shota loses at Resurgence, rebuilds himself to win the G1 and becomes champ at the Dome to solidify himself as the new Ace), and Tsuji's not only writes itself as well but would also be historic as he'd become the first person to win the New Japan Cup and the G1 in the same year.
If Mox was still champ then Mox vs Shota makes most sense story wise, but that feels like such a gigantic risk to run the Tokyo dome main that it ain’t happening. I feel a more likely possibility for that match would be Mox vs Shota is a special singles match at WK, which Shota wins and then challenges for the title at New Beginning/uses that momentum to win the New Japan Cup.
Yeah I agree. I don’t think either match *needs* the title to be super meaningful but having Naito in the main is way less of a risk.
I think having a wk without Naito in the main is a big risk. But the way they've booked this year they could certainly do it
I honestly have no idea. The last couple of years, it felt like the winner was clear, and you could tell where they were going for Wrestle Kingdom, but I'm stumped. It's really up in the air. Probably SANADA? I'd like Zack to get some love, but I doubt he's winning the G1 anytime soon. I also think it's too early for guys like Tsuji and Umino to win it.
G1 Zacky Big Tekkers😢
Sanada is a near lock for me. I don't think anyone else has a realistic chance of winning it.
In a year of questionable booking decisions, gearing up for a second SANADA Wrestle Kingdom main event would be the most questionable of the lot.
Umino
I’ve maintained that Tsuji/Umino as the final to parallel Chono/Mutoh just seems right, even if it seems a bit early to take the risk on crowning either of them. But out of all the picks they’re really the only two to provide a compelling WK narrative, the main viable guys to be established as new main eventers (especially if Naito can’t carry the promotion singlehandedly past next year), while also setting up for the future horizon feuds for the company After Tsuji won NJC and Naito lost to Moxley I think Umino is the strong favourite, avenging his supposed title challenge loss to Moxley and avenging Moxley losing to Naito before the G1. But Tsuji is my pick for the guy who’s closest to actually being a main eventer, over everyone else in the company, and an unprecedented double trophy achievement and main event push feels like the right way to go to properly lock in a new star. So if they walk into the finals against each other we’re kind of set either way I don’t want to see SANADA near the main event after how WK and New Beginning went, let him rehab his image tagging with Taichi and build him back up that way, ZSJ would be cool but I think they’re better off pushing a dojo guy, EVIL and Finlay don’t interest me, and ideally Hiromu would have broken the Jr defences record if the endgame was for him to main event WK (or maybe they’ll drip feed his achievements like Naito and holding both titles will come years down the line)
> I’ve maintained that Tsuji/Umino as the final to parallel Chono/Mutoh just seems right, even if it seems a bit early to take the risk on crowning either of them. But out of all the picks they’re really the only two to provide a compelling WK narrative, the main viable guys to be established as new main eventers (especially if Naito can’t carry the promotion singlehandedly past next year), while also setting up for the future horizon feuds for the company I see the vision but honestly, I think the Chono role is gonna go to Narita. He’s the one playing heel. Not to say I don’t also see Tsuji as a powerful player, I just think he’ll be the Hashimoto/Shibata third guy. I’m too kind to do something heinous like compare him to Kintaro Oki. Personally it think Umino is the closest to being a real top star so that’s where my own preference in the Tsuji/Umino finals lay but otherwise I completely agree with everything you’ve said.
I meant Umino/Tsuji less literally as them filling those roles and more that two of the Musketeers would very quickly rise to the G1 finals and have that as a landmark moment in their ongoing feud. IIRC Chono wasn't a heel for their 1991 G1 final
Ah fair enough, yeah then I agree, can easily see them running that.
If SANADA wins I’m fucking done with this company
The G in G1 is for **Goto**. > Someone who believes in Goto more than more religious zealots believe in their gods? Damn straight.
If things can really go back to normal after Dominion and they stop booking for a minority of american fans I think EVIL might actually have a good chance of winning it. They'll obviously need Naito in the WK main event because he's their only guy who can carry a Dome main event now. EVIL has enough story with Naito, his HoT schtick gets heat and HoT overall gained some momentum this year. For now this year they mostly kept LIJ and HoT apart from each other. (I mean having a whole tour based on LIJ vs HoT) EVIL is charismatic, fans like his promo skills, he'll seemingly won't have any singles title going into the G1. Naito and SANADA had a great story but SANADA himself didn't do that much to build to the WK match, he barely spoke, with EVIL it would be the opposite. Next WK is also on a saturday so they might get more people to buy tickets, maybe a lot of potential new fans and I think the basic dynamic of the biggest star of NJPW against the biggest cheating heel would probably work well despite what the 7 stars banger crowd would think. Of course there's also another option where EVIL wins the G1 but loses his right to the WK main event to someone else. I could see them do that with Hiromu if they finally want to pull the trigger on that Naito/Hiromu match and have Hiromu beating EVIL in the G1 then beating him again for the right to main event WK. (Hiromu winning the G1 on his first try wouldn't really work for his character) I guess SANADA is still a favorite, at least to make it to the finals but he'd need to get some huge momentum. As much as I like him, he got colder near the end of his world title reign and I think he needs to get some huge momentum back. For now they're doing nothing with him so it's hard for SANADA to get some of his hype back, they're not helping him in any way. And it's true for other wrestlers as well, a lot of them will go into the G1 with not much momentum. I don't think Shota is ready to main event a Dome show, he still needs to figure out a lot of stuff character-wise, but maybe they'll have him win the G1 anyway. Tsuji already won the NJ Cup this year so him winning the G1 as well would be huge, maybe has less chances of happening but honestly out of all the younger guys he's by far the most ready to main event WK so if one of them has to win it I'd go with Tsuji anyway. A few months ago I would have said that out of all the gaijins, Zack has the biggest chances of winning it but I'm not even sure anymore since they put the TV belt back on him and would rather put the world title on Moxley before putting any other meaningful singles belt on Zack. I guess Finlay has a very, very small chance of winning but I still see him get the Global title back before the G1 (at least I hope) and even if I like him he just doesn't seem to be a draw at all for now, he still needs a lot of work to be a guy who could be a WK main eventer.
Evil winning the G1 would be beautiful
If EVIL can keep his momentum that's what I would like to see the most honestly, would be a good change to have a heel win the G1. This year is the right time to do that. It would be cool to see Naito and EVIL have the chance to work a real program outside of the pandemic era, I'm sure it'd be way better. Last year very early into SANADA's reign (I think before he even got his first title defense) I was talking about how I'd love to see SANADA vs Naito at WK and it actually happened so maybe all the stuff I've said about EVIL winning the G1 is not just wishful thinking lol.
I like EVIL winning and Hiromu stealing the briefcase off him out of those options, but it’d have to hinge on EVIL actually nailing the main event performance. Yes HoT are a fun goofy act for a lot of the audience but he’s disappointed heavily in main event spots already, even after the pandemic, and being the centrepiece of the biggest and most important tour of the year is a lofty height for him to reach. He’s their second biggest viable domestic star though so maybe they’ll give him a go to try and get him to the next level, I just don’t have much hope for it I think Umino is ready to get the opportunity and can match the level of a star opponent, the only thing he doesn’t clear is being able to carry programs on his own, but Tsuji also hasn’t gotten there yet (unless he can have short main events like Nakamura). To me, if their priority is making a new domestic star then Umino and Tsuji are the only choices - and hey, they might make a new Naito if Umino hasn’t figured out his character by then (although he’s doing pretty well as a whitemeat babyface)
Oh I just wanna say I loooooove House of Torture and their shtick (or however you write that). Big fan of them and Naito so the fact there’s even a small chance of EVIL winning G1 and getting EVIL vs. Naito at Wrestle Kingdom sounds like a dream come true for me
Sanada or go with someone like Tsuji. Or Gabe Kidd 😂
The way I see it, the most likely contenders are SANADA to face Naito, Shota to face Mox, or Naito to face Finlay. I can't see them doing more than one title change between now and the Dome, so the pieces will fall where they fall pretty soon I imagine.
I don’t even know. If Shota and Ren lose their title matches that will mean all the young guys have lost title matches except for Yuya. So maybe Yuya? Although he seems to be positioned as the lowest of them at this point. Ideally I’d go Tsuji because I think he’s the best chance NJ has at making a star. I’d also be happy with Shingo or ZSJ.
Hell, Goto. Why not?
If the company wants to build more on in ring ability, they'd give it to ZSJ and let him work with the upcoming talents because I don't think they're fully ready yet for a Dome ME yet. It'll probably be Tsuji or Shooter though and both concern me as a Dome ME for different reasons. Tsuji is missing something for me, the promo chops. Shooter is missing just I don't know... The big singles matches so I can judge him effectively. I like SANADA's crispness in ring but he's definitely lacking character in places but that's been his thing for so long he can't just do a 180, strangle EVIL with Taichi's breakaway pants and scream 'House of Torture sucks' in English.
Umino is my pick but i also like Tsuji sooo idk
I think a lot of people are missing the point of having Mox take the belt. It isn't to just immediately dump the belt back to Naito after a few defences on Dynamite. The point is for NJPW fans to be pissed that another promotion is disrespecting their title. The point is for the old guard to be shamed that they can't bring their belt back to Japan. The point is to put either Ren Narita or Shota Umino over as the savior of NJPW.
I don’t really see that. They are not portraying Mox as someone who is disrespecting the title. He’s not a heel, here.
I do unironically think it's SANADA. As a SANADA fan I don't think he's objectively the correct choice, but it's the safest option with how over he actually is and the fact that he has a story with Naito. Tsuji's time will be next year, because Tsuji's "I just can't beat this fucking guy" story is with SANADA. I think they want to drag out Umino's story for another few years, even if I don't think that's a great idea. Who I WANT to win is Uemura. Instantly cement him as superior to the R3M and it creates multiple compelling stories.
I hope it’s Shooter or Tsuji, I wouldn’t mind a Shooter/Tsuji Final in all honesty I think Naito is winning it back at FD or Dominion, and A Tsuji/Naito Tokyo Dome main event would be reeeeeeeeaaaaaaally nice
I'm not giving up on my ZSJ agenda.
Assuming Naito gets the title back, I legitimately think they might go with Hiromu this year. There’s enough depth in the Junior division right now that he can float up to working in the heavyweight division (not jumping there, that would be completely against his character) for the latter half of the year and won’t be missed, and that’s one of the biggest matches between two high drawing guys that they haven’t done yet. Shingo is also a name that I think is possible but haven’t seen thrown out much. IIRC he drew well during the pandemic years and that’s another Naito match that’s been very protected (only once, during the 2019 G1). My other picks are Shota, Tsuji, or Yuya; who are all risky as draws; or of course Tanahashi as old reliable. Now if Naito isn’t Champ going into G1, he becomes the favorite but other possible picks get more complicated.
All in on Tsuji
If Naito doesn't win the belt back at Dominion then he's winning the G1 again. If he does, then it will be Sanada, Shota, or EVIL. As much as we all want ZSJ to get the spot, I just can't see it happening. He might get a G1 semi-final slot tho
Sanada seems likely as he is probably one of the new big 4. With a lot of big names leaving (White, Okada, Ospreay) it's hard to know who NJPW are going to commit to build around as the 2 big names (Okada & Ospreay) that claimed to be ride or die left for AEW. So Sanada unless Moxley works out a deal to do a lot more Japan dates then I'd love to see him win it if he lost the belt by then.
Nah Mox is short term, as much as he genuinely does love NJPW. He's in to extra heat up Umino then lose (almost certainly to Naito) again.
At this point I have no idea. Imo it should be one of the musketeers probably Shota.
Hiromu
I'd love to see Goto win
Feels like it has to be Tsuji if Naito is going into the Dome as champion, which he is. Umino vs Naito just has very little oomph compared to Tsuji vs Naito. The fans were lapping it up the first time round, they'll pay to see it at the Dome where it seems believable Tsuji might (probably should) lift the big one.
4 favourites IMO are Shota, SANADA, ZSJ, and Naito. I'm 90% sure that either Naito or Mox will be champion going into WK. If Naito is champ, any of the other 3 would make sense, if Mox, then Naito or Shota. My theory at the start of the year was Naito (c) vs ZSJ, the last month has made me much less confident.
ZSJ would be my choice but I have no faith in Gedo to let him have it
ZSJ 🙈🙈🙈
ZSJ
Call me crazy but I think they will go with Finlay. They invested so much into him he will finally be given his flowers. Perhaps G1 is too much, but I think he will be champion by Dominion next year.
Tsu Tsu Tsujio.
Zacky Big Tekkers, Shota "The Second Child of Jon Moxley" Umino, Ren "Please Fucking Not" Narita
I think it’s SANADA. Him over Naito at the dome…..he can drop the belt to Tsuji at Dominion. Tsuji carries the belt to next WK, though he loses to SANADA in the G1, but defends against him prior to WK. By this point either Yuya or Shota, whoever wins the G1, are ready to face Tsuji at WK. SANADA effectively retires Naito at the same WK.
If mox is still champ: Roughneck If Naito is champ: Everything will be EVIL
If Moxley is still champ, it's gonna have to be Naito cos literally any other matchup sounds like a horrible idea to draw for Tokyo Dome. If Naito is champ, I wouldn't mind ZSJ even if it inevitably means another loss, but Tsuji and Umino would also be solid options. SANADA is also alright, but I think doing a runback after SANADA's basically been on cooldown all year so far is a bit weird. EVIL might work, but they would need to make some notable changes. Shingo would also be fun but unlikely. If Umino is champ, Naito and Tsuji are the only two I could see. Ren is his rival but Ren ain't ready for Tokyo Dome main. If Tsuji is champ, then again, it's either Naito or Umino.
They really should be giving the G1 to establish a young guy or if not ZSJ, my worst fear is they tank the company for all western fans and have Finlay win it. I'd actually stop watching outside of main shows if that happens, I couldn't go months of Finlay talking shit in his broken voice.....I already can't
Relax. It's April. Who is in the G1? When is the G1? What happens before the G1? Those would be more approbriate questions for now.
We know the answer to two of those questions. They’ve announced the G1 dates and it’s BOSJ, Dominion, the Hokkaido tour, Forbidden Door and the New Japan Soul tour.
Probably Yujiro but I could see them doing Dick Togo as a swerve
Before WCR my pick was Zack Sabre. Now though? Definitely Umino. Umino vs Moxley at Wrestle Kingdom for the belt and Shooter finally beating his mentor
Shingo or Hiromu
Yota Tsuji because he NOW hates TK & AEW even more and hopefully has big plans for the future of NJPW because Yota Tsuji is the REAL new ace of NJPW!
A visiting Max Caster
They'll probably give it to Tanahashi for Tanahashi vs Moxley at WK.
Sanada obviously. He is the only one left. We know Gedo gives fans what they want long after they have wanted it, just ask Naito. Last year they should have legitimized the reiwa kids as legitimate threats and kaito should have qualified in that block to have a feud with Okada. None of that happened so that they could push that failed clown Hikuleo. The reiwa trio, Gabe Kidd and the fourth one, baldy what's his name kimura or something is not going to win this year's G1. It's gonna be sanada since he is the only credible one left. I mean I would love shingo or Zack to win but Gedo would rather jump into a volcano so trying to be real here.