{"id":20725,"date":"2018-06-22T10:21:43","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T14:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=20725"},"modified":"2018-07-12T19:58:49","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T23:58:49","slug":"inside-g128-can-tetsuya-naito-go-back-to-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/06\/22\/inside-g128-can-tetsuya-naito-go-back-to-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside G128: Can Tetsuya Naito Go Back To Back?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inside G128 is an in-depth look at the 20 participants of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s 2018 version of the G1 Climax tournament. The G1 is considered to be the most prestigious tournament in wrestling. Every individual in the field has their own unique story, as they prepare to make their claim as the best endurance wrestler in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

Last year the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon<\/em> (LIJ) captured his second G1 Climax trophy (first in 2013) after defeating 2016 winner Kenny Omega<\/strong> and current IWGP Heavyweight champions in the finals. Tetsuya Naito<\/strong> entered his first G1 in 2010, reaching his first finals a year later where he was defeated by Shinsuke Nakamura<\/strong>. Over the past several years, Naito has turned into the biggest merchandise seller in NJPW, along with being one of the biggest domestic and international draws in the company.<\/p>\n

Naito was unable to defeat Kazuchika Okada<\/strong> for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom<\/em> in January of this year, despite many feeling he was a lock to come out of the event as champion. However, he was able to defeat Minoru Suzuki<\/strong> for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in April at Wrestling Hinokuni<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Naito ignored the physical championship, often critiquing the existence of the title whenever he would speak to the media. Yet, his loss of the title in June at Dominion<\/em> to Chris Jericho leaves him without momentum heading into this years’ G1 tournament.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In order for Naito to become the third back to back G1 winner (Masahiro Chono<\/strong> 1991-1992 & Hiroyoshi Tenzan<\/strong> 2003-2004), he will have to go through a stacked ‘B Block’ including his LIJ stablemate — Sanada<\/strong>. He will begin the tournament against Omega on July 15th, who he is 1-1 against in the G1.<\/p>\n

In 2016, Naito lost to Omega on the final day of block action in the G1 [28:12], leading to Omega advancing to the finals where he would defeat Hirooki Goto<\/strong> [26:49]. While early in the G1, the result could go on to dictate who eventually wins the B Block.<\/p>\n

Below is a list of Naito’s G1 opponents, the date he wrestles them, and his G1 record against them:<\/p>\n

Kenny Omega, July 15th, 1-1
\nTomohiro Ishii, July 19th, 0-1
\nJuice Robinson, July 21st, 0-0
\nTama Tonga, July 26th, 0-0
\nHirooki Goto, July 28th, 1-2
\nToru Yano, August 1st, 4-2
\nKota Ibushi, August 4th, 2-1
\nSanada, August 8th, 0-0
\nZack Sabre, Jr., August 11th, 1-0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The August 11th match against Zack Sabre, Jr<\/strong> (ZSJ) is extremely interesting, as ZSJ was able to defeat Naito in the opening round of the single elimination New Japan Cup in March of this year.<\/p>\n

Throughout his G1 career, Naito has been extremely successful compiling the following record:<\/p>\n

43 Total Wins (41 Block Wins)
\n28 Total Losses (27 Total Block Losses)
\n1 Draw (2010 against Hiroshi Tanahashi)
\n2-1 in G1 Finals
\n59.7 winning percentage<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Despite his recent loss to Jericho, Naito has to be considered one of the favorites to win the 2018 G1 Climax. Fans should circle his matches against Omega, Kota Ibushi<\/strong>, ZSJ, and Sanada as each has the opportunity to stand out for the quality of performance.<\/p>\n

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii<\/strong>, Juice Robinson<\/strong>, and Tama Tonga<\/strong> could capture a ‘surprise’ victory over Naito, making his path to ‘B Block’ victory that much more difficult. It also shouldn’t surprise anyone when Toru Yano<\/strong> captures a quick pinfall over a headline name in the block, he’s beaten Naito in the past and could again this year.<\/p>\n

Will the G1 Climax 28 be tranquilo for Naito, or will his journey to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship hit another roadblock? We’ll all find out in just under a month.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Catch Up On The Inside G128 Series:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Part 1: Can Tetsuya Naito Go Back To Back?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 2: Who Can Stop Kenny Omega?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 3: Will YOSHI-HASHI Finally Break Out?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 4: Is Juice Robinson About To Get Loose?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 5: Will Michael Elgin Find Redemption?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 6: The Curious Case of Tomohiro Ishii<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 7: Is The Hangman Ready To Take A Big Step?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 8: Does Makabe Have One Last Run Left?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 9:\u00a0Decorated Goto Looks To Add Another G1 Trophy<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 10:\u00a0Will The Cold Skull Heat Up In Time?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 11:\u00a0Good Luck For Bad Luck Fale<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 12: Does The Ace Have Something To Prove?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 13: Yano Is Going To Spoil Someone’s G1<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 14:\u00a0Oh The Web Tama Tonga Has Begun To Weave<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 15: Will G128 Be EVIL?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 16: The King Is Coming For His Throne<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 17: Just Tap Out!<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 18: Is Kota Ibushi Prepared To Soar?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 19: Will The G1 Breathe With The Switchblade?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 20:\u00a0Can Okada Bring Rain A Third Time In The G1?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Inside G128 is an in-depth look at the 20 participants of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s 2018 version of the G1 Climax tournament. The G1 is considered to be the most prestigious tournament in wrestling. Every individual in the field has their own unique story, as they prepare to make their claim as the best endurance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2048,"featured_media":20730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,13,14],"tags":[107,1187,2869,1030,1693,502,625,386,1252,620,199,385,2911,118,1033,781,628,627,172],"class_list":["post-20725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-international","category-njpw","tag-chris-jericho","tag-g1","tag-g1-climax-28","tag-hirooki-goto","tag-hiroyoshi-tenzan","tag-iwgp-heavyweight-championship","tag-juice-robinson","tag-kenny-omega","tag-masahiro-chono","tag-minoru-suzuki","tag-naito","tag-new-japan-pro-wrestling","tag-omega","tag-shinsuke-nakamura","tag-tama-tonga","tag-tetsuya-naito","tag-tomohiro-ishii","tag-toru-yano","tag-zack-sabre-jr"],"modified_by":"Jamie Greer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2048"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20725\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}