{"id":21970,"date":"2018-07-12T13:04:01","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T17:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=21970"},"modified":"2018-07-12T19:54:56","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T23:54:56","slug":"inside-g128-just-tap-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/07\/12\/inside-g128-just-tap-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside G128: Just Tap Out!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inside G128 is an in-depth look at the 20 participants of New Japan Pro Wrestling\u2019s 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

The Suzuki-Gun<\/strong> member and Taka Michinoku<\/strong>‘s newest protege, Zack Sabre Jr.<\/strong> (ZSJ) has had an incredible 2018 thus far in singles competition. ZSJ has already won the PROGRESS Super Strong Style<\/strong><\/em> tournament in May where he defeated Chuck Mambo<\/strong>, David Starr<\/strong>, Keith Lee<\/strong>, and Kassius Ohno<\/strong>. Earlier in March, ZSJ won the New Japan Cup<\/strong> by defeating a list of top-notch professional wrestlers: Tetsuya Naito<\/strong>, Kota Ibushi<\/strong>, Sanada<\/strong>, and Hiroshi Tanahashi<\/strong> each submitted to ZSJ on his path to hoisting the New Japan Cup trophy.<\/p>\n

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

In June, ZSJ was able to defeat Australian standout Slex<\/strong> during the WSW International Assault Best Of The Best<\/strong><\/em> 2K18 tour. While ZSJ was unable to defeat Kazuchika Okada<\/strong> for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship after winning the New Japan Cup [34:58], he scored an upset pinfall against Okada earlier in July at Strong Style Evolved UK<\/em><\/strong>. All of this while winning and defending the RevPro British Tag Team Championship with Minoru Suzuki<\/strong> throughout the year.<\/p>\n

While ZSJ is an entry in the tough ‘B Block’ his chances of winning the G1 should not be underestimated. Below is a list of his G1 opponents, the date he wrestles them, and his G1 record against them:<\/p>\n

Kota Ibushi, July 15th, 0-1
\nToru Yano, July 19th, 0-0
\nSanada, July 21st, 0-0
\nTomohiro Ishii, July 26th, 1-0
\nTama Tonga, July 28th, 0-0
\nKenny Omega, August 1st, 0-0
\nJuice Robinson, August 4th, 0-0
\nHirooki Goto, August 8th, 0-1
\nTetsuya Naito, August 11th, 0-1<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

His opening match against Kota Ibushi<\/strong> on July 15th has serious implications and is the third match in their tournament series. ZSJ will have to avoid an upset against Toru Yano on July 19th.<\/p>\n

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

His final stretch of six matches is a similar row of talent he defeated during this year’s New Japan Cup. It will take a monumental effort for ZSJ to win enough of those matches to win the ‘B Block’ and advance to his first G1 final.<\/p>\n

Last year was ZSJ’s first G1 entry where he earned the following result:<\/p>\n

5 Total Wins
\n4 Total Losses
\n55.6% Winning Percentage<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There isn’t a professional wrestler on the planet that ZSJ cannot submit. After his recent victory against Okada, he enters the G1 with momentum behind him. If his frame can hold up during the lengthy tournament, there is no doubt that he could shock the world once again.<\/p>\n

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

Those who have doubted him in the past have been met with a similar sentiment and now will hear these very words, “Come on over here” as they prepare to wrestle the undisputed best submission wrestler at the professional level.<\/p>\n

With his unyielding hatred for the British Conservative Party, Taka Michinoku at his side, and an endless supply of holds — is there anyone who can outlast ZSJ in the G1?<\/p>\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\u2019s 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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Inside G128 is an in-depth look at the 20 participants of New Japan Pro Wrestling\u2019s 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":22009,"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":[3042,1187,946,1029,2928,388,270,170,620,617,619,483,1916,781,627,172,2940],"class_list":["post-21970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-international","category-njpw","tag-davi-starr","tag-g1","tag-g1-climax","tag-hiroshi-tanahashi","tag-inside-g128","tag-kassius-ohno","tag-keith-lee","tag-kota-ibushi","tag-minoru-suzuki","tag-new-japan-cup","tag-sanada","tag-suzuki-gun","tag-taka-michinoku","tag-tetsuya-naito","tag-toru-yano","tag-zack-sabre-jr","tag-zsj"],"modified_by":"Jamie Greer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21970","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=21970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21970\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}