The G1 Climax is coming to a close, and it’s been a great tournament. We will get some time off before the next major tour, which will be a huge double tournament affair. For the first time ever, World Tag League comes to use alongside Best Of Super Juniors. This is actually going to be interesting this year, as a good chunk of teams are either split across countries, or stuck outside of Japan all together.
It running alongside Best Of Super Juniors also means that we won’t get teams like Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi, as Takahashi is a lock for Best Of Super Juniors. Let’s take a quick look at some teams we will likely see.
Some NJPW Veterans Could Be In Action
While none of the active ‘New Japan Dads’ were involved in the G1 Climax, we can look forward to seeing great teams like Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan get involved in the tournament, as well as Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma. These are two of the most experienced teams in NJPW history, have won the tournament in the past, and while they’re getting up there in age, you really can’t look past them.
Faction Teams
Another veteran team we’re likely to see is the CHAOS tandem of Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano, though fans always want to see Ishii & Hirooki Goto team up and demolish everyone in their path, and this could be the year we get our wish. Last year Ishii teamed with YOSHI-HASHI, getting 22 points in the blockless format, so that team up might happen again, though it was only because Yano was teaming with Colt Cabana.
There are a few potential CHAOS teams, especially when you include Kazuchika Okada. Okada has teamed up with Hiroshi Tanahashi in the past, which would be an insane team, but it’s unlikely at best for the World Tag League. He hasn’t been in a World Tag League since 2016, but it’s likely he will enter this year, with no path to Wrestle Kingdom in sight. Last time, he teamed with YOSHI-HASH, ending with 8 points in the B-Block.
There is only one potential L.I.J team, that being Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi, but the World Champion rarely gets involved in tag league, as winning would give them an extra match at Wrestle Kingdom.
The Defending Tag League & IWGP Tag Team Champions Will Be There
While it’s no question if current IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Dangerous Tekkers will be in the tournament, there was some concern about FinJuice. The duo of David Finlay Jr. & Juice Robinson were last years winners, but with Finlay overseas, they might have been unable to enter this year. However, during Robinsons final match in the G1 Climax, it was all but confirmed that Finlay will be back in time.
If Finlay comes from America, that means we could also see at least one of the potential Bullet Club teams head overseas as well, like Guerillas of Destiny or Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens. It wouldn’t feel like tag league without these teams on hand.
Will Ospreay & Great O-Kharn Are Here To Send A Message
On the final day of A-Block, Will Ospreay was finally able to beat Kazuchika Okada with an assist from Bea Priestley and the Great O-Kharn. This is the start of a new faction, and what better way to get started than to win a tournament? It would help introduce Oka back in the mix, and show how much he improved during his time away.
With these teams mentioned above that feel likely, it brings us up to a solid list of teams, a far cry from last years 16 teams. Will some teams just be thrown together, or could other companies provide some extra talent? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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