Prepping for G1 Climax 29
Tiger Driver
Lou Pickney presents:
Tiger Driver


My Other Pages:
LouPickney.com
NashvilleLou.com
DraftKing.com
NFL Mock Draft
Ace Purple

Miscellaneous:
Lou on Twitter
Lou on Instagram
NashvilleLou Live
Fire Pro World Fan
Fire Pro: Mod Files

Prepping for G1 Climax 29

July 2, 2019
By: Lou Pickney

The first-ever G1 Climax tournament show to be held outside of Japan takes place this Saturday in Dallas. It's a bit abrupt scheduling-wise, as there is a full week between opening night for A Block and opening night one week later in Tokyo for B Block. But that's the way it worked out.

Here's a preview of opening night in Dallas.

NOTE: A subscription to New Japan World is needed to view the recommended matches.


Night 1: A Block (Dallas, Texas, USA)
July 6, 2019

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada

Series tied 5-5-3 (win/loss/draw); Tanahashi has won their last two matches and three out of the last four. G1 record also tied, with three 30-minute time limit draws in 2013, 2016, and 2018.

This is an era-defining feud that has produced an overwhelming volume of top-flight matches. I picked out three here, but you can watch every one of their singles matches since Okada returned from excursion and not get tired of them.

Recommended previous matches

• April 7, 2013 -- Japanese
IWGP Heavyweight Title match, Invasion Attack, Tokyo (Ryogoku Sumo Hall)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter 2013 Match of the Year

• January 4, 2015 -- Japanese
IWGP Heavyweight Title match, Wrestle Kingdom 9 at Tokyo Dome

• May 4, 2018 -- Japanese / English
IWGP Heavyweight Title match, Wrestling Dontaku, Fukuoka

2. Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA

First singles match. On opposite sides in tag team matches in Pro Wrestling NOAH, most recently in July 2009. KENTA wrestled in NXT/WWE under the name Hideo Itami from September 2014 until earlier this year.

3. Sanada vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Series tied 1-1. Sanada won their lone G1 match in last year's tournament.

Recommended previous matches

• March 18, 2018 -- Japanese / English
New Japan Cup tournament match, Shizuoka

• July 21, 2018 -- Japanese / English
G1 Climax 28 tournament match, Tokyo (Korakuen Hall)

4. EVIL vs. Bad Luck Fale

Series tied 1-1. Fale won in their 2017 New Japan Cup match, while EVIL won their lone G1 matchup last year by disqualification.

5. Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer

Ospreay won their lone previous singles match earlier this year in the New Japan Cup tournament.

Recommended previous match

• March 14, 2019 -- Japanese / English
New Japan Cup tournament match, Nara



See any mistakes, omissions, or needed corrections? Please let me know: @LouPickney


Except where otherwise noted, all content on this website is copyright © 2017-2024 Lou Pickney, all rights reserved.
The views expressed on this website are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of any media company.
This website is not affiliated with any pro wrestling organization.