I'm finding it tough to predict this year. Assuming it follows the same format with quater and semi finals, 3 will advance from each block into the knockouts.
It might not be the most stacked G1 this year but there's a very healthy number of contenders. I'd say there's 5 in each block who could be one of those 3, which is actually pretty exciting.
For A Block, in my opinion, those contenders are:
Goto – Tsuji – Uemura – Finlay – Tanahashi
For B Block, I'd say those contenders are:
Takagi – Takeshita – ZSJ – Gabe Kidd – Umino
I can't seem to settle on a particular 3 for either block.
The young guys really need a strong G1 run. Like, Tsuji, Uemura, Umino, Kidd should really all be getting to the later stages at this point.
However, you still have Goto and Takagi who are the actual cemented main eventers who also probably need to be there in some capacity. Especially Goto, having just lost the title.
Then you have Zack who's just won it. Now, although the champion never used to make it out the blocks, that has changed in recent years since the new knockout format has come in. Naito (2024) and Sanada (2023) both did it, and seeing as Zack just won the belt he probably needs a strong G1 as well. There's also the Forbidden door show right after to consider for this in terms of Zack looking like a strong champion going in.
Then you have the weird ones. Tanahashi, in particular, is a headache because It's his last ever G1. That is a huge deal. I feel like there's a good chance he makes it out of the block by the skin of his teeth purely because of that. But then, he doesn't need it at all and there's no way he'd win it if he did. He'd bow out immediately after in the quarters so, does that make it a waste? I think it kinda does honestly. Tying into what I said about the young guys, they NEED this. Badly. Tanahashi doesn't. He's Tanahashi though.
Takeshita is also a hard one. He isn't a member of the roster, and having him in over someone like Umino multiple years in a row could be quite damaging for the latter. He's probably the best wrestler in the tournament though, he's young, he's over, he's part of the NJPW/AEW relationship and seemingly will be a recurring entrant. He also made it out of the block last year.
Last one is Finlay, I don't have much to say about this one to be fair. He's always going to be a solid choice and normally does quite well in tournaments. I just don't think there's much to it if he does.
And now I've just remembered about EVIL…this is a real ball breaker.
My gut says Tsuji, Goto and Uemura (sorry Tana :/) for A Block and Zack, Umino and Takeshita for B Block (sorry Takagi :///)
What do you guys think?
by SubstantialStill1431