Once more with feeling, it's a tournament checkpoint report! Like I've done a few times now, we won't necessarily be going on straight points order, I still like getting my predictions and Vibes[TM] involved.
— MY PICKS —
Yota Tsuji – 4-1 [Whenever Yota Tsuji Is Not Being Pushed, Everyone Should Ask "Where's Yota Tsuji?"] – Tsuji has predictably gotten off to a rocket start, bullshit EVIL loss aside. He still has a couple tough matches to go, but he seems to be the strongest contender for a Top 3 spot so far
Yuya Uemura – 3-2 [The New Top Babyface?] – Say his name, Yuya is on 6 points and looking rather decent so far. A loss to front-runner Tsuji gives him a tough tiebreaker should the two finish level on points, but Yuya is still a strong contender.
Hiroshi Tanahashi – 2-3 [The Old Man's Still Got It] – Yeah, I think I got this wrong. While Tanahashi has had a fun tournament so far, the going theory is that he will finish 3-6 to end his G1 career on exactly 100 wins by ruining the chances of EVIL on his final day.
— STRONG —
EVIL – 3-2 [Local T-Shirt Merchant Ruins Everything] – Another singles heavyweight tournament, another risk of EVIL making everyone suffer. Will he make it out of the block or will justice prevail?
Ryohei Oiwa – 3-2 [What Kind Of Nickname Is The Grip, Anyway? What's He Gripping?] – Oiwa is on a positive record so far in his debut G1, including a fantastic match with Boltin Oleg. Can he keep up the pace and make TMDK proud on his first attempt?
Taichi – 2-3 [Somehow Became All Of Us' Favourite Wrestler This G1] – Can you believe that pre Tekkers, I fucking hated Taichi? Talk about a turnaround. I think if anyone's getting the Great O'Khan run this G1, it's him. Strong possibility of a miracle final night victory against Oleg to make him go 5-4 and put him third or something akin to that. You go, you legend.
— LONGSHOTS —
Boltin Oleg – 3-2 [The Biggest Of The Boys] – Boltin has shined so far this G1 with great matches with Tanahashi, Oiwa, Tsuji and Uemura already under the belt. Despite that, I just don't see him maintaining the positive record – I expect him to go 4-5 with his only future win being against Callum.
David Finlay – 1-4 [The Haters Said He Couldn't Do It. It's Me, I'm Haters] – Alright, look, if anyone's going to get that O'Khan 5-4 third place run, it's either Taichi or Finlay, but what a fucking disaster his early tournament has been. Finlay will have to beat frontrunners in Uemura and Tsuji as well as once again kill EVIL to have any shot.
— JUST NOT HAPPENING IS IT LAD —
SANADA – 2-3 [Mate What The Fuck Are You Wearing] – Okay, so SANADA's place in this tournament is basically the rest match. He's had some fun shenanigans and some truly hilarious outfit choices, and that's fine by me.
Callum Newman – 2-3 [The Guy Of All Time] – He may be very likely going out with only 4 or 6 points, but wins over Finlay and Tanahashi at least mean he's gotten solid head-to-heads. But, yeah, ain't nobody picking him to make the playoffs.
by DJ_Aftershock