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Day 7 commences on the 22nd of July and marks a week in the G1. The G1 does have a few breaks along the way, notably, a break from the 16th of July to the 19th of July this year, but this will do little to help the wrestlers through the brutal schedule of the G1.
The A-block is beginning to take shape with this being the 4th set of block matches, and around this time in the G1 you can see and get an image of who could win the block, but this could also change as, after this, 5 sets of block matches remain, meaning 10 points are up for grabs, changing the table completely.
The sweet spot for points is 12, winning 6 out of the total 9 block matches, but with this being day 4 in the B Block, the most amount available is 8 which is still quite telling. Let's delve into this and see the standings and predictions I have on each block match.
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Match 1 - Michael Elgin Vs YOSHI-HASHI
Michael Elgin has had a great start to this year's edition of the G1 Climax. Picking up 4 points and beating the likes of EVIL and Hangman Page, Elgin is looking like he will be going into the finals, however Togi Makabe and Jay White are also on 4 points so the race is on in the A-Block.
YOSHI-HASHI, on the other hand, has yet to pick up any points. He is on 0 and has lost against Makabe and EVIL respectively. Also, now with Toru Yano showing his in-ring skill, YOSHI-HASHI doesn't fit in with the G1 or CHAOS and like Naito said earlier in the year, 'he should go on excursion again'. He is decent in the ring but he hasn't done anything to merit a position in the G1, and his place should have been given to someone else, maybe Jeff Cobb, WALTER or Matt Riddle, but hopefully soon Hashi will prove why he is included.
Prediction - Elgin. I believe Elgin will continue his momentum and defeat YOSHI-HASHI and claim another 2 points. YOSHI-HASHI could pull off the upset but that seems unlikely as I believe he will get the upset against a bigger name in New Japan. This round will go to Michael Elgin in my opinion.
Match 2 - EVIL vs Bad Luck Fale
I believe this is a first between the 2 in singles competition since 2016 in the New Japan Cup, but since then a lot has changed, in terms of accolades, allegiances, training and schedules. Both of the competitors right now are on 2 points after EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI and Fale beat Kazuchika Okada.
Fale has a lot going on in this G1 Climax. With the emergence of the BC Firing Squad, a new catchphrase and him beating Okada means that Fale could potentially steal the G1 from under everyone's noses. His training has also seen him lose quite a lot of weight, making him more agile in-ring and also making him a bit more intimidating.
However, EVIL could also beat the 'Underboss', claim 2 points and move on, as he too beat Okada, but in G1 Climax 27. EVIL is a former NEVER Champion, both 6-man and Openweight, and he is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion, so with this, the matchup will be interesting, slow, and a battle of power.
Prediction - Fale. With everything Fale has going on, I can see him claiming victory, but with the help of Tanga Loa at ringside. Fale will be winning block matches through alliances with his Tongan family, and I believe it'll come into play in this bout.
Match 3 - Jay White vs Minoru Suzuki
A first time for the two, 'Switchblade' Jay White has been successful in his first G1, beating the likes of Tanahashi and Okada to claim 2 points, but don't forget that earlier this year, he defeated Kenny Omega. Jay White has defeated the last 3 IWGP Heavyweight Champions all within a calendar year. Unfortunately, though, he is now faced with possibly his biggest challenge, Suzuki.
Minoru Suzuki is having one of the best years of his 30-year career. Defeating the likes of Tanahashi, Ishii, Makabe and drawing with Okada, Suzuki is a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion and is now current RPW British Heavyweight Champ and RPW British Tag Team Champion with Zack Sabre Jr. Unfortunately, though, Suzuki has 0 points in the G1 currently, but that could change with a win over the New Zealander.
Suzuki could knock Jay off his perch and bring him back down to earth, by using brutal submissions and strikes. Jay White though, could use heelish tactics and beat Suzuki but Suzuki is the King of Pro Wrestling and is not to be underestimated.
Prediction - Minoru Suzuki. I believe Suzuki will be the one to end Jay's reign of terror and prove why he is 'The King'. Suzuki needs to regain momentum and at 50 years old, he is still showing no signs of slowing down and continues to be the human personification of torture.
Match 4 - Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs Hangman Page
A match that took place recently in ROH on the UK tour I believe, Hangman Page has become a great singles star after matches against Kota Ibushi, Jay White and Kenny Omega. Hangman however in the G1 has an interesting one, gaining 2 points via disqualification on night 1 against Bad Luck Fale and then losing to Michael Elgin on night 3 in a great match. Hangman will be looking to gain his first 2 legitimate points.
Tanahashi, in his 17th G1 is looking like the current favourite to win the A Block, after defeating Suzuki on night 1, but then failing against Jay White on night 3, much to the Sapporo Crowd's displeasure. However, you can not count Tanahashi out. With his accolades and injuries along with being the 'Ace', Tanahashi could win the G1 and face Omega at Wrestle Kingdom.
Prediction - Tanahashi. After losing to Jay White, Tanahashi will be looking to gain back lost momentum and another 2 points. Hangman's role in the G1 is to prove why he belongs and to put on fantastic matches with big names, and Hiroshi Tanahashi is one of, if not the biggest name in New Japan, but he won't be defeating the Ace. Tanahashi will claim 2 points and a step forward to the G1 Finals.
Match 5 - Togi Makabe Vs Kazuchika Okada
These two former G1 winners and IWGP Heavyweight Champions have fought 4 times in the past and this will be the fifth singles encounter between the two. Makabe has been surprising the fans thus far, defeating YOSHI-HASHI, and more notably, Minoru Suzuki to gain 4 points in the G1.
Makabe has been picking up steam and fans anticipating that he wouldn't do very well are fairly surprised. Makabe is the old veteran in the G1, similar to Yuji Nagata last year, but with Makabe being 47 years old and having television deals he is quite the character in NJPW.
On the other hand, you have the most famous man in Japanese wrestling in the modern era in the form of Kazuchika Okada. Okada's list of achievements only needs to be traced back to 2013 when he returned from excursion, joined CHAOS and debuted as the 'Rain-Maker'.
Gedo by his side, Okada hasn't done well at the beginning of this G1 losing to Jay White and Bad Luck Fale, standing now on 0 points, but this could all change. The G1 is special in that the standings within the blocks can change in the space of one or two matches, and whoever wins this bout of the veteran vs the new guard could very well change the standings and have an opportunity of going to the Finals at the Nippon Budokan.
Prediction - Okada. Kazuchika Okada needs to gain points and win a match in the G1 and I believe he'll hit his stride with Makabe. Okada hasn't won a singles match since being defeated by Kenny Omega in a 2 out of 3 falls, no time limit match at Dominion 6.9 at Osaka-Jo Hall.
Okada will win a match but it needs to be someone who's in the lead so that he can halt their progression a bit and Makabe fits that role. I believe Okada could come back and make the finals but it's a rough road ahead for the 30-year-old.
