Top 5 most likely to win the 2018 G1 Climax

The G1 Climax 28 this year is looking to be a show stealer. With the likes of Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Minoru Suzuki, Kota Ibushi, Kenny Omega and many others taking part, who could be winning this prestigious tournament and going onto the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 13?

The G1 Climax tournament takes place once a year over the summer and tends to last roughly 3 weeks, with the finals this year taking place in the Nippon Budokan, a venue New Japan hasn't used in 15 years.

With the G1 this year being a huge occasion in NJPW's calendar, and the winner going on to face possibly Kenny Omega, the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his first reign in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom, let's see who I believe is going to step up to the plate, win the briefcase and the coveted G1 trophy.

#5 Tetsuya Naito

Naito is the leader of NJPWs fan favourite stable, Los Ingobernables de Japon. — Naito is the leader of NJPWs fan

The year of 2018 hasn't been kind to Tetsuya Naito. After winning the G1 Climax 27 and successfully defending the case against old foe Tomohiro Ishii, he went on to the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 12, and lost to Kazuchika Okada, much to the disappointment of the fans.

After this, he entered a short feud with Yoshi-Hashi, and then another short feud with Suzuki-Gun member - Taichi. He may have won these feuds and a match against Minoru Suzuki at Dontaku for the IWGP Intercontinental championship, but this ultimately resulted in nothing.

He may have had a tremendous feud with Chris Jericho, after Y2J returned on 4th May, but Naito lost this huge marque match as well as lost the Intercontinental Title.

I believe Naito will make it far in the G1, collecting quite a few points along the way and hopefully regaining majority of the momentum he's lost over this year, but since he won the tournament last year, and is facing Kenny Omega on the second day of this year's G1, I don't think Naito is winning this year, but could surprise fans by making it to the finals.

#4 Kenny Omega

Kenny Omega is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and winning the G1 means that he can pick his opponent for January 4th.

The reason Kenny is ranked higher than Tetsuya Naito in terms of winning the G1 is because Kenny is coming off instant classics against the likes of Kazuchika Okada and Chris Jericho, continuing this momentum is important.

Kenny did win the 2016 edition of the G1 Climax, beating Hirooki Goto in the final, but this year he is likely to be entering the round-robin as champion, so to make him look like a credible champion, he has to pick up some vital wins.

I believe that Omega will win majority of his matches, perhaps losing 2 or 1 against Hirooki Goto to set up future title defences at NJPW Destruction, and the next show; King Of Pro Wrestling, but if Kenny does win the G1, the big question is, who will he pick to be his opponent at Wrestle Kingdom?

#3 Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hiroshi Tanahashi is the 'Ace of New Japan'. At 41 year's old, he is slowing down due to his style, but he is determined to show that he is still capable of competing with the younger stars especially in tag matches when faced with the likes of Will Ospreay and Hiromu Takahashi.

Tanahashi beat Jay White at Wrestle Kingdom 12 but he eventually lost the IWGP Intercontinental Title at the New Beginning in Sapporo in a grueling match in which Minoru Suzuki almost destroyed Tanahashi's legs.

Tanahashi will always be a fan favourite in New Japan and he and Kenny have battled it out for the IWGP Intercontinental Title before, when it was vacant after the departure of Shinsuke Nakamura.

I believe Tanahashi could win the G1 for a third time and give the fans another taste of how good The Ace is, but with Suzuki, Okada and Jay White in his block, he has a tough challenge ahead of him if he is to win the yearly tournament.

#2 Kazuchika Okada

Okada vs Omega was the feud of last year. Could history repeat itself, but roles reversed? — Okada vs Omega was the feud of last year. Could history repeat itself?

Kazuchika Okada to me isn't The Rainmaker anymore. He's the Record-Breaker. Coming off of a 720 day reign, 12 successful defences against the likes of Sabre Jr, Katsuyori Shibata, Naomichi Marufuji, Naito, Sanada, EVIL, Cody, Bad Luck Fale, Suzuki, Tanahashi and most notably - Kenny Omega.

He also has the most combined days as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and Dave Meltzer rated his matches with Kenny and Tanahashi - 5 star plus.

With all these accolades, with nothing to prove as well in the G1 and fans wondering when Okada vs Omega 5 will happen, Okada winning makes a lot of sense.

With Okada only being 30 years old, he has a huge future and with him possibly main eventing Wrestle Kingdom 13, he would have main evented 5 straight Wrestle Kingdoms, showing how much faith the company has put in The Rain Maker.

#1 Kota Ibushi

The Golden Lovers are facing each other in the tournament, but will they Main Event Wrestle Kingdom?

There was only one person it could be. It makes sense. Fans last year were wondering if the final would be this dream match that last happened in 2012 in the Nippon Budokan.

The pair have grown tremendously since then, in terms of character, in-ring style and charisma with Kenny becoming world famous after his bouts with Okada and Ibushi having developed his abilities around the globe in America, England and Mexico.

With this match taking place on day 17 of the G1 Climax, the pair will be exhausted from the tour. I believe Ibushi will win the tournament so NJPW can give fans this dream match, however when both participants are at their best rather than exhausted.

With Ibushi winning though, would this put a strain on The Golden Lovers? Or the new group The Golden Elite? Or would they face each other as friends or rivals? Who knows, but I believe whatever happens, whoever wins the G1 will have a huge challenge ahead come Wrestle Kingdom 13 and 2019.

Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.