The G1 Climax is, without a doubt, the preeminent professional wrestling tournament on the planet. Each year, 20 or so competitors from around the globe descend upon New Japan Pro Wrestling to prove their in-ring skills for a chance to to vie for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at New Japan’s signature annual Tokyo Dome event, Wrestle Kingdom.
The tournament boasts a deep history of top level competitors putting their bodies on the line in a grueling round-robin tournament, usually in the dog days of Summer. Clearly, that’s not the case this year. This year’s tournament was moved to the fall, not because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has shifted schedules around the professional wrestling world, but because of the Tokyo Olympic Games that had been scheduled to take over the city in 2020’s summer. This schedule change turned out to be a brilliant stroke of luck for New Japan as they have been able to hold their original schedule while other companies chose to move their signature tournaments around to accommodate for government mandates and the opportunity to have even limited fans in attendance.
The move to the fall also allowed New Japan time to work out the logistics of getting some of their most successful competitors back into the country in time for their signature tournament. Jay White, Will Ospreay, KENTA, Jeff Cobb, and Juice Robinson each haven’t wrestled a match in Japan since February and there’s a strong likelihood that none of them would have been available had the tournament started even 20 days earlier.
It’s a challenge to say how successful this group will be coming of of a long layoff. The full time roster members averaged between 8.25 and 10 matches per month in 2019. That average stands to be reduced significantly in 2020, as they’ve all essentially taken the past 6 months off, but each of them will compete in 9 high-stakes singles matches over the course of the next 30 days.
It’s not just the inclusion of foreigners that makes this year’s G1 roster unique. This year is the first G1 since the tournament’s inception that doesn’t have a wrestler participating in the G1 for the first time. Under normal circumstances, NJPW would likely have a wrestler new to the company, a guest from a rival promotion, or a deserving up-and-comer entering the tournament to prove they can succeed through the company’s quintessential singles heavyweight tournament. In 2019 the G1 featured a staggering six new competitors, second most all-time, behind only the 2000 tournament’s eight. So, 2020’s tournament still boasts fresh match ups and the opportunity for many wrestlers to grow their skill sets and establish that they’ll be forces to be reckoned with for years to come.
In this post, we’re going to dig into the G1 Climax history of each competitor in 2020’s field. I’ll look at their all time head-to-head performance against other members of their block and their historical G1 performance including records, match times, and their individual histories throughout the tournament.
This isn’t the last you’ll hear from me throughout the G1. In daily preview posts, I’ll dissect each tournament matchup, including 2020 singles performance, individual head-to-head histories and miscellaneous applicable research. Round robin tournaments are great equalizers for data: each wrestler competes in the same schedule throughout the tournament by facing each other wrestler in their block once. So, as the tournament goes on and data points become more relevant, I’ll be including some advanced metrics and probabilities for each card as well.
Of course, you can find interactive tables for NJPW’s 2020, detailed results of all 1460 G1 Climax matches to date, and This Year’s Tournament at SportOfProWrestling.com, and you can let me know what you find when you drill down by dropping me a line on Twitter @TheChrisSamsa.
If you need a primer for the detailed rules of the tournament, or the recent stories of the competitors, I can’t recommend John Carroll’s two part preview enough. (A Block, B Block).
A BLOCK
The A Block of this year’s G1 Climax has been renowned as one of the best blocks ever assembled. Last year’s G1 Climax winner, Kota Ibushi, headlines a stacked roster that also includes two former IWGP World Heavyweight Champions (Kazuchika Okada, Jay White).
KOTA IBUSHI
飯伏 幸太
- This is Kota Ibushi’s 4th consecutive G1 and his 6th overall.
- Kota Ibushi enters the 2020 G1 Climax riding the high of his dominating tournament victory last year and a runner-up finish in 2018’s tournament. Ibushi’s back-to-back finals appearances aren’t unprecedented. Masahiro Chono (‘91 & ‘92), Manabu Nakanishi (‘99 & ‘00), Hiroyoshi Tenzan (‘03 & ‘04), Shinsuke Nakamura (‘14 & ‘15), and Kenny Omega (‘16 & ‘17) have also accomplished the feat. No competitor has ever reached three straight G1 Climax finals. Only Chono and Tenzan were victorious in both of their consecutive finals appearances.
- Ibushi has two first-time matchups in his block schedule this year: Jeff Cobb and Shingo Takagi.
- Ibushi has underwhelmed in singles matches against his b-block competitors historically, producing only a 6-11 record as he is still searching for his first win against four of his nine block competitors.
- Kota Ibushi’s stamina and conditioning is impressive. His 2018 and 2019 tournaments land him second and third on the list of longest total match time in a single tournament (3:18:48 in 2018 and 3:15:28 in 2019). Only Kenny Omega in 2017 spent more time in the ring during a single tournament (3:19:24).
JEFF COBB
ジェフ・コブ
- This is Jeff Cobb’s 2nd consecutive G1 and his 2nd overall.
- Cobb ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- Cobb has three first time matchups in his block schedule this year: Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, and Yujiro Takahashi.
- Cobb has only competed against his A Block counterparts in 9 matches, second fewest in the this year’s tournament behind only Shingo Takagi.
- Jeff Cobb’s 1:51:00 of total G1 ring time is the shortest among this year’s competitors.
- Whether successful or in defeat, Jeff Cobb consistently keeps his matches short. His 12:20 average match time during last year’s G1 was only longer than Toru Yano’s 4:55 average.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA
オカダ・カズチカ
- This is Kazuchika Okada’s 9th consecutive G1 and his 9th overall.
- Okada has two first time matchups in his block schedule this year: Shingo Takagi, Jeff Cobb
- Cobb and Takagi are also the only two competitors in the A block that Okada has not defeated.
- Okada has been the IWGP World Heavyweight champion during five of the last seven G1 Climax tournaments. He was not champion in 2018 (Kenny Omega) or 2014 (AJ Styles).
- Since the tournament stabilized at 10-person blocks in 2015, Kazuchika Okada has had the highest average points per tournament at 13.
- Kazuchika Okada won the G1 in 2012 and 2014. Only Masahiro Chono (1994-2002) and Hiroshi Tanahashi (2007-2015) have won multiple G1 Climax tournaments at longer intervals than what would be Okada’s six-year drought.
- Okada has spent the last three months establishing his new finishing submission hold, The Money Clip. Okada has only ended one of his 50 G1 Climax victories by submission (7/20/17 v. Toru Yano).
- Okada’s .724 winning percentage against his block opponents is the highest in the tournament.
TOMOHIRO ISHII
石井 智宏
- This is Tomohiro Ishii’s 8th consecutive G1 and his 8th overall.
- Tomohiro Ishii only has one first time matchup in this year’s block schedule: Will Ospreay
- Since the tournament stabilized at 10-person blocks in 2015, Ishii has averaged 8.80 points per year.
- Ishii has the fifth lowest winning percentage amongst this year’s competitors with over 9 total G1 matches
- Tomohiro Ishii is one of only 9 competitors in this year’s G1 with a historical winning percentage against his block opponents over .500.
WILL OSPREAY
ウィル・オスプレイ
- This is Will Ospreay’s 2nd consecutive G1 and his 2nd overall.
- Ospreay ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- Ospreay has three first time matchups in his block schedule this year: Tomohiro Ishii, Yujiro Takahashi, Minoru Suzuki
- Will Ospreay’s +5:56 Win/Loss differential (Average Losing Match Length – Average Winning Match Length) in G1 matches is the best among this year’s competitors.
- Ospreay’s Average losing match time (20:56) in G1 matches is also the best (highest) among this year’s competitors. Kazuchika Okada comes in second at 18:17.
- Will Ospreay’s .308 winning percentage all time against his A block competitors is second worst among his block, only better than Yujiro Takahashi’s .200 winning percentage.
SHINGO TAKAGI
鷹木信悟
- This is Shingo Takagi’s 2nd consecutive G1 and his 2nd overall.
- Takagi ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- Shingo has three first time matchups in his block schedule this year: Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi, Yujiro Takahashi.
- Shingo Takagi’s seven head to head matches against block opponents is the lowest in this year’s tournament. The only wrestler that Shingo has faced more than once in his career is Tomohiro Ishii.
- Shingo Is still looking for his first career win against seven of his nine block opponents.
- Takagi’s Win/Loss Differential of +3:01 (Average Losing Match Time – Average Winning Match Time) is fourth best among this year’s competitors behind only Will Ospreay, Juice Robinson and EVIL.
MINORU SUZUKI
鈴木 みのる
- This is Minoru Suzuki’s 9th G1 Climax and his first since 2018. He is one of three wrestlers in this year’s G1 who did not participate in last year’s tournament.
- Suzuki first competed in the G1 Climax tournament in 2004. Of this year’s roster, only Hiroshi Tanahashi competed in a G1 earlier than Suzuki (2002).
- Minoru Suzuki has one first time matchup in his block schedule this year: Will Ospreay
- Kazuchika Okada is the only wrestler in the A Block that Minoru Suzuki has a losing record against.
- Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jrlead this year’s competitors in G1 matches won by submission all-time with 7 each.
TAICHI
タイチ
- This is Taichi’s 2nd consecutive G1 and his 2nd overall.
- Taichi ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- Taichi is the only competitor in the A Block with no first time matchups.
- Taichi’s -3:25 Win/Loss Differential in the G1 is the worst among this year’s competitors. Taichi struggles to put his opponents away quickly and when he does end up successful, he labors to win his matches.
- Taichi’s 1:52:33 in total G1 ring time is second lowest among this year’s G1 competitors. Only Jeff Cobb has less in ring experience than Taichi (1:51:00).
JAY WHITE
ジェイ・ホワイト
- This is Jay White’s 3rd consecutive G1 and his 3rd overall.
- Jay White has one first time matchup in this year’s block schedule: Yujiro Takahashi
- White is one of eight wrestlers to lose a G1 final but not win one (Karl Anderson, Yoshihiro Takayama, Rick Rude, Jun Akiyama, Hiroshi Hase, Kazuo Yamasaki, Kazuyuki Fujita)
- White has averaged 12 points in his first two G1 tournaments.
- Jay White’s .632 winning percentage in G1 matches is second best among this year’s G1 competitors. Only Kazuchika Okada’s .676 is better.
- White ended last year’s block competition on a 6 match winning streak before finally losing to Kota Ibushi in the tournament finals.
YUJIRO TAKAHASHI
高橋 裕二郎
- This is Yujiro Takahashi’s 7th G1 Climax and his first since 2015. He is one of three wrestlers in this year’s G1 who did not participate in last year’s tournament.
- Yujiro first competed in the G1 Climax tournament in 2010. Of this year’s roster, only Hiroshi Tanahashi, Minoru Suzuki, Toru Yano, and Hirooki Goto competed in earlier G1s than Takahashi.
- Yujiro Takahashi has four first time matchups in his block schedule this year: Shingo Takagi, Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay, and Jay White.
- Yujiro’s .200 winning percentage against his block opponents is the second lowest in the tournament and the lowest in the A Block. Only YOSHI-HASHI has a worse head-to-head winning percentage in the tournament (.142)
- Yujiro Takahashi’s 9:44 average G1 match length is the second lowest among this year’s competitors, only Toru Yano’s 7:56 is lower.
BLOCK TABLE
A BLOCK SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 19: EDION ARENA OSAKA
Kazuchika Okada v. Kota Ibushi
Shingo Takagi v. Jay White
Tomohiro Ishii v. Minoru Suzuki
Jeff Cobb v. Taichi
Will Ospreay v. Yujiro Takahashi
SEPTEMBER 23RD: HOKKAIDO PREFECTURAL SPORTS CENTER
Kota Ibushi v. Jay White
Tomohiro Ishii v. Will Ospreay
Minoru Suzuki v. Taichi
Kazuchika Okada v. Yujiro Takahashi
Jeff Cobb v. Shingo Takagi
SEPTEMBER 27: KOBE WORLD HALL
Kazuchika Okada v. Jay White
Will Ospreay v. Shingo Takagi
Kota Ibushi v. Tomohiro Ishii
Jeff Cobb v. Minoru Suzuki
Taichi v. Yujiro Takahashi
SEPTEMBER 30: KORAKUEN HALL
Tomohiro Ishii v. Shingo Takagi
Will Ospreay v. Jay White
Kazuchika Okada v. Taichi
Kota Ibushi v. Jeff Cobb
Minoru Suzuki v. Yujiro Takahashi
OCTOBER 5: TAKAMATSU CITY GENERAL GYMNASIUM #1
Kota Ibushi v. Will Ospreay
Tomohiro Ishii v. Taichi
Kazuchika Okada v. Minoru Suzuki
Jeff Cobb v. Jay White
Shingo Takagi v. Yujiro Takahashi
OCTOBER 7: HIROSHIMA SUN PLAZA HALL
Kota Ibushi v. Shingo Takagi
Taichi v. Jay White
Will Ospreay v. Minoru Suzuki
Kazuchika Okada v. Jeff Cobb
Tomohiro Ishii v. Yujiro Takahashi
OCTOBER 10: EDION ARENA OSAKA
Kazuchika Okada v. Shingo Takagi
Kota Ibushi v. Minoru Suzuki
Will Ospreay v. Taichi
Jay White v. Yujiro Takahashi
Tomohiro Ishii v. Jeff Cobb
OCTOBER 13: HAMAMATSU ARENA
Kazuchika Okada v. Tomohiro Ishii
Minoru Suzuki v. Jay White
Shingo Takagi v. Taichi
Kota Ibushi v. Yujiro Takahashi
Will Ospreay v. Jeff Cobb
OCTOBER 16: RYOGOKU SUMO HALL
Match order determined by league standings
Shingo Takagi v. Minoru Suzuki
Tomohiro Ishii v. Jay White
Kazuchika Okada v. Will Ospreay
Jeff Cobb v. Yujiro Takahashi
Kota Ibushi v. Taichi
B BLOCK
The A Block is getting all of the attention being one of the best G1 blocks ever assembled, and rightfully so, but B Block is filled with reliable wrestlers with experience in G1 tournaments. The B Block roster has participated in a combined 606 G1 Climax matches. The A Block: just 359 G1 matches between them. The A block features four wrestlers participating in their second G1 Climax while the B Block only features one (KENTA). Everyone else in the block has been involved in at least three G1 tournaments.
The B Block features three former G1 winners (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito), three former or current IWGP Heavyweight Champions (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, EVIL), as well as the current IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion, Tetsuya Naito.
HIROSHI TANAHASHI
棚橋 弘至
- This is Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 19th’s consecutive G1 and his 19th overall.
- Tanahashi does not have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- Tanahashi is one of three three-time G1 Climax winners (Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s has reached six G1 Finals, tied for the most all time with Masahiro Chono.
- Tanahashi’s 67 matches against block opponents are by far the most in this year’s tournament.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 37:30:29 of total match length is the longest in G1 history, nearly 7 hours longer than Yuji Nagata in second place, and 15 hours longer than second highest among competitors in this year’s G1 (Tetsuya Naito at 22:47:22)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 141 G1 Climax matches are the most all time. He surpassed Yuji Nagata (135) and Hiroyoshi Tenzan (134) during last year’s tournament
- Since the tournament stabilized at 10-person blocks in 2015, Tanahashi has had the second highest average points per tournament at 12 behind only Kazuchika Okada at 13.
- Tanahashi set a record in 2018 with 15 points in block competition going 7-1-1 in block competition.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 7 time limit draws in G1 competition are by far the most all time. Kazuchika Okada’s 4 are second most among competitors active in this year’s G1.
- Tanahashi ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points, his first losing record in a G1 since 2008.
- Tanahashi has lost 8 G1 matches by submission, most of this year’s competitors and third most all time.
JUICE ROBINSON
ジュース・ロビンソン
- This is Juice Robinson’s 4th consecutive G1 and 4th overall.
- Juice has only has only one first time matchup in this year’s block schedule: YOSHI-HASHI
- Robinson has only faced KENTA when they crossed paths in NXT as CJ Parker and Hideo Itami. KENTA dominated Juice, leaving Robinson 0-5 in their series.
- Robinson’s Win/Loss Differential of +3:25 (Average Losing Match Time – Average Winning Match Time) is second best among this year’s competitors behind only Will Ospreay.
- Juice Robinson ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- In Juice’s three tournaments, he’s averaged 7.33 points. Second lowest in the B Block
- Robinson’s last singles match was on 1/5/20 against Jon Moxley.
HIROOKI GOTO
後藤 洋央紀
- This is Hirooki Goto’s 13th consecutive G1 and 13th overall
- Hirooki Goto doesn’t have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- Goto has been in two G1 Climax finals, winning his first (2008) and losing the other (2016)
- Since the tournament stabilized at 10-person blocks in 2015, Goto has averaged 10 points per year.
- Goto boasts the second most G1 victories of this year’s competitors with 55, behind only Tanahashi, but only one victory ahead of Tetsuya Naito.
- Goto also has the third most G1 losses of this year’s competitors with 47 behind only Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi
TORU YANO
矢野 通
- This is Toru Yano’s 14th consecutive G1 and 15th overall.
- Toru Yano doesn’t have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- Yano is still seeking his first victory over five of his 9 block competitors.
- Toru Yano ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- Over the last ten G1 Climax tournaments, Toru Yano has averaged 8 points per year. He has not scored less than 6 and he has not scored more than 10.
- Yano’s 61 all time G1 losses are fourth most in G1 history behind only Hiroyoshi Tenzan (67), Yuji Nagata (67), and Togi Makabe (64).
- Yano’s 48 all time G1 wins are tenth most in G1 History.
- Toru Yano has lost 7 G1 matches by submission, 6th all time and 2nd most among this year’s competitors.
YOSHI-HASHI
- This is YOSHI-HASHI’s 4th G1 and his first since 2018.
- YOSHI-HASHI only has one first time matchup in this year’s block schedule: Juice Robinson
- YOSHI-HASHI has averaged 5.33 points in his three previous G1 Climax tournaments.
- YOSHI-HASHI is still seeking his first singles victory over 8 of his 9 block competitors.
- YOSHI-HASHI’s .142 all time winning percentage against his block competitors is, by far, the worst in this year’s tournament. Two of YOSHI-HASHI’s three wins over EVIL happened before EVIL went on excursion, while he was still known as Takaaki Watanabe.
TETSUYA NAITO
内藤 哲也
- This is Tetsuya Naito’s 11th consecutive G1 and his 11th overall
- Naito doesn’t have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- Naito has defeated each of his block competitors at least once and Hiroshi Tanahashi is the only wrestler in the block that Naito has a losing record against.
- Tetsuya Naito is a two time G1 Climax winner (2013, 2017) and three time G1 Climax finalist (2011, 2013, 2017)
- Tetsuya Naito’s .593 all time G1 winning percentage is third highest among this year’s G1 competitors, behind only Kazuchika Okada and Jay White.
- Naito’s 22:47:22 in total G1 match length is fourth longest in G1 history behind only Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, and Hiroyoshi Tenzan.
- Since the tournament stabilized at 10-person blocks in 2015, Naito has averaged 11.60 points per year.
- Tetsuya Naito is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Over the last five years with ten-wrestler blocks, The IWGP Heavyweight Champion has averaged 12.8 points, or a record of 6-2-1.
SANADA
- This is SANADA’S 5th consecutive G1 and 5th overall.
- SANADA doesn’t have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- Tetsuya Naito is SANADA’s only block opponent that he has never defeated.
- SANADA has averaged 8 points through his first four G1 tournaments.
- During last year’s G1, SANADA participated in the longest G1 Climax match to ever go to a finish when he defeated Kazuchika Okada in 29:47.
- SANADA is one of only 9 competitors in this year’s G1 with a historical winning percentage against his block opponents over .500.
ZACK SABRE JR.
ザック・セイバーJR.
- This is Zack Sabre Jr’s 4th consecutive G1 and his 4th overall.
- ZSJ doesn’t have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- Sabre has defeated each of his block competitors at least once.
- With 741 singles matches on record around the globe, ZSJ has the most singles experience of anyone in the tournament. Hiroshi Tanahashi has participated in the second most singles matches in the tournament at 541.
- Sabre ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- Zack Sabre Jr has averaged 10 points in his first three G1 Climax tournaments.
- ZSJ and Minoru Suzuki lead this year’s competitors in G1 matches won by submission all-time with 7 each.
KENTA
- This is KENTA’s 2nd consecutive G1 and 2nd overall.
- KENTA doesn’t have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- KENTA has only faced Robinson when they crossed paths in NXT as Hideo Itami and CJ Parker. KENTA dominated Juice in their series, going 5-0.
- KENTA’s .714 winning percentage against block competitors is second highest in the tournament behind only Kazuchika Okada’s .724.
- KENTA is one of only 9 competitors in this year’s G1 with a historical winning percentage against his block opponents over .500.
- KENTA ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
EVIL
- This is EVIL’s 5th consecutive G1 and 5th overall.
- EVIL doesn’t have any first time matchups in this year’s block schedule.
- EVIL has averaged 9.50 points in his first four G1 tournaments.
- Ishii has the fifth lowest winning percentage amongst this year’s competitors with over 9 total G1 matches
- EVIL is one of only 9 competitors in this year’s G1 with a historical winning percentage against his block opponents at or above .500.
- EVIL ended last year’s tournament as one of twelve competitors with 8 points.
- Takagi’s Win/Loss Differential of +3:02 (Average Losing Match Time – Average Winning Match Time) is third best among this year’s competitors behind only Will Ospreay and Juice Robinson.
B BLOCK TABLE
B BLOCK SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 20: EDION ARENA OSAKA
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Tetsuya Naito
Zack Sabre Jr. v. EVIL
Hirooki Goto v. KENTA
Toru Yano v. SANADA
Juice Robinson v. YOSHI-HASHI
SEPTEMBER 24: HOKKAIDO PREFECTURAL SPORTS CENTER
Tetsuya Naito v. Zack Sabre Jr.
YOSHI-HASHI v. EVIL
Juice Robinson v. KENTA
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Toru Yano
Hirooki Goto v. SANADA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29: KORAKUEN HALL
Hirooki Goto v. Tetsuya Naito
Toru Yano v. EVIL
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Juice Robinson
Zack Sabre Jr. v. KENTA
YOSHI-HASHI v. SANADA
OCTOBER 1: AO-RE NAGAOKA
Tetsuya Naito v. SANADA
KENTA v. EVIL
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. YOSHI-HASHI
Hirooki Goto v. Zack Sabre Jr.
Juice Robinson v. Toru Yano
HIROSHIMA SUN PLAZA HALL
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. KENTA
YOSHI-HASHI v. Tetsuya Naito
Juice Robinson v. EVIL
SANADA v. Zack Sabre Jr.
Hirooki Goto v. Toru Yano
OCTOBER 8: ZIP ARENA OKAYAMA
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. EVIL
Juice Robinson v. Tetsuya Naito
SANADA v. KENTA
Toru Yano v. Zack Sabre Jr.
Hirooki Goto v. YOSHI-HASHI
OCTOBER 11: DOLPHINS ARENA
Tetsuya Naito v. EVIL
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Hirooki Goto
Juice Robinson v. SANADA
Toru Yano v. KENTA
YOSHI-HASHI v. Zack Sabre Jr.
OCTOBER 14: YOKOHAMA BUDOKAN
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. SANADA
Hirooki Goto v. EVIL
Toru Yano v. Tetsuya Naito
Juice Robinson v. Zack Sabre Jr.
YOSHI-HASHI v. KENTA
OCTOBER 17: RYOGOKU SUMO HALL
Match order determined by league standings
SANADA v. EVIL
Tetsuya Naito v. KENTA
Toru Yano v. YOSHI-HASHI
Juice Robinson v. Hirooki Goto
Hiroshi Tanahashi v. Zack Sabre Jr.