5 Potential Winners For NJPW’s G1 Climax 31

2. Shingo Takagi

The G1 normally doesn’t fair as well for the IWGP World Heavyweight champion and they will normally spend the tournament trying to ensure they get as little losses as possible.

Yet, with a huge target on their back, it isn’t easy. For many entrants, even if they came at the bottom of their bracket, a win over the champion guarantees a title match.

Yet, if anyone can overcome these odds, then it is Shingo Takagi.

It will be his third time in the tournament, and he will be hoping to improve on the eight points he got both years. However, it won’t be an easy ride for him.

With wrestlers from Toru Yano, KENTA, Tanga Loa, and ZSJ, he will face various opponents, but his mixture of strength and athleticism could beat them all.

In particular, people will be watching out for his matches against fellow Los Ingobernables de Japon member Tetsuya and long-time rival Tomohiro Ishii.

When it comes to Shingo, the pressures of being a champion might be something that he thrives on. If he can keep his cool and avoid the shenanigans from his opponents, Shingo could become only the third wrestler to win the tournament while holding the IWGP title.

It will also make his journey to Wrestle Kingdom a lot easier. Will he hold his ground against them or crumble under the expectations?

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1. Kazuchika Okada

After Kazuchika Okada returned from his excursion, it seemed like a year didn’t go by without him being in the IWGP title picture.

Yet, the last two years have been rocky for Okada, plagued with injury, losses, and the pandemic. Could 2021 be the year of redemption for Okada to make his way back to the top of New Japan?

Upon seeing the brackets, it is clear that Okada will have to fight through some old rivals to get back to the top. From EVIL, Tama Tonga and his frenemy SANADA, there are several wrestlers dying to beat the Rainmaker.

Yet, there are also the likes of CHAOS members Goto and YOSHI HASHI, which will make things interesting.

However, there is one match that always has fans excited: Kazuchika Okada versus Hiroshi Tanahashi. Despite how the tournament goes, this is one match fans can rely on to steal the show.

After losing to Jeff Cobb during Wrestle Grand Slam, Okada isn’t going into the tournament with the momentum he wants. It could serve as motivation to get his career back on the path fans expect.

With some fans uncertain about the company’s booking, a third G1 win for Okada would be the perfect way to get back a champion who has always provided New Japan with consistency.

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• Tetsuya Naito
• Kazuchika Okada
• Shingo Takagi
• G1 Climax

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