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New Japan G1 Climax 29: Fallout, takeaways, what’s next

By Robert McCauley

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 12: Kota Ibushi celebrates the victory with the trophy following the final bout during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 29 at Nippon Budokan on August 12, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 12: Kota Ibushi celebrates the victory with the trophy following the final bout during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 29 at Nippon Budokan on August 12, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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Hiroshi Tanahashi (4-5) – A-Block

Wins: Lance Archer, EVIL, Zack Sabre Jr. & SANADA
Losses: Bad Luck Fale, KENTA, Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay

Not since 2008 has Tanahashi finished the G1 Climax with a losing record. Last year’s finalist finally hit a wall as he struggled to find relevancy on the final week of the tournament. A loss to Kota Ibushi ended Tanahashi’s hopes of a repeat G1 win but things only managed to get worse.

After losing to Ibushi, Tanahashi would go on to fall to Bad Luck Fale via a backslide. His next and final tournament match saw the eight-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion get upset by the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Will Ospreay.

The biggest victory under Tanahashi’s belt was a win over RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion, Zack Sabre Jr. The two are set to square off at this month’s UK event, Royal Quest.

KENTA (4-5) – A-Block

Wins: Lance Archer, EVIL, Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi
Losses: Bad Luck Fale, Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr. & SANADA

A hot start at 4-0 as KENTA came out swinging by handing out losses to the likes of Kota Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi. In the end, he wound up losing more than he won, finishing his tournament off on a five-match losing streak.

KENTA’s frustration came to a head when he revealed on the final night of the tournament that he’d joined the Bullet Club as their newest member. To prove his allegiance, KENTA turned on his team by laying out Tomohiro Ishii with a G2S to help give Bullet Club the win.

Unable to pin any champions, KENTA’s biggest achievement was beating Kota Ibushi on the opening night of the tournament. Now that Ibushi has gone on to win the G1, KENTA will surely make claim for a rematch with Ibushi’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 briefcase on the line.

Before that can happen, Ishii has put up his NEVER Openweight Championship and challenged KENTA at Royal Quest as a response to the attack on the final night of the tournament.

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