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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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Zack Sabre Jr. (4-5) – A-Block

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

Finishing the tournament with his lowest point total to date, Zack Sabre Jr.’s G1 was filled with disappointment. While he was able to outwit giants such as Bad Luck Fale and Lance Archer, Sabre struggled against those who were privy to his tactics.

Sabre wound up rallying back in the later stages of the tournament with victories over an old rival in Will Ospreay and a new one in KENTA, but overall scored two fewer wins than last year.

Without any wins over key players, Sabre is going to have to avenge his losses. He called for his first opponent to be Hiroshi Tanahashi at the UK’s show, Royal Quest, set to take place later this month, and he’s put his RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship on the line.

Tomohiro Ishii (4-5) B-Block

Wins: Jeff Cobb, Juice Robinson, Jay White & Toru Yano
Losses: Hirooki Goto, Jon Moxley, Tetsuya Naito, Taichi & Shingo Takagi

Always a fan favorite in the G1 Climax thanks to his never-say-die spirit, Tomohiro Ishii started hot this year but found himself fading towards the end of the tournament. As the NEVER Openweight Champion, he will be forced to avenge his key losses.

While some losses came from other champions and stablemates, two came from new rivals. In the main event at his home prefecture, Ishii fell to NJPW’s newest heavyweight, Shingo Takagi. The following night he’d fall to Taichi in Ishii’s shortest loss of the tournament.

Both Shingo and Taichi will want to get their hands on Ishii’s NEVER Openweight Championship. Shingo to prove himself as a heavyweight and Taichi to win his title back. That said, Ishii’s next challenge comes in the form of KENTA, the man who turned to Bullet Club and put Ishii to sleep on the final night of the tournament.

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