NJPW News: Tetsuya Naito Critical Of G1 Climax Participants

With the 28th edition of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax in full swing, Los Ingobernables de Japon leader, Tetsuya Naito, recently spoke with NJPW and offered his thoughts on the event. The former IWGP Intercontinental Champion had some critical words regarding the setup of the G1, including some of the participants.

When asked his opinion on the Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi match on August 11th, Naito offered the following:

“I don’t really have any thoughts on that one way or the other. It’s what the fans wanted, isn’t it? They’re getting it. Fine. I have more of a bone to pick with the choice of entrants this year.”

He would then expand on his comments, saying the block drawings aren’t the issue, but the participants:

“Right. I said the same thing last year, but there are 19 shows in this tour. So because of that, the decision was made to have 20 wrestlers, right? All that’s happening is that entrants are being picked to fill out spaces on the cards. We have to have 19 shows, so we have to have 20 wrestlers, so we have to have two blocks of ten. You do that and it’s a given; there’s always going to be entrants that don’t have a chance of winning the tournament.

For example, somebody in the same block as me: Toru Yano.

Him, and guys who aren’t around all that often on tours. Someone like Tama Tonga. I get that you have to have Ibushi and Omega, but Tonga hasn’t done much recently.”

Naito would explain further, stating that the G1 should consist of the top talent:

“Look, all I’m saying is that this line of thought- ‘we have this many shows so let’s choose guys to fill the spots,’ that’s weird, isn’t it? This is the G1 Climax. We should be thinking ‘these are the absolute top guys that are really ‘grade one’, so we’ll decide the number of shows in the tour based on that’. But I get it. It’s not about that. It’s about being able to book all those buildings, really, isn’t it?”

Quotes c/o NJPW1972.com, where you can also read the full interview.

Andrew Balaz’s Take: He said the same thing about the veterans and part timers (Ibushi and Nagata) last year. Naito is just playing the part of curmudgeon when it comes to New Japan. Too many belts, too many participants. He wants a more simplified and “tranquilo” New Japan. G1 wasn’t always 20 participants so this is his way of continuing to say he’d rather it be more high level competition instead of like, YOSHI-HASHI that barely makes the cut. It’s just Naito’s character stirring the pot as he has the last couple of years honestly. He throws in enough truth and points where people will agree, cause he’s a heel and they tell the truth.

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