B block action continues on July 19, as night six of the G1 hits Korakuen with what should be a hard hitting main event.

Tomohiro Ishii (2-0) vs Jon Moxley (2-0)

First singles match.

Without doubt, here is one of the matches that get circled in red pen when the G1 schedule gets released. Two seemingly unstoppable forces with penchants for violence will collide with full force on July 19. Making things more interesting yet is a shared 2-0 record, as Ishii heads into the match having beaten Jeff Cobb and Jay White, and Moxley has wins over Cobb and Taichi. 

Like recognizes like, and comments have shown a level of mutual respect between Mox and Ishii, but one that hints at just how brutal this clash will be Ishii would call Moxley ‘a mad dog’ in Hokkaido, at least implicitly recognizing him as a kindred spirit. Speaking to media about the G1, Mox would say that ‘iron sharpens iron’. This match exemplifies that thought, though Moxley may find stone does just as good a job.

Hirooki Goto (1-1) vs Tetsuya Naito (0-2)

Overall record: 4-3 Goto

Of which G1: 2-2 (2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 – watch on NJPW World!)

Tetsuya Naito has a negative record against Goto in singles action, and is only even when it comes to the G1. Listen to El Ingobernable speak, however, and you would never guess as much. Naito is frequently critical of Goto, suggesting his inability to quite reach the top flight of IWGP contenders has been because of his unwillingness to change his outlook or style. 

‘He still can’t let go of Shibata’s hand. He hasn’t changed a bit,’ sneered Naito about Goto’s preparation for the G1 in Katsuyori Shibata’s LA Dojo. In Naito’s mind, Goto’s lack of Heavyweight Championship success can be attributed to a lack of courage to make the changes in career that he himself did when forming Los Ingobernables De Japon.

Yet Goto’s devotion to his ideals has brought him one more win in the G1 thus far than Naito. July 13 saw Goto fell Jay White and evoke memories of his G1 Climax win in 2008, reminding the live crowd that ‘the G in G1 stands for Goto!’ It was not only a confidence boost for Goto, but valuable revenge against one of his most vocal critics. On July 19, he has a big match against another.

Toru Yano (1-1) vs Jay White (0-2)

First singles meeting. 

Toru Yano having a better start to his G1 campaign than Jay White would have been a bet few would take in advance of the tournament starting. Yet that’s exactly the situation we’re facing in Korakuen, as Toru Yano has a respectable 1-1 record while White is still at zero points. 

A year ago, White had an impressive debut G1, but did so by betraying CHAOS’ values; taking shortcuts to defeat its leader Kazuchika Okada for a start. After G1 Climax 28, he would betray his teammates, and shortly thereafter, join BULLET CLUB. 

The Switchblade has been seemingly bullet proof intervening months, delivering on every single promise to defeat his opponents and stand tall at the top of the mountain. His G1 draw, pitting him in a three match gauntlet off the bat against CHAOS members, seemed to be an opportunity for White to demonstrate his perceived superiority, but has instead turned into a nightmare as his former ‘allies’ turned bitter foes have lined up for a chunk of flesh. 

Yano may present a very different prospect in ring to Ishii and Goto before him, but the Sublime Master Thief’s mastery of mind games may be the last thing an easily frustrated White needs. Can the BULLET CLUB leader turn his campaign around? 

Juice Robinson (2-0) vs Jeff Cobb (0-2)

First singles meeting.

Juice Robinson’s subtle transformation from vocal fun lover to the still colourful, but strong and silent type, has paid dividends. In two tough matches thus far against Hirooki Goto and Shingo Takagi, Juice has emerged on top. There are no nights off in the G1 however, and Jeff Cobb is yet another tough challenge coming up next. 

While this is the first singles meeting for Cobb and Robinson, the two are far from strangers. Several tag team encounters have seen them on the same and opposite sides of the ring, including in last year’s World Tag League, where Robinson and David Finlay came out with the win after Robinson landed Pulp Friction on Cobb. 

With momentum and the record book on his side then, it seems the scales are weighted in Juice’s favour. In the highly competitive G1 however, three opening losses can be fatal; while a loss wouldn’t mathematically eliminate Cobb, Naito or White, it should be said that nobody has ever come from 0-3 to win the tournament. Newcomer or not, Cobb understands the importance of this match and will not be taking things lightly.

Shingo Takagi (1-1) vs Taichi (1-1)

First singles meeting.

With little prior history between Shingo Takagi and Taichi- and none of it in direct singles comeptition- Taichi has chosen to take to his wheelhouse of stirring the pot verbally in advance of this match. Before the G1 started, he would comment to media that a man who could only be runner-up in Best of the Super Juniors shouldn’t deserve to make the G1 cut. Takagi would respond that in one BOSJ entry, he had a better record than Taichi could ever produce in seven.

Yet what is most intriguing about this match isn’t sniping in media both social and mainstream. Taichi’s huge main event win over Tetsuya Naito in Hokkaido on July 15 was fascinating in how it connects to Shingo, not just for Taichi’s momentum having polished off the LIJ leader, but how Taichi won it. Fallen referees and usage of weapons aside, Taichi’s use of gamengiris, powerbombs (even a terrifying Triple Crown Bomb) spoke to the kind of old soul at the heart of Taichi that also beats within the Dragon. 

Before the tournament, Takagi spoke about how he was heavily influenced by Genichiro Tenryu, and how that may play into his battle with Tenryu disciple Tomohiro Ishii later in the tournament. Closer to the present though, the Tenryu influence may well be seen in this match; in Takagi and Taichi there may be a little yellow and black colour to this match, and when the hits come, you can expect them to be hard.