G1 Climax 34 entrants revealed!
First 18 names set for tournament of tournaments
G1 Climax 34 finally gets underway July 20, with a return to the twenty man, two block format during its league phase and the addition of a playoff phase for the last three nights. With two entrants determined by qualifying tournament, the first 18 entries have been confirmed, as follows:
Watch ALL of G1 Climax 34 live in English on NJPW World!
A BLOCK
Tetsuya Naito- 15th entry, 15th consecutive. 2013, 2017, 2023 winner
Tetsuya Naito seeks his fourth G1 Climax trophy and second consecutive. The number one contender to Jon Moxley’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door on June 30, Naito also seeks to head into the tournament representing as champion. Should he fall short, G1 34 may be his last shot at bouncing back into the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 19; should he succeed then the added weight of IWGP Champion status in this tournament will not be lost on him.
Shota Umino- 2nd entry, 2nd consecutive. Career PB: 2–3–2 (42.8%WR, 2023)
Shota Umino’s G1 Climax debut saw mixed results and a rocky road that shaped his perception through big matches to come, and coloured his statements determining that he was the Ace of the next generation in NJPW. Yet his big match experience for major titles against the likes of Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley, unsuccessful though they may have been, showed that he belonged against the world’s best. In this year’s tournament, the chance to cement his place among the greats is very much real.
Shingo Takagi- 6th entry, 6th consecutive. Career PB: 6–2–1 (72.2%WR, 2021)
Shingo Takagi enters his sixth G1 keenly aware of the agony of narrow defeat in this tournament. In both 2021 and 2023, he was on the doorstep of advancing out of the group stage. Now with the recently earned status of the winningest champion in NEVER Openweight history helping as inspiration, the Rampage Dragon looks to roar into the top three. With his place in AEW’s Owen Hart tournament seemingly set as well, could Takagi be the first man to main event both the Tokyo Dome and Wembley Stadium, in the same six month span no less?
SANADA: 9th entry, 9th consecutive. Career PB: Runner-up (2020)
Although his best tournament performance in terms of progression was his 2020 place in the tournament finals, SANADA could have hit an on paper peak last year. Going through the league phase undefeated as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, SANADA schooled a group of younger hungry wrestlers underneath him, but in the process sustained injuries that saw him crash out to EVIL, and arguably, ultimately led to his unseating at Wrestle Kingdom. SANADA himself has confided that time away for a separate health concern in the spring has seen him able to return to a physical peak, and the stars could well align to see him victorious over a highly competitive group.
Great-O-Khan: 4th entry, 4th consecutive. Career PB: 4–5 (44.4% WR, 2021)
Great-O-Khan has not had a strong history with the G1 Climax, but with his year shaped by a renewed sense of responsibility since holding the KOPW 2024 title, it could be all change this time. His quest may be for rural revitalization away from the biggest towns and buildings, but the chance to win a shot at gold in the Tokyo Dome not to mention the biggest of summer glories is something the Dominator does not wish to ignore.
Zack Sabre Jr.: 8th entry, 8th consecutive. Career PB: Quarterfinalist (2023)
Zack Sabre Jr. pitched his tent early when it came to stating contendership for this year’s G1 Climax. Sabre has promised that it’s his time to become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and is determined to win that title on the main event stage of Wrestle Kingdom. Is it coming home? With the level of opposition, it feels on brand for an Englishman to be in the ‘block of death’ in a sporting tournament, but ZSJ is well up to the challenge.
Gabe Kidd: 2nd entry, 2nd consecutive. Career PB: 2–4–1 (35.7%WR, 2023)
Gabe Kidd wrestled his first G1 in 2023 with a pronounced chip on hsi shoulder and an untamed aggression that saw him leave an impression, but without significant results. One year on and he looks to head into the tournament of tournaments with championship experience, albeit with aggression levels still extremely high. He’ll certainly leave his mark on the opposition, but will he leave a mark on the league table?
EVIL: 9th entry, 9th consecutive. Career PB: Semifinalist (2023)
As anti HOUSE OF TORTURE sentiment reaches an all time high, EVIL is almost deserving of his steadily growing sympathy- almost. Either way, memories of him threatening to mar the New Japan Cup final back in the spring are fresh and painful, much like his semifinal run in last year’s G1. He seems certain to be a competitive threat, but after his recent Dominion defeat to Jon Moxley, could EVIL actually play things straight in 2024?
Jake Lee: Debut entry
Ater making his mark on Tetsuya Naito in recent months via All Together, Jake Lee makes his G1 Climax debut. Another crack at El Ingobernable in block action will likely appeal to the Good Looking Emperor, but victory in wrestling’s pre-eminent tournament is top priority.
One more spot to be determined in qualifying tournament; finals July 5
B BLOCK
Hirooki Goto: 17th entry, 17th consecutive. 2008 winner
The only other former winner to be officially entered into this year’s tournament, Hirooki Goto may well be years past declaring that the G in ‘G1 represents his initial, but the elder statesman of the lineup as published is a difficult two points for anyone in the running, and is more often than not very much in the mix going into the tournament’s endgame. The 2008 winner also made the finals eight years later in 2016. Eight years removed from that performance, may he be in the mix come the finals in August?
El Phantasmo: 3rd entry, 3rd consecutive. Career PB: 3–3 (50%WR, 2022)
No heading into his third G1, the tournament has a history of coming at pivotal points for the Headbanga. In 2022, the G1 saw him transition into the heavyweight ranks for the first time, while personal turmoil saw him enter in 2023 while having to earn respect and allies after being forced out of BULLET CLUB. He would find those allies and family of a kind in the Guerrillas of Destiny, but now seems to be entering as a lone wolf once more- where will this year’s campaign take El Phantasmo?
Yota Tsuji: 2nd entry, 2nd consecutive. Career PB: 3–3–1 (50% WR, 2023)
Made in a furore of hype and ambitious comment, Yota Tsuji’s debut G1, with a mere 50% winning record, is one he would rather forget. This year though, with a New Japan Cup under his belt, and his first championship experience after winning the NEVER 6 Man Tag titles in Osaka, Tsuji is looking for more than an improvement- he could well be favourite to top the table in B Block.
Yuya Uemura: debut entry
Yuya Uemura comes into his first G1 Climax after a performance since returning from excursion that includes a Tokyo Dome singles win and his first championship gold in the KOPW title. Could he threaten the top three in his first G1 as well?
Jeff Cobb: 6th entry, 6th consecutive. Career PB: 8–1 (88.9%WR, 2021)
Two hard fought defences against Lance Archer and Tomohiro Ishii deep into his NJPW World TV Championship reign, Jeff Cobb enters his sixth G1 in arguably his best form since that which brought him to a record eight match win streak in 2021. If the king of TV can reign just as effectively in the summer, a path to the final six seems assured.
HENARE: 3rd entry, 3rd consecutive. Career PB: 2–5 (28.6%WR, 2023)
After one win in his first G1 and two in his second, HENARE wants more than just steady improvement in his third time out. After two wars in two straight weeks with Shingo Takagi, will the Berserker’s Mana see him into the final six of G1 Climax 34?
David Finlay: 3rd entry, 3rd consecutive. Career PB: quarterfinalist (2023)
In 2022, ‘expect me’ was the catchphrase of the Rebel David Finlay in his debut G1 Climax. One year later, and he was indeed well on his way having just formed the War Dogs at the forefront of BULLET CLUB. One year removed again, and Finlay can boast two reigns with an IWGP Global Championship he claims was made specifically for him, and a string of impressive results, not least of which putting an end to Will Ospreay’s NJPW career. In his third G1, Finlay is a smart pick to advance from his group; just how far will the Rebel go?
Ren Narita: 2nd entry, 2nd consecutive. Career PB: 3–4 (42.9%WR, 2023)
Ren Narita enters his second G1 Climax, but in such a different form to his first as to make this an effective re-debut for 2024. A mixed set of results on the Hontai side including a frustrating draw with Shota Umino would set Narita down a dark path toward revenge, wherein he would team with the Roughneck only to set him up for betrayal and to join HOUSE OF TORTURE. Now, Narita will likely use all means at his disposal to make the final six, and if he were to face Umino in a prospective final, so much the sweeter (or more bitter).
Konosuke Takeshita: debut entry
In a big cross over from AEW and DDT, Konosuke Takeshita makes his NJPW and G1 Climax debut. ‘The Alpha’ most of all will represent the Don Callis Family in this tournament; after his attempts to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship earlier this year were thwarted at the Eliminator Match phase, he seeks the harder path of the G1 Climax to work toward that prize- on a much grander stage at Wrestle Kingdom.
One more spot to be determined in qualifying tournament; finals July 5
