Post by Super Machine on Jul 4, 2008 22:48:43 GMT -5
Who is the strongest? The two blocks for the 2008 G1 Climax were today announced, both looking very exciting this year. Block A remains incomplete with the addition of "X" expected to be announced any time soon. It will be highlighted by the return of Hiroshi Tanahashi, who will also be joined by regulars Nakanishi, Bernard, and Makabe. Wataru Inoue also finds himself in this tough block, while ZERO1-MAX boss Shinjiro Otani works his first G1. Block B is very tough indeed, with a Hiroyoshi Tenzan looking to be returning to form and featuring alongside Nagata and Nakamura. There are also places for emerging youngsters Goto and Yano in it, as well as two of the big outside entrants - Kawada and Yoshie. This guarantees rematches of Tenzan vs. Kawada (Tenzan has never beaten him), Nakamura vs. Kawada, and Nagata vs. Kawada.
New Japan also announced the special participation on the G1 tour of TNA Wrestling stars, Kurt Angle and AJ Styles. Both were last seen in NJ on February's Sumo Hall show, where they suffered high profile losses - Angle to Nakamura and AJ to Tanahashi. They will appear on two shows - 8/15 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium and 8/16 Sumo Hall (not the final show).
Block A:
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi (7th participation ~ 2007 winner)
2. Manabu Nakanishi (12th participation ~ 1999 winner)
3. Wataru Inoue (1st participation)
4. Giant Bernard (3rd participation)
5. Togi Makabe (5th participation)
6. Shinjiro Otani (1st participation)
7. X
Block B:
1. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (14th participation ~ 2003, 2004 & 2006 winner)
2. Yuji Nagata (10th participation ~ 2001 winner)
3. Shinsuke Nakamura (5th participation)
4. Hirooki Goto (1st participation)
5. Toru Yano (3rd participation)
6. Toshiaki Kawada (2nd participation)
7. Yutaka Yoshie (6th participation)
New Japan also announced the special participation on the G1 tour of TNA Wrestling stars, Kurt Angle and AJ Styles. Both were last seen in NJ on February's Sumo Hall show, where they suffered high profile losses - Angle to Nakamura and AJ to Tanahashi. They will appear on two shows - 8/15 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium and 8/16 Sumo Hall (not the final show).
Block A:
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi (7th participation ~ 2007 winner)
2. Manabu Nakanishi (12th participation ~ 1999 winner)
3. Wataru Inoue (1st participation)
4. Giant Bernard (3rd participation)
5. Togi Makabe (5th participation)
6. Shinjiro Otani (1st participation)
7. X
Block B:
1. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (14th participation ~ 2003, 2004 & 2006 winner)
2. Yuji Nagata (10th participation ~ 2001 winner)
3. Shinsuke Nakamura (5th participation)
4. Hirooki Goto (1st participation)
5. Toru Yano (3rd participation)
6. Toshiaki Kawada (2nd participation)
7. Yutaka Yoshie (6th participation)