Welcome to Wrestlers of the Month 2021 Issue #1 - January! Each month, Pro Wrestling Musings contributors and invited outside content creators will vote on the wrestlers of the month. Voters are invited to make picks based on who, to them, were the best wrestlers of the month based on non-kayfabe criteria. The criteria, of course, will vary from person to person however many of these picks will be made based on in-ring performance, character work and how much individuals are

In 2018, Kota Ibushi got to the final of the G1 after winning his block and was denied what would have been an incredibly special clash with Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Hiroshi Tanahashi went on to face Kenny Omega and the 1 on 1 showdown between Omega and Ibushi for the title never happened. Then in 2019 he righted that wrong, somewhat, and defeated Jay White in the final of the G1 Climax to, in theory, set up a clash with Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight

In this article you will find a plethora of statistics from the G1 Climax 30. You can use this you see how NJPW book their in-ring action and to profile the wrestlers themselves. The statistics in these graphics are gathered from all 91 G1 matches. G1 Standings A Block Video Visualisation B Block Video Visualisation G1 Finalists The G1 Final saw A Block Winner Kota Ibushi take on B Block Winner in a divisive match, enjoyed by many who are keen to find joy in wrestling agai

For reasons that I've never entirely understood, wrestling fans get very very upset when it comes to discussing match ratings

We have done this using a performance-based triad of stats. And by that, we mean stats that view wrestling as a literal performance.

The New Japan landscape tends to reveal itself during the 91 matches that comprise the G1 Climax tournament. 1. Tetsuya Naito It must have been such a joy for Tetsuya Naito to go into the G1 as double champion. Especially after such a tumultuous year. At the end of the marathon tournament Naito is still double champion and he has an inkling into his future, at Wrestle Kingdom 15. Naito was still in with a chance of winning his block on the final night but ultimately fel

70 matches into the G1s 91 match marathon as we hit the finishing stretch. Which wrestlers are coming around the final bend with the most momentum? Let's take a look... Block League Standings It looks like any man out of the top 4 however head to head records mean it's more complicated than that. The men with the most in their favour are Jay White and Kota Ibushi. Jay White holds wins over Kota Ibushi and Kazuchika Okada. Whereas Kota Ibushi has wins over Kazuchika Okad

In this article we are going to check in on the A Block and B Block League Standings after 4 rounds of fixtures as well as analysis some of the in-ring performances of individuals. Block League Standings Jumping out straight away is Yujiro's complete lack of points on the board. I, personally, am hoping it stays that was as I accidentally made him a freebie on the G1 Fantasy Faction League! At the other end of the table we saw both 100% records screech to a holt in the

IT'S HERE! But is it any good? Not a question that is usually as prominent at the beginning of G1 season but after the abomination that was Dominion 2020, it is a fair question. The answer? It's both! Okada is still Money Clip Okada, as he was in the New Japan Cup. The two-night demi-God of Wrestle Kingdom is a distant memory and it barely seems plausible that happened this year. His highly anticipated rematch with Kota Ibushi came in at a disappointing 3.78. Where Will Ospre

Below you will find my full predictions for A Block and B Block in this year's G1 Climax tournament. I am predicting a Kota Ibushi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi final, below you will be able to see how I predict that coming to fruition. A Block I'm predicting Kota Ibushi is booked strongest across the two blocks, with him only dropping one match. This coming in his first match with him losing to perennial champion Kazuchika Okada. Okada however, slips up twice to stablemate Will Os

I dare you to go and tell Suzuki he’s too old to be winning belts.

All is right again in New Japan? Bullet Club loses the big ones but gains the Junior title. Suzuki Gun on the rise? What next for NJPW Block? 1. Tetsuya Naito After an incredible fall from grace at Dominion, Tetsuya Naito remained unfazed, bided his time and took his revenge when the time came. He is now the record holder for number of IWGP Intercontinental Championship reigns and holds double gold once again. Tetsuya Naito is now 4-1 for the year holding wins over, now

A lot has been said about New Japan Pro Wrestling since it's return post-lockdown. The New Japan Cup was blighted by long matches featuring heavy interference and 'Moneyclip' Cobra Clutches. Of course there were diamonds in there like Suzuki/Nagata and SHO/Takagi however some of the Taichi matches and the final featuring Okada and EVIL were not to many fan's taste, including my own. Then came Dominion and the EVIL/Naito IWGP HEaviweight Championsip match which saw EVIL def

After a landscape shattering couple of days it is time to analyse the NJPW landscape and take stock of who holds the power in Japan's biggest wrestling company. 1. EVIL Unranked in the post-New Beginnings Power Rankings as he was in the Post Wrestle Kingdom Power Rankings. EVIL bursts right to the top of the Power Rankings as the undoubtably most powerful man in New Japan after besting the historic and first Double Crown Champion. Now 8-1 in 2020, having just defeated S

In July 2018, I sat on the same couch and watched a highly anticipated main event in New Japan Pro Wrestling. It was my recently new favourite wrestler, Kenny Omega challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. At this point it would be the fourth collision between these two game-changing wrestlers in only 19 months and they had 3 unbelievable matches to live up to. It is still one of my fondest viewing experiences as I watched in almost disbelief as t

This was Katsuyori Shibata's last match in professional wrestling. A nasty looking headbutt delivered by Shibata to Okada caused a subdural hematoma. He finished the match but looked worryingly injured as he staggered to the back. It is currently believed he will never wrestle again. However, his recovery from this injury has been life-affirming and he is still part of NJPW as head of the LA Dojo. This match took place at Sakura Genesis, April 9th 2017. The venue being

The NJPW Landscape post New Beginning Sapporo and Osaka. The Wrestling League Standings, Wrestler Statistics and Power Ranking.

Match Statistics and Analytics from NJPW's New Beginning in Osaka. Including stats from the Hiromu Takahashi/Ryu Lee, 214 strike match!

NJPW League Standings - Wins and Losses - ZSJ joins Moxley and Naito at the top after his second successful RevPro British Heavyweight Championship defence of the year. - Shingo Takagi and Tomohiro Ishii get their first singles victories of 2020. - Toa Henare and El Phantasmo get decent wins over Young Lions. - Will Ospreay and Kota Ibushi are the unlikely bottom of the barrel at this early stage. - Hirooki Goto normalised by Shingo. Now 1-1 in 2020. - Kazuchika Okada makes t