This weekend, New Japan Pro Wrestling kicks off their annual summer tournament, the G1 Climax. This year’s tournament—the 26th iteration—features one of the deepest and arguably best in-ring rosters in G1 Climax history.

Yesterday, we previewed the tournaments for each of the A Block members. As you can probably assume, today we’re going to take a look at the B Block.

If you have any other questions about the G1 Climax or New Japan Pro Wrestling in general, we suggest checking out our NJPW 2015 Year in Review eBook (available for download on Payhip or Amazon.com) as well as our Beginner’s Guide to New Japan Pro Wrestling. Also, be sure to enter yourself in our G1 Climax 26 Pick’Em contest. The free contest allows you to predict each and every match result from the tournament for a chance at some great prizes from IVPVideos.com. Sign-up today at bit.ly/VOWG126-Picks.

Follow our predictors:

Michael Elgin

Boy, what a difference one year can make. A significant portion of American fans scoffed when news of Michael Elgin’s G1 debut was first announced last year, but by tournament’s end Big Mike proved his detractors wrong in a big way. Though he only finished with 8 points in his inaugural performance, Elgin proved to be among the most consistent wrestlers throughout the length of the tournament, earning him valuable credibility and reinvigorating his career. Fast forward 12 months and Elgin is not only making his return to the G1, but doing so as the current IWGP Intercontinental champion. The ROH veteran has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Hiroshi Tanahashi that served as a valuable conduit to native fans less familiar with Elgin’s body of work. Elgin’s placement in B Block protects him from the threat of being outshined by the litany of high profile  talent in A Block. Matches against Tetsuya Naito (Night 4) and Katsuyori Shibata (Night 6) are two of the more compelling match ups in all of  B Block, while a Night 8 match against Kenny Omega has already proven to be highly intriguing.  -Barry Hess

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 14
Barry Hess: 10
Joe Lanza: 10
John Carroll: 10
Rich Kraetsch: 10

EVIL

G1 debuts are definitely a major theme this year, and yet another one appearing in his first-ever G1 Climax is none other than the King of Darkness himself. EVIL has already come a long way in a very short time: from his days as a young lion to a less-than-memorable ROH/US excursion to a bizarre new character. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give Watanabe is how fast he has fit in; we’ve all gotten used to the man of laser pointers and lariats so much that it’s easy to forget he only debuted with this character in October of 2015. EVIL has gone from looking somewhat awkward in his new role to being much more comfortable in his own skin, and he’s really become a great compliment to his Los Ingobernables de Japón leader Tetsuya Naito. The two of them are just fun together (I think this is my favorite photo of the two of them, but there’s many more where that came from!), you know? Which makes it either unfortunate, exciting, interesting, or all of the above that the two find themselves in the same block. Mark down August 7th on your calendars, because that’s the night EVIL and Naito go one-on-one for the first time ever (in the main event, so NJPW knows how big of a deal this is; the Dominion crowd went pretty nuts for it too when it was announced, if you’ll recall). Anyway, EVIL will probably pick up some wins but not be there at the end to decide who wins Block B. I have him going 5-4, but could easily see where he does slightly worse (4-5 or maybe even 3-6). Either way though, I think you’ll see him pick up a win over either Elgin or Shibata to set up a future match for one of those two titles. It’s time for EVIL to move on to something else and put the Goto feud behind him (as great as that feud was!), and his first singles title challenge seems like just the way to do it. – John Carroll

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 8
Barry Hess: 12
Joe Lanza: 12
John Carroll: 8
Rich Kraetsch: 4

Tomoaki Honma

It was the G1 that begat the Tomoaki Honma we know and love today. Honma made his G1 debut in 2014 serving as an underwhelming replacement for an injured Kota Ibushi. Countless missed head-butts and 10 straight losses later a charismatic underdog was born. History appeared to be repeating itself last year until the penultimate night of round robin competition, when Honma beat Tomohiro Ishii for his lone tournament victory; easily one of the highlights of G1 Climax 25 on the whole. Honma’s third G1 appearance poses more questions than answers. With his quest to win a G1 matched fulfilled, it’s difficult to say where the chips will fall for Honma this year. No longer a stereotypical underdog – Honma enjoyed a satisfying four-month run as an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team champion with partner Togi Makabe – but not quite a recognized star, Honma’s tournament will likely prove whether he’s trusted to take another step up the proverbial ladder. The fact that Honma is positioned in B Block may be an early indication that he will at least walk away from the tournament with more than a single win. Gedo’s slow burn booking style likely eliminates any chances of Honma competing to win the Block, but a respectable showing would go a long way in furthering the character’s advancement. A Night 4 match against YOSHI-HASHI, a Night 8 match against Toru Yano and a Night 14 match against Katsuhiko Nakajima are all matches that stand out as potential opportunities for Honma to win.

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 6
Barry Hess: 6
Joe Lanza: 6
John Carroll: 4
Rich Kraetsch: 4

Tetsuya Naito

The 64th IWGP Heavyweight Champion has to be considered an almost prohibitive favorite to win this thing after Okada beat him for his title back at Dominion. Of course, going far in a G1 would be nothing new for Tetsuya Naito—he went to the finals in 2011 (only his 2nd G1 appearance) before losing to Shinsuke Nakamura, then won the G1 in 2013 with a victory over Hiroshi Tanahashi. With Tanahashi and Naito again in separate blocks, it would not be a surprise at all to see them meeting in the finals again. Will Naito indeed win his second G1 in his seventh appearance? At the very least he’s likely to do better than his 5-4 showing last year, when he was more concerned with establishing his (new at the time) El Ingobernable character than he was with winning matches. Some dates to circle on your calendar if you’re one of Naito’s many fans: vs. Shibata on 7/30 (Shibata beat him in the G1 last year, which Naito did avenge a few months later with a singles victory at Destruction in Kobe), a first-time-ever singles match with Katsuhiko Nakajima on 8/4, the big “LIJ Explodes” match vs. EVIL on 8/7, and another first-time-ever singles match with Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega on 8/13 in Sumo Hall. I think everyone is circling Omega-Naito as the match that will likely decide B Block (just as they’re doing for Okada-Tanahashi in A Block on 8/12), and given the likely stakes, the talent of both men, and how hot the Tokyo crowd will be for Naito, the match could easily end up as a MOTYC. – John Carroll

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 14
Barry Hess: 16
Joe Lanza: 14
John Carroll: 16
Rich Kraetsch: 14

Katsuhiko Nakajima

Wrestling’s youngest veteran this side of TJ Perkins, Katsuhiko Nakajima makes his G1 Climax debut at the unimaginable age of 28. With well over 10 years of experience already under his belt, Nakajima comes into this tournament with equal parts intrigue and confidence. Finally free of the freelancer tag that made Pro Wrestling NOAH weary of pushing him to the moon, Nakajima appears on a path of ascension to the top of the struggling NOAH promotion. Could Nakajima be the piece that brings them back to prominence?

The booking of Nakajima throughout the tournament will be something to keep an eye on. He’s in a block where he could easily sneak up and get quite a few wins but how eager is New Japan to have a NOAH “outsider” come into their tournament and defeated some of their established stars? Of course, given NJPW ownership stake in NOAH, they are certainly more eager than they would have been in year’s past. A healthy build for Nakajima and a great showing in the tournament would do wonders for NOAH’s business and in turn, New Japan. In ring, if you aren’t familiar with his style you’ll be in for a treat. Trained by Riki Chosu, Kensuke Sasaki and Masa Saito, Nakaijima’s blended style of speed, smarts and strikes will fit great with this current New Japan roster. -Rich Kraetsch

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 8
Barry Hess: 4
Joe Lanza: 10
John Carroll: 10
Rich Kraetsch: 8

Yuji Nagata

The leader of the New Japan Dads has had a resurgent year, culminating in a short run as the NEVER Openweight Champion. However, over the past several years, Nagata has rarely been more than an afterthought in the G1. He can generally be penciled in for six to eight points and no real surprise wins. I don’t expect that to be any different this year. Nagata’s most likely wins will probably come over YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano, and Tomoaki Honma. The Nagata match that must be circled on the schedule, though, is his Night 16 rematch with the man who ended his title run, Katsuyori Shibata. Shibata will put Nagata in his rear view once and for all, but regardless of his place in the standings, there should be enough motivation for Nagata to make that a potential Match of the Night.-Aaron Bentley

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 8
Barry Hess: 6
Joe Lanza: 10
John Carroll: 6
Rich Kraetsch: 12

Kenny Omega

Omega sure has cooled off since the first quarter of the year. To be fair, a lot of that has nothing to do with Omega’s performances. His big singles win over Shinsuke Nakamura ultimately never happened, as New Japan opted to allow Nak to vacate the Intercontinental title as opposed to lose it in the ring. Next, his big feud with Tanahashi was interrupted due to Tanahashi’s shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Omega has spent most of the year building a match with New Day, and with his (and the Bucks) contracts coming due in a few months, it would make a lot of sense to cool him off in the event The Elite decides to take their talents to Orlando. Omega recently dropped both of this titles, which could be the first step in that process. All of this makes for a G1 prognosis that is very hard to sort out. The final match of the final night of round robin bouts will very likely be Tetsuya Naito vs Omega. That means Kenny will be in the mix. Could the plan be Omega vs Tanahashi in the final? -Joe Lanza

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 12
Barry Hess: 10
Joe Lanza: 12
John Carroll: 14
Rich Kraetsch: 14

Katsuyori Shibata

Picking Shibata to win the G1 has become a yearly meme at this point. He’s not winning it this year either, so don’t waste your pick. His slow main event push has begun however, starting when he signed a two year deal which made him an official NJPW roster member for the first time since 2004. His feud against New Japan’s third generation, and specifically his battles against Yuji Nagata, were a very important symbolic strong style stamp of approval. As NEVER champion, he’s been tasked with the responsibility of main eventing (albeit in smaller to mid sized buildings), as he slowly ascends up the roster – for real, this time. The timing isn’t right to win this year. A strong tournament, with a loss to EVIL on the final night to knock him out (and set up his next NEVER challenger) seems like a good idea. Save your pick for next year. -Joe Lanza

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 12
Barry Hess: 14
Joe Lanza: 12
John Carroll: 14
Rich Kraetsch: 14

Toru Yano

Yano’s continued inclusion in the G1 seems to result in utter despair among American fans. And yet, Yano has a handful of very good matches every year. No, he won’t blow you away with workrate classics but his bouts are nearly always entertaining and provide a nice break from the relative monotony that can creep in as July turns to August. Yano will probably score 8 points and notch two somewhat shocking wins. Over just the last several years, Yano holds G1 victories over Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata, Minoru Suzuki, and Naomichi Marufuji. Shibata and Kenny Omega stand out as potential surprise losers to Yano. Omega, in particular, is notable because he and Yano are destined to have one outrageous, ridiculous, and potentially great match. Along with most everyone else, I’d prefer to see serious Kenny Omega rather than DDT Kenny Omega in this tournament; however, on Night 4, let it all hang out, Kenny! By the end of the G1, everyone will again be talking about how Toru Yano is a breath of fresh air in this tournament. You might as well get on board now. -Aaron Bentley

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 6
Barry Hess: 4
Joe Lanza: 8
John Carroll: 6
Rich Kraetsch: 2

YOSHI-HASHI

You wouldn’t have caught me dead writing YOSHI-HASHI’s profile in last year’s preview for the G1 Climax. Hell, I avoid him like the plague in our yearly NJPW Year in Review eBook too. Long held as my least favorite NJPW regular, I didn’t understand why the man with the giant stick continued to appear on my NJPW World. What good did he do? What did he serve? Why was he even here? As you can see, I’ve changed. When we first picked wrestlers we wanted to write about, I jumped to YOSHI-HASHI first. Before Okada, before Tanahashi… before anyone, I wanted YOSHI-HASHI.

Why? It’s simple. Ignited by an awesome feud with Los Ingobernables de Japon—specifically SANADA—YOSHI-HASHI has gained a ton of momentum in the company garnering huge crowd reactions as he battles for pride. The basis of his feud with SANADA: YOSHI-HASHI stuck it out through the New Japan dojo, SANADA left because he couldn’t handle it and strolled back into the company earlier this year. SANADA was immediately thrust into a semi main event against Okada and that pissed YOSHI-HASHI off. And well it should. TACOS has busted his ass in New Japan and where has it gotten him? That’s how simple storytelling that has basis in reality and is relatable can light someone on fire. Now, we root for YOSHI-HASHI. Now we want him to tap that asshole SANADA out. It’s perfect. How he fares in this year’s tournament will be interesting. While he’s not a favorite to win the Block, he may be in the mix. Outside of Naito, there isn’t a heavy favorite in the Block and YOSHI-HASHI could fill that void. A miracle run until the final day (where he faces CHAOS stablemate Toru Yano) could be just what the doctor ordered to continue the meteoric rise of TACOS in 2016.  -Rich Kraetsch

Point Predictions:

Aaron: 2
Barry Hess: 8
Joe Lanza: 0
John Carroll: 2
Rich Kraetsch: 8

NJPW G1 Climax 26 B Block Tournament Schedule

JULY 22
KORAKUEN HALL TOKYO
5:30 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kenny Omega
  • B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima
  • B BLOCK: Michael Elgin vs. EVIL
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomoaki Honma
  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Tetsuya Naito

JULY 24
KORAKUEN HALL TOKYO
5:30 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Kenny Omega
  • B BLOCK: Michael Elgin vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. EVIL
  • B BLOCK: Tomoaki Honma vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima

JULY 27
NAGANO BIG HAT
5:30 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. EVIL
  • B BLOCK: Tomoaki Honma vs. Kenny Omega
  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Michael Elgin
  • B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. Tetsuya Naito

JULY 30
AICHI PREFECTURAL GYMNASIUM
5:00 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL
  • B BLOCK: Tomoaki Honma vs. Toru Yano
  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • B BLOCK: Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega

AUGUST 1
TAKAMATSU CITY GENERAL GYMNASIUM KAGAWA
6:00 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: Kenny Omega vs. EVIL
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Toru Yano
  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Michael Elgin
  • B BLOCK: Tomoaki Honma vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • B BLOCK: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. YOSHI-HASHI

AUGUST 4
FUKUOKA CITIZEN GYMNASIUM
5:30 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Toru Yano
  • B BLOCK: Tomoaki Honma vs. EVIL
  • B BLOCK: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kenny Omega
  • B BLOCK: Michael Elgin vs YOSHI-HASHI

AUGUST 7
SHIZUOKA ACT CITY HAMAMATSU
3:00 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: Michael Elgin vs. Toru Yano
  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Kenny Omega
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • B BLOCK: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Tomoaki Honma
  • B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL

AUGUST 10
YAMAGATA CITY GENERAL SPORTS CENTER
5:30 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. EVIL
  • B BLOCK: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • B BLOCK: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenny Omega
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Yuji Nagata
  • B BLOCK: Tomoaki Honma vs. Michael Elgin

AUGUST 14
RYOGOKU KOKUGIKAN TOKYO
5:30 AM EST

  • B BLOCK: Toru Yano vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • B BLOCK: Michael Elgin vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima
  • B BLOCK: Yuji Nagata vs. Tomoaki Honma
  • B BLOCK: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kenny Omega
  • B BLOCK: Katsuyori Shibata vs. EVIL

AUGUST 14
RYOGOKU KOKUGIKAN TOKYO
2:00 AM EST

  • G1 Climax 26 Final Match: Block A Winner vs. Block B Winner