Writer’s Note: These calculations were completed before the start of the G1 Climax but are just being released now. All records shown are pre-G1 Climax 28.

The G1 Climax 28 tournament is underway and we have another interesting year full of complex and diverse blocks. The A Block has no champions while the B Block has three! This year’s tournament promises to be the hardest challenge yet for the twenty competitors who are throwing their name in the hat for the chance to main event Wrestle Kingdom 13 in the Tokyo Dome! Who will walk out the G1 champion? Who will BE A SURVIVOR?!

Luckily for all of us watching at home who are looking for a deeper dive into the twenty fierce warriors, I have crunched the numbers and found some pretty significant stats and details that may shape the future of this year’s tournament. Let’s take a look!

THE A BLOCK

“BIG MIKE” MICHAEL ELGIN

This is Michael Elgin’s fourth G1 Climax, his first being the G1 Climax 25 in 2015. He goes 0.481, with an overall record of 13-14. His best year was 2016, with a record of 5-4, and his worst years are tied between 2015 and 2017 with both having a 4-5 record. Elgin usually has a pretty even scoring year, this year could be different as he looks to gain more momentum after losing the NEVER Openweight Championship in record time.

“KING OF DARKNESS” EVIL

This is EVIL’s third G1 Climax, having made his G1 debut in the G1 26 in 2016. His average is 0.555, with a total record of 10-8. Best year was last year with a record of 6-3, and worst year was 2016 at 4-5. EVIL did pretty well last year and will look to build upon that foundation. Many see him as a potential winner of this block.

“THE UNDERBOSS” BAD LUCK FALE

Expect Fale to play spoiler for some of the top stars of the A Block.

“UNCHAINED GORILLA” TOGI MAKABE

This is Togi Makabe’s fifteenth G1, having made his debut in the 2004 G1 Climax 14. His total record sits at 47-56-1, with an average of 0.451. His best year was 2011 when he went 5-4 and his worst year was 2005, going 0-7. Makabe will probably be winding down his G1 Climax tournament entries in the near future, so expect him to go all out and rack up some points.

“THE RAINMAKER” KAZUCHIKA OKADA

Kazuchika Okada enters his seventh G1, his debut tournament was the G1 Climax 22 in 2012. Okada’s total G1 record so far is 35-16-3, giving him a total average of 0.648. His best year was in 2014 when he went 7-2. Coincidentally, his worst year was a year before in 2013, going 4-4-1. After losing his IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Kenny Omega, this year’s G1 could either be a great rebound for “The Rainmaker” or it could be a giant flop.

HANGMAN PAGE

This is Hangman Page’s debut G1! It should be an exciting year as his star continues to grow in the New Japan ring.

“THE KING” MINORU SUZUKI

“THE ACE OF THE UNIVERSE” HIROSHI TANAHASHI

This is Hiroshi Tanahashi’s seventeenth G1!! His first was the G1 Climax 12 in 2002. His total record sits at 67-41-7, giving him an average of 0.582. His best year yet has been 2015 when he went 7-2. Worst was 2008, when he only went 2-4. Can Tanahashi pick up the pieces of a broken Okada and find his way back to the main event of Wrestle Kingdom?

“SWITCHBLADE” JAY WHITE

Another debut appearance in the A Block this year, as “Switchblade” Jay White makes his G1 debut. After having bested current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega earlier this year, expect a big tournament for White.

YOSHI-HASHI

To round off the A Block, we have YOSHI-HASHI entering his third G1 Climax tournament – after having debuted in the G1 26 in 2016. He is averaging 0.277, with a measly record of 5-13. His debut year was his best so far, going 3-6. He only went 2-7 last year. Hopefully YOSHI-HASHI can prove the haters wrong this year and manage to score more than six points.

THE B BLOCK

“FIERCE WARRIOR OF CHAOS” HIROOKI GOTO

Hirooki Goto enters his tenth G1, having debuted in the G1 18 in 2008. His total record is 46-36, averaging 0.561. His best years were 2011 and 2016, both of them having a 6-3 record. His worst year is 2009, only going 3-3. As he is walking into the tournament as NEVER Openweight Champion, he should do fairly well against his opponents.

“THE GOLDEN★STAR” KOTA IBUSHI

This is Kota Ibushi’s fourth G1 Climax, his first being the G123. He is averaging 0.481, with a total record of 13-14. 2017 was his best year with a 5-4 record, while 2013 and 2015 are tied for worst with a 4-5 record. Keep an eye out for Ibushi, winning the G1 Climax could get him the dream match against Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom that both members of the Golden★Lovers yearn for.

“STONE PITBULL” TOMOHIRO ISHII

“EL INGOBERNABLE” TETSUYA NAITO

Last year’s winner Tetsuya Naito enters his ninth G1 Climax tournament, his debut was in the G1 Climax XX. He does fairly well, as is shown by his 41-28-1 record, giving him an average of 0.585. He had a career-best last year going 7-2. His worst year was 2010, going 3-3-1. Can Naito repeat last year’s G1 performance and headline in the Tokyo Dome a second time over?

“BEST BOUT MACHINE” KENNY OMEGA

“THE FLAMBOYANT” JUICE ROBINSON

New IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Juice Robinson enters his second G1 Climax tournament, after making his debut last year. He went 4-5 to get an average of 0.444. Here’s hoping he has a better year now that he has found his stride in big-time matchups.

“DICKHEAD HUNTER” ZACK SABRE JR.

This is also Zack Sabre Jr.’s second G1 Climax, having debuted in last year’s tournament. He went 5-4, gaining an average of 0.555. After winning the New Japan Cup, Zack should have a very good G1 this year.

“COLD SKULL” SANADA

SANADA enters his third G1 Climax tournament in a row. His total record stands at 8-10, giving him a batting average of 0.444. He went 4-5 in both the 2016 and 2017 G1. With a bit of tension in the Los Ingobernables de Japon stable, SANADA could be looking for a breakout year in the G1 to make a bigger name for himself.

“THE BAD BOY” TAMA TONGA

Tama Tonga mirrors SANADA’s record. Having debuted in the G126, this is Tama’s third G1. He has gone 8-10 total, giving him a 0.444 average. He also went 4-5 in the past two tournaments. He looks to impress the world after shockingly attacking his fellow BULLET CLUB peers in San Francisco. Will Tama Tonga be the surprise winner of the B Block?

“SUPER PRODUCER” TORU YANO