NJPW reveals date for Okada vs. Omega III, other key G1 matches

After revealing the blocks for this summer’s G1 Climax yesterday, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced when most of the key matches in the tournament will take place this morning.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega III is set for the last day of B Block action at Sumo Hall on August 12th. The day before that, the A Block will conclude with Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito. Those two matches will have major implications for their respective blocks and may decide who goes on to the finals.

The G1 will open on July 17th with A Block matches. Kota Ibushi vs. Naito and Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. have been announced as the top two matches. Ibushi will also seemingly be involved in the mix at the end of the block as he’ll face Hirooki Goto on the final A Block show on August 11th.

The first night in the B Block will take place on July 20th with Minoru Suzuki vs. Omega and SANADA vs. EVIL. Suzuki vs. Toru Yano was the other match announced for the last B Block show.

In a match that many wanted to happen in the Cruiserweight Classic, Ibushi will face Sabre on July 21st.

The full schedule figures to be announced soon. Here’s the list of matches that were revealed today:

July 17th —
Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
July 20th —
Minoru Suzuki vs. Kenny Omega
SANADA vs. EVIL
July 21st —
YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito
Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
July 22nd —
Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA
Kenny Omega vs. Tama Tonga
July 23rd —
Togi Makabe vs. Hirooki Goto
Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
July 25th —
Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
Toru Yano vs. Kenny Omega
July 26th —
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi
July 27th —
Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega
Minoru Suzuki vs. EVIL
July 29th —
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
July 30th —
Juice Robinson vs. Kazuchika Okada
Satoshi Kojima vs. Kenny Omega
August 1st —
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
Yuji Nagata vs. Tomohiro Ishii
August 2nd —
Kenny Omega vs. EVIL
Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki
August 4th —
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
August 5th —
Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
Satoshi Kojima vs. SANADA
August 6th —
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito
August 8th —
Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki
Kenny Omega vs. SANADA
August 11th —
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
Kota Ibushi vs. Hirooki Goto
August 12th —
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega
Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki
August 13th —
A Block winner vs. B Block winner in the tournament finals