Big Change In Direction For NJPW

Following G1 Climax 34 Qualifier matches on the July 3 Soul event, there seems to be a big change in the direction for NJPW.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has undergone major changes in 2024 so far with the notable departures of top stars Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay.

Meanwhile, younger talent such as Shota Umino, Yota Tsuji and Gabe Kidd have been given the opportunity to break out with major matchups this year. With top talent like Tetsuya Naito and Hiroshi Tanahashi getting older, the company has needed to make significant decisions to help their future.

On the July 3 NJPW Soul event, a big change happened in the form of upset victories for the young stars of the promotion, while some stalwarts of the G1 Climax over the years were eliminated.

In the biggest upset, former NJPW young lion Boltin Oleg defeated President of the company Hiroshi Tanahashi in less than seven minutes to advance in the G1 Climax 34 B Block Qualifier Tournament.

This marks the first time in 20 years that Tanahashi will not take part in the premier tournament of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Oleg will now move on to face Taichi, who defeated TJP on the same show, for a spot in the B Block of this year’s tournament this Friday, July 5.

Meanwhile, perennial G1 Climax MVP Tomohiro Ishii was eliminated from the G1 Climax 34 A Block Qualifier Tournament by YOSHI-HASHI in the main event of today’s show.

In the other A Block Qualifier, Callum Newman pulled off an upset of his own by defeating KENTA. Newman will now face YOSHI-HASHI for a spot in the A Block of the G1 Climax 34.

With the losses of Tanahashi, Ishii and KENTA, it marks a changing of the guard for the company moving forward as far as the G1.

For the first 18 participants announced in this year’s G1 Climax, click here.

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