INTER-FACTION WARFARE:
LIJ AND G1 CLIMAX 29
By Jasmine Olan
Los Ingobernables de Japon has been one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s most successful factions for a number of years now. They are also widely known as the promotion’s most close knit group of friends. While members of LIJ have had to face each other one on one before, usually in tournament settings, the stakes appear to be higher this time. In this year’s G1 CLIMAX tournament 4 of the faction’s six members will be competing with two set to head to head in each block. With each man having their sights set on winning the prestigious tournament, fans and critics alike are left to wonder how the overall dynamic within LIJ will be affected. Could those high stakes lead to dissension within the ranks?
The LIJ on LIJ warfare will begin in block A which will see the two closest members of the group go head to head. The King Of Darkness, Evil and the Cold Skull, Sanada have been both a dominant and stabilizing force in NJPW’s heavyweight division which has been a bit short handed lately due to recent company departures. Their feuds with the likes of Guerillas of Destiny and Killer Elite Squad have made for great matches over the past couple of years. They are two sure fire main eventers who together make an amazing tag team with their in ring chemistry and close bond of friendship. That bond weathered the storm of last year’s G1 which saw the two face each other in block competition, but can it survive a second run in between these long time friends? With Evil distancing himself a bit lately the tide can turn either way. Either way the answer will come soon enough.
While Evil and Sanada will have to do battle in block A, LIJ’s leader will have to face the group’s newest addition in block B. The Dragon, Shingo Takagi will be one of two juniors entering the G1 this year with the other being current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Will Ospreay. After the barn burner of a match the two had in the BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS finals it’s no surprise that both will be making their G1 debuts this year. Takagi has been on an unbelievable hot streak since his arrival in New Japan last October.
He’s been a force to be reckoned with in the junior division and badly wants to make his presence known as a heavyweight. That process will have to include going to war against his faction leader, Tetsuya Naito. With the banner year Takagi has been having, can that momentum carry over into winning the ultimate battle of the summer? If the first part of 2019 is any indicator, the Dragon’s chances are looking quite good.
As the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon, Tetsuya Naito will have his work cut out for him in this year’s G1. Not only will he have to give the performance of his life in block competition, he will also have to make sure his faction remains intact. The tranquilo one is looking to become the first to hold the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Championships at the same time. To do that, he must survive the notoriously grueling tournament and then win in the Tokyo Dome at WRESTLE KINGDOM in January. It’ll be very interesting to see how his friendship with Shingo Takagi will be affected by having to face each other with the stakes so high.
Los Ingobernables de Japon is a group known for its solidarity. They have weathered dark storms before and can very likely do it again. This time the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and it may not be as easy as it has been in the past. Each of these men have their sights set in winning but will also be faced with the challenge of not forgetting what brought them together in the first place. In the end, they will all have to fight to survive this inter-faction warfare.
