>>11130060>The paths to the G1 Final:* EVIL's path sees to it that he replicate what brought him to New Japan Cup and the IWGP Double Titles in 2020: get past SANADA, defeat Okada, and (potentially) get through Tetsuya Naito in the Final. EVIL's win over SANADA also guarantees him a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Title even if he loses. A win would also qualify David Finlay & Mikey Nicholls for a shot at his Tokyo Dome spot should the contract concept return this year.
* For Okada to win 3 in a row, he has to weave through all of EVIL's minions and tricks like he has in the last 2 singles matches they've had together, then either repeat last year's Final against Ospreay or crush LIJ fans' hopes and dreams at Naito's expense like he's done many times before. The only person qualified to challenge for his hypothetic briefcase would be Ospreay, but he may just refuse to defend it just like he did last year.
* Naito's path is eerily similar to how he won the G1 in Ryogoku in 2017: avenge a singles loss against Tanahashi to make it out of his block, then avenge his previous G1 loss against the current IWGP US Champion. He's also in the exact same position he was in last year, facing Will Ospreay in the semi finals main event with high possibility of meeting Okada in the Final. The 2 qualified to challenge for his possible briefcase are Jeff Cobb and Shane Haste.
* Ospreay is also in the exact same spot as last year, albeit much stronger. He goes into tonight 6-1 in Ryogoku with recent wins over Kenny Omega, Okada & NEVER Champion David Finlay against the man who retired Keiji Mutoh at Tokyo Dome in February (Chono was non-canon). He must repeat the outcome of last year's semis and then either get past EVIL's tactics like he did Finlay's or avenge his G1 Final loss and beat Okada for the 2nd straight time. His possible briefcase and/or US Title challengers for 2023 are Taichi & Tanga Loa.
