We certainly packed a lot into an hour.  Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s TAWF:

SO MUCH TANA IN THE LBC NJPW is putting on a 2-day event in Long Beach, California entitled “G1 Special.”  The shows will be used to crown the inaugural IWGP United States Championship.  One interesting fact about this tournament is the fact that three out of the eight men in the tournament are actually from the United States.  Here’s the bracket:

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There’s also a handful of title matches to round out the 2-day event, including a Cody and Okada IWGP Championship match.  Damon expresses his reservations about a potential Cody title run.  How do you feel about the potential of Cody having two World titles?

G1 CLIMAX FROM GLORIOUS EGG DOME The 27^th G1 Climax begins July 13^th.  The winner of the tournament (normally) challenges for the IWGP Heavyweight Title at Wrestle Kingdom in January.  If the champion wins, he will be able to pick his opponent for the event.  The odds are not in the champion’s favor, however, as only. two men have won the G1 while holding the title (Kensuke Sasaki and Keiji Mutoh AKA Great Muta).  Other fun facts about the tournament:

1. Masahiro Chono has won the G1 FIVE times.
2. The IWGP Champion has reached the finals five times.
3. Rick Rude, Karl Anderson, and Kenny Omega are the only foreigners to make it to the finals.
4. Kenny Omega is the only foreigner to win the tournament.
5. Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Jushin Thunder Liger were the first two juniors to be invited to the G1 in 2000.
6. 1992, 1993, 1997, and 1998 were all single elimination tournaments, for whatever reason.
7. Chono and Tenzan are the only two men to win back-to-back G1s (’91 and 92, ’03 and ’04 respectively)

Here are the blocks for the 27^th G1 Climax:

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