Bullet Club leader Jay White has had an up-and-down year thus far. ‘Switchblade’ started off 2019 in New Japan hot, as White shocked every one by defeating Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 13. He would follow up that big win by defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at New Year’s Dash a few weeks later.
However, once the 26-year-old dropped the title at the G1 Supercard Show in Madison Square Garden, he hasn’t been able to recapture much of the magic he had during the first half of 2019. That’s where his first match-up in the G1 Climax comes into the play, as former NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto was able to get the victory over ‘Switchblade’.
White was able to use his game plan against Goto in the early portion of the match; however, the former NEVER Openweight Champion was able to get the best of the Bullet Club leader, despite the constant interference from Gedo. Goto dropped White with a big kick and then connected with his finisher, GTR, and then got the three count.