How I would Improve the G1

[Big Red Machine]

1) CUT OR CONDENSE THE POINTLESS UNDERCARD MATCHES
It’s nice that you want to get everyone on the show, but sitting through all of that pointless undercard stuff is completely unbearable, and it is made even worse by the fact that we will be getting basically the same matches every other show. For a tournament like the G1 where every match matters, you don’t need to build anticipation for each match by having the guys tease facing off because every match has that anticipation built into it through the format. Maybe have one match a show that is a tag match featuring some of the guys in the day off block against some of the non-tournament heavyweights (Tonga, Nakanishi etc.) and one match that is a Jr. Heavyweight tag, but keep the undercard short so that you can give all of the tournament matches enough time while not having the show go super-long (i.e. what Evolve usually does).
Or, if you wanted to be really nice, just give the day off block guys the day off while sending guys like Nakanishi, Tama Tonga, and some of the Jr. Heavyweights to work matches for your good pals in ROH or CMLL or GFW or NOAH or Bruce Tharpe or whoever else New Japan has partnerships with (and this is advice that applies for every big New Japan show- you don’t need EVERYONE on EVERY show, especially guys like Nagata who almost never matter to the uppercard, so why not send Nagata to ROH or the UK where he’ll have some name recognition and his style will mesh really well?)

2) TRIM THE FAT:
This is supposed to be an elite tournament so what the f*ck is Toru Yano doing in it? Take out the undercard guys like Yano and Yujiro. Take out guys like Tenzan who, while still being big names, present a major risk of injury that might screw up your intricately-booked tournament or guys like Nagata and Kojima who can still go and still have names, but are usually portrayed like undercarders. Maybe use only one or two of these guys a year. Leave the elite tournament to the elite guys. This will also keep the tournament shorter and the shows shorter by having fewer matches, thus making it easier for fans to follow the whole way. And, like I suggested above, you can send these guys to your pals abroad to help them out a bit.

3) BRING BACK THE BLOCK FINALS:
This was a fun way of not only making it feel like more guys were in the mix for the finals, but it also injected a bit more story into the matches of the final day, and in particular the final match.

4) COMMENTARY IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
The Tokyo Dome PPV produced by GFW as well as the success of New Japan World has proved that there is at least some market abroad for big New Japan shows. If the market research supports it, I’d try to get someone to do commentary in English and/or Spanish (after all, you’re two biggest partners are ROH and CMLL).

[cero2k]

agree with everything

1 - I wouldn't say cut them all, but the guys from the other block shouldn't be fighting that day (unless they're champions), leave the rest of the card to build up the Jrs and the rest of the guys that are not in the tournament, I think this would be easier done if the (2) point was executed.

2 - I don't like Yano either, hell I think that Yoshi-hashi should have the rub off getting in the tournament instead of Yano, but I do see the value in having some lower level guys in this tournaments. It allows to have guys like Makabe, who you don't want him to win all, but not lose all get some wins. It also allows easier matches for some days for some guys.

3 and 4 you're spot on. I think that at this point, with NJPW going global and all, they should hire the ASX team as actual staff for live broadcasting

[cero2k]

found this. http://wrestlingprospectus.com/njpw-eng ... 20th-2015/

an english commentary audio file, haven't heard it, not sure how 'pro' it is

[Big Red Machine]

Looking back on this, I still agree with all of it. I'd also like to add that not bringing in someone from NOAH was quite the disappointment, whether it was to be Marufuji or Suzuki or Smith Jr. Even a guy like Hero would be fine in the standard "jobber" role because having him in there one year would at least make that year's tournament feel different from other years.