Lance Archer is headed back to Japan to take part in the annual G1 Climax tournament, which begins on July 16.
This will mark Archer's sixth appearance in the G1 tournament, but his first in three years. He is the lone member of the AEW roster to be in the tournament.
Speaking on 1023 XCL, Archer commented on what it means to represent AEW.
"It's amazing for me. My history there, to have that connection between the two companies, to be representing AEW and being the only one representing AEW in the G1 Climax. New Japan is celebrating their 50th year in wrestling and it's an amazing and rich history. The G1 Climax is a tournament that blows pretty much every other tournament that can and does exist in wrestling out of the water. It is amazing every single year. To be part of it again is amazing and I'm extremely honored. I was part of 2019 and a lot of people got to see Will Ospreay and I in a match that was live on AXS TV in the States. It was the first G1 [event] outside of Japan. A lot of people got their first experience with the G1 in 2019. The last couple of years have been muted because of the pandemic and the restrictions, but now the restrictions are starting to lift, they are allowing visas for new wrestlers and it's opened the door for me to go over there and do that. To represent AEW, but also to have the history I've had with New Japan Pro Wrestling, it was a perfect fit. I'm extremely honored and ready to go kick some ass," he said.
Archer is in the A Block of the tournament, which includes names like Kazuchika Okada, Jeff Cobb, Tom Lawlor, and JONAH. Fans can check out the list of participants in each Block by clicking here.
Before Archer travels to Japan for the G1, he will team with Chris Jericho to take on Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi on the June 22 episode of AEW Dynamite.
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