G1 Climax
The G1 Climax is a professional wrestling tournament held each August by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion. Though it has sometimes been held as a single-elimination tournament, it is usually – and currently – held as a round-robin, with the most victorious wrestlers in each pool wrestling in a short tournament to decide that year's winner. Since [|2012], the winner of the tournament earns the right to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the following January's Wrestle Kingdom show.
In its current format, the tournament lasts four weeks. The winner of each pool is determined by a points system; two points for a victory, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss or no contest. Under the current format, double decisions are treated as draws.
Tournament history
NJPW had an annual tournament since 1974 under various names: the World League ; the MSG League ; the IWGP League, "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. Most of these tournaments were dominated by NJPW's founding top star Antonio Inoki.Although the 1983 winner, Hulk Hogan, was awarded a championship belt, this is not the beginning of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but its early version that was defended annually against the winner of the IWGP League of the year. The current IWGP Heavyweight Championship arrived only in 1987, replacing the old version.
In 1989, there was a World Cup Tournament, which included wrestlers from the then-Soviet Union. No tournament was held in 1990.
With Inoki's dominance over NJPW gone, the promotion established the G1 Climax tournament in [|1991] as a platform to showcase the company's top heavyweights and have them compete in round-robin matches where the winners of the two divisions would then square off in the tournament final. NJPW's then president Seiji Sakaguchi named the tournament after the G1 horse race. Though considered a continuation of the previous tournaments, officially NJPW does not recognize the earlier tournaments as part of the G1 Climax lineage. The first G1 was held from August 7 to August 11, 1991, at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The winner of the tournament, assuming they are not already the champion, has traditionally earned a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Since 2012, the winner has earned the "Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate", a contract for a title shot at NJPW's largest event, Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome, held annually on January 4. Much like WWE's Money in the Bank contract, the certificate is kept in a briefcase that the wrestler then has to defend until the end of the year. Since its inception, the contract has only changed hands one time, on November 7, [|2020], at Power Struggle when Jay White defeated Kota Ibushi. In [|2021], the now retired IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt was given to G1 winner Kazuchika Okada instead of a briefcase. In [|2015], the tournament format was changed with NJPW reducing the number of G1 Climax matches per show, giving the participating wrestlers more time to rest between matches. This increased the tournament's length to four weeks. In [|2016], Kenny Omega became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the tournament.
The G1 Climax tournament has often been used as a platform for NJPW to push their rising stars. Wins by young up-and-comers over Japanese legends would usually take their respective careers to new heights. The first tournament was specifically created to make stars out of Keiji Muto, Masahiro Chono and Shinya Hashimoto, three NJPW wrestlers who had just returned to the promotion from their overseas learning excursions. Past winners include Muto, Chono, Hashimoto, Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and others who have gone on to become wrestling superstars.
Unlike the New Japan Cup, the G1 Climax features the then-reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion as one of the participants, except in [|1992], [|2001], [|2004] and [|2008], when then-champions Riki Choshu, Kazuyuki Fujita, and Keiji Muto, respectively, did not compete in the tournament. Often being labeled as a favorite to win the tournament, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion has reached the final five times, the first one being in [|1995] when Keiji Muto won the tournament. Muto would repeat this feat again in [|1999], but would lose the final to Manabu Nakanishi. Other then-reigning champions to reach the final include Kensuke Sasaki in [|2000], Kazuyuki Fujita in [|2005] and Yuji Nagata in [|2007]. Muto and Sasaki are the only two wrestlers to have won the G1 Climax while holding the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. As of 2026, every G1 Climax winner has held either the IWGP Heavyweight Championship or IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, with Konosuke Takeshita being the last to accomplish this by defeating Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro-Wrestling on October 13, [|2025]. Overall, Antonio Inoki holds the record for most tournament wins with ten, while Masahiro Chono with his five wins holds the record for most tournament wins under its G1 Climax name. Hiroyoshi Tenzan has taken part in the G1 Climax tournament a record 21 times.
The opening night of the [|2019] G1 Climax took place in Dallas, Texas, marking the first time the opening night took place outside Japan.
The finals for the 2020 G1 Climax took place in October due to the Summer Olympics originally intended to be held in Tokyo when the tournament is usually held, making this the first time the tournament took place in the Autumn.
The longest match in tournament history is Kota Ibushi vs. Sanada in the 2020 finals at 35 minutes and 12 seconds. The longest match with a decisive winner in the block stages of the tournament is Sanada vs. Kazuchika Okada in the 2019 tournament at 29 minutes and 47 seconds, 13 seconds shy of the 30-minute time limit. Conversely, the shortest match is Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano in the 2020 tournament at just 18 seconds.
List of winners
IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate
The tradition of G1 Climax winners getting an IWGP Heavyweight Championship title shot has been in place since the beginning of the tournament, with exceptions in 1992, [|1993] and 2001 as well as 1995 and 2000, when the champion won the tournament. This tradition can be traced back to the days of the IWGP League, with the championship itself being awarded the title per stipulation from 1983 to 1986 and the 1987 tournament being used to crown the first proper, full-time IWGP Heavyweight champion. 1988 would be the first time a title shot was awarded to the winner.After winning the 2012 G1 Climax, Kazuchika Okada made a shocking statement to challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 7. This would start a tradition that lasted every year until [|2024], when Zack Sabre Jr choose to face Tetsuya Naito at King or Pro-Wrestling, and would be repeated in 2025 with Konosuke Takeshita challenging Sabre Jr at the same event.
| Year | Certificate history | - | - |
| 1991 | Holder: Masahiro Chono Lost to Tatsumi Fujinami for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on November 5, 1991 at Tokyo 3Days Battle | - | - |
| 1992 | Holder: Masahiro Chono Won the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship with winning the tournament on August 12, 1992 | - | - |
| 1993 | Holder: Tatsumi Fujinami Choose not to pursue | - | - |
| [|1994] | Holder: Masahiro Chono Lost to Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on September 27, 1994 at G1 Climax Special | - | - |
| 1995 | Holder: Keiji Muto Was the IWGP Heavyweight Champion when winning the tournament on August 15, 1995 Defended against Junji Hirata in G1 Climax Special tour on September 25, 1995 at G1 Climax Special And defended against Nobuhiko Takada in New Japan Pro Wrestling vs UWF International on October 9, 1995 | - | - |
| 1996 | Holder: Riki Choshu Lost to Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, [|1997] at Wrestling World | - | - |
| 1997 | Holder: Kensuke Sasaki Defeated Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on August 31, 1997 at Final Power Hall In Yokohama | - | - |
| [|1998] | Holder: Shinya Hashimoto Lost to Scott Norton for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on October 30, 1998 at nWo Typhoon | - | - |
| 1999 | Holder: Manabu Nakanishi Lost to Keiji Muto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on October 11, 1999 at Final Dome | - | - |
| 2000 | Holder: Kensuke Sasaki Was the IWGP Heavyweight Champion when winning the tournament on August 13, 2000 Lost to Toshiaki Kawada in a non title match on October 9, 2000 at Do Judge | decided to vacate the title in humiliation | |
| 2001 | Holder: Yuji Nagata Lost to Jun Akiyama for the GHC Heavyweight Championship on January 4, [|2002] at Wrestling World Making Nagata the only person to not challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship as the winner Originally was supposed to face Kazuyuki Fujita for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but Fujita vacated the title due to injury | - | - |
| 2002 | Holder: Masahiro Chono Fought Yuji Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to a time limit draw on October 26, 2002 at Toukon Series | - | - |
| [|2003] | Holder: Hiroyoshi Tenzan Defeated Yoshihiro Takayama for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on November 3, 2003 at Yokohama Dead Out | - | - |
| 2004 | Holder: Hiroyoshi Tenzan Defeated Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on December 12, 2004 at Final Battle | - | - |
| 2005 | Holder: Masahiro Chono Lost to Brock Lesnar for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship alongside Kazuyuki Fujita in a Three Way Match on October 8, 2005 at Toukon Souzou New Chapter | - | - |
| [|2006] | Holder: Hiroyoshi Tenzan Lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on October 9, 2006 at Explosion | - | - |
| 2007 | Holder: Hiroshi Tanahashi Defeated Yuji Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on October 8, 2007 at Explosion | - | - |
| 2008 | Holder: Hirooki Goto Lost to Keiji Muto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on August 31, 2008 at AJPW Pro-Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 5 Making Goto the only person to challenge for the title outside of the NJPW ring | - | - |
| [|2009] | Holder: Togi Makabe Lost to Shinsuke Nakamura for the vacated IWGP Heavyweight Championship on September 27, 2009 at Circuit New Japan Generation After previous champion Hiroshi Tanahashi had to vacate the title due to an injury at the eye socket he received during the G1 Climax tournament match against Nakamura | - | - |
| [|2010] | Holder: Satoshi Kojima Defeated Togi Makabe for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on October 11, 2010 at Destruction | - | - |
| [|2011] | Holder: Shinsuke Nakamura Lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on September 19, 2011 at G1 Climax Special | - | - |
| 2012 | Holder: Kazuchika Okada Successfully defended the certificate against Karl Anderson on October 8, 2012 at King of Pro-Wrestling Successfully defended the certificate against Hirooki Goto on November 11, 2012 at Power Struggle Lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, [|2013] at Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2013 | Holder: Tetsuya Naito Successfully defended the certificate against Masato Tanaka on September 29, 2013 at Destruction Successfully defended the certificate against Yujiro Takahashi on October 14, 2013 at King of Pro-Wrestling Successfully defended the certificate against Masato Tanaka on November 9, 2013, at Power Struggle Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, [|2014] at Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2014 | Holder: Kazuchika Okada Successfully defended the certificate against Karl Anderson on September 23, 2014 at Destruction in Okayama Successfully defended the certificate against Tetsuya Naito on October 13, 2014 at King of Pro-Wrestling Lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2015 at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2015 | Holder: Hiroshi Tanahashi Successfully defended the certificate against Bad Luck Fale on September 27, 2015 at Destruction in Kobe Successfully defended the certificate against Tetsuya Naito on October 12, 2015 at King of Pro-Wrestling Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2016 at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2016 | Holder: Kenny Omega Successfully defended the certificate against Yoshi-Hashi on September 22, 2016 at Destruction in Hiroshima Successfully defended the certificate against Hirooki Goto on October 10, 2016 at King of Pro-Wrestling Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2017 at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| [|2017] | Holder: Tetsuya Naito Successfully defended the certificate against Tomohiro Ishii on October 9, 2017 at King of Pro-Wrestling Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, [|2018] at Wrestle Kingdom 12 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2018 | Holder: Hiroshi Tanahashi Successfully defended the certificate against Kazuchika Okada on September 23, 2018 at Destruction in Kobe Successfully defended the certificate against Jay White on October 8, 2018 at King of Pro-Wrestling Defeated Kenny Omega for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2019 at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2019 | Holder: Kota Ibushi Successfully defended the certificate against Kenta on September 16, 2019 at Destruction in Kagoshima Successfully defended the certificate against Evil on October 14, 2019 at King of Pro-Wrestling Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2020 at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2020 | Holder: Kota Ibushi Lost the certificate against Jay White on November 7, 2020 at Power Struggle | - | - |
| 2020 | Holder: Jay White Lost to Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship on January 5, 2021 at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome | - | - |
| 2021 | Holder: Kazuchika Okada Successfully defended the certificate against Tama Tonga on November 6, 2021 at Power Struggle Defeated Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on January 4, [|2022] at Wrestle Kingdom 16 | - | - |
| 2022 | Holder: Kazuchika Okada Defeated Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on January 4, [|2023] at Wrestle Kingdom 17 | - | - |
| 2023 | Holder: Tetsuya Naito Successfully defended the certificate against Jeff Cobb on September 24, 2023 at Destruction in Kobe Defeated Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2024 at Wrestle Kingdom 18 | - | - |
| 2024 | Holder: Zack Sabre Jr. Defeated Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on October 14, 2024 at King of Pro-Wrestling | - | - |
| 2025 | Holder: Konosuke Takeshita Defeated Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on October 13, 2025 at King of Pro-Wrestling | - | - |