G1 Climax 24 Final: Okada vs Naito (2016)

Lore & Background

NJPW had an annual tournament since 1974 under various names: the World League (1974–1977); the MSG Series (1978–1982); the IWGP League (1983–1988). Most of these tournaments were dominated by NJPW's founding top star Antonio Inoki. In 1989, there was a 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 president Seiji Sakaguchi named the tournament after horse racing's top grade of group races, Grade One ("G1"). 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. In 2016, Kenny Omega became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the tournament.

In Their Own Story

The lights dimmed over Osaka-jo Hall as the crowd roared for the final bell. Sweat glistened on Okada's brow under the bright arena floodlights, while Naito paced near the ropes with manic intensity. The air crackled with anticipation, heavy with the scent of wrestling oil and the collective breath of thousands holding their breath.

Reader's Guide

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 (such as double count-outs or double disqualifications) are treated as draws. 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.

Did You Know?

• Kenny Omega became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the tournament in 2016.
• The longest match in tournament history is Kota Ibushi vs. Sanada in the 2020 finals at 35 minutes and 12 seconds.
• The shortest match is Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano in the 2020 tournament at just 18 seconds.
• Masahiro Chono holds the record for most tournament wins under its G1 Climax name with five wins.
• Hiroyoshi Tenzan has taken part in the G1 Climax tournament a record 21 times.