Top 7 NJPW G1 Climax 31 Matches

5. Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga – G1 Climax Night 16

In the lead-up to this match, most fans thought the outcome would be simple. Okada was on an undefeated streak and Tama Tonga had a mixed tournament so far.

Yet, with more history than most fans remember, it wasn’t one that either was going to take lightly. It was also one that almost changed the complexion of the whole G1.

The match itself started quite methodically with a solid few minutes of chain wrestling. For many fans, Okada and Tama are two of the most athletic wrestlers in New Japan and this match was the perfect example of that.

As the speed of the match increased, so did the men’s determination. From DDTs, dropkicks and suplexes, both men put in their all.

In particular, fans praised the wrestler’s ability to avoid their opponent’s finishers in the closing stretch.

When it seemed like neither man was going to get the win any time soon, Tama hit a final Gun Stun with a double underhook piledriver to get the win.

As Kazuchika Okada’s only loss of the entire tournament, the fact that it was Tama Tonga took many by surprise.

After years of cementing himself at the top of the tag division with his brother, this could be the start of a successful singles run for Tama Tonga.

It also showcased that as much as Bullet Club likes to cheat, their members can win clean.

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4. KENTA vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – G1 Climax Night 13

Out of all the competitors in the A Block, Zack Sabre Jr and KENTA probably had the most in common. Known for their smaller size, they are two of the best submission wrestlers in the game.

After their previous G1 match, many were looking forward to seeing the two battle again. With ZSJ on a hot streak, KENTA was also out to ruin his opponent’s G1.

The match itself started pretty slowly, with both men showcasing their submission and striking talent.

Yet, with KENTA showcasing his Bullet Club side, it quickly became a true babyface versus heel bout with ZSJ being the crowd favourite.

Yet, being a Suzuki Gun member, ZSJ had a counter for this and used his own sneaky style to keep his advantage. The match started to pick up in the final part with a series of flawless offence.

Towards the end, the personality of both men took centre and created an environment where anyone could win.

Yet, by countering ZSJ’s anklelock and sending him into the exposed buckled, KENTA hit his GTR to win.

Not only was it pure heelwork, but it also created the environment which led to Zack being unable to win the tournament. Once again, the two produced a seamless match.

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3. Zack Sabre Jr vs. Tetsuya Naito – G1 Climax Night 1

For many fans, the first night of the G1 provided some of the tournament’s best matches, and Zack Sabre Jr versus Tetsuya Naito was no different.

Going into the match, the rivalry between the two was intense as ever, especially after their fight for the tag titles.

With two styles that couldn’t be more different, it was always going to be an exciting match with two men who got on each other’s nerves.

Rather than the usual unpredictability of Naito, the match started in a more subdued way. Both men attempted to wear their opponent down quickly.

In their previous bouts, it has been clear that Naito and ZSJ’s familiarity with each other has led to them adapting their own styles.

Naito showcased a more submission style and Zack showed off more athleticism. As expected with Zack and his submissions, he quickly spotted a weakness in Naito’s knee and continued to target it.

This approach led to a beautiful top rope Rana to Octopus hold, which further damaged Naito’s knee.

With this slower pace, fans knew that it would get close to the time limit. As the match hit the 27-minute mark, Zack finally managed to submit Naito with his “Yes! I am a long way from home!” submission.

Despite the unfortunate injury sustained by Naito, the result of this match helped cement ZSJ’s dominance throughout the tournament.

• Zack Sabre Jr
• Shingo Takagi
• G1 Climax
• NJPW

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