NJPW G1 Climax 31 Winner Crowned, Shock Return

The winner of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) G1 Climax 31 tournament has been crowned in today’s final.

The tournament has been won by Kazuchika Okada, who beat Kota Ibushi in the final due to injury stoppage.

Unfortunately it was a legitimate injury – seemingly a dislocated shoulder – that ended the match, as Ibushi had a bad landing on a missed Phoenix Splash.

This marks the third time Okada has won the G1, having previously come out victorious in 2012 and 2014.

Ibushi had won the last two years’ tournaments in 2019 and 2020, so Okada’s put an end to his streak.

There was also a big return on today’s show in the form of Katsuyori Shibata, who last wrestled in 2017 but had to leave the ring due to a serious head injury.

He made his in-ring return today in a five-minute exhibition match against Zack Sabre Jr under UWF rules.

Katsuyori Shibata "Octopus Hold"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 21, 2021

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