G1 Climax 31 confirmed, starting on September 18-19 in Osaka and concluding on October 20-21 at Budokan.
The Best Wrestling Tournament in the World has been confirmed by New Japan Pro-Wrestling, as the tournament schedule for “G1 CLIMAX 31” has been decided! Future events will be decided upon availability; As NJPW will also announce the outline of ticket sales in Osaka, Ota Ward, Kobe, Hamamatsu, Hiroshima, Kochi, Sendai, and Yokohama!
Furthermore, September 18th (Sat) & 19th (Sun) Osaka, September 23rd (Thursday / holiday) & 24th (Friday) Ota Ward, September 26th (Sunday) Kobe, October 1st (Friday) Hamamatsu, October 7th (Thursday) Hiroshima, October 8th (Friday) Kochi, October 12th (Tuesday) & 13th (Wednesday) Sendai, October 18th (Monday) Yokohama tournament schedule will be decided !!
The G1 was established in 1991. Members of New Japan’s heavyweight division are segregated into two blocks – A and B. Those within each block compete in a round-robin format. Points are scored – two for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss. The fighter with the most points in each block then face each other in the final. The prize? A chance at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, headlining Wrestle Kingdom at the Tokyo Dome.
This cannot be overstated: there is no wrestling tournament like the G1. The action lasts for a whole month, touring cities across Japan. It is a gruelling quest for both wrestler and booker alike. The G1 is where a competitor faces, not only foe but friends, also as faction members beat each other bloody for two points. Old scores are settled and new feuds emerge, fuelling the kayfabe fire which will burn for months, maybe years, to come.