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Prestigious international pro wrestling tournament begins in US for second time, Rocky Romero breaks it down
New Japan Pro-Wrestling's (NJPW) prestigious G1 Climax tournament returns to the United States for its 36th edition, with the opening event held on Saturday at the NOW Arena in Chicago. The competition matters because it is regarded as one of wrestling's most demanding and career-defining tournaments, with the eventual winner earning a future shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom in January.
The four-week tournament divides its competitors into two blocks, A and B, with wrestlers awarded two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss or no contest; double count-outs and double disqualifications count as draws. Block A features last year's winner Konosuke Takeshita alongside names including Hirooki Goto, Shingo Takagi and Sanada, while Block B includes Zack Sabre Jr., Shota Umino and Gabe Kidd. NJPW ambassador Rocky Romero told Fox News Digital that the league-style format is what "creates legends", noting that past participants since the tournament's 1991 inception have included Masahiro Chono, Scott Norton, Steve Austin and, more recently, Jon Moxley, whom Romero recalled recruiting after Moxley left WWE in 2019.
In short
- NJPW's G1 Climax 36 opens in Chicago, its second US staging.
- The winner earns an IWGP World Heavyweight title shot at Wrestle Kingdom.
- Four-week tournament splits wrestlers into two blocks, A and B.
Explained simply
New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Climax is one of professional wrestling's most prestigious competitions, held annually and regarded as career-defining for participants. The winner earns a future match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom, the promotion's flagship annual event held in January.
The tournament follows a points-based format spread over four weeks, with competitors divided into two blocks. Wrestlers earn two points for victories, one point for draws and none for defeats; whoever scores the most points in each block advances to the final. Unlike tournament formats where one loss eliminates you, competitors can lose and continue competing, with final advancement based on total points.
The G1 Climax has featured many significant professional wrestling figures since its 1991 creation, including Steve Austin and more recently Jon Moxley. The tournament is returning to the United States for only the second time.
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