How a horse racing name defines professional wrestling's most grueling tournament

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Every August, New Japan Pro-Wrestling's elite heavyweights enter a high-stakes battle for supremacy. Named after the prestigious 'Grade One' stakes of horse racing, the G1 Climax is more than a tournament; it is a four-week gauntlet designed to forge superstars and crown the next world champion.

Established in 1991 by NJPW president Seiji Sakaguchi, the G1 Climax was designed to showcase the promotion's top heavyweights. The name itself draws from the 'Grade One' (G1) classification used in Thoroughbred racing, such as the Japan Cup. While the tournament has evolved through various formats—including single-elimination and different block sizes—it is currently a four-week round-robin competition where victory earns two points, a draw earns one, and a loss earns zero.

The tournament serves as a critical platform for career advancement. Historically, it has been used to elevate rising stars like Keiji Muto, Masahiro Chono, and Shinya Hashimoto. The stakes are incredibly high: since 2012, the winner has traditionally earned a 'challenge rights certificate' for a match at the annual Wrestle Kingdom event in the Tokyo Dome. This certificate, often held in a briefcase similar to WWE's Money in the Bank, has been famously defended, with the only recorded change of hands occurring on November 7, 2020, when Jay White defeated Kota Ibugi.

The lineage of the G1 is deeply intertwined with the history of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. While the G1 Climax name began in 1991, its predecessor tournaments, such as the World League (1974–1977) and the MSG League (1978–1982), were often dominated by the legendary Antonio Inoki. Today, the tournament remains a centerpiece of the wrestling calendar, occasionally expanding its reach, such as the 2019 opening night in Dallas, Texas, and continuing to serve as the primary stage for crowning the industry's most dominant heavyweights.

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