5 must watch G1 Climax 31 matches from Week 1

The G1 Climax 31 kicked off a week ago and features the top stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling. The competition is fierce and has proven to bring out the best in even the lower and midcard competitors on the roster. NJPW crowds have been happy to see a higher level of professional wrestling.

The A Block saw IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi face two elite performers at the top of their game, a dark horse in Zack Sabre Jr. coming out firing and Kota Ibushi suffering an upset loss. The B Block has seen two career rivals put on a brilliant clash, Jeff Cobb looking like a favorite and individuals stepping up.

With the tournament up and running, fans have been pleased with the output of NJPW at a time when the company hasn't been delivering the same quality as it has in years past. In this article, let's take a look at the five must-watch G1 Climax 31 matches from Week 1 (September 18 - 25).

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5) Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. - NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 1

G1 Climax 31 Night 1 saw Tetsuya Naito facing Zack Sabre Jr. These two men have a long history with one another, whether it be in tournaments, with titles on the line or in tag team competitions. The bout would set the tone for this year's tournament for both competitors.

Naito came in with his knees taped and that became the focus of Zack Sabre Jr.'s attack in this G1 Climax 31 battle. The theme of Naito's G1 Climax gameplan last year was to push things to the time limit and pick up the win in the later stages. However, this didn't work out well against ZSJ due to his limb-focused attacks.

Zack Sabre Jr. went for the Zack Driver late, but Tetsuya Naito reversed into a variation of the Destino. ZSJ wrapped up Naito into an Octopus Stretch and deathlock around the legs.

Sabre Jr. held up and stretched the limbs of Naito until he finally submitted. This was an absolutely fabulous technical wrestling clinic that proved to be Naito's first and only match of the G1 Climax 31.

4) Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 3

Two of the hardest hitting competitors in the G1 Climax 31 are Kota Ibushi and Tomohiro Ishii. On only the second night of action for the A Block, the two men clashed in a very important battle thanks to Ibushi and Ishii losing on Night 1 of the competition to Yujiro Takahashi and Shingo Takagi respectively.

In their four previous meetings, Ibushi had won three straight all in the G1 Climax tournament. The two men started the bout with chops and strikes setting the tone for their usual hard-hitting affair. There was also a captivating slap exchange that only further got the crowd loud for the intense action.

There were vicious German suplexes, lariats and overhand chops that made the fans watch wince. Ishii evaded the Kamigoye for much of this contest. He blocked an attempt with a brutal headbutt, but Ibushi wouldn't be denied much longer as he hit a standing Kamigoye followed by the standard version to get the victory on the G1 Climax 31 Night 3.

This is exactly what NJPW fans have come to expect from the Ibushi and Ishii matches. It was a scrappy fight that made both men look like warriors who could absorb any amount of punishment to claim victory. Ibushi got on the board in the G1 Climax 31, while Ishii started this year with an 0-2 record.

3) Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. - NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 3

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi came into the G1 Climax 31 tournament with a huge target on his back. Not only did he possess the top prize in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but he has far and away been the best wrestler on the roster in 2021. He holds the record for most singles matches and most single victories this year.

Zack Sabre Jr. was on the other side of the spectrum, being a dark horse coming into the G1 Climax 31. Despite being one half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions with his Dangerous Tekkers tag team partner Taichi, ZSJ hasn't had a lot of singles success this year. He is a former winner of the New Japan Cup and former Revolution Pro British Heavyweight Champion though.

This marked the two men's first match since 2009 and first in NJPW. There was a lot of talk about AEW's own Bryan Danielson and how these two men are at the top of The American Dragon's list of dream matches.

Shingo started this G1 Climax 31 match with the upper hand and looked to get revenge for his fellow Los Ingobernables de Japon member Tetsuya Naito who ZSJ injured on Night 1.

The story was pretty simple with Zack Sabre Jr. using his superior grapple skills to wrap up Shingo, while Takagi used hard hitting strikes to counter. The intensity escalated as the match went on with the pace heightening.

ZSJ evaded much of Shingo's offense and finally reversed a powerbomb into a modified arm lock to beat the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. It was a superb wrestling clinic.

2) Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 2

When fans think about competitors with years' worth of history heading into the G1 Climax 31, the conversation begins and ends with Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi. The rivalry between the two men has defined New Japan Pro Wrestling and has been the driving force behind its resurgence over the past decade.

On Night 1 of the G1 Climax 31, the main event of the evening was Tanahashi vs. Okada. The two men have a particular history in this tournament that has featured quite a number of 30-minute time limit draws.

At times, these draws have been the difference between the two men making it to the finals. Okada and Tanahashi used that past to great perfection here.

This G1 Climax 31 contest started out slow with neither man wanting to give the other an inch. Tanahashi came in with his usual gameplan of attacking the legs to put his opponent down and set up for the High Fly Flow. Okada came in with his new edge, looking to either hit his Rainmaker finisher or submit The Ace with the Money Clip.

This was a bout where every move, sequence and spot meant something. It naturally led to the next hold that their opponent would go for. They looked as if they were well on their way to yet another time limit draw when Okada caught Tana with a dropkick with less than a minute to go. He followed with a sitout tombstone and The Rainmaker to win. It was another instant classic by the arch rivals.

1) Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 1

Night 1 of the G1 Climax sets the tone for the entire tournament and usually offers tantalazing matchups that fans are looking forward to. This year was no exception. Not only were fans gifted the aforementioned Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. clash in the semi main event spot, but they got the usual monster mash of Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii of CHAOS.

The two men have met in the G1 Climax tournament before in the last two years with each being a classic. Their 2019 contest was considered one of the best matches of the year. Fans expect Takagi and Ishii to deliver a quality NJPW main event whenever given the opportunity.

This year's bout was a little different from their past G1 Climax battles with Shingo Takagi coming in as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Tomohiro Ishii would not only want to get his first win of the tournament, but a win would guarantee him a shot at the top prize that has alluded him for much of his New Japan Pro Wrestling career.

The G1 Climax 31 bout started out hot immediately with both men starting out like bulls. They traded shoulder blocks and elbows for the first minute, which allowed the fans to get even more invested into the contagious chemistry these two men had. They fought at ringside with Ishii hitting a sick powerslam on the floor. Back in the ring, Shingo and Ishii traded overhand chops.

The two men were in a battle of who could withstand the most amount of punishment and deliver even more. They traded suplexes, lariats and superplexes. Ishii hit a crucifix bomb, enziguri and a powerbomb for a nearfall. Shingo followed with a pop-up Death Valley driver and a Pumping Bomber lariat for a nearfall of his own.

The final five minutes were fast and furious with each man trying to put the other away before the 30-minute time limit draw of this G1 Climax 31 contest. Ishii and Takagi traded headbutts from the mat to a standing position. However, Shingo quickly lifted Ishii for the Last of the Dragon to get the win with just two and half minutes to spare.

This was every bit the banger that many fans expected. Tomohiro Ishii proved once again why he has been the MVP of the G1 Climax tournament for so many years, while Shingo Takagi showed why he is considered the best wrestler in the world. It was an incredible battle that showcased the brilliant chemistry these two had and clearly the best match of Week 1 in the G1 Climax 31 tournament.