G1 Climax#2004

File:Hiroshi Tanahashi Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge right certificate.JPG holding his prize for winning the 2015 G1 Climax, a contract for an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome]]

NJPW had an annual tournament since 1974 under various names: the {{Nihongo|World League|ワールドリーグ戦|Wārudorīgu-sen}} (1974–1977, based on the World (Big) League tournament from the old Japanese Wrestling Association held between 1959 and 1972);{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/80-features-and-tv-reviews/43611-the-big-audio-nightmares-guide-to-the-annual-new-japan-g1-climax|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719181932/http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/80-features-and-tv-reviews/43611-the-big-audio-nightmares-guide-to-the-annual-new-japan-g1-climax|archive-date=July 19, 2015|title=The Big Audio Nightmare's Guide to the annual New Japan G1 Climax|last=Sempervive|first=Mike|date=July 18, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2015|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} the {{Nihongo|MSG League|MSGシリーズ|MSG shirīzu}} (1978–1982); the {{Nihongo|IWGP League|IWGPリーグ戦|IWGP rīgu-sen}} (1983–1988), "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix (インターナショナル・レスリング・グラン・プリ, intānashonaru resuringu guran puri). Most of these tournaments were dominated by NJPW's founding top star Antonio Inoki.

Although the 1983 winner, Hulk Hogan, was awarded a championship belt, this is not the beginning of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but its early version that was defended annually against the winner of the IWGP League of the year. The current IWGP Heavyweight Championship arrived only in 1987, replacing the old version.{{cite web|title=INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp.html|access-date=2019-02-09|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com}}

In 1989, there was a {{Nihongo|World Cup Tournament|ワールドカップ争奪リーグ戦|Wārudokappu sōdatsu rīgu-sen}}, which included wrestlers from the then-Soviet Union. No tournament was held in 1990.

With Inoki's dominance over NJPW gone, the promotion established the G1 Climax tournament in 1991 as a platform to showcase the company's top heavyweights and have them compete in round-robin matches where the winners of the two divisions would then square off in the tournament final. NJPW's then president Seiji Sakaguchi named the tournament after the G1 horse race.{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/1513888.html|script-title=ja:闘魂三銃士を売り出す大会だった／25年目のＧ１|date=July 28, 2015|access-date=August 9, 2017|work=Nikkan Sports|language=ja}} Though considered a continuation of the previous tournaments, officially NJPW does not recognize the earlier tournaments as part of the G1 Climax lineage.{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/g1/list_g1.php|title=G1 Climax|access-date=August 14, 2016|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|language=ja}} The first G1 was held from August 7 to August 11, 1991, at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The winner of the tournament, assuming they are not already the champion, has traditionally earned a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Since 2012, the winner has earned the "Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate", a contract for a title shot at NJPW's largest event, Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome, held annually on January 4. Much like WWE's Money in the Bank contract, the certificate is kept in a briefcase that the wrestler then has to defend until the end of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8105|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019171845/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8105|title=オカダが1.4東京ドームのIWGP王座挑戦"権利証"をゲット!! だが菅林社長は"ある条件"を提示!!|archive-date=October 19, 2013|date=September 6, 2012|access-date=August 14, 2013|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/beginners-guide-2017-g1-climax-239261|title=A beginner's guide to the 2017 G1 Climax|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=July 15, 2017|access-date=August 23, 2017|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|archive-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814180419/http://www2.f4wonline.com/japan/beginners-guide-2017-g1-climax-239261|url-status=dead}} Since its inception, the contract has only changed hands one time, on November 7, 2020, at Power Struggle when Jay White defeated Kota Ibushi. In 2021, the now retired IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt was given to G1 winner Kazuchika Okada instead of a briefcase. In 2015, the tournament format was changed with NJPW reducing the number of G1 Climax matches per show, giving the participating wrestlers more time to rest between matches. This increased the tournament's length to four weeks. In 2016, Kenny Omega became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the tournament.

The G1 Climax tournament has often been used as a platform for NJPW to push their rising stars. Wins by young up-and-comers over Japanese legends would usually take their respective careers to new heights. The first tournament was specifically created to make stars out of Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono and Shinya Hashimoto, three NJPW wrestlers who had just returned to the promotion from their overseas learning excursions. Past winners include Mutoh, Chono, Hashimoto, Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and others who have gone on to become wrestling superstars.

Unlike the New Japan Cup, the G1 Climax features the then-reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion as one of the participants, except in 1992, 2001, 2004 and 2008, when then-champions Riki Choshu (in 1992), Kazuyuki Fujita (in 2001 and 2004), and Keiji Mutoh (in 2008), respectively, did not compete in the tournament. Often being labeled as a favorite to win the tournament, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion has reached the final five times, the first one being in 1995 when Keiji Mutoh won the tournament. Mutoh would repeat this feat again in 1999, but would lose the final to Manabu Nakanishi. Other then-reigning champions to reach the final include Kensuke Sasaki in 2000, Kazuyuki Fujita in 2005 and Yuji Nagata in 2007. Mutoh and Sasaki are the only two wrestlers to have won the G1 Climax while holding the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/555968/|script-title=ja:【新日】オカダがＧ１全試合メーン出場要求|date=June 21, 2016|access-date=June 21, 2016|work=Tokyo Sports|language=ja|archive-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007031849/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/555968/|url-status=dead}} As of 2025, every G1 Climax winner has held either the IWGP Heavyweight Championship or IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, with Hirooki Goto being the last to accomplish this by defeating Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11, 2025. Overall, Antonio Inoki holds the record for most tournament wins with ten, while Masahiro Chono with his five wins holds the record for most tournament wins under its G1 Climax name. Hiroyoshi Tenzan has taken part in the G1 Climax tournament a record 21 times.

The opening night of the 2019 G1 Climax took place in Dallas, Texas, marking the first time the opening night took place outside Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/japan/first-night-njpw-g1-climax-29-taking-place-united-states-273781|date=January 4, 2019|publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=January 4, 2019|title=FIRST NIGHT OF NJPW G1 CLIMAX 29 TAKING PLACE IN UNITED STATES}}

The finals for the 2020 G1 Climax took place in October due to the Summer Olympics originally intended to be held in Tokyo when the tournament is usually held, making this the first time the tournament took place in the Autumn.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/new-japan-news/njpw-announces-dates-2020-g1-climax-finals-moved-october-300936|date=January 5, 2020|publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=January 6, 2020|title=NJPW ANNOUNCES DATES FOR 2020, G1 CLIMAX FINALS MOVED TO OCTOBER}}

The longest match in tournament history is Kota Ibushi vs. Sanada in the 2020 finals at 35 minutes and 12 seconds. The longest match with a decisive winner in the block stages of the tournament is Sanada vs. Kazuchika Okada in the 2019 tournament at 29 minutes and 47 seconds, 13 seconds shy of the 30-minute time limit. Conversely, the shortest match is Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano in the 2020 tournament at just 18 seconds.

class="wikitable sortable" !Tournament !Year !Winner !Total won !{{abbr|Refs.|References}}
rowspan="4" |{{sort|01|World League}}	1974	Antonio Inoki	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/world-lg.html#74|title=1stAnnual World League|date=April 5 – May 8, 1974|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher= ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1975	Antonio Inoki	2	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/world-lg.html#75|title=2ndAnnual World League|date=April 5 – May 8, 1974|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1976	Seiji Sakaguchi	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/world-lg.html#76|title=3rdAnnual World League|date=April 2 – May 11, 1976|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1977	Seiji Sakaguchi	2	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/world-lg.html#77|title= 4thAnnual World League|date=March 4–31, 1977|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
rowspan="5" |{{sort|05|MSG League}}	1978	Antonio Inoki	3	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/world-lg.html#78|title=1stAnnual MSG League|date=April 21 – May 30, 1978|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1979	Antonio Inoki	4	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/msg-lg.html#79|title=2ndAnnual MSG League|date=April 27 – June 7, 1979|access-date= May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1980	Antonio Inoki	5	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/msg-lg.html#80|title= 3rdAnnual MSG League|date=April 25 – June 5, 1980|access-date= May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1981	Antonio Inoki	6	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/msg-lg.html#81|title= 4thAnnual MSG League|date=May 8 – June 4, 1981|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher= ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1982	André the Giant	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/msg-lg.html#82|title=5thAnnual MSG League|date=March 4 – April 1, 1982|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
rowspan="6" |{{sort|10|IWGP League}}	1983	Hulk Hogan	1	* {{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/iwgp.html#83|title=IWGP League1983|date=May 6 – June 2, 1983|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}} {{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp1.html|title=IWGP League1983|date=May 6 – June 2, 1983|access-date=February 9, 2019|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1984	Antonio Inoki	7	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/iwgp.html#84|title=IWGP League1984|date=May 11 – June 14, 1984|access-date= May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1985	André the Giant	2	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/iwgp.html#85|title=IWGP League1985|date=May 10 – June 11, 1985|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1986	Antonio Inoki	8	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/iwgp.html#86|title=IWGP League1986|date=May 16 – June 19, 1986|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1987	Antonio Inoki	9	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/iwgp.html#87|title=IWGP League1987|date=May 11 – June 14, 1987|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1988	Antonio Inoki	10	{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=2346|title=IWGP League 1988|access-date=January 7, 2013|publisher=Cagematch.net}}
{{sort|16|World Cup Tournament}}	1989	Riki Choshu	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/misctny.html#worldcup|title=World Cup Tournament 1989|date=December 7, 1989|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
rowspan="34" |{{sort|17|G1 Climax}}	1991	Masahiro Chono	1	{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|chapter=Japan: New Japan G-1 (Grade-1) Climax Tournament Champions|page=375|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#91|title=G1 Climax 1991|date=August 7–11, 1991|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-august-11-verne-gagne-vs-lou-thesz-awa-title-first-ever-g1 | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (August 11): Verne Gagne vs. Lou Thesz for AWA title, first ever G1 final | date=August 11, 2015 | access-date=February 18, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}
1992	Masahiro Chono	2	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#92|title= G1 Climax 1992|date=August 6–12, 1992|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1993	Tatsumi Fujinami	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#93|title=G1 Climax 1993|date=August 2–8, 1993|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1994	Masahiro Chono	3	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#94|title= G1 Climax 1994|date=August 3–7, 1994|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1995	Keiji Mutoh	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#95|title= G1 Climax 1995|date=August 11–15, 1995|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1996	Riki Choshu	2	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#96|title=G1 Climax 1996|date=August 2–6, 1996|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1997	Kensuke Sasaki	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#97|title=G1 Climax 1997|date=August 1–3, 1997|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1998	Shinya Hashimoto	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#98|title=G1 Climax 1998|date=July 31 – August 2, 1998|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
1999	Manabu Nakanishi	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#99|title=G1 Climax 1999|date=August 10–15, 1999|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2000	Kensuke Sasaki	2	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2000|title=G1 Climax 2000|date=August 7–13, 2000|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2001	Yuji Nagata	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2001|title=G1 Climax 2001|date=August 4–12, 2001|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2002	Masahiro Chono	4	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2002|title=G1 Climax 2002|date=August 4–12, 2002|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2003	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2003|title=G1 Climax 2003|date=August 10–17, 2003|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2004	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	2	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2004|title=G1 Climax 2004|date=August 7–15, 2004|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2005	Masahiro Chono	5	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2005|title=G1 Climax 2005|date= August 4–14, 2005|access-date= May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2006	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	3	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2006|title=G1 Climax 2006|date=August 6–13, 2006|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2007	Hiroshi Tanahashi	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2007|title=G1 Climax 2007|date=August 5–12, 2007|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2008	Hirooki Goto	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2008|title=G1 Climax 2008|date=August 9–17, 2008|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher= ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2009	Togi Makabe	1	{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/climax.html#2009|title=G1 Climax 2009|date=August 7–16, 2009|access-date=May 12, 2010|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}}
2010	Satoshi Kojima	1
2011	Shinsuke Nakamura	1
2012	Kazuchika Okada	1
2013	Tetsuya Naito	1
2014	Kazuchika Okada	2
2015	Hiroshi Tanahashi	2
2016	Kenny Omega	1
2017	Tetsuya Naito	2
2018	Hiroshi Tanahashi	3
2019	Kota Ibushi	1	{{Cite web|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/tornament/47818|title=2019.08.12 G1 CLIMAX 29 Night 19 {{!}} NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING|last=NJPW|website=NJPW|language=en|access-date=2019-08-12}}
2020	Kota Ibushi	2	{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/njpw-g1-climax-30-winner-crowned|title=NJPW G1 Climax 30 Winner Crowned|first=Jeremy|last=Lambert|website=Fightful|language=en|access-date=2021-10-24}}
2021	Kazuchika Okada	3	{{Cite web|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/106614|title=G1 ends in Heartbreak as Okada Wins due to Ibushi Injury 【G131】|website=NJPW|language=en|access-date=2021-10-24}}
2022	Kazuchika Okada	4	{{Cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/results/g1-climax-32-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-will-ospreay|title=NJPW G1 Climax 32 live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay|website=f4wonline|language=en|access-date=2022-08-18}}
2023	Tetsuya Naito	3
2024	Zack Sabre Jr.	1

class="wikitable" !Year !! Certificate history
2012	Holder: Kazuchika Okada Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Karl Anderson on October 8, 2012, at King of Pro-Wrestling{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/36349-10-8-njpw-ippv-results-tokyo-japan | title = 10/8 NJPW iPPV Results: Tokyo, Japan | last=Namako | first=Jason | date=October 8, 2012 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestleview}} Successfully defended the certificate against Hirooki Goto on November 11, 2012, at Power Struggle{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/12916?showResult=1 | title = NJPW 40th anniversary Power Struggle | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}} Lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2013, at Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Arena_Reports_10/article_67650.shtml | title = Show results - 1/4 New Japan Tokyo Dome Show: Former WWE stars in undercard matches, Tanahashi vs. Okada, did any titles change hands? | date=January 4, 2013 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}
2013	Holder: Tetsuya Naito Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Masato Tanaka on September 29, 2013, at Destruction{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/44076-9-29-njpw-ippv-results-hyogo-japan-okada-kojima | title = 9/29 NJPW iPPV Results: Hyogo, Japan (Okada/Kojima) | last=Namako | first=Jason | date=September 29, 2013 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestleview}} Successfully defended the certificate against Yujiro Takahashi on October 14, 2013, at King of Pro-Wrestling{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/44319-10-14-njpw-ippv-results-tokyo-japan-tanahashi-okada | title = 10/14 NJPW iPPV Results: Tokyo, Japan (Tanahashi/Okada) | last=Namako | first=Jason | date=October 14, 2012 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestleview}} Successfully defended the certificate against Masato Tanaka on November 9, 2013, at Power Struggle{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/44882-11-9-njpw-ippv-results-osaka-japan-okada-anderson | title = 11/9 NJPW iPPV Results: Osaka, Japan (Okada/Anderson) | last=Namako | first=Jason | date=November 11, 2013 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestleview}} Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2014, at Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/otherppvs/article_75461.shtml | title=Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of New Japan's biggest show of the year – four title changes, former WWE/TNA stars featured, more | last=Caldwell | first=James | date=January 4, 2014 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}
2014	Holder: Kazuchika Okada Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Karl Anderson on September 23, 2014, at Destruction in Okayama{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/50879-9-23-njpw-results-okayama-japan-okada-anderson | title = 9/23 NJPW Results: Okayama, Japan (Okada/Anderson) | last=Namako | first=Jason | date=September 23, 2014 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestleview}} Successfully defended the certificate against Tetsuya Naito on October 13, 2014, at King of Pro-Wrestling{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/otherppvs/article_81243.shtml | title = PPV results - 10/13 New Japan in Tokyo, Japan: Styles drops IWGP World Hvt. Title to Tanahashi, more title changes, former WWE star returns to New Japan, more | date=October 13, 2014 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} Lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2015, at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/102-japan/40606-new-japan-wrestle-kingdom-9-live-coverage-from-the-tokyo-dome-tanahashi-vs-okada-ibushi-vs-nakamura-plus-4-way-juniors-tag | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150727204307/http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/102-japan/40606-new-japan-wrestle-kingdom-9-live-coverage-from-the-tokyo-dome-tanahashi-vs-okada-ibushi-vs-nakamura-plus-4-way-juniors-tag | title = New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 9 live results and recap: Tanahashi vs. Okada, Ibushi vs. Nakamura plus 4 way juniors tag | last1=Meltzer | first1=Dave | author-link=Dave Meltzer | archive-date=July 27, 2015 | date=January 3, 2015 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}
2015	Holder: Hiroshi Tanahashi Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Bad Luck Fale on September 27, 2015, at Destruction in Kobe{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-destruction-kobe-results-shinuske-nakamura-vs-hirooki-goto-i-c-title-bout-nakamura-vs-bad | title = NJPW Destruction In Kobe results: Shinuske Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto I-C title bout, Nakamura vs. Bad Luck Fale | last=Rose | first=Bryan | date=September 27, 2015 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} Successfully defended the certificate against Tetsuya Naito on October 12, 2015, at King of Pro-Wrestling{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-king-pro-wrestling-10-11-kazuchika-okada-vs-aj-styles-iwgp-heavyweight-title-199546 | title = NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 10-11: Kazuchika Okada vs. A.J. Styles for IWGP heavyweight title | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | author-link=Dave Meltzer | date=October 11, 2015 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2016, at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/wrestle-kingdom-10-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-hiroshi-tanahashi-204791 | title = Wrestle Kingdom 10 live results: Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | author-link=Dave Meltzer | date=January 3, 2016 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}
2016	Holder: Kenny Omega Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Yoshi-Hashi on September 22, 2016, at Destruction in Hiroshima{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-destruction-hiroshima-results-kenny-omega-defends-his-title-shot-221346 | title = NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima results: Kenny Omega defends his title shot | last=Rose | first=Bryan | date=September 22, 2016 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} Successfully defended the certificate against Hirooki Goto on October 10, 2016, at King of Pro-Wrestling{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-king-pro-wrestling-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-naomichi-marufuji-222396 | title = NJPW King of Pro Wrestling live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji | last=Rose | first=Bryan | date=October 9, 2016 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2017, at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-wrestle-kingdom-11-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-kenny-omega-227626 | title = NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega | last1=Rose | first1=Bryan | last2=Currier | first2=Joseph | date=January 3, 2017 | access-date=August 23, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}
2017	Holder: Tetsuya Naito Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Tomohiro Ishii on October 9, 2017, at King of Pro-Wrestling{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-king-pro-wrestling-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-evil-244191 | title = NJPW King of Pro Wrestling live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Evil | last=Rose | first=Bryan | date=October 8, 2017 | access-date=October 9, 2017 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2018, at Wrestle Kingdom 12 in Tokyo Dome{{cite web | url = https://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-wrestle-kingdom-12-live-results-okada-naito-omega-jericho-249171 | title = NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 Live Results: Okada-Naito, Omega-Jericho | last=Renner | first=Ethan | date=January 3, 2018 | access-date=January 5, 2018 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}
2018	Holder: Hiroshi Tanahashi Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Kazuchika Okada on September 23, 2018, at Destruction in Kobe Successfully defended the certificate against Jay White on October 8, 2018, at King of Pro-Wrestling Defeated Kenny Omega for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2019, at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome
2019	Holder: Kota Ibushi Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Kenta on September 16, 2019, at Destruction in Kagoshima Successfully defended the certificate against Evil on October 14, 2019, at King of Pro-Wrestling Lost to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2020, at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome{{cite web|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/tornament/49954?showResult=1|title=2020.01.04 WRESTLE KINGDOM in TOKYO DOME|publisher=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|date=January 4, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2020}}
rowspan=2|2020	Holder: Kota Ibushi Matches: Lost the certificate against Jay White on November 7, 2020, at Power Struggle
Holder: Jay White Matches: Lost to Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship on January 5, 2021, at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome
2021	Holder: Kazuchika Okada Matches: Successfully defended the certificate against Tama Tonga on November 6, 2021, at Power Struggle Defeated Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2022 at Wrestle Kingdom 16
2022	Holder: Kazuchika Okada Matches: Defeated Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2023 at Wrestle Kingdom 17
2023	Holder: Tetsuya Naito Successfully defended the certificate against Jeff Cobb on September 24, 2023 at Destruction in Kobe Defeated Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2024 at Wrestle Kingdom 18
2024	Holder: Zack Sabre Jr. Defeated Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on October 14, 2024 at King of Pro-Wrestling (2024) The only time the title match did not take place at Wrestle Kingdom

The 1974 World League ran from April 5 to May 8, 1974. The tournament began with 16 wrestlers, eight Japanese and eight Internationals, placed into groups accordingly. All first round matches featured the Japanese against the Internationals. The top four finishers from both groups advanced to a second round of round-robin competition.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Round one
colspan=2 style="width:50%" |Japanese	colspan=2 style="width:50%" |International
Seiji Sakaguchi | style="width:35px" | 7.5 ! Killer Karl Krupp | 7
Antonio Inoki | 7 ! Invader I | 6
Masa Saito | 5.5 ! Stan Stasiak | 5
Kantaro Hoshino | 4 ! Geto Mongol | style="width:35px" | 3.5
Kotetsu Yamamoto | 3.5 ! Khosrow Vaziri | 3
Haruka Eigen | 2 ! Bolo Mongol | 3
Osamu Kido | 2 ! Walter Johnson | 1
Katsuhisa Shibata | 1 ! Argentina Zuma | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Round two
Antonio Inoki | style="width:35px" | 5.5
Seiji Sakaguchi | 5.5
Killer Karl Krupp | 5.5
Masa Saito | 5
Stan Stasiak | 2.5
Invader I | 2
Kantaro Hoshino | 1.5
Geto Mongol | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Tie-breaker
Antonio Inoki (J) | style="width:35px" | 2-0
Seiji Sakaguchi (J) | 1-1
Killer Karl Krupp (I) | 0-2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" !   !! Inoki (J) !! Krupp (I) !! Sakaguchi (J)
align="center" ! Inoki (J) | {{n/a}}	Inoki (7:17)	Inoki (16:52)
align="center" ! Krupp (I) | Inoki (7:17)	{{n/a}}	Sakaguchi (12:46)
align="center" ! Sakaguchi (J) | Inoki (16:52)	Sakaguchi (12:46)	{{n/a}}

The 1975 World League ran from April 4 to May 16, 1975. The tournament featured 16 wrestlers, but the Locals versus Internationals format was abolished. The top five finishers advanced to a knockout round, with the top finisher receiving a bye to the final.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
Killer Karl Krupp | style="width:35px" | 13.5
Antonio Inoki | 12.5
Seiji Sakaguchi | 12.5
Kintarō Ōki | 12.5
Strong Kobayashi | 12.5
Super Destroyer | 10.5
Masa Saito | 9
Kotetsu Yamamoto | 8
Kantaro Hoshino | 7
Man Mountain Mike | 7
Haruka Eigen | 5
Katsuhisa Shibata | 3
John Gagne | 2
Sangre Fría | 2
Father Singh | 2
Osamu Kido | 1

{{5TeamBracket-ByeToFinal

| align = center

| RD1-seed1=2

| RD1-team1=Antonio Inoki

| RD1-seed2=5

| RD1-team2=Strong Kobayashi

| RD1-score1=Sub

| RD1-score2=20:02

| RD1-seed3=3

| RD1-team3=Seiji Sakaguchi

| RD1-seed4=4

| RD1-team4=Kintarō Ōki

| RD1-score3=DDQ

| RD1-score4=2:23

| RD2-seed1=2

| RD2-team1=Antonio Inoki

| RD2-seed2=

| RD2-team2=Won by default

| RD2-score1=Defaulted

| RD2-score2=DDQ

| RD3-seed1=1

| RD3-team1=Killer Karl Krupp

| RD3-seed2=2

| RD3-team2=Antonio Inoki

| RD3-score1=Sub

| RD3-score2=16:42

}}

The 1976 World League ran from April 2 to May 11, 1976. The tournament featured 14 wrestlers. The top finisher advanced to the final match of the tournament, to face the winner of a three-wrestler round-robin semifinal round.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+First round
Pedro Morales | style="width:35px" | 13
Killer Karl Krupp | 10
Victor Rivera | 10
Seiji Sakaguchi | 10
Strong Kobayashi | 9
Masa Saito | 9
Kantaro Hoshino | 7
Osamu Kido | 6
Towering Inferno | 5
Butcher Vachon | 4
Haruka Eigen | 3
Ken Mantell | 3
Raul Mata | 2
Kotetsu Yamamoto | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Semifinals
Seiji Sakaguchi | style="width:35px" | 2-0
Killer Karl Krupp | 1-1
Victor Rivera | 0-2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
align="center" !   !! Krupp !! Rivera !! Sakaguchi
align="center" ! Krupp | {{n/a}}	Krupp (12:06)	Sakaguchi (6:12)
align="center" ! Rivera | Krupp (12:06)	{{n/a}}	Sakaguchi (8:57)
align="center" ! Sakaguchi | Sakaguchi (6:12)	Sakaguchi (8:57)	{{n/a}}

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Pedro Morales

| RD1-seed2=2

| RD1-team2=Seiji Sakaguchi

| RD1-score1=CO

| RD1-score2=25:38

}}

The 1977 World League ran from April 21 to May 30, 1977. The tournament featured 11 wrestlers.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
The Masked Superstar | style="width:35px" | 10
Seiji Sakaguchi | 8
Mitsuo Yoshida | 7.5
Nikolai Volkoff | 7.5
Kantaro Hoshino | 5
Johnny Powers | 4
Manuel Soto | 4
Haruka Eigen | 3
Osamu Kido | 3
Tony Charles | 2
Enrique Vera | 1

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1={{nobr|The Masked Superstar}}

| RD1-seed2=2

| RD1-team2=Seiji Sakaguchi

| RD1-score1=Sub

| RD1-score2=20:05

}}

The 1978 MSG Series ran from April 21 to May 30, 1978. The tournament featured nine wrestlers in a round robin format, with a different scoring system than today's tournaments. A win by pinfall or submission was worth five points, a win by dq or countout was worth four points, a time limit, double dq, or double countout draw was worth two points, and a loss or forfeit was worth 0 points. André the Giant received an extra five points, although the reason why is unclear.{{Cite web |title=第１回МＳＧシリーズ |url=https://showapro2016.web.fc2.com/tournament/msg-series/msg01.html |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=showapro2016.web.fc2.com}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
André the Giant | style="width:35px" | 37
Antonio Inoki | 29
Seiji Sakaguchi | 28
Tatsumi Fujinami | 25
Bugsy McGraw | 15
Nikolai Volkoff | 14
Umanosuke Ueda | 10
Riki Choshu | 9
Chief Jay Strongbow | 0

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=André the Giant

| RD1-seed2=2

| RD1-team2=Antonio Inoki

| RD1-score1=CO

| RD1-score2=16:41

}}

The 1979 MSG Series ran from April 27 to June 7, 1979. The tournament featured 10 wrestlers.{{Cite web |title=第２回МＳＧシリーズ |url=https://showapro2016.web.fc2.com/tournament/msg-series/msg02.html |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=showapro2016.web.fc2.com}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
Antonio Inoki | style="width:35px" | 41
Stan Hansen | 37
André the Giant | 36
Seiji Sakaguchi | 31
Tatsumi Fujinami | 22
Riki Choshu | 18
Canek | 16
Masa Saito | 10
Larry Zbyszko | 5
Tony Garea | 0

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Antonio Inoki

| RD1-seed2=2

| RD1-team2=Stan Hansen

| RD1-score1=Pin

| RD1-score2= 9:03 

}}

The 1980 MSG Series ran from April 25 to June 5, 1980. The tournament featured 10 wrestlers.{{Cite web |title=第３回МＳＧシリーズ |url=https://showapro2016.web.fc2.com/tournament/msg-series/msg03.html |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=showapro2016.web.fc2.com}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
Antonio Inoki | style="width:35px" | 35
Stan Hansen | 32
André the Giant | 32
Seiji Sakaguchi | 32
Dusty Rhodes | 29
Tatsumi Fujinami | 20
Strong Kobayashi | 12
Riki Choshu | 11
Chavo Guerrero | 7
Ryuma Go | 0

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Antonio Inoki

| RD1-seed2=2

| RD1-team2=Stan Hansen

| RD1-score1=DQ

| RD1-score2= 7:49 

}}

The 1981 MSG Series ran from May 8 to June 4, 1981. The tournament featured 11 wrestlers.{{Cite web |title=第４回ＭＳＧシリーズ |url=https://showapro2016.web.fc2.com/tournament/msg-series/msg04.html |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=showapro2016.web.fc2.com}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
Stan Hansen | style="width:35px" | 39
Antonio Inoki | 38
Tiger Jeet Singh | 38
Hulk Hogan | 36
Seiji Sakaguchi | 33
Tatsumi Fujinami | 29
Riki Choshu | 16
Bobby Duncum | 14
Sgt. Slaughter | 12
Chris Adams | 5
Mike Masters | 0

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Stan Hansen

| RD1-seed2=2

| RD1-team2=Antonio Inoki

| RD1-score1=CO

| RD1-score2= 7:45 

}}

The 1982 MSG Series ran from March 4 to April 1, 1982. The tournament featured 14 wrestlers.{{Cite web |title=第５回ＭＳＧシリーズ |url=https://showapro2016.web.fc2.com/tournament/msg-series/msg05.html |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=showapro2016.web.fc2.com}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
André the Giant | style="width:35px" | 57
Antonio Inoki † | 53
Killer Khan | 50
Dick Murdoch | 42
The Masked Superstar | 36
Tatsumi Fujinami | 35
Rusher Kimura | 33
Seiji Sakaguchi | 33
Tony Atlas | 31
Tiger Toguchi | 17
Yoshiaki Yatsu | 13
Don Muraco | 9
The Iron Sheik | 5
Riki Choshu | 4

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=André the Giant

| RD1-seed2=3

| RD1-team2=Killer Khan

| RD1-score1=Pin

| RD1-score2= 16:42 

}}

The 1983 International Wrestling Grand Prix Championship League ran from May 6 to June 2, 1983. The tournament featured 10 wrestlers. The winner was awarded a championship belt (the original IWGP Heavyweight Championship) defended annually against the winner of the IWGP League of the year).

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
Hulk Hogan | style="width:35px" | 37
Antonio Inoki | 36
André the Giant | 35
Big John Studd | 25
Killer Khan | 24
Rusher Kimura | 21
Akira Maeda | 14
Canek | 5
Otto Wanz | 5
Enrique Vera | 4

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
align="center" ! !! André !! Canek !! Hogan !! Inoki !! Khan !! Kimura !! Maeda !! Studd !! Vera !! Wanz
align="center" ! André | {{n/a}}	André	DCO	André	DCO	André	André	André	André	André
align="center" ! Canek |André	{{n/a}}	Hogan	Inoki	Khan	Kimura	Maeda	Studd	Canek	Wanz
align="center" ! Hogan |DCO	Hogan	{{n/a}}	DCO	Hogan	Hogan	Hogan	Hogan	Hogan	Hogan
align="center" ! Inoki |André	Inoki	DCO	{{n/a}}	Inoki	Inoki	Inoki	Inoki	Inoki	Inoki
align="center" ! Khan |DCO	Khan	Hogan	Inoki	{{n/a}}	Khan	DCO	Studd	Khan	Khan
align="center" ! Kimura |André	Kimura	Hogan	Inoki	Khan	{{n/a}}	Kimura	DCO	Kimura	Kimura
align="center" ! Maeda |André	Maeda	Hogan	Inoki	DCO	Kimura	{{n/a}}	Studd	Maeda	Maeda
align="center" ! Studd |André	Studd	Hogan	Inoki	Studd	DCO	Studd	{{n/a}}	Studd	Studd
align="center" ! Vera |André	Canek	Hogan	Inoki	Khan	Kimura	Maeda	Studd	{{n/a}}	Vera
align="center" ! Wanz |André	Wanz	Hogan	Inoki	Khan	Kimura	Maeda	Studd	Vera	{{n/a}}

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Hulk Hogan

| RD1-seed2=2

| RD1-team2=Antonio Inoki

| RD1-score1=KO

| RD1-score2= 21:27 

}}

The 1984 International Wrestling Grand Prix Champion League ran from May 11 to June 14, 1984. The tournament featured 12 wrestlers, and was the first time that the tournament featured no sort of final round.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
Antonio Inoki | style="width:35px" | 53
André the Giant | 49
Tatsumi Fujinami | 34
Riki Choshu | 32
Dick Murdoch | 30
Masa Saito | 26
Adrian Adonis | 25
The Masked Superstar | 18
Ken Patera | 17
John Quinn | 10
Otto Wanz | 6
Big John Studd | 2

The IWGP Champion Series ran from May 10 to June 15, 1985. The tournament featured 13 wrestlers, and was single-elimination. This was the first time the tournament did not feature a points system.

{{16TeamBracket|byes=2

| RD1=First round

| RD2=Quarterfinals

| RD3=Semifinals

| RD4=Final

| RD1-team05=Ron Miller

| RD1-team06=Strong Machine

| RD1-team07=André the Giant

| RD1-team08=Canek

| RD1-team09=Tatsumi Fujinami

| RD1-team10=Mike Sharpe

| RD1-team11=Adrian Adonis

| RD1-team12=King Kong Bundy

| RD1-team13={{nobr|The Masked Superstar}}

| RD1-team14=Seiji Sakaguchi

| RD1-team15=Kengo Kimura

| RD1-team16=Dick Murdoch

| RD2-team03=Strong Machine

| RD2-team04=André the Giant

| RD2-team05=Tatsumi Fujinami

| RD2-team06=Adrian Adonis

| RD2-team07=Seiji Sakaguchi

| RD2-team08=Dick Murdoch

| RD3-team01=Seiji Sakaguchi

| RD3-team02=André the Giant

| RD3-team03=Tatsumi Fujinami

| RD3-team04=Dick Murdoch

| RD4-team01=Tatsumi Fujinami

| RD4-team02=André the Giant

}}

The 1986 International Wrestling Grand Prix ran from May 16 to June 19, 1986. The tournament featured the return of the points system, with 14 wrestlers in two blocks of seven each. The top two from each block advanced to a knockout stage. The winner won the vacated IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version).

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Antonio Inoki | style="width:35px" | 25 ! Akira Maeda | style="width:35px" | 27
André the Giant | 17 ! Dick Murdoch | 21
Seiji Sakaguchi | 15 ! Tatsumi Fujinami | 17
Kengo Kimura | 15 ! Jimmy Snuka | 16
The Masked Superstar | 14 ! Umanosuke Ueda | 13
Yoshiaki Fujiwara | 11 ! The Wild Samoan | 9
Klaus Wallace | 0 ! The Cuban Assassin | 0

{{4TeamBracket

| align = center

|RD1=Semifinals

|RD2=Final

|RD1-seed1=A1

|RD1-team1=Antonio Inoki

|RD1-seed2=A2

|RD1-team2=André the Giant

|RD1-score1=Sub

|RD1-score2=9:30

|RD1-seed3=B1

|RD1-team3=Akira Maeda

|RD1-seed4=B2

|RD1-team4=Dick Murdoch

|RD1-score3=CO

|RD1-score4= 16:22 

|RD2-seed1=A1

|RD2-team1=Antonio Inoki

|RD2-seed2=B2

|RD2-team2=Dick Murdoch

|RD2-score1=Pin

|RD2-score2= 30:07 

}}

The 1987 International Wrestling Grand Prix ran from May 11 to June 12, 1987. The tournament featured 14 wrestlers in two blocks of seven each. The top finishers from each block advanced to the final, with the winner becoming the first IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Tatsumi Fujinami missed the tournament due to an injury he suffered on the IWGP Champion Series tour, but acted as a commentator for the final match.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Antonio Inoki | style="width:35px" | 29 ! Masa Saito | style="width:35px" | 28
Yoshiaki Fujiwara | 19 ! Kengo Kimura | 21
Konga the Barbarian | 18 ! Hacksaw Higgins | 16
Scott Hall | 13 ! George Takano | 13
Seiji Sakaguchi | 11 ! Akira Maeda | 10
Killer Tim Brooks | 4 ! Umanosuke Ueda | 4
Tatsumi Fujinami | 0 ! Alexis Smirnoff | 4

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

|RD1=Final

|RD1-seed1=A1

|RD1-team1=Antonio Inoki

|RD1-seed2=B1

|RD1-team2=Masa Saito

|RD1-score1=Pin

|RD1-score2= 14:53 

}}

The 1988 International Wrestling Grand Prix ran from July 15 to July 29, 1988. The tournament featured five wrestlers in a single block, with the winner becoming the number one contender to IWGP Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami for August 8.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
Antonio Inoki | style="width:35px" | 6
Riki Choshu | 6
Big Van Vader | 4
Masa Saito | 4
Kengo Kimura | 0

The 1989 World Cup Tournament was held from November 24 to December 7, 1989. The tournament featured 20 wrestlers in four blocks of five each.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block B	colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block C	colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block D
Riki Choshu | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Masahiro Chono | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Salman Hashimikov | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Steve Williams | style="width:35px" | 8
Victor Zangiev | 6 ! Shinya Hashimoto | 6 ! Brad Rheingans | 6 ! Osamu Kido | 6
Kengo Kimura | 4 ! Manny Fernandez | 4 ! Hiroshi Hase | 0 ! Shiro Koshinaka | 2
Wayne Bloom | 2 ! Timur Zalasov | 2 ! George Takano | 4 ! Super Strong Machine | 2
Buzz Sawyer | 0 ! Andrei Sulsaev | 0 ! Tatsutoshi Goto | 2 ! Vladimir Berkovich | 2

{{8TeamBracket|seeds=n

| align = center

| RD1=Quarterfinals

| RD2=Semifinals

| RD3=Final

| RD1-team1=Shinya Hashimoto

| RD1-team2=Salman Hashimikov

| RD1-score1=

| RD1-score2=

| RD1-team3=Steve Williams

| RD1-team4=Victor Zangiev

| RD1-score3=

| RD1-score4=

| RD1-team5=Riki Choshu

| RD1-team6=Osamu Kido

| RD1-score5=

| RD1-score6=

| RD1-team7=Masahiro Chono

| RD1-team8=Brad Rheingans

| RD1-score7=

| RD1-score8=

| RD2-team1=Shinya Hashimoto

| RD2-team2=Steve Williams

| RD2-score1=

| RD2-score2=

| RD2-team3=Riki Choshu

| RD2-team4=Masahiro Chono

| RD2-score3=

| RD2-score4=

| RD3-team1=Shinya Hashimoto

| RD3-team2=Riki Choshu

| RD3-score1=

| RD3-score2=

}}

The inaugural G1 Climax was a round-robin tournament consisting of two four-man blocks, and running from August 7 to August 11, 1991.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Keiji Mutoh | style="width:35px" | 4 ! Masahiro Chono | style="width:35px" | 5
Tatsumi Fujinami | 3 ! Shinya Hashimoto | 5
Scott Norton | 3 ! Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow | 2
Big Van Vader | 2 ! Riki Choshu | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Fujinami !! Mutoh !! Norton !! Vader
align="center" ! Fujinami | {{n/a}}	Mutoh (13:56)	Draw (7:56)	Fujinami (12:13)
align="center" ! Mutoh | Mutoh (13:56)	{{n/a}}	Norton (9:56)	Mutoh (13:54)
align="center" ! Norton | Draw (7:56)	Norton (9:56)	{{n/a}}	Vader (10:49)
align="center" ! Vader | Fujinami (12:13)	Mutoh (13:54)	Vader (10:49)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Bigelow !! Chono !! Choshu !! Hashimoto
align="center" ! Bigelow | {{n/a}}	Chono (12:38)	Bigelow (10:10)	Hashimoto (9:59)
align="center" ! Chono | Chono (12:38)	{{n/a}}	Chono (14:17)	Draw (30:00)
align="center" ! Choshu | Bigelow (10:10)	Chono (14:17)	{{n/a}}	Hashimoto (7:50)
align="center" ! Hashimoto | Hashimoto (9:59)	Draw (30:00)	Hashimoto (7:50)	{{n/a}}

{{3TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1 = Block B Decision

| RD2 = Final

|RD2-seed1 = A1

|RD2-team1 = Keiji Mutoh

|RD2-score1 = Pin

|RD1-seed1 = B1

|RD1-team1 = Masahiro Chono

|RD1-score1 = Sub

|RD2-seed2 = B1

|RD2-team2 = Masahiro Chono

|RD2-score2 = 29:31

|RD1-seed2 = B2

|RD1-team2 = Shinya Hashimoto

|RD1-score2 = 15:50

}}

The 1992 G1 Climax was a 16-man single-elimination tournament, and was also for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship. It ran from August 6 to August 12, 1992. Terry Taylor advanced to the quarterfinals, due to a shoulder injury suffered by his scheduled opponent Hiroshi Hase on August 3.{{cite web | url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/g1/detail_g1-2.php | title=奇跡の2連覇で蝶野、NWA王者に！ | access-date=August 14, 2016 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}

{{16TeamBracket|seeds=n

|RD1=Round 1
August 6, 7

|RD2=Quarterfinals
August 10

|RD3=Semifinals
August 11

|RD4=Final
August 12

|RD1-team01=Arn Anderson

|RD1-score01=Pin

|RD1-team02=Steve Austin

|RD1-score02=8:58

|RD1-team03=Keiji Mutoh

|RD1-score03=Pin

|RD1-team04=Barry Windham

|RD1-score04=10:17

|RD1-team05=Masahiro Chono

|RD1-score05=Sub

|RD1-team06=Tony Halme

|RD1-score06=12:20

|RD1-team07=Scott Norton

|RD1-score07=Pin

|RD1-team08=Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow

|RD1-score08=8:16

|RD1-team09=Kensuke Sasaki

|RD1-score09=Pin

|RD1-team10=Jim Neidhart

|RD1-score10=8:20

|RD1-team11=Hiroshi Hase

|RD1-score11=

|RD1-team12=Terry Taylor

|RD1-score12=Forfeit

|RD1-team13=Shinya Hashimoto

|RD1-score13=Pin

|RD1-team14=The Barbarian

|RD1-score14=11:29

|RD1-team15=Super Strong Machine

|RD1-score15=11:54

|RD1-team16=Rick Rude

|RD1-score16=Pin

|RD2-team01=Steve Austin

|RD2-score01=13:52

|RD2-team02=Keiji Mutoh

|RD2-score02=Pin

|RD2-team03=Masahiro Chono

|RD2-score03=Sub

|RD2-team04=Scott Norton

|RD2-score04=10:48

|RD2-team05=Kensuke Sasaki

|RD2-score05=Pin

|RD2-team06=Terry Taylor

|RD2-score06=9:35

|RD2-team07=Shinya Hashimoto

|RD2-score07=13:52

|RD2-team08=Rick Rude

|RD2-score08=Pin

|RD3-team01=Keiji Mutoh

|RD3-score01=26:07

|RD3-team02=Masahiro Chono

|RD3-score02=Sub

|RD3-team03=Kensuke Sasaki

|RD3-score03=19:24

|RD3-team04=Rick Rude

|RD3-score04=Pin

|RD4-team01=Masahiro Chono

|RD4-score01=Pin

|RD4-team02=Rick Rude

|RD4-score02=29:44

}}

The 1993 G1 Climax was once again a 16-man single-elimination tournament, held from August 3 to August 7, 1993. NJPW invited several non-NJPW wrestlers to participate in the 1993 tournament, including Hiromichi Fuyuki, Ashura Hara, Takashi Ishikawa and The Great Kabuki from WAR, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara from Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi.{{cite web | url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/g1/detail_g1-3.php | script-title=ja:史上初の 両国7連戦 藤波が覇権奪回 | access-date=August 14, 2016 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}

{{16TeamBracket|seeds=n

|RD1=Round 1
August 3, 4

|RD2=Quarterfinals
August 5

|RD3=Semifinals
August 6

|RD4=Final
August 7

|RD1-team01=Hiroshi Hase

|RD1-score01=Pin

|RD1-team02=Shinya Hashimoto

|RD1-score02=20:42

|RD1-team03=Michiyoshi Ohara

|RD1-score03=Pin

|RD1-team04=Kengo Kimura

|RD1-score04=26:44

|RD1-team05=Takayuki Iizuka

|RD1-score05=Pin

|RD1-team06=Hiromichi Fuyuki

|RD1-score06=12:10

|RD1-team07=Ashura Hara

|RD1-score07=Sub

|RD1-team08=Masahiro Chono

|RD1-score08=12:28

|RD1-team09=Tatsumi Fujinami

|RD1-score09=Pin

|RD1-team10=Yoshiaki Fujiwara

|RD1-score10=14:32

|RD1-team11=Osamu Kido

|RD1-score11=Pin

|RD1-team12=Takashi Ishikawa

|RD1-score12=11:33

|RD1-team13=Shiro Koshinaka

|RD1-score13=Pin

|RD1-team14=Super Strong Machine

|RD1-score14=17:33

|RD1-team15=Keiji Mutoh

|RD1-score15=Pin

|RD1-team16=The Great Kabuki

|RD1-score16=16:17

|RD2-team01=Hiroshi Hase

|RD2-score01=Pin

|RD2-team02=Kengo Kimura

|RD2-score02=15:55

|RD2-team03=Hiromichi Fuyuki

|RD2-score03=Sub

|RD2-team04=Masahiro Chono

|RD2-score04=19:04

|RD2-team05=Tatsumi Fujinami

|RD2-score05=Sub

|RD2-team06=Osamu Kido

|RD2-score06=11:58

|RD2-team07=Super Strong Machine

|RD2-score07=Pin

|RD2-team08=Keiji Mutoh

|RD2-score08=17:22

|RD3-team01=Hiroshi Hase

|RD3-score01=Sub

|RD3-team02=Masahiro Chono

|RD3-score02=26:46

|RD3-team03=Tatsumi Fujinami

|RD3-score03=Sub

|RD3-team04=Keiji Mutoh

|RD3-score04=24:26

|RD4-team01=Hiroshi Hase

|RD4-score01=Sub

|RD4-team02=Tatsumi Fujinami

|RD4-score02=21:49

}}

The 1994 G1 Climax returned to the round-robin format, this time with two blocks of six. It was held from August 3 to August 7, 1994. Guest natives included Yoshiaki Fujiwara from Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi and Yoshiaki Yatsu from Social Progress Wrestling Federation (SPWF).

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Masahiro Chono | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Power Warrior | style="width:35px" | 7
Keiji Mutoh | 6 ! Hiroshi Hase | 6
Riki Choshu | 6 ! Shinya Hashimoto | 6
Yoshiaki Yatsu | 4 ! Tatsumi Fujinami | 6
Yoshiaki Fujiwara | 4 ! Shiro Koshinaka | 5
Osamu Kido | 2 ! Takayuki Iizuka | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Chono !! Choshu !! Fujiwara !! Kido !! Mutoh !! Yatsu
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Choshu (3:47)	Chono (9:31)	Chono (6:55)	Chono (27:28)	Chono (15:01)
align="center" ! Choshu | Choshu (3:47)	{{n/a}}	Fujiwara (9:14)	Choshu (5:13)	Mutoh (15:32)	Choshu (10:11)
align="center" ! Fujiwara | Chono (9:31)	Fujiwara (8:26)	{{n/a}}	Kido (9:45)	Fujiwara (12:12)	Yatsu (9:14)
align="center" ! Kido | Chono (6:55)	Choshu (5:13)	Kido (9:45)	{{n/a}}	Mutoh (7:53)	Yatsu (8:25)
align="center" ! Mutoh | Chono (27:28)	Mutoh (15:32)	Fujiwara (12:12)	Mutoh (7:53)	{{n/a}}	Mutoh (15:12)
align="center" ! Yatsu | Chono (15:01)	Choshu (10:11)	Yatsu (9:14)	Yatsu (8:25)	Mutoh (15:12)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Fujinami !! Hase !! Hashimoto !! Iizuka !! Koshinaka !! Warrior
align="center" ! Fujinami | {{n/a}}	Hase (11:53)	Hashimoto (10:31)	Fujinami (7:09)	Fujinami (12:59)	Fujinami (5:25)
align="center" ! Hase | Hase (11:53)	{{n/a}}	Hase (9:10)	Hase (17:32)	Koshinaka (20:44)	Warrior (16:50)
align="center" ! Hashimoto | Hashimoto (10:31)	Hase (9:10)	{{n/a}}	Hashimoto (13:04)	Draw (30:00)	Draw (30:00)
align="center" ! Iizuka | Fujinami (7:09)	Hase (17:32)	Hashimoto (13:04)	{{n/a}}	Koshinaka (14:02)	Warrior (17:33)
align="center" ! Koshinaka | Fujinami (12:59)	Koshinaka (20:44)	Draw (30:00)	Koshinaka (14:02)	{{n/a}}	Warrior (14:10)
align="center" ! Warrior | Fujinami (5:25)	Warrior (16:50)	Draw (30:00)	Warrior (17:33)	Warrior (14:10)	{{n/a}}

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1= Final

| RD1-seed1=A1

| RD1-team1=Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score1=Sub

| RD1-seed2=B1

| RD1-team2=Power Warrior

| RD1-score2=21:51

}}

The 1995 G1 Climax was another eight-man round-robin tournament held August 11 to August 15, with the addition that the top two scorers from each block would advance to a four-man mini-tournament to decide the winner. Masahiro Chono advanced out of his block despite being tied with Ric Flair because of his faster match winning time over Shiro Koshinaka.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Keiji Mutoh | style="width:35px" | 4 ! Shinya Hashimoto | style="width:35px" | 4
Masahiro Chono | 3 ! Scott Norton | 4
Ric Flair | 3 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 2
Shiro Koshinaka | 2 ! Kensuke Sasaki | 2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Chono !! Flair !! Koshinaka !! Mutoh
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Draw (30:00)	Chono (11:10)	Mutoh (11:36)
align="center" ! Flair | Draw (30:00)	{{n/a}}	Flair (17:17)	Mutoh (23:33)
align="center" ! Koshinaka | Chono (11:10)	Flair (17:17)	{{n/a}}	Koshinaka (15:47)
align="center" ! Mutoh | Mutoh (11:36)	Mutoh (23:33)	Koshinaka (15:47)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Hashimoto !! Norton !! Tenzan !! Sasaki
align="center" ! Hashimoto | {{n/a}}	Hashimoto (13:35)	Hashimoto (11:44)	Sasaki (21:46)
align="center" ! Norton | Hashimoto (13:35)	{{n/a}}	Norton (15:08)	Norton (16:21)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Hashimoto (11:44)	Norton (15:08)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (12:51)
align="center" ! Sasaki | Sasaki (21:46)	Norton (16:21)	Tenzan (12:51)	{{n/a}}

{{4TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1= Semifinals

| RD2= Final

| RD1-seed1= A1

| RD1-team1= Keiji Mutoh

| RD1-score1= Pin

| RD1-seed2= B2

| RD1-team2= Scott Norton

| RD1-score2= 17:07

| RD1-seed3= A2

| RD1-team3= Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score3= Pin

| RD1-seed4= B1

| RD1-team4= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD1-score4= 10:05

| RD2-seed1= A1

| RD2-team1= Keiji Mutoh

| RD2-score1= Pin

| RD2-seed2= B1

| RD2-team2= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD2-score2= 24:08

}}

The 1996 G1 Climax was held from August 2 to August 6, 1996, and was a round-robin tournament featuring two blocks of five. Junji Hirata suffered an injury during his match with Kensuke Sasaki, which caused him to forfeit his remaining matches.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Riki Choshu | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Masahiro Chono | style="width:35px" | 6
Kensuke Sasaki | 6 ! Shiro Koshinaka | 4
Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 4 ! Keiji Mutoh | 4
Shinya Hashimoto | 2 ! Kazuo Yamazaki | 4
Junji Hirata | 0 ! Satoshi Kojima | 2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Choshu !! Hashimoto !! Hirata !! Sasaki !! Tenzan
align="center" ! Choshu | {{n/a}}	Choshu (17:14)	Choshu (Forfeit)	Choshu (15:13)	Choshu (5:12)
align="center" ! Hashimoto | Choshu (17:14)	{{n/a}}	Hashimoto (Forfeit)	Sasaki (9:13)	Tenzan (11:27)
align="center" ! Hirata | Choshu (Forfeit)	Hashimoto (Forfeit)	{{n/a}}	Sasaki (5:08)	Tenzan (Forfeit)
align="center" ! Sasaki | Choshu (15:13)	Sasaki (9:13)	Sasaki (5:08)	{{n/a}}	Sasaki (15:03)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Choshu (5:12)	Tenzan (11:27)	Tenzan (Forfeit)	Sasaki (15:03)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Chono !! Kojima !! Koshinaka !! Mutoh !! Yamazaki
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Chono (13:46)	Koshinaka (22:10)	Chono (24:43)	Chono (12:25)
align="center" ! Kojima | Chono (13:46)	{{n/a}}	Kojima (10:33)	Mutoh (15:21)	Yamazaki (9:56)
align="center" ! Koshinaka | Koshinaka (22:10)	Kojima (10:33)	{{n/a}}	Mutoh (11:59)	Koshinaka (13:50)
align="center" ! Mutoh | Chono (24:43)	Mutoh (15:21)	Mutoh (11:59)	{{n/a}}	Yamazaki (13:50)
align="center" ! Yamazaki | Chono (12:25)	Yamazaki (9:56)	Koshinaka (13:50)	Yamazaki (13:50)	{{n/a}}

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=A1

| RD1-team1=Riki Choshu

| RD1-score1=Sub

| RD1-seed2=B1

| RD1-team2=Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score2=13:45

}}

The 1997 G1 Climax was a 14-man single-elimination tournament, with Kensuke Sasaki and Buff Bagwell receiving byes to the quarterfinals. The tournament was held from August 1 to August 3.

{{16TeamBracket|byes=1

| RD1= Round 1
August 1

| RD2= Quarterfinals
August 2

| RD3= Semifinals
August 3

| RD4= Final
August 3

| RD1-seed01=

| RD1-team01= Satoshi Kojima

| RD1-score01= Pin

| RD1-seed02=

| RD1-team02= Steven Regal

| RD1-score02= 9:45

| RD1-seed03=

| RD1-team03= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD1-score03= Pin

| RD1-seed04=

| RD1-team04= Tadao Yasuda

| RD1-score04= 10:39

| RD1-seed05=

| RD1-team05= Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score05= Sub

| RD1-seed06=

| RD1-team06= Michiyoshi Ohara

| RD1-score06= 18:39

| RD1-seed07=

| RD1-team07= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD1-score07= Stop

| RD1-seed08=

| RD1-team08= Kazuo Yamazaki

| RD1-score08= 11:35

| RD1-seed09=

| RD1-team09= Junji Hirata

| RD1-score09= Pin

| RD1-seed10=

| RD1-team10= Scott Norton

| RD1-score10= 6:31

| RD1-seed11=

| RD1-team11= The Great Muta

| RD1-score11= Pin

| RD1-seed12=

| RD1-team12= Manabu Nakanishi

| RD1-score12= 10:25

| RD1-seed13=

| RD1-team13=

| RD1-score13=

| RD1-seed14=

| RD1-team14=

| RD1-score14=

| RD1-seed15=

| RD1-team15=

| RD1-score15=

| RD1-seed16=

| RD1-team16=

| RD1-score16=

| RD2-seed01=

| RD2-team01= Satoshi Kojima

| RD2-score01= Pin

| RD2-seed02=

| RD2-team02= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD2-score02= 11:43

| RD2-seed03=

| RD2-team03= Masahiro Chono

| RD2-score03= Sub

| RD2-seed04=

| RD2-team04= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD2-score04= 5:45

| RD2-seed05=

| RD2-team05= Scott Norton

| RD2-score05= Pin

| RD2-seed06=

| RD2-team06= The Great Muta

| RD2-score06= 6:31

| RD2-seed07=

| RD2-team07= Buff Bagwell

| RD2-score07= Pin

| RD2-seed08=

| RD2-team08= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD2-score08= 8:04

| RD3-seed01=

| RD3-team01= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD3-score01= Pin

| RD3-seed02=

| RD3-team02= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD3-score02= 14:01

| RD3-seed03=

| RD3-team03= Scott Norton

| RD3-score03= Pin

| RD3-seed04=

| RD3-team04= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD3-score04= 5:16

| RD4-seed01=

| RD4-team01= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD4-score01= Pin

| RD4-seed02=

| RD4-team02= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD4-score02= 8:09

}}

The 1998 G1 Climax was another 16-man single-elimination tournament, held between July 31 and August 2. Genichiro Tenryu, who had separated from his own WAR promotion to become a freelancer since early in the year, was invited.

{{16TeamBracket | RD1= Round 1
July 31

| RD2= Quarterfinals
August 1

| RD3= Semifinals
August 2

| RD4= Final
August 2

| RD1-seed01=

| RD1-team01= Big Titan

| RD1-score01= Pin

| RD1-seed02=

| RD1-team02= Tadao Yasuda

| RD1-score02= 10:35

| RD1-seed03=

| RD1-team03= Satoshi Kojima

| RD1-score03= Pin

| RD1-seed04=

| RD1-team04= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD1-score04= 11:08

| RD1-seed05=

| RD1-team05= Tatsutoshi Goto

| RD1-score05= Stop

| RD1-seed06=

| RD1-team06= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD1-score06= 4:00

| RD1-seed07=

| RD1-team07= Keiji Mutoh

| RD1-score07= Pin

| RD1-seed08=

| RD1-team08= Genichiro Tenryu

| RD1-score08= 21:37

| RD1-seed09=

| RD1-team09= Shiro Koshinaka

| RD1-score09= Pin

| RD1-seed10=

| RD1-team10= Osamu Nishimura

| RD1-score10= 10:25

| RD1-seed11=

| RD1-team11= Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score11= Sub

| RD1-seed12=

| RD1-team12= Manabu Nakanishi

| RD1-score12= 18:52

| RD1-seed13=

| RD1-team13= Michiyoshi Ohara

| RD1-score13= Pin

| RD1-seed14=

| RD1-team14= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD1-score14= 10:59

| RD1-seed15=

| RD1-team15= Tatsumi Fujinami

| RD1-score15= Sub

| RD1-seed16=

| RD1-team16= Kazuo Yamazaki

| RD1-score16= 7:51

| RD2-seed01=

| RD2-team01= Tadao Yasuda

| RD2-score01= Pin

| RD2-seed02=

| RD2-team02= Satoshi Kojima

| RD2-score02= 13:38

| RD2-seed03=

| RD2-team03= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD2-score03= Pin

| RD2-seed04=

| RD2-team04= Genichiro Tenryu

| RD2-score04= 13:13

| RD2-seed05=

| RD2-team05= Shiro Koshinaka

| RD2-score05= Sub

| RD2-seed06=

| RD2-team06= Masahiro Chono

| RD2-score06= 16:03

| RD2-seed07=

| RD2-team07= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD2-score07= Sub

| RD2-seed08=

| RD2-team08= Kazuo Yamazaki

| RD2-score08= 6:42

| RD3-seed01=

| RD3-team01= Satoshi Kojima

| RD3-score01= Sub

| RD3-seed02=

| RD3-team02= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD3-score02= 13:51

| RD3-seed03=

| RD3-team03= Masahiro Chono

| RD3-score03= Sub

| RD3-seed04=

| RD3-team04= Kazuo Yamazaki

| RD3-score04= 9:43

| RD4-seed01=

| RD4-team01= Shinya Hashimoto

| RD4-score01= Pin

| RD4-seed02=

| RD4-team02= Kazuo Yamazaki

| RD4-score02= 15:34

}}

The 1999 G1 Climax was a 12-man round-robin tournament, held from August 10 to August 15. This was the first of two years (with 2000) where head-to-head tiebreakers did not decide numerical ties; the winner of Block A was decided by tiebreaker matches, even when there was a clear winner in the two participants' league match.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Keiji Mutoh | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Manabu Nakanishi | style="width:35px" | 8
Yuji Nagata | 8 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 6
Kensuke Sasaki | 6 ! Shiro Koshinaka | 6
Tatsumi Fujinami | 6 ! Masahiro Chono | 6
Satoshi Kojima | 2 ! Shinya Hashimoto | 4
Tadao Yasuda | 0 ! Kazuo Yamazaki | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Fujinami !! Kojima !! Mutoh !! Nagata !! Sasaki !! Yasuda
align="center" ! Fujinami | {{n/a}}	Fujinami (13:10)	Fujinami (17:36)	Nagata (12:03)	Sasaki (10:23)	Fujinami (3:29)
align="center" ! Kojima | Fujinami (13:10)	{{n/a}}	Mutoh (11:40)	Nagata (19:51)	Sasaki (13:50)	Kojima (13:51)
align="center" ! Mutoh | Fujinami (17:36)	Mutoh (11:40)	{{n/a}}	Mutoh (21:11)	Mutoh (20:56)	Mutoh (6:25)
align="center" ! Nagata | Nagata (12:03)	Nagata (19:51)	Mutoh (21:11)	{{n/a}}	Nagata (14:43)	Nagata (10:26)
align="center" ! Sasaki | Sasaki (10:23)	Sasaki (13:50)	Mutoh (20:56)	Nagata (14:43)	{{n/a}}	Sasaki (7:28)
align="center" ! Yasuda | Fujinami (3:29)	Kojima (13:51)	Mutoh (6:25)	Nagata (10:26)	Sasaki (7:28)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Chono !! Hashimoto !! Koshinaka !! Nakanishi !! Tenzan !! Yamazaki
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Chono (21:36)	Koshinaka (13:05)	Chono (10:21)	Tenzan (17:25)	Chono (10:18)
align="center" ! Hashimoto | Chono (21:36)	{{n/a}}	Koshinaka (13:47)	Nakanishi (15:22)	Hashimoto (13:24)	Hashimoto (4:55)
align="center" ! Koshinaka | Koshinaka (13:05)	Koshinaka (13:47)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (14:15)	Tenzan (15:14)	Koshinaka (Forfeit)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Chono (10:21)	Nakanishi (15:22)	Nakanishi (14:15)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (15:40)	Nakanishi (6:43)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Tenzan (17:25)	Hashimoto (13:24)	Tenzan (15:14)	Nakanishi (15:40)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (12:30)
align="center" ! Yamazaki | Chono (10:18)	Hashimoto (4:55)	Koshinaka (Forfeit)	Nakanishi (6:43)	Tenzan (12:30)	{{n/a}}

{{3TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1 = Block A Decision

| RD2 = Final

|RD1-seed1 = A1

|RD1-team1 = Keiji Mutoh

|RD1-score1 = Sub

|RD1-seed2 = A2

|RD1-team2 = Yuji Nagata

|RD1-score2 = 10:28

|RD2-seed1 = A1

|RD2-team1 = Keiji Mutoh

|RD2-score1 = Sub

|RD2-seed2 = B1

|RD2-team2 = Manabu Nakanishi

|RD2-score2 = 14:43

}}

The 2000 G1 Climax was a round-robin tournament, featuring four blocks of five, with each block champion advancing to a four-man tournament to decide that year's winner; it was held from August 7 to August 13. Also note that the points system was modified from the original: 1 point for a victory, and zero points for a draw or loss. Additionally, head-to-head tiebreakers did not decide numerical ties; the winners of Block A and Block C were decided by tiebreaker matches, even though there was a clear winner in the two participants' league match. This was the first time that two recognized junior heavyweights; IWGP titleholder Tatsuhito Takaiwa and previous champion Jyushin Thunder Liger, were invited to compete in the heavyweight tournament.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block B	colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block C	colspan="2" style="width:25%" | Block D
Yuji Nagata | style="width:35px" | 3 ! Kensuke Sasaki | style="width:35px" | 3 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | style="width:35px" | 3 ! Masahiro Chono | style="width:35px" | 3
Takashi Iizuka | 3 ! Satoshi Kojima | 2 ! Manabu Nakanishi | 3 ! Junji Hirata | 2
Tatsumi Fujinami | 2 ! Brian Johnston | 2 ! Tadao Yasuda | 2 ! Shiro Koshinaka | 2
Jyushin Thunder Liger | 1 ! Osamu Kido | 0 ! Osamu Nishimura | 2 ! Yutaka Yoshie | 2
Tatsutoshi Goto | 1 ! Hiro Saito | 0 ! Kenzo Suzuki | 0 ! Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 1

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Fujinami !! Goto !! Iizuka !! Liger !! Nagata
align="center" ! Fujinami | {{n/a}}	Fujinami (6:42)	Iizuka (11:46)	Fujinami (10:33)	Nagata (12:25)
align="center" ! Goto | Fujinami (6:42)	{{n/a}}	Iizuka (9:42)	Liger (7:17)	Goto (11:41)
align="center" ! Iizuka | Iizuka (11:46)	Iizuka (9:42)	{{n/a}}	Iizuka (15:13)	Nagata (16:38)
align="center" ! Liger | Fujinami (10:33)	Liger (7:17)	Iizuka (15:13)	{{n/a}}	Nagata (12:06)
align="center" ! Nagata | Nagata (12:25)	Goto (11:41)	Nagata (16:38)	Nagata (12:06)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Johnston !! Kido !! Kojima !! Saito !! Sasaki
align="center" ! Johnston | {{n/a}}	Johnston (5:38)	Kojima (10:08)	Johnston (5:18)	Sasaki (6:48)
align="center" ! Kido | Johnston (5:38)	{{n/a}}	Kojima (9:55)	Draw (6:29)	Sasaki (4:21)
align="center" ! Kojima | Kojima (10:08)	Kojima (9:55)	{{n/a}}	Draw (5:54)	Sasaki (19:39)
align="center" ! Saito | Johnston (5:18)	Draw (6:29)	Draw (5:54)	{{n/a}}	Draw (5:37)
align="center" ! Sasaki | Sasaki (6:48)	Sasaki (4:21)	Sasaki (19:39)	Draw (5:37)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block C !! Nakanishi !! Nishimura !! Suzuki !! Tenzan !! Yasuda
align="center" ! Nakanishi | {{n/a}}	Nakanishi (13:04)	Nakanishi (8:43)	Tenzan (18:21)	Nakanishi (9:23)
align="center" ! Nishimura | Nakanishi (13:04)	{{n/a}}	Nishimura (7:37)	Nishimura (14:22)	Yasuda (11:47)
align="center" ! Suzuki | Nakanishi (8:43)	Nishimura (7:37)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (13:24)	Yasuda (10:43)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Tenzan (18:21)	Nishimura (14:22)	Tenzan (13:24)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (11:40)
align="center" ! Yasuda | Nakanishi (9:23)	Yasuda (11:47)	Yasuda (10:43)	Tenzan (11:40)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block D !! Chono !! Hirata !! Koshinaka !! Takaiwa !! Yoshie
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Chono (11:42)	Koshinaka (12:40)	Chono (14:22)	Chono (20:16)
align="center" ! Hirata | Chono (11:42)	{{n/a}}	Hirata (8:24)	Hirata (11:08)	Yoshie (11:19)
align="center" ! Koshinaka | Koshinaka (12:40)	Hirata (8:24)	{{n/a}}	Takaiwa (9:04)	Koshinaka (10:38)
align="center" ! Takaiwa | Chono (14:22)	Hirata (11:08)	Takaiwa (9:04)	{{n/a}}	Yoshie (13:48)
align="center" ! Yoshie | Chono (20:16)	Yoshie (11:19)	Koshinaka (10:38)	Yoshie (13:48)	{{n/a}}

{{6TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1= Tiebreakers

| RD2= Semifinals

| RD3= Final

| RD1-seed1= A1

| RD1-team1= Yuji Nagata

| RD1-score1= Sub

| RD1-seed2= A2

| RD1-team2= Takashi Iizuka

| RD1-score2= 10:48

| RD1-seed3= C1

| RD1-team3= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD1-score3= Sub

| RD1-seed4= C2

| RD1-team4= Manabu Nakanishi

| RD1-score4= 11:26

| RD2-seed1= A1

| RD2-team1= Yuji Nagata

| RD2-score1= Pin

| RD2-seed2= B1

| RD2-team2= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD2-score2= 15:12

| RD2-seed3= C2

| RD2-team3= Manabu Nakanishi

| RD2-score3= Sub

| RD2-seed4= D1

| RD2-team4= Masahiro Chono

| RD2-score4= 9:33

| RD3-seed1= B1

| RD3-team1= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD3-score1= Sub

| RD3-seed2= C2

| RD3-team2= Manabu Nakanishi

| RD3-score2= 19:42

}}

The 2001 G1 Climax was a two-block, twelve-man round-robin tournament held from August 4 to August 12. It returned to the original method of scoring, and also reintroduced the 1995 G1's format of each block's top two scorers advancing to the final four. Jyushin Thunder Liger and Minoru Tanaka were the junior heavyweight invitees.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Yuji Nagata | style="width:35px" | 7 ! Keiji Mutoh | style="width:35px" | 8
Tadao Yasuda | 6 ! Masahiro Chono | 6
Manabu Nakanishi | 6 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 6
Kazunari Murakami | 5 ! Satoshi Kojima | 4
Tatsumi Fujinami | 4 ! Jyushin Thunder Liger | 3
Minoru Tanaka | 2 ! Osamu Nishimura | 3

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Fujinami !! Murakami !! Nagata !! Nakanishi !! Tanaka !! Yasuda
align="center" ! Fujinami | {{n/a}}	Fujinami (0:36)	Nagata (11:30)	Nakanishi (5:18)	Fujinami (8:38)	Yasuda (5:14)
align="center" ! Murakami | Fujinami (0:36)	{{n/a}}	Draw (8:01)	Murakami (2:02)	Tanaka (5:10)	Murakami (3:48)
align="center" ! Nagata | Nagata (11:30)	Draw (8:01)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (14:15)	Nagata (12:39)	Nagata (8:11)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Nakanishi (5:18)	Murakami (2:02)	Nakanishi (14:15)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (9:47)	Yasuda (7:11)
align="center" ! Tanaka | Fujinami (8:38)	Tanaka (5:10)	Nagata (12:39)	Nakanishi (9:47)	{{n/a}}	Yasuda (7:35)
align="center" ! Yasuda | Yasuda (5:14)	Murakami (3:48)	Nagata (8:11)	Yasuda (7:11)	Yasuda (7:35)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Chono !! Kojima !! Liger !! Mutoh !! Nishimura !! Tenzan
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Kojima (17:18)	Chono (14:16)	Mutoh (8:14)	Chono (26:16)	Chono (17:53)
align="center" ! Kojima | Kojima (17:18)	{{n/a}}	Liger (16:01)	Kojima (17:30)	Nishimura (19:23)	Tenzan (20:53)
align="center" ! Liger | Chono (14:16)	Liger (16:01)	{{n/a}}	Mutoh (14:24)	Draw (30:00)	Tenzan (15:44)
align="center" ! Mutoh | Mutoh (8:14)	Kojima (17:30)	Mutoh (14:24)	{{n/a}}	Mutoh (16:08)	Mutoh (18:35)
align="center" ! Nishimura | Chono (26:16)	Nishimura (19:23)	Draw (30:00)	Mutoh (16:08)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (24:06)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Chono (17:53)	Tenzan (20:53)	Tenzan (15:44)	Mutoh (18:35)	Tenzan (24:06)	{{n/a}}

{{4TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1= Semifinals

| RD2= Final

| RD1-seed1= B1

| RD1-team1= Keiji Mutoh

| RD1-score1= Sub

| RD1-seed2= A2

| RD1-team2= Tadao Yasuda

| RD1-score2= 11:22

| RD1-seed3= B2

| RD1-team3= Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score3= Sub

| RD1-seed4= A1

| RD1-team4= Yuji Nagata

| RD1-score4= 13:44

| RD2-seed1= B1

| RD2-team1= Keiji Mutoh

| RD2-score1= Sub

| RD2-seed2= A1

| RD2-team2= Yuji Nagata

| RD2-score2= 22:03

}}

The 2002 G1 Climax was identical in structure to the previous year's, and was held from August 3 to August 11.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Yoshihiro Takayama | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Masahiro Chono | style="width:35px" | 7
Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 6 ! Osamu Nishimura | 5
Kensuke Sasaki | 6 ! Manabu Nakanishi | 5
Hiroshi Tanahashi | 4 ! Yuji Nagata | 5
Shiro Koshinaka | 4 ! Kenzo Suzuki | 4
Yutaka Yoshie | 2 ! Tadao Yasuda | 4

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Koshinaka !! Sasaki !! Takayama !! Tanahashi !! Tenzan !! Yoshie
align="center" ! Koshinaka | {{n/a}}	Sasaki (8:33)	Takayama (12:00)	Tanahashi (8:52)	Koshinaka (11:02)	Koshinaka (10:54)
align="center" ! Sasaki | Sasaki (8:33)	{{n/a}}	Sasaki (12:11)	Tanahashi (1:40)	Tenzan (15:52)	Sasaki (0:41)
align="center" ! Takayama | Takayama (12:00)	Sasaki (12:11)	{{n/a}}	Takayama (9:24)	Takayama (13:18)	Takayama (11:28)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Tanahashi (8:52)	Tanahashi (1:40)	Takayama (9:24)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (14:49)	Yoshie (10:38)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Koshinaka (11:02)	Tenzan (15:52)	Takayama (13:18)	Tenzan (14:49)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (15:53)
align="center" ! Yoshie | Koshinaka (10:54)	Sasaki (0:41)	Takayama (11:28)	Yoshie (10:38)	Tenzan (15:53)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Chono !! Nagata !! Nakanishi !! Nishimura !! Suzuki !! Yasuda
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Nagata (16:00)	Chono (16:17)	Draw (30:00)	Chono (17:33)	Chono (Forfeit)
align="center" ! Nagata | Nagata (16:00)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (17:21)	Draw (30:00)	Nagata (14:51)	Yasuda (11:10)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Chono (16:17)	Nakanishi (17:21)	{{n/a}}	Draw (30:00)	Nakanishi (11:17)	Yasuda (2:15)
align="center" ! Nishimura | Draw (30:00)	Draw (30:00)	Draw (30:00)	{{n/a}}	Suzuki (18:10)	Nishimura (1:36)
align="center" ! Suzuki | Chono (17:33)	Nagata (14:51)	Nakanishi (11:17)	Suzuki (18:10)	{{n/a}}	Suzuki (0:37)
align="center" ! Yasuda | Chono (Forfeit)	Yasuda (11:10)	Yasuda (2:15)	Nishimura (1:36)	Suzuki (0:37)	{{n/a}}

{{5TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1= Tiebreaker

| RD2= Semifinals

| RD3= Final

| RD1-seed1= B3

| RD1-team1= Manabu Nakanishi

| RD1-score1= Sub

| RD1-seed2= B2

| RD1-team2= Osamu Nishimura

| RD1-score2= 5:49

| RD2-seed1= A1

| RD2-team1= Yoshihiro Takayama

| RD2-score1= Pin

| RD2-seed2= B2

| RD2-team2= Osamu Nishimura

| RD2-score2= 22:38

| RD2-seed3= B1

| RD2-team3= Masahiro Chono

| RD2-score3= Sub

| RD2-seed4= A2

| RD2-team4= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD2-score4= 22:03

| RD3-seed1= A1

| RD3-team1= Yoshihiro Takayama

| RD3-score1= Pin

| RD3-seed2= B1

| RD3-team2= Masahiro Chono

| RD3-score2= 20:23

}}

The 2003 G1 Climax was another 12-man round-robin tournament, held from August 10 to August 17. Jun Akiyama from Pro Wrestling Noah, along with freelancer Yoshihiro Takayama were invitees.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Jun Akiyama | style="width:35px" | 7 ! Yoshihiro Takayama | style="width:35px" | 8
Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 6 ! Yuji Nagata | 5
Masahiro Chono | 5 ! Katsuyori Shibata | 5
Manabu Nakanishi | 4 ! Yutaka Yoshie | 4
Osamu Nishimura | 4 ! Shinsuke Nakamura | 4
Hiroshi Tanahashi | 4 ! Tadao Yasuda | 4

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Akiyama !! Chono !! Nakanishi !! Nishimura !! Tanahashi !! Tenzan
align="center" ! Akiyama | {{n/a}}	Draw (30:00)	Akiyama (16:35)	Nishimura (27:17)	Akiyama (16:08)	Akiyama (19:43)
align="center" ! Chono | Draw (30:00)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (11:39)	Chono (24:08)	Chono (13:11)	Tenzan (21:21)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Akiyama (16:35)	Nakanishi (11:39)	{{n/a}}	Nishimura (13:45)	Nakanishi (14:04)	Tenzan (14:50)
align="center" ! Nishimura | Nishimura (27:17)	Chono (24:08)	Nishimura (13:45)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (14:03)	Tenzan (25:56)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Akiyama (16:08)	Chono (13:11)	Nakanishi (14:04)	Tanahashi (14:03)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (15:14)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Akiyama (19:43)	Tenzan (21:21)	Tenzan (14:50)	Tenzan (25:56)	Tanahashi (15:14)	{{n/a}}
Block B	Nagata	Nakamura	Shibata	Takayama	Yasuda	Yoshie
align="center" ! Nagata | {{n/a}}	Nagata (11:32)	Draw (13:17)	Takayama (14:05)	Yasuda (12:21)	Nagata (12:51)
align="center" ! Nakamura | Nagata (11:32)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (10:14)	Takayama (7:08)	Nakamura (7:38)	Yoshie (12:31)
align="center" ! Shibata | Draw (13:17)	Nakamura (10:14)	{{n/a}}	Takayama (6:38)	Shibata (1:14)	Shibata (9:17)
align="center" ! Takayama | Takayama (14:05)	Takayama (7:08)	Takayama (6:38)	{{n/a}}	Yasuda (11:16)	Takayama (12:31)
align="center" ! Yasuda | Yasuda (12:21)	Nakamura (7:38)	Shibata (1:14)	Yasuda (11:16)	{{n/a}}	Yoshie (13:01)
align="center" ! Yoshie | Nagata (12:51)	Yoshie (12:31)	Shibata (9:17)	Takayama (12:31)	Yoshie (13:01)	{{n/a}}

{{5TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1= Block B Decision

| RD2= Semifinals

| RD3= Final

| RD1-seed1= B2

| RD1-team1= Yuji Nagata

| RD1-score1= KO

| RD1-seed2= B3

| RD1-team2= Katsuyori Shibata

| RD1-score2= 4:11

| RD2-seed1= A1

| RD2-team1= Jun Akiyama

| RD2-score1= Pin

| RD2-seed2= B2

| RD2-team2= Yuji Nagata

| RD2-score2= 16:11

| RD2-seed3= B1

| RD2-team3= Yoshihiro Takayama

| RD2-score3= KO

| RD2-seed4= A2

| RD2-team4= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD2-score4= 21:13

| RD3-seed1= A1

| RD3-team1= Jun Akiyama

| RD3-score1= Sub

| RD3-seed2= A2

| RD3-team2= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD3-score2= 31:43

}}

The 2004 G1 Climax was a two-block, sixteen-man tournament held from August 7 to August 15. As well as the increased number of participants, it introduced a format in which the second and third runners-up from each block would advance to a four-man tournament, the two finalists of which would advance to a second four-man tournament also featuring each block winner; the eventual winner of this tournament would win the G1 Climax. Also, it would seem that, for this particular year, matches which ended in a double countout or double disqualification would result in zero points for both competitors.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Katsuyori Shibata | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Hiroshi Tanahashi | style="width:35px" | 12
Genichiro Tenryu | 8 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 11
Shinsuke Nakamura | 8 ! Kensuke Sasaki | 9
Masahiro Chono | 8 ! Koji Kanemoto | 6
Minoru Suzuki | 8 ! Manabu Nakanishi | 6
Yuji Nagata | 8 ! Osamu Nishimura | 6
Blue Wolf | 4 ! Togi Makabe | 4
Yutaka Yoshie | 2 ! Yoshihiro Takayama | 2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Wolf !! Chono !! Nagata !! Nakamura !! Shibata !! Suzuki !! Tenryu !! Yoshie
align="center" ! Wolf | {{n/a}}	Chono (14:29)	Nagata (13:35)	Nakamura (8:15)	Wolf (11:46)	Suzuki (13:34)	Tenryu (6:09)	Wolf (14:04)
align="center" ! Chono | Chono (14:29)	{{n/a}}	Chono (16:26)	Draw (14:36)1	Shibata (15:05)	Chono (17:32)	Tenryu (0:38)	Chono (12:57)
align="center" ! Nagata | Nagata (13:35)	Chono (16:26)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (13:08)	Nagata (12:44)	Suzuki (17:39)	Nagata (11:28)	Nagata (13:50)
align="center" ! Nakamura | Nakamura (8:15)	Draw (14:36)1	Nakamura (13:08)	{{n/a}}	Shibata (12:00)	Nakamura (11:58)	Tenryu (14:43)	Nakamura (11:33)
align="center" ! Shibata | Wolf (11:46)	Shibata (15:05)	Nagata (12:44)	Shibata (12:00)	{{n/a}}	Suzuki (7:20)	Shibata (7:15)	Shibata (10:22)
align="center" ! Suzuki | Suzuki (13:34)	Chono (17:32)	Suzuki (17:39)	Nakamura (11:58)	Suzuki (7:20)	{{n/a}}	Tenryu (13:01)	Suzuki (9:12)
align="center" ! Tenryu | Tenryu (6:09)	Tenryu (0:38)	Nagata (11:28)	Tenryu (14:43)	Shibata (7:15)	Tenryu (13:01)	{{n/a}}	Yoshie (4:07)
align="center" ! Yoshie | Wolf (14:04)	Chono (12:57)	Nagata (13:50)	Nakamura (11:33)	Shibata (10:22)	Suzuki (9:12)	Yoshie (4:07)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Kanemoto !! Makabe !! Nakanishi !! Nishimura !! Sasaki !! Takayama !! Tanahashi !! Tenzan
align="center" ! Kanemoto | {{n/a}}	Kanemoto (13:50)	Kanemoto (9:54)	Nishimura (14:03)	Sasaki (16:55)	Kanemoto (Forfeit)	Tanahashi (15:45)	Tenzan (16:55)
align="center" ! Makabe | Kanemoto (13:50)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (7:40)	Makabe (12:51)	Sasaki (6:34)	Makabe (Forfeit)	Tanahashi (11:35)	Tenzan (11:33)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Kanemoto (9:54)	Nakanishi (7:40)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (14:36)	Sasaki (17:57)	Nakanishi (15:48)	Tanahashi (9:12)	Tenzan (12:47)
align="center" ! Nishimura | Nishimura (14:03)	Makabe (12:51)	Nakanishi (14:36)	{{n/a}}	Sasaki (14:00)	Nishimura (Forfeit)	Tanahashi (16:23)	Nishimura (20:02)
align="center" ! Sasaki | Sasaki (16:55)	Sasaki (6:34)	Sasaki (17:57)	Sasaki (14:00)	{{n/a}}	Takayama (14:40)	Tanahashi (12:00)	Draw (30:00)
align="center" ! Takayama | Kanemoto (Forfeit)	Makabe (Forfeit)	Nakanishi (15:48)	Nishimura (Forfeit)	Takayama (14:40)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (Forfeit)	Tenzan (Forfeit)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Tanahashi (15:45)	Tanahashi (11:35)	Tanahashi (9:12)	Tanahashi (16:23)	Tanahashi (12:00)	Tanahashi (Forfeit)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (15:15)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Tenzan (16:55)	Tenzan (11:33)	Tenzan (12:47)	Nishimura (20:02)	Draw (30:00)	Tenzan (Forfeit)	Tenzan (15:15)	{{n/a}}

¹ This was a double countout, and so neither Chono nor Nakamura received any points.

{{7TeamBracket-StepladderToSF

| align = center

| RD1= Block A Decision

| RD2= Quarterfinals

| RD3= Semifinals

| RD4= Final

| RD1-seed1= A4

| RD1-team1= Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score1= DQ

| RD1-seed2= A3

| RD1-team2= Shinsuke Nakamura

| RD1-score2= 4:39

| RD2-seed03= A2

| RD2-team03= Genichiro Tenryu

| RD2-score03= Pin

| RD2-seed04= B3

| RD2-team04= Kensuke Sasaki

| RD2-score04= 8:11

| RD2-seed01= B2

| RD2-team01= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD2-score01= Sub

| RD2-seed02= A3

| RD2-team02= Shinsuke Nakamura

| RD2-score02= 13:06

| RD3-seed03= B1

| RD3-team03= Hiroshi Tanahashi

| RD3-score03= Pin

| RD3-seed04= A2

| RD3-team04= Genichiro Tenryu

| RD3-score04= 6:34

| RD3-seed01= A1

| RD3-team01= Katsuyori Shibata

| RD3-score01= KO

| RD3-seed02= B2

| RD3-team02= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD3-score02= 7:11

| RD4-seed02= B1

| RD4-team02= Hiroshi Tanahashi

| RD4-score02= Sub

| RD4-seed01= B2

| RD4-team01= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD4-score01= 21:01

}}

The 2005 G1 Climax was another 16-man round-robin tournament, held from August 4 to August 14. It returned to the format of 2003, eliminating the "quarterfinals" seen in 2004, and simply bringing each block's top two scorers into the final four.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Masahiro Chono | style="width:35px" | 10 ! Kazuyuki Fujita | style="width:35px" | 14
Toshiaki Kawada | 10 ! Shinsuke Nakamura | 11
Yuji Nagata | 8 ! Manabu Nakanishi | 10
Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 8 ! Hiroshi Tanahashi | 7
Minoru Suzuki | 6 ! Yutaka Yoshie | 6
Kendo Kashin | 5 ! Tatsutoshi Goto | 4
Osamu Nishimura | 5 ! Toru Yano | 4
Tatsumi Fujinami | 4 ! Togi Makabe | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Chono !! Fujinami !! Kashin !! Kawada !! Nagata !! Nishimura !! Suzuki !! Tenzan
align="center" ! Chono | {{n/a}}	Chono (11:08)	Chono (1:45)	Chono (12:14)	Chono (17:02)	Nishimura (20:55)	Chono (17:50)	Tenzan (18:33)
align="center" ! Fujinami | Chono (11:08)	{{n/a}}	Fujinami (4:50)	Kawada (12:03)	Nagata (9:37)	Nishimura (11:29)	Fujinami (10:17)	Tenzan (12:49)
align="center" ! Kashin | Chono (1:45)	Fujinami (4:50)	{{n/a}}	Kashin (11:16)	Nagata (13:08)	Kashin (15:07)	Draw (12:17)	Tenzan (12:19)
align="center" ! Kawada | Chono (12:14)	Kawada (12:03)	Kashin (11:16)	{{n/a}}	Kawada (26:55)	Kawada (17:00)	Kawada (17:11)	Kawada (19:08)
align="center" ! Nagata | Chono (17:02)	Nagata (9:37)	Nagata (13:08)	Kawada (26:55)	{{n/a}}	Nagata (19:34)	Suzuki (12:06)	Nagata (16:55)
align="center" ! Nishimura | Nishimura (20:55)	Nishimura (11:29)	Kashin (15:07)	Kawada (17:00)	Nagata (19:34)	{{n/a}}	Draw (30:00)	Tenzan (18:46)
align="center" ! Suzuki | Chono (17:50)	Fujinami (10:17)	Draw (12:17)	Kawada (17:11)	Suzuki (12:06)	Draw (30:00)	{{n/a}}	Suzuki (13:50)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Tenzan (18:33)	Tenzan (12:49)	Tenzan (12:19)	Kawada (19:08)	Nagata (16:55)	Tenzan (18:46)	Suzuki (13:50)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Fujita !! Goto !! Makabe !! Nakamura !! Nakanishi !! Tanahashi !! Yano !! Yoshie
align="center" ! Fujita | {{n/a}}	Fujita (3:19)	Fujita (Forfeit)	Fujita (6:25)	Fujita (8:02)	Fujita (9:14)	Fujita (3:41)	Fujita (8:45)
align="center" ! Goto | Fujita (3:19)	{{n/a}}	Goto (Forfeit)	Nakamura (6:11)	Nakanishi (7:26)	Tanahashi (9:09)	Goto (4:16)	Yoshie (8:22)
align="center" ! Makabe | Fujita (Forfeit)	Goto (Forfeit)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (2:30)	Nakanishi (Forfeit)	Tanahashi (Forfeit)	Yano (Forfeit)	Yoshie (12:23)
align="center" ! Nakamura | Fujita (6:25)	Nakamura (6:11)	Nakamura (2:30)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (14:38)	Nakamura (13:35)	Draw (5:15)	Nakamura (10:49)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Fujita (8:02)	Nakanishi (7:26)	Nakanishi (Forfeit)	Nakamura (14:38)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (13:50)	Nakanishi (5:17)	Nakanishi (12:40)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Fujita (9:14)	Tanahashi (9:09)	Tanahashi (Forfeit)	Nakamura (13:35)	Nakanishi (13:50)	{{n/a}}	Draw (30:00)	Tanahashi (15:01)
align="center" ! Yano | Fujita (3:41)	Goto (4:16)	Yano (Forfeit)	Draw (5:15)	Nakanishi (5:17)	Draw (30:00)	{{n/a}}	Yoshie (12:39)
align="center" ! Yoshie | Fujita (8:45)	Yoshie (8:22)	Yoshie (12:23)	Nakamura (10:49)	Nakanishi (12:40)	Tanahashi (15:01)	Yoshie (12:39)	{{n/a}}

{{4TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD2=Final

| RD1-seed1= A1

| RD1-team1= Masahiro Chono

| RD1-score1= Sub

| RD1-seed2= B2

| RD1-team2= Shinsuke Nakamura

| RD1-score2= 11:35

| RD1-seed3= B1

| RD1-team3= Kazuyuki Fujita

| RD1-score3= Pin

| RD1-seed4= A2

| RD1-team4= Toshiaki Kawada

| RD1-score4= 6:23

| RD2-seed1= A1

| RD2-team1= Masahiro Chono

| RD2-score1= Pin

| RD2-seed2= B1

| RD2-team2= Kazuyuki Fujita

| RD2-score2= 8:52

}}

The 2006 G1 Climax was a 10-man round-robin tournament held from August 6 to August 13.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Satoshi Kojima | style="width:35px" | 7 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | style="width:35px" | 8
Giant Bernard | 5 ! Koji Kanemoto | 5
Hiroshi Tanahashi | 4 ! Yuji Nagata | 4
Jyushin Thunder Liger | 2 ! Togi Makabe | 3
Manabu Nakanishi | 2 ! Naofumi Yamamoto | 0

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Bernard !! Kojima !! Liger !! Nakanishi !! Tanahashi
align="center" ! Bernard | {{n/a}}	Draw (25:54)	Bernard (6:53)	Nakanishi (11:41)	Bernard (17:54)
align="center" ! Kojima | Draw (25:54)	{{n/a}}	Kojima (14:09)	Kojima (18:17)	Kojima (21:55)
align="center" ! Liger | Bernard (6:53)	Kojima (14:09)	{{n/a}}	Liger (8:32)	Tanahashi (14:18)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Nakanishi (11:41)	Kojima (18:17)	Liger (8:32)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (14:51)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Bernard (17:54)	Kojima (21:55)	Tanahashi (14:18)	Tanahashi (14:51)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Kanemoto !! Makabe !! Nagata !! Tenzan !! Yamamoto
align="center" ! Kanemoto | {{n/a}}	Kanemoto (11:25)	Draw (30:00)	Tenzan (13:07)	Kanemoto (13:14)
align="center" ! Makabe | Kanemoto (11:25)	{{n/a}}	Draw (15:44)	Tenzan (12:23)	Makabe (11:18)
align="center" ! Nagata | Draw (30:00)	Draw (15:44)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (15:41)	Nagata (10:28)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Tenzan (13:07)	Tenzan (12:23)	Tenzan (15:41)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (12:28)
align="center" ! Yamamoto | Kanemoto (13:14)	Makabe (11:18)	Nagata (10:28)	Tenzan (12:28)	{{n/a}}

{{4TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD2=Final

| RD1-seed1= A1

| RD1-team1= Satoshi Kojima

| RD1-score1= Pin

| RD1-seed2= B2

| RD1-team2= Koji Kanemoto

| RD1-score2= 15:41

| RD1-seed3= B1

| RD1-team3= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD1-score3= Sub

| RD1-seed4= A2

| RD1-team4= Giant Bernard

| RD1-score4= 11:13

| RD2-seed1= A1

| RD2-team1= Satoshi Kojima

| RD2-score1= Pin

| RD2-seed2= B1

| RD2-team2= Hiroyoshi Tenzan

| RD2-score2= 27:36

}}

The 2007 G1 Climax, featuring twelve men in two blocks, was held from August 5 to August 12.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Togi Makabe | style="width:35px" | 6 ! Shinsuke Nakamura | style="width:35px" | 7
Yuji Nagata | 6 ! Hiroshi Tanahashi | 6
Akebono | 5 ! Toru Yano | 5
Giant Bernard | 5 ! Shiro Koshinaka | 4
Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 4 ! Milano Collection A.T. | 4
Masahiro Chono | 4 ! Manabu Nakanishi | 4

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Bernard !! Chono !! Makabe !! Nagata !! Tenzan !! Akebono
align="center" ! Bernard | {{n/a}}	Bernard (3:40)	Makabe (8:34)	Nagata (13:58)	Bernard (13:24)	Draw (9:57)
align="center" ! Chono | Bernard (3:40)	{{n/a}}	Makabe (11:17)	Chono (16:15)	Tenzan (17:20)	Chono (7:45)
align="center" ! Makabe | Makabe (8:34)	Makabe (11:17)	{{n/a}}	Makabe (15:44)	Tenzan (15:45)	Akebono (7:48)
align="center" ! Nagata | Nagata (13:58)	Chono (16:15)	Makabe (15:44)	{{n/a}}	Nagata (10:41)	Nagata (6:32)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Bernard (13:24)	Tenzan (17:20)	Tenzan (15:45)	Nagata (10:41)	{{n/a}}	Akebono (9:18)
align="center" ! Akebono | Draw (9:57)	Chono (7:45)	Akebono (7:48)	Nagata (6:32)	Akebono (9:18)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Koshinaka !! Milano !! Nakamura !! Nakanishi !! Tanahashi !! Yano
align="center" ! Koshinaka | {{n/a}}	Milano (10:29)	Koshinaka (10:34)	Koshinaka (10:30)	Tanahashi (17:04)	Yano (9:52)
align="center" ! Milano | Milano (10:29)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (12:30)	Nakanishi (5:29)	Tanahashi (9:59)	Milano (6:00)
align="center" ! Nakamura | Koshinaka (10:34)	Nakamura (12:30)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (12:38)	Draw (30:00)	Nakamura (12:13)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Koshinaka (10:30)	Nakanishi (5:29)	Nakamura (12:38)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (12:13)	Yano (10:41)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Tanahashi (17:04)	Tanahashi (9:59)	Draw (30:00)	Nakanishi (12:13)	{{n/a}}	Draw (12:27)
align="center" ! Yano | Yano (9:52)	Milano (6:00)	Nakamura (12:13)	Yano (10:41)	Draw (12:27)	{{n/a}}

{{4TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1= Semifinals

| RD2= Final

| RD1-seed1= A1

| RD1-team1= Togi Makabe

| RD1-score1= Pin

| RD1-seed2= B2

| RD1-team2= Hiroshi Tanahashi

| RD1-score2= 15:24

| RD1-seed3= B1

| RD1-team3= Shinsuke Nakamura

| RD1-score3= Stop

| RD1-seed4= A2

| RD1-team4= Yuji Nagata

| RD1-score4= 18:22

| RD2-seed1= B2

| RD2-team1= Hiroshi Tanahashi

| RD2-score1= Pin

| RD2-seed2= A2

| RD2-team2= Yuji Nagata

| RD2-score2= 19:02

}}

The 2008 G1 Climax, featuring fourteen men in two blocks, was held from August 9 to August 17 over seven shows.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Togi Makabe | style="width:35px" | 8 ! Hirooki Goto | style="width:35px" | 8
Satoshi Kojima | 7 ! Shinsuke Nakamura | 8
Shinjiro Otani | 7 ! Toshiaki Kawada | 7
Manabu Nakanishi | 6 ! Yutaka Yoshie | 7
Giant Bernard | 6 ! Yuji Nagata | 6
Hiroshi Tanahashi | 4 ! Toru Yano | 4
Wataru Inoue | 4 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Bernard !! Inoue !! Kojima !! Makabe !! Nakanishi !! Otani !! Tanahashi
align="center" ! Bernard | {{n/a}}	Inoue (7:32)	Bernard (13:27)	Makabe (10:56)	Nakanishi (13:17)	Bernard (14:12)	Bernard (13:51)
align="center" ! Inoue | Inoue (7:32)	{{n/a}}	Kojima (12:39)	Makabe (12:59)	Inoue (8:38)	Otani (9:56)	Tanahashi (14:07)
align="center" ! Kojima | Bernard (13:27)	Kojima (12:39)	{{n/a}}	Makabe (12:26)	Kojima (15:15)	Draw (30:00)	Kojima (16:57)
align="center" ! Makabe | Makabe (10:56)	Makabe (12:59)	Makabe (12:26)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (9:31)	Otani (12:11)	Makabe (20:14)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Nakanishi (13:17)	Inoue (8:38)	Kojima (15:15)	Nakanishi (9:31)	{{n/a}}	Otani (12:21)	Nakanishi (17:33)
align="center" ! Otani | Bernard (14:12)	Otani (9:56)	Draw (30:00)	Otani (12:11)	Otani (12:21)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (12:44)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Bernard (13:51)	Tanahashi (14:07)	Kojima (16:57)	Makabe (20:14)	Nakanishi (17:33)	Tanahashi (12:44)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Goto !! Kawada !! Nagata !! Nakamura !! Tenzan !! Yano !! Yoshie
align="center" ! Goto | {{n/a}}	Kawada (13:24)	Goto (12:12)	Goto (14:22)	Goto (12:43)	Goto (9:11)	Yoshie (14:28)
align="center" ! Kawada | Kawada (13:24)	{{n/a}}	Kawada (16:38)	Nakamura (14:36)	Tenzan (19:24)	Kawada (8:38)	Draw (30:00)
align="center" ! Nagata | Goto (12:12)	Kawada (16:38)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (15:52)	Nagata (11:34)	Nagata (13:10)	Nagata (15:38)
align="center" ! Nakamura | Goto (14:22)	Nakamura (14:36)	Nakamura (15:52)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (12:16)	Yano (12:53)	Nakamura (15:20)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Goto (12:43)	Tenzan (19:24)	Nagata (11:34)	Nakamura (12:16)	{{n/a}}	Yano (11:50)	Yoshie (15:09)
align="center" ! Yano | Goto (9:11)	Kawada (8:38)	Nagata (13:10)	Yano (12:53)	Yano (11:50)	{{n/a}}	Yoshie (11:38)
align="center" ! Yoshie | Yoshie (14:28)	Draw (30:00)	Nagata (15:38)	Nakamura (15:20)	Yoshie (15:09)	Yoshie (11:38)	{{n/a}}

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=A1

| RD1-team1=Togi Makabe

| RD1-score1=Pin

| RD1-seed2=B1

| RD1-team2=Hirooki Goto

| RD1-score2=22:25

}}

The 2009 G1 Climax, featuring fourteen men in two blocks, was held from August 7 to August 16 over eight shows. In a tournament first, the exact tie for first place in Block A between Togi Makabe and Hiroshi Tanahashi was decided by a coin toss.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Togi Makabe | style="width:35px" | 7 ! Shinsuke Nakamura | style="width:35px" | 12
Hiroshi Tanahashi | 7 ! Takashi Sugiura | 7
Masato Tanaka | 7 ! Hirooki Goto | 6
Toru Yano | 6 ! Manabu Nakanishi | 6
Takao Omori | 6 ! Yuji Nagata | 5
Giant Bernard | 5 ! Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 4
Tajiri | 4 ! Takashi Iizuka | 2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Bernard !! Makabe !! Omori !! Tajiri !! Tanahashi !! Tanaka !! Yano
align="center" ! Bernard | {{n/a}}	Bernard (12:15)	Bernard (10:11)	Tajiri (10:33)	Tanahashi (19:57)	Draw (13:07)	Yano (9:50)
align="center" ! Makabe | Bernard (12:15)	{{n/a}}	Omori (14:40)	Makabe (12:17)	Draw (30:00)	Makabe (12:29)	Makabe (13:18)
align="center" ! Omori | Bernard (10:11)	Omori (14:40)	{{n/a}}	Omori (1:05)	Omori (18:20)	Tanaka (13:08)	Yano (9:11)
align="center" ! Tajiri | Tajiri (10:33)	Makabe (12:17)	Omori (1:05)	{{n/a}}	Tajiri (18:03)	Tanaka (11:24)	Yano (11:34)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Tanahashi (19:57)	Draw (30:00)	Omori (18:20)	Tajiri (18:03)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (22:28)	Tanahashi (18:39)
align="center" ! Tanaka | Draw (13:07)	Makabe (12:29)	Tanaka (13:08)	Tanaka (11:24)	Tanahashi (22:28)	{{n/a}}	Tanaka (10:44)
align="center" ! Yano | Yano (9:50)	Makabe (13:18)	Yano (9:11)	Yano (11:34)	Tanahashi (18:39)	Tanaka (10:44)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Goto !! Iizuka !! Nagata !! Nakamura !! Nakanishi !! Sugiura !! Tenzan
align="center" ! Goto | {{n/a}}	Goto (12:24)	Nagata (17:48)	Nakamura (16:42)	Goto (14:55)	Sugiura (13:32)	Goto (6:57)
align="center" ! Iizuka | Goto (12:24)	{{n/a}}	Iizuka (7:53)	Nakamura (5:11)	Nakanishi (11:58)	Sugiura (9:05)	Tenzan (10:59)
align="center" ! Nagata | Nagata (17:48)	Iizuka (7:53)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (17:41)	Nakanishi (21:58)	Draw (30:00)	Nagata (11:01)
align="center" ! Nakamura | Nakamura (16:42)	Nakamura (5:11)	Nakamura (17:41)	{{n/a}}	Nakamura (7:10)	Nakamura (13:51)	Nakamura (8:41)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Goto (14:55)	Nakanishi (11:58)	Nakanishi (21:58)	Nakamura (7:10)	{{n/a}}	Sugiura (14:22)	Nakanishi (10:30)
align="center" ! Sugiura | Sugiura (13:32)	Sugiura (9:05)	Draw (30:00)	Nakamura (13:51)	Sugiura (14:22)	{{n/a}}	Tenzan (12:42)
align="center" ! Tenzan | Goto (6:57)	Tenzan (10:59)	Nagata (11:01)	Nakamura (8:41)	Nakanishi (10:30)	Tenzan (12:42)	{{n/a}}

{{4TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Semifinals

| RD2=Final

| RD1-seed1=A1

| RD1-team1=Togi Makabe

| RD1-score1=Pin

| RD1-seed2=B2

| RD1-team2=Takashi Sugiura

| RD1-score2=11:57

| RD1-seed3=B1

| RD1-team3=Shinsuke Nakamura

| RD1-score3=Pin

| RD1-seed4=A2

| RD1-team4=Hiroshi Tanahashi

| RD1-score4=13:31

| RD2-seed1=A1

| RD2-team1=Togi Makabe

| RD2-score1=Pin

| RD2-seed2=B1

| RD2-team2=Shinsuke Nakamura

| RD2-score2=18:29

}}

The 2010 version of the G1 Climax tournament was announced in late May 2010 and was the 20th anniversary of the G1 Climax tournament. The tournament took place over eight shows between August 6 and August 15, 2010.{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1591 | title= Results New Japan 5/30/10 | date= May 30, 2010 | access-date= May 30, 2010 | publisher= Puroresufan}}{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1731|title=(Results) New Japan, 7/11/10 & G1 Climax 2010 cast announced; Shiozaki, Marufuji, Kojima!|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=July 11, 2010|access-date=July 11, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1753|title=G1 Climax 2010 blocks and match schedule!|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=July 12, 2010|access-date=July 13, 2010}} Naomichi Marufuji was scheduled to participate in the tournament, but was forced to pull out after suffering an arm injury on July 25.{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1820|title=Naomichi Marufuji out of the G1|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=July 26, 2010|access-date=July 26, 2010}} On August 5, NJPW announced that Prince Devitt would replace Marufuji in the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1833|title=Devitt replaces Marufuji in the G1!|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 5, 2010|access-date=August 5, 2010}} With his victory, freelancer Satoshi Kojima became the third man to have won both the G1 Climax and All Japan Pro Wrestling's Champion Carnival.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center" |+Final standings
colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block A	colspan="2" style="width:50%" | Block B
Hiroshi Tanahashi | style="width:35px" | 9 ! Satoshi Kojima | style="width:35px" | 10
Togi Makabe | 8 ! Shinsuke Nakamura | 9
Manabu Nakanishi | 8 ! Go Shiozaki | 9
Toru Yano | 8 ! Hirooki Goto | 8
Prince Devitt | 8 ! Yuji Nagata | 8
Tetsuya Naito | 7 ! Giant Bernard | 6
Strong Man | 4 ! Yujiro Takahashi | 4
Karl Anderson | 4 ! Wataru Inoue | 2

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
align="center" ! Block A !! Anderson !! Devitt !! Makabe !! Naito !! Nakanishi !! Strong Man !! Tanahashi !! Yano
align="center" ! Anderson | {{n/a}}	Devitt (10:44){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1848|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/7/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 7, 2010|access-date=August 7, 2010}}	Makabe (11:07){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1848|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/13/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 13, 2010|access-date=August 13, 2010}}	Naito (11:52){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1885|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/10/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 10, 2010|access-date=August 10, 2010}}	Nakanishi (7:29){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1869|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/8/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 8, 2010|access-date=August 8, 2010}}	Strong Man (6:30){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1909|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/12/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 12, 2010|access-date=August 12, 2010}}	Anderson (11:42){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1836|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/6/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 6, 2010|access-date=August 6, 2010}}	Anderson (9:16){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1950|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/14/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 14, 2010|access-date=August 14, 2010}}
align="center" ! Devitt | Devitt (10:44)	{{n/a}}	Makabe (13:36)	Devitt (11:42)	Nakanishi (9:23)	Devitt (7:36)	Devitt (11:35)	Yano (7:26){{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1973|title=(Results) New Japan, 8/15/10|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=August 15, 2010|access-date=August 15, 2010}}
align="center" ! Makabe | Makabe (11:07)	Makabe (13:36)	{{n/a}}	Naito (14:34)	Makabe (10:52)	Makabe (5:57)	Tanahashi (11:58)	Yano (7:18)
align="center" ! Naito | Naito (11:52)	Devitt (11:42)	Naito (14:34)	{{n/a}}	Naito (10:52)	Strong Man (7:55)	Draw (30:00)	Yano (10:59)
align="center" ! Nakanishi | Nakanishi (7:29)	Nakanishi (9:23)	Makabe (10:52)	Naito (10:52)	{{n/a}}	Nakanishi (8:41)	Tanahashi (15:01)	Nakanishi (7:30)
align="center" ! Strong Man | Strong Man (6:30)	Devitt (7:36)	Makabe (5:57)	Strong Man (7:55)	Nakanishi (8:41)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (6:50)	Yano (5:16)
align="center" ! Tanahashi | Anderson (11:42)	Devitt (11:35)	Tanahashi (11:58)	Draw (30:00)	Tanahashi (15:01)	Tanahashi (6:50)	{{n/a}}	Tanahashi (14:49)
align="center" ! Yano | Anderson (9:16)	Yano (7:26)	Yano (7:18)	Yano (10:59)	Nakanishi (7:30)	Yano (5:16)	Tanahashi (14:49)	{{n/a}}
align="center" ! Block B !! Bernard !! Goto !! Inoue !! Kojima !! Nagata !! Nakamura !! Shiozaki !! Takahashi
align="center" ! Bernard | {{n/a}}	Bernard (11:25)	Bernard (9:19)	Kojima (11:44)	Bernard (13:05)	Nakamura (10:39)	Shiozaki (11:07)	Takahashi (8:03)
align="center" ! Goto | Bernard (11:25)	{{n/a}}	Goto (10:14)	Kojima (12:09)	Goto (15:22)	Goto (16:51)	Shiozaki (17:52)	Goto (13:03)
align="center" ! Inoue | Bernard (9:19)	Goto (10:14)	{{n/a}}	Kojima (13:56)	Nagata (10:18)	Nakamura (11:18)	Shiozaki (16:03)	Inoue (8:19)
align="center" ! Kojima | Kojima (11:44)	Kojima (12:09)	Kojima (13:56)	{{n/a}}	Nagata (16:18)	Nakamura (16:45)	Kojima (15:13)	Kojima (8:20)
align="center" ! Nagata | Bernard (13:05)	Goto (15:22)	Nagata (10:18)	Nagata (16:18)	{{n/a}}	Nagata (17:43)	Nagata (16:25)	Takahashi (5:28)
align="center" ! Nakamura | Nakamura (10:39)	Goto (16:51)	Nakamura (11:18)	Nakamura (16:45)	Nagata (17:43)	{{n/a}}	Draw (30:00)	Nakamura (11:47)
align="center" ! Shiozaki | Shiozaki (11:07)	Shiozaki (17:52)	Shiozaki (16:03)	Kojima (15:13)	Nagata (16:25)	Draw (30:00)	{{n/a}}	Shiozaki (10:36)
align="center" ! Takahashi | Takahashi (8:03)	Goto (13:03)	Inoue (8:19)	Kojima (8:20)	Takahashi (5:28)	Nakamura (11:47)	Shiozaki (10:36)	{{n/a}}

{{2TeamBracket

| align = center

| RD1=Final

| RD1-seed1=A1

| RD1-team1=Hiroshi Tanahashi

| RD1-score1=Pin

| RD1-seed2=B1

| RD1-team2=Satoshi Kojima

| RD1-score2=21:25

}}