10 must watch G1 Climax 31 matches

NJPW G1 Climax 31 had plenty of exceptional contests in this year's tournament.
NJPW G1 Climax 31 had plenty of exceptional contests in this year's tournament.

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

Shingo Takagi of Los Ingobernables de Japon came into the G1 Climax 31 tournament as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and looked to have his best record yet. This was Shingo's first meeting with Zack Sabre Jr. in NJPW. They have faced each other before in Dragon Gate, with Shingo beating the Submission Master.

Both men worked over a body part, with Shingo targeting ZSJ's leg and Sabre Jr. focused on Shingo's right arm. ZSJ was at his technical wrestling best at the end here. He locked on a triangle choke that Shingo powered up from, but Zack clinched on the hold even more and got a tap-out victory to end the G1 Climax 31 Night 3.


6) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW G1 Climax 31 Night 9

Heading into the G1 Climax 31 Night 9, Zack Sabre Jr. came in at 4-0 with four straight submission victories. He made history by tapping out Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Kota Ibushi, and Great-O-Khan. ZSJ met his long-time rival this evening in Tomohiro Ishii of CHAOS. The two men haven't faced each other one-on-one since Wrestle Kingdom 13.

The two men told a simple yet effective story of Zack relentlessly attacking Ishii's right arm, but the Stone Pitbull withstood all the punishment to overcome his opponent. At one point, Ishii rammed his arm into the corner pad to get it back in the socket after delivering a headbutt and lariat to ZSJ. He followed up with another lariat for a nearfall and finally the vertical drop brainbuster for the win.

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