5 possible winners of the NJPW G1 Climax 31 tournament

#4 Kota Ibushi - NJPW

Kota Ibushi made history in NJPW by becoming the first man since Hiroyoshi Tenzan in 2003 and 2004 to win back-to-back G1 Climax tournaments. This was a tremendous accomplishment that many fans didn't believe would be possible in the modern era of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Ibushi comes into the G1 Climax 31 trying to make history and become the first man to win three straight tournaments since Antonio Inoki won the IWGP League for three consecutive years. He will have to do so in the tougher of the two blocks in this year's tournament with competitors that he has a checkered past with to say the least.

Tetsuya Naito is one of Kota Ibushi's career rivals in NJPW. The Golden Star defeated Naito twice in 2021 already, beating the Los Ingobernables de Japon leader to win the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at Wrestle Kingdom 15 Night One. He also defeated Naito to retain the Intercontinental Championship at Castle Attack before unifying the top titles.

Ibushi has been in absolute bangers with Tomohiro Ishii and suffered an ankle injury in his first clash with KENTA in the G1 Climax 29 tournament. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Kota Ibushi were supposed to clash at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in July before Ibushi tested positive for COVID-19. This block gives him a tough road to making history in the G1 Climax 31.