Kazuchika Okada wins NJPW G1 Climax 31 after Kota Ibushi suffers injury

Originally published at Kazuchika Okada wins NJPW G1 Climax 31 after Kota Ibushi suffers injury

Okada gets his third G1 win.

In the finals of the 2021 NJPW G1 Climax 31 tournament, Kazuchika Okada met Kota Ibushi and both talents were seeking their third G1 win. Their match was thrown out early due to an injury that Ibushi suffered and as a result, Okada became the winner of this year’s G1.

Ibushi attempted to hit the ‘Phoenix Splash’ maneuver but Okada rolled out of the way. Ibushi then began to hold onto his arm and the match was called off shortly after the official checked on Ibushi.

The ring ropes were taken down so Ibushi could be escorted out of the ring.

Okada defeated Jeff Cobb in the B Block finals to advance to the tournament finals against Ibushi. Okada tallied up 16 points in this year’s G1 and had an 8-1 record after defeating Cobb.