Ryohei Oiwa won New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s G1 Climax 36 on Sunday, defeating Yuya Uemura in the tournament final at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Sumo Hall. The 27-year-old forced Uemura to submit at the 35:10 mark to capture the promotion’s most prestigious annual round-robin tournament for the first time.
The win set a record for the shortest span between a wrestler’s debut and a G1 Climax victory. Oiwa took the tournament four years and 11 months after debuting in August 2021, surpassing the previous mark of five years and one month held by Hirooki Goto.
As is customary for the G1 winner, Oiwa earned a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He announced he will challenge for the title at King of Pro-Wrestling on October 12, back at Ryogoku Sumo Hall. Elsewhere on the card, Jeff Cobb made his return to NJPW.