On 17 July in Hokkaido, the 27th G1 Climax will kick off with a card headlined by Hiroshi Tanahashi and Zack Sabre Jr. Over the next few weeks, the biggest stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling will battle it out and a winner will be decided at Sumo Hall on 13 August, earning themselves a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom.

The biggest event in New Japan's calendar outside of the 4 January show, you only need to look at the G1's history to understand its importance. The past winners list reads like a Hall of Fame, and a big part of what pushed these men to success was the prestige of the G1. It's a tournament where excellence isn't desired but expected as every man goes out there to one-up what has come before.

Even last year's tournament could already be said to have made its mark on history as Kenny Omega's win set up his already legendary feud with Okada. It was the spark that kickstarted a year that has seen New Japan go from strength to strength with the in-ring product being arguably the best in the world right now. If the one-upmanship is to continue, who knows what will happen this year?