Takeshita wins G1 Climax 35, earns IWGP title shot

Konosuke Takeshita claimed the prize that has long eluded him in the two-promotional era of NJPW, AEW, and DDT, winning the G1 Climax 35 finals to earn a future shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. The conclusion at Ariake Arena in Tokyo saw Takeshita defeat EVIL in a highly anticipated final, marking the first time an AEW-contracted wrestler has won the G1 Climax. The victory solidifies Takeshita’s standing as a central figure in a cross-promotional landscape that has reshaped how top stars move between promotions and audiences.

The path to the final included a mix of dramatic upsets and established names. In the semifinals, EVIL earned his spot by finishing atop Block A, while Takeshita, who had advanced by beating David Finlay in the quarterfinals, faced Zack Sabre Jr., the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, who had earned a bye into the semis as the top point-getter from Block B. In the other semifinal, Yota Tsuji pushed past Shota Umino to reach the last four, but EVIL toppled Tsuji to set up a final against Takeshita. Takeshita then delivered a decisive performance, defeating Sabre Jr. in the semis before overcoming EVIL in the championship bout to seal...