Each year there are the G1 Climax and G1 Tag League (formerly Super Grade Tag League) tournaments to decide the strongest singles and tag team wrestlers. In 1997, following the G1 Climax and two major shows at the Nagoya Dome and Yokohama Arena, the "
G1 SPECIAL 1997" tour was held. The main concept was a G1 Special Tag Tournament, featuring most of New Japan's established roster. After winning the G1 Climax and IWGP Heavyweight Title almost back to back, Kensuke Sasaki's ascent to the top would continue, as he and Kazuo Yamazaki took the trophy.
G1 Climax Special Tag Tournament (9/12/97 to 9/20/97)
Round 1: Manabu Nakanishi & Satoshi Kojima beat Kengo Kimura & Akitoshi Saito (10:46) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Saito.
Round 1: Shinya Hashimoto & Tadao Yasuda beat Tatsutoshi Goto & Michiyoshi Ohara (11:06) when Hashimoto pinned Goto.
Round 2: Osamu Kido & Junji Hirata beat Takashi Iizuka & Kazuyuki Fujita (13:14) when Kido used a wakigatame on Fujita.
Round 2: Kensuke Sasaki & Kazuo Yamazaki beat Masahiro Chono & nWo Sting (10:56) when Sasaki used the Strangle Hold Gamma on Sting.
Round 2: Great Muta & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Tatsumi Fujinami & Akira Nogami (9:44) when Muta used a moonsault press on Fujinami.
Round 2: Shinya Hashimoto & Tadao Yasuda beat Manabu Nakanishi & Satoshi Kojima (14:01) when Yasuda used a Tiger Driver on Kojima.
Semi Final: Great Muta & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Osamu Kido & Junji Hirata (11:17) when Muta used a face crusher on Kido.
Semi Final: Kensuke Sasaki & Kazuo Yamazaki beat Shinya Hashimoto & Tadao Yasuda (11:35) when Yamazaki used a wakigatame on Yasuda.
Final: Kensuke Sasaki & Kazuo Yamazaki beat Great Muta & Hiroyoshi Tenzan (15:21) when Yamazaki used a cross armbreaker on Tenzan.
