Report: Chase Owens To Enter NJPW G1 Climax 31

New Japan Pro-Wrestling have big plans for Bullet Club's Chase Owens.

The 31-year-old has been an undercard wrestler who has made sporadic mid-card appearances throughout his NJPW run but he captured his first title in the promotion on Sunday at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome. Owens has been involved in the KOPW Title picture for much of the year and he finally captured the provisional trophy on Sunday when he won the New Japan Ranbo With Handcuffs.

According to Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, Owens' win was a part of the build to make the Bullet Club member "a credible guy" ahead of him entering G1 Climax 31 later this year. This will be the first time Owens has entered the annual tournament, having previously wrestled in Best Of The Super Juniors, World Tag League and the New Japan Cup.

G1 Climax 31 will begin later this year with two shows on September 18 and September 19 at Edion Arena Osaka. Matches will then take place over the next month before the tournament finals at the Nippon Budokan on October 20 and October 21.