NJPW has announced the lineups for its The New Beginning events, taking place January 30 in Nagoya and February 10 and 11 in Hiroshima.
The key match on the tour is Kota Ibushi vs. SANADA for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles on February 11. Ibushi claimed those titles with a win over Tetsuya Naito on January 4 at Wrestle Kingdom, then retained them on January 5, beating Jay White. SANADA appeared after the January 5 title match and challenged Ibushi for the titles at a later date.
February 10 will feature two title matches, as Hiromu Takahashi defends the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against SHO in the main event, while Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag belts against Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. in a Wrestle Kingdom rematch.
The January 30 show will see Shingo Takagi defending the NEVER Openweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event. Shingo is coming off a successful NEVER title defense against Jeff Cobb at Wrestle Kingdom on January 5, while Tanahashi beat Great-O-Khan on January 4.
Here are the full lineups:
NJPW New Beginning in Nagoya — Saturday, January 30, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World
NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Satoshi Kojima vs. Will Ospreay
Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Great-O-Khan
Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma, SHO & Master Wato vs. SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima night one — Wednesday, February 10, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. SHO
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (c) vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. SANADA & Tetsuya Naito
Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
BUSHI vs. Master Wato
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd
NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima night two — Thursday, February 11, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World
IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental double title match: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. SANADA
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
Jay White said in a backstage promo that he will leave New Japan Pro Wrestling after the New Year Dash event on January 6.
After losing to Kota Ibushi on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 15, a dejected White cut a promo backstage, upset about his loss. He said that he was contractually obligated to appear at New Year Dash if New Japan booked him, but then would leave the promotion after. White said that no one had any respect for what he gave out there and for what he’s done. He said he hadn’t seen his parents in 3 1/2 years because he put everything into becoming a star in NJPW. He said that it was his destiny that he was about to be god, but ended up being wrong.
“Maybe my time would be better spent someplace else,” he said. “I don’t want to do this anymore. If this is all it’s for, I’m not going to do it anymore.”
Following the main event of night two, SANADA, who beat EVIL earlier in the show, came out and challenged Ibushi for both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles. Ibushi accepted the challenge.
Prior to the start of the second night of Wrestle Kingdom, two dark matches featuring Stardom talent took place. In the first bout, Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, and AZM defeated Natsupoi, Himeka, and Maika when Kamitani pinned Natsupoi with a phoenix splash. In the second bout, Giulia and Syuri defeated Tam Nakano and Mayu Iwatani when Giulia pinned Nakano with the Glorious driver. According to Dave Meltzer, these matches aren’t expected to air anywhere and were for the live crowd.
New Japan Pro Wrestling announced a crowd of 12,689 for night one of Wrestle Kingdom, and 7,801 for night two.
More matches have been announced for both nights of Wrestle Kingdom 15.
Following the events of the Best of the Super Junior/World Tag League finals, Hiroshi Tanahashi will now face Great-O-Khan in a special singles match on January 4. Khan destroyed both Henare and Tanahashi following a tag team match, with O-Khan focusing on Tanahashi’s knee.
World Tag League winners Tama Tonga and Tanga Loga, the Guerillas of Destiny, will face Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP Tag Team titles.
After he had won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, Hiromu Takahashi challenged the winner of the following day’s Super J-Cup to a match. El Phantasmo defeated ACH to win the Super J-Cup back-to-back and accepted Takahashi’s challenge for January 4. Taiji Ishimori will be defending the IWGP Jr. title on January 5 against the winner.
SANADA and EVIL, meanwhile, will face each other on January 5. SANADA wildly attacked EVIL after Dick Togo choked out SANADA at ringside. The two ended up fighting all the way backstage.
Shingo Takagi and Jeff Cobb will meet for the NEVER title on January 5. Cobb pinned Shingo during the World Tag League, eliminating Shingo and SANADA from the tournament. Cobb attacked Shingo during the Budokan Hall finals show and held the NEVER title up high, indicating he was next for a title match.
Here is what is currently announced for both Wrestle Kingdom cards, which will take place on January 4 and 5 at the Tokyo Dome:
January 4:
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan
Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Guerillas of Destiny for the IWGP Tag Team titles
Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo
January 5:
Winner of Naito-Ibushi vs. Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
SANADA vs. EVIL
Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb for the NEVER Openweight title
Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu-ELP winner for the IWGP Jr. title
Kota Ibushi has won the G1 Climax tournament for the second year in a row.
Ibushi defeated SANADA tonight at Sumo Hall to become the first back-to-back G1 Climax winner since Hiroyoshi Tenzan in 2003 and 2004. In a back and forth match that lasted over 35 minutes, Ibushi defeated SANADA after landing two kamigoyes.
After the match, Masahiro Chono awarded Ibushi the G1 Climax 30 trophy and flag. After the ceremony, Ibushi talked about how he wants to get back to the way things used to be. He wants to take the G1 and take the opportunity it represents. He won’t escape, he won’t lose, he won’t run away. He ended the promo by promising to “become God.”
With the tournament win, Kota Ibushi will now receive a briefcase that will allow him to challenge the IWGP Heavyweight champion at Wrestle Kingdom 15, which will be held on January 4 and 5, 2021.
Past G1 winners have defended the briefcase in the months prior to Wrestle Kingdom, usually against opponents who beat them during the course of the tournament. During a backstage interview following the match, Jay White confronted Kota Ibushi and challenged him to a match for the briefcase, which Ibushi accepted.
The G1 Climax concludes today in Ryogoku’s Sumo Hall.
A Block winner Kota Ibushi will face B Block winner SANADA to determine the G1 Climax 30 winner. Ibushi is appearing in his third consecutive finals, the only man to ever do so.
Ibushi won the G1 in 2019, defeating Jay White in the finals, and lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi in 2018’s G1 finals. The two have met twice before, both in G1 block action in 2018 and 2019. Each has one victory over the other.
This is SANADA’s first appearance in a G1 finals.
The undercard was announced late on Saturday Eastern time.
LIJ’s Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI will face EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi from Bullet Club in the semi-main.
Kazuchika Okada & SHO will team against Will Ospreay and Great-O-Khan.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Jeff Cobb & Master Wato will face KENTA, Jay White, Gedo & Taiji Ishimori in an eight-man tag.
Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi will team against Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
The show opener is Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & DOUKI.
This was all about setting up challengers to the NEVER Six-Man titles. The match was nothing special.
Taichi and Ishii started off, trading kicks to each other’s bad legs. Sabre and Goto tagged in and Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around ringside. When the dust settled, Sabre began working over Goto’s bad shoulder.
Goto managed a tag to Yano. Sabre and Yano did some comedy.
DOUKI and YH tagged in for the closing sequence. Desperado jumped in and hit YH with a right hand. Sabre and Taichi hit YH with Zack Mephisto.
Taichi threw DOUKI on top of YH and DOUKI actually scored a pin.
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Post-match, Suzuki-gun continued to beat down Ishii, Goto and YH. DOUKI used a steel pipe on Goto. Sabre used an octopus on Yano. Sabre hit a dragon screw on Ishii.
Suzuki-gun then posed with the NEVER Six-Man titles.
As you might expect, the intensity was off the charts in this one.
As soon as he stepped through the ropes, Suzuki went after Shingo. All four brawled around ringside. Kanemaru cut Hiromu off with a drive-by dropkick on the apron.
Kanemaru and Suzuki worked over Hiromu. Shingo got a hot tag and had an awesome exchange with Suzuki. They did a series of near-misses on signature spots. Suzuki avoided a sliding lariat. Shingo fought out of a choke. Suzuki no-sold a DVD. Shingo ate a PK.
Kanemaru and Hiromu tagged back in. Suzuki jumped in for a double team and again Hiromu found himself being worked over.
Kanemaru hit a Deep Impact but Shingo saved for Hiromu. Shingo hit a pop-up DVD on Kanemaru and fired Hiromu up.
Hiromu hit a running DVD into the buckle, then followed with Time Bomb and pinned Kanemaru.
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Suzuki and Shingo had a pull-apart after the match.
Hiromu also grabbed Kanemaru’s Jr. Heavyweight Tag belt and they pushed on commentary that Hiromu and BUSHI want Kanemaru and Desperado’s Jr. Tag titles.
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Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Jeff Cobb & Master Wato (w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan) defeated KENTA, Jay White, Gedo & Taiji Ishimori (9:04)
They got very little time. As a result, this was all action and basically a fun house show match.
White teased starting off with Juice but begged off.
Ishimori and Wato started instead. Wato got cut off right away as Bullet Club turned this into a brawl around ringside. Bullet Club worked Wato over in their corner.
Cobb got a hot tag. He hit White with a dropkick before both tagged out.
Tana and KENTA went heads-up. KENTA blocked a slingblade and tagged Gedo.
Tana hit Gedo with a dragon screw. White jumped in and hit a dragon screw on Tana. Cobb press slammed White and Ishimori into Gedo. Juice hit a plancha to White. Wato hit a tornillo on Ishimori.
Tana hit Gedo with a slingblade. Cobb followed with a standing moonsault. Tanahashi then used a cloverleaf and Gedo tapped out.
**********
Wrestle Kingdom 15 was officially announced for January 4 and January 5, 2021.
This was a decent showcase for Ospreay’s new faction.
Okada went right after Ospreay while making his entrance. They brawled around the ring while O-Khan and SHO started the match.
O-Khan used a variety of face rakes and chops in working SHO over. Ospreay tagged in for a couple of quick spots here and there but it was mostly O-Khan.
O-Khan missed a charge into the corner, allowing SHO enough time to set up a spear and tag out.
Okada hit O-Khan with a running back elbow and a DDT. O-Khan tied Okada to the tree of woe and used a series of stomps. O-Khan hit a sliding dropkick to Okada. Ospreay tagged in for Pip Pip Cheerio and a near fall.
Okada and Ospreay traded strikes. Okada blocked a tiger kick and hit a dropkick before tagging out.
SHO went for a power breaker but Ospreay escaped and went after SHO’s right knee. Ospreay took the ref and Priestley hit a dragon screw in the ropes on SHO.
Ospreay then used a figure four to submit SHO, while O-Khan sent Okada to the mat with a claw slam.
I thought KENTA beating Naito Saturday would lead to something, and perhaps it still will, but EVIL looks to be next for Naito after this one.
The match began with Yujiro and EVIL illegally doubling up Naito. Naito made a comeback on Yujiro. Yujiro and EVIL resorted to brawling on the floor to regain the advantage. EVIL used chairs on Naito.
Back inside, Yujiro worked over BUSHI. BUSHI came back with a rana and tagged Naito. Naito hit Yujiro with a combinacion in the corner but kept his eyes focused on EVIL the whole time.
Yujiro bit Naito’s hand and EVIL tagged in. Naito hit a swing DDT. Both tagged out.
BUSHI hit a tope suicida and a DDT to EVIL. Togo took the ref. Yujiro jumped in for the double team. EVIL recovered and hit a fisherman buster for a two count.
Everyone jumped in for a big move near the finish. Yujiro sent Naito outside after a big boot. EVIL hit a lariat to cut BUSHI off before he could make his comeback.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a near fall, then used a scorpion deathlock for the submission.
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After the match, Togo choked out Naito with a ligature. EVIL then hit Naito with Everything is EVIL and posed over him with the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles.
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G1 Climax 30 Finals: Kota Ibushi defeated SANADA (35:12)
My enjoyment of this was tempered by thefact that I was worried that Ibushi was concussed. The 35-plus minutes flew by. They really kicked it into high gear after the 20 minute mark and some of the near falls were amazing.
They started slowly, sizing each other up. Ibushi used a hammerlock and looked to be going after SANADA’s left arm. They traded a few holds.
They went to striking after a few minutes. Ibushi’s left leg was taped up after his kick war with Taichi on Friday. SANADA kicked at the bad leg.
There was a weird spot where SANADA went for a dropkick. Ibushi ducked under the dropkick but got caught by a SANADA forearm on top of his head. Ibushi rolled outside. Tough to say how much of this was selling and how much was legit but Ibushi looked out of it.
Ibushi got back in and they went back to trading holds on the mat. SANADA used an ankle lock. Ibushi slapped on an STF.
From there, they returned to striking. You almost never see anyone call spots in NJPW but you could see SANADA calling spots to Ibushi here. SANADA dropped Ibushi with a palm strike. SANADA then used a figure four. Ibushi forced a break.
SANADA dropped Ibushi with a forearm strike. Ibushi came back with a sunset flip into a standing moonsault for a near fall. We were past the 15 minute point and this still had not kicked into second gear.
SANADA rolled outside. Ibushi hit a plancha. Back in, Ibushi connected on a springboard missile dropkick for another two count. SANADA hit his leapfrog dropkick and follow-up plancha. SANADA tried to fire up the crowd.
Ibushi fought off a TKO. SANADA missed a moonsault. Ibushi hit a powerslam. Ibushi missed a phoenix splash. SANADA tried a moonsault but Ibushi rolled out of the way. SANADA landed on his feet out of the missed moonsault and sent Ibushi outside with a rana.
Ibushi reversed the position and sent SANADA to the floor. Ibushi teased a golden triangle. Instead, SANADA jumped up on the apron. Ibushi hit a double stomp on the apron. SANADA answered with a magic screw off the apron to the floor.
They teased a double countout at 23 minutes. Both made it back in at 18.
They did a striking sequence, both going after the other’s neck with forearm shots. SANADA hit one kick to the leg and then hit a magic screw inside the ring for a near fall.
SANADA locked on Skull End. Ibushi powered out at the 25 minute call.
SANADA tried for his springboard dropkick but Ibushi caught him coming off the ropes into a last ride. Ibushi sold his leg on landing and could not follow up with a cover.
Ibushi hit a strike combination and another last ride for a near fall. Ibushi made the motion that he was setting up for Kamigoye.
SANADA dropkicked Ibushi’s legs as Ibushi went for wrist control. Ibushi answered with a lariat. SANADA ducked a right hand and hit a tiger suplex for a two count.
SANADA went for a TKO. Ibushi grabbed a dragon sleeper on the way down. SANADA reversed into his own dragon sleeper before using a spinning Skull End.
SANADA got the full Skull End with body scissors in on the mat. Like an idiot, SANADA gave up the hold as Ibushi was about to have his arm dropped three times by the referee. SANADA always gives up on Skull End just when it’s working. It’s a logic flaw in his matches.
SANADA missed a moonsault. Ibushi hit a high kick at the 30 minute call. Ibushi hit a Bomaye for a near fall. Ibushi went for Kamigoye. SANADA blocked and hit a TKO.
SANADA hit a moonsault to Ibushi’s back. He went for a standard moonsault but Ibushi got his knees up. Ibushi sold the damage to his bad leg in blocking the move.
SANADA got Skull End. Ibushi walked the ropes and reversed the hold. They teased a lawn dart. SANADA got back to Skull End. Ibushi reversed and hit a bastard driver for a great near fall.
Ibushi went for Kamigoye. SANADA flipped into a backslide. Ibushi powered out and went for Kamigoye again. SANADA used a sunset flip. Ibushi slid out. SANADA used a Japanese clutch for the closest near fall you’ll ever see.
SANADA tried Skull End again. Ibushi hit a high kick, a bicycle knee and a Kamigoye for another extremely close near fall.
Ibushi then hit a second Kamigoye for the 1-2-3.
Ibushi is The One for the second consecutive year.
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Chono entered the ring and presented the G1 Climax trophy and flag to Ibushi. They posed together for the ringside photographers as Ibushi fought back tears.
Ibushi cut a promo in the ring. He thanked the fans and thanked Chono. Ibushi said he can’t wait for things to get back to the way they used to be with full buildings.
Ibushi said he intends to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and he will become God.
The show ended with streamers falling from the ceiling and Ibushi posing with his trophy and flag.
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After the show, Ibushi sat at a table backstage for his post-match comments.
Jay White entered. They drank Zima together.
White said Ibushi isn’t really the winner. He said sometime soon, they’re going to give Ibushi a briefcase to signify his win. White said he’s going to take that case from Ibushi.
Ibushi then gave his comments. He said he will face Jay at any time.
The undercard for tonight’s G1 Climax 30 finals has been revealed.
The card mostly contains a number of tag team matches. Great-O-Khan, who made his return to NJPW at the A Block finals, will team with Will Ospreay to take on Kazuchika Okada and SHO in a tag team match. Great-O-Khan helped Ospreay pin Okada, eliminating Okada from the G1 tournament. It seems that the duo, along with Bea Priestley, are alligned with one another.
Tetsuya Naito and EVIL will see each other in action as well. Naito will team with BUSHI to face EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi in a tag team match.
Kota Ibushi, who won the A Block, will face B Block winner SANADA in the main event.
Here is the full card for this morning’s show, which starts at 2 a.m. Eastern:
Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI- Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado, DOUKI
Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Jeff Cobb, Master Wato vs. Jay White, KENTA, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo
Kazuchika Okada and SHO vs. Will Ospreay and Great-O-Khan
Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI vs. EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi
The finals for the G1 Climax 30 tournament have now been set.
SANADA won the B Block this morning, defeating EVIL in the main event. Based on the B Block math, whoever won the main event would advance to tomorrow’s finals against Kota Ibushi.
The finish featured tons of interference from Dick Togo, who took out the referee and attacked SANADA after he had landed two moonsaults. Hiromu Takahashi, who was doing commentary at ringside, came to the aid of SANADA.
The ring cleared out for a bit, but soon Togo once again interfered, choking out SANADA with a chain. Takahashi struck Togo with a superkick. EVIL tried to attack SANADA, but SANADA dodged, sending EVIL right into Togo on the apron. SANADA followed with a roll up into a bridge, pinning EVIL for the win.
After the match, SANADA cut a short promo, saying he would etch his name in G1 history tomorrow when he defeats Kota Ibushi.
Tomorrow’s show will take place at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The undercard for the finals has not been set as of this writing.
They went the technical wrestling route for most of the contest. Uemura was incredible here.
Uemura used a knuckle lock, then a short arm scissors which he used to roll Kidd around the ring. Kidd used a chancery to soften Uemura up for his buttefly suplex.
Uemura tried to strike with Kidd. That was his downfall. Kidd hit a forearm, a dropkick, then used the butterfly suplex for the pin.
G1 Climax B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Toru Yano (6:11)
This was absolutely horrendous. I’m a fan of Yano comedy but this didn’t work.
YH tried taping Yano to the barricade and his bo staff. Yano tried to spray hand sanitizer in YH’s face. There were two ref bumps. Yano exposed a buckle.
For the finish, YH blocked a low blow and used Yano’s arm to cradle him for the pin.
G1 Climax B Block: Juice Robinson defeated Hirooki Goto (12:09)
Goto got a couple of hope spots but the bulk of this was Juice going after the bad shoulder.
They came out firing off strikes. Juice sent Goto outside and hit a plancha. Goto sold his taped shoulder after the impact of the plancha and that became the story of the match.
Juice blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a superplex. He maintained neck control on the landing and went for a jackhammer. Goto blocked and hit a neckbreaker.
Goto finally connected with an ushigoroshi. A series of counters and teases ended with Goto blocking Pulp Friction and locking on a sleeper. Goto used the sleeper to set up a pair of cradles for near falls.
Juice connected with a Left Hand of God. He followed with an awkward-looking Pulp Friction and pinned Goto.
Goto really sold this as a big deal in the post-match with his facial expressions. A pro’s pro job by Goto.
***** Intermission *****
G1 Climax B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (12:02)
This was a fun match. These two have great chemistry, but they have had more crisp matches.
Sabre scored early with a couple of quick cradles. Tanahashi took a second to regroup, then used a side headlock takeover. He maintained the hold for a long time. Sabre eventually transitioned to a headscissors. They traded these two holds for quite a while.
Sabre went after Tanahashi’s neck with neck cranks and a triangle. Sabre used an octopus. Tanahashi reversed into his own octopus. Sabre went for a Euro clutch. Tanahashi reversed into his own clutch hold for a near fall.
Tanahashi focused on Sabre’s right knee with a low dropkick and inverted dragon screw. Sabre used an inside cradle and a guillotine. Tanahashi reversed the guillotine into twist and shout.
Tanahashi went for a slingblade, the first time either guy hit the ropes in the match. Sabre blocked. Tanahashi got it on his second attempt.
Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow. Sabre rolled through on the landing. Tanahashi trapped Sabre in a cradle and got the flash pin.
Tanahashi held the cradle for a few extra seconds and Sabre threw a tantrum as a result.
G1 Climax B Block: KENTA defeated Tetsuya Naito (21:06)
I was not a fan of this match. I thought they had a good eight minutes laid out and stretched that into 21:06. The finish was very clever.
Both stalled at the outset. KENTA stole a near fall off a cradle. Naito went for a walk around the ring and stalled some more.
They tied up. Naito went after KENTA’s bad shoulder with a hammerlock. KENTA rolled to the floor and grabbed his briefcase. KENTA shoved the ref down and Naito ate a briefcase shot. KENTA went to work from there.
KENTA used a chinlock, a headscissors and a headlock at the 10 minute call. Naito hit his combinacion cabron in the corner and a crucifix. KENTA responded with a top rope clothesline for a two count.
The match finally picked up as Naito made his comeback. Naito hit a poison rana and a series of back elbows, looking to soften up KENTA’s neck for Destino. Naito hit Gloria for a two count.
KENTA blocked Destino and went for a GTS at the 20 minute call. Naito reversed into a Destino but could not follow up with a cover.
Naito rang up the arm and went for Destino. KENTA hit two spinning back fists. Naito answered with Valentia.
Naito went for Destino. KENTA caught Naito’s legs and cradled him for the flash pin.
This loss eliminated Naito.
G1 Climax B Block: SANADA defeated EVIL (27:00)
Lots of Bullet Club-style interference in this one but a good main event with a good story.
Hiromu Takahashi was at the commentary table and played an important role.
Nothing of consequence came from the opening volley. EVIL teased an Everything is EVIL. SANADA teased a Skull End.
EVIL rolled to the floor. SANADA teased a plancha but flipped to his feet on the apron, then pulled himself back into the ring to pose.
After a trip from Togo, EVIL used a snap suplex on a stack of chairs on the floor to take control of the match.
Back inside, EVIL used a scoop slam and a cocky, one-foot cover. Red Shoes refused to count the pin due to the underhanded tactics used on the floor.
EVIL took the ref. Togo pulled SANADA to the floor and sent him into the barricade, then tossed SANADA back in. EVIL used a single-leg crab. SANADA responded with a dropkick to the knee and a back suplex.
SANADA hit his trademark plancha. He put both EVIL and Togo in paradise locks, then broke the holds with a single dropkick.
EVIL gouged the eyes and hit a ref-assisted mid kick, avoiding a TKO in the process. A clever sequence ended with SANADA avoiding a misdirection lariat and hitting a springboard dropkick.
SANADA used the threat of a TKO to set up a Skull End but EVIL powered out. SANADA hit a magic screw and a tiger suplex for a two count. The crowd really got into the match at this point.
SANADA used a spinning Skull End as a precursor to a moonsault attempt. EVIL rolled out of the way and SANADA crashed to the mat. Togo exposed a buckle. SANADA missed a charge into the corner and got sent into the exposed steel twice.
EVIL hit a superplex to set up a scorpion deathlock. SANADA fought to the bottom rope to force a break. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count at the 20 minute call.
SANADA blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a TKO. They did a lengthy double down, prompting Red Shoes to check if both men wanted to continue. They did.
SANADA avoided the exposed buckle and used a moonsault to transition to Skull End. EVIL slid out but SANADA immediately got the hold applied agai and locked in the body scissors. EVIL pried his head free, but SANADA popped up and hit two moonsaults.
Red Shoes went to count the pin. Togo pulled the ref out of the ring. Togo used a chair on SANADA and peppered him with right hands.
EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer. Hiromu Takahashi jumped up from the commentary table to come to SANADA’s aid. Hiromu hit a superkick to Togo. EVIL hit a low blow on Hiromu. EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer on Hiromu at the 25 minute call.
Togo revived the ref. SANADA stole a near fall off a cradle. EVIL planted SANADA with a lariat. EVIL hit a second big lariat and called for his finisher.
SANADA reversed Everything is EVIL into Skull End. EVIL grabbed the ref. Togo choked SANADA from the apron. Hiromu superkicked Togo and SANADA recovered.
SANADA then used a Japanese clutch and got the pin.
SANADA wins B Block.
SANADA closed the show with a quick promo and said he’ll see us tomorrow.
These two have incredible chemistry, and they continued to display that here. They performed technical wrestling to start. Uemura displayed a couple of cool escapes and counters as he worked over Tsuji’s arm. He locked on a relatively early key lock, and Tsuji had to fight hard to escape with a powerbomb.
Tsuji hit a scoop slam and jumping splashes for two, but Uemura reached the ropes before he could lock on the Boston crab. Uemura regained arm control and went for his overhead suplex, but Tsuji turned it into a crab in a great spot. Uemura fought to reach the ropes, but Tsuji turned it into a cloverleaf before he was forced to break.
They exchanged forearms and Tsuji hit a spear. Tsuji performed a giant swing and locked on the crab, forcing Uemura to tap.
This match was eminently average for the majority of its duration, but it did pick up at the end.
KENTA taunted his opponent at the start, but YOSHI-HASHI hit forearms and chops followed by the Headhunter, forcing KENTA to take a break outside. He baited YOSHI-HASHI to the floor by grabbing his staff and sent him into the barricade and the ring post.
Back inside, KENTA locked in a double wristlock, but YOSHI-HASHI reached the ropes. KENTA beat down YOSHI-HASHI with kicks and continued to attempt arm submissions. YOSHI-HASHI fired up with chops but was cut off with more arm-wrenching. He turned a submission into a sleeper of his own, followed by a vertical suplex.
YOSHI-HASHI hit more strikes and a running dropkick for two. He tried to keep up the attack but was surprised with a powerslam and KENTA’s tornado DDT into the rope. The top-rope clothesline got two. They traded strikes before KENTA hit the Shibata running dropkick in the corner, followed by a diving stomp for two.
YOSHI-HASHI hit a mule kick and a thrust kick followed by a Liger Bomb for two. He immediately applied the butterfly lock. After a long battle, YOSHI-HASHI transitioned to a sleeper but missed a meteora. KENTA tried to lock on Game Over, but YOSHI-HASHI reached the ropes.
They traded kicks and forearms, and KENTA won the striking battle with spinning backfists. YOSHI-HASHI turned the Go To Sleep into a DDT before hitting a dragon suplex and a western lariat. He hit a fisherman’s buster but only got two.
KENTA tried to fire back with strikes, but YOSHI-HASHI attempted Karma. KENTA escaped, locked on Game Over, rolled his opponent away from the ropes, and got the submission victory.
G1 Climax 30 Block B: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Juice Robinson (14:24)
This was pretty good, but unspectacular.
The story early on was that Juice had Sabre completely scouted. Sabre attempted to take advantage with technical wrestling to start, but Juice matched him all the way before Sabre broke it up with an uppercut. Juice knocked him down with a tackle, but Sabre turned a senton into an armbar.
Sabre targeted Juice’s arm, wrenching it and stomping on it. He went for his arm-twist backflip kick, but Juice avoided it and hit a senton. Juice hit straight punches and a big chop followed by a spinebuster.
Juice set Sabre up top, but Sabre applied a double wristlock and uppercut him off the top before locking on a jumping guillotine. Juice tried to suplex Sabre out of it, but Sabre continued to transition into different holds before Juice reached the ropes.
Juice fired up but Sabre fought out of the Juice Box and hit a soccer kick and a tornado DDT for two. He immediately transitioned into an armbar and then a triangle. The crowd’s stomp-stomp-clap fired Juice up and he escaped with a powerbomb. The corner cannonball followed, but Sabre turned Pulp Friction into an octopus hold. Juice fought out and hit the Juice Box for 2.
Sabre fought out of Pulp Friction again, and the two exchanged cradles before Sabre locked on the European Clutch to escape with a win.
This may have been the wackiest Yano match yet for this G1, but it was really entertaining. They convinced the crowd that Yano was beating the IWGP double champion at points.
The two wouldn’t let each other start the collar and elbow tie-up. Naito rolled Yano up for a great near fall right away, before Yano made his way out to the crowd. The official started to count, but Yano couldn’t find a way back into the ring. He rolled in at nineteen but was met with stomps from Naito.
Naito missed a clothesline and was sent outside, so Yano mocked Naito’s ingobernable dive tease, but instead of doing the LIJ pose, he did his signature shrug. Both men grabbed turnbuckle pads, but Yano won the battle, sending Naito outside.
Yano produced a roll of tape, but Naito popped up and threw the tape to the official. Yano sprayed his cleaner in Naito’s eyes as well as Yota Tsuji’s at ringside, then taped their wrists together through the barricade. Tsuji squeezed through the barricade and both Naito and Tsuji made it in just before the count of twenty.
With their wrists still taped, they downed Yano with a clothesline, before the referee removed the tape.
Naito offered the LIJ pose to Tsuji, but kicked him and slammed him onto Yano. Naito tried to slam the official onto Yano, but Yano hit a low blow and a chop block.
Naito rolled out of a cradle, hit a low blow of his own, and cradled Yano for the pin.
This was better than most EVIL matches from this tournament, but your enjoyment will still be a function of how much you tolerate Togo’s interference.
Goto’s shoulder was taped heavily. He picked up the advantage early on after a shoulder tackle. EVIL whipped Goto into the ropes where he was tripped up by Togo. EVIL kept up the beating on the outside, hitting the homerun swing with chairs.
Goto tried to bring the fight back in the ring, but was whipped into an exposed turnbuckle. Goto fought back with strikes and sent EVIL into the exposed turnbuckle before hitting a Saito suplex and a running bulldog for two. EVIL fought out of the ushigoroshi and hit his official-assisted low kick. He set up for Darkness Falls, Goto fought out, and the two both tried some misdirected rope-running before Goto hit the ushigoroshi.
Goto made his way to the top rope, but Togo distracted him long enough for EVIL to bring him down hard, following with a lariat for two. Darkness Falls was next for another two.
Goto fought out of Everything is EVIL and drove EVIL’s head into his knee. Goto clotheslined EVIL over the top rope and hit a rare dive onto EVIL and Togo.
Back inside, Goto hit a top-rope elbow drop. He tried for the GTR, but EVIL raked his eyes. EVIL distracted the official as Togo attempted to garrote Goto, but Goto immediately fought out and hit a ushigoroshi, followed by a standing headbutt on EVIL. The mid kick followed, and Goto hit a reverse GTR for two.
They each tried for their finishers, but EVIL pushed Goto into the official, which gave him enough of an opening to hit Everything is EVIL for the win.
G1 Climax 30 Block B: SANADA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (28:28)
This was the only match from tonight’s show worth going out of your way to see. It was an excellent technical battle to start, building and building to a really exciting closing sequence.
They wrestled around to begin, but neither man could gain an advantage over the other. SANADA locked on a leg nelson, but Tanahashi turned it into a bow and arrow, forcing the two to break. They each had the other by the leg, but refused to set it down, so SANADA attempted the paradise lock. Tanahashi escaped and kicked out SANADA’s leg.
Tanahashi continued to target SANADA’s leg before SANADA came back with a dragon screw. SANADA performed his high leapfrogs followed by a dropkick and a plancha to the outside. Back in, SANADA applied the paradise lock and broke it with a dropkick. He tied Tanahashi up in the ropes with an upside-down paradise lock and hit another dropkick for two.
SANADA set up for a TKO, but Tanahashi kicked out his leg and hit a dragon screw. SANADA rolled to the outside and Tanahashi hit a ridiculous standing High Fly Flow from the top rope to the floor. SANADA made it back in at the count of nineteen but Tanahashi hit dragon screws and locked on a Texas Cloverleaf. Tanahashi sat down deep on it before SANADA eventually reached the ropes.
SANADA went for another TKO, but Tanahashi hit Twist and Shout twice. He went for it a third time, but SANADA turned it into a rope-assisted Magic Killer. SANADA finally hit the TKO for two. Tanahashi whipped SANADA, who hit a springboard dropkick. SANADA attempted the moonsault but missed and tweaked his leg, allowing Tanahashi to hit a Sling Blade followed by an arm-trap German suplex bridge for two.
Tanahashi went for the High Fly Flow, but SANADA got his knees up. SANADA flipped out of the corner into the Skull End. Tanahashi tried to escape by targeting SANADA’s injured leg, but SANADA re-applied the hold. He let go and went for the moonsault, but Tanahashi got his knees up.
At the 25-minute mark, Tanahashi hit repeated dragon screws. SANADA fought out and went for a jumping hurricanrana, but Tanahashi turned it into another Texas Cloverleaf. After a really long battle, SANADA pushed up and fought his way to the ropes.
SANADA went for a cradle, but Tanahashi applied the same cradle for two. Tanahashi tried for SANADA’s Japanese Clutch Hold, but SANADA kicked out and locked on Skull End. Tanahashi flipped himself over to apply Skull End himself, and SANADA couldn’t do the same.
Tanahashi attempted a High Fly Flow, but SANADA turned it into a TKO in a really unique spot. SANADA then hit two consecutive moonsaults for the three count.
The emphasis here was on selling. The work was technically sound but there was not much in the way of action.
Kidd dominated the early part of the match, grounding Tsuji with holds. Tsuji sold damage to his neck and lower back. Tsuji came back with two slams and used a leg lace. Kidd sold his left leg.
Kidd won a striking battle and tried to fire up the crowd. Kidd got double underhooks and tried for a suplex. Tsuji blocked and hit a powerslam.
Tsuji hit a running forearm and used a dropkick for a two count. Kidd hit a hip toss and used a crab. Tsuji fought for the ropes and finally got there to force a break.
Kidd again worked for a butterfly suplex. Tsuji blocked. Kidd used a sunset flip for a near fall. Tsuji hit a backdrop. Kidd fought out of a Boston crab and hit a dropkick.
Tsuji hit a spear and used a cradle for a two count. Kidd used a small package for a near fall as the time limit expired.
They fired off a few strikes after the bell before both guys collapsed, selling exhaustion.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Juice Robinson defeated Toru Yano (6:42)
I usually like Yano’s comedy as a change of pace on these G1 shows but it wasn’t clicking today.
Yano offered Juice a Yano t-shirt. Juice went to put it on and Yano used a schoolboy for a near fall. Yano sprayed hand sanitizer in Juice’s eyes and rolled him up for two.
They rolled outside where Juice poured a bottle of sanitizer in Yano’s eyes. They teased a countout but Yano made it back in at 19.
Yano exposed a buckle. Juice avoided a slingshot into the exposed buckle. Yano bailed and tried to bait Juice to the floor. Juice tore up the t-shirt.
Yano hit an inverted atomic drop in the aisle and taped Juice’s feet together. Juice beat the count back in at 17. Juice hit a full nelson slam and freed his feet.
Yano ducked a Left Hand of God and tried to backslide the ref. Juice hit a Left Hand of God. Yano blocked Pulp Friction and tried a schoolboy. Juice blocked and cradled Yano for the pin.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hirooki Goto (4:00)
This was different. A total sprint. Goto’s right arm and shoulder were heavily taped.
Sabre used a cross armbreaker. Sabre used a misdirection spot to set up an octopus. Goto reversed into an ushigoroshi attempt but Sabre blocked. Sabre hit a PK. Goto hit a running mid kick.
Goto hit an ushigoroshi and a mid kick. He went for a GTR but Sabre blocked and used a clutch hold for the pin.
***** Intermission *****
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated YOSHI-HASHI (18:41)
I think we need to start asking ourselves a question — is YOSHI-HASHI good now?
In this case, he was in there with one of the greates wrestlers ever, but he’s had a series of very good matches this year.
Tanahashi used a trip takedown and a Fujiwara armbar. YH countered with a dragon screw to the right leg. Tanahashi answered with his own dragon screw. Tana fired up and hit a somersault senton off the second buckle for a two count.
They had a chop battle. YH got the best of it and hit a series of kicks. YH hit a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. Tana blocked a fisherman buster. YH blocked a dragon suplex. Tanahashi hit a straightjacket German for a near fall.
YH blocked a slingblade with a chop. Tanahashi hit slingblade on his second attempt. Sensing victory, Tanahashi went for High Fly Flow. YH got his knees up. They had a lengthy striking battle in the center of the ring. YH dropped Tanahashi with a forearm shot.
YH avoided a slingblade and hit a lariat for a two count. YH used a butterfly lock. Tanahashi tried like hell to sell this as a potential finish. YH eventually gave up the hold and hit a backstabber. Tanahashi blocked Kharma and hit twist and shout.
Tanahashi hit a dragon screw. They traded quick cradles. Tanahashi hit another dragon screw. YH avoided slingblade and hit a dragon suplex. YH hit a meteora for a two count and a sidewalk slam for another two count.
Tanahashi blocked Kharma. YH went for a lariat but Tanahashi ducked and hit a slingblade. Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow.
Tanahashi then hit another High Fly Flow and picked up the pinfall victory.
This was about what you would expect with two heels from the same faction. KENTA played underdog to make the match work. The finished product was okay.
KENTA offered a too sweet before the bell. EVIL declined and gave Togo a too sweet instead.
KENTA went for a walk at the opening bell. He grabbed Togo in a threatening manner. Back inside, they traded kicks. They rolled to the floor where KENTA established the advantage, slamming EVIL into the barricade and posting him.
KENTA continued to hold the advantage and hit some short kicks. Togo tripped KENTA from the floor. They went back to the outside. EVIL Pillmanized KENTA’s left arm against the post.
EVIL went to work on the left arm. He used a hammerlock and sent KENTA shoulder-first into an exposed buckle. EVIL used a slam and a Fujiwara armbar.
KENTA cameback with a lariat and a vertical suplex. After a standing switch, KENTA hit a swing DDT and a top rope clothesline for a two count at the 10 minute mark.
Togo jumped on the apron. KENTA was distracted and EVIL jammed the left arm over the top rope. EVIL again used a hammerlock into the exposed buckle. EVIL used a suplex for a near fall.
EVIL pulled Red Shoes into KENTA’s path and the ref took a bump to the floor. KENTA grabbed his briefcase. Togo tried to take it away from him but KENTA nailed him with it.
KENTA used a briefcase shot on EVIL. KENTA hit a top rope double stomp as the ref was revived. KENTA hit a busaiku knee for a near fall.
EVIL fought out of a GTS attemptand sent KENTA into the buckle. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. EVIL hit a lariat for another near fall. KENTA fought off Everything is EVIL and hit a series of palm strikes at 15 minutes.
Togo jumped on the apron. KENTA pulled him in the ring. KENTA tried for a GTS on Togo. EVIL shielded the ref and hit a low blow, then used Everything is EVIL for the pin.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: SANADA defeated Tetsuya Naito (27:08)
This was a great main event. There were some scary moments towards the end when both guys were slick with sweat and there were nearly some inadvertent head drops. SANADA got his first win of the tournament and this set up a potential challenger for Naito later in the year.
They started with some mat work. SANADA fought for a cross armbreaker but couldn’t get it. Naito used a headlock but SANADA used a headscissors escape.
SANADA used a hammerlock to set up a side headlock. SANADA broke cleanly against the ropes but Naito did not. Naito hit a kick and SANADA rolled outside. Naito went for his tranquilo pose but SANADA pulled him to the floor. SANADA hit a pose back in the ring instead.
They teased locking up but Naito wanted to brawl instead. Naito hit some strikes and a one-legged dropkick. On the floor, Naito sent SANADA into the barricade. SANADA beat the count back in at 17.
Naito hit a neckbreaker and used a crucifix. SANADA forced a rope break. Naito hit a slingshot dropkick in the corner before taunting SANADA by stepping on his face. SANADA fought out of a neckbreaker attempt and hit a dropkick, taking out Naito’s left leg.
SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick and a follow-up plancha before firing up the crowd. SANADA avoided a flying forearm. He fought for a suplex but Naito hit an arm drag out of it. Naito hit a swing DDT and SANADA sold his neck.
SANADA avoided a top rope frankensteiner and hit a dropkick while Naito was seated on the top rope. SANADA drove Naito off the top rope into his knee, then used a tiger suplex with a bridge for a near fall at the 15 minute call.
Naito blocked a Skull End attempt and hit a spinebuster. Naito hit some short elbows to the neck, setting up for a later Destino attempt. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall. Naito tried Gloria but SANADA blocked. Naito hit Esperanza.
Naito went for a Destino but SANADA blocked and hit a TKO into a double down at 20 minutes.
They traded strikes from their knees. They climbed to their feet and continued to trade. The crowd really got into this striking battle.
SANADA used a moonsault press to set up Skull End. He used a spinning Skull End before dropping to the mat and adding a bodyscissors to the Skull End. Naito popped his head out of the hold twice, but SANADA went right back to it both times.
SANADA gave up the hold and went up top. SANADA missed a moonsault. Both men were still down selling at the 25 minute call.
Naito slipped on a Destino attempt. He escaped the Skull End coounter attempt and hit Destino. SANADA kicked out.
SANADA blocked another Destino attempt. Naito tried Gloria but stumbled and almost dropped SANADA on his head.
SANADA hit a Destino for a near fall, then hit two moonsaults for the win.
**********
Post-match, SANADA offered an LIJ fist bump. Naito accepted the gesture, then left the ring and the mic to SANADA. SANADA closed the show with a promo. They turned the house lights down and the crowd lit up the arena with their phones.
The participants and blocks for this year’s G1 Climax tournament has been announced.
The biggest news coming from the announcement is that several wrestlers who have been unable to travel to Japan due to COVID-19 restrictions have made it in for the tournament. The tour will be the first in months for the likes of Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Jay White, KENTA, and Juice Robinson.
KENTA, Cobb, and White have been working shows for New Japan of America, namely the New Japan Strong shows that have aired over the summer.
It also cements several rematches from recent high profile feuds. EVIL and Tetsuya Naito, who just headlined Summer Struggle in Jingu, share the same block. Kazuchika Okada and Yujiro Takahashi are also in the same block and have been feuding for the last several months.
Here are the blocks and participants in this year’s tournament:
A Block:
Kota Ibushi
Tomohiro Ishii
Kazuchika Okada
Shingo Takagi
Yujiro Takahashi
Taichi
Minoru Suzuki
Jeff Cobb
Will Ospreay
Jay White
B Block:
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hirooki Goto
Toru Yano
YOSHI-HASHI
SANADA
Tetsuya Naito
EVIL
Zack Sabre Jr.
Juice Robinson
KENTA
The G1 Climax tournament this year will start on September 19, with the finals taking place at Sumo Hall on October 18.
NJPW has detailed the stipulations and voting methods for the upcoming KOPW qualifying matches that will take place on August 26.
The company held a press conference this morning that was streamed on NJPW World. Kazuchika Okada was at the press conference to announce the stipulations the participants have chosen for their upcoming matches:
Satoshi Kojima has chosen a finisher’s only match, where Kojima’s lariat or El Desperado’s Pinche Loco will lead to a win. Desperado has chosen the opposite, a no finisher’s match where the lariat or Pinche Loco will lead to a disqualification.
Toru Yano has chosen a two count pinfall match, where a two count pinfall will lead to a win. BUSHI has chosen a five count ring out match, where wrestlers can only win by count out after the referee’s five count.
SHO has chosen a submission match, while SANADA has chosen a no pinfalls, give up only match. Therefore, this match has already been determined to be a submission match.
For Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Okada has chosen a 1 vs. 3 handicap match. Yujiro has chosen a lumberjack match where belts can be used as weapons.
NJPW Global has putoutpolls for the three matches with stipulations still to be determined. The results will be announced next Monday, August 24.
The winners will face each other in a fatal four way match at Summer Struggle in Jingu on August 29, where the winner will become the first provisional champion. Whoever is champion at the end of the year will be named the 2020 KOPW champion.
