NJPW G1 Climax 30 night 13 results: Okada vs. Shingo Takagi
Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji
Both tried for a ground-based advance in the opening moments. Uemura turned his attention to the arm of Tsuji. Tsuji employed a headlock which allowed him to take the match to the mat. Both men were on equal footing in this domain before Uemura regained arm control.
Uemura maintained arm control for some time before Tsuji was forced to slam him. A Tsuji splash followed, but yet again Uemura was able to slip into control of Tsuji’s arm. Tsuji interrupted the torment of his arm with a dropkick.
Following the dropkick, Tsuji locked in the Boston crab. After a struggle, Uemura crawled to the ropes. Uemura again snatched the arm of Tsuji and hoisted him into a double arm suplex. Uemura then pinned Tsuji for the win.
A fun opener with an excellent display of systematic dismantling, a la Jay White. There are few better ways to open a show.
G1 Climax A Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Tomohiro Ishii
A collar-and-elbow tie-up favoring Ishii started the match but the strength of Cobb allowed him to force Ishii into the ropes. The two then entered a feeling out series featuring ducks and some moderate striking.
An Ishii shoulder tackle left Cobb laying for just a moment. Ishii and Cobb started a strike exchange featuring many an Earth-shaking chop. Cobb was able to hook the leg of Ishii after falling to a chop. With the leg in hand, Cobb threw Ishii far into the air with an exploder suplex. A gargantuan backdrop followed.
Cobb tried for a couple of moves that met resistance and an eventual Ishii reversal in the way of a brainbuster. Ishii then started to unload strikes onto Cobb who was showing resistance only in emotion.
Cobb crumbled. The referee began to check on Cobb but Ishii still tried to follow up. After Ishii hoisted Cobb to his feet, Cobb caught Ishii with a German suplex. Ishii returned the favor.
Cobb then landed a ram-like headbutt to the lower jaw of Ishii sending both men crashing to the mat.
Cobb hit a lariat and a standing moonsault that only yielded a two count. Ishii then connected with an enzuigiri to effectively reset the match.
A closed fist from Cobb drew the attention of the referee and allowed Ishii to land a giant lariat. A brief struggle on the mat led to an Ishii German suplex. Another lariat resulted in an Ishii near fall.
Ishii slowly lifted Cobb for a brainbuster only for Cobb to slip out and land another toss. Ishii immediately powered back to his feet. Another headbutt left both men back on the mat.
Ishii and Cobb then entered another brief offensive exchange, but it was Cobb who would hit a pop-up powerbomb. He immediately followed with Tour of the Islands. Cobb folded Ishii up and secured the win.
This match was fast and uncompromising. If there ever was a match deserving of the car wreck metaphor, it was this one.
G1 Climax A Block: Jay White defeated Yujiro Takahashi
Following White’s signal, Takahashi assumed the position flat on his back. White teased the pin a couple of times but Takahashi kicked out when White actually tried for one.
Takahashi then popped up to his feet and tried rolling White up. Takahashi tried the same thing again before hitting White with a forearm, a low blow, and Miami Shine. White kicked out from the pin attempt that followed.
Enter Gedo. A White low blow and a Blade Runner allowed White to secure the win.
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Post-match, White grabbed a chair and threatened to hit Takahashi, but Gedo talked him down from the cliff.
I guess no one bothered to tell Takahashi he was eliminated from the tournament and that White is supposed to be the head of his faction. Oh well.
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G1 Climax A Block: Will Ospreay defeated Taichi
Ospreay tried to bait Taichi into showing interest, but Taichi was not biting. Taichi, instead of engaging in the match, fixed his hair. Ospreay messed it up. This gave Taichi all the motivation he would need. A quick kick to the midsection from Taichi led to a rana from Ospreay. Taichi fell to the outside. Once both were outside, Taichi hit Ospreay in the gut with a hammer before choking him with its handle.
Back inside, Taichi continued at the throat of Ospreay, pressing his hands across it. Ospreay eventually was able to use his speed to land a kick and gain some control.
Taichi rolled to the outside and was hit with the Ospreay special. An Ospreay flying palm, shooting star press, and 540 Corkscrew Senton Bomb followed. Taichi reset the match with an enzuigiri.
Ospreay tried for the Oscutter but was caught with a Taichi suplex. The two climbed to the top rope and a brief struggle led to a Cheeky Nandos Kick from Ospreay.
Ospreay then ascended, dove for the 450, but was stopped by the knees of Taichi. A high kick and a powerbomb left Taichi with a near fall and without pants.
Ospreay immediately kicked Taichi in the back of the head. Ospreay tried for the Oscutter but was kicked mid-flight.
Taichi hoisted Ospreay for Black Mephisto but lost control. Ospreay tried for Storm Breaker but suffered the same fate. A second Black Mephisto/Storm Breaker failed struggle occurred.
Ospreay hit the ropes and landed Oscutter only for Taichi to kick out. Ospreay hit the Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker for the pinfall victory.
This match’s contents in no way justified its length. It lacked any sort of tangible tension and therefore was a hard watch.
G1 Climax A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Minoru Suzuki
They approached each other with open hands, raised as if they were heading into pankration. Both men traded blows before Suzuki secured a takedown. Ibushi found the ropes before any harm could be done. Suzuki grabbed the arm of Ibushi but it was Ibushi who scored a takedown in retort.
Both men gained control of each other’s ankle from the mat and rolled in and out of pressure before finding the ropes. Instead of breaking, the two just began kicking each other.
Ibushi sent Suzuki to the outside with a kick. While outside, Suzuki was thrown into the barricade. Ibushi then returned to the ring but Suzuki, instead of joining Ibushi, traveled to the top of the ramp and dared God to duel in no man’s land. Ibushi accepted and the two began beating each other down in front of the entranceway.
Suzuki won the exchange and returned to the ring mid-count. Suzuki stopped the count in time for Ibushi to return to the ring.
Suzuki began to strike down Ibushi once back in the ring. A dropkick from Ibushi reversed the pace of the match.
Ibushi began to unload kicks onto a willing Suzuki. In the middle of the kick storm, Suzuki released a roar. Suzuki rose from his semi-seated position and dropped Ibushi with a single forearm. Suzuki waited for Ibushi to rise to his feet before the two began discharging strikes.
With both men staggered, a laugh-filled barrage of back and forth forearms and slaps ensued.
Ibushi was then caught in the clutches of Suzuki’s sleeper and nearly a Gotch piledriver. Instead, Ibushi rolled through and tried for the Kamigoye. Suzuki caught Ibushi’s leg in a Boston crab. Ibushi fought free and hit a standing Kamigoye which he followed with another typical Kamigoye.
Ibushi then folded a smiling Suzuki up and pinned him in the middle of the ring.
This was fantastic from bell to bell. Each act of the match was distinct yet still worked towards a central, integrated whole.
G1 Climax A Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Shingo Takagi
They entered a typical, inconsequential feeling out process in the opening moments — waistlock, wristlock, collar-and-elbow, side takedown, etc.
Two Takagi shoulder blocks forced Okada to dig deep for a kick. Okada worked Takagi in the corner before a scoop slam. Takagi retreated to the outside and avoided an Okada plancha.
Takagi then hit Okada with a DDT on the floor, before driving Okada into every surface available to him. Takagi continued his offense for a considerable duration inside of the ring.
Okada began to fight his way back into the match following some taunting kicks from Takagi. A flapjack left Okada in a favorable position. A hip attack and DDT from Okada furthered his advantage.
This was short-lived as a struggle ensued, and it was Takagi who emerged from the chaos with a drop from the fireman’s carry. A similar scuffle followed almost immediately, but this time it was Okada who emerged from the fog with an air raid crash.
They traded forearms after both men returned to their feet. Okada, after being given an inch of space, landed a dropkick that sent Takagi crashing to the outside. Okada then took to seeking justice, driving Takagi into the outside elements before planting him into the floor via a DDT.
Back in, Takagi was able to resist the advance of Okada, landing a lariat. Takagi tried hoisting Okada onto his back but was placed into the Money Clip. Takagi fought free and landed the Noshigami and a wheelbarrow suplex. Okada found the rope to break the pin attempt that followed.
Takagi hit the ropes but was stopped mid-sprint with Okada’s dropkick. A tombstone piledriver immediately followed leaving Okada with a clear opportunity to lock in the Money Clip. Takagi crawled to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Okada climbed to the top rope and was cut off by Takagi. Takagi landed a superplex which he followed with a running lariat into the corner. Okada bounced from the corner with an attempt at recovery. Okada landed a dropkick and Takagi an elbow, leaving both men grounded.
Okada tried hoisting Takagi up for the tombstone but Takagi fought free. Takagi then began leveling Okada with forearms but failed in delivering Made in Japan.
Okada tried for a quick pin and landed a tombstone after Takagi kicked free. Okada then locked in the Money Clip once more before landing a Rainmaker. Takagi powered up following the near finish and landed a Rainmaker of his own.
Takagi landed Made in Japan and nearly pinned Okada in the following attempt. A Pumping Bomber followed and yielded Takagi the same result.
Takagi hoisted Okada up for Last of the Dragon but Okada fought free. Okada hit a lariat and locked in the Money Clip again.
Takagi fought and fought but eventually faded to the clutch of Okada. Okada’s Money Clip caused Takagi to pass out, leaving Okada victorious.
Okada matches still struggle in the opening act due to the reduced input of the crowd. The match’s climax and falling action were great even with the lackluster opening.
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G1 Climax 30 Standings —
A Block
- Kazuchika Okada — 10 points (5-2)
- Kota Ibushi — 10 points (5-2)
- Jay White — 10 points (5-2)
- Will Ospreay — 10 points (5-2)
- Tomohiro Ishii — 6 points (3-4)
- Shingo Takagi — 6 points (3-4)
- Minoru Suzuki — 6 points (3-4)
- Taichi — 6 points (3-4)
- Jeff Cobb — 6 points (3-4)
- Yujiro Takahashi — 0 points (0-7) *eliminated*
B Block
- Tetsuya Naito — 10 points (5-1)
- EVIL — 8 points (4-2)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi — 6 points (3-3)
- Juice Robinson — 6 points (3-3)
- Zack Sabre Jr. — 6 points (3-3)
- Toru Yano — 6 points (3-3)
- Hirooki Goto — 6 points (3-3)
- SANADA — 6 points (3-3)
- KENTA — 4 points (2-4)
- YOSHI-HASHI — 2 points (1-5) *eliminated*