Andrew’s G1 Climax 30 B Block Results & Match Ratings: Day 10

Last day of B Block action, SANADA not only kept himself from oblivion in the tournament; he helped everyone by hanging a loss on the block leader. Now we get to see if Cold Skull can keep some momentum, or if ZSJ is going to ruin any semblance of a comeback story.

We also get Goto coming off a quick loss, looking to hopefully not be made to look dumb again; but he’s facing Yano, so who knows. Then, even though we did see it last year, the concept of KENTA versus Tanahashi is still very fun. Someone that was considered a standard bearer of NOAH against New Japan’s Ace, it’s a story that writes itself.

Let’s see what we get!

Ratings:

• Hirooki Goto vs Toru Yano: Goto wins via Goto-Shiki @0:18 – N/A
• Zack Sabre Jr vs SANADA: SANADA wins via Moonsault @14:31 – *** ½
• Juice Robinson vs EVIL: EVIL wins via Everything is Evil @15:35 – *** ¼
• YOSHI-HASHI vs Tetsuya Naito: Naito wins via Destino @24:43 – *** ½
• Hiroshi Tanahashi vs KENTA: Tanahashi wins via Texas Cloverleaf @23:41 – ****

Results:

Hirooki Goto vs Toru Yano

Just look at the .gif, the .gif is the match. You’re welcome.

Lol this is the entire Yano vs Goto match, in one gif https://t.co/YCKTFJJeYE#njpw #G1CLIMAX30 pic.twitter.com/4IpOx82mEx

— Ciaràn (@CiaranRH) October 6, 2020

Zack Sabre Jr vs SANADA

Things start quickly with cradle attempts, counter holds, a locomotion cradle spot which ends up being very close for SANADA. These two rarely disappoint in their matches, and the familiarity is very obvious at the onset.

The hold/counter hold rhythm keeps up for a while. One attempts a submission, the other counters and goes into their version of the same move. So it’s almost an “anything you can do, I can do better”. ZSJ does grind things to a halt with getting the submission advantage, but SANADA eventually finds a way out, and ZSJ powders.

SANADA finds an advantage when he forces a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock, and starts applying his speed and power. But a Plancha to the outside, allowed ZSJ to dodge and then tie SANADA up, swinging the momentum again. ZSJ continues to apply his rolodex of submissions and variations before SANADA powers through it, just to get to the ropes.

Beautiful sequence of Skull End attempt, countered into a the Wrist Clutch Prawn, countered into Japanese Leg Clutch, countered into European Clutch, but only for 2. SANADA manages to pull out the Japanese Leg Clutch in a pinning predicament, but Zack counters into a Twisted Sleeper, SANADA manages to power through it, use the ropes to assist his TKO, Moonsault, and SANADA gets another win!

Juice Robinson vs EVIL

Well I guess we get to see if Juice is on a mission from God, cause EVIL isn’t an easy draw.

EVIL starts the attack before Juice is done taking off his entrance attire, as is the crappy heel tradition. Juice gets a little space, is happy the crowd know the stomp & clap he’s been trying to get them to do, but then Dick Togo gets involved. He takes Marty Asami off to the side to discuss purchasing a new car or something, and then EVIL pulls out chairs and removes the turnbuckle. So Juice is in peril before the 5 minute mark.

Juice gets driven into the exposed turnbuckle, but starts to fight back a little, hits a Leg Lariat, EVIL sells the “WTF just hit me look very well”. The match gets a little closer at this point where Juice stays in control for most of the subsequent exchange, but EVIL still stays alive with timely counters away from Pulp Friction or higher impact moves. That is until Juice hits a Superplex, holds on and goes for a Jackhammer, only for 2.

The referee distraction chairshot gives EVIL the upper hand again. Darkness falls, but only for a near fall. Juice fires up, the crowd gets behind him, back and forth Pulp Friction attempts, and that turns into shoving EVIL into Togo and then hitting Juice Box for 2. Right hand close fist, Left Hand from – oh never mind Togo distracts Marty with more car deals and it’s a Low Blow from EVIL. Everything is Evil follows that up…and Juice gets screwed.

YOSHI-HASHI vs Tetsuya Naito

Alright so we had a nice article written by Val, about YOSHI-HASHI’s current ascent on the card. But I’m still no fan of him or the implied story. Yes, 2020 has contained HASHI’s best work, but this is his 12^th year…it’s a bit late to the party and a low bar honestly. So I guess we’ll see how much faith New Japan is placing in this new HASHI push.

Things start close, HASHI tries to get cheeky with doing a bad mockery of the LIJ fist, goes for a Baseball Slide and Naito just walks off. HASHI gets in some offense, but Naito turns it around when they come back in the ring. Naito seems to just be going through the motions, which looks more like disrespect towards HASHI. The Full Nelson Leg Lock, a couple cute moves, but nothing huge. Naito goes for his Tornado DDT, but HASHI counters into a Neckbreaker and starts trying to prove himself.

Head Hunter, that horrible hanging Dropkick, and a Senton Dive keep the train on the tracks for HASHI. He comes back in, hits a Head Hunter from the corner and seems to have control, but Naito starts making things difficult. Mule Kick from HASHI as he tries a Powerbomb next, but now Naito decides to try and Frankensteiner’s him into the corner. Quick Kick, Combinacion Cabron, and we’re looking for more Naito offense! Naito tries a corner move, but HASHI counters with a running Sitout Powerbomb, and then goes for the Butterfly Lock, but Naito gets out.

Kick to the gut, Torando DDT, and Naito has earned himself a breather. Rope Assisted Reverse DDT, and Gloria give Naito a near fall.  Destino attempt one, shoved off, Spinebuster from Naito and then he tries Destino again, but HASHI counters with a lariat. Naito seems to be realizing he took HASHI a little too lightly, and we get a strike exchange, that HASHI gets the eventual best of, punctuates it with a Shoulder Breaker and another Butterfly Lock attempt. Naito sits in the Butterfly Lock for a WHILE, but it’s one of those moments that doesn’t feel as tense as it should. More like if you’re playing with a younger sibling and you realize you shouldn’t have let it get this far, so you just question how you make life decisions.

Naito fights to the ropes, HASHI looks to try and finish but Naito fights back with Back Elbows. HASHI hits a lariat, tries his Fisherman Buster, but the Destino counter happens. Naito goes for true Destino, but HASHI counters. After some more struggle, HASHI attempts Karma, but Destino counters out of it. Naito finally hits the true Destino, and puts HASHI away in a much closer match than most expected.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs KENTA

We start with a slow feeling out process. KENTA pushes Tanahashi to the ropes, then messes with his hair before the mostly clean break. Tanahashi whips KENTA into the ropes, and KENTA powders, taunts the crowd by telling them to boo (which is illegal during pandemic rules) and Tanahashi hits a Baseball Slide, brings him back in and starts to pepper in some strikes. KENTA goes back out, Tana air guitar taunts, so KENTA slides in, Chop Block and a few strikes to the knee before KENTA shows us he dabbles in air bass a little, no pick, he’s the pure finger picking bassist.

After driving Tana’s legs into the post, KENTA applies a Figure Four, and continues to focus the leg. So when Tana gets the rope break, KENTA goes back to the same leg plan. After the second rope break, KENTA takes Tana outside, laces his leg in the barricade and kicks at the left knee he’s been focusing. Tana, not being one to not fight back, absorbs a lot of punishment on the knees, but hits a Dragon Screw and then his middle rope Senton, for a near fall. KENTA stops a Sling Blade attempt with a boot to the face, and dumps Tanahashi with a snap Powerslam.

Tornado Neck Rope Lariat from KENTA, followed by the Diving Lariat, gives KENTA more time to lock in the Figure Four to focus on the knee. Tana gets to the ropes, then there is an apron struggle. KENTA tries to Suplex Tana back into the ring, Tana fights, bring KENTA out to the apron, forearm exchange until KENTA drops down and Dragon Screws Tanahashi off the apron to the floor.

Tana beats the 20 count, and looks to have a shot, but KENTA blocks the Dragon Suplex by kicking at the bad knee, Figure Four again, and then we get some personality. Tana tries to slap KENTA, but he just makes faces and goads The Ace. KENTA then loads up for Busaiku Knee, but Tana catches him with a Sling Blade, and the crowd tries to rally Tanahashi back to his feet. They both get to their feet and start the strike exchange, KENTA starts getting the best of things when he pulls out the Spinning Back Chop, follows things to ropes, goes for the Green Killer, but Tana counters with a Dragon Screw in the ropes, followed by a Grounded Dragon Screw in the middle of the ring and then Texas Cloverleaf, but KENTA gets to the ropes.

KENTA causes a deliberate and sloppy ref bump which turns into a ref Splash when Tana falls on Red Shoes and KENTA splashes Tana for good measure. This is all to set up the briefcase shot and a little more mocking of KENTA that the crowd can’t make audible noise. PK and Busaiku Knee after the illegal weapon, only gets a near fall. Tana continues to fight back through the pain and heel tactics. Knee to the face, Go 2 Sleep set up, then – TWIST AND SHOUT counter! Not 1, but 3 Twist and Shouts.

Sling Blade from Tanahashi, Aces High, and then…oh he goes to the Texas Cloverleaf again. KENTA starts crawling to the ropes, Tana pulls him back and sits deeper into, causing KENTA to tap out.

Overall Score: 7.5/10

This was an interesting show since there were a few different styles of match. A blink and you miss Yano match, mat wrestling clinic between SANADA and ZSJ, babyface looks like a dweeb by losing to heel tactics with Juice and EVIL, underdog gaining respect with YOSHI-HASHI and Naito; then lastly the struggling babyface overcomes a cheating opponent through pure power of will.

Now as I said a little during my review, the HASHI match hit me more as Naito playing with his food instead of HASHI coming up to meet Naito’s level. KENTA and Tanahashi ended with a small stare down which makes me think we could see Tanahashi challenge KENTA for his IWGP US Title rights to challenge contract. So if that were to headline a November or December bigger show before Wrestle Kingdom, I think that’s a great match.

Anyway, time to see the standings!

B Block Standings:

1. Tetsuya Naito: (4-1) – 8 Points
2. Toru Yano: (3-2) – 6 Points
3. Juice Robinson: (3-2) – 6 Points
4. EVIL: (3-2) – 6 Points
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi: (3-2) – 6 Points
6. KENTA: (2-3) – 4 Points
7. Zack Sabre Jr: (2-3) – 4 Points
8. SANADA: (2-3) – 4 Points
9. Hirooki Goto: (2-3) – 4 Points
10. YOSHI-HASHI: (1-4) – 2 Points (Most likely Eliminated)