Mathew’s NJPW G1 Climax 30 A Block Results & Review: Day 13

Welcome back to the G1 Climax as we have some exciting stuff for you during this show. We got two more shows after this one, so we could be seeing a shift in the standings. We could potentially have a chance of an eight-way tie if certain people win their matches here or, we could have more eliminations.

Which one is going to happen?

Let’s find out as we…dive right in.

Star Rating System:

• 0 Stars: Dave Meltzer
• 1 Star: Vince Russo
• 2 Stars: Tony Schiavone
• 3 Stars: Eric Bischoff
• 4 Stars: Bruce Prichard
• 5 Stars: Jim Cornette

G1 Climax A Block Match
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb

Review: Our first match takes off with a rematch from B Block last year with Tomohiro Ishii taking on Jeff Cobb. When the two fought each other last time, Ishii came out the winner and if he can do that again, he can still stay in the game to advance with the others. If Cobb can get a win here, however, he’ll be able to eliminate Ishii in the process. Does Ishii get his fourth win or does the Pitbull’s run end here?

The two lock up and when Jeff gets Ishii to the ropes, he claps his chest and tells him to bring it. The two go at it with chops and strikes but Ishii gets him down with a shoulder tackle as kips right back up, hitting a few forearms before Ishii gets him with a Backdrop. Cobb with a little bit of offense of his own when he tosses him over his shoulders with an Exploder Suplex and sent that man far. Much better encounter during this match and this is the part of Cobb I want to see more often and if he did show this side of him, he could go far. When one does something, the other tries to top it and this was just a fun little hoss fight with great performances by both of these men.

Ishii would deliver a headbutt to Cobb after being tossed over but Cobb responds with a stiffer headbutt of his own, getting the Stone Pitbull down to the mat! Cobb Superkicks him and goes for a German Suplex but Ishii kicked out. Ishii would try to hit a Lariat but Cobb doesn’t fall down before hitting a Lariat of his own to get Ishii down again, topping it off with a Moonsault but Ishii kicked out again. Cobb goes for the Tour of the Islands but Ishii hits Cobb with a Jumping Kick to get them both down. Cobb blocks a Lariat to punch him in the face but Ishii would hit a Lariat to get Cobb down finally. Cobb attempted another Exploder Suplex but Ishii got behind him to hit a Dragon Suplex! Ishii gets him up for the Vertical Drop but Cobb reverses it to hit the Athletic-Plex! The two exchange strikes again until they would headbutt each other to make them both fall down. Ishii hits Cobb with another Lariat and runs after him only to be caught with a Pop-up Powerbomb but Cobb doesn’t stop there as he pulls him up to hit the Tour of the Islands, getting the victory and eliminating Ishii in the process!

Rating: Bruce Prichard

G1 Climax A Block Match
Jay White vs. Yujiro Takahashi

Review: Next match is up as we have Bullet Club vs Bullet Club with Jay White taking on Yujiro Takahashi. Today is also Jay’s birthday and the gift he wants to get is another win here to be at the top of the rankings. Yujiro isn’t going to stand down and EVIL has been rather difficult to deal with in Bullet Club and dragged Yujiro into the mix to mess with Jay’s head. What will this outcome be?

Jay isn’t taking this seriously as he doesn’t even have his gear on, only wearing training clothes for the match. Yujiro just smiles at Jay and would lay down in the middle of the mat, letting Jay pin him. We get brilliant heelwork right here with Jay going for the pin but gets off after one, messing with the referee. He would do it a couple more times before Yujiro kicked out at two this time around. The two chat for a bit before Yujiro laid down again for Jay to cover him but he kicks out again, causing Jay to get a little irritated at the Pimp. Jay got distracted and was rolled up by Yujiro twice and hits him with the Incolle Slam and goes to pin Jay but kicks out! Yujiro pushes Jay to the ref, stopping himself before the collision but gets hit with a low blow before being rolled up again for another two count! Yujiro picks him up for the Miami Shine but Jay kicked out again! Gedo distracts the referee while Jay hits Yujiro with a low blow of his own, and then hits the Blade Runner to get the victory!

Rating: Eric Bischoff

G1 Climax A Block Match
Will Ospreay vs. Taichi

Review: We’re now at the halfway point as we have Will Ospreay taking on Taichi. With one elimination happening in the first match, another one could happen here if Taichi ends up losing his match here. If Taichi does win, he ties up with Will and the others to stay in a little bit longer. Does another elimination occur or does big match Taichi get a victory?

Will grabs Taichi’s arm while holding the ropes and Taichi kicks him in the gut, raking him in the eyes after to get some heelwork in there. Taichi misses the Axe Bomber and is caught with a Hurricanrana, sending him to the outside and does his little psyche out dive, posing in the ring like that cocky little prick. Once Will is outside, Taichi has him right where he wants him and attacks him with the hammer for the ring bell and chokes him out with it. The referee gets to them after being shoved as Taichi chokes Will with the wire before letting go. Much like Suzuki targeting Will’s arms in the last match, Taichi seems to be going for the throat this time around and that is smart to go for more damage, potentially choking him out quicker. If these two were still in the junior division, this match wouldn’t go over so well but with how they are now as heavyweight’s, turns out to be a much better encounter with how they work to make it more entertaining.

Will hits a series of moves to Taichi to get him down as he does the Scoop Slam, goes to the second rope to attempt a Moonsault but Taichi rolled out of the way twice but was caught with a Running Shooting Star Press, and tops it off with a Corkscrew Moonsault from the second rope but Taichi kicked out at two. Taichi attempted a Backdrop but Will fights off him, backflipping off his body but is caught with a Jumping Kick by Taichi. Will attempts his Handspring Kick but Taichi catches him with the Dangerous Backdrop! Taichi gets Will to the top rope and it looked like he was going for the Black Memphisto off the top but Will rolled over him, placed Taichi’s head on the turnbuckle post to kick it in and they go down. Will goes up top now to hit the 450 Splash but Taichi puts his knees up before he lands and hits an Axe Bomber on the back of his head right after. It looked like Taichi was gotta hit another Axe Bomber but Will flips over his arm to attempt a Powerbomb but Taichi reverses it into the Last Ride and pins him but Will kicked out! Taichi strips and goes for the Superkick but Ospreay hits the Marufuji kick after hitting him with a Superkick first. Will goes for the Oscutter but Taichi catches him with the kick in midair. Taichi attempts the Black Memphisto but Will reveres to try and hit the Stormbreaker but Taichi fights out of it, Will ducking the Superkick again as he catches Taichi with the Oscutter this time but Taichi kicked out! Will hits the Hidden Blade and picks him up to hit the Stormbreaker, getting the victory, and Taichi is also eliminated! Great match, stop doubting Taichi everyone.

Highlights from “#G1CLIMAX30 Night13” (Oct 10th)
Watch full matches on New Japan World!

Will Ospreay (4-2) takes on @taichi0319 (3-3)!

WIll Ospreay join the top at ten? Or will Taichi keep himself in the hunt?

WATCH NOW▶︎https://t.co/Tj7UBINesh#njpw #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/zGqeG9SJRo

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) October 10, 2020

Rating: Bruce Prichard

G1 Climax A Block Match
Minoru Suzuki vs. Kota Ibushi

Review: It’s now time for our semi-main event as Minoru Suzuki takes on Kota Ibushi. We got two people tied for first place and could potentially be a third if Kota gets a win here. Suzuki is in a bad spot where if he loses this match, he’ll be the third one to get eliminated in this show but a win here helps him out greatly. Does Ibushi go back up to first place or does the king stay on top?

We’re getting an MMA approach for this match as the two have their hands up, trying to land some body shot onto each other, Suzuki backing him up into a corner to land some blow in the midsection. This would eventually lead to Suzuki getting him down on the mat, trying to get a submission on him but would get to the ropes, backing up to let Ibushi get up. The two would continue with the MMA type of fighting with Ibuhi getting on top of Suzuki to land some strikes and attempts to apply a submission but Suzuki gets control again, getting a Leglock on him while Ibushi tries to kick him off. We all know Suzuki can wrestle this type of style but this also shows Ibushi could try and keep up with him while trying to do his style in the match as well. It’s just nice to see the first five minutes of the match basically groundwork with some good wrestling. Ibushi would get Suzuki thrown out of the ring and tossed him into the guardrail before getting back in the ring while Suzuki just walked to the entrance ramp, telling Ibushi to come to him and bring it. The two would eventually get back in the ring after their little brawl by the entrance, Ibushi almost getting counted out.

Ibushi would hit a couple of punches on Suzuki’s gut but he no-sold it to hit a stiff forearm, sending Ibushi down. Suzuki kicks Ibushi in the chest but sits back up to taunt him, only to be kicked down again but Ibushi sits back up again to be kicked down again, and he stays down! Suzuki gets him into the corner and kicks his face in before attempting to flip him over but Ibushi held his ground, pushing him into the ropes, and catches him with a Dropkick. Ibushi lands some kicks on the king but he doesn’t fall down until he does, now getting some revenge with kicks to the chest as Suzuki sits back up without fully falling down, having this angry look on his face. Ibushi hits another Penalty Kick but the killer grandpa is still up but Ibushi gets him down finally after one more kick. Ibushi lands some kicks on Suzuki once he gets back up, doesn’t sell it again as he laughs and punches Ibushi with a forearm and he went down quickly! The two strike at each other again and Ibushi hits another kick, Suzuki quickly getting back up to forearm him again! The two started laughing at each other once they got up, hitting each other back and forth with slaps and forearms until Suzuki ducked to apply the Rear-Naked Choke, turning him to attempt the Gotch Style Piledriver but Ibushi flipped him over to attempt the Kamigoye but Suzuki catches his leg, rolling him over for the Boston Crab! Ibushi’s leg slips out to kick him off, going for the Bome Ye but Suzuki catches him to attempt the Boston Crab but Ibushi hits a standing Kamigoye! Ibushi quickly sets him up to hit the Kamigoye and pins Suzuki, getting him eliminated now!

Rating: Bruce Prichard and a quarter

G1 Climax A Block Match
Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi

Review: Time for our main event as we have Kazuchika Okada takes on Shingo Takagi. This is also a first-time-ever match taking place with the former ace of Dragon Gate taking on the current ace of New Japan in this next dream match. If Shingo loses here, he’ll also be eliminated like all the others was tonight but if he can beat Okada, it’ll be another big name he takes out during G1 as he did with Ibushi. If Okada does win this though, we’ll only be down to four people who can actually win the block. What will the result be?

The two start off with chain wrestling with nobody getting the upper hand over the other and it was nice of the commentators to bring up Shingo’s Dragon Gate history during this little sequence. Okada gets the first advantage when he had Shingo by the ropes, tapping his chest like he normally does buy Shingo comes in hot, tackling him down twice to show he’s not to be underestimated. Okada kicks his head in before Shingo rolled out of the ring, grabbing a chair from the crowd to sit down, telling him to give him a minute. Where has this Okada been during this entire G1? This is was his best performance in the tournament and he could’ve been doing that this entire time since he seems like his old self. Okada gets Shingo with a Neckbreaker and gets a few hits in before Shingo gets him out of the ring and hits a DDT on the floor. Any other show, this easily screams IWGP Heavyweight Championship main event and that is exactly the type of quality they produce with us right here. Shingo is a star, I don’t care what anyone says and he deserves to be on the top of the card for these shows. After throwing Okada around the outside of the ring, Shingo now gets some control and it makes him look big because he’s just dominating their top guy while making each other look good since Shingo is the threat here as he should be.

Shingo would attempt the Pumping Bomber but Okada catches him on his shoulders as Shingo fought off him to attempt a German, Okada fighting him off and ran into him, only to be caught with the Death Valley Driver. Shingo would kick Okada’s head a few times to make him get up and would go for the Blood Fall but Okada reverses it into the Reverse Neckbraker, getting the dragon down. The two hit each other before Shingo tosses him into the corner with Okada trying to kick him but Shingo caught his leg to try and hit a Pumping Bomber as Okada ducked, setting him to the top rope and hits a Dropkick to make him go to the outside. Shingo attempts to get some offense in but Okada fights him off, tossing him into the guardrail before having him having over the ring apron, hitting a DDT onto the floor! Okada gets him in the ring as he attempts to lift him up for the Tombstone but Shingo keeps his feet on the ground, hitting Okada with a Lariat close range. Shingo goes for the Blood Fall again but Okada reversed it into the Money Clip for a moment, attempting to get a Backslide in as Shingo lifts him for the Blood Fall this time around. Shingo lifts him up Wheel Barrel position and hits a German Suplex as Okada kicked out at two!

Shingo delivers some elbows onto Okada’s neck and chest before he attempts a Sliding Lariat but Okada gets up to hit his Dropkick! Okada would hit the Tombstone this time and applies the Money Clip right away, Shingo not wanting to tap as he hits Okada a few times before sliding his foot onto the ropes to break the hold. Okada climbs to the top rope and Shingo catches up to him, landed a few hits on him before climbing up with him to hit a Brainbuster off the top rope! Okada would hit a Dropkick onto Okada but Shingo rolls up to hit a Sliding Pumping Bomber! Shingo would lift Okada up for The Last of the Dragon but Okada fights out of it, flipping him over to attempt a pinfall but Shingo kicked out of it. Okada would then quickly catch him for the Spinning Tombstone and applies the Money Clip again, Shingo is struggling now to get to the ropes but Okada Backslides him over, holding his arm to pull him in for a Lariat! Okada tries to Lariat him again but Shingo would turn him around to hit the Rainmaker!! Shingo gets up to hit a Pumping Bomber but Okada ducks, going for the Rolling Lariat as Shingo catches I’m for the MADE IN JAPAN with Okada kicking out at two! Shingo hits the Pumping Bomber this time but Okada kicked out, quickly trying to get The Last of the Dragon as Okada fought him off, only to be caught with a Lariat. Shingo gets him up for The Last of the Dragon but Okada fights off him to apply the Money Clip again! Shingo rolled him off but is met with a Rolling Lariat! Okada gets the Money Clip in one more time and Shingo is fading, making his way to the ropes but Okada hits the Orton Backbreaker, reapplying it, leaving the referee with no choice but to call it as Shingo is passed out! Shingo is the best wrestler they have, and I don’t wanna hear different after this match. Fantastic match by both these men.

／
G1 CLIMAX30大阪大会(10/10)を公開‼️
本日はAブロック公式戦🏆
＼

両者一歩も譲らない激しい攻防‼️
この激闘制するのはオカダか⁉️それとも鷹木か⁉️

🆚 @rainmakerXokada × @Takagi__Shingo
📲 #njpwworld で配信中✨#G1CLIMAX30 全戦生配信👉https://t.co/Tj7UBJ4PjP#njpw pic.twitter.com/grKlNQ87ty

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) October 10, 2020

Rating: Jim Cornette

Overall: This is the best show for my block so far, and I really hope the others will follow suit. All great matches and Jay’s match was entertaining. Nothing to complain about and was perfect. Shame that four people got eliminated and would’ve loved to see the eight-way tie instead but oh well.

Favorite Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi

Least Favorite Match: Jay White vs. Yujiro Takahashi

Score: 9/10

A Block Standings:

1. Kota Ibushi: (5-2) (10 Points)
2. Jay White: (5-2) (10 Points)
3. Will Ospreay: (5-2) (10 Points)
4. Kazuchika Okada: (5-2) (10 Points)
5. Minoru Suzuki: (3-4) (6 Points) (Eliminated)
6. Taichi: (3-4) (6 Points) (Eliminated)
7. Shingo Takagi: (3-4) (6 Points) (Eliminated)
8. Tomohiro Ishii: (3-4) (6 Points) (Eliminated)
9. Jeff Cobb: (3-4) (6 Points) (Eliminated)
10. Yujiro Takahashi: (0-7) (0 Points) (Eliminated)