Could history be made for NJPW in the 30th G1 Climax?

This is it, NJPW fans! Either Kota Ibushi becomes a wrestling god in his THIRD CONSECUTIVE G1 Climax finals appearance, or his ascension meets a Skull End!

NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Minoru Suzuki; Hiromu & Takagi win.
• Kazuchika Okada & SHO VS Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan; Ospreay & Khan win.
• Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi; EVIL & Yujiro win.
• G1 Climax 30 Finals: Kota Ibushi VS SANADA; Ibushi wins and earns the WrestleKingdom 15 title match contract.

PLAY BY PLAY

Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Minoru Suzuki!

While the Ticking Time Bomb wants after the Heel Master for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, there is definitely a NEVER Openweight Championship rematch in the future! Will Hiromu help The Dragon build more momentum? Or will Kanemaru help the King of Pancrase get even for the round robin defeat?

As he makes his entrance, Suzuki gets in Takagi’s face with the belt, so Takagi throws forearms! They brawl, Hiromu and Kanemaru brawl, the ref rings the bell so this is all on record! Takagi headbutts and throws Suzuki out, leaving it to the Junior Heavyweights. Kanemaru rakes Hiromu’s eyes while Takagi whips Suzuki into railing! Takagi fires off forearms and headbutts by commentary while Hiromu speeds things up on Kanemaru. Hiromu dodges and hits a huricanrana, and fans cheer as Kanemaru is sent scrambling to a corner! Hiromu runs in and corner clotheslines Kanemaru to then roll him for a basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Hiromu drags Kanemaru up. Hiromu whips Kanemaru back to a corner but Kanemaru boots him. Kanemaru runs, Hiromu dodges the basement dropkick to give a basement dropkick!

Hiromu fireman’s carries but Kanemaru slips out to shove Hiromu at ropes, and Suzuki gets a cheap shot in! Hiromu swings on Suzuki but into a DRAPING ARMBAR! Kanemaru sucker punches Takagi while the ref reprimands Suzuki! The ref counts, Suzuki lets go, Kanemaru goes out after Takagi. Takagi hits back, Suzuki whips Takagi into railing! Suzuki boots Takagi, Takagi forearms and those two brawl again! Suzuki body shots and forearms again while Kanemaru throws Hiromu out. Kanemaru POSTS Hiromu while Suzuki grinds Takagi’s head into railing. Suzuki punches and knees Takagi while Kanemaru puts Hiromu on the apron. Kanemaru runs and dropkicks Hiromu on the edge! Suzuki bumps Takagi off the timekeeper’s table but Takagi hits back! Hiromu is stuck in a Tree of Woe on the apron, Kanemaru dropkicks him down!

Takagi and Suzuki brawl, CHOP, and Suzuki DECKS Takagi! Fans cheer as Suzuki eggs Takagi on. Kanemaru gets in the ring and the count starts. Suzuki KICKS Hiromu to railing and the count reaches 10 of 20. The count reaches 15 as Hiromu crawls around the way, but Hiromu is in at 17! Kanemaru drags Hiromu over, tags in Suzuki, and they mug Hiromu! Suzuki stomps Hiromu down, drags him back up and ROCKS him with a forearm! Suzuki drags Hiromu around by the legs and turns him over for a BOSTON CRAB! Hiromu endures but Takagi is in to grab Suzuki in a sleeper! Suzuki doesn’t budge so Takagi drives in elbow after elbow! Suzuki lets Hiromu go to kick and punch Takagi! Takagi goes down, Suzuki stalks Hiromu. Fans rally for “HI-RO-MU!” but Suzuki has the legs for another Boston Crab!

Suzuki drags Hiromu over, Kanemaru tags in, and as Suzuki sits deep, Kanemaru stands on Hiromu’s head. The ref reprimands and counts, Suzuki lets Hiromu so Kanemaru can stomp him. Kanemaru brings Hiromu up but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Kanemaru rakes eyes again, then reels Hiromu in for a suplex! Cover, TWO! Hiromu is still in this but Kanemaru BOOTS Takagi down from the apron! Fans rally up again as Kanemaru bumps Hiromu off Suzuki’s boot. Suzuki tags in, toys with Hiromu, then kicks him. Suzuki throws knees, Hiromu CHOPS! Suzuki CHOPS Hiromu back then runs corner to corner to BOOT! Suzuki snapmares and runs but Hiromu blocks the kick! And the slap! DRAGON SCREW with an arm included! The fans fire up while Suzuki scowls!

Hot tag to Takagi and he runs at Suzuki. Takagi blocks the boot and stomps that leg! Kanemaru comes in and clubs Takagi. Kanemaru whips, Takagi reverses and corner clotheslines Kanemaru! Takagi runs back to clothesline Suzuki, then he runs Kanemaru over! Suzuki boots Takagi and facelocks, but Takagi suplexes Suzuki! Fans fire up with Takagi and now the clap is for “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi toys with Suzuki now but Suzuki laughs and forearms! Takagi laughs and forearms! Suzuki forearms, Takagi gets mad and takes off armbands. Takagi ROCKS Suzuki, Suzuki ROCKS Takagi! Suzuki eggs Takagi on so Takagi ROCKS Suzuki! Suzuki laughs and he ROCKS Takagi! Takagi stays up to come back with a forearm! Takagi and Suzuki go back and forth and the fans rally.

Takagi gives forearms from all sides and he ROCKS Suzuki to top it off! But Suzuki stays up and laughs to ROCK Takagi back! Suzuki runs, into an elbow! Takagi runs into a BOOT! Suzuki runs and Takagi clotheslines at the ropes! But Suzuki sleeper holds, spins and reels Takagi in, but Takagi back drops out of the piledriver! Takagi runs but Suzuki ducks the slide to boot again! Takagi comes back, Suzuki spins him for the sleeper! And then spins him for the Gotch, but Takagi fights out to a fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY! But Suzuki’s up!? And he PENALTY KICKS Takagi down! Fans fire up as the two hot tag to Hiromu and Kanemaru! Hiromu fires off forearms, whips Kanemaru for another forearm and then puts him on ropes. Hiromu kicks the ropes, runs but Kanemaru dodges the dropkick!

Kanemaru scuffs Hiromu with his boot, whips him but Hiromu reverses, tilt-o-whirl denied! Hiromu kicks and runs but Kanemaru dropkicks a leg out! Suzuki-Gun go after Hiromu together, whip and Kanemaru back elbows, followed by Suzuki’s BOOT! Hiromu tries to fight back but Suzuki gets a sleeper! DOUBLE KICK COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives but Suzuki drags him back up. Kanemaru is up top, DEEP IMPACT!! Cover, Takagi breaks it! Suzuki is after Takagi with a sleeper, then a spin, but Takagi lariats! Takagi runs, Suzuki follows and gets the sleeper again! Suzuki throws Takagi out and goes out after him but Takagi throws Suzuki into railing! Kanemaru scoop slams Hiromu to a drop zone then goes up top. Kanemaru MOONSAULTS, but Hiromu dodges!

Kanemaru lands on his feet but that takes a lot out of his leg. Takagi returns but Kanemaru boots him. Takagi still pops Kanemaru up for a DEATH VALLEY! Fans fire up with “OI! OI! OI!” Hiromu is up, Takagi whips him in to elbow Kanemaru! Takagi corner clotheslines then snapmares Kanemaru, SLIDING SHOULDER BASEMENT DROPKICK SANDWICH! Cover, TWO! Hiromu drags Kanemaru up, fireman’s carries and CORNER DEATH VALLEYS! Fans fire up with Hiromu and he drags Kanemaru, but Kanemaru victory rolls! TWO!! Hiromu kicks and runs, Kanemaru uses the ref as a shield! Kanemaru BOOTS Hiromu then grabs the whiskey! Hiromu dodges the shot of whiskey to SUPERKICK back! Hiromu runs to LARIAT Kanemaru! Takagi smothers Suzuki with the whiskey while Hiromu fireman’s carries! TIME BOMB!! Cover, LIJ wins!!

Winners: Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi, by pinfall

But Takagi is still brawling with Suzuki! Young Lions try to stop it but just end up casualties! The two finally let off, but they both grab for the NEVER Openweight title. Suzuki again rubs it in Takagi’s face and then eggs Takagi on. Of course, Hiromu grabs the junior heavyweight tag belt to show it off and then call Kanemaru out. Takagi and Suzuki brawl more but the Young Lions finally keep them apart this time. Suzuki makes Gabriel Kidd pay for that as he kicks him down. Kanemaru lets Hiromu hold onto the belt, for now. Will LIJ take some gold back from Suzuki-Gun soon enough?

Kazuchika Okada & SHO VS Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan w/ Bea Priestley!

High Voltage Sho may have been a shock master during the New Japan Cup, but it was the Assassin that shocked us all on the last day of A Block action! Ospreay betrayed the Rainmaker with the help of girlfriend Bea Priestley and The Dominator, Tomoyuki Oka! Will Ospreay and O-Khan begin their domination of NJPW and establish a new empire?

The second Okada’s in the ring, he attacks Ospreay! Sho goes after Khan and it’s another brawl to start the match! Okada throws Ospreay out an dlets Sho start with Khan. Okada clubs Ospreay all around but Khan rakes Sho’s eyes! Khan scoops Sho but Sho slips out and kicks low. Sho KICKS and KICKS but Khan stays up. Khan blocks a kick but Sho forearms and runs. Khan flapjack tosses Sho! Ospreay throws Okada down and Khan stands on Sho’s face! Khan drags Sho up by his ear to the CLUB the ear! Bea applauds but no one else does. Khan brings Sho up by his nose and CLUBS the nose! Khan headlocks and grinds Sho’s face on ropes! The ref reprimands, Khan stops and tags in Ospreay. Ospreay stomps and stomps and then bumps Sho off buckles to CHOP him in the corner.

Ospreay whips Sho corner to corner, then runs in to back elbow. Ospreay wrenches and back suplexes Sho high and hard, covers, TWO! Fans cheer for Sho but Ospreay just smirks. Ospreay drags Sho by his leg and wrenches the foot. Ospreay turns Sho over, SMASHES the knee on the mat, then stalks Sho as he flounders around. Ospreay drags Sho over, tags Khan in and “the empire” mugs Sho. Khan drags Sho up but Sho CHOPS. It doesn’t even make Khan flinch! Sho throws forearms but Khan gives a SCREAMING Mongolian Chop! And then another! Khan focuses his power for ANOTHER chop! Cover, but Sho has the ropes! Fans rally up as Khan brings Sho to the corner. Khan keeps Sho trapped as he sits on him on the top rope!

The fans rally, Okada protests, but this allows Ospreay AND Bea to get cheap shots in! Khan just sits there as the other two get away with it. The ref returns to finally count, Khan lets off at 3. Khan tags Ospreay in, he drags Sho up to stomp the leg. Sho throws forearms back! Ospreay KICKS a leg out and Sho staggers to ropes. Ospreay wrenches the arm and gets the leg for a BIG SHIN BREAKER! Tag to Khan and Ospreay digs his knee into Sho’s head while Khan stands on the bad leg. Khan drags Sho up while smothering his face with the taped up hand. Khan spins Sho around, whips him to a corner and runs in, but Sho dodges! Sho waistlocks, Khan resists and elbows free! Khan whips, Sho dodges and SPEARS! Fans fire up as Sho and Khan are down! Sho and Khan crawl, hot tag to Okada!

Okada goes after Khan with forearms and a whip. Khan reverses but Okada dodges to elbow him down! Fans fire up as Okada swings on Ospreay. Ospreay gets away, Okada dodges Khan and elbows him again! Okada kicks low and DDT’s Khan down! Cover, TWO! Khan survives but Okada tells Bea to hush. Okada has the fans rallying as he watches Khan rise. Okada Alabama lifts but Khan clubs him down. Khan dodges and waistlocks for an atomic FACEBUSTER! Fans have to admit that was a great show of power. Khan whips Okada corner to corner and follows to clothesline from behind! Khan hoists Okada up top backward, to Mongolian CHOP Okada on the back! Fans rally for Okada but Khan stomps Okada while he’s in the Tree of Woe!

The ref counts, Khan stops but then goes corner to corner for a roaring basement dropkick! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives and fans rally up! Khan drags Okada back up, suplexes, but Okada resists. Khan hits another Mongolian CHOP, then suplexes Okada. Okada slips out and throws forearms! Okada rocks Khan with an uppercut but runs into a BOOT! Tag to Ospreay and Ospreay springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is furious already but he aims from a corner. Okada stands, blocks the superkick and Ospreay is afraid. Okada throws a forearm but Ospreay throws it back! They brawl fast and furious and fans rally up! Okada ROCKS Ospreay with an uppercut but Ospreay CHOPS back! Ospreay reels Okada in, inverted suplex, but Okada slips out! MONEY CLIP!

Khan gets in but Okada throws him out! Okada gets Ospreay in the gut wrench but Ospreay fights out. Okada elbows Ospreay away but runs into the dropkick flip, but ducks the enziguri! Okada waistlocks and GERMANS, but Ospreay lands on his feet! Ospreay SUPERKICKS and whips, Okada reverses to dropkick Ospreay down! Fans fire up as Ospreay goes to a neutral corner. Okada hot tags Sho! Sho goes at Ospreay to throw forearm after forearm, then knees! Bea protests, the ref reprimands but Sho shoves him away! Sho fires off more forearms and knees, then even more forearms! Fans rally as Sho ROCKS Ospreay! Sho whips Ospreay corner to corner, runs but Ospreay boots him! Sho stays up to LARIAT! Sho suplexes, Ospreay fights out and ducks the lariat to CHOP BLOCK!

Sho hobbles, Ospreay whips but Sho reverses! Ospreay handsprings, into Sho’s waistlock and GERMAN SUPLEX! Sho holds on, to GERMAN SUPLEX again! Sho holds on to try the third, but Ospreay resists! Sho powers through to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Okada DECKS Khan and RAMS him into railing! Sho lifts Ospreay, Ospreay escapes the bomb but Sho ducks the Hook Kick! Sho ROCKS Ospreay then kicks, but Ospreay blocks to put the leg on the rope! ROLLING ELBOW! Ospreay traps Sho’s leg before throwing him down! Ospreay stomps away but the ref backs him off. Sho hobbles up but BEA gets his leg for a DRAGON SCREW through the ropes! Ospreay runs, wheelbarrows and hooks up the legs, FIGURE FOUR! Sho endures, Khan catches Okada for the CLAW SLAM!! Ospreay bridges back, Sho taps! THE EMPIRE WINS!!

Winners: Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan, by submission

They have left Chaos behind but are creating havoc of their own! Will Ospreay, Bea and Khan soon build a new ruling force in NJPW?

Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi!

The King of Darkness beat the IWGP Double Champion in the round robin, but the joke’s on him because he’s not in the finals, either! Will LIJ continue to get revenge on the traitor? Or will Tokyo Pimp help make sure Everything is Evil?

Naito doesn’t wear his usual elaborate entrance gear but he still takes his time getting into the ring. LIJ fist bumps and Bullet Club Low Sweets. Yujiro starts against Naito and fans rally at the bell. Naito and Yujiro slowly circle and approach. They tie up, Evil comes in to attack! Yujiro DECKS Bushi then tags Evil in. Evil drags Naito up, scoops and slams him down, then stands on him for a cocky cover. The ref sees it’s more a subtle choke so he counts for different reasons. Evil lets off, tags Yujiro back in, and Yujiro stomps Naito. Yujiro drags Naito up, kicks low and throws forearms, then CHOPS! Yujiro runs but Naito arm-drags him! Naito kicks low, hits a backbreaker then covers, TWO! Fans cheer as Naito keeps on Yujiro with a cravat.

Naito cranks on the neck wrench but Yujiro gets up. Bushi tags in, LIJ mugs Yujiro and Bushi drags Yujiro up for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Bushi drags Yujiro back into a chinlock and digs his knee in. Yujiro BITES Bushi’s finger! No one learns! Bushi forearms Yujiro and runs, but into a flapjack hotshot! Evil returns to sucker punch Naito off the apron! Evil drags Naito up and whips him into railing! Then Evil goes looking for chairs! Yujiro goes after Bushi on the outside and the ref is distracted by Dick. Yujiro RAMS Bushi into railing, Evil gives Naito a CHAIR SHOT! Evil stomps Naito, the ref reprimands but Yujiro chokes Bushi with the pimp cane! The ref reprimands that but Yujiro puts Bushi in.

Yujiro stomps Bushi around, fans rally up but Yujiro snapmares Bushi for a leg drop, elbow drop, and falling headbutt! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Yujiro grows frustrated. Yujiro tags Evil and Evil drags Bushi up. Evil throws Bushi out but the ref keeps him back. So Dick DECKS Bushi for Evil! Dick stomps Bushi, drags him up and RAMS him into railing! Milano is knocked out of his seat! Dick puts Bushi in the corner, Evil covers, TWO! Evil tries again, TWO! Evil covers a third time, TWO! Evil is furious but he stomps Bushi and tags in Yujiro. Fans rally as Evil and Yujiro stomp Bushi more, and Yujiro slaps Bushi around. Bushi hits back but Yujiro scoops to slam! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Yujiro is annoyed again. Yujiro kicks Bushi around, pushes him around, but Bushi throws body shots!

Yujiro knees low, puts Bushi against ropes and runs in to BOOT! Yujiro pushes Bushi down, runs again but Bushi avoids the basement boot to enziguri! Fans rally while Yujiro staggers about! Yujiro manages to stop Bushi from reaching Naito, and whips him corner to corner. Yujiro runs in but Bushi boots him back! Bushi runs to huricanrana Yujiro down! Fans rally as both men crawl for their corners, hot tag to Naito! Naito DECKS Evil but Yujiro kicks and whips Naito. Naito holds ropes, boots Yujiro back then gets around him to baseball slide Evil! Naito goes back to Yujiro to whip and elbow down, then hit a basement dropkick! Fans cheer as Naito drags Yujiro up and whips him to a corner. Naito rocket kicks and leg sweeps, COMBINACION CABRON! Cover, TWO! Yujiro stays in this but fans rally up.

Naito drags Yujiro up and turns him, but Yujiro BITES fingers again! Yujiro blocks the kick, trips Naito and basement dropkicks! Tag to Evil and Evil runs at Naito in the corner. Evil blocks the boots, turns Naito sideways to club and WOE STOMP! Evil mocks the applause and drags Naito up. Evil waistlocks, Naito resists the lift and standing switches but Evil switches back. Evil shoves Naito and runs from the corner, LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Evil is annoyed. Evil drags Naito by his legs, steps through, but Naito resists! Naito throws haymakers and Evil backs off. Evil runs back in but into an atomic drop and enziguri! Naito whips but Evil reverses to fireman’s carry! Naito fights out, waistlocks but Evil elbows. Evil whips, Naito reverses and tornado DDTs!

Both men are down and fans fire up! Fans rally as Evil and Naito head for their corners. Hot tag to Bushi! Bushi aims at Evil as he climbs up top, missile dropkick! BUSHIROONI! Bushi DECKS Yujiro then aims at Evil on the outside, DIVE! Fans fire up after Bushi’s tope, but Bushi tells Dick to back off. Bushi puts Evil in, stomps him then drags him up. Evil swings into Bushi’s DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans still rally as Bushi keeps going. Bushi drags Evil up, fisherman but Evil spins out of the neckbreaker! Evil throws Bushi down by his mask, Yujiro BOOTS Naito off the apron! Yujiro drags Bushi up, Bullet Club double whips him to a corner. Yujiro runs in to BOOT, Evil runs in to corner clothesline! FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Bushi is still in this!

Evil drags Bushi up, slashes the throat, and then spins Bushi around, but Naito dropkicks Evil down! Yujiro kicks and whips Naito but Naito leaps, into the REVERSE DDT! Yujiro runs at Bushi again, but Bushi dodges him, then boots Evil! Bushi has Yujiro in a headlock, BULLDOG DROPKICK COMBO! Fans fire up as Bushi drags Evil up, FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but fans still rally! Bushi drags Evil back up, fireman’s carries, but Evil slips out to shove. Bushi dodges, Evil ducks the enziguri but not the mule kick! Bushi runs, into a LARIAT! Evil drags Bushi up, fireman’s carry, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives and the fans fire up again! Evil drags Bushi by his legs, steps through and SHARPSHOOTERS! Bushi endures the Scorpion Deathlock as fans rally again! But Bushi taps, Bullet Club wins!!

Winners: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi, by submission

But Evil won’t let go of Bushi! Naito kicks and kicks Evil until he does, but the battle has already been won. And then Dick gets Naito with the CHOKER! Feed to EVERYTHING IS EVIL! This is the King of Darkness’ justice, but will the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships once again be his belts?

Masahiro Chono is here!

The FIVE-TIME G1 Climax winner, having taken the 1991, 1992, 1994, 2002 and 2005 trophies, is here to be a witness to history! “GODDAMN! I am Chono. Here’s to the 30th G1 Climax.” Chono says tonight’s G1 finals will be very special. This year, the entire world has been struggling through this pandemic. But NJPW has been steadfast. They showed us courage and a way forward. As Mr. G1 and a former NJPW wrestler, he appreciates their actions. He thanks us for our support. “GODDMAN! In this G1 Climax, final, give your support and courage to the two fighters who made it. I am Chono.”

G1 Climax 30 Finals: Kota Ibushi VS SANADA!

The Golden Star has already made history appearing in three consecutive G1 Climax finals, but he wants to be a historic back-to-back winner. As for the Cold Skull, this is his first time in the finals, and he wants those wins over Naito and Evil to mean something! Who immortalizes themselves as the 30th G1 Climax champion?!

The fans are thunderous just from the two standing in the ring together! The bell rings and these two circle. Sanada and Ibushi approach, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Sanada manages to put Ibushi on the ropes but lets up as Red Shoes calls for the break. Fans cheer as the two circle again. Ibushi and Sanada tie up again, go around, and Ibushi puts Sanada on ropes now. Red Shoes asks for the break, Ibushi lets off and fans cheer again. Fans clap “I-BU-SHI!” “SA-NA-DA!” as the two go again. The two approach, feel out the grapple, and Ibushi gets a leg then waistlock. Sanada standing switches but Ibushi pries at the arms. Ibushi wrenches, has a wristlock, but Sanada spins through and wrenches back. Sanada has the wristlock, Ibushi rolls and wrenches back again.

Ibushi hammerlocks but Sanada moves around to get the hammerlock on Ibushi. Ibushi drops, drop toeholds, floats to a headlock, but Sanada endures the grind. Sanada gets up, slips out, has a high wristlock and hooks a leg to wrangle Ibushi down. Ibushi headscissors but Sanada pops out and fans cheer as the two stand off. Sanada and Ibushi reset as the clapping “I-BU-SHI!” “SA-NA-DA!” begins again. Ibushi and Sanada approach, feel out the grapple, and tie up. Sanada rolls to get the top wristlock, and he wrangles Ibushi back down, but Ibushi rolls and hammerlocks back. Sanada backs Ibushi to ropes, Red Shoes calls for the break, and Sanada slowly turns around to pat Ibushi on the shoulder. Fans cheer as the two reset again.

Ibushi and Sanada circle, tie up, Sanada gets around to a waistlock but Ibushi standing switches. Sanada reaches back to get a headlock, Ibushi drops down to bring Sanada to the mat. Ibushi goes after the headlock but Sanada slips out to get the hammerlock again. Ibushi reaches back and gets a headlock, but Sanada bridges up and over to wrench on the hammerlock again! The two move around on the mat, Ibushi gets another headlock and the takeover, and he keeps Sanada down. Sanada rolls to a cover, ONE and Ibushi holds on. Sanada endures the grind, moves around and fans rally up. Sanada fights up, Ibushi wrenches and elbows the arm, then wrenches it again. Ibushi elbows the arm again, then kicks at it. Ibushi wrenches a third time for another elbow, then YANKS on the arm!

Sanada stays up but Ibushi has his arm again. Ibushi YANKS the arm, Sanada CHOPS back! Ibushi CHOPS, Sanada CHOPS, repeat! They CHOP and CHOP and CHOP, and fans rally up as they shift to forearm for forearm! Sanada ROCKS Ibushi and fans cheer! Ibushi steadies himself and gets up to throw forearms with Sanada again! Fans fire up as the two go back and forth, now Ibushi ROCKS Sanada! Ibushi clubs Sanada, too, then kicks at him. Ibushi KICKS and Sanada staggers but stays up. Ibushi KICKS Sanada’s leg and eggs him on. Sanada throws a HARD EuroUpper! Fans cheer as the two men steady themselves. Ibushi KICKS, Sanada EuroUppers! Ibushi KICKS, and Sanada drops to a knee! Sanada grits his teeth but Ibushi brings him up to club him on the back!

Ibushi KICKS, Sanada hobbles, but Ibushi KICKS him again! Sanada CHOPS then forearms but Ibushi eggs him on! Sanada ROCKS Ibushi and fans cheer! Sanada brings Ibushi up, kicks Ibushi’s taped up leg, but Ibushi just eggs him on! Sanada kicks the leg more, Ibushi kicks back! Ibushi headlocks, Sanada powers out, then drops down and jumps up, but for a dropkick! Ibushi ducks but the change in pattern still caught him off guard as Sanada lands on top of him! Both men go down and Ibushi flops out of the ring. Fans rally up as Ibushi steadies himself again. Red Shoes checks on him, he’s okay to continue. Sanada patiently waits as fans clap, “I-NA-DA!” “SA-BU-SHI!” Wait that’s not anything… Ibushi gets back in and Red Shoes assures Sanada he’s okay to continue. So Sanada goes after the bad leg with an elbow drop!

Sanada has a toehold and wrenches on it but Ibushi uses a chinlock to fight back. Sanada shrugs that off to keep on the leg. Ibushi tries the chinlock again, he turns Sanada over with it, and then traps the arm for a partial camel clutch! Sanada endures, Ibushi drags him back and turns him over for a leg lock. Sanada guards against the crossface but Ibushi goes after him. Ibushi gets through the guard and has an STF! Sanada endures, drags himself and Ibushi over to get the ropebreak! Ibushi lets go, stomps Sanada down then eggs him on. Sanada gets up and CHOPS him to a corner! Fans cheer as Sanada digs his boot into Ibushi. Red Shoes counts, Sanada lets up, and fans rally up. Now Sanada eggs Ibushi on and Ibushi gets up. Ibushi boots, Sanada BOOTS! Fans cheer as Sanada looms over Ibushi. Sanada drags Ibushi up, fans rally and Ibushi throws forearms!

Ibushi eggs Sanada on so Sanada forearms back. Ibushi fires off more forearms but Sanada fires them all back! Ibushi slowly drops to the mat and fans rally again. Sanada drags Ibushi up, has the leg and hits a SHIN BREAKER! Then a FIGURE FOUR! Ibushi endures as Sanada puts as much torque as he can. Fans rally up as Ibushi moves around. Ibushi drags himself and Sanada back but Sanada bridges up to add more pressure. Ibushi keeps moving and reaching, and he gets the ropebreak! Sanada lets go fast and fans still rally. Sanada drags Ibushi up, Ibushi throws forearms fast! Sanada kicks the bad leg, eggs Ibushi on, so Ibushi fires off more forearms! Sanada EuroUppers again! Ibushi ends up in a corner, Sanada runs corner to corner, but Ibushi goes up and over and sunset flips! TWO, Sanada ducks the Penalty Kick but doesn’t avoid the standing moonsault! Cover, TWO!

Fans cheer as both men are down, and rally up again! Ibushi rises and drags Sanada up. Sanada knees low, runs, but into the SNAP-RANA! Fans fire up as Sanada bails out and Ibushi gets up. Ibushi aims and slingshots, PLANCHA! Direct hit and down goes Sanada! Fans continue to rally as Ibushi gets up. Ibushi gets the bad leg moving as he walks around before he fetches Sanada into the ring. Ibushi wants Sanada to stand, and then he springboards to missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Ibushi grows frustrated but fans rally up more. Ibushi waits for Sanada to sit up before he KICKS him! And KICKS him! Sanada stands up, blocks the kick, spins Ibushi but Ibushi elbows out. Things speed up, Sanada hurdles and hurdles this time to dropkick Ibushi properly! And then Sanada shows Ibushi HIS PLANCHA!

Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder! And louder! The fans do get louder and Sanada is satisfied. Sanada drags Ibushi up and puts him in the ring. Cover, TWO! Fans continue to rally as Sanada brings Ibushi up in a fireman’s carry. Ibushi escapes, shoves Sanada to a corner, but Sanada elbows him back. Sanada QUEBRADA but Ibushi gets under! Sanada goes to tackle Ibushi but Ibushi sprawls to block! Ibushi then leap frogs over, gets Sanada for a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Ibushi somersaults to the TOP ROPE, for a PHOENIX SPLASH, but it FLOPS as Sanada moves! Sanada drags Ibushi into position and HE goes up top, MOONSAULT, but he lands on his feet as Ibushi dodges! Sanada huricanranas Ibushi now and Ibushi ends up on the apron.

The fans get loud again and Sanada sees Ibushi on the outside. Sanada builds speed, but he fakes Ibushi out. Ibushi is in the ring as Sanada is on the apron, but Ibushi BOOTS Sanada down before he can springboard! Fans fire up with Ibushi as he builds speed to a corner, GOLDEN TRIANGLE- No, Sanada got away! Sanada runs in but Ibushi STOMPS the Drive-By Dropkick down! Fans cheer as both men tumble to the floor! Ibushi is up first, he drags Sanada up, but Sanada puts Ibushi on the apron, MAGIC SCREW! Fans cheer as both men are down again! Red Shoes checks, they’re both okay to continue, so a ring count begins. Sanada and Ibushi stir, neither sits up until after 10 of 20. They manage to stand at 15 of 20 but aren’t in until 18! Fans cheer as this will continue!

Sanada and Ibushi head for each other and give junkyard dog headbutts. Sanada forearms first but Ibushi grits his teeth to forearm back. They brawl with forearms on the mat, egging each other on. Fans rally up as they stand up and keep going. They pick up speed, Ibushi gets the edge but Sanada dropkicks th eleg! Sanada puts Ibushi on the ropes, ANOTHER MAGIC SCREW! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi survives but Sanada keeps on him. Sanada drags Ibushi up, fireman’s carries, but Ibushi fights, so Sanada throws him to a dragon sleeper! Ibushi endures, powers Sanada to a corner and is free. Ibushi RAMS into Sanada, whips him corner to corner, but Sanada goes up and out, springboards into a SIT-OUT BOMB!! But Ibushi can’t hold the cover!! Fans fire up and rally again as both men stir.

Ibushi rises, Sanada is okay to continue, so fans rally as Ibushi fires off a strike fest! Ibushi reels Sanada in, for ANOTHER SIT-OUT BOMB! Cover, TWO! Sanada survives and fans rally again! Ibushi wants to end this already, but he staggers as he brings Sanada up. Sanada dropkicks the bad leg again! But Ibushi LARIATS! Fans fire up as Ibushi grits his teeth and brings Sanada back up. Sanada ducks the clothesline, full nelsons but Ibushi breaks free! So Sanada chicken wings for the TIGER SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Ibushi barely escapes but the fans fire up! Sanada grits his teeth as he drags Ibushi to a fireman’s carry! T K O!! But wait, did Ibushi counter?! Ibushi has Sanada in a dragon sleeper, but Sanada spins it to his own! SKULL SWING! SKULL END!!

Ibushi is stuck in the body scissors and dragon sleeper but fans rally up as he endures! Ibushi gets his head free but not for long! Sanada drags him back down and squeezes tight but the fans continue to rally. Ibushi reaches around but he might be fading! Red Shoes checks, the arm drops once! The arm drops twice! Sanada lets go, goes up top, MOONSAULT but it FLOPS! Ibushi manages to evade in time, and he gasps for air while vowing to end this! Fans are thunderous as Ibushi and Sanada slowly stir. Sanada and Ibushi sit up, Ibushi gets the arms and kicks, then ROUNDHOUSES Sanada down! Sanada is in a daze as Ibushi calls upon the powers of Nakamura! BOMAYE!! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives but Ibushi won’t stop there!

Ibushi sits Sanada up with the wristlocks, KAMIGO- NO! POP-UP CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi survives but Sanada is after him! Sanada has Ibushi in a drop zone, MOONSAULT to the back! Sanada keeps going, MOONSAULT to KNEES! Ibushi saves himself from Sanada’s Ace trumping combo! Fans are thunderous again as both men are down! Sanada goes to a corner and Ibushi stands. Ibushi fires up, hobbles but runs, into an elbow! Sanada QUEBRADA, but Ibushi blocks and goes up the ropes to get the dragon sleeper on Sanada! Then gut wrench, but Sanada slips out to dragon sleeper again! Fans fire up as Sanada drops back, but Ibushi rolls back to gut wrench again! Ibushi shifts Sanada around and tucks him in, BASTARD DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Sanada survives and Ibushi is shocked!

Fans are thunderous again, maybe even electric! Ibushi gets up, gets the wrists, and roars as he sits Sanada up. Sanada dodges Kamigoye to backslide! TWO!! Ibushi still has wrists, Sanada resists the pull, and they’re in a deadlock until Sanada gets a leg! Victory roll, TWO! Sanada O’Conner rolls Ibushi to a JAPAN CLUTCH! TWO!?!?! That was 2.999!! Fans are now passing electric as Ibushi manages to stand! Sanada runs in, tilt-o-whirls a la Destino to get the dragon sleeper! Ibushi drops but Sanada drags him up. Ibushi shifts, scoops but Sanada slips out, Ibushi ROUNDHOUSES him again! Sanada stays up, Ibushi V-TRIGGERS! KENNY!! Ibushi has the wrists, KAMIGOYE!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Sanada pushes it to 2.999999!! Ibushi shakes that off to sit Sanada back up, KAMIGOYE!!! Cover, Ibushi wins!!!

Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall; (wins the G1 Climax 30)

INCREDIBLE! THAT was worthy of the 30th Climax, and of the historic three-peat with back-to-back wins for the first time in decades! Is Ibushi finally a wrestling god?!

After making sure Sanada is alright, Young Lions help Sanada out of the ring so that the banner and trophy can be brought in. While he did not conquer the Climax, will the Cold Skull find his own way to the top of NJPW?

Ibushi eventually has the energy to sit up and fans cheer as he is officially declared the winner, with Red Shoes raising his hand in victory! And after resting a little longer, Ibushi stands and fans clap “I-BU-SHI!” as he takes the mic.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you all very much. I have joined Chono-san and Tenzan-san as the only men to have back-to-back G1’s.” And he is also the first to reach THREE STRAIGHT finals! Fans cheer for the history Ibushi has made! “Although the situation is difficult, many people came here to watch. Truly, thank you very much.” Ibushi hops NJPW can show them wrestling like the used to ASAP. And soon, Ibushi goes from G1 winner to IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Fans cheer that idea! “Also, I always say this, but I won’t run away. I won’t lose. I won’t quit. I won’t betray you. I WILL become a god!” The ascension isn’t over, it is only beginning! Will the Golden Star etch his name into the history books even more from now on?

My Thoughts:

A great G1 Climax finale event, but apologies to fans of NJPW 8 Man Tags as I skipped those. I probably should’ve kept the first one, even though it had Douki and usually Douki is a sign of filler. But I’ve seen the results, which you can also find on Andrew Balaz’s coverage of this day, Suzuki-Gun wins and are looking to take everything! Douki wants to join the Dangerous Tekkers to take the Six Man titles from Yoshi-Hashi, Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii, and I bet Desperado wants payback on Toru Yano for KOPW 2020 in Summer Struggle. That does make for some interesting story, as Chaos has already lost so much. Speaking of, Ospreay & O-Khan VS Okada & Sho was some great stuff, but it makes all the sense for “the empire” to win and get a real start to their build. I can’t wait to see who joins in, it’s been awhile since a new faction formed in NJPW.

LIJ VS Suzuki-Gun was good, especially the Shingo VS Suzuki stuff. That NEVER Openweight Championship match has to be coming at Power Struggle in a few weeks, but I bet Hiromu gets Bushi to join in going after the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles at Power Struggle, too. Suzuki-Gun could try and take everything at Power Struggle as it is, making it feel like a big event despite not being a WrestleKingdom or something. Bullet Club VS LIJ is a very familiar match-up, mostly thanks to Summer Struggle’s long road of build to Jingu. Bullet Club wins because Evil has a match owed to him since he won during the G1. That also has to be happening at Power Struggle since NJPW will be shifting to the super combo of World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors happening together. That will take us into the winter and then we get a TWO DAY WK 15 for everything that needs to happen!

Chono showing up was a great surprise, but I should’ve seen it as foreshadowing in Ibushi VS Sanada. I figured it would be Ibushi winning since that is great history for him and NJPW. But the way they got to it was great, I didn’t think they’d push the count that close to three, and let alone do it twice! This match made up for a lot of the score I’m giving this show. Sanada is always so close to that big moment, and he technically is owed a title match, too, since he also beat Naito in the G1. If WK15 is two days like last year, will they do some kind of double header? WK14 had the “double gold dash,” so would it be Sanada gets his shot at Naito on day one, winner faces the G1 contract holder (which I assume will still be Ibushi) on day two? That’d be worthy of redeeming the 30th G1 Climax, and would be a great way of celebrating a new year after the year 2020 ended up being.

My Score: 9.1/10