G1 Climax 30: 10 biggest storylines of the tournament

#3 SANADA gets out of the LIJ shadow

／G1 CLIMAX30長岡大会(10/1)を公開‼️ 本日はBブロック公式戦🏆＼３連勝中の内藤と３連敗中のSANADAのLIJ同門対決‼️この同門対決を制するのはどちらだ…⁉️🆚 @s_d_naito × @seiyasanada 📲 #njpwworld で公開中✨#G1CLIMAX30 全戦生配信👉https://t.co/Tj7UBJ4PjP#njpwworld #njpw pic.twitter.com/tS6GpTM9n7

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) October 1, 2020

SANADA has always been a loyal member of Los Ingobernables de Japon since his introduction to NJPW in 2016. After falling short to Kazuchika Okada in the 2019 New Japan Cup and subsequent matches following, the Cold Skull became a near man. Ever so, SANADA was an early favorite in the B Block heading into the G1 Climax 30.

To kick off the tournament, SANADA lost three straight B Block matches and looked like he was heading for a fourth loss against the leader of LIJ, Tetsuya Naito. On Day 8, SANADA produced the underrated gem of the G1 Climax 30, defeating Naito in a thrilling main event. He followed that huge victory with four consecutive wins including a crucial victory over Hiroshi Tanahashi on Day 16.

／G1 CLIMAX30両国大会2日目(10/17)を公開‼️🅱️ブロック最終戦🏆🔥＼🅱️ブロック1️⃣位が決定‼️果たして決勝へと駒を進めたのは…⁉️🆚 @seiyasanada × @151012EVIL📲 #njpwworld で配信中✨#G1CLIMAX30 全戦生配信👉https://t.co/z1DNREy98D#njpw pic.twitter.com/uNeIxXA8BP

— njpwworld (@njpwworld) October 17, 2020

In the B Block Finals, SANADA faced his former IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion partner, EVIL. The Cold Skull stepped up his game and overcame the odds of Dick Togo in EVIL's corner with the help of Hiromu Takahashi. SANADA won the B Block of the G1 Climax 30, taking the next step in his evolution. Although he fell to Ibushi in the finals, this tournament was nothing but success for SANADA in every way.