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The G1 Climax 30 tournament has delivered in every way, giving us fantastic wrestling every day and setting up intriguing storylines. These elements came together and delivered the best show of the entire tournament on Night 13 in Osaka. We were treated to an intriguing storyline entering center stage, excellent encounters, a responsive crowd and a bonafide match of the year candidate.
The main event of the evening would be a first time ever contest between Kazuchika Okada and Shingo Takagi. We would also see two surefire hard-hitting bangers, with Kota Ibushi facing Minoru Suzuki and Tomohiro Ishii against Jeff Cobb.
The night would also feature a battle of Bullet Club stablemates, with Jay White meeting Yujiro Takahashi. Our final A Block match would have Will Ospreay meeting Taichi.
There was a limited capacity crowd in the Edion Arena. Even with the restrictions, this had to be one of the loudest crowds of the tournament so far. The A Block standings heading into G1 Climax 30 Night 13 were:
- Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi, Jay White, Will Ospreay (4-2)
- Minoru Suzuki, Shingo Takagi, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii (3-3)
- Jeff Cobb (2-4)
- Yujiro Takahashi (0-6)
The "Matches To Watch" for G1 Climax 30 Night 13 were:
- Jeff Cobb vs. Tomohiro Ishii
- Will Ospreay vs. Taichi
- Kota Ibushi vs. Minoru Suzuki
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi
The opening contest would once again feature the New Japan dojo trainees battling it out.
G1 Climax 30 Night 13: Yuya Uemura vs. Yota Tsuji
Our opening match for G1 Climax 30 Night 13 was the Young Lions of Yuya Uemura meeting Yota Tsuji. These two fought to a time limit draw in their last meeting on Night 10.
We got a grappling exchange to start this G1 Climax 30 contest. Both men then traded wrist control and headlocks. Uemura gained control by working over the arm of Tsuji. We saw some mistiming with Uemura hitting a hip toss.
Uemura locked in an armbar, followed by a key lock. However, Tsuji fought to the ropes. Tsuji then hit a big dropkick to put down his opponent. He followed up with the Boston Crab, but Uemura fought to the ropes this time.
Uemura hit a hip toss and locked on an armbar. Tsuji fought to his feet, but Uemura responded with a double underhook suplex with a bridge for the win in nine minutes.
Yuya Uemura sealed another win in the "unofficial" C Block of the G1 Climax 30. This was another fine opening contest with a fun, high energy finishing sequence from the Young Lions.
Results: Yuya Uemura defeats Yota Tsuji via pinfall
Star Rating: ***1/4
Jeff Cobb (2-4) vs. Tomohiro Ishii (3-3) - G1 Climax 30 A Block Match
The A Block opener was Jeff Cobb against Tomohiro Ishii. Cobb came in at 2-4 following a loss to Okada on G1 Climax 30 Night 11, while Ishii stood at 3-3 following his win over Taichi. These two met in last year's tournament with Ishii taking the win.
We got a series of shoulder blocks to start with Cobb getting the upper hand. Ishii hit a shoulder block knocking Cobb off his feet which he immediately did a kip up from. Ishii undeterred hit a backdrop driver. He then laid in chops and strikes. The two men traded strikes with Cobb catching a kick from his opponent for an arm and leg trapped suplex. The two men then battle for a suplex ,which Ishii hits. He once again laid in chops and strikes in this G1 Climax 30 contest.
We got another strike exchange in this G1 Climax 30 battle with Ishii laying our Cobb with a stiff forearm. Cobb came back with a front suplex which Ishii no sold. He followed with a powerslam and German suplex. However, Cobb countered a lariat into a t bone suplex. Ishii then landed a headbutt, which Cobb responded with a staggering headbutt himself.
Cobb hit a German Suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Ishii countered Tour of the Islands with a lariat that Cobb no sold. He hit a lariat of his own and followed with a standing moonsault for a two count. Ishii then reversed Tour of the Islands with a jumping side kick. Cobb blocked a lariat and landed a jab. He went to follow with a lariat, but was met with one by Ishii. Tomohiro went for the sliding lariat, but Cobb caught him. He looked for a suplex, but Ishii reversed into a German. He followed with a lariat for a near fall once again in this G1 Climax 30 encounter.
Cobb blocked the brainbuster and hit an Athletic Plex. The two men once again traded strikes with both falling down. Ishii landed a headbutt; but Cobb reversed another lariat into a powerbomb. He quickly followed with Tour of the Islands for the win in fifteen minutes. Jeff Cobb gets another win and two more points in the G1 Climax 30.
That was an all action, high octane G1 style sprint. It was physically intense and hard hitting. That was Cobb's best match of the G1 Climax 30 and one of his best NJPW matches.
Results: Jeff Cobb (6) defeats Tomohiro Ishii (6) via pinfall
Star Ratings: ****1/4
Yujiro Takahashi (0-6) vs. Jay White (4-2) (G1 Climax 30 A Block Match)
Next up, we had a battle of Bullet Club members with Yujiro Takahashi meeting Switchblade Jay White. Yujiro still remains winless going in, while White stood at 4-2 following his win over Taichi on G1 Climax 30 Night 11.
White came out here in his gym gear, looking like it's a day off for him. The two men and Gedo did a "Too Sweet" to begin this G1 Climax 30 match. Switchblade asked Yujiro to lay down. After some teasing, he covered Yujiro who laid down. However, Yujiro kicked out. Yujiro kicked out a second time and goes on offense.
Yujiro got some nearfalls. He hit an Intercollegiate slam for a two count. He ran White into the ref and landed a low blow. He followed with Miami Shine for a near fall.
Gedo distracted the referee to allow Switchblade the chance to hit a low blow of his own. White followed with the Blade Runner for the win in less than four minutes. Jay White gets his fifth win and two more points in the G1 Climax 30. Post match, Jay got a steel chair and had to be stopped by Gedo before assault Yujiro.
That was more of an angle than a match. The dissension within the Bullet Club continued here. This has been one of the most intriguing stories of the G1 Climax 30 so far.
Results: Jay White (10) defeats Yujiro Takahashi (0) via pinfall
Star Rating: **
***Intermission followed***
Taichi (3-3) vs. Will Ospreay (4-2) (G1 Climax 30 A Block Match)
A Block competition resumed with Taichi going one on one with Will Ospreay. Taichi stood at 3-3, following his loss to Jay White on G1 Climax 30 Night 11. Ospreay came in at 4-2, following a win over Suzuki on the same night. They have had one other meeting, which Ospreay won.
We got a tentative start to begin this G1 Climax 30 match. Ospreay showed more cockiness than he usually does against a heel like Taichi. That backfired when he went on the attack on the outside where Taichi caught him with the timekeeper's hammer. Taichi then worked over Ospreay back in the ring.
Ospreay got the upper hand with a springboard kick. He followed with the Sasake Special to the floor. Back in the ring, Ospreay used a diverse arsenal to control Taichi. He hit a standing shooting press, followed by a second rope Phoenix Splash for a near fall. Taichi regained control in this G1 Climax 30 encounter with a jumping side kick. The two men then traded strikes, which ended with Taichi hitting a backdrop driver.
Ospreay reversed a top rope Black Mephisto into a Cheeky Nandos kick. He followed with a 450 splash that Taichi got his knees up for. Taichi followed with a lariat to the back. After some reversals in this G1 Climax 30 encounter, Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick and a last ride powerbomb for a near fall.
Taichi removed the tights and looked for the thrust kick, but Ospreay hit a Superkick instead. He followed with a side Superkick and set up for the Oscutter. Taichi caught Ospreay mid air with the thrust kick to the head.
Both men reversed the other's finisher. Ospreay flipped our of Black Mephisto into the Oscutter for a near fall. He quickly followed with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay then hit a Stormbreaker for the win in sixteen and a half minutes. Will Ospreay gets his fifth win and two more points in the G1 Climax 30. Post match, commentator Milano Collection praised Ospreay, "you are a superstar! I need you! I want you!"
That was an exhilarating G1 Climax 30 battle filled with fun reversals and counters. Ospreay bought out the same greatness in Taichi that we saw in his last two matches.
Results: Will Ospreay (10) defeats Taichi (6) via pinfall
Star Rating: ****
Minoru Suzuki (3-3) vs. Kota Ibushi (4-2) (G1 Climax 30 A Block Match)
Our semi main event of G1 Climax 30 Night 13 was Minoru Suzuki battling Kota Ibushi. Suzuki came in at 3-3 following a loss to Ospreay, while Ibushi stood at 4-2 following a loss to Shingo on Night 11. These men haven't met in seven years.
We got sparring and a boxing style start to this G1 Climax 30 encounter. Both men work to the ground where they look for legbar submissions. Ibushi gave Suzuki a big boot which sent him to the floor. Suzuki walked up the entranceway ramp and challenged Ibushi to fight him on the outside. Ibushi obliged with the two men trading strikes on the ramp, which Suzuki got the upper hand. Both men got back to the ring to break the twenty count.
Suzuki laid into Ibushi with kicks, while he was down. The two men traded strikes with Suzuki once again taking control. Ibushi then responded with a dropkick at the ten minute mark of this G1 Climax 30 battle. Ibushi laid in mid and penalty kicks, which Suzuki mostly no sold. Ibushi then taunted Suzuki with slaps and soft kicks, which Minoru responded with a stiff forearm to lay his opponent out again.
Suzuki landed more stiff forearms and challenged Ibushi to strike him. The two men traded strikes ending with Ibushi hitting a high kick followed by Suzuki with another forearm. We got another strike exchange in this G1 Climax 30 contest with both men smiling. Rapid fire forearms from both men followed, which transitioned into slaps.
Ibushi went for a lariat, but Suzuki got the sleeper hold. He transitioned into a Gotch Piledriver attempt, but Ibushi reversed and looked for Kamigoye. However, Suzuki reversed that into a Boston Crab. Ibushi got out and to his feet. After a series of reversals, Ibushi hit a standing Kamigoye. He then removed his knee pad and hit a standard Kamigoye for the win in seventeen minutes. Kota Ibushi gets his fifth win and gets another two points in the G1 Climax 30.
That was an outstanding, hard hitting encounter. Strong style in every way possible is the best way to describe it. The crowd here was so into every strike that elevated everything that happened as a result.
Results: Kota Ibushi (10) defeats Minoru Suzuki (6) via pinfall
Star Rating: ****1/2
Shingo Takagi (3-3) vs. Kazuchika Okada (4-2) (G1 Climax 30 A Block Match)
Our main event of the evening was a first time clash with Shingo Takagi facing Kazuchika Okada. Shingo came into this one at 3-3 following his win over Ibushi on G1 Climax 30 Night 11. Okada stood at 4-2 following his win over Cobb on the same night.
After an evenly matched start, Shingo goes to the outside to dictate the pace. Back in the ring, Takagi evaded Okada and brought the action to the outside, where he hit a DDT on the floor. He then worked over Okada at ringside. Back in the ring, Shingo hit a senton for our first two count of this G1 Climax 30 main event. He then trapped Okada in a body scissors, working over the mid section.
The focus of Shingo's attack in this G1 Climax 30 match is firmly on the injured back of Okada. He hit a suplex and got another two count. Okada got the upper hand by hitting a flapjack to a rebounding Shingo. Okada followed with a DDT for a two count at the ten minute mark. The two men traded strikes and counter, which ended with Shingo hitting a death valley driver for a near fall.
The two men traded strikes again with the crowd into this G1 Climax 30 battle. This ended with Okada propping Shingo on the top rope and hitting his signature dropkick. On the floor, Okada hit a Hangman's DDT using the apron. At the fifteen minute mark, Okada reversed Noshigami into the Money Clip. He then tried a backslide, which Shingo reversed into Noshigami. Takagi followed with a wheelbarrow German Suplex for a two.
Shingo laid in elbows and looked for the sliding lariat, but Okada stood and hit a dropkick. He followed with the tombstone and locked on the Money Clip, but Shingo escaped to continue this G1 Climax 30 contest. Okada went to the top rope, but Shingo cut him off to hit a superplex for a near fall.
We got a series of reversals, which ended with Okada landing the dropkick that Shingo no sold and hit a sliding lariat. Both men were down at the twenty minute mark of this G1 Climax 30 war. Both men traded reversals and strikes. Shingo landed a series of elbows and finally a sliding elbow. Okada reversed the Last of the Dragon and cradled Shingo similar to his last two wins for a close near fall. He then followed with the Money Clip, but Shingo got to his feet.
Okada hit a backslide into the Rainmaker and held onto the wrist. Shingo broke out of wrist control and hit his own Rainmaker to a huge response from the Osaka crowd for this G1 Climax 30 encounter. Takagi then did the Rainmaker pose. He looked for Pumping Bomber, but Okada reversed. Shingo then blocked a discus lariat into Made In Japan for a close near fall. He then followed with the Pumping Bomber for another near fall.
A series of reversals followed, which ended with Okada hitting a discus lariat taking Shingo down. Okada reapplied the Money Clip once again. Shingo looked like he was fading, but he rallied out to his feet. Okada then hit a neckbreaker from the Cobra Clutch position and reapplied the Money Clip. After a minute, Shingo finally faded giving Okada the referee stoppage win. Kazuchika Okada gets his fifth win and another two points in the G1 Climax 30.
That was a truly outstanding main event. The reversals, counters, hard hitting action and finishing sequence were enthralling with edge of your seat excitement. It was easily a top two match of the entire G1 Climax 30 tournament.
Results: Kazuchika Okada (10) defeats Shingo Takagi (6) via referee stoppage
Star Rating: *****
