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G1 Climax 30 B Block Match: Hirooki Goto (3-3) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (3-3)
Our semi main event of the evening was Hirooki Goto battling Hiroshi Tanahashi. Both men came in at 3-3 following Goto beating HASHI and Tanahashi losing to EVIL on G1 Climax 30 Night 12. These two have a long history with a dozen matches in the past with Goto only winning once.
We got a strong Lock up and trading of headlocks to start this G1 Climax 30 encounter. Goto landed a shoulder block, but Tana looked for a rollup for a quick two count. Tana then hit an early dragon screw and started working over the leg. Goto broke free of a leglock and hit a corner clothesline. He followed with a running bulldog for a two.
Tana quickly regained control in this G1 Climax match with a dragon screw to target the leg again. He looked for the Texas Cloverleaf, but Goto made it to the ropes before it could be applied. Although Tana continued to target the leg, Goto caught him with an Ushigoroshi. The two men then traded strike ending with Goto landing a lariat. Goto looked for GTR, but Tanahashi reversed into a dragon sleeper. Goto then reversed into a suplex attempt, but Tana reversed into a Twist and Shout.
Tana looked for Sling Blade, but Goto got a lariat to the back. However, Tanahashi hit a Sling Blade in response. Tana responded with a palm strike right to the jaw in a callback to their match in the G1 27. The Ace went to the top where Goto met him. After the struggle, Goto hit an avalanche Ushigoroshi for a near fall. He hurt his knee again in the process in this G1 Climax 30 contest.
Goto then hit a mid kick and looked for GTR. Tanahashi blocked, so Goto hit a reverse GTR instead. Tanahashi tried rolling Goto up, but Goto caught him and hit GTR for the win in thirteen and a half minutes. Hirooki Goto gets his fourth win and two more points in the G1 Climax 30.
This has to be considered an upset and huge win for Goto. That was a strong G1 Climax 30 encounter filled with both men going back and forth. This made for a highly enjoyable contest.
Results: Hirooki Goto (8) defeats Hiroshi Tanahashi (6) via pinfall
Star Rating: ***3/4
