Wrestling’s grandest tournament kicks off in Osaka

Osaka’s EDION Arena saw action kick off in G1 Climax 30 on September 19, as A Block action got underway, Kota Ibushi scored a key win in the first main event of the tournament, promising post match that he would ascend to the level of god as the G1 wore on. 

Yujiro Takahashi and the returning Will Ospreay got the official tournament action underway. With huge applause from the Osaka crowd welcoming G1 action and a 105kg Ospreay back to the ring, Yujiro instantly realised a power game wouldn’t work, going downstairs to slow the Assassin, who flew at the Tokyo Pimp instead to the delight of the crowd.

A reverse DDT on the floor put Yujiro in control. Takahashi continued to frustrate Ospreay, even using his teeth to bite at the Briton’s hand, but a corkscrew kick and shooting star press changed the flow of the match. A flying forearm delivered a heavy blow to Yujiro, but the BULLET CLUB member responded with his own hard hits, an Intercollege Slam and Miami Shine nearly scoring victory. 

Ospreay managed to flip out of a Tokyo Pimps attempt however, landing a heavy front facing forearm and Stormbreaker to scoop the first points of the tournament. 

Taichi and Jeff Cobb was up next. Taichi played with Cobb early, reluctant to engage, before trying the oldest trick in the book of a phony handshake, paying the price with chops and a huge dropkick. As Taichi bailed outside however, it was Cobb paying the price for following him, getting drilled with the ring hammer as Taichi went after the left knee. 

 Taichi wasn’t able to do quite enough damage to Cobb’s base however, as the Olympian charged at his opponent with a lariat and a running backbreaker, before an overconfident corner splash was met with a gamen giri. Taichi seemed one step ahead as he rolled through on a Tour of the Islands attempt and delivered some heavy hits to Cobb who seemed to be running out of steam.

Taichi couldn’t lift Cobb for Black Mephisto however, and Cobb chained together side suplexes and a Spin Cycle. Taichi again avoided Tour of the Islands though, and an ensuing kick combo led to Black Mephisto for the win. 

Post intermission, Minoru Suzuki and Tomohiro Ishii braced for what was set to be the hardest hitting match of the evening. The two men instantly traded elbows off the bell, with Suzuki taking charge in the corner before Ishii fired back in kind; both then looking for their finishers early before resetting. 

Suzuki managed to outsmart Ishii as the Stone Pitbull charged into the corner, getting in an arm submission over the ropes and shooting Ishii into the outside guardrails. The arrogant King then invited Ishii back into the ring to give his hardest blow before firing in with a boot and signature sadism. 

Ishii fired back with a powerslam and kicks at the five minute mark, seemingly only sending Suzuki into a familiar rapt ecstacy as he levelled his opponent. Ishii seemingly out, Suzuki landed cement like penalty kicks, but Ishii fired back, refusing to fall and throwing Suzuki overhead with a thunderous German Suplex. 

Open hand blows and headbutts continued to rain before Suzuki attempted a Fujiwara style hedbutt, countered with a throat level lariat. Countering a Gotch Style Piledriver attempt, Ishii dropped Suzuki vertically with an improvised reverse driver for two, but still neither man would stay down. Suzuki finally rolled out of a Vertical Drop Brainbuster, and landed the Gotch Style Piledriver to finally pin Ishii’s shoulders down for the count of three. 

The crowd was still buzzing in the EDION as Shingo Takagi faced Jay White in the semi main event. In trademark form, White bailed to the outside at the bell, baiting Shingo and catching the former NEVER champion with a headlock on re-entry. Shingo kept up the pace and pressure however, with a shoulder tackle and slam, but it was only a matter of time before Gedo held onto the Dragon’s heel, granting control to the Switchblade. 

After effective control by White, Shingo was able to fight out from underneath, an emphatic yell of ‘receipt time!’ leading to a huge beal and a DDT on the floor to the Switchblade. A snapping suplex found the mark in the ring, but back damage prevented an effective cover, and when a Noshigami attempt failed, White followed with a head and arm suplex and a DDT of his own. 

A Bladebuster led to a two count just shy of the ten minute mark, but it was too early for Bladerunner, Shingo able to get the Noshigami he had wanted and then landing a huge wheelbarrow German suplex. As Shingo looked for Pumping Bomber however, Jay went prone, throwing Takagi off his game long enough for an impressive combo that rocked but didn’t fell the Dragon. A Complete Shot did connect, and an Uranage gave the Kiwi another two. 

Still White couldn’t get the killing shot, and Shingo seemed, if anything, a step ahead improvising an impressive double knee to the chest as Made In Japan didn’t land. As victory seemed within reach, Gedo hopped on the apron, leading to a roll up with Jay’s feet on the ropes in the confusion that still didn’t end things. It did, however create an opening Jay able to land the SSS and Kiwi Crusher, but Bladerunner was countered to Made In Japan for a painfully near two. 

After flooring Gedo, Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, but White grabbed the ropes to prevent Last of the Dragon. Shingo hit the move, but referee Red Shoes Unno was pulled down in the process; Jay used the opportunity for a low blow and neck lock suplex for another nearfall, before Bladerunner finally saw three. 

The main event of night one saw a rematch of A Block’s final night last year, and of January 4’s main event at Wrestle Kingdom as Kazuchika Okada faced Kota Ibushi. Last year’s G1 winner and the former IWGP Champion were tentative at the outset before a snug lockup led to a feeling out process on the mat. 

The pace suddenly accelerated violently, Ibushi hitting a Frankensteiner to bring the match to the floor where Okada sent his opponent into the guardrail. A hard DDT later and Ibushi’s head bounced off the floor with a thud, Okada retaining control with a basement dropkick to the side of Ibushi’s head as he answered the referee’s count. 

A dropkick from Ibushi however, and the 2019 winner had distance and momentum, a standing moonsault getting two, but Okada able to accelerate with equal ferocity, a back elbow and DDT connecting with the neck once more. As momentum continued to see-saw however, an overhead kick from Ibushi landed at the ten minute mark, the Osaka crowd clapping and stamping their feet for both men. 

Okada was able to roll into the Money Clip Cobra Clutch to wrench at the already damaged neck of Ibushi to finally seemingly take control. Ibushi found the ropes and rolled to the floor, giving Okada a false sense of security; one he paid for with an Asai Moonsault and a dropkick in ring. At the 15 minute mark, Ibushi muscled Okada to the top rope, but was blocked in his offensive attempt; Okada looked for a Tombstone off the top rope but was countered with a tremendous springboard Frankensteiner. 

The match continued to swing in momentum. Ibushi tried for the Bastard Driver, countered with a Tombstone. As they traded strikes however, Ibushi appeared to enter his dark and dangerous zone with a punishing lariat and a hard straight kick to the head of Okada as he blocked Kamigoye. A Boma Ye attempt was countered on the run by Okada however, and a corkscrew Tombstone led into the Money Clip, Ibushi rolling Okada out, and digging deep to prevent another Tombstone.

A short range dropkick countered Ibushi’s Kamigoye attempt, and Okada arrogantly attempted his own version of the hold, countered into a powerbomb from the Golden Star. Ibushi’s original Kamigoye followed for the win and two points. Post match, Ibushi stated that this was more than a regular league match win, and that he wouldn’t betray, quit or lose, promising to rise above and ‘become god’ by the end of G1 Climax 30.