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SEP.29.2020

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G1 CLIMAX 30 night 8 preview 【G130】

A Block moves on to Niigata

G1 action continues on Thursday in Niigata, as the third back to back night of action sees A Block step back up to the plate, and intra factional action high on the card.

Watch G1 Climax 30 live and on demand with NJPW World!

Tetsuya Naito (3-0) vs SANADA (0-3)

Overall singles record: 1-0 Naito (2018 G1)

The main event in Nagaoka sees an all Los Ingobernables De Japon affair as Tetsuya Naito faces SANADA. Their one singles meeting in the past in the 2018 G1 was on neutral territory in Yokohama, but here the two men face off on SANADA’s (almost) home turf; SANADA isn’t from the city of Nagaoka itself, but was born in the prefecture of Niigata. 

The home town energy may bring back memories of the New Japan Cup in 2019 for SANADA, where in the same venue Cold Skull made the finals of the cup and was only narrowly beaten by Kazuchika Okada in match that cemented him as the Rainmaker’s rival. Since the latter part of 2019 however, SANADA has struggled, and has been slow out of the gate in the G1 as well. A loss to YOSHI-HASHI in Korakuen Hall this week was his third, putting him effectively in a must-win position; nobody in the modern era of the tournament has reached the final with fewer than 12 points. 

When Naito labelled EVIL as potentially the number four heavyweight in Los Ingobernables De Japon, the King of Darkness had a fire lit within him that ended in him joining BULLET CLUB and being the first to leave LIJ. As Naito has suggested that SANADA needs to get moving to avoid being passed by, while it be the usual serene and calculating Cold Skull heading into the main event Thursday, or will there be more fire behind the usual steely gaze?

KENTA (2-1) vs EVIL (1-2)

Singles record: 1-0 KENTA (2019 G1)

We are one G1 removed from KENTA defeating EVIL in Korakuen Hall, but in Nagaoka some 14 months on, very different dynamics surround the rematch. KENTA and EVIL both seemed so far from the BULLET CLUB radar last year, but both are now not only part of the group, but successful and prominent members. 

The New Japan Cup winners at home and in the USA, EVIL made good on his prize, converting into double IWGP gold, while KENTA has held fast onto the IWGP US Heavyweight Right to Challenge briefcase, his title match pending. Purely in terms of hardware attained in 2020, that would make the two men the highest ranked BULLET CLUB heavyweights of the year thus far, and creates interesting questions.

Will this be a cleanly fought battle over two points? After months of separation, are the BULLET CLUB’s arms in the US and Japan working in tandem? Will Dick Togo be as involved as he was in the corner of EVIL against Zack Sabre Junior and YOSHI-HASHI? All the moving parts of a faction derby in the G1 are at play for what will be a talked about affair. 

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi (1-2 ) vs YOSHI-HASHI (1-2) 

Overall singles record: 3-0 Tanahashi G1 record 2:0 Tanahashi

Slow starts for Tanahashi and YOSHI-HASHI in G1 Climax 30 saw both start at 0-2 despite incredible performances; Tanahashi against Tetsuya Naito in Osaka, and YOSHI-HASHI coming within a hair of beating EVIL in Hokkaido. After Korakuen Hall saw YOSHI-HASHI pull out an impressive first win over SANADA and Tanahashi similarly get on the board against Juice Robinson Tuesday though, both men are in high spirits as they head to Nagaoka. 

Years before, when CHAOS and hontai were still at odds with one another, Tanahashi suggested that YOSHI-HASHI would be a better fit in the NJPW home team, and suggested he could give the Headhunter needed motivation and guidance at the time. In 2020, YOSHI-HASHI has become an unsung superstar, picking up his first career championship and pushing a former double IWGP Champion to the absolute limit. Can he do the same to the Ace Thursday, or perhaps score his biggest win of the year so far? 

Hirooki Goto (1-2) vs Zack Sabre Junior (1-2)

Overall singles record: 2-2 G1 record 1-1

Separated through 2019, Hirooki Goto and Zack Sabre Juniors four matches came two each in 2018 (where ZSJ was the victor in Japan and the UK) and in 2017, where Goto was victorious in a pair of bouts when the Briton was new to the cerulean blue. Within their first three matches of G1 Climax 30, both men have fallen to KENTA, and both have suffered damage as a result; Goto forced to submit with Game Over in Osaka after KENTA created and exploited a shoulder weakness, while ZSJ ate some thunderous strikes as recently as Tuesday. 

Both have faced IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Champion tetsuya Naito in the opening stretch as well, both men falling to Destino. As they reset and try to take control of their destinies in Nagaoka, who will emerge on top?

Juice Robinson (2-1) vs Toru Yano (3-0)

Overall singles record: 3-0 Robinson (2017, 2018, 2019 G1s)

After the first two nights of the G1, three men sat at the top of the table in B Block undefeated: Tetsuya Naito, Juice Robinson and Toru Yano. After Korakuen Hall Tuesday, that picture has changed, but not in the way you might expect. Juice has been dealt his first loss of the tournament, and Toru Yano is still sitting pretty at an unlikely but impressive six points.   

Juice’s record so far against the sublime master thief is immaculate; placed opposite Yano for the last three tournaments running, Juice has been able to consistently defuse Yano’s traps and pick up victories. Can that continue in Nagaoka and deliver Yano his first defeat? Or will that Yano Magic keep coming?

Yota Tsuji (3-2this tour) vs Gabriel Kidd (2-2 this tour)

Overall singles record: 4-1 Tsuji  (1-1 this tour)

The Young Lion warfare continues in the opening match. After Tuesday’s night six matchup between Kidd and Uemura, the deadlock between the three prospects was yet to be broken as each sat at 2-2. As each evenly matched athlete tries to get an upper hand, will another underhook suplex give Kidd his second consecutive win over Tsuji, or will it be Noge Dojo stepping up?

 

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