A Block is back on second night of Hiroshima action
After B Block hit Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall on October 6, it’s A Block’s turn on Wednesday, as combatants enter the second half of their campaigns. Who can set the pace in this all important middle phase of the tournament?
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Kota Ibushi (4-1) vs Shingo Takagi (2-3)
First singles meeting
A hotly anticipated first time ever singles confrontation headlines the night in Hiroshima as Kota Ibushi meets Shingo Takagi. Though Ibushi and Takagi are the same age, part of the famous ‘1982 club’ that also comprises Tetsuya Naito and Taiji Ishimori, and both came up in the pro-wrestling world at a similar point in time in the mid 2000s, with paths from outside companies into NJPW, their paths have never met until this night.
Takagi has had incredible matches with every member of the G1 lineup to date, but a middling record, currently at 2-3 and four points after getting his second victory over Yujiro Takahashi in Takamatsu. For Ibushi, a victory over Ospreay has put him alone at the top of the A Block with eight points. With Ibushi looking to make good on his promise to ‘become god’ through this G1, and Takagi looking to make a significant dent in the standings in this, his second tournament entry, there will be little give for either man. In the same arena where Ibushi won the 2015 New Japan Cup, will he make a significant stride to the 2020 G1, or will the Dragon cut him off?
Taichi (3-2) vs Jay White (3-2)
Singles record: 1-0 White (2019 G1)
Taichi and Jay White first faced off one on one in the 2019 G1, with very little prior track record to go on. To date, the two have only shared a ring three times, but the ever vigilant Switchblade has certainly kept his eye on the Holy Emperor. Admitting that he ‘likes the way (Taichi) does things’, White has a grudging admiration for Taichi, but has similarly admitted that this won’t make a difference in the match result.
Nor most likely, in the match layout. White has consistently employed Gedo en route to his three wins and six points thus far, and we can likely expect Jay’s manager to come in useful again tonight; after all, an inch given to Taichi will result in a mile being taken when it comes to rules being bent. Then again, Gedo’s interference only backfired Monday in Takamatsu, when White’s manager was physically hurled at his charge on the way to an upset for Jeff Cobb. Taichi was (mostly) straightforward in his approach against Tomohiro Ishii, but after a hard fought and mostly clean bout Monday, fell short. Two days later, it could be a question of who can cheat more effectively when it comes to determining who leaves Hiroshima with two extra points.
Will Ospreay (3-2) vs Minoru Suzuki (3-2)
First singles meeting
‘Styles make fights’ is a cliched phrase, but one that applies to this matchup, with one of the most interesting clashes of style in the entire tournament. Ospreay’s spectacular high flying, honed with effective strikes stands in stark contrast to Minoru Suzuki’s grounded and sadistic approach. Conventional wisdom would dictate that Ospreay might want to stick and run against Suzuki, who will have a win in his pocket if he can just grab and ground the Assassin.
Then again, it would be a mistake to dismiss Ospreay as a grappler; his victory over Zack Sabre Junior in London earlier this year to win the British Heavyweight Championship saw him overcome arguably the best submission wrestler in NJPW at current. Add to that, the Briton’s more egotistical approach to proceedings this year, and a little voice from within might compel Ospreay to stand confidently toe to toe with the King and attempt to trade strikes or even submissions. If there’s one man who can easily use his opponent’s arrogance against them it’s Minoru Suzuki. It’s a hard match to call, and will be a thrilling one to watch.
Kazuchika Okada ( – ) vs Jeff Cobb (2-3)
First singles meeting
The first ever singles meeting between Kazuchika Okada and Jeff Cobb gives us precious little prior form to go on as well; the two men have only shared the same ring a handful of times, with the most recent being over two years ago in June 2018.
Prior form in this tournament is something that we can look toward. In a tournament where Okada has been hell bent on proving that he is ‘more than just the Rainmaker’, Okada has steadfastly used his Money Clip submission during the tournament thus far to mixed results, garnering wins over Yujiro Takahashi, Taichi, and with a quick flash pinfall, Minoru Suzuki, but with questions circling over whether he has tournament winning form. Okada is yet to score a completely convincing win this tournament, and a lower back injury is another factor in the equation.
Jeff Cobb’s power would certainly make a lower back injury a dangerous thing for the Olympian to target. Cobb himself is on a high after a spectacular victory against Jay White Monday, and wants to keep that momentum going. As we get into the second half of the campaign, it’s crucial for Okada to stay on a winning track, and for Cobb, to score perhaps the biggest singles win of his career in NJPW.
Tomohiro Ishii (2-3) vs Yujiro Takahashi (0-5)
Singles record: 4-1 Ishii G1 record 1-0 Ishii
heading into his first G1 Climax in five years, Yujiro Takahashi admitted that with a roster consisting of ‘everybody above me in the food chain’, his mission may be more about fighting to be a part of the G1 Climax 31 lineup than winning the 30th running of the tournament. With a 0-5 record thus far, the latter is beyond Yujiro’s reach now, and without a big win, the former may be in question.
What better opponent to get that key victory over than Ishii, though? It would be a fitting revenge after Ishii beat Yujiro in his last G1, and though the scoreline between the two men stands at 4-1, it was against the Stone Pitbull that Yujiro attained the single biggest one on one victory of his career, when he won the NEVER Openweight Championship in Korakuen Hall back in June 2014. A win would certainly make for a nice story for Takahashi, but Ishii cares not for anyone else’s narrative, and with two wins in a row under his belt, will be looking to continue his own instead.
Yota Tsuji (3-2-2 this tour) vs Gabriel Kidd (2-3-1 this tour)
Singles record 4-1-1 Tsuji (1-1-1 this tour)
Yota Tsuji and Gabriel Kidd are as deadlocked as two can be going into their fourth meeting this tour; a win apiece was followed by a draw between the two on night eight in Niigata. As young Lions get more and more competitive on the tour, Tsuji is coming off another draw with Uemura last night in Hiroshima. Who will emerge on top as we head to ward the last stretch?
