Match seven for B Block sees action in Aichi
Aichi’s Dolphins Arena sees night 14 of G1 Climax 30. With just one week left before we find out who will Be the One in Ryogoku Sumo Hall, some critical matches will be taking place.
Tetsuya Naito (5-1) vs EVIL (4-2)
Singles record: 2-1 Naito G1 record: 1-0 Naito
The third in a 2020 trilogy between Tetsuya Naito and EVIL headlines in Aichi. Unique of the three matches this year, this is the first to not have the double IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight gold on the line, and Naito will likely take particular pleasure in being accompanied by the two titles when he heads to the ring to face the King of Darkness.
Of course EVIL brings his own accompaniment in Dick Togo. Not only Naito, but the bulk of the NJPW roster up to and including Jay White have been critical of EVIL’s reliance on Togo through the tournament, and it does seem that where EVIL would once be able to pick up victories over YOSHI-HASHI, Juice Robinson and KENTA on his own power, instead the Spoiler’s presence became a pre-requisite for victory.
It was at Dominion in Osaka Jo Hall that EVIL was pushing Naito the very limit on his own power before Togo first made himself known, blindsiding El Ingobernable and leading to the pinfall victory for his charge. In the Jingu rematch at Summer Struggle, Naito had time to prep for Togo as well as EVIL, and was victorious; a good deal of the credit though has to come from SANADA and BUSHI’s presence neutralizing BULLET CLUB’s interference. That presence will not be a factor tonight, potentially putting Naito in a corner.
Yet Naito enjoys just such a position. Always fighting harder and more effective from underneath, Okayama Thursday saw him sit alone at the top of the B Block table with ten points; writing the script rather than flipping it. A stacked deck might be exactly what Naito needs to ensure he keeps momentum strong, and potentially writes a path to the final early.
Hiroshi Tanahashi (3-3) vs Hirooki Goto (3-3)
Singles record: 11-1 Tanahashi G1 record: 4-0 Tanahashi
Sunday will see the first singles confrontation between Hirooki Goto and Hiroshi Tanahashi in over three years, a departure that Goto is likely grateful for. As one sided a record as you will find in singles competition, Goto has had just one victory over the Ace in 12 singles matches. Goto was part of a famously impressive 2002 class in the NJPW Dojo, with 1999 debutant Tanahashi being the clear senpai to Goto throughout their respective careers.
Goto and Tanahashi certainly bring the best out of one another in the ring, with a memorable first IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge in November 2007 in Ryogoku being a particular highlight. Yet results everywhere except from the 2012 New Japan Cup final have been elusive for Goto. Now the grand stage of Ryogoku might remain elusive at least for the loser of this matchup: at six points, Goto still has a chance of glory, but can’t afford to have his gap to the top widened. Tanahashi, recoveruing from a highly controversial loss to EVIL in Okayama is in the same spot. Goto and Tanahashi have a long history opposite one another but they’re fighting tonight for the immediate future of the final weekend.
Juice Robinson (3-3) vs SANADA (3-3)
Singles record: 1-1 (2017, 2018 G1s)
Juice Robinson and SANADA walk into this crucial meeting in Aichi with an even scoreline against one another and in their respective campaigns.
After a slow start saw him go 0-3, SANADA picked up wins over Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr. and then KENTA to go even, while Juice’s first six matches were almost the opposite, a hot start now seeing back to back losses to Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tetsuya Naito. Robinson has been vocal about needing improvement in his G1 standings lest he give his future participation in the tournament some consideration. He wants ten points minimum by tournament’s end; anything less than eight will make a spot in the finals unlikely coming out of tonight, making this match a critical one for both.
Toru Yano (3-3) vs KENTA (2-4)
First singles meeting
KENTA must win out, with Naito losing out
A lot can change in a week. Toru Yano started his G1 campaign with an incredible three match streak that saw him get points over top contenders in Hiroshi Tanahashi, SANADA and EVIL, the ‘YTR Climax’ was finally interrupted by Juice Robinson, and then suffered more disruption at the hands of Hirooki Goto, who pinned Yano in an all time tournament record 18 seconds in Hiroshima. After yet a third loss in Okayama, the grand PR platform for Yano’s wares that would be the G1 Climax final might be slipping away from him.
For KENTA, a loss to SANADA in Okayama mean his hopes of Ryogoku are even dimmer. Certainly he will be in no mood for Yano’s mischief, but can the master producer find a way to keep his own tournament hopes alive in the face of (in more ways than one) stiff competition?
YOSHI-HASHI (1-5) vs Zack Sabre Junior (3-3)
Singles record: 2-0 ZSJ, G1 record 1-0 ZSJ
YOSHI-HASHI is mathematically eliminated
Mathematically eliminated from the competition after a loss to teammate Hirooki Goto in Okayama, YOSHI-HASHI might not have had the best results this year, but he has undeniably worn his heart on his sleeve with spirited performances in every single one of his matches that threatened every single one of his opponents. This bout in Aichi will be particularly important for the Headhunter, with powerful memories from their meeting last year still remaining.
2019’s G1 lineup saw a lot of new names, and a lot of names cut to make room for them. One of those not present in the list of 20 was YOSHI-HASHI, who found himself out in the cold in the midst of a difficult year that saw him struggling after his return to the ring from a shoulder injury that January. While still grappling with that disappointment, YOSHI-HASHI was destined to face Zack Sabre Junior in the main event of the Kizuna Road tour closer for the British Heavyweight Championship. With dreams of Ryogoku as bright as the gold on the British Heavyweight title, YOSHI-HASHI convinced ZSJ to put his G1 Climax 29 entry spot on the line as well as his title; even with the added motivator though, he still came up short.
A year on, gold of his own in the form of the NEVER Openweight 6-Man titles has fired up YOSHI-HASHI to some incredible matches, but can he convert will and ability to results? Or will ZSJ, currently at six points after outsmarting Toru Yano in Okayama, keep his tournament alive?
Yota Tsuji (4-2-2 this tour) vs Gabriel Kidd (3-4-1 this tour)
Singles record: 5-1-1 Tsuji (2-1-1 this tour)
Yota Tsuji and Gabriel Kidd’s penultimate meeting on the tour kicks proceedings off in Dolphins Arena this Sunday. After a double arm suplex victory by Kidd over Tsuji was followed by a draw it seemed as if the Briton was gaining an upper hand on his Noge Dojo rival, but in Hiroshima Wednesday, Tsuji put paid to those thoughts with a commanding win after a punishing Boston Crab. Desperate to redress the balance against Tsuji, Kidd will fight with more LA Dojo pride than ever as he tries to close his gap to the Noge Dojo member before the Ryogoku finals.
