Two of NJPW’s top and most popular superstars headlined the second night of G1 Climax action. The current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, IWGP Intercontinental Champion and leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon faction Tetsuya Naito took on NJPW’s Ace, veteran Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Naito played mind games from the start backing away from several lock-ups. Tanahashi was laser-focused on Naito’s heavily taped left knee. Naito cleverly took a powder so he could rest his knee as the official laid in his count.
A ticked off Naito wrapped Tanahashi’s neck around the steel barricade while Red Shoes admonished him. Tanahashi whipped Naito into the barrier. Naito bounced off shotgun drop kicking Tanahashi before throwing him into the barrier.
Tanahashi slows down Naito. Courtesy: NJPW.
Young Lion Tsuji begins pounding the mat to support Tanahashi. Naito takes a swipe at him.
Tanahashi guillotines Naito with two Slingblades and a High Fly Flow. He goes for another but Naito moves out of the way. Tanahashi hits the canvass hard. Tanahashi kicks out of Gloria but Destino pins him.
The winner of the G1 Climax tournament is rewarded with a contact for an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match at the Wrestle Kingdom Tokyo Dome show on January 4th. Often the winner has been forced to, made to or opts to put that contact on the line before Wrestle Kingdom.
G1 CLIMAX 30 STANDINGS
| Wrestler | Points |
|---|---|
| Toru Yano | 2 |
| Tetsuya Naito | 2 |
| Zack Sabre Jr. | 2 |
| Kenta | 2 |
| Hirooki Goto | 0 |
| Sanada | 0 |
| Hiroshi Tanahashi | 0 |
| Yoshi-Hashi | 0 |
| Evil | 0 |
G1 CLIMAX 30 NIGHT ONE RESULTS
Yota Tsuji versus Gabriel Kidd
Kidd shows so much promise but he taps here to Tsuji’s Boston Crab.
Winner: Yota Tsuji
Juice Robinson versus Yoshi-Hashi – G1 CLIMAX 30 – A BLOCK TOURNAMENT MATCH
The new look Juice. Courtesy: NJPW.
Juice Robinson gets a big welcome from the fans and has a new look. He too hasn’t been featured on NJPW since its return. The fans give him a big cheer when his music ends. “It has been a long time,” says Robinson as he removes his entrance attire. Juice has a lot of fun during the bout. Juice puts Yoshi-Hashi away with Left Hand of God and Pulp Friction.
Winner: Juice Robinson
Toru Yano versus Sanada – G1 CLIMAX 30 – A BLOCK TOURNAMENT MATCH
Sanada looking spiffy in his new duds. Courtesy: NJPW.
Sanada has a new look too. He has a new mask and robe. The official finds a roll of tape in Yano’s tights. Of course, Yano has no idea how it got there. Sanada rolls up Yano almost getting the pinfall as the official admonished Yano. Yano rips off the turnbuckle pad. Sanada takes Yano and the pad for a rolling cradle around the mat. A dizzy Yano swings the pad around wildly almost hitting the official. Yano stumbles up the entrance way, grabs a chair from the crowd and takes a seat. Sanada stares on from the ring. The official begins his count.
Yano ponders sitting this one out. Courtesy: NJPW.
Yano makes it back into the ring by the count of 19. Yano and Sanada have a turnbuckle pad showdown in the middle of the ring. Sanada wins throwing his pad at Yano. Yano catches it. Sanada drop kicks him in the face. Sanada has had it with Yanko’s shenanigans. He brings him to the entrance way then puts him in the Paradise Lock leaving him there. A Young Lion frees Yano. An angry Sanada attempts to put the Young Lion in the Paradise Lock. As he is doing so, Yano tapes their legs together. Sanada drags the Young Lion to his feet. They hop back to the ring. Sanada is counted out.
Winner: Toru Yano
Hirooki Goto versus Kenta – G1 CLIMAX 30 – A BLOCK TOURNAMENT MATCH
Goto ain’t letting go of Kenta. Courtesy: NJPW.
Kenta won’t submit to Goto’s arm bar submission until he finally drapes a foot over the bottom rope. After a botched finish of sorts Kenta makes Goto submit to the Game Over crossface.
Winner: Kenta
Zack Sabre Jr. versus Evil – G1 CLIMAX 30 – A BLOCK TOURNAMENT MATCH
Evil and Togo demand answers from Red Shoes. Courtesy: NJPW.
Dick Togo and Evil double-team Sabre Jr. Sabre Jr. survives the beating to roll up Evil for the win stunning the crowd. Evil and Togo threaten Red Shoes after the match.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr. otherwise known as the Most Electrifying Superstar in Wrestling Today.
Hroshi Tanahashi versus Tetsuya Naito – G1 CLIMAX 30 – A BLOCK TOURNAMENT MATCH
Winner: Tetsuya Naito
G1 Climax Night Two
Summary
Not as dynamic or as uniform as Night One. The big match-ups were on the money though.