Top 10 G1 CLIMAX 30 Matches
10. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Shingo Takagi (Night 11 10/7/20)
This was one of the most exciting possible first time matches left in wrestling and the thing delivered. Sometimes wrestlers are still able to power through COVID-19 and get the people to react, whether it’s astonishment or applause or even just Milano Collection A.T. marking out on commentary. This is high impact wrestling, folks – put on that Enzo Amore voice: they move fast, they hit hard, and they’re STRONG. AS. HELL. The high impact match style can easily run together with many others, but they settled themselves into a story of Shingo again positioning himself as a big star by completely wrecking Ibushi and being a boastful god damn prick about it. Shingo basically beat the life back into Ibushi, the only guy to actually make Ibushi’s whole “I must become GOD” thing inexplicably work.
9. G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi (Night 9 10/5/20)
Taichi brings a different energy to the G1 match – simultaneous vibes of “oh that PRICK” and “HOW is he so good?!” Opposite the G1 Climax MVP in no mood to deal with his shit, it all ruled even more. Ishii seems pissed he even has to put any more effort into this – a different, rewarding, and occasionally epic G1 match.
8. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Taichi (Night 17 10/16/20)
After seeing a hundred of the same match (sorry Goto!), it was nice to see these two do something completely different. They worked this around kicks, and by that I mean I’m not sure there was a move in this match that wasn’t a kick besides a couple big boots and the Kamigoye knee to the face. These pro wrestlers just wrapped me up in their world through emoting how much of a tough guy they are and want to be, first out of honor and eventually out of stupidity. Ibushi the angry striker is a mood and Taichi is not only elite at big main event but this leg selling shit too, like he’s Kawada’s boy or something. I don’t know if they’ll be OK after this but this was an amazing amazing match
7. G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb (Night 13 10/10/20)
Tomohiro Ishii could have easily just mailed this in with shoulder tackles and a few elbows and nobody would’ve asked questions, but NOPE – he just had to relentlessly beat a great match into Jeff Cobb. They brought the action and eventually the drama but Ishii also gave this a vibe that made me as compelled by Cobb as I have ever been. For the first part he was chopping and kicking him around like he just didn’t understand: WHY. AREN’T. YOU. BETTER? It makes Cobb finally managing to catch and suplex Ishii count HUGE, and in the midst of his comeback he emerges as a guy who finally GETS IT. Incredible stuff.
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Night 5 9/27/20)
They packed so much into this match that I furrowed my brow when I read it went only 15 minutes. How!? They delivered the most straight-up G1 CLIMAX match of the tournament so far, the kind of match where they put it all out there then went backstage after and laid on the floor in a crippling silence. A beautiful, nasty wrestling match.
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (Night 4 9/24/20)
ZSJ provided Naito his most interesting match since the title win, as right after the POSE Zack rolls him up for 2.9999 and everything’s on. Naito wrestles early on with an intent and focus you rarely see him show, which eventually shifts the tide and has Union Zack going extra hard to keep up with Naito’s style including a rapid-fire tornado DDT that is worth watching several times. Zack brings a certain set of skills and they were highlighted more than usual opposite a version of Naito who was just grinding for a victory. Good use of half an hour.
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA (Night 16 10/14/20)
Tanahashi gave the 1970s NWA tribute match to SANADA this year and it was tremendous, both guys’ best outing in the tournament by far. This is not a tape study tribute, this is a tribute tribute. Tana takes 25 minutes and just enjoys being a main event superstar professional wrestler who milks every moment as they go hold-for-hold and counter-for-counter before they bring it home with a finish that pays off the limb damage done early on. Tanahashi busts out the bridging Indian Deathlock in his journey to win with a Texas Cloverleaf and it’s all just so old school and awesome, especially when it elicits a more genuine response than the more traditional strike exchange classic.
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi (Night 13 10/10/20)
An unbelievable match that delivered everything I wanted from the first Okada vs. Shingo match besides maybe the IWGP Heavyweight Title on the line. It was not just Okada’s best G1 match by a couple miles, but Shingo finally gave Okada the one match in the G1 that made the whole journey of the Money Clip and make some kind of sense. It also helped continue to cement Shingo as just THE dude in New Japan. Big time feel, great payoffs, quality peaks and valleys, and a return to form for the Rainmaker – so so good.
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Night 7 9/30/20)
This didn’t have the benefit of the rowdy crowd in Yokohama last year, but it did have an applause that was so frequent and consistent and LOUD that it nearly transcended the COVID vibes. These are two presences that deliver on the promise of their presence, two bad dudes who know they’re going to have to do the whole damn thing to beat each other. Shingo brings a new energy to the already awesome Ishii match, with not just effortless strength that allows him to toss the old man around but also a new challenge for the Stone Pitbull – this is not just two guys hitting each other back-and-forth, it’s the new generation coming for Ishii’s spot.
1. G1 Climax – Block A: Kota Ibushi vs. Minoru Suzuki (Night 13 10/10/20)
This match stood out in the middle of ALL the G1 by being a less high-speed high-impact match and more a deliberate Strong Style match, the kind of one where it’s all strikes and submissions but everything counts: first Ibushi tries to go strike-for-strike with Suzuki and fails, but he’s able to fight back when the match becomes less about who can strike hardest and more who can strike fastest. MiSu’s obviously the O.G. but Ibushi is this pretty boy badass who almost has to be coaxed into showing that yes, he can destroy you.
Block A’s MVP’s: Ishii, Shingo, Suzuki, Taichi
G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White (Night 17 10/16/20)
Tomohiro Ishii has been the G1 MVP year after year and 2020 was no different, though Shingo gave him a run for his money. I’m not sure even Shingo could’ve pulled this one off though, a satisfying ending to the A Block where Ishii delivered no less than everything needed: a main event Jay White match, dramatic leg selling (even after the last match!), a satisfying win even if he couldn’t make it to the finals. The crowd’s absolute elation when Jay actually stays down for the 3 is all you need to know about this one.
G1 Climax – Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Will Ospreay (Night 3 9/23/20)
This is a match that exposed the absolute TRAUMA of a G1 Climax without a crowd that can’t flip out for everything in front of them, as I think it was pretty much the ideal Ishii vs. Ospreay match but had a lack of energy hanging over it. There was so much good stuff in here though: mid-40s Ishii kept up with young Will in the blistering opening sequence, they exchanged suplexes in a way that kept pushing Heavyweight Will, and of course Will did all that cool high-flying stuff.
G1 Climax – Block A: Minoru Suzuki vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Night 1 9/19/20)
These guys hit each other and did it with a purpose, more “I’ve got to keep up and get those points” and less “eh let’s throw a jumping front kick to get through this shit.” Ishii and Suzuki are a couple of old men who are slightly less dynamic and intense these days, but sometimes that can also add to the whole deal and they really didn’t let up for 15 minutes anyways. They made sure to add some kick to it too, Suzuki absolutely stuffing what’s left of Ishii’s neck for a Gotch-style piledriver at the end.
G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi (Night 15 10/13/20)
Taichi wins this match, and that it feels legitimate shows how incredible these two are at the professional wrestling. It took a little to find its way but once it did they took it back to the Budokan. Shingo doing the Taichi Clutch was incredible, as was Taichi responding with his own Last of the Dragon.
G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Minoru Suzuki (Night 17 10/16/20)
A simple kind of match, one all about attitude and elbows and absorbing lariats and escaping sleeper holds. Eventually Shingo just punched Suzuki in the face and dropped him with Last of the Dragon for 3. Suzuki, like a prick, holds the NEVER Title between his teeth after the match to remind Shingo he’s still champ.
G1 Climax – Block A: Minoru Suzuki vs. Taichi (Night 3 9/23/20)
HERE is the real wrestling match, Suzuki-gun technique vs. Suzuki-shtick technique unsurprisingly being the best possible version of Suzuki-gun. They go at each other right away before Taichi overwhelms Suzuki with electrical wires around his neck and when Suzuki finds air he makes one of the all-time great Suzuki faces. I liked how they didn’t go too long but still managed to make things dramatic at the close, teasing the usual Suzuki finish before Taichi just hit the Black Mephisto and won CLEAN. So cool. So good!
Are SANADA and Will Ospreay Good or Not?
G1 Climax – Final: Kota Ibushi vs. SANADA (Finals 10/18/20)
This had the buzz of a G1 Final and was occasionally awesome, but at 35 minutes it was both “paced well” and “kind of boring for a while.” SANADA ran the ropes and played the hits but Ibushi brought the pain with this new character where he hits you harder than you have ever been hit, multiple times. They pulled off two of the best near falls I have ever seen in my life too. It’s a great match in a world where you need to be better than great to stand out.
G1 Climax – Block A: Will Ospreay vs. Taichi (Night 13 10/10/20)
Taichi can do the big G1 match while also keeping up with the junior heavyweight that remains within Ospreay. He does a Hidden Blade Axe Bomber variation cause he’s a jerk, and he counters an OsCutter with a superkick perfectly cause he’s incredible.
G1 Climax – Block B: Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA (Night 8 10/1/20)
Naito and SANADA are two guys who are scary good at the execution of many complicated attacks or counters based on speed and agility, though maybe not at pacing out a 30-minute match. The crowd became unglued when they got to where they needed to, but the first little while felt empty before the last 10 that had insane hustle.
G1 Climax – Block B: SANADA vs. EVIL (Night 18 10/17/20)
The former partners did the long New Japan Main Event + Dick Togo Interference and it mostly worked, even if there isn’t much more to say (or think) about this type of match on the final night of regular block matches. They paced it well, the crowd was in, and Togo ate shit before SANADA triumphed. That’s a match, folks! A match!
G1 Climax – Block A: Will Ospreay vs. Jay White (Night 7 9/30/20)
I don’t question that he is firmly rooted in the efforts of the New Japan Dojo system, but the best version of Jay White I’ve seen has been in the United States against Juice Robinson and in Japan against Will Ospreay. White has the match here it seems like he might always want to have, less questionable New Japan Heavyweight and more UK independent main event.
G1 Climax – Block A: Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay (Night 5 9/27/20)
Imagine a balance beam where on one end is a couple of the coolest most impressive pro wrestling performances possible, and on the other end is a couple of guys just showing off to the point where you’re more bored and annoyed than impressed. This match went teeter-totter, baby. There is all the good stuff you’d expect here, rapid-fire rope-running and strong boy wrestling sequences, but by the end it felt more like a crazy good exhibition than something I got fully wrapped into. I’ll give it a full extra star for the part where Shingo yelled “OSPREAY!” and clotheslined Will off the top rope, but that’s still just a part.
The Best of YOSHI-HASHI
G1 Climax – Block B: YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL (Night 4 9/24/20)
There is a lot of tape on record that says this match should not have been good, but I watched it and thought it was great. YOSHI-HASHI is one step beyond an acquired taste, but once it hits it… well, it still doesn’t always work but SOMETIMES it does and that is the point. I think. He starts this match the RIGHT WAY, saying fuck a Bullet Club and charging EVIL and Togo with his staff like a WARRIOR. A KING.
EVIL dishes a beating but this is more about all the ways they play with YOSHI-HASHI fighting back: suplex reversals, HYPE as he climbs for the Swanton Bomb before being brought down, and a reversal of a reversal of a reversal on an Irish whip among them. The timing on all the big moments is a freaking masterpiece, like YOSHI finally fighting back with a lariat or YOSHI bringing EVIL back to the center of the ring again and again on a Butterfly Lock. They even got big drama off the usual Togo/Gedo/whatever interference! That’s like the only time that has happened!
G1 Climax – Block B: YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA (Night 14 10/14/20)
Me enduring KENTA offense is a personal choice, but this was good. Besides the Suzuki-gun guys, KENTA might be the best heel in New Japan based on just his shtick timing and not having a manager around (for now). He used to be a dick because he’d be mean and hit you in the face, now he’s just a dick cause he’s a famous wrestler. They brought together a quality finish too, a fine match I enjoyed more than many other fine matches because of how much it over-delivered.
G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. YOSHI-HASHI (Night 12 10/8/20)
Goto is coming off back-to-back quick matches and with his bandaged shoulder it seemed likely we’d get more of the same, but no – YOSHI-HASHI not only goes right at the shoulder, he slaps Goto around! He gets cocky! By the end he has actually put up such a fight that Goto appears shook. Unfortunately he gets a little too excited and throws a headbutt, so Goto has to teach his boy a lesson: he headbutts him back, slaps him in the face, kicks him in the jaw, and puts him down with the GTR. A low key gem.
G1 Climax – Block B: SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI (Night 6 9/29/20)
I don’t know, I can’t say I ever wanted to see THIS match. YOSHI-HASHI is over-delivering in the G1 Climax, but in a way that I think only appeals to people who have seen him stink it up for the last decade. I guess that does describe most people watching the complete G1, so maybe the joke is on me. Maybe I should learn to appreciate my own enjoyment versus some perceived enjoyment of others. This built and built and eventually did get to a really cool vibe of two guys giving their all for the win, even if a fast-paced world might cause one to get impatient with a thing like this.
G1 Climax – Block B: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Juice Robinson (Night 2 9/20/20)
Juice Robinson is a confounding character, a guy I’ve enjoyed in every role but who hasn’t really CLICKED beyond a G1 match with Goto last year and that Jay White match in San Francisco the year before that. At some point you just have to roll with it and Juice is a guy I can roll with, having one of my favorite YOSHI-HASHI matches just because of things like pacing and well-timed punches. There was less body part work time-killing and more shifts of momentum when somebody threw a punch to the face. You could really feel YOSHI-HASHI just trying his heart out, and the near falls he got off the Butterfly Lock and Swanton Bomb were tremendous.
Tanahashi Still Rules
G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA (Night 10 10/6/20)
KENTA just beat up old Hiroshi for this entire thing and usually KENTA in control conjures up nightmarish memories of Hideo Itami yelling out “RESPECT MEEEE!” before applying his rear chinlock, but here it brought back some distant dream of that guy in NOAH who used to be good. Like in last year’s match between them, the babyface stylings of Tanahashi were the right stuff to bring back the meanest and most interesting version of KENTA there might be. He kept trying to break Tana’s leg before Tana just wrecked his and won with a Texas Cloverleaf.
G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (Night 18 10/17/20)
Here are a couple of fellows who respect the mat and work their holds with a seriousness and tightness that stands out among even hundreds of matches. They’ve had a couple epics before, and this was a shorter but still quality version of the pairing: while ZSJ is typically an offense kind of guy, Hiroshi Tanahashi will go hold-for-hold with him like he studied the tapes Zack missed. Tanahashi’s counter of Zack’s triangle choke into a Texas Cloverleaf was very cool, as was his counter of a Japanese leg roll clutch where he just flexed his leg muscles and pushed Zack away – before doing a Japanese leg roll clutch himself. This is a man with so much left to offer this business.
G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL (Night 12 10/8/20)
I thought I may have been dreaming last year but nope, Hiroshi Tanahashi and EVIL have an awesome chemistry between them. I used the phrase “there was a movement to this match, a dynamic dance or a flow” last time which is some trippy shit to say but watch that match and this match and tell me I’m wrong. There is just an extra smoothness or confidence to it all, with the EVIL of even 2020 stepping up for Tana and Tana seemingly inspired working a girthy Dojo guy – including frequent attempts to tap him out with a Texas Cloverleaf??? Not as good as last year, but still good.
G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto (Night 14 10/11/20)
I’ve seen these two transform from Young Lions to New Japan Veterans and they did the thing you’d expect New Japan Veterans to do in the G1: work a limb. Tanahashi took a gentleman’s approach and instead of going after Goto’s taped-up shoulder he worked the leg to setup the Texas Cloverleaf… until Goto started giving him trouble. Tanahashi has had more trouble than usual in this G1, but when he said fuck it and just smacked Goto’s shoulder I LOST IT. At under 15 minutes this was an abbreviated match for these two who are the rare pro wrestler that can do better with 20+, but they got the job done and put together an excellent finish.
G1 Climax – Block B: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Night 2 9/20/20)
Naito and Tana have had dozens of matches, a whole-ass feud, but it has been a while and this was GOOD. Tanahashi was kind of working a four-star match opposite three-star Naito, but they went long in a way that didn’t felt unnecessary and created the first actual New Japan FINISH in a while. Tanahashi is like TNT; Tanahashi Knows Drama.
The Okada Crisis
G1 Climax – Block A: Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi (Night 7 9/30/20)
Taichi added a welcome hook to Okada’s shtick in February, but that was adding to a hook Big Match Okada – this match was him adding a hook to G1 2020’s Sleepy Okada. It still worked out. Taichi brought the pain to Okada early in the form of chairs and choking, but held his end of the bargain towards the end with credible finishers that Okada kicked out at all the right last seconds on. There was a frustration in Okada’s eyes here over how competitive this was, but I still can’t tell if that is a feature or a bug for the Rainmaker.
G1 Climax – Block A: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Night 15 10/13/20)
Working matches around Okada stubbornly trying to win with the Money Clip – and he does here – can have its consequences, and usually it’s just a forgettable match. Ishii brought the headbutts and they filmed Okada’s Rainmaker tease like a nature documentary, but despite the framework of a quality wrestling match this felt like just another entry in the series versus anything special.
G1 Climax – Block A: Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki (Night 9 10/5/20)
What a weird and frustrating match that I kind of liked. Suzuki basically squashed Okada, who is either struggling through an injury in this G1 or a carny genius on the level of Brian Pillman. Maybe they’re telling a story, or maybe this is just the reality of an Okada who needs to take it easy opposite a Suzuki that is completely fine with that.
Best of the Young Lions
Yota Tsuji vs. Gabriel Kidd (Night 8 10/1/20)
I usually like the low key demo feel of these openers but this was a whole dang match and worth checking out over much of the G1 so far. As per usual they kept it competitive and credible, providing a good solid match that eventually built and built into something more urgent and special as the time limit got closer. When it actually hit, Tsuji and Kidd got up and threw ALL the slaps like they were ready for 15 more.
Yuya Uemura vs. Yota Tsuji (Night 10 10/6/20)
This was the second 15-minute draw for Tsuji on this tour, a match that began as your everyday rock solid Young Lions match with a few extra spices before closing as this intense battle for supremacy with neither guy backing down despite getting slapped in the face, like, REALLY hard. There is a cool spot in the middle where Tsuji whips Uemura into the corner and backs up to prepare for an attack, but Uemura charges first and nails a back elbow, popping commentary – the PROGRESSION of this young man! Tsuji gets revenge later when he absorbs a few elbows and Uemura on the rebound with an incredible spear. They throw slaps and try to win with rollups but the bell rings and then they just claw at each other on the mat. Good wrestling.
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura (Night 16 10/14/20)
This is actually an amazing payoff for their matches over the whole tour, like 7 minutes of callbacks. The finish is beautiful: Yuya wrenches an arm and tries the Kannuki Suplex Hold that he finally won with yesterday, but Tsuji rolls through into his trusty crab hold. Yuya fights his way to the ropes, but Tsuji pulls him back and does the giant swing he’s been using recently before putting Yuya back in the crab hold for the tapout.
