NJPW G1 Climax 30 10.10

Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura - 6.5/10

The usual greatness of these two, but it had a great finish this time around. A big struggle with Tsuji's Boston Crab on Uemura, who managed to escape after a long battle, and then Uemura made a comeback, hit the most beautiful armdrag you've seen, close to Naomi Yoshimura's, and then the double arm suplex for the win. Great stuff.

G1 Climax 30 Block A Match
Tomohiro Ishii (6) vs. Jeff Cobb (4) - 8.5/10

This was great, easily my favorite Cobb match of the tournament and in the top of Ishii matches. It was a hoss fight between a pitbull and an rottweiler. They went from shoulder blocks to strikes to tossing each other around and wash, rinse, repeat, and the best thing, was that neither men had to compromise their speed or striking, they complemented each other nicely. The match was back and forward and at the end, it really could have gone to either, but it was Cobb that got a Tour of the Islands from a down Ishii for the win. Crowd went crazy when Cobb pulled up Ishii from the mat all the way to his arms for the move.

G1 Climax 30 Block A Match
Yujiro Takahashi (0) vs. Jay White (8) (w/Gedo) - Dud, but a perfect execution

What happened here was that White completely planned to come in and for Yujiro to lay down for him. White wasn't even wearing his ring attire. Yujiro at first was perfectly happy with it, he went with it, but White being the cocky prick that he is, kept breaking the pin attempt to mess with the referee, and this annoyed Yujiro. One thing is to take one for the team, but another is to be made a clown, and so Yujiro kicked out.

Yujiro annoyed at White, decided to try and get a quick one over him and so he rolled him up, he low blowed him, and so Gedo had to interfere to stop him and allow White to get the win with a low blow and Bladerunner.

I loved this, it was intriguing, there was no reason to believe that White couldn't spare a loss here, and Yujiro sure as hell could use one, even if he's already been eliminated.

Post-match - White was irate and tried to attack Yujiro with a chair, but Gedo stopped him.

G1 Climax 30 Block A Match
Taichi (6) vs. Will Ospreay (8) - 7/10

Cocky Ospreay arrived, cocky Ospreay ruffled Taichi's feathers, cocky Ospreay got his head kicked in and had to fight really hard to get the win. Hopefully cocky Ospreay learned a lesson here. I mean, what really happened was that Ospreay got ruffled Taichi's hair when Taichi wouldn't get into the match, but Ospreay's mannerisms and jokes kinda made it seem like he would have done it anyway.

They had a fun, but kinda long match, I really enjoyed a pissed off Taichi, but I didn't think it was either man's best match of the tournament. There wasn't a lot of tension, other than the limbs that got worked, and so at the end, I just only enjoying the kick exchange until Ospreay won. So that's why I say it was fun, but too long for just enjoying kicks.

G1 Climax 30 Block A Match
Minoru Suzuki (6) vs. Kota Ibushi (8) - 9/10

Great match, just two dudes that wanted to get in a fight. This and the Ishii matches have exposed how Ibushi and Ospreay are so different from each other, and how Ibushi is still miles ahead of Ospreay. Ibushi can literally get in the ring with anyone and have the match that the opponent wants to have. This wasn't flippy Ibushi, hit was Pancrase Ibushi if there was ever a close description to it, and to it, it wasn't even like they just went crazy throwing punches and all, they had a methodical striking battle of that makes sense. It didn't feel like a sprint.

I personally liked when they fought in the ramp, like it made no sense in terms of 'why the ramp?', but I liked the visual, I loved that Suzuki made sure that it wasn't just to get a countout, since he broke the count. The one spot that I wasn't so sure was countering the Kamigoye to a Boston Crab, I loved the counter, but the Boston Crab wasn't that exciting of a move to transition into, maybe if Suzuki had made any comment about treating Ibushi like a young boy, but we know that Suzuki respects Ibushi as equals when it comes to punching each other in the face.

G1 Climax 30 Block A Match
Shingo Takagi (6) vs. Kazuchika Okada (8) - 9/10

Another great match for Takagi, and on the top echelon of Okada matches this tournament. I love that Shingo never looks star-struck, belittled, or overwhelm regardless of who he wrestles, he always imposes himself onto his opponent.

The match was what we've seen before between a brawler and Okada, who usually starts the match measuring up his opponent, then he survives an onslaught of punishment, then as he fights back, he finds all these opening to take down his opponent, and at the end, through shear will power starts chasing tombstones and his finisher. This match was a good Money Clip sequence to end the match, Shingo sold it great, but he also tried two comebacks from it, one pulling Red Shoes' shirt so he wouldn't call for the bell, and one where he even got to his feet, but Okada brought him down again to fade him out.

Also, once again, Okada's opponent used the Rainmaker material on him, Shingo even used the pose this time around.

Post-match - Seem reluctant, but Okada cut his winner's promo.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I think I've said it over and over again, but I once again think this is my favorite show of the tournament and arguably, a Show of the Year Contender.

If there was ever any doubt, the block is down to Okada, Ibushi, White, and Ospreay. It be hard for anyone else to win their final two matches, the these 4 to lose their remaining matches, AND have a tie breaker win over any of the 4 mentioned.