G1 Climax 30, Night 8 Preview

September 18, 2020
By: Lou Pickney

Here is a preview of the eighth night of G1 Climax 30, the annual two-block round-robin heavyweight tournament in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In recent years, the G1 has featured a flurry of ultra high-end matches.

The star ratings are from highly respected journalist Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON). The number next to it is the cagematch.net (CM) score for the match as of last check before publication.

IMPORTANT: A subscription to the New Japan World streaming service (¥999/month) is required to watch the linked videos.

G1 Climax 30, Night 8 (B Block)
October 1, 2020 — Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan

1) Sanada vs. Tetsuya Naito

Naito leads the series 1-0 thanks to winning their only previous singles match, which took place in the 2018 G1. Nagaoka is Sanada's home region, so he should have the full support of the crowd.

Previous singles match

1. Naito: August 8, 2018 — Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
G1 Climax 28
WON: ****1/4 & CM: 8.01

2) EVIL vs. KENTA

One of the big questions going into the G1 is how the pecking order will shape up in a Bullet Club that added EVIL to its ranks while pandemic-related travel restrictions have kept KENTA and Jay White out of Japan until now.

In their only previous singles match, KENTA was victorious over EVIL in the 2019 G1.

Previous singles match

1. KENTA: July 20, 2019 — Tokyo (Korakuen Hall)
G1 Climax 29
WON: **** & CM: 7.36

3) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yoshi-Hashi

Tanahashi leads the series 3-0, including two wins in G1 matchups.

I like that Yoshi-Hashi will have a championship belt to wear to ringside while Tanahashi won't. Something different, if nothing else.

Better stop there before Ishii cuts another promo about people like me goofing on Yoshi-Hashi. I have nothing but respect for the Stone Pitbull.

.

There are some hidden gems on New Japan World, even with Yoshi-Hashi. Here's one from 2014 that is well worth your time to watch with Tanahashi and Yoshi-Hashi on opposite sides:

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Yoshi-Hashi & Kazuchika Okada
November 8, 2014 — Osaka, Japan
Power Struggle
WON: ****1/4 & CM: 7.62

Previous singles matches

1. Tanahashi: December 21, 2013 — Tokyo (Korakuen)
Road to Tokyo Dome
WON: N/A & CM: N/A
This match is not currently available on New Japan World

2. Tanahashi: July 29, 2017 — Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
G1 Climax 27
WON: ***3/4 & CM: 6.59

3. Tanahashi: July 30, 2018 — Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan
G1 Climax 28
WON: ***3/4 & CM: 7.15

4) Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

The Goto vs. Sabre series is tied 2-2, and they are 1-1 in G1 matches. This will be their first singles match since Sabre beat Goto in London in October 2018.

Previous singles matches

1. Goto: April 9, 2017 — Tokyo (Ryogoku Sumo Hall)
Sakura Genesis 2017
WON: ***1/2 & CM: 7.22

2. Goto: July 29, 2017 — Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
G1 Climax 27
WON: ***1/2 & CM: 0.00

3. Sabre: August 8, 2018 — Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
G1 Climax 28
WON: ***3/4 & CM: 7.00

4. Sabre: October 14, 2018 — London, England, UK
RevPro/NJPW Global Wars 2018
WON: N/A & CM: N/A

5) Juice Robinson vs. Toru Yano

Juice is 3-0 against Yano, holding victories over the Sublime Master Thief in each of the three prior G1 Climax tournaments.

MORE:

G1 Climax 30, Night 1 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 2 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 3 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 4 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 5 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 6 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 7 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 8 Preview
G1 Climax 30, Night 9 Preview

See any mistakes, omissions, or needed corrections? Please let me know: @LouPickney