The opening G1 Climax 30 Night 16 tournament match saw former NEVER Openweight Champion, New Japan Cup USA 2020 winner, and Bullet Club member Kenta face CHAOS member Yoshi-Hashi.
Yoshi-Hashi came into the match with 2 points and coming off a loss against former four-time Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion and Suzuki-Gun member Zack Sabre Jr.
Kenta was coming off a bizarre win against current King of Pro Wrestling (presumably King of Pro Wrestling) titleholder and CHAOS member Toru Yano. However, despite the victory, he entered the match with only 6 points to show for his G1 Climax 30 campaign after winning New Japan Cup USA 2020 and earning a right to make the V3 challenge of Jon Moxley’s second reign with the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
Yoshi-Hashi, showing the best form of his career lately, came into the match with a spirit, putting forth his best effort in hopes of defeating his accomplished singles opponent.
Kenta has taken Yoshi-Hashi lightly ever since signing with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and his fixation with Yoshi-Hashi’s walking staff showed a measure of disrespect.
Yoshi-Hashi followed by asking Kenta a number of questions throughout the match, mounting a more than a respectable challenge against the Bullet Club member.
Kenta would gain the submission fall at the 17 minutes and 39 seconds mark with his Game Over submission after Yoshi-Hashi could no longer fight through the pain.
Yoshi-Hashi finishes his G1 Climax 30 campaign against fellow CHAOS member Toru Yano on October 17th. Kenta faces current IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental ‘Double Champion’ and Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) leader Tetsuya Naito on the same day.
If Kenta is able to defeat the man who he was unable to dethrone during The New Beginning in Osaka on February 9, 2020, he will spoil the tournament for Naito.