The headline match of G1 Climax Night 5 saw a rematch of 2019’s Best of the Super Junior (BOSJ) 26 Finals as the winner of that tournament, and current Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion and CHAOS member Will Ospreay face former NEVER Openweight Champion and Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) member Shingo Takagi.
The crowd in Hyogo was electric before the wrestlers locked up for only the second time in singles competition, as thoughts of their critically acclaimed BOSJ Finals match remains fresh in the minds of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) fans.
With this being only the second match between the two former junior heavyweight division (where Ospreay was a three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and Shingo a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion [w/Bushi]) competitors, Shingo was looking to even their table while getting his first G1 Climax 30 A Block victory.
Shingo came into the match with G1 Climax 30 defeats to both Bullet Club member Jay White and Hontai member Jeff Cobb. While Ospreay came with a 2-0 record, with victories over Bullet Club member Yujiro and fellow CHAOS member Tomohiro Ishii.
The match itself saw both competitors rely on what has brought them championship victories throughout their careers. Ospreay was able to counter Shingo’s power and impact offense with his speed and agility, while Shingo was able to counter Ospreay’s aerial attacks with his brute power.
The back and forth match would come to an end with Shingo gaining the fall with his Last of the Dragon technique at the 22 minutes and 3 seconds mark, giving Shingo his first victory of his G1 Climax 30 campaign.
With the victory, Shingo could make a claim for a future RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship match against Ospreay in the future.
In the short term, both wrestlers will look to use their great performances to lead them throughout the rest of the tournament, as they fight to end at the top of the A Block.
