October 26, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Ibushi wins NJPW G1 Climax 30
Kota Ibushi pinned Sanada in the longest match in G-1 Climax history to win the most unique version of the tournament there will probably ever be.
All things considered, in every way but financially, the tournament has to be considered a big success. The story telling, particularly at the end, was some of the best in history. The match quality in the A block was excellent, but the B block was not nearly as strong.
The decline in match quality from prior years was unavoidable with the smaller crowds and not being able to cheer or boo. However, the A block was so strong that it ended up being the second best block in G-1 history, behind only last year’s A block.
The paid attendance of 2,928 on 10/18 at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, capped off at 30 percent, was the lowest in the history by a wide margin, but that couldn’t be helped.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.