10 Best Matches From The G1 Climax 30
2. Kota Ibushi Vs. Taichi (G1 Night 17)
On the final night of A Block, these two crazy men decided to take inspiration from the classic Kenta Kobashi/Kensuke Sasaki NOAH match from 2005, replacing the endless array of chops with 15 minutes of constant sadistic kicks. In total, both men threw over 150 kicks combined, showcasing their psychological and physical willpower as the two hated rivals tried to survive one another in a war of sheer attrition.
Ibushi has proved his toughness as a physical wrestler time and time again over the years, whether it’s taking Suzuki forearms or being dropped on his head in outlandish ways. So it’s a testament to how well structured this match was that it stands out as one of the toughest battles he’s ever fought, despite them doing nothing but kicks. Like with the Ishii match, this did a lot to establish Taichi as a star capable of fighting his own battles clean, looking like a warrior in defeat.
The way they would use their hatred of each other to transcend the discomfort of the kicks was brilliant, gradually doing more selling for the legs until both men could barely walk by the final moments. It was utterly magnificent.