So we’ve reached the final week where the G1 Climax is going on. So we will probably start seeing the usual mixture of companies, but also after thus week, probably a steep drop off in quality. Either way, let’s unveil the match that won July by showing our Match of the Year Pool so far.

• January – NXT Takeover Philly: Johnny Gargano vs Andrade Almas
• February – New Beginning in Osaka: Kazuchika Okada vs SANADA
• March – Strong Style Evolved: Golden Lovers vs Young Bucks
• April – NXT Takeover NOLA: Andrade Almas vs Aleister Black
• May – WWE  Backlash: Seth Rollins vs The Miz
• June – NJPW Dominion: Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega
• July – G1 Climax 28: Hirooki Goto vs Tomohiro Ishii

So it was actually quite a close vote between all of the choices, but the physical Strong Style throwback match of Goto vs Ishii, eventually pulled ahead.

We had a second vote last week, for Match of the Week. So our first match of August is, Evolve 108: Shane Strickland vs Matt Riddle. It’s not very often that an Indie match wins the week. I wonder how it will stack up when August is all said and done.

5. MLW Fusion: John Hennigan vs Teddy Hart

From My MLW Coverage:

Teddy Hart being back in a full time promotion is definitely something. Not sure what, since he tends to be unpredictable, but it’s kind of nice. Hennigan is under another name in another promotion, so this should be good.

Both guys play to the crowd often, and the crowd is split. But it should be mentioned that this is the most alive I’ve heard the crowd since the debut episode. Teddy hits some crazy moves nearly immediately as he counters Hennigan trying to bring him back in from the apron, into a Twisting Cutter. You saw both guys trying their damnedest since the winner of this match gets a shot at Low Ki next week.

A Code Red into a Top Turnbuckle Assisted Canadian Destroyer, gives Hart a near fall. After that he goes for a few Springboard Moonsaults, but Hennigan eventually gets the knees up and begins his flurry. He pulls off the Sliding Middle Rope German Suplex, right into Starship Pain for only 2. Hennigan then tries Countdown for Impact (That Parkour Elbow Drop), but misses. Hart hits a violent looking Lung Blower, followed by a Top Rope Twisting Asai Moonsault and then a Middle Rope Asai Moonsault, again only for 2.

Each competitor has had words with the referee during this match, but Hart shoots Hennigan into the corner to get it reversed. Hart tries to pop over Hennigan possibly for a Victory Roll or Code Red again, but Johnny sits down and hooks a Double Leg Cradle to steal the win.

Winner: Hennigan via Double Leg Cradle

Rating: **** 1/4

4. G1 Climax 28: Tomohiro Ishii vs SANADA

From Mathew’s G1 Coverage:

The two of them fought each other twice in a singles competition where SANADA defeated Ishii in 2016 during the G1 Climax and last year at the New Japan Cup where Ishii defeated SANADA. So this would technically be the rubber match between these two here to see who would come out on top. Ishii has been stocking up some pretty impressive victories lately and wouldn’t be surprised if he wants to stock up one more to end it, but SANADA has also lost a few big ones and wants to fix that by getting that one more win as well. Who needs the win more?

I’m just gonna come out and say it, these two are the MVP’s of not only B Block, but throughout the G1 Climax in general. Whether they have the best match on the show or just had a great performance, these two would always deliver to give us something memorable to watch with how they perform. For having them fight last on the final day, I thought the match was tremendous from beginning to end and gave us a fantastic story and plenty of nice sequences from their reversals and trying to do their moves like Ishii attempting the Skull End and SANADA countering it with Ishii’s Sliding Lariat and just how they flowed together was beautiful.

There was also a nice little callback to Great Muta with SANADA attempting the Diving Moonsault and missing as Ishii catches him with a Shining Wizard as the crowd goes crazy. These two went to war together, but there had to be a winner as Ishii defeats SANADA with the Vertical Suplex Drop. Despite them having a pretty decent record, both of them did a fantastic job with all of their opponents whether they won or loss and nothing to be ashamed of. Ishii showed that he’s still at the top of his game and SANADA has shown that he can be a key player in New Japan.

Winner: Ishii via Vertical Drop Brainbuster

Rating: **** 1/2

3. G1 Climax 28: Kota Ibushi vs Kenny Omega

This is a match, where even most casual New Japan fans know the story. Thanks to Being the Elite, coupled with NJPW storyline, everyone got to invent their own level of emotional investment. The two best friends, life partners, lovers, whatever they happen to be to each other, they must now fight for the honor of going to the Finals.

As soon as the match starts, Ibushi looks like he’s about to cry. Kota remained conflicted for the first about 5 minutes, and Omega decided to be “all business”, just going after Ibushi. Once Kota decided to retaliate the match started to swing. A few big Round Kicks started giving Kota some breathing room, and from there on it was a frenetic match.

Omega tried the Avalanche Dragon Suplex, but Ibushi backflipped out of it. Ibushi unveiled a new Double Knee Moonsault right into Omega’s chest. Big moves followed shortly after with a Double Footstomp to the back of Omega’s head while draped over the top turnbuckle and even an Avalanche Tiger Driver. Eventually Ibushi hits a KamiGoye Knee Strike without the knee pad, and wins the match.

The reason this match is third, is because I don’t feel Omega told the story well. Ibushi seemed conflicted with every breath and Omega was too cool, and then when he loses suddenly he’s cuddly and happy for his best friend. It seemed unnatural. So even though the match got 5, it’s odd to say, but  it could’ve been higher if Omega didn’t try to play the all business card.

Winner: Ibushi via KamiGoye Knee Strike

Rating: *****

Honorable Mentions:

G1 Climax 28: Tetsuya Naito vs Zack Sabre Jr
Winner: Sabre Jr via Zack Driver
Rating: **** 1/4
SmackDown: The New Day vs The Bar
Winner: New Day via Midnight Hour
Rating: ****
G1 Climax 28: SANADA vs Tetsuya Naito
Winner: Naito via Destino
Rating: ****
MLW Fusion: Kotto Brazil vs Sami Callihan
Winner: Callihan via Get Out of Here
Rating: *** 3/4
G1 Climax 28: Juice Robinson vs Hirooki Goto
Winner: Juice via Pulp Friction
Rating: *** 3/4
Impact: Pentagon Jr vs Matt Sydal
Winner: Pentagon Jr via Fear Factor
Rating: *** 3/4
G1 Climax 28 Finals: Kushida, Pro Wrestler Sengokuenbu & Rey Mysterio vs YOH, SHO & Kazuchika Okada
Winner: Mysterio via 619
Rating: *** 3/4
G1 Climax 28: Jay White vs EVIL
Winner: EVIL via Everything is Evil
Rating: *** 3/4
G1 Climax 28: Zack Sabre Jr vs Hirooki Goto
Winner: Sabre via European Clutch
Rating: *** 3/4
G1 Climax 28 Finals: Jay White, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs Yujiro Takahashi, Kenny Omega & Chase Owens
Winner: Ishii via Vertical Drop Brainbuster
Rating: *** 1/2
G1 Climax 28: Tama Tonga vs Kota Ibushi
Winner: Tama via Pop-Up Gun Stun
Rating: *** 1/2
G1 Climax 28: Michael Elgin vs Togi Makabe
Winner: Makabe via King Kong Knee Drop
Rating: *** 1/2
WOS Championship Match: Justin Sysum vs Rampage
Winner: Rampage via Countout
Rating: *** 1/2
G1 Climax 28: Juice Robinson vs Tomohiro Ishii
Winner: Ishii via Vertical Drop Brainbuster
Rating: *** 1/4
G1 Climax 28 Finals: L.I.J. vs Suzuki-Gun
Winner: SANADA via Skull End
Rating: *** 1/4
G1 Climax 28 Finals NEVER 6 Man Title Match: Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Taiji Ishimori vs Marty Scurll & The Young Bucks
Winner: Tama via Gun Stun
Rating: ***
WOS: Martin Kirby vs Joe Hendry
Winner: Kirby via Dirty Pin
Rating: ***

2. G1 Climax 28: Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

From My G1 Coverage:

This is a historic rivalry. A couple draws, nearly even in their overall records against each other, we just know it’ll be good. The weight increases with White’s loss, but lets just see what happens.

The match starts with a flurry of missed shots. Okada misses a Shotgun Dropkick and Standing Dropkick, Tanahashi misses the Basement Dropkick, as each try Sentons and Lariats, all avoided for a quick stand off and applause.

From that point forward, this was another classic Okada and Tanahashi match. Both men took a move from each other, Okada hitting a Dragon Screw Leg Whip and Tanahashi landing a Tombstone Piledriver. Tanahashi even surprised everyone by using a Styles Clash, for a near fall.

Words can’t really describe the layers and emotion in this match. It was deliberately paced early on, but building to the last 5 minute rush of signature moves, near falls and hearing the crowd stomping their feet so loudly, this was special.

Tanahashi with a nice call back to the Wrestle Kingdom match when Okada kept wrist control, by keeping neck control and hitting 3 Twist and Shout neckbreakers. Fending off the Rainmaker just long enough to hit one High Fly Flow for a 2 count, but then time was called as Tanahashi went to the top for another.

Winner: Time Limit Draw

Rating: *****

1. G1 Climax 28 Finals: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi

From the G1 Finals Coverage:

So these two have put on some great matches in the past. Does Ibushi avenge his loss at Power Struggle 2017? Does the Ace have one more run left in him? Enough hyperbole, time to find out.

Mathew’s sentiment is right on the level with mine. But we also saw some fantastic spots in this match. Ibushi countered a Sliding Dropkick from Tanahashi on the apron, and Double Footstomped perfectly on his chest, a quickly snapped off Avalanche Frankensteiner as well as his new Double Knees Moonsault. Tanahashi was in usual form also, with a couple Short Arm Slingblades mixed in with two Twist and Shout Neckbreakers.

Throughout the match, the story and struggle was painted plainly on both men’s faces. Ibushi kept trying to hold back his emotions, until the spirit of Shinsuke Nakamura overcame him. A few antagonistic kicks to the head, mixed with two or three Bomaye Knees from different angles. Hell Ibushi even hit his Outside-In Deadlift German Suplex on Tanahashi, but only for 2 counts.

Tanahashi had a hauntingly similar sequence to the Power Struggle match, but instead of 2 High Fly Flows, this time it took 3 for Tanahashi to finish the job. A momentous occasion of course, but it should be noted that Kota never hit the KamiGoye. For those who don’t know, KameGoye means “Beyond God”, and he named it such because of Tanahashi. It was the move he was going to use to finally surpass God, and God, to Kota Ibushi, is Tanahashi.

Not quite there yet for Kota, but words can’t adequately describe how amazing this match was.

Winner: Tanahashi via High Fly Flow

Rating: ******

So we have one week, with 3 matches that could very easily top anyone’s match of the year list. The fact that Tanahashi vs Ibushi has tied the highest rating I’ve given out ( the other being Taiji Ishimori vs Hiromu Takahashi from BOSJ 25), I have to go with that.

As a Finale, the match paid off, on top of numerous storyline layers. The fact that Katsuyori Shibata just slunk out to second and cheer on Tanahashi from his corner has to make people happy as fans. Depending on how long you’ve been a fan obviously influences what you got from the match, and that’s a beautiful thing when surface level and deeper, the match was tremendous.

Go ACE!