NJPW G1 Climax 2019 Night 11 (July 30) - A BLOCK: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best

5. Kota Ibushi Vs. Bad Luck Fale

Kota Ibushi worked his b*llocks and bad ankle off to get something decent out of Bad Luck Fale, and just about managed it as the two definitively wrapped up the BC OG’s G1 Climax in just under 10 minutes.

Only Zack Sabre Jr’s count-out victory over Bad Luck Fale topped Ibushi’s worthy effort against the ‘Rogue General’ for drama, but the match required the babyface victory to get a pass. It again brought into focus if the tournament can continue to absorb Fale's shortcomings for the good of Gedo's mathematics - his purpose-serving position in the tournament isn’t half as palatable at the later stages, but this broadly competitive match was better late than never, at least.

A hard-fought win for the ‘Golden Star’ was pleasingly low on all the typical Bullet Club hijinks, with a Kamigoye finish almost as satisfying as the one that twice dented Lance Archer’s skull just days earlier. Ibushi has one giant of a different kind still left to slay...