10 Best Matches From The NJPW G1 Climax 2018
4. Tomohiro Ishii Vs. Hirooki Goto (21 July)
Rating: *****
A fight that could have believably been to the death had it not been taking place in the theatre of worked combat, Tomohiro Ishii's exhausting war with Hirooki Goto drew on New Japan's rich past to connect with its even richer present.
Goto and Ishii smashed the absolute f*cking sh*t out of each other, timing their comebacks and kickouts with enough grace and flair to wipe their slates clean with the audience ahead of another duel. It was as if nothing had to actually happen for everything to - the pair didn't just do more with less, they did the most with the very least but did so with enough pro wrestling precision to proffer pure perfection.
Goto's really had his moments in 2018 - this and other pleasing tournament matches built on the spectacular Wrestle Kingdom war he survived with Minoru Suzuki in order to scalp 'The King's elaborate barnet. Ishii had already teased what lay ahead throughout July and August, with this particular battle surpassing even the loftiest expectations for the 'Stone Pitbull's summer.