10 Best Wrestling Matches Of The Week (Aug 7)
2. Naomichi Marufuji Vs. SANADA (NJPW G1 Climax, 3 August)
When I looked at the schedule for the 2016 G1 Climax, this was not a match that I circled as being one to pay close attention to. Both men are fabulous wrestlers of course, but SANADA's position in Los Ingobernables and question marks over Marufuji's motivation didn't make for this feeling like a must-see. The fact that it was also on the same night as Tanahashi vs. Ishii didn't help.
Well, knock me down and colour me stupid because sweet lord this was wonderful. This was the match you didn't realise you needed to see, and whilst they only went just over 10 minutes I could quite simply have watched them for twice as much.
Marufuji and SANADA put on some of the smoothest sequences you could ever wish to see in a professional wrestling ring. Marufuji picked up the win, resigning SANADA to elimination in the process. Both men came out looking fantastic however. Marufuji continues as a threat in the G1 Climax, and SANADA is quite simply going to be a huge star one day.