11 Ups & 2 Downs From NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling 2018
3. Tana & 'Switchblade' Outdo Themselves
On the strength of his current performances, Hiroshi Tanahashi might be the best wrestler in the world right now.
New Japan's former ace has been nothing short of masterful over the past few months. Transcendent selling performances in the G1 Climax then against Kazuchika Okada on the Destruction tour had anyone with a heart rooting for him ahead of King Of Pro-Wrestling, where he met master manipulator 'Switchblade' Jay White. Unsurprisingly, he unfurled yet another gem of a performance.
In a bout that greatly outstripped their lukewarm Wrestle Kingdom 12 encounter (partly down to Tana's excellence, partly White's maturation as a performer), the duo delivered in the pre-main event. Tanahashi's knee was ravaged by the calculated Jay. Bile rained from the rafters as he played air guitar with the Ace's leg, then bludgeoned it on the outside, but Tana fought back. He always does. Here, the 'High Flying Star' sold and flew at his usual GOAT level, eventually overcoming White and his bastard manager Gedo (who was tremendous himself) to retain his Tokyo Dome briefcase.
Though a clear level below New Japan's best matches this year, Tanahashi vs. White had the building enraptured. An opportunistic finish keeps 'Switchblade' protected, and with deposed CHAOS leader Kazuchika Okada attacking him in the aftermath, we now know his likely Wrestle Kingdom bout.