12 Ups & 6 Downs From NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 2019

6. 'Switchblade' Ends The Ace

The first big Jay White vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi singles match (Wrestle Kingdom 12) was a massive letdown, the second (G1 Climax) a big step forward, the third another (King Of Pro-Wrestling), and their fourth (The New Beginning In Osaka 2019) an outright banger, as 'Switchblade' shockingly wrested Tanahashi's newly-won IWGP Heavyweight Championship from his clutches.

Could their BOSJ finals encounter continue the upward trajectory? Yes. Yes it could.

Jumping Tana before the bell, White was bloodthirsty throughout. He unleashed a vicious onslaught on the Ace, tearing his surgically-repaired shoulder apart with a precision assault inside the ring and out, drawing massive heat in the process. At one point, this f*cker just pulling the referee through the ropes to avoid being counted out. If there was any doubt that he's operating at a higher level than 99% of the sport's heels, it was eradicated in the bout's first act.

A ligament-snapping Dragon Screw gave Tanahashi hope. With Ryogoku behind him, the living legend swam against the tide, helping his young opponent craft a bout with immense dramatic heft. Tana was sublime, but when is he not?

This classic in-ring storyline was executed expertly, and it wrapped up with 'Switchblade' scoring an opportunistic roll-up after trading low blows with Tanahashi following Gedo's attempted interference. A suitable act of skullduggery from a guy who may not be on top of the mountain anymore, but still feels like NJPW's top heel.