19 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW G1 Climax 2019

11. Wrestle Kingdom Rematch Delivers (Night 5)

Will Ospreay Kota Ibushi
NJPW1972.com

Will Ospreay and Kota Ibushi delivered a concussive first-time-ever encounter at Wrestle Kingdom 13. The Englishman graduated that night, capturing the NEVER Openweight Championship with the aid of his debuting Hidden Blade finisher (a brutal exposed elbow to the skull) to ensure 'The Golden Star' left on a stretcher - a moment heightened by the fact Ibushi had legitimately been knocked loopy minutes earlier.

Night five played host to their rematch, and it was an improvement on every level. Ibushi was playing-up an injured ankle leading into the show while Ospreay had missed a preliminary tag due to supposed neck problems. Thus provided the narrative (and the targets) for this bout, which, a few Ibushi selling issues aside, was mesmeric in its execution.

EVIL and SANADA's cute stablemate vs. stablemate clash and a typical Hiroshi Tanahashi/Zack Sabre Jr. chess battle highlighted the rest of the show. Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale was a wet fart, but not enough to spoil it.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.