7 Ups & 3 Downs From NJPW Royal Quest

2. Technical Excellence

Zack Sabre Jr.'s grapple-heavy formula is so robust you could probably throw this writer into a bout with the 'Technical Wizard' and yield at least three stars. Plug Hiroshi Tanahashi, a certified wrestling genius, in, and magic happens.

These two have always had wonderful chemistry. Their latest clash may have been lost in the overwhelming behemoth that is the G1 Climax, but still a storytelling masterclass with the ace working Zack's kind of match, peppering it with slices of his own artistry throughout. In London, they came close to matching it.

ZSJ was a big home country favourite. He's at his best as a sharp-witted, c*nty heel, but the crowd brought a different dynamic here. As odd as it was seeing the Copperbox cheering Sabre as he stomped down on Tana's twisted arm, the legend played his usual game from beneath. He was determined to will the audience back to his side and was moderately successful, such was the strength of his work.

This was a match of counters and technique, laced with a few choice strikes. It was also the best thing on the show up to that point. While not quite the best match Tanahashi and Sabre have ever had, it more than made up for KENTA vs. Ishii's sloppiness, and as well as taking the British Heavyweight Championship, Tanahashi claimed a sizeable scalp by pinning ZSJ on home turf.