NJPW G1 Climax 2018, Week 4: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best

5. Zack Sabre Jr. Vs. Kenny Omega (1 August)

Kenny Omega Tomohiro Ishii
NJPW1972.com

Rating: ****

An outstanding bout, but one that felt like the first of a lengthy New Japan series. Neither man over-exerted themselves on night 12. Omega, in particularly, clearly chose to leave some spots in the tank, and that's a smart move: their paths are sure to cross again.

The bout was largely built around ZSJ cutting the IWGP Heavyweight Champion off with countless submission counters, including a V-Trigger into a half crab. Such is Sabre's appeal. NJPW have done a tremendous job building him up as a dangerous technical wizard who can finish a bout from almost any position, and he was continually seizing on every opening, no matter how small.

Omega loses marks for his inconsistent knee selling, but the action was mostly excellent.

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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.