NJPW G1 Climax 2019 BLOCK FINALS & GRAND FINAL (Aug 10, 11 & 12): Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best
2. Hirooki Goto Vs Shingo Takagi
Shingo Takagi's post-tournament graduation to the heavyweight division was overdue, not least after adding Hirooki Goto to the list of past and present NJPW topliners made better by the Los Ingobernables de Japon man's incredible offerings this year.
A month ago, Takagi was the unbeaten finalist in the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament ready to face Will Ospreay for that prestigious prize. In a match-of-the-year candidate, he was defeated. He's since gone on to stare at the lights more times in several weeks than he did an entire year, but his status within New Japan hasn't ever been higher.
Goto could still mathematically win the G1 before he was floored with a series of chest-bursting lariats Shingo's Last Of The Dragon finisher.
This may be the last of Goto in the event after a tournament that was more drab than dramatic, but Takagi is just clearly just getting started. For all the mourning over Naito's failure to win the tournament, has it gone missed that he's also been supplanted as the toughest member of his own group? Amidst headlines over SANADA's impressive form and win over Kazuchika Okada victory, many slept on Shingo. They'll do so again at their peril.