NJPW G1 Climax 2019 Night 16 (August 8) - B BLOCK: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best

3. Hirooki Goto Vs. Jon Moxley

Jon Moxley Hirooki Goto
NJPW

A feverish fist fight and very little more, Jon Moxley gave Hirooki Goto one of his best matches of the tournament by battering the f*ck out of him then selling his GTR finisher for a loss that leaves everything level going into a gripping final day.

Good for Goto, but this is a story of two men working in near-perfect collaboration to craft something truly special this summer. Something that appears to have saved a man's soul.

Gedo and Jon Moxley's relationship has helped create a megastar in the 'Death Rider'. His unbeaten start and charge to the top of B Block resulted in a realisation that 'Mox' always really did have far more in the chamber than he was allowed to express as Dean Ambrose. His run of defeats hasn't remotely dented his aura, not least because of his incredible post-match promos that again speak to a range he knew lay dormant within.

Jon Moxley probably won't win the G1, but that wasn't ever really the point. He's become a worldwide wrestling megastar, long removed from the World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar he'd long lost his heart over. Through all the grizzled combat, Jon Moxley has found his first love again.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back almost 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 60,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett