NJPW G1 Climax 2019 Night 7 (July 20) - A BLOCK: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best
Only Elite Wrestling.
...or "Least Best to Best".
Elevated by the surroundings and several other bangers that had taken place over three incredible evenings, the final night at Korakuen Hall proffered the best G1 Climax show thus far and maybe one of the best in the event's rich history. More suited to sharp supply than other formats past, the five-match structure affords greater opportunity for an entire event to reach the elite level rather than just individual outings, and this was subsequently satisfying in the extreme.
There were no bad matches on this card, but in fact five that were all excellent within their own confines. New Japan Pro Wrestling is often accused of lacking diversity by those that don't watch New Japan Pro Wrestling, but this show took at that argument, dropped it on its neck, kicked the f*ck out of it, worked through a host of popcorn spots and still beat it back into the ring before the referee reached 20.
With days to recover between and the next shows in Hiroshima and Aichi, the wrestlers seemingly worked to wreck their bodies ahead of a rest - and more power to them for the performances. Murmurs from your writer and countless others about the quality of the tournament in comparison to last year were knocked skyward by countless Korakuen classics. July 20th hosted the most concentrated collection...
5. Kota Ibushi Vs. SANADA
A match that only approached the sort of beauty the two competitors in this handsome battle provided on entrances alone, Kota Ibushi's victory over SANADA skirted around the intense quality of their battle last year without ever quite reaching a grand finale.
An elegant story elegantly told, 'The Golden Star' represented another chapter in the long tale being explored by 'Cold Skull' since he first started losing, repeatedly, to Kazuchika Okada. Can he beat the New Japan elite before he joins them? And if so, does belong alongside them?
With Kota's 2018 toppling proving something of a false dawn for SANADA and this very narrative, the notion that he considered Ibushi, Keiji Mutoh, Naomichi Marufuji and AJ Styles hung over his latest failed attempt.
A rousing finishing sequence saw the Los Ingobernables de Japon lieutenant come close to finally cracking the code by using Ibushi's weapons against him, before a Kamigoye smashed his face with the strength of the cement that continues to keep him rooted in the midcard.
Okada is now just three shows away. SANADA feels like he has much further to travel.