NJPW G1 Climax 2019 Night 7 (July 20) - A BLOCK: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best

1. Kazuchika Okada Vs. Will Ospreay

Kazuchika Okada Will Ospreay
NJPW

Though not, in your writer's entirely subjective opinion, quite as good as Jon Moxley's tussle with Tomohiro Ishii from one night prior, Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada nonetheless produced something very very special indeed as a legendary night in Korakuen Hall came to a climactic conclusion.

In Ospreay, Okada may have found his next Kenny Omega - the pair how now wrestled each other in NJPW three times, with 'The Aerial Assassin' only gradually reaching the point where he may actually somehow figure out a way to get the win. Watching him try, fail then try even harder remains totally and utterly gripping.

This latest show-stealer will probably be best remembered for its immaculate collection of counters. 'The Rainmaker' rolling through a Stormbreaker smoothly into a tombstone attempt would ordinarily be the spot of the match. Here, it was topped by a Rainmaker being subdued by a Spanish Fly. These were mere flashpoints in a banger of a battle full of them too - Will Ospreay is being touted by many as the best wrestler in the world, but he's building that reputation as much because of the variation of men he's giving classic matches to than just because he happens to be in career for himself.

Okada, across the blurred lines of their Chaos union, was still the master to Ospreay's apprentice here, but NJPW are fully aware of just how huge it will be when his time eventually arrives. Surely even the Londoner's biggest fans couldn't have imagined how soon that day may come.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 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 over 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 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana 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