Four years ago today, what I believe to be the greatest G1 Climax final ever took place: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi!

10 comments

1. 2018 was my first year following njpw and this match blew my mind. Tanahashi’s performance is incredible

2. Tanahashi stepping forward into Ibushi’s murderous strikes, steadily backing Ibushi into a corner as he absorbed a horrific beating, was perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring and genuinely heroic things I’ve ever seen a wrestler do in any circumstance.

3. I go between this and okada vs tanahashi invasion attack 2013 as my favourite match of all time

4. Great read. Tanahashi challenging “Murder Ibushi” with his own Iron Will and effectively moving him back is one of the best images to come out of wrestling.

   From a strictly wrestling standpoint, this was a perfect match. Arguably the best match to come out of the cerulean blue in recent years.

5. For me, it’s between this and Tanahashi vs Nakamura in the G1 25 final

6. I think this is the greatest match of all time and marked the turning point in Ibushi’s career. He went from one of the best wrestlers in his generation to one of the best of all time.

   Tanahashi’s performance might be the single greatest individual performance I’ve ever seen in a match. The only other one that compares is Ibushi’s from the following year’s G1 final against Jay.

7. I want Kota to win so much going into this but i saw Shibata and yep, that’s it, Tanahashi should win this

8. One of my faves of the modern era for sure, along with Tanahashi vs Nakamura, and Omega vs Naito. My favorite old schools g1 finals are Chono vs Muto in 91, Muto vs Hashimoto in 95, and Hashimoto vs Yamazaki in 98.

9. Twice in my life I cried in front of wrestling; Tana’s win here was the second time.

10. This Final & G1 in general has a special place in my heart for me.During that summer i was going through alot mentally & the G1 was keeping me going seeing Tanahashi win the G1 gave me some hope that things can get better