#1: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi, NJPW G1 Climax 28 Finals (8/12/2018).
Welcome to my first wrestling review! I got the inspiration to start a wrestling blog after I completed my mammoth wrestling book "King's Road" just a few weeks ago (email me if you're interested in reading it!) And I figured what better way to start this off than by talking about my #1 match of all time - the fantastic singles meeting between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi from the 2018 G1 Climax Tournament Finals.
There are two stories going into this match, and both are fantastic. On one side, you have Ibushi, a man who is hellbent on making his dream come true, and main eventing the Tokyo Dome for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Even better, if he succeeds here, he'll be standing across the ring from his best friend Kenny Omega, who happens to be the reigning champion.
On the other side is Tanahashi, a man who is fighting a valiant battle against man's greatest enemy: time. Major defeats have been piling up faster than normal, and it culminated with a decisive loss to Kazuchika Okada at Wrestling Dontaku. In tears backstage, Tanahashi promised to get better. And for seemingly the first time, not only did his peers doubt him, but so did the fans.
Nevertheless, both men soared through their respective Blocks of the tournament, with Tanahashi setting the new all time record for Block matches, amassing a 7-1-1 record at 15 points, while Ibushi finished his run at 7-2 with 14 points. A year prior to this, they faced off for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at Power Struggle, and Tanahashi was victorious. He urged Ibushi to find that next step and ascend to greatness. Here was his chance to find that greatness, while this was arguably Tanahashi's last chance to make an impact in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The match between these two is simply beyond words. With Omega in Ibushi's corner, and freaking Katsuyori Shibata in Tana's corner, both men look for control early on, with Tana seeking to tear apart Ibushi's legs. Ibushi counters with explosive offense that sees him drive his knees into Tana's body and attempt a Lawn Dart into the corner.
Every time Tana tries to slow the match down, Ibushi is right there to speed things up with high offense and aggression. This flux peaks when Murder Ibushi is awakened. Ibushi goes blank, and unloads stiff shots to Tanahashi - who, in an unhinged moment, takes every blow, and forces himself forward into a wild slap exchange with Ibushi!
Tana eventually falls, and Ibushi crushes him with a moonsault that sends both of his knees into Tana's midsection. Ibushi deadlifts Tana back into the ring from the apron with a terrifying German Suplex. Ibushi doesn't let up on his explosive offense, but Tana continues to fight back. He is obsessed with proving that he still belongs in the spotlight.
Tana hits the Dragon Suplex, then goes to the top for the High Fly Flow to the back - but that's not enough! He goes up again, and Ibushi rises like a zombie. Tana with the High Fly Flow crossbody, and he's back up to the top again! One more time, with a proper High Fly Flow, and Tanahashi takes the G1.
The levels of emotion presented here are outstanding. This match slowly builds and builds, until it reaches an apex rarely seen in wrestling. Both men should be applauded forever for their efforts in this one. In my mind, it's the greatest of all time because it tells this wonderful story of two men hellbent on beating the odds and taking themselves to another level. And in the end, it was 41 year old Hiroshi Tanahashi, who defeated time for just a little longer, so he could ride high one last time.