Since the poll in 2016, Ishii has maintained his pace as one of the best workers on New Japans roster and a contender for the best wrestler in the G1 Climax every year. He also had several series with the top guys on NJPW’s roster where he was able to shine in a main event context. For those who have not been watching New Japan in the last decade, here is a non-comprehensive guide of some of Ishii’s best matches from 2016-2021 with MOTYC highlighted in bold:
Tomohiro Ishii vs Katsuyori Shibata 1/4/2016
Tomohiro Ishii vs Katsuyori Shibata 2/11/2016
Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito 5/3/2016
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kazuchika Okada 8/6/2016
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega 3/12/2017
Tomohiro Ishii vs Katsuyori Shibata 3/19/2017
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega 5/3/2017
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega 7/2/2017
Tomohiro Ishii vs Hiroshi Tanahashi 8/6/2017
Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito 10/9/2017
Tomohiro Ishii vs Zach Sabre Jr (Rev Pro) 4/6/2018
Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito 7/19/2018
Tomohiro Ishii vs Hirooki Goto 7/21/2018
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kota Ibushi 7/28/2018
Tomohiro Ishii vs Kenny Omega 8/4/2018
Tomohiro Ishii & Will Ospreay vs Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi 9/7/2018
Tomohiro Ishi & Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi 9/30/2019
Tomohiro Ishii vs Yuji Nagata 3/8/2019
Tomohiro Ishii vs Jay White 7/15/2019
Tomohiro Ishii vs Juice Robinson 7/28/2019
Tomohiro Ishii vs Shingo Takagi 8/8/2019
Tomohiro Ishii vs Shingo Takagi 2/20/2020
Ishii’s age does appear to be getting to him as NJPW’s style transitions to something that is less serious and more focused on angles, but he is still able to have a great match when given the time and attention. He was arguably the best opponent of several of New Japan’s stars during their peak run from 2012-2019, including Shibata, Omega, Goto, and Makabe. A great upper-mid card workhorse who was able to beat anyone, and be beaten by anyone over the course of nearly a decade.