[2015-07-20-NJPW-G1 Climax] Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi

[Superstar Sleeze]

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi - G-1 Climax 7/20/15

 

So I have seen Ibushi go against two hard-hitting badasses. Lets see how he fares against the best counter-wrestler/tactician of this generation. Every NJPW fan and their brother could tell you what would happen in this match with Tanahashi targeting the knee, but predictable is not always bad as this match is fantastic and is currently my NJPW match of the year. Now relying on leg work in 2015 against a high flyer is always a risky proposition and yes the main flaw of this match is Ibushi continuing to wrestle his high flying style after extensive leg work. I felt like he did sell enough and Tanahashi kept going back to it that it did not hurt the match that much even if some of the flips seemed overboard given the psychology. Tanahashi looked great in this and really knew how to escalate the drama in this match. My only complaint about him is the same one was always is that he always incorporates the strike exchanges in his matches even though he is not good at them. I get it part of NJPW, but Tanahashi should avoid them.

 

Some nice chain wrestling to start as usual from Tanahashi. Ibushi scores the first big blow with speed in form of a dropkick and then kicks Tanahashi in the chest. The first fantastic sequence of the match is Tanahashi grabbing the leg elbowing it, but Ibushi avoids the dropkick to knee, but misses the standing moonsault which hurts the knee. That was a great bang bang play. Tanahashi is a master working over the leg and everything looked great. Ibushi was at his absolute selling the knee here. Crawling away from Tanahashi and being very vocal. Tanahashi is so great at playing that subtle dick heel while working the knee. Ibushi taking advantage of Tanahashi turning his back with a reverse crossbody attempt by dropkicking him out to the floor was perfect. It was a very sensible transition that was a pretty big bump for Tanahashi and set up Ibushi taking flight. Tanahashi made a mistake and Ibushi made him pay. Ibushi does fire off quite a few high flying moves (he sells at times) before Tanahashi is able to dropkick Ibushi leg out from under him and Ibushi sells that very well. Ibushi tries to escape, but Tanahashi dives at the leg and then HITS HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE OUTSIDE! That looked way sicker than Ibushi's moonsault. This is by far Ibushi's bets selling performance even if his offense requires him to be spotty. Dragon leg screw in the ropes repeatedly, gotta love that Tanahashi nostalgia! Tanahashi wants the Texas Cloverleaf, wicked kick to head and Tanahashi dropkicks knee and Ibushi fights through it to kick him. I think that was reasonable as Ibushi had to fight through the pain to survive. Strike exchange BOOOOOOOOOO! Kick to knee! YAY! Tana catches a kick and dragon leg screw. He gets the Texas Cloverleaf, but Ibushi makes ropes. Dragon suplex no Human Capture Suplex (with plenty of authority, haters keep hating), he gets Sling Blade on the third try. You know what time it is! HIGH FLY FLOW! Here comes number two! Eats knees, but Ibushi's knee is HURT! LOVE THAT PSYCHOLOGY! I really dug the match up until this point, but this was pretty much the Tanahashi formula just at work. The finish run kicks up to the next level. IBUSHI FUCKING LAWN DARTS TANAHASHI INTO THE TURNBUCKLE! HOLY SHIT BUMP OF THE YEAR! German Suplex over the top rope actually looks good. Wow! Tanahashi avoids powerbomb, but gets kicked in head. Ibushi is cooking! PHOENIX SPLASH CRASH & BURN! Exactly what Tanahashi needed because since the Lawn Dart he has been unable to get any offense. Tanahashi tries for HFF, but PELE! They botch the springboard Frankensteiner unfortunately still got a huge pop on nearfall. I dont really like the transition of the powerbomb with that neckbreaker. I much preferred Tanahashi catching the Pele and turning it into a dragon leg screw. Dragon Suplex sets up the High Fly Flow for the win.

Awesome fucking match. Tanahashi is so great at having traditional pro wrestling matches in 2015. There is always a great sense of strategy, flow, momentum and escalation. There is very little move trading. I happen to really like the Tanahashi formula of brekaing down an opponent through his legs to set up the finish run. I thought Ibushi did a great job selling and still got to shing with his high spots, but man did that finish sequence rule all. The Lawn Dart spot was insane. Ibushi really got a rattle off some hot nearfalls on The Man of New Japan. At the end of the day, the fact Ibushi had to turn off the selling does hurt this as do strike exchanges, but those are quibbles. This is fucking awesome. Watch this match! ****1/2

[soup23]

I watched this yesterday. When Ibushi started getting the leg worked over I tried to have tolerance when he kept using it on offense and chalked it up to a META narrative that he is just a dumb wrestler that takes too many chances. Then he just wouldn’t stop. Every ridiculous feat doubles down on the no selling. Add to that the phantom rana and I was completely checked out when Tanahashi says ok kid let’s go home winning with the high fly flow. **3/4