[2015-08-14-NJPW-G1 Climax] A.J. Styles vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

[Microstatistics]

Very good but disappointing given the hype surrounding it and the competitors involved. I liked Styles heeling it up, the dueling leg work motif and some of the spots and drama. My favorite spot was Tanahashi selling his neck on a bridge to put over the lingering effects of Styles crazy springboard reverse DDT. I thought they had the pieces of a great match but weren't quite able to put it together. Still, very much recommended. *** 1/2

[Superstar Sleeze]

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs AJ Styles - NJPW 8/14/15 G-1 Climax

Took a nap this afternoon so I’m up but worried now that my daughter will be up in an hour but couldn’t sleep. Surprised I have never seen this match before as it is two of my all-time favorites and 2015 was the last year I kept up with New Japan in real-time .

These two could roll out of bed and have a great match in my eyes and that’s exactly what they did. However this was not a lost classic or MOTYC so by that metric it wa disappointing but at 27 minutes and change this whipped right by and they had no trouble keeping me engaged the whole time.

Great headlock work early. Lots of scouting throughout the match like Tanahashi hanging onto the ropes to avoid the customary AJ dropkick. Tanahashi goads AJ into making the first mistake. We surprisingly get early Tanahashi leg work as he wraps AJ’s legs around the post and splashes the knee. Tanahashi goes for a skin the cat and AJ shoves him off. AJ consolidates his control with a railing shot. Herein lies the rub as good as AJ as is at selling  and he flexes that knee a lot he still has to make his “comeback” which involves a lot of running. 
 

One thing I noticed about watching this match is how truncated AJ’s move set was i WWE. He has impressive offensive arsenal. AJ now works Tanahashi’s knee. So I thought the whole reason this got such a high Cagematch rating because it was so dueling limb classic but never really gets there. There are some brief call backs later but this more of a Greatest Hits medley than a dueling limbwork classic. 
 

Now Tanahashi turn to hit a bunch of his mid match stock spots while half selling the knee. High Fly Flow to the floor after countering the Phenomenal Forearm which I have to remind myself is not a finisher at this time was cool. AJ’s inverted DDT thingy which he almost always hit flawlessly though it looks incredibly one of those moves I don’t remember him hitting in WWE. Tanahashi goes back to the leg but we get a ref bump. Dueling ball shots in a moment of levity. I never love the NJPW Strike Exchange breakdown but they sell it well. The Fireworks down the closing stretch is fun. I thought AJ countering the Styles Clash with an Anklelock was cool as was Tanahashi countering AJ’s Styles Clash with a Dragon Leg Screw. High Fly Flow eating knees but AJ getting right up not selling the knees and hitting a frog splash bummed me out. The spot of the match was Tanahashi catching the Pele Kick which was the prelude to the Styles Clash in NJPW and turning into a Dragon Leg Screw! Popped me huge! That went for a guaranteed AJ to sealing the deal for Tanahashi! A love a key turning point in a match! The double High Fly Flow for good measure ends it! GO ACE!
 

At almost 28 minutes theres a never dull moment. These two know how to pace a match and their wide offensive arsenals keep you engaged but it is missing that hook or that one special aspect to take it to the next level But it is still great! ****