[2019-08-10-NJPW-G1 Climax 29: Night Seventeen] Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Will Ospreay

[paul sosnowski]

Both men are already eliminated, but this is a first time ever match!!!   Talk about it here

[Boss Rock]

Excellent match. The fading former ace out to prove he can get one last win in a tournament he's already been eliminated from against the junior heavyweight out to prove he can beat the best heavyweights. Fantastic limbwork with Ospreay selling the leg so well. For a guy long criticized for having too much of a go-go-go style and being a bad seller, Ospreay's growth over the last two years has been rather remarkable. It all fit the narrative  with Tanahashi being crafty in his limb work and Ospreay just having more gas in the tank. It made Ospreay's victory that more meaningful and feel like a real changing of the guard. Hopefully NJPW can capitalize on it.

****1/2

[ShittyLittleBoots]

Real interesting to watch this after having seen the match between AJ Styles & Ricochet from SummerSlam, because both had the same story going for them inside the ring w/ the veteran taking out the flippy fellas leg, but the difference between this & that AJ vs. Ricochet match is that unlike Ricochet, Ospreay didn't sell that leg much at all. That took some enjoyment out of the thing for me, but it was still a good match, as Tana brought it with everything he did -- whether he was selling for Ospreay or doing damage to that leg, he was awesome. Not a surprise there. More selling from Billy & this would've been pretty great rather than "just good". ***