[2023-07-26-NJPW-G1 Climax] Tomohiro Ishii vs Eddie Kingston

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On a strictly emotional level, there’s something immensely fulfilling about seeing Kingston live out his dreams in front of a raucous crowd. For the longest time, it felt like Kingston’s ambitions of paying tribute to his heroes by wrestling someone with a direct link to one of them wouldn’t come to pass. If seeing Eddie make his entrance at Korakuen draped in championship gold didn’t tug at the heartstrings, his performance here certainly will.

Pride is a funny thing. It can deceive you and lead you down a dangerous path. For Eddie Kingston, pride means fighting through the pain despite his struggles. That was the central theme of this match. Early on, Kingston tweaked his lower back during a test of strength. Kingston’s initial response was to laugh off Ishii’s offense, but he soon realized his body was failing him. When these two weren’t playing on emotional story beats, they roughed each other up, the chops reverberating around the venue. Ishii, blistered chest and all, wouldn’t give an inch. He couldn’t give Kingston the satisfaction of beating him on his turf.

When Kingston stood up after taking a German suplex, it was merely out of instinct. With each blow he landed, it appeared Kingston might have a chance. Feeding off the crowd, Kingston dodged a sliding lariat by simply sidestepping Ishii, summoning enough strength to land a backdrop suplex for a two count. Kingston’s exasperated look as Ishii continued to kick out was sublime. Even as his body began to shut down, Kingston relentlessly threw chops. Kingston kicked out of a lariat at one, but it was all for nought as he’d succumb to a vertical drop brainbuster in short order.

Kingston and Ishii delivered an exceptional match and the best yet in their trilogy. A match worth going out of your way to see.