Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

[10.0] "Did you ever got tired? Yeah, stupid question, everyone gets tired. Can be after a day full of work, can be after studying until midnight, can be after running from the police when they end up finding that weed on your backpack. I am not joking, everyone gets tired in so many different ways, but TIRED is a feeling not much explored in professional wrestling. We actually do not care at all about that feeling that is super real, those guys do some unique out of human moves and we will act like they won't be exausted at all? This is a acceptable mistake that everyone don't give a fuck about it, we just run into it and ask for like, more moves. Only three matches I ever saw in my life that went DEEP at explore the exausting pro wrestlers usually suffer. Samoa Joe vs CM Punk at early ROH is one of them (don't remember which one tho), Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega at the one hour time limit match and last but not least, this one here. Nakamura just won the most over wrestler in the business, the champion Okada at that time. Tanahashi on the other side just beat AJ Styles to get his opportunity at those finals. The action is quite slow, you don't feel like it is coming something bigger from them and when they got exausted, they start wrestling like they were close to death. In other words, it was perfect. Tanahashi knew so well how to deliver big matches and he is quite unterrated at that point because, well, Okada fucking exist. I really don't know that much about Nakamura in his prime, and the arguements about he being quite overated was something I went deep on that in the past. But man, I can't say the same currently. After watching this match, with this high level? He didn't land a single perfect Boomaye, but each knee strike he did felt DEADLY man. That guy is trying to legit KILL Tana at this point. Why he didn't? Leg focus by Tanahashi since the beggining of that bout. When Tanahashi executed a perfect match, every single "why" can be explained, and he add some drama/focus we can ONLY get by him, and only him. There is no much to say anymore, this is a five stars match for me, easily one of the best well rounded matches I ever saw in my entire life and it is 33 minutes action you will NEVER get tired when it is happening or forget when it is over. And yeah, Nakamura deserve each single word of that "King of Strong Style" nickname."

[9.0] "It's a shame these two never got another go-around, but you couldn't ask for a better match to end the rivalry on. This was my first brief exposure to New Japan and I was shocked by how exciting and intense the action was. I didn't properly get into NJPW until much later, but this was always in the back of my mind, that's how strong an impression it left for me."

[9.0] "A really great match that was heavily elevated by the crowd's interest as not much of craziness really happened."

[9.0] "Overall, the match has great pace, atmosphere, and action throughout, with plenty of memorable spots, strikes, and exchanges. It's structured almost like a classic King's Road-style main event, but the unique charisma of both men--along with moments of phenomenal camera work, especially during a top-rope exchange--allow it to carve out its own identity. Had Shinsuke found a second wind and the match gone another five minutes, it could have been truly transcendent and potentially one of the best matches ever."

[10.0] "Usually I'm not a fan of the overly long type of wrestling matches, especially from New Japan from this era. But damn this rocked the house big style, they went fuckin' hell for leather. I will say that my only complaint is that this match could've been five minutes shorter, but even saying that, I loved that they just beat the bejeezus out of each other. I haven't watched a lot of Nakamura matches back when he wrestled in Japan, and wow he was on point, he selling was great, his strikes were thunderous, and he still had that aura. This also is like one the hardest matches I've seen from Tanahashi, I don't think I've ever seen him throw elbows as hard as he did to Nakamura. And that Texas Clover Hold he does man, that's probably one of my favorite submissions of all time, where he sits down on it like a Liontamer. Obviously this was filled with a lot of tropes that New Japan Main Events tend to have, but when those tropes hit, they really fuckin' hit. Fantastic Match. Five Stars out of Five."

[10.0] "Another huge final for Hiroshi Tanahashi, the match truly had a memorable atmosphere, in addition to an excellent fight, a legendary Climax final, like this tournament."

[10.0] "The build up to their signature moves were well done, as well as the striking exchanges, shinsukes strikes backed by skill and mastery versus tanas strikes backed by less significantly skill and mastery but his heroic will makes up for it. The near falls were so close i forgot the result of the match and thought shinsuke was going to win. Out of the rivalry i think this is top 3 with the wk8 and 2011 special match, I probably say it was the best. These are characters that will never be forgotten and i'm glad i witnessed them"

[7.0] "A fitting end to a 10 year rivalry at this point, going for the biggest and grandest version of this match possible and it works. Normally it wouldn't work for me when a match goes for the epicness at the forefront but these two have told almost every story possible with each other by this point, it's been a decade of them going at it, it's the G1 final and it's in Sumo Hall, one of the best arena's for this style of match. Even then there's some great callbacks and progression from previous matches, all the way back to 2005 with Nakamura wanting the armbar that served him so well and towards the end going for an avalanche landslide that set up his win in 2007. Tanahashi likewise uses the legroll cradle that beat Nakamura in their 2014 G1 match. While this isn't my favourite NJPW pairing, they still manage the big stuff so well. Tanahashi especially does great to not make Nakamura sell the leg to death by going for it sparingly so Nakamura can sell and then forget about it without it being so jarring as it sometimes can be. They both even still manage to make the big kickouts make sense, especially Nakamura throwing the Boma Ye with his left leg and selling it for a brief second before getting the pin so Tanahashi can kickout. Tana pulls out a new HFF variant much like at WK with Okada, this time with Nakamura hanging from the ropes and then follows it with the dragon suplex and HFF finish. It's between this and their late 2011 match for the best they've done together so ending it on potentially their best match together is a special thing."

[10.0] "[5, 25 Stars] I think it's easily one of the best finals in the history of G1 Climax, and I especially think it's the best match of Nakamura's career. The AJ Nakamura of WK10 has finally been surpassed."

[10.0] "Solid limb work, amazing character and psychology moments that factor in to the match and the characters as a whole, great selling. Some absolutely transcendent stuff by 2 of the best of all time. This is wrestling, best so far. 5*"

[9.0] "Really good final, it's their last singles match ever, and also the best match between them overall, which is something that has a beautiful tone into it, Nakamura and Tanahashi have been like oil and water during their careers, it's a great rivalry, but always delivered some underwhelming matches in my opinion, they don't have the best chemistry, specially considering other combinations during the same period, like Okada vs Tanahashi, but it's a remarkable rivalry, just like Cena vs Orton for example, they've been the two top guys and symbols of the company during the century, and I think this is the ultimate match between them, where their differences contrast for the better and it's truly amazing to watch, Tanahashi, a role model ace, against a stiff warrior like Nakamura, reminds me of Mufasa vs Scar from Lion King. This is not perfect, the first part of the match has its problems and it's not the most exciting one to watch, it's a slow build and not a lot of things happen, but the ending stretch is glorious, many people call it the best 'last 15-mins' of a match, and I don't agree, but it's definitely exciting as hell, very thrilling, and with two mega nearfalls, one for each wrestler. Nakamura got very close of the victory, but Tana kicked out of the bomaye, and Nakamura also kicked out of a high fly flow, there was a beautiful one in this match btw, with Nakamura standing next to the corner. The crowd was absolutely on fire, and that ending stretch was just amazing, very passionate, this deserves recognition for being a great match, but also the last and best battle between two pillars of NJPW - {****1/4}"

[10.0] "Legendary match between Nakamura and Tanahashi . This match was one of the best matches in the G1 finals and one of the best nakamura's match of all time. {*****}."

[10.0] "Everything the G1 final should be, just two of the absolute best in the world, tearing the house down in front of a molten hot crowd. One of the best matches I've ever seen and gets better each time I see it. 5 stars."

[10.0] "One of the best matches i've ever watched, this was tremendous from top to bottom. Two wrestlers who have been in the ring so many times together that's it like a cakewalk putting a match together, both men have amazing chemistry in the ring and i would KILL to see this match one final time. Hiroshi working Nakamura's leg at the start was a cool detail, their grappling was on point, the amount of times i thought the match was over and done with, one of them managed to kick out and the spectacle went on. Shinsuke hitting the Bomaye on Hiroshi out of nowhere was the most shocking moment, but at the end of it all, Hiroshi managed to pick up yet another win over Hiroshi. This was great to watch and really proves why both of these guys deserve their flowers in every way, they elevated NJPW during the 2010's so much and shaped it into what it is in the modern era, post-Inoki."

[10.0] "Even more so than Okada putting a pin in his years-long feud with Tanahashi at the following Wrestle Kingdom, this match is perhaps the dividing line in the two halves of NJPW's renaissance golden period of 2012-2020. It's this match that fully puts to be the overarching story of the first half of the promotion's 2010s, that of burying Inokism once and for all. Through 2009, Tanahashi and the original designated ace of the company, Nakamura, had nine singles matches, of which Nakamura won six and only gave up a draw on one other. Starting in 2011, however, they would have another five, and Tanahashi would emerge victorious from every single one. This, the last of that extended, loose series, can be seen equally as the final indication that the company would not let Nakamura rise from the IC realm he'd made his own, or one last affirmation that Tanahashi's old school King's Road methods were the underlying rubric of NJPW's rebirth over Nakamura's Inoki-honed strong style. This match feels like it's been slightly forgotten in recent years thanks to the avalanche of spectacle matches NJPW would host over the next few years, and the very controlled pace and reserved escalation of highspots certainly feels less immediately eye-popping than, say, Okada's run of title defenses, Omega's chase for the gold, or the baffling aerobatics of Ibushi and Ospreay. But pay attention to how expressive both men are in this even in the opening stretch of chain wrestling and limb targeting to see a masterclass in old-school mat work and ring psychology, each man playing his part perfectly and selling the agony of Tanahashi going to town on Nakamura's knee or Nakamura's strikes staggering the Ace. When someone does bust out a daring move, it's done with the expert scouting of someone who has a decade of experience with the other and also a massive axe to grind (Nakamura for being supplanted, Tanahashi for having to eat his scraps for so long). The last 10 minutes are as hot as anything in the next few years of New Japan main events with far simpler, less self-destructive moves, and there are 2.99999 kickouts here as good as you'll ever see. In the end, Tanahashi wins, cementing his vision of what New Japan was after a decade of losing its identity. That this identity was entirely upended by the following year's G1 victor only makes this moment all the more special a mark in company history."

[10.0] "What truly elevates this match for me is the (besides the last 15 minutes) is how expressive the competitors are. It truly enhances the perceived significance and heat of the moment when both Nakamura and Tanahashi look in absolute agony and misery as they try to decisively put away the other."

[9.0] "one of the best nakamura matches in my opinion. It starts if a bit slow and the feeling out process feels like it takes a bit longer then what is needed. But the last 15 minutes or so of this match is by far one of the best 15 minutes i've ever seen. 4.50 stars"

[9.0] "This is great. A pretty slow build to the final act but wow when it hits it fucking hits. All the great action and drama you would expect from a G1 final. 4.25/5"

[10.0] "(5*) I generally dont understand why people hate this match, not only this is a MOTYC but a MOTD, you can argue this was Nakamuras best performance against one of his longest rivals and buddys that is Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tanahashi shines here to he is one of the best wrestlers that have in-ring psychology. Its one of the most emotional matches especially the last 10 minutes, the drama was off the charts, the crowd was on their feet the whole match, my favorite moment was when Shinsuke had the triangle choke but Tanahashi stepped on his face forcing Shinsuke to let go, Tanahashi selling the arm then out of nowhere Shinsuke comes charging with a BOMBAYEEEEEEEEEE! and the commentator and the crowd errupts, that was one of the coolest moments i think ive ever witness, if you want a feel good match with alots of action, drama, and in-ring psychology, this is for you. This is 5 stars for me."

[8.0] "Great match all around. I don't know if they knew at the time that this would be the last match in the rivalry, but the match plus the handshake at the end felt like a suitable blowoff to the rivalry as a whole. They threw everything at each other, both men hit their finishers in every way imaginable. Tanahashi hit the High Fly Flow to the outside, normally, with Nakamura face-down, multiple times in a row, and Shinsuke hit the Bomaye normal, from behind, off the middle rope, outta nowhere, etc. I also loved all the grappling spots, but commentary needs to brush up on their jiujitsu because Shinsuke had a triangle choke in clear as day, and Kevin Kelly is sitting there saying "Nakamura trying to get that triangle choke in! ", and when he transitioned from the armbar to the triangle, both Callis and Kelly froze for a bit. I might be the only person ever who noticed or cared about that. While I'm not as high on it as others, I can see why so many people like this match as much as they do. The main reason it gets an 8 instead of a 10 is because there were way too many finisher kickouts. Shinsuke in particular, had his finisher absolutely buried. There was one in particular where Tanahashi totally could've reached out and grabbed the ropes but instead kicked out. Shinsuke kicked out of a High Fly Flow, which I'm not a fan of, but Tanahashi kicked out after being hit with the Bomaye like 4 times WHEN THE ROPE WAS RIGHT THERE? I still do think this was a great match, but I can't excuse that after everything I've said about finisher kickouts in my lifetime."

[10.0] "Well, I've seen plenty of great Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shinsuke Nakamura matches, but this was the ultimate. It felt like they got the absolute most of each other they could and had their most epic showdown. An absolute breathtaking match, with brilliant psychology and storytelling, which kept me interested even in the early slower parts. And then when things got going, they REALLY did. They pulled out all the stops and both looked like they were dead by the end. I don't know what else to say except this was an absolutely brilliant match, and maybe the best I've seen from Tanahashi or Nakamura yet."

[7.0] "It wasn't a bad match and my opinion rather comes from my personal opinion about this match. Something just didn't suit me here, maybe the pace was just a bit strange. I don't know what exactly I don't like here, but the chemistry between these two should be an atomic bomb, but I feel like here it was just a hand grenade."

[6.0] "The buildup at the start of the match is really good, its ripe full of psychology and calls back to their previous encounters with one another. I don't have much complaints with it other than the fact that it probably could have been shorter though thats a personal complaint I have with most NJPW matches. The thing is, the blow off of the match, the part that is supposed to be much faster and the climax of it feels oddly predictable and doesn't really move the needle for me besides a couple of sections. It's what I expected for the most part besides the last 5 or so minutes."

[10.0] "There's nothing like an epic G1 Climax final. An electric crowd and an unforgettable atmosphere. A perfect match, with perfect stakes featuring two perfect wrestlers. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura are two of the GOATS in the ring but they each possess a powerful aura that can be felt in everything they do. Both masters of charisma and in-ring storytelling. One of my favorite rivalries of all time and this was a fitting conclusion to their storied history. Nakamura is a brutal striker desperate to get the final one up on his contemporary and Tanahashi is the ultimate baby face who will do anything to win the tournament. This is work rate; it's technical, it's character driven and dominated by personality and it's stiff, Nakamura flat out punches Tanahashi in the face during a strike exchange haha. Brilliant counters and a masterful final stretch. Nakamura's flying arm bar is gorgeous, Tanahashi bridging a dragon suplex at the point of absolute exhaustion is hilariously insane. My match of the year in 2015. Masterpiece and one of my favorite matches of all time."

[10.0] "I literally don't have enough words to describe what this match made me feel while watching but I will simply say it's a top 3 match I've ever seen. Tanahashi and Nakamura are two of the best in ring storytellers who are willing to get their hands dirty, and that's exactly what they did here. The selling of damage throughout the match was phenomenal, and was key in building a strong story surrounding the match. I also loved the constant references to Shin's desperation to finally one up Tanahashi, and how that was the through line of the match's high points. The bomaye outta nowhere is one of the biggest mark out moments I've ever had, and was surrounded by a final third of some of the most frenetic wrestling I've ever seen. Perfect stakes, perfect story, perfect skill. Beyond Perfect. 10+/10 / *****+"

[10.0] "Prime Tana was something else. Absolute classic and best match in G1 history up until that moment, the nearfalls are wonderful especially the second Boma Ye by Ace and the High Fly Flows sequence by Nakamura, the High Fly Flow mid-air in the final sequence was completely insane. 2015 MOTY (*****)"

[9.0] "A hell of a crowd, and a hell of a final stretch from two great rivals. Tana works the knees to weaken Shinsuke's greatest weapon, while Shinsuke focuses on catching Tana with those strikes whenever possible. It's a smart match that evolves into both men getting desperate, throwing palm strikes at each other before Tana finally hits what feels like the 10th HFF for the win. There's one particular spot a little more than halfway through the match where Tana hit 2 HFF and Nakamura kicks out for one of the greatest nearfalls I've ever seen, and it's also coincidently where the match begins to really take off. There are some spots that look a little awkward, and while it may lower my score a bit, this match is a classic through and through either way. 4.75 Stars."

[10.0] "I've watched this match for the first time in years and it was the best G1 final of the decade. The 2017 one was very good too and I rewatched it too. The first big difference is the big fight feel with the 2015 match, which I couldn't feel with the 2017 final; the second difference is the finishing stretch. Nakamura and Tanahashi did a incredible job building to the finish and the struggle in the top rope and Tanahashi desperate High Fly Flow shows it. I miss mid-'10s New Japan so much."

[10.0] "A clear swan song between Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi since one would be leaving in a few months for more money and America. What a way to go out. The most prestigious tournament in pro wrestling and it being the finals and a remarkable match. Perhaps even their greatest. *****"

[10.0] "Amazing match. This had all the tropes of what I loved in a pro wrestling match. A lively crowd, engrossing action, emotional content and excellent pacing. It was a slow build match; the first half of the match was very methodical but it never dragged;.the action was very good, technical and well structured. The pace got more faster as the match went deeper, it got more physical, the action became more wild; They went back and forth, unloading one big move after another in a bid for the Tokyo Dome. The crowd was red hot throughout. This was an epic icon vs icon match and a phenomenal way to close the tournament . *****"

[10.0] "Good God, this is the epitome of Nakamura's in - ring work. The entire match was awesome from bell to bell, just outstanding from bell to bell. Nakamura's was completely in fire and he spammed all kinds of Boma - Yes (even selling Tanahashi's legwork), the Landslide and the Cross Armbar that made Okada tap the day before but the Ace always found the way to don't lose and when the King of the Strong Style took an exaggerated risk trying the Avalanche Landslide Tanahashi hit yet another HFF, a Dragon Suplex and the fourth and fith HFFs to get the win. GOATED match, the way WWE is booking Shinsuke since he made the worst decision of his life is just disgusting. *****1/4 (5, 25*/10, 5 out of ten)"

[9.0] "As the majority of japanese big matches a little too slow at the start, but great storytelling and wrestling during the closing minutes. ****1/2"

[4.0] "Listen, I remember absolutely nothing about this match at this point. I gave it a 2 star rating on GRAPPL, when it has around a 4.8 rating. Clearly many people think it is great. What I know about Tanahashi matches is that they can miss quickly for me when they become elongated selling fests without much creative offense or fast-paced action. What I know about Nakamura is that if he is focusing on the submission game, it can get real boring watching simulated MMA when I'm trying to watch pro wrestling."

[10.0] "These two last match together is the best match these two have had IMO. This had all the things you would expect in a NJPW match formula, but if you can work said formula in a compelling way who cares. Both men knew each other so well up to this point, so having like the first third of the match just being each guy trying to find an opening made a lot of sense. Tanahashi targeted Nakamura's leg viciously in this, and overall I really liked how Nakamura sold his leg up until they started throwing bombs at the end for the final third of the match. This match started becoming an all-out bomb fest when toward the end they started trading strikes. The counters during this time were all great, with the most jaw-dropping one being Tanahashi hitting the high fly flo as Nakamura was still falling from the 2nd rope at the very end of the match. This match had a big fight feel, and the action was more than great. *****"

[10.0] "A match more than worthy of the G1 final. Both Nakamura and Tanahashi pulled out masterful performances, The action was on another level even with both guys clearly hurting from the gruelling tournament. Tanahashi worked over Nakamura's knee in order to weaken his strikes. The only way for a match this long to be enjoyable throughout is with exceptional selling and this match had that in spades."

[10.0] "Incredible match. Perfect suspense. Awesome nearfalls. It has participated to the legends of the two men. 5*"

[10.0] "One of the most captivating showdowns in NJPW's rich history and one of my fav spectacles of Japanese wrestling. Both men held everything together for NJPW for so long from the shadows of unfollowing with their world-class performances around many circumstances and this one couldn't have been any better than their previous string of bouts where some of them were holding this place as the best one. Both knew each other very well that was clearly visible in every single move they execute. The chemistry was fantabulous, the tension was off the charts and the action never felt dull and slow. Huge props for maintaining the thrilling pace of the match throughout as there are a few who could keep it the same as it is while taking off. Nakamura had all the hype to take this win but Tana winning wasn't a wrong move either as both are more than deserved of winning this tourney as well as the hearts of all sides of pro wrestling fans. 5 out of 5 stars!"

[7.0] "There is a lot of good stuff to be found here, but I thought this match displayed some of the worst NJPW big match tendencies. The first third was technically solid, but I thought it added little to the overall package. It felt padded out for the sake of going long because long matches equal classic matches apparently. The crowd ate this up, as both men are two of the biggest personalities in New Japan. The fans were popping as soon as the bell rang. The match starts getting better once they start trading forearms and hitting their signature moves. Both men kick out of their opponent's finisher, and it felt like the next person to land their finish would come out of this victorious. Tanahashi hitting the High Fly Flow to Nakamura while he was still on the second rope was an incredible spot. I agree with the criticism that this match needed more psychological wrinkles into their main events and fewer false finishes. Either do that or make this a 15-minute bombfest."

[10.0] "There is a genuine argument to be made that these two men are the greatest wrestlers in New Japan Pro Wrestling history. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura combined to save this company from the darkest period it ever experienced. There are multiple accounts that establish the legitimate possibility that NJPW would not still exist if not for what Nakamura and Tanahashi did to elevate the company from the depths of despair. And on this fateful evening? Nakamura and Tanahashi delivered their Magna Carta. With legends such as Keiji Muto and Masahiro Chono at ringside, the leaders of the generation that followed theirs put the finishing touches on the resurrection of what has since become a beacon of truly elite professional wrestling. A rivalry for the ages. A match that not only defined this legendary feud, but raised the bar for everything the company has since produced. No hyperbole necessary. A masterclass in storytelling. The epitome of tension and emotion within the squared circle. A Hogan-Rock, Kobashi-Misawa encounter. 5 stars, 10 out of 10."

[10.0] "An all time classic and one of my favourite matches of all time, both Tanahashi and Nakamura feel like total superstars here at the top of their game. They'd faced each other many times before and were able to use that chemistry for such a packed and dramatic G1 finals. Probably the last time these two guys will face each other, but it's one hell of a match to end the rivalry with *****."

[9.0] "Nakamuras offense is fluid, authentic, awe inspiring, stiff and mesmerising. Likewise for Tanahashi, this match was a work of art and I have seen few better. Definitely worth a watch, Nakamura really shines in this one. I give it a 9 because matches have to be well over 5 star to get a 100 in my opinion, this didnt miss the mark in anyway but it just isnt good enough to reach the "omg that was the greatest thing in the world" status, but it was very close. A masterclass showing of how its done, with contemporary spots but also tribute to those of the older generations. They made sure they laid down the basics before progressing into the bigger moves, selling was on point and submissions were used to stop this from being overdone. That may all sound boring, but is very important are somewhat lacking in alot of contemporary contest. A great match, two great authentic wrestlers. A well earned *****."

[10.0] "in my opinion this is the greatest G1 Final and maybe the best match of all time. I don? t think this will be for everyone since the first ten minutes or so is a slow burn, but once it picks up it doesn? t stop. These two are both great and this match solidifies them as living legends. 5*+"

[10.0] "Just an absolutely epic and classic G1 final. Tanahashi and Nakamura have had incredible matches before but this is when they finally had that epic classic they needed, and fittingly it's the final Nakamura/Tanahashi match in the G1 finals. Now I considered this a 5* classic at the time, but it's even reiterated after having recently watched their 2014 series and seeing the callbacks to it. The ending sequence to this match is just legendary. Nakamura going for the super landlslide, Tana slapping him to hell, hitting the crazy unique elevated HFF, then the callback to NB 2014 when Nak was pinned by the Dragon Suplex, except this time he kicked out, only to be met by double HFFs for the win. Just an absolutely epic G1 Final in every way and the perfect conclusion to the Nak/Tana saga *****"

[10.0] "It's the second time I'm rewatching it and still is fucking unbeliavable! This match is magnific in every aspect, the atmosphere is surreal, the storytelling is amazing, the selling of both wrestlers was on point, the timing was majestic and the drama is excellent. And despite they botched the Flying Cross Armbreaker, they managed to fix it and turn into an awesome moment seconds after. Tanahashi taking advantage of Nakamura's injuries was also great and added a lot of drama to the match. Probably the best match of 2015. *****"

[10.0] "Unbelievable. Tanahashi and Nakamura put together a fantastic slow build, emotional match in what would be their final match. They start off grappling, with both of them coming out on top at several points. They then get to striking with Nakamura coming out on top in the majority of the exchanges. Some people take issue with the first half, calling it meandering, I personally love it as it does a good job of putting over the fact that, while both men are great, when it comes to pure ability Nakamura is slightly ahead, something that has been evident since they broke out as Young Lions with Nakamura winning the IWGP title at such an early age. Tanahashi frequently comes off second best to Nakamura in this match, as had been the case during the early parts of his career, but through sheer willpower and resilience, he manages to pull ahead of Nakamura, just as he had done earlier in his career. From there it's counter-heavy with both men knowing each other so well and kicking out of each other's finishers before a double High Fly Flo finally puts Nakamura away. This match managed to encapsulate both men's careers and stories so perfectly all in 32 minutes. A fitting end to a fantastic rivalry, and the best G1 final ever. (*****)"

[8.0] "This is a match that is let down by a somewhat meandering first half. The first half of this match doesn't seem to go anywhere or mean anything, and most of what happens doesn't end up meaning anything. Yet things improve when Nakamura and Tanahashi start kicking thing into a higher gear, and the match ends up being really great. But it all could have been so much better with a stronger first half."

[10.0] "Now knowing that this was their last singles match until Nakamura left, I thought this was incredibly fitting for their final chapter and I thought it was a great final to the G1. Nakamura's lack of selling did put me off a little bit but I still thought this match was outstanding other than that. (****3/4)"

[9.0] "(**** 1/2) Great match , I would rated it as a 5 Stars one , if Nakamura would have been a bit more connected in the last 10, 15 minutes of the match. Tanahashi in my opinion was better and deserved the victory. Well executed and the story in the ring was very good."

[9.0] "Amazing match. This was so great it made my disappointment with current-day WWE Nakamura even worse. Both men were incredible here. The story of the match centred around the long and rich rivalry these two have had. There was constant focus being given to how careful they had to be when approaching each other to lock up, since they both knew each other so well and knew how dangerous they could be. The opening feeling-out phase was a great slow build as both wrestlers would engage in oneupmanship, emphasising their momentary dominance by posing, making a strong facial expression, making a large gesture, or appealing directly to the crowd. I enjoyed Tanahashi's intelligent strategy of going after Nakamura's leg, weakening his massively leg-oriented offence, including his Bombaye finisher of course. Nakamura sold his leg damage well, though it didn't feature as heavily in the final third as it probably should have. It did at least mean Nakamura had to go overkill with the Bombayes to weaken Tanahashi, which meant there were lots of exciting knee strikes that teased ending the match at any moment. These two just had some truly fantastic chemistry as the match went on, all while throwing in a lot of psychology that showed how determined, arrogant, and passionate both wrestlers were about defeating the other and claiming the glorious 'G1 Winner' title. The whole second half had plenty of amazing spots and sequences, and the lead-up to the finish was quite unique. ****1/2"

[10.0] "So much to love about this match! Great psychology both ways, a white hot crowd, lots of near falls. *****, for sure."