G1 Final *spoilers*

Hi guys,

My last post basically summarised the last few weeks of G1 action and it all ended after a crazy 3 nights in Budokan! It's been an amazing G1 this year and the last three days didn't disappoint, so here's a look at the last 3 days of this years tournament and what the future holds for the company!

The first two nights had the usual tag match/ block match setup! Night one started off well with some amazing tag matches, including LIJ v Suzuki Gun and Chaos v Taguchi Japan. The match most of us were looking forward to managed to be ruined by Tongan interference - the Bullet Club Elite v Bullet Club Elite in the lead up to Kenny v Kota. The match started off all fun and games but, before it could heat up, it ended in a no contest... it really just backs up my grievances with how they've done this BC OG v Elite storyline - I think I'm just done with it... Night two which was probably as crazy and mental as the first night, if not more! We started the night with forget probably the biggest part of this year's G1 - the highly anticipated C Block final between David Finlay and Toa Henare *sobs*. Even though it got turned into a tag match, it still had a press conference and trophy which was eventually won by David Finlay - it was so light hearted that it was a great way to start the night! We then had more great matches including Jay walking out on Roppongi 3K, the return of Honma and LIJ v Suzuki Gun.

   

Night one in Budokan was really stressful for me because of how close the standings were between Tanahashi, Jay and Okada - I mean the outcome of each of their matches had a massive impact on the other wrestlers. Yoshi Hashi v Hangman Page was an amazing match and it was great to see Yoshi Hashi win. I don't want to dwell on the Fale v Suzuki match because I was massively enjoying Suzuki thrashing Fale... but let's get onto the main events of the night. Everyone probably knows that I wanted Jay to win and, even though I'm gutted *understatement*, the match made up for it! Then we went to that Okada v Tanahashi match which has to be a candidate for match of the year! If I was on the edge of my seat for Jay v Evil, by the end of this match, I had fallen off it! I sort of knew that it would be a draw and I was so happy that Tanahashi won, even if I would've loved him to have beaten Okada clean! It really got me excited for the next few days!

The night 2 main block events were what everyone waited for, especially Kota v Kenny! We had some great matches e.g. Juice v Goto and Ishii v Sanada and the BIG news of the Tongans getting involved in Yano v Tama which ended up with them getting escorted out! Yet, none of those matches could meet the hype and quality of the main event match which probably was the reason the night was sold out! Everyone had massive hopes for Kenny v Kota and it lived up to expectation and then some! It was fast pace, high risk and was full of pure emotion and storytelling. There were parallels to their 2012 match, we saw an aggressive side to Kenny that we haven't seen in this G1 yet and counter after counter after counter! It was fitting at the end that Kota came out on top and won the B Block and the ending of the Young Bucks holding Kota up to get his arm raised and Kenny helping him as he walked up the ramp really brought a beautiful and amazing match to a perfect end!

Onto the final night and I got up at 7am to watch it and, luckily for me, it was such an amazing show that I felt no guilt! There were so many tag matches but none of them felt irrelevant and I couldn't even use a match to get up and get ready, I was glued to the screen from the start! My highlights had to be Kenny/ Chase/ Yujro v Jay/ Yano/ Ishii where Jay showed that he was a team player and we row, row, rowed the boat with the Elite! We also had the debut of the mysterious and unknown Pro Wrestler Sengoku Enbu who looked and fought a lot like Taguchi... We had Cody challenge Juice, Kenny give Ishii an opportunity and G.O.D and Ishimorii (traitor) beat the Bucks and Marty for the never open weight belts and then threw them on the floor.

So it was already an amazing night but don't get me started on the main event with Tanahashi v Ibushi because, even though it went over the 30 min mark, it felt like it could go on forever - I just couldn't get enough of it! It was so nice to see Kenny in Kota's corner and even nicer seeing Shibata in Tana's corner because it added to the match and we were constantly aware of their help and if they'd be part of the match. In the end, after a gruelling match of high flying, ground work and brutality, Tanahashi came out on top after 3 splashes off the top rope and Budokan erupted! Even though I love Ibushi, I was so ecstatic and knew from the moment Jay lost A block, that I wanted Tana to win! He held his trophy high, thanked the crowds and air guitared across the ring which was an amazing way to end an amazing tournament! He is a well deserved winner!

So, what's next for New Japan? We've got so many future matches to look forward too and the G1 has been a perfect platform to start new feuds and storylines! What's going to happen between Bullet Club OG and the Elite? What's going to happen with Jay White and Chaos? Who's a better factiontop: Suzuki Gun or LIJ? Most importantly, who is Pro Wrestler Sengoku Enbu?

After all that, overall, even though people said that B Block was the star of the G1, I was obssessed with A Block and I really think that both blocks were as amazing as each other and produced some outstanding matches! Also, Kevin Kelly and Rocky Romero were amazing on English commentary and really made the tournament even more amazing! It shows the quality of all the wrestlers and here's to Road to Destruction in September and hopefully I don't get too emotional!

Until Next Time

Bye!