NJPW G1 Climax Finals Review: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

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G1 Climax Finals Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Result: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeats Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall to win the G1 Climax. He will main event Wrestle Kingdom 10 in January, 2016.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Here. We. Go.

Nakamura and Tanahashi began with a slow lockup of the hands but backed off. Nakamura then locked in Tanahashi’s hand, only to be reversed. Tanahashi briefly worked on Nakamura’s injured left elbow.

He went back to the elbow but Nakamura twisted his arm and tried to hold him on the ground. Tanahashi would get up and mock him with his air guitar.

Tanahashi would lock in a long hold of Nakamura’s head. He then hit a shoulder tackle to send Nakamura down, who responded with a knee and shoulder tackle of his own.

Nakamura would go for the leg and attempted a pin but Tanahashi kept his shoulders up.

The two stood up in the middle of the ring and tried to get a move on each other. After a kick from Nakamura, Tanahashi swept the legs out from underneath him. He continued with a few stomps on Nakamura’s leg. Tanahashi went for a lock of the leg but Nakamura crawled to the ropes.

Tanahashi would bring him into the corner of the ring and shove his foot in Nakamura’s face. Tanahashi went to the top rope but got kicked off.

Outside the ring, Nakamura hit a powerful kick and placed Tanahashi in the ring with face his head leaning off the apron. Nakamura drove his knee straight into his face.

In the ring, Nakamura would lock in Tanahashi. He dropped his knee onto Tanahashi for a near-fall.

Nakamura hit a few more knees but it didn’t phase Tanahashi, who got up and hit a few elbows. However, he was taken down again. Tanahashi would respond with a take down of his own and hit an elbow for a near-fall.

Tanahashi would hit an elbow and scoop slam. He hit a flip off the second rope for a near-fall.

Nakamura would hit a few kicks to get Tanahashi in the corner. He then rubbed his foot in Tanahashi’s face. However, the foot was caught and Nakamura was leg-dragged out of the ring.

Tanahashi would climb to the top rope and hit a high-flying move onto Nakamura to knock him down.

Back in the ring, Nakamura dropkicked Tanahashi out of it. Tanahashi got back in the ring at the 18-count.

Nakamura hit a few punches until Tanahashi began responding. The action picked up with elbows being swapped until Nakamura took control with a back-breaker. He hit a reverse suplex.

Nakamura went for a big kick but got dropkicked by Tanahashi.

The two then exchanged kicks until Tanahashi hit another leg drag on Nakamura’s bad left leg. He would lock in a Lion Tamer for a long time until Nakamura climbed to the ropes.

Tanahashi hit a slam and went to the top rope. He attempted a Frog Splash but Nakamura moved out of the way and kneed him in the back of the head!

Nakamura then jumped off the second rope and hit a knee to the face. He went for a kick but Tanahashi reversed it into an attempted pinfall.

Nakamura then hit a running knee to the face for another near-fall!

Nakamura then picked up Tanahashi for a fireman’s carry but the latter got out of it. He hit a neck-breaker and slingblade. Tanahashi climbed to the top rope and hit a cross-body. He went back up and hit a Frog Splash for a near-fall!

Tanahashi pulled Nakamura back up and slapped him. However, Nakamura picked him up and slammed him to even the odds again!

After awhile, the two slowly got up. They traded quick punches and elbows until Nakamura dropped to his knees in pain. He then slammed his knee into Tanahashi’s face multiple times until it was caught by the latter, who hit a drag.

Tananhasho went for a slingblade but missed. Nakamura would turn it into an arm-breaker, which Tanahashi would rise up from. However, Nakamura hit Boma Ye for another near-fall!

Nakamura then picked up Tanahashi and put him on the top rope. He met him up there but Tanahashi began to elbow him. Tanahashi hit a big cross-body and a suplex for a near-fall.

Tanahashi then hit a Frog Splash. He went back up and hit another one for the win.

Rob’s Note: This was an absolutely incredible match. There is no denying it. However, the decision for Hiroshi Tanahashi to main event is baffling. Wrestle Kingdom 10 will be the sixth straight WK show he has main-evented. Unbelievable.

Shinsuke Nakamura was the better choice to win. Oh well.

What did you think of the NJPW G1 Climax Finals? Let us know below.

You can follow Rob Wolkenbrod on Twitter @RealRobWolkey. If you would like to send a report from a live event, email us at trebor5227@yahoo.com.

Next: NJPW G1 Climax Finals Prediction

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