Ranking Each Wrestler’s Performance in NJPW G1 Climax 28

2. Kota Ibushi

Speaking of the final, Kota Ibushi is amazing. He may not have been able to triumph in the end, but this G1 should still be considered a massive success for The Golden Star. He let loose more than ever before in his tenure with New Japan, delivering high quality action each night and finally showing more of his wonderful, quirky charisma. It’s just impossible not to love him. If he’s willing to fully commit to the company, he should consistently be involved at the top of the card for years to come.

1. Tomohiro Ishii

Tomohiro Ishii is the greatest professional wrestler on Earth right now. It may seem like a reach, and of course this type of thing is entirely subjective, but if you really take a step back and look at the INCREDIBLE body of work he put together in the G1, it’s hard to not at least include him in the conversation. Most, if not all, of his b block competitors had their best matches against him. It was just absolutely certifiably insane to witness.

By the middle of the tournament, each show I was expecting him to finally slow down and have a simple, straightforward match, but nope. Not at all. He left everything in the ring every single night, regardless of the stakes or lack thereof.

Heck, he just about stole the show with a mostly meaningless match against SANADA on a night that featured bleeping KOTA IBUSHI VS KENNY OMEGA. Just otherworldly stuff. Stone Pitbull forever. PUT THAT BELT ON HIM, GEDO. IMMEDIATELY.