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NJPW World Tag League 2019: Ranking the top 5 matches

By Sonal Lad

FUJISAWA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 16: Juice Robinson and David Finlay celebrate the victory during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'World Tag League' at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Memorial Gymnasium on November 16, 2019 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
FUJISAWA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 16: Juice Robinson and David Finlay celebrate the victory during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'World Tag League' at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Memorial Gymnasium on November 16, 2019 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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2. EVIL and Sanada v FinJuice (David Finlay and Juice Robinson)

Going into the final of the world tag league, it was a three-way battle to win the trophies. However, after G.O.D was beaten by Yoshi Hashi and Ishii, it was winner take all between the two time winners Evil and Sanada and David Finlay and Juice Robinson. Going into the match, a lot of people had the LIJ duo to win and if you were a betting man, you might agree.

Once the bell rang, the match started with the two more athletic men of each team with Finlay and Sanada starting the match in a quick exchange of counters. Both guys were able to showcase their skills and talent, and it was sometimes hard to keep up. This changed completely when the powerhouses Juice and Evil went into the ring. We saw the speed slow down and the offence increase. With so many near falls that a viewer was on their seat from start to end, it was a very clean match with jabs, kicks, strikes and a paradise lock for good luck.

In the final minutes of the match, it was neck and neck between Finlay and Evil as both fought to get the win for their team. David tried for a stunner, EVIL went for ‘Everything is Evil’ which Finlay countered into his own version but Juice came in with his Left Hand of God. After Juice hit Sanada with a pulp friction, Finlay hit a sliced bread on Evil and the returning David Finlay pinned a former IWGP Tag team champion to pick up the win for FinJuice.

What was great about this match was, like many of the others, it was a mix of four completely different styles blending together in different combinations to produce some beautiful wrestling. Going over 20 minutes, making it the longest of the entire tournament, it was a fitting end to the final tournament of the year.

It was a win that nobody saw coming, but one that I’d hoped for from the start. It was not only a huge win for the duo, but it may have been the biggest win in David Finlay’s career setting the stage for him at Wrestle Kingdom. It was the fairytale ending none of us expected, but we all wanted.

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