#3.) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi – G1 Climax 28 finals
It speaks volumes of the tournament if the previous two entries on this list weren’t even the best match. That distinction goes to the finals of the tournament, where the former ace of NJPW Hiroshi Tanahashi looked to win the prestigious tournament for the third time. It was the younger Ibushi, who idolized Tanahashi, who had a lot to prove. Even the former ace had a chip on his shoulder, as he had to prove that he wasn’t as “faded” as people made him out to be.
What the two created on the night was something we had never seen before. It was arguably the greatest G1 Climax final ever and the crowd was hot even before the bell rang. Tanahashi had to dig extremely deep to overcome the onslaught of Ibushi, but he proved why he’s a once in a lifetime talent, as he scratched and clawed his way to a third G1 Climax triumph. Add to the fact that Katsuyori Shibata was in Tanahashi’s corner, the win couldn’t have been more perfect.
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