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Hiroshi Tanahashi (8) vs. Will Ospreay (6)
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The Aerial Assassin Ospreay and the Ace Tanahashi are both top guys in NJPW, and the audience was hyped up for their bout! The commentators called this a dream match, and I personally agree. Then again, the commentators called Tanahashi's performance during this tournament as 'disappointing' (it wasn't, it's been very bright), so give all of this only so much weight! Red Shoes Unno refereed.
Every audience member cheered for their favourite without hesitation, and the energy fed these two men in a meaningful way. When they found the ropes, they broke cleanly before locking up with honour and respect. Their test of strength had Ospreay bent backward over Tanahashi's leg in a stunning display as he fought his way up.
A former WWE writer just went after JBL for his comments HERE
Watching these two men grapple is a masterclass in classic, crowd-driven acrobatics. "Go Ace!" and "Ospreay" chants from the audience filled the arena in equal measure. Ospreay wanted to go high but a dragon screw leg whip put him down. Once Ospreay was down, Tanahashi locked him into a leg lock.
Ospreay forced his way up, and Tanahashi locked Ospreay's legs up in a beautiful bridge hold. Ospreay nearly didn't find the bottom rope. Once he had a little space, he met Tanahashi blow for blow in the middle of the ring. Tanahashi kept his offense focused on Ospreay's tender knee, but every time he had a real edge, it dissolved in the face of Ospreay's speed.
Ospreay's knee began to really show some weakness when Tanahashi tangled him in the ropes. He still made an opening big enough to fly over the top rope and slam Tanahashi into the arena floor. Ospreay rolled the Ace back into the ring for a standing shooting star press and a pinfall attempt.
A top rope 61i-Pip Pip Cheerio combination from Ospreay only got him into position for Tanahashi to damage Ospreay's knee more with a cloverleaf hold. Ospreay managed an enziguri, but Tanahashi gave him a dragon screw leg whip again as well as putting him into a full cloverleaf hold.
Ospreay refused to submit, and the pain Tanahashi wrought on Ospreay's knee drove him to grab the bottom rope with gusto and break the hold. He fought his way to the setup for his OsCutter finisher, and Tanahashi sidestepped him to put him down for a 2-count. He did it again with a bridge suplex shortly after, still unable to gain that third hand on the mat.
Ospreay's shooting star press from the top was the first thing he did when he got free, and his OsCutter attack connected. Tanahashi reversed Ospreay's Stormbreaker move and hit him with a slingblade. It meant the Ace could go high, knocking down Ospreay for another 2-count. A hook kick to the mouth from Ospreay ended that quickly, and he didn't go for the pin immediately.
Tanahashi was hauled up in Ospreay's shoulders, and the Aerial Assassin threw him into the Stormbreaker to finish his first G1 with 8 points.
Results: Will Ospreay (8) def. Tanahashi (8) via pinfall
