Hiroshi Tanahashi overcomes Kota Ibushi to win his third G1 Climax

The dream of the Golden Lovers clashing one more time at Wrestle Kingdom sleeps again, Cagesiders.

In tonight’s G1 Climax 28 final (for full show results, click here), Hiroshi Tanahashi dug deep and found the will to get past Kota Ibushi and claim his third G1 Climax victory, guaranteeing himself a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 13 next January.

It was a hard-hitting instant classic where both men unloaded their entire arsenals at each other into a crescendo of violence, and a match with heavy emotional depth, as Ibushi had his partner (and, assuming no title changes, the man Tanahashi will face on January 4) Kenny Omega in his corner, and the 1/100 Ace had his long-time rival and good friend Katsuyori Shibata in his, cheering them forward at every step.

Perhaps the most visually stunning moment of the match, as a result, was a beat about halfway through where Tanahashi was a relentless machine, just walking into Ibushi’s strikes, refusing to give up the dream of returning to his position atop the mountain even as his flesh buckled. Clearly, the spirit of the Wrestler flowing through the Ace!

From there, it was only a matter of time, Tanahashi dodging Kamigoye, surviving the elevated powerbomb, and managing to get his customary series of High Fly Flows in for the victory.

There you have it, folks

The G1 Climax finals being in our rear view means we’re starting our trip to get on the road to Wrestle Kingdom 13, and our first match is set. Excited for your prospective main event, Cagesiders?