Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega (NJPW - 7/2/2017)

I'll go a bit in depth on this.

This is a pretty tremendous bombfest. While NJPW has earned criticism for their recent, unofficial "30-minute rule" with the first 10 minutes being an extended feeling-out process with no bearing on the rest of the match, this is pretty much go-go-go from the beginning. It's that type of ambitious match I really enjoy. I enjoy the fundamentals as much as anyone, but when you try to go all-out for 30 minutes and never once do things feel boring, then I think you've got something really special.

And really, there is still a fundamental heel vs. face story here. Kenny is the cocky super-athlete who has future world champ written all over him (this was just a month removed from his draw with Okada). Ishii is the unsinkable tough guy face who's never really broken through the main event picture. This tournament for the U.S Title felt like a formality for Kenny to win. Ishii wasn't even expected to make it to the finals. But here he is, and he knows he's beaten Kenny before and is prepared to do it again. Never to be outdone, Kenny tries to strike with Ishii but pays the price. The crowd brawling may feel a bit contrived, but it really fits the story of Kenny trying to outdo Ishii only to fail. Once they get back in the ring Kenny is able to regain control with his athleticism and fast-paced moves. But through it all, Ishii finds a way to hang in there, even when it comes to taking a dragon suplex through a table. The spot of Ishii gripping the rope with his teeth is truly iconic stuff.

Both men are running on fumes but neither is willing to give up an inch. Ishii proves he may be the toughest man in NJPW by taking several knees but still finds a way to lay Kenny out with a big suplex or lariat. Eventually Kenny's stamina and precision is too much for Ishii to handle, but he goes down swinging and it takes Kenny grabbing a hold of Ishii's wrist and pulling him down into a One-Winged Angel in order to get the win.

So like I said, this is a pretty tremendous bombfest and I applaud both men for making a 30-minute match feel like a 20-minute one. Everything is precise, everything is crisp, and everything looks like it HURTS. And while the action never lulls or drags, it doesn't get in the way of good selling and storytelling. The way Ishii clutches his back as he crawls into a pin attempt or the way Kenny has to fire himself up to shake off the cobwebs really adds some nice touches to this match. You also have the tried-and-true story of the underdog face who was never expected to make it this far giving the up-and-coming heel everything he can handle and then some.

Bravo.