New Japan Pro-Wrestling Dark Ages 15: Fans Support Makabe and Nagata! 2007 G1 Final!

August 12, 2007
G1 CLIMAX 17 Final

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New Japan Pro-Wrestling is starting to emerge from its dark ages.
Will it be Nagata or Makabe, carrying the fans' expectations, who takes the victory?
Or will it be the new generation's Tanahashi or Nakamura?

What is the harsh reality that the fans confronted?

Please take a look.

※The following contains match results.

Commentary

In July of this year, Makabe challenged for the IWGP title for the first time against Nagata, and he carried that momentum
straight into the G1 in August.

I believe the fans' expectations were for Makabe to win his first G1 title.
He had that much momentum.

However, it is also true that there was a vague feeling
that it would surely be Tanahashi.
Tanahashi had the track record of having held the IWGP belt and
the expectation of being the "future."

But if you ask whether he had captured the fans' hearts,
I would have to hesitate.
One more thing. If he had just one more thing, he might have broken through, but I don't know what that was.

The semifinals for this year's G1 were also held on the same day.

Match 3: Semifinal - Tanahashi vs. Makabe

Driven by Makabe's popularity, the fans were excited and it was a good match, but the ending fell flat.

The cheers were getting louder, and just when you thought, 'Here we go!'
it was decided by a roll-up.

A roll-up is a perfectly valid wrestling move.
There should be no complaints about it.

But a contradiction arises for those watching.
If Tanahashi had been pushed and pushed and then won with a comeback roll-up, you could describe it as him managing to snatch a victory despite the struggle.

However, a roll-up finish in the middle of a back-and-forth exchange inevitably leaves an impression of being cut short. It's a waste.

Keep it as simple as possible. Smoothly.
I think that winning with a move that is convincing and satisfying is what resonates with the fans.

Match 4: Semifinal - Nagata vs. Nakamura

This also ended in a disappointing conclusion.
After this match, Nakamura's left shoulder started to have a bone (?) pop out.
These two never really seemed to click in other matches either.

Since both have styles that lean somewhat toward martial arts with ground and standing techniques,
I feel like they would be a good fit,
but it doesn't quite work out well.

Final: Nagata vs. Tanahashi

This year, the final became a match between the two who also fought in the IWGP match in April.

The fans' cheers were pushing for a Nagata victory,
but in the end, Tanahashi won and achieved his first G1 victory.

At the time, I didn't feel very excited watching this match, but looking at it now, it's a very good match.

Nagata's offense and Tanahashi's selling seem to have good chemistry.
Nagata meshes better with Tanahashi's selling than with Nakamura's.

Nakamura got his hands on the IWGP title quite early,
but Tanahashi won the G1 first.

Summary

The third match, Tanahashi vs. Makabe, ended with an unsatisfying result.
My impression was that the atmosphere never picked up after that, and the event ended with the final.

I felt that the local crowd's enthusiasm cooled down after Makabe lost.

That just goes to show how great the support and expectations for Makabe were.

Makabe, who appeared at the post-match ceremony,
was met with huge cheers.
You can tell how popular he is. He's cool.

So, what is wrong with Tanahashi's matches?

What is missing?
What should he do?
What should he improve?
His physique, speed, and technique are perfect, though.

My first impression after watching the final.
Was the match interesting, or was it boring?

On top of that, what is different compared to the exciting matches I've seen in the past? Where is the difference?

Should he stick his tongue out and pass out?

Should he have killed them with love in a 60-minute draw?

If he had destroyed the knee and won with a Figure-Four Leglock,
would it have been a match that made the front page of the next morning's paper?

Perhaps I am unconsciously comparing it to past matches.

"You can't win if you fight against memories."

Muto's words, which hit the core, really sting.

If you watch the final match without thinking about anything,
it is a truly wonderful match.

The title "Dark Age" is not appropriate.

The phrase "I will make it explode" uttered in the post-match interview gives a strong sense of a new era to come.

Even so.

I find myself wanting "something" more than just a good match.

A little more, just a little more.