These two also won Best Match of 2019, so it was pretty much inevitable they would do it again. The funny thing is that this was their second match of 2021, after Will Ospreay beat Shingo Takagi in the finals of the New Japan Cup. Ospreay won a title shot and beat Ibushi for the title. This was a main event title match then and it shockingly lived up to all expectations. It was 44 minutes long and I'm not sure if there was even a dull second in this. The huge surprise in all of this is that in Japan all year, every match was held in half full arenas in front of crowds that were only allowed to clap. Considering that hindered most wrestling shows, it's almost unbelievable that this epic, four star masterpiece arose out of such dire circumstances (the Jr. title match on the same show was cancelled because of Covid). This was also, sadly, pretty much the peak of New Japan this year. Ospreay injured his neck after this match and had to relinquish the title and leave the company. He wasn't seen in Japan the rest of 2021. But he certainly left his mark. This might have been, actually, maybe, perhaps, better than any of the Okada/Omega matches, which are legendary. And now this one is, too.
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