CavemanLynn

Agreed. Because of my time away, from back when Chris was first brought in as the stats nerd alongside Kevin Kelly, the improvement in Chris himself and the pairing of him with Walker genuinely added to my enjoyment and investment. It was one particular call between them I loved, when Walker actually asked/cued up Chris for the match duration stats. It made such a nice change from one commentator suddenly launching into a list to fill the air, and even made it feel like the two commentators - shock horror - actually liked each other and were watching the match with us as mates. Recency bias, sure, especially as I'm very much a lapsed fan who checks in on big matches hyped up by the forum that I usually end up hating, but this match alone may get me to re-up my NJPW World membership. Apologies in advance to everyone if my usual curse of tanking quality as soon as I part with cash kicks in.

Perhaps it's standard practice, but NJPW have posted the full leadup, match and closing ceremony on their YouTube Stellar work. I've watched it three times, and the combination of selling, brilliant commentary and the Japanese crowd audibly losing their minds nearly brought me to tears on the third go. I've not followed New Japan since a white hot Naito lost to Okada about ten years ago, and all I'd heard of was Gedo sacrificing everything to Okada then stagnating HARD when they had nothing else to go to. Lots of times you hear about New Eras (right, Paul?), but this match genuinely felt like it could be. Just rock solid fundamentals executed brilliantly by two guys the crowds deeply care about. It's got to be something of a sign of a legacy for Zack Sabre Jr too - I'd be stunned if most of that match and style hasn't come about through work by him behind the scenes. So many spots you'd be teaching newbies in drills 20 years ago, translated into main event nailbiters. And I popped hard for Chris Charlton's "Shut that door!" on the Deadbolt!