Each year when New Japan Pro Wrestling presents the G1 Climax, questions are asked about whether the promotion will be able to live up to the impossibly high standards it set for itself the previous year.

Invariably, the answer is always yes, with NJPW setting new standards year in and year out.

This year’s tournament has been no different, with WWE jumpers Jon Moxley and KENTA along with former Dragon Gate man Shingo Takagi more than filling the hole left by the departure of Kenny Omega.

Moxley has been heavily praised for his tournament performances by everyone watching, Dave Meltzer included.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer awarded his famous five-star rating to the Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii tournament outing from July 19. It is the first time Moxley has ever received the award.

Another man setting the G1 alight is British star Will Ospreay, who is competing in the tournament for the first time since moving to the heavyweight ranks.

In this current Observer Ospreay was awarded five-stars for two different matches. The first for a July 18 match with Kota Ibushi that both went into with fairly major injuries and another just two days later against Kazuchika Okada.

Describing the match as an “all-time classic”, Meltzer broke his system for the umpteenth time this past two years by awarding the match *****3/4 (5.75) stars.

That is the third time this year that Meltzer has awarded such a rating, having given it to Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom on January 4 and to Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi on June 5.

Remember you can keep track of every Dave Meltzer star rating this year at the link below:

• star rating
• dave meltzer
• G1
• NJPW

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