Dave Meltzer awards five stars for second time in two weeks

The main event of New Japan show Fighting Spirit Unleashed on September 30th was the latest match to receive Dave Meltzer’s famous five star rating in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The match was Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi defeating Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii in 23 minutes.

The story of the bout focused on Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega not getting involved until later in the match. They teased the two men wrestling each other, as this was the first time they shared the ring together since their seven star match at Dominion in June. Despite many nearfalls, Omega and Ibushi were able to hit the Golden Trigger on Ishii to pick up the victory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYi1aGCM8Hc

2018: The year of the tag teams?

This is the third tag team match to receive a five star rating in 2018, the other two being The Golden Lovers vs. The Young Bucks at Strong Style Evolved and the much talked about Moustache Mountain vs. Undisputed Era NXT Tag Team Championship match from NXT TV.

This is also the second five star match in as many weeks following the match between Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi from Destruction in Kobe.

Following the match Omega challenged Ibushi to a match at King of Pro Wrestling for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Before Ibushi could accept however, Cody appeared and inserted himself into the match. This makes the match the first three-way for the title in Japan since Brock Lesnar won the championship back in 2005.

What has been your favorite match of 2018 so far? Let us know in the comments below, on Twitter or on Discord!

• Golden Lovers
• fighting spirit unleashed
• dave meltzer
• NJPW

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