NNew Japan Pro Wrestling

What’s a match you really love that absolutely nobody ever talks about? I’ll go first.


What’s a match you really love that absolutely nobody ever talks about? I’ll go first.

47 comments

  2. I know why no one talks about it, and I don’t think it would hold up with out the build up, but the Iizuka retirement match is such a wonderful mess that brings me joy every time I think about it.

  3. Evil and Shingo vs Ishii and Goto 2020 new years dash. This match made me realize how stupid new Japan is for not having goto and ishii go after the tag titles and have a fire reign

  4. Shingo vs. Kanemaru from BOSJ 26.

    Kanemaru, with help from Taichi, pulls out every heel trick in the book to try and stop the unbeaten (in NJPW to this point) Takagi. It features some great leg work psychology from Kanemaru and honestly some of the best selling I can remember from Shingo.

    Shingo ultimately had to use his brains and strength to overcome Kanemaru and the crowd is absolutely eating it up by the end.

    It is very good but I haven’t heard a peep about it since it happened over 3 years ago. Looks like only 3 ratings on cagematch and no rating from WON at all.

  5. Weird one. Ishii vs Makabe at WK9 for the never title. WK9 was my first exposure to japanese wrestling alongside Big Japan clips on YT, and I could be looking at this match through rose tinted glasses but I swear that match was the shit and honestly scared me, the finish was Makabe hitting Ishii with the lariat and I swear on my life I thought he broke ishiis neck.

  6. Ishii vs Taichi from the 2019 G1. I mean, these 2 have to try to have a bad match with each other imo but this one stands out for me. I’m admittedly a big Taichi fan, and this match seemed to be a pivotal match for him where he started to really look like a viable upper card wrestler.

  7. Juice Robinson vs Chase Owens, first round of New Japan Cup a few years ago. Juice being US champ and Owens pinning him clean popped me huge!

  8. Will Ospreay vs EVIL! That match is the definition of underatted. Such a fun bout and a perfect combination of the high flying and brawling styles. WIthout exaggeration, those final few minutes were some of the best I’ve ever seen in any match ever.

  9. Yamazaki vs. Hashimoto from 98. Probably the best targeted limb work in the history of wrestling.

  13. Okada vs Sanada 2019 in ther G1 the last few minturs were so intense. it’s one the only matches I could think of where I actually was on the edge of my seat

  14. Exactly. That was easily my match of the year. I may also be biased because I had picked Sanada in a pick em pool

  16. The first Suzuki vs. Nagata match from when NJPW first opened back up after Covid hit

  17. Suzuki’s 30th anniversary match vs Okada outdoor in the rain. Not only was it a great match, but it was just visually stunning in the atmosphere it was in. Feels like I’m the only one that ever talks about it but it totally transcended wrestling to me, it felt like a dream more than anything.

  18. White vs Tanahashi on BoSJ

    Moxley debut match on NJPW, vs Robinson.

    Suzuki Gun (Dangerous Tekkers) vs Suzuki Gun (Archer and Suzuki) on the world tag league

    Tanahashi vs Omega WK, last Omega match on NJPW

    Suzuki vs Shingo on that special summer event they did like 2 years ago, for the never title.

  21. Kota Ibushi v Ishii from G1 climax 28. Match has it all, including an insane balcony moonsault from Kota.

  22. Shingo vs Ishimori in the BOSJ

    All of the Dangerous Tekkers vs Golden Aces matches

    El Phantasmo vs Rocky Romero in the BOSJ

    Goto vs Jay White in G1 29(I think)

  24. Yuji Nagata Vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, G1 finals.
    Truly the start of Tanahashi’s journey to the top imo, even though he was a champion some while back. Nagata just smacks the shit out of him, but the Ace still perseveres.

  25. BUSHI vs KUSHIDA IWGP Jr Title Match from Kizuna Road a few years ago. An absolute barn burner.

  26. Bad Luck Fale v Yuji Nagata // G1 Climax 27 (Nagata’s final G1 match)

    Ishii v Honma // New Beginning in Sendai (vacant NEVER title)

  27. Any Lance Archer vs Will Ospreay, they always kill it and have great chemistry together.

    One of my favourite matches ever, that might be talked about a bit more is Suzuki vs Goto, hair vs hair Openweight title at WK12.

  28. Naito v. Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 11.

    Very much a classic match in a lot of ways, but it doesn’t get talked about as much since that was also the night of Okada v. Omega.

  29. That one G1 match of Ishii vs Goto. At the time i have only watched a 5star match after it happened. This one match got me on the edge of my seat with every false finish. Then it was rated 5 star.

  30. Sanada vs Okada G1 29. A great match, felt like they had Sanada ready to be pushed but then Covid came and they needed stability from main stars. Hopefully Sanada gets a main event push now that things are starting to go back to normal. Also the lights out and flashlights on with Sanada in the middle of the ring was amazing.

  34. Not sure how often its talked about, But Styles vs Suzuki is one of my favorites. Probably pne of the best ~15 minute match ive seen

  39. It was one of the last shows before covid and was followed by Mox vs Suzuki so it kinda got forgotten about but Hiromu vs Ryu Lee at New Beginning in Osaka 2020 was unbelievable. It was the first match they’d had together since Lee broke Hiromu’s neck and opens with one of the most insane chop-battles you’ve ever seen, followed by classic Jr madness from both guys.

  41. Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito – 2017 G1 Final

    – I thought this match was better than Kenny’s G1 bout with Okada earlier in the tournament.

  42. I’m partial to:

    Kazuchika Okada v. Tiger Mask W, NJPW 45th Anniversary ’17. Really good Okada/Ibushi match with the novelty of Ibushi under a tiger mask.

    Yuji Nagata v. Hiroshi Tanahashi, G1 Climax 27. Nagata had a hellacious last G1, with great matches against Goto, Ibushi, ZSJ, etc. His match with Tana was a worthy (likely) final chapter in their epic rivalry.

    Minoru Suzuki v. SANADA, New Japan Cup ’19. Hard hitting match with great chemistry.

    Tetsuya Naito v. Shingo Takagi, G1 Climax 29. While it received 5 stars, I feel this awesome clash between LIJ mates sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

    Hirooki Goto v. ZSJ, G1 Climax 30. Best sub 4 minute match I’ve seen: ZSJ VICIOUSLY attacked the injured Goto and made him tap.

    Will Ospreay v. Satoshi Kojima, ’21. This No DQ match was brutal and awesome, with a killer table spot.

    Yuji Nagata v. SANADA, New Japan Cup ’21. Great chemistry between these two in a technical bout.

  44. Three matches that come to mind for me:

    1. El Phantasmo vs Dragon Lee (Super J-Cup 2019 Finals)
    2. Jeff Cobb vs Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 30)
    3. Shingo Takagi vs Minoru Suzuki (Summer Struggle in Jingu Stadium)

  46. Any time Omega and Ishii locked up was great. I can’t recall the date/show but the time Kenny tried to dragon suplex him off the apron and Ishii grabbed hold of the ropes with his fucking teeth was so cool. Also in, I think, a different bout (wanna say G1) when Ishii sat down and invited Kenny to kick him in the back and then just laughed his ass off at his kick gave me goosebumps.

  47. I know it’s only a year old, but Dangerous Tekkers vs Naito & SANADA from Wrestle Grand Slam is one of my favourite tag matches of all time. From any promotion.

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