New Japan has always been a place that has topped or been near the top of many people’s “Match of the Year” candidates. While combing through the entire year that was New Japan, I have found these five beauties that are must-see. So in no particular order, I give you “The Curtain Jerker’s” Top 5 New Japan matches of 2018:
Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax)
This was a match during B Block of the 2018 G1 Climax tournament. For years, Ishii has been hailed as the MVP of many G1 Climax’s through the years with his epic performances, and the 2018 version of the G1 was no different. Ishii has always brought a brawler’s style and epitomizes what “Japanese Strong Style” means. Even at 42, he can still go at a high rate.
Omega was (and probably still is) the best wrestler in the world over the summer months. These 2 went out it for over 22 minutes with Ishii delivering devastating lariats and headbutts and Omega delivering knee strikes to the hard-headed Ishii.
Ishii won the match and many thought that after this match, Omega lost all the momentum he gained over the summer, winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for the first time and up until the Ishii match, breezing through the G1. Both Omega and Ishii would end up being shut out of the finals, but Omega would win the rematch in September at Destruction.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (Dominion)
The match that may have well changed New Japan forever. Okada, even as a record-breaking champion, was frustrated with not winning the feud with Omega, with 1 win for Okada at WrestleKingdom 2017, 1 win for Omega at the 2017 G1 Climax, and 1 draw at Dominion 2017. He challenged Omega to a best 2 out of 3 falls match at Dominion 2018.
This was the first and only time the IWGP Heavyweight title has been contested in such a match. It was being hyped as the biggest professional wrestling match in decades. And Okada-Omega 4 delivered. Going almost 65 minutes, Omega had to win the last 2 falls to win the title and usher in a new era in New Japan. After the match, with Kota Ibushi and The Young Bucks in the ring with him, he announced the formation of the “Golden Elite”.
Since that match, Omega has continued to be IWGP Champion, although he has been wrestling fewer dates and has defended the belt 3 times since winning it 6 months ago. Okada, has been in a slump. While winning a respectable 6 matches in the G1, he has been on the losing side so far of a feud with former Chaos member Jay White.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi (2018 G1 Climax Finals)
In what had been a down year for Tanahashi in 2018, there was still one more chance for him to salvage it and also main event Wrestle Kingdom 13. All he had to do was get by one of the hottest acts in the company since reforming his “Golden Lovers” tag team with Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi.
Until this night in mid-August, Tanahashi’s 2018 consisted of him losing the IWGP Intercontinental title to Minoru Suzuki, losing in the finals of the New Japan Cup to Zack Sabre Jr., and not being able to wrestle away the IWGP Heavyweight title from Kazuchika Okada, thus erasing him at the top of the record books for longest single-title reign and most successful title defenses in one reign.
The betting odds were also in Ibushi’s favour, as nearly everybody wanted a “Golden Lovers” Wrestle Kingdom 13 main event. Tanahashi came to the ring with his good friend Katsuyori Shibata and in an emotional match and a 35-minute thriller, Tanahashi was able to win his 3rd G1 Climax.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Wrestling Dontaku 2018)
Until Tanahashi won the G1 Climax in August, many thought this match with the then-IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, would be “Tanahashi’s Last Stand” an opportunity to win the big one for the 8th time.
Tanahashi was also trying to fight history as well as Father Time, as if Okada defeated Tanahashi, he would break Tanahashi’s records as longest reigning IWGP Champ and most title defences in a single reign. In a near-35 minute thriller, Okada was able to defeat his biggest rival and make history.
Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho (Wrestle Kingdom 12)
The “Alpha vs. Omega” dream match at Wrestle Kingdom 12 was one that plotted the course of the main event scene in New Japan in 2018. The lead-up to the match is what cultivated much of Jericho’s psychotic character in New Japan.
It had been just a regular match until Jericho attacked Omega at Power Struggle 2017, and then Omega returning the favour by attacking Jericho at the Wrestle Kingdom press conference. That made it a no-disqualification match, and after a half-hour of hellacious action, Omega was able to vanquish his new rival and retain his IWGP United States title.
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