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With the wrestling landscape transforming at a quicker pace than any time since the early 00’s – the prospect of a cross-promotional event containing the two largest promotions worldwide is closer than any of us would dream to consider. These events were much more commonplace within the territory days – with such a plethora of companies, it was hard to avoid working together with other promoters to create something special. This pool of creativity can sometimes give birth to extremely surreal moments which cross the borders of politics as well as sports entertainment – just take one look at the WCW/NJPW show which took place in NORTH FUCKING KOREA.
Cross-promotional events can provide the opportunity for huge, marquee matches that fans never considered a possibility. Wrestling fans are a territorial bunch, to say the least and with the boom we have witnessed in the independent scene along with the resurgence of NJPW under booker Keiji Takayama (aka Gado) – the time is right for both companies to come together and I’m going to fantasy book the hell out of it so grab yourself a plate of Sushi with a side of Fries.
So, let’s take aim…
Naito vs Sami Zayn
If you wind back the clock to 2015 and take a look at Shinsuke Nakamura’s long-awaited debut in WWE, he put a match with the face if NXT (at that time) Sami Zayn – what followed was an amazing show of strength, athleticism and storytelling. All too often the younger generation of wrestlers are criticised for an inability to produce great psychology in the matches – yet Sami really dispels this myth time and time again. Naito breathes charisma and natural in-ring talent – I feel Sami would truly make Naito look like a legitimate threat (which trust me, he is) as he did for Shinsuke. Sami sold every stiff kick, every earth-shattering chop perfectly – it was one of the standout matches at NXT Takeover Dallas and did a huge job in pushing both men as some of the strongest of on the roster.
The pairing of Naito with Zayn would produce an amazing, unique matchup combining both American and Japanese style wrestling with a hint of Lucha Libre from the former El Generico.
Young Bucks vs The Revival
This matchup has a huge backstory already. If you have seen the web series “Being the Elite” produced, edited and uploaded (extremely impressive considering their schedule and varied other talents) by The Young Bucks. Research what the three letters F T R stand for and this match explains itself. Aside from the heat between the two teams already, the clash in styles would be an absolute visual dream for any true grappling fans.
The Revival with their “no flips, just fists” mantra battling the high flying, risk taking Young Bucks would create something truly special. This would create the most amazing in-ring psychology – we have seen how great The Revival are in this regard. The Bucks growing in their storytelling abilities on a match by match basis, truly proving their detractors wrong at every time who have them pinned down as spot monkeys for the marks. The phycology within the recent Bucks vs Golden Lovers match was up there with some of the best TV Dramas scenes in years – seriously. This truly is a tag-team match made in heaven.
Cody vs Roman Reigns
The Top Guy vs The Should-Have-Been Top Guy. When Cody left WWE for the independent scene many of us felt he would sadly drop into obscurity while trading on his father’s surname to get bookings like so many other second and third generation wrestlers have done. People couldn’t have been more wrong. Cody has ridden the waves of the wrestling world far from the shores of McMahon with absolute talent, grace and charisma. He has traded in his gimmick outfits for sharp suits, changing his appearance to a modern incarnation of a classic-territory era champion.
What more of a perfect opponent could you hand-select for the once undervalued star returning as an adored superstar … the man who was originally given the chance to shine. Roman Reigns. Not only could this amazing story be told – this could well be billed as the match to decide which wrestling bloodline rules supreme – The Rhodes family or the Anoa’I Family – both producing an unparalleled influence on the squared circle.
Romans matches have steadily improved and continue to move in an upward trajectory, this matchup would only lend further credence as to why this man has been pushed as a main event star for several years now. Personally I’d like to see Cody pushed as an “old-school” Babyface and Roman as the “piece-of-shit heel” would spit upon the history Rhodes and his family have built from the ground up – the heat Reigns would garner is unfathomable in proportion and for such a simple, naturally built story – makes you wonder why they complicate it in the WWE writers room.
Tanahashi vs Cena
Two old veterans that have at times carried the whole promotions upon their shoulders, been with their respective companies at utter lows and great highs. Both men are brilliant examples of what a veteran should be, both are immensely talented with a crazy amount of strength. Hiroshi Tanahashi has held the IWGP Heavyweight title on 7 different occasions – which is extremely rare in Japan where the Belts are tantamount to everything which happens in NJPW, unlike WWE where they have lost a lot of importance, especially in the last decade. Who has the record in WWE you ask? The one and only John Cena (12 championship reigns) The two men are not what they once were but can still put on a great exhibition of Pro Wrestling for any occasion despite their escalating age.
It really does feel the natural matchup for both men and I don’t doubt they could deliver a showstopper which could please both casual and “hardcore” fan on either side of the globe.
Tomohiro Ishi Vs Kevin Owens vs Samoa Joe vs Michael Elgin.
Holy Shit. This match on paper is almost akin to reading the details of a multi-car pile up on the motorway. These four men would cause complete and total destruction in the ring together. The zine of each man combined with the technical ability of each and every one of them really does create a unique spectacle the world needs to see. Many of the wrestlers have worked together previously in different gimmicks within different promotions such as ROH – but I cannot think of a match in recent history that could deliver such a punch to the gut all-the-while giving the fans a true technical display.
Ishii is consistently underrated but is beginning to reap the benefits of years of hard bumps and crazy spots – to see him with fellow large athletes with equally amazing in-ring ability would be an absolute tragic beauty to behold. This wouldn’t be David vs Goliath, it would be the 4 bigger, stronger brothers of Goliath tearing each other limb from limb. Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens are often held back by the restrictive nature of WWE’s booking and in-ring policies, giving them this chance to flex their ruthless creative muscle alongside Elgin and Ishii would produce a match like no other.
Omega vs Seth Rollins
I’m genuinely exhausted from imagining how this match would play out – let alone actually watching it. The pace and ability of these two behemoths of modern wrestling offer is quite something. Both of the men have similar careers up until a certain point – but they have both somehow conquered the wrestling world through two very different methods. I would love to see Omega calling out Seth Rollins for being a corporate stooge, forgetting his independent roots as Tyler Black to get to the top of the WWE ladder.
This would warrant the sort of storming, messianic entrance we saw at WrestleMania 34 from Seth as he is on an absolute warpath to deny his naysayers from the “real wrestling” world, while reclaiming the plaudits he received on his way up to WWE rather than the mediocre reception he’s received since getting a big push on the biggest stage. The two have such an incredible arsenal of wrestling moves and manoeuvres, the matchup would be an exhibition of pure, unfiltered wrestling- a true treat for the eyes. To see the pair trading V-triggers and stiff knee shots throughout the match would be brutally hypnotic.
After the accusations of Rollins stealing moves from Omega (an accusation that reappears every few months), I’d pay to see Seth use the One-Winged Angel to finish the match – just to stick the finger up at anyone that accuses this extremely talented star as a copy-cat.
Okada vs AJ Styles
Two of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Simple.
Sometimes the greatest matchups need the least story. If you look at the storyline leading up to The Rock/Austin at Wrestlemania 17 – the match was heavily linked to Debra (Austin’s wife) and this was later canned in favour of the natural charisma and story between two of the biggest stars ever to grace a wrestling ring. Good move Vince. This is the blueprint for the Okada vs A.J match we all want to see – two of the greatest ever going head to head. I’ve never seen a truer incarnation of the phrase “less is more”. The pair has shared a ring on a few occasions previously – always putting on a stellar show of strength and technical ring ability but I feel both men have progressed by a mammoth amount since their last bout in Japan in 2015.
AJ has truly flourished in front of the non-TNA American audience after his stint in Japan, while Okada has continued to warrant his position as NJPW top guy (as well as still warranting the title of having the Best Drop Kick of all time, seriously he makes those kicks look like an art form.) The match wouldn’t even need a Heel/Babyface angle as the two are so over and so highly revered for their ability – this could be fought as a respectful sporting competition between two of the greatest ever. The natural conclusion would be whoever wins holding up the looser for a great pop and the two shake hands and embrace each other’s greatness, sending
That’s my fantasy booking – WWE vs NJPW, but what would yours be?
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