NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best

By Jack Pooley / January 4, 2018

4. Cody Vs. Kota Ibushi

Result: Ibushi kills Cody with the Phoenix Splash for the victory (16:09).

Rating: Cody Rhodes, bravo. This was easily one of the best matches of his entire career, if not the best outright, and he proved beyond all doubt that he belongs on this stage against talent like this.

Amusingly the match was laid out in pretty old-school fashion, with Cody playing the stereotypical a**hle heel, complete with Brandi feigning injury and playing on Ibushi's apparently good nature.

That didn't get in the way of the physicality though, with Cody's Cross Rhodes off the apron proving especially tough to watch. In the end Ibushi was always going to win, but Cody looked fiercely competitive and held his own alongside one of the world's best. 8/10