WWE In Japan: 5 Great Matches You Need To Know

5. Kurt Angle Vs. Rey Mysterio - 10.2.05

Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio have always had great matches together. Since displaying instant chemistry in their first ever televised singles matches in the opener of SummerSlam 2002, the two men had thrilled fans on Smackdown and pay-per-view, whether squaring off in singles or in tag matches.

One of their best matches together came in February of 2005, when Smackdown was taped at the Satiama Super Arena in Satiama, Japan. The match was the main event of what had been a rather humdrum episode and the stakes were high: whoever won would then go on to face John Cena at that months No Way Out to determine the Number One contender for the WWE Title at WrestleMania.

The Olympic Hero started by trying to ground Mysterio with some textbook mat wrestling, before the masked man came back with his lucha- infused offense, sending Angle scarpering as he went for (and missed) a 619. Angle went back to dictating the pace with headlocks, suplexes and a draining body scissors.

Rey managed to come back with a beautiful dive to the outside, but Angle was always there to knock him back down. That was the basic story of the match, the plucky Mysterio gamely trying to outfox the ultra-intense Angle, only to be thwarted at every turn. Rey did manage to rally and hit Angle with some of his always entertaining offense in the closing stretch, including a headscissors on the outside and a lovely satellite DDT.

Despite hitting a 619, a 'rana and many other dizzying moves, Rey wasn't able to get the job done, eventually succumbing to the ankle lock as the Japanese crowd gave the match a richly deserved standing ovation. This is one TV main event that is well worth checking out if/when it comes to the Network.