10 Best NJPW Matches Of 2016 (So Far...)

1. Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. AJ Styles - Wrestle Kingdom 10

Will Ospreay KUSHIDA NJPW
njpwworld.com

Ultimately, the best match in New Japan Pro Wrestling last year tells the biggest story of the company's 2016. In the semi-main of Wrestle Kingdom 10, Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles battled for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, a title that Nakamura had lifted to be practically on the same level as the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

As we watched in awe as these two masters of their art went at it, little did we know that just six months later both would find themselves in World Wrestling Entertainment. WWE was the furthest thing from fans minds at the time however, as two men who could lay claim to being the best in the world put on a show, an utterly flawless wrestling match.

AJ had a back injury going into the match, and he feigned it in order to get the advantage. Nakamura saw right through it of course, and decided to target AJ's back nonetheless. AJ did what most smart opponents of Swagsuke would do, and that is target his legs. This all built to a remarkable spot where Nakamura rolled the Calf Killer into an armbar, which somehow AJ transitioned into a one-armed Styles Clash. Remarkable.

It took two Bome Ye's to put AJ Styles away, but put AJ away they did. This was a match that made absolute sense from start to finish, both from a logical point of view and from the viewpoint of a professional wrestling fan. One tries to avoid hyperbole most of the time, but this match was pretty much flawless from where I'm sitting right now.

What price AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 33?

Contributor
Contributor

Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.