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

8. KUSHIDA Vs.Will Ospreay - Invasion Attack

Will Ospreay KUSHIDA NJPW
njpw.co.jp

This was Will Ospreay's debut match in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and what a way to introduce yourself. The young Brit went from curiosity to complete star in the eyes of the Japanese audience in just a single match, cementing himself as both the future and the present of New Japan's Junior Heavyweight division.

Both this match and their second meeting at Dominion told a similar story, but it is the overarching atmosphere of the feud that really grabs me. Will Ospreay is the new plaything of New Japan, the shining star with all the flash and all the support. He has the world in his hands so to speak.

All the while, KUSHIDA has quietly gone about his business proving that he is far and away the number one Jr. in the company. His Jr. Heavyweight Championship reign continues, and whilst Ospreay gets the press it is KUSHIDA who seems short of challengers right now.

Their first meeting was their best to date, with KUSHIDA viciously attacking Ospreay's arm to the point where the Brit had to cope without it at all. He couldn't forever though, and eventually succumbed to KUSHIDA's Hoverboard Lock.

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.