10 Best NJPW Matches Of 2017 (So Far...)

by John Bills

1. Kazuchika Okada Vs. Kenny Omega - Dominion 6.11

Okada Dominion
NJPW

How do you top one of the greatest wrestling matches of all time?

That was the task ahead of Okada and Omega going into their re-match at Dominion. In truth, the warriors did not attempt to top their Tokyo Dome classic. Instead, they created an entirely new world, one that referenced their first battle but brought countless new things to the table.

They went to a one hour time limit draw, a result that left a frustrated taste in the mouths of some. This wasn't a match for those obsessed with results - this was a match for the professional wrestling fan. This was one hour of action and drama, two men at the top of their game showcasing their abilities on a grand stage. Omega brought everything, Okada brought everything, but it wasn't enough for either man.

Omega finally hit Okada with the One Winged Angel, but in the drama of the moment Omega hadn't realised how close they were to the ropes. Okada desperately got one foot onto the bottom rope - Omega couldn't believe it. Exhaustion set in, with Omega memorably collapsing before being hit with another Rainmaker, as the hour quickly approached.

Okada hit one last Rainmaker, but wasn't able to make the cover in time. Two of the greatest professional wrestlers on the planet had taken fans on the sort of ride they hadn't experienced before, and surely could not experience again. If anything in 2017 manages to top this match, we are in for something truly special.

Okada/Omega III takes place on August 12. That alone justifies signing up to New Japan World.

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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.