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

3. Kazuchika Okada Vs. Katsuyori Shibata - Sakura Genesis

Katsuyori Shibata Kazuchika Okada
NJPW.co.jp

It is looking increasingly likely that this will turn out to be the final match of Katsuyori Shibata's career. Shibata won the 2017 New Japan Cup to earn himself a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and fans believed that the time had finally come for The Wrestler to embed himself in the main event scene.

Kazuchika Okada and Katsuyori Shibata went to war on April 9. Okada had his hand raised at the end of the match, but this was Shibata's time to shine. The Ryogoku crowd was firmly behind the challenger, willing him on to victory throughout. That victory never came, but any doubts as to whether Shibata deserved a main event spot ended here.

Okada more than played his part of course, but this was Shibata's match. Shibata responded to the Rainmaker in ways no wrestler has before - totally no-selling the first attempt, responding instead with a vicious headbutt. Shibata's work made this different to all other Okada matches - the champion was forced to fight in a way he hadn't had to previously.

The champion didn't out-fight Shibata. It was Shibata who dominated the exchanges. But Okada was able to persevere and outlast Shibata, picking up the win after another Rainmaker. This was arguably the title defence that put Okada's run into the stratosphere. This was a 40 minute match that didn't let up, and solidified both men as two of the best in the world.

Shibata's health has been on the line ever since. If this proves to be his last match, then what a way to go out.

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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.