10 Best NJPW Matches Of The Year
3. Shibata Vs. Ishii (Wrestle Kingdom 10)
Many fans would have the previous entry above this one, or even atop the list, but that is the beauty of what New Japan were able to do with 2016. They put on so many brilliant matches that the very best cannot be uniformly agreed upon.
This match somehow managed to stand out on a stacked Wrestle Kingdom card. As opposed to the two matches that followed it, this bout was not based on grandeur or star power. It had to create its own aura, its own distinct brand of pro wrestling, and Shibata and Ishii went to what they know best: barbarism.
Regarded as two of the most underrated performers in the company, Shibata and Ishii knew they would be hard-pressed to shine against the other featured bouts, but they held nothing back and destroyed each other in the name of the NEVER Openweight Championship. The chops, forearms, headbutts, and kicks resembled nothing that conjures the term 'safe' and it seemed as though Shibata and Ishii had given each other free reign to hit with as much force as possible, creating a unique match that is impossible to take your eyes off.