10 Best Wrestling Pay-Per-Views Of 2018

5. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

Omega Okada IV
NJPW.co.jp

New Japan's annual spectacular presented us with incredible action...from unexpected sources.

Expectations were too high for Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito's IWGP Heavyweight Title match. This is such a luxurious problem to have as a New Japan fan; the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 12 was merely excellent. How dare they not put on a ****** classic.

What was meant to be Naito's night was instead gifted to Chris Jericho - which, in turn, gifted us their brilliant programme. Alpha and Kenny Omega put on a total thriller, generating laughs and gasps. Jericho was a black comedy delight, problematically mimicking a certain...accent, before getting the comeuppance his reinvented d*ckhead warranted. Jay White didn't emerge as the star Gedo had envisioned on January 5, but his match with Hiroshi Tanahashi, while dry, told an excellent story.

A rare Four-Way match showcased the diverse complexion of the Junior Heavyweight division superbly; Minoru Suzuki and Hirooki Goto excelled in another atypical stipulation match; the Young Bucks sold struggle as effectively as they sell merch in their Junior Heavyweight Tag Title victory over SHO and YOH, who themselves inspired hope for the company's future with eye-catching performances; Kota Ibushi and Cody wrestled one of the year's better sports entertainment matches in a pro wrestling league; even Davey Boy Smith, Jr. wrestled a minor classic...

Wrestle Kingdom 12 was an unreal show.

Somehow, New Japan bettered it months later...

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!