10 Best Wrestling PPVs Of 2017

2. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom XI

Finn Balor AJ Styles TLC 2017 Too Sweet
NJPW1972.com

Headlined by one of the greatest matches ever held - Kazuchika Okada's masterpiece of content, strategy, and scale - Wrestle Kingdom XI was a sensation, so good that it drew a brand new audience to the promotion.

Almost as good was Tetsuya Naito's retention of the Intercontinental Title at the expense of Hiroshi Tanahashi - a match rich in pathos crafted by a man justifiably praised for his big match layouts, and the single best psychologist operating in all of wrestling. Hirooki Goto Vs. Katsuyori Shibata was another wincing instalment of their storied rivalry. As brutal, almost disturbingly so, was Hiromu Takahashi's defeat of KUSHIDA. And to think, some were mystified by his grand reintroduction to the company. Over the course of 16 spellbinding minutes, he reckoned with opponent and audience alike in a frightening showcase of his dangerous style.

The cadre of under and midcard specialists - Tomohiro Ishii, The Young Bucks, et al. et al. - welcomed those new eyes to the product, but did not outstay their own welcome, in a series of marvellous cameos.

A rising crescendo of a card, genuinely better the longer it went on, its unassailable arc mirrored the promotion's own meteoric year.

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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!