10 Best Wrestling PPVs Of 2019

3. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13

Dustin Rhodes Cody
NJPW1972.com

NJPW almost secured the top spot just four days into the year, such is the annual, guaranteed awesomeness of Wrestle Kingdom.

NJPW almost secured Match of the Year honours with Kenny Omega and Hiroshi Tanahashi's epic, philosophical war. This was a genius match of unreal depth and drama fought between two masters. A fusion and clash of two divergent styles - timeless psychology, perfected versus pulsating new school danger, perfected - this masterpiece was the best possible Omega Vs. Tanahashi match, and the think of the expectation that covers.

Jay White defeated Kazuchika Okada in an excellent, audacious deviation from the usual Okada epic; this urgent, counter-driven match set White on course for legitimacy. Chris Jericho Vs. Tetsuya Naito saw the former put on one of the very best matches of a legendary career. He looked like a killer, putting Naito through such agony in an expertly-paced, white-hot brawl, and Naito was the perfect foil. The one match that could be considered a disappointment - KUSHIDA and Taiji Ishimori's slightly too-slow sprint - was still very good.

In addition to a blast of electric multi-man offerings, Zack Sabre, Jr. and Tomohiro Ishii delivered on the colossal expectation of the elusive Stone Pitbull Wrestle Kingdom feature bout with a super battle of technique versus resilience. The opener, moreover, between Will Ospreay and Kota Ibushi, was as unhinged, but far more intelligent than expected.

A sell-out crowd, big-time production, sublime, restrained pacing: Wrestle Kingdom 13 was near-perfect.

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!