10 Introductory Matches To The Unrivalled Art Of Japanese Wrestling
2. Kenny Omega Vs. Hirooki Goto - NJPW G1 Climax Final 14/08/2016
Puroresu has a rich history of gaijins - foreign workers, predominantly North American, who have shored up in the East and improved their in-ring game considerably.
One such man is Kenny Omega, who was rejected in the WWE developmental system before honing his skills in Japan so assuredly that he once wrestled a an exciting - and even semi-believable match - against a nine-year-old girl.
The final of this year's G1 Climax tournament was almost emblematic of the Puro style itself - it was brave in its booking, performance, and it developed character and storylines by referring to previous matches.
The positioning of Goto, perennial IWGP Heavyweight title match loser and the only man to have never won the title following a G1 Climax win, was curious - so much so that fans finally ran out of patience with and subjected him to jeers in the opening half.
He then entered such a typically awesome performance that he turned himself back face and, for the umpteenth time, allowed those same jaded fans to think that it might have been his night. It wasn't. But when it is, the reaction will be massive.
The match, however, was all about Omega and his rise to prominence. In channelling his erstwhile Bullet Club brethren, using their finishing moves to unsuccessful effect, Omega adroitly styled himself as their superior by winning the match with his own One-Winged Angel.