10 NJPW Matches We Most Want To See In 2018

9. Kazuchika Okada Vs. Tama Tonga

Omega Tanahashi
NJPW1972.com

Kazuchika Okada is entrusted with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship because he is proven in the realm of elevating midcard acts to a main event level.

Ahead of Wrestling Dontaku '17, few expected - nor particularly wanted - Bad Luck Fale to capture that title. In the magic of the moment, the magician Okada cast a spell of doubt over the Fukuoka crowd. Their match was leagues better than it was on paper because Okada is the antithesis of a paper champion. He is a borderline God in 2018.

Tama Tonga is a charismatic, ever-improving breakout singles star - the most deserving talent exhibiting the most potential to break free from an all too repetitive and inconsequential doubles division in an experimental match on a B-level event. Tonga is a unique talent - a savage in both expletive-ridden demeanour and Baron Samedi face paint job. His savagery is not limited to his guttural taunts, ritual crawling, and tree frog-esque Stinger Splash delivery; he moves with the suddenness of a cobra, unleashing his explosive offence after hiding in the long grass behind the backs of his opponents.

He possesses a massively dramatic ability to strike from anywhere - and his arsenal is perfectly calibrated to evoke an unpredictable sense of drama from a predictable filler loss.

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!