10 NJPW Matches We Most Want To See In 2018

4. Kazuchika Okada Vs. Kota Ibushi

Omega Tanahashi
NJPW1972.com

These two men contested a minor classic with Kota Ibushi's face obscured under the guise of Tiger Mask 'W' - this, after an opening stretch buoyed mostly by pure theatrics.

Unmasked, there are few better than Ibushi at generating sympathy. He is superb at getting his cherubic faced caved in - and, again, there is no better move with which to cave in a face than Okada's sickening Rainmaker lariat. Okada operates as a God in 2018, deified to an unprecedented extent by manager and booker Gedo. Ibushi, meanwhile, is a disciple of no-one, operating as a freelancer despite what logic dictates must be very lucrative full-time offers. Consequently, this prospective match develops a new layer of intrigue: who better, in the minds of fans alienated by the Okada mega-push, to end it?

Both men possess seminal big match CVs - and Ibushi's legitimate lunacy justifies his kick-out-at-one spot. The prospect of the Golden Star popping straight back up from the most storyline-devastating move in the entire wrestling world is an iconic moment in waiting - one which assailant and recipient alike are capable of building towards in order to emphasise its dramatic weight.

There is no layered, years-long backstory to Okada Vs. Ibushi - and there should be no hesitation in promoting it this year accordingly.

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!