10 Reasons To Stick With NJPW After Wrestle Kingdom 12
3. Six Star City
We're currently living through a golden era of in-ring action, and New Japan Pro Wrestling is at the forefront.
NJPW's biggest matches rarely fail to deliver. With the odd exception, showcased singles bouts tend to either meet or exceed pre-match expectations. If the company gives two top-class performers a lofty card position and enough time to tell a great story, you can usually bet your house on them succeeding, as the company's big match formula has proven itself borderline infallible.
Dave Meltzer's ratings system isn't for everyone, but the journalist's enthusiasm for the product is entirely justified. Combining Strong Style's hard-hitting realism with the stagecraft that defined mid-90s WWF, these bouts create a 'real fight' atmosphere that can't be found elsewhere, and deserve every plaudit that comes their way.
Okada vs. Tanahashi, Nakamura vs. Styles, Omega vs. Okada: this is big theatre wrestling at its finest. Nothing is flawless, of course, but the sense of spectacle is unmatched. Each bout draws you in from the very first bell, and unravels in a manner not unlike a Broadway production, building towards breathtaking closing sequences custom made to leave critics purring, and fans enraptured.