10 Reasons Why New Japan Pro Wrestling Had A Great 2016
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi And Kazuchika Okada
If New Japan Pro Wrestling had a version of the Rock v. Austin or Hogan v. Savage, then Tanahashi and Okada is it. In 2013, Tanahashi defended his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against then-25 year old Okada. Two years later, at Wrestle Kingdom 9, Tanahashi beat Okada once again in a 30-minute classic.
Unlike the past two meetings, Okada was defending his championship this time around. Tanahashi had come off a fantastic G1 Climax win against Nakamura. In between the win of the G1 Climax and Wrestle Kingdom 10, Tanahashi had defended his contract against the two men he had lost to in the Climax and won both times. The story was then set for Okada and Tanahashi III.
Since Okada had not been able to beat Tanahashi in the prior two meetings, New Japan based the story off of redemption for Okada. Tanahashi was the biggest star in NJPW and for Okada to be the new throne bearer, he had to win. Without spoiling the end, several professional wrestling writers gave the match their highest rankings and believed that it was the perfect end to what was a great event for New Japan Pro Wrestling.