10 Wrestling Matches You Won't Believe Happened In 2015

9. Genichiro Tenryu Vs. Kazuchika Okada (Tenryu Project, November 15)

Genichiro Tenryu is one of the most respected wrestlers in the history of Japanese wrestling. After starting out as a sumo, he transitioned into a pro career that spanned nearly forty years and saw him win multiple world championships. Even in the 2000s, the ageing Tenryu was seen as a man defying time, capturing the prestigious Triple Crown Championship at the age of 51 and continuing to headline shows in front of enthusiastic audiences. This past year, Tenryu decided to close the book on his career with a retirement tour, one which would culminate in a match at Sumo Hall with Kazuchika Okada. The current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, the 28-year-old Okada was personally chosen by Tenryu, as he sees The Rainmaker representing the future of the sport. It all made for a great story, but unfortunately, the consensus following the bout was that Tenryu held on for a little too long. Okada - one of the best wrestlers in the world - did a great job of carrying the legend, but Tenryu was still largely immobile and unable to perform basic moves. Okada ended up picking up a (legitimately) hard-fought victory after weathering an unpleasant botched powerbomb, putting away Tenryu witha Rainmaker lariat.