25 Best Wrestling Shows EVER

4. NJPW Dominion 2018

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NJPW1972.com

Headlined by the greatest pro wrestling match ever held, NJPW Dominion was a top-to-bottom masterpiece. 

Kenny Omega vanquished the invincible Kazuchika Okada in 64:50. The most in-form wrestler there ever was defeated the greatest Heavyweight champion ever in an immaculate match that redefined the concept of selling and reframed how it should work in the age of the super-athlete. For 50 minutes, Omega Vs. Okada IV was relentless lung-bursting fury, total precision, built around the former gutting out a devastating blow to the ribs. The last 15 minutes were worked, in effect, in slow-motion. The fans in Osaja-jo Hall were thus able to unpack every dense layer of the story and scream themselves hoarse roaring Omega - who had redeemed himself throughout the run-time - towards his impossible destiny. 

What’s incredible is that, ahead of the show, many thought Will Ospreay Vs. Hiromu Takahashi would steal it. That match was merely out of this world great, and not the match of a lifetime. 

The Young Bucks, with a very inspired intentional botch, evolved their party match to deliver something more textured against EVIL and SANADA. Chris Jericho was still brilliant as the rejuvenated credible brawler in his first-time meeting with Tetsuya Naito.

The undercard wasn’t amazing, but it was sequenced so well that the card never stopped peaking. 

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!