4 Ups & 3 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 (Night 2)

3. EVIL & SANADA Over-Deliver

EVIL SANADA
New Japan World

A grudge match premised on betrayal worked by two technically accomplished performers who struggle to emote in front of a clap crowd, the omens weren't great - particularly since the ceaseless Bullet Club tropes had turned so many people off. Not least of which Kazuchika Okada, who questioned whether this repetitive Americanised chicanery was worthy of the lofty IWGP aura.

Those people got the happy and sensible ending at the apex of a cathartic and frenetic finish. A good match peaked very well to elevate it to very good, but not after an uneven build dragged down - literally - by SANADA going back to the Skull End over and over again.

It isn't the best signature move for the f*cked-over babyface to come back with - it's designed with the struggle of the babyface in mind, not the reckoning - but Dick Togo finally showed ass, and showed ass quite hilariously, to pay everything off. He took a pratfall to the balls and then, after some excellent suspense, made sure to break that stubborn table with a beautiful and quite unhinged slapstick bump.

EVIL finally showed fire at this point, knowing he was f*cked, but SANADA had learned every lesson that was taught to him over those boring late summer months. He was wise to the low-blow and too fired up himself to sell the face rake. He avenged the disrespect theme by using EVIL's STO against him, in astute use of the finisher theft trope, and pinned the defector with a gorgeous moonsault.

Very good. But probably not worth alienating a fandom for.

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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!