2. Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura - 04/01/2016
AJ's (and Nakamura's) last big match in New Japan Pro Wrestling, this was for the Intercontinental Championship that Nakamura had really elevated over the previous year and as such felt every bit as much the main event as the Okada/Tanahashi showdown that followed it. This was also something of a dream match, as the two were yet to face off one-on-one in a New Japan ring. From the very beginning, something about this just feels special. Maybe it is the aura that comes with two top-tier talents facing off for the first time at a huge event for a prestigious title, but trying to locate the origin of the feeling is a waste of time when it is there to feel. It's best just to sit back, take it all in and enjoy it. It was an exercise in making every movement count, and the flow of the match was a sight to behold. One particularly gorgeous exchange saw a Calf Killer transitioned into an Arm Bar transitioned into a one-armed Styles Clash. Such exchanges gave the crowd little chance to catch their breath. It would eventually take two Boma-Ye knees for Nakamura to keep Styles down. Somehow, a match that was expected to be fantastic managed to exceed even the lofty expectations of the fans. A fitting way for Styles to end his incredible New Japan run. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdvNauAOXy0
John Bills
Contributor
Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.
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