8 Biggest Chop Masters In Wrestling History

When it comes to chopping people, there isn’t a wrestler alive today who can devastate their opponent using nothing but chops quite like Kenta Kobashi used to.

For over twenty years, he has been chopping people viciously, owing to the very stiff nature of Japanese wrestling. He has also come up with a wide variety of delivery methods, ranging from a discus chop (to the side of his opponent’s head and neck), to multiple chops to a cornered opponent (as cheesy as this is, each one of those chops must certainly hurt nonetheless), to the aptly-named ‘Burning Sword’, whereby Kobashi bends his opponent backwards and chops them straight down to the canvas.

If you still need convincing on this matter, watch Kobashi’s match with Samoa Joe in ROH in 2005. Kobashi delivered a series of absolutely brutal and stiff chops to Joe’s chest and collar, turning Joe’s normally tan-colored skin red and purple, while leaving serious welts where Kobashi hit him. Joe claimed his chest was discoloured for a fortnight afterwards. 

If that’s not enough to convince you, watch Kobashi’s famous four-minute chop battle with fellow Japanese strongman Kensuke Sasaki (above). There is no other wrestler alive who can bring the crowd to their feet while using only a single type of wrestling strike.

Though he never got any ‘WOOOO’ reactions as others did, he really didn’t need them; fans appreciated his amazing chopping skills in silent admiration.