8 Ups & 2 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12
1. The Ace Vs. The Star
Punk vs. Cena. Omega vs. Okada. HBK vs. ‘Taker.
The term ‘classic’ gets thrown around a lot these days, but sometimes, you just know. This was certainly the case with Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada, which not only justified the almighty pre-match hype, but immediately felt transcendent.
This bout had been building since Wrestle Kingdom 8, when the duo's last Tokyo Dome clashwas infamously voted out of its main event spot on account of Naito's lack of popularity. Things couldn't have been any more different in 2018. The crowd were molten for the challenger throughout, creating the kind of power-keg atmosphere not seen since WWE Money In The Bank 2011. The sheer noise coming from that building was astounding, even through headphones.
Working a similar dramatic formula to the bulk of Okada's IWGP Title defences, the duo made two wise decisions. First, they kept things clean, clinical, and technical - a necessary move after the carnage of Omega vs. Jericho. There was no limb-based focus either, meaning that the champions inconsistent leg selling wasn't even an issue.
'The Rainmaker's' victory will leave thousands shocked. Wrestle Kingdom 12 felt like Naito's night, and all signs pointed towards his victory, but the company throw an almighty curveball. Regardless, the journey taken to reach this divisive destination was impeccable. Little twists like Naito breaking out of Okada's new Cobra Clutch, which had thus far been the challenger's kryptonite, and Okada bringing back his old desperate wrist-clutch spot took it to the next level.
This was, quite simply, a pro-wrestling masterpiece.