WWE In Japan: 5 Great Matches You Need To Know

Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho were no strangers to Japan, having both made their names in the Orient early in their careers. Benoit was, of course, one of the premier New Japan junior heavyweights, while Jericho dazzled in the oddly-titled Wrestle and Romance promotion before getting a gig with NJPW.

Their first singles match together had also taken place on Japanese soil. The 'Calgary Kids' clashed in the quarter-finals of the 1995 Super J Cup, having one of the best matches of the night in the process. A decade on and with both firmly established as top-tier WWE superstars, the two warriors had a submission match in Saitama.

Kicking off the February 7th episode of Raw in style, the Canadian Chrises went at it hammer and tong in an effort to get the other to say 'uncle'. The crowd were molten as the two men exchanged holds and stiff strikes. They might have both been babyfaces, but this was Japan dammit, and fighting spirit was priority number one.

The two traded more submission attempts, chops, suplexes and headbutts as it was clear the match was taking a physical toll on both. Jericho couldn't get Benoit to tap to the Walls and, after a serious struggle, the Rabid Wolverine was able to get Y2J to submit to the Crippler Crossface in around 12 minutes. After the match both men embraced, much to the delight of the fans.

In his second autobiography (Undisputed), Jericho tells how he was exceptionally hungover during the day of the taping, having had one too many in Roppongi the night before, and had to fight not to throw up before, during and after the match. For his and Benoit's efforts the match was awarded WWE Magazine's Match of the Month award and Japanese wrestling veteran 'Dr. Death' Steve Williams claimed it was the best match he'd seen in years.

It's on the Network, go and check it out.