This year has been unique in terms of wrestling. For many months, companies had to put shows on hold due to the recent pandemic and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) was no exception.
However, despite losing almost four months’ worth of shows, the company has still managed to produce some great matches this year. From Wrestle Kingdom in January to the current Summer Struggle Tour, the caliber of these matches are still of a high standard.
Here are the top 10 matches of New Japan so far in 2020.
10. Naoki Sano & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Ryu Lee & Hiromu Takahashi – Wrestle Kingdom 14
When Jushin Thunder Liger announced that he was retiring, Wrestle Kingdom seemed like the only place for a legend to have his last matches. In particular, the tag match on the second night stood out for several reasons.
The names Jushin Thunder Liger and Naoki Sano are synonymous with Jr Heavyweight wrestling in Japan. By pitting them against two of the biggest names in the division at the moment in the form of Hiromu Takahashi and Ryu Lee, it brought together two generations of Jr Heavyweights.
As expected, the match was a mixture of old and new. There was the old traditional style or Jr wrestling from Sano and Liger. We also saw the unpredictable and risk-taking style of Hiromu mixed with Lee’s hybrid Lucha/ Japanese style. Within one match, we saw dropkicks, submissions, flips and dives to satisfy any wrestling fanatics needs.
Having the current Jr Heavyweight Champion in Hiromu beating the Jr Heavyweight legend was the perfect way to end Jushin Thunder Liger’s career. It was a match that showcased the past and future of the Jr division.
9. Hiromu vs. EVIL – Sengoku Lord – July 25, 2020
When EVIL left Los Ingobernables de Japon, it seemed to impact Hiromu Takahashi the most out of the entire faction. Once EVIL beat Naito, Hiromi went out and challenged EVIL for his titles in such a passionate way that made fans across the world emotional.
From the second the bell rang, Hiromu used his speed to try and get the advantage over a much bigger EVIL. There were dropkicks both inside and outside of the ring, head-scissors and falcon arrows. Yet, the presence of the Bullet Club members and their willingness to break the rules was always going to be too much for Hiromu.
However, he continued to fight fair. He tried to use his determination and passion to keep him fighting through the match. Unfortunately, it was not enough. With help from Dick Togo, EVIL hit a combination of a low blow, Darkness Falls and Everything is EVIL for the win.
Although the match didn’t work in Hiromu’s favour, all it did was cement how strong a wrestler he is. Because of his heart, this match could have been higher on the list. However, it was the number of sneaky tricks EVIL did that reduced the quality. Yet, it is undeniable that it was a match that caught the attention of fans and told a beautifully sad story.
8. Roppongi 3k vs. El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori – Wrestle Kingdom 14
This match may be one of the more underrated entries on the list but is one of the best matches of the year. The essence of this match stemmed from the storytelling from all four men in the ring. The feud between the Bullet Club’s El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori and CHAOS’s Roppongi 3k stemmed from ELP’s debut early in 2019. They took the titles of Roppongi 3k at Dominion. But, due to their win during the Super Jr Tag League, the CHAOS duo earnt another opportunity to challenge for the titles.
The Bullet Club duo went into the match with a lot of confidence utilizing everything in their arsenal to get the unfair advantage over their opponents. Yet, even with all of this, the match was a beautiful example of how amazing the Jr Division in New Japan is. You got to see a variety of moves ranging from the technical ability of YOH, the strength of SHO, the versatility of Ishimori and the balance of ELP.
Overall, it was the latter end of the match which made it stand out. ELP is well-known for low blows to help get the win. It seemed as if this was going to be the same at the Tokyo Dome. However, as ELP went to hit SHO, a look of pain spread across his face. Pulling a golden cup from his shorts, the duo showed that their mentor Rocky Romero taught them some Sneaky Style.
With a Shock Arrow from SHO and a double stomp from the top rope, SHO pinned ELP for the win. In the battle of good versus evil, Roppongi 3K showed that sometimes even the heroes need to break the rules which got them their fourth IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag title reign.
7. Kazuchika Okada, SHO and Toru Yano (CHAOS) vs. Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI (CHAOS) – Summer Struggle – August 9, 2020
In the final of the NEVER Openweight 6-Man title tournament during the recent Summer Struggle Tour saw a final match which was one of the best tag matches from New Japan this year. It was faction vs. faction as six members of CHAOS fought against each other for the newly vacated titles.
This match showcased some of the best that CHAOS has to offer with two very different teams consisting of different wrestlers. On one side, there was the strength of SHO, the athleticism of Okada and the Sneaky Style of Toru Yano. Their opponents had the determination of YOSHI-HASHI, the power of Ishii and the Warrior mentality of Goto. The six would usually work together, but this was every team for themselves.
We saw the Stone Pitbull Ishii and the Gold Standard of Roppongi 3K lock up and, despite a significant size difference, SHO managed to hold his own in a match full of heavyweights. Okada managed to maintain his composure and show why he is the leader of CHAOS and Yano managed to bring some fun the bout.
In the end, what made this match a top 10 Match of the Year contender was the outcome. The crowds got to witness a fairy tale ending as Ishii pinned SHO and YOSHI-HASHI won his first New Japan title after 12 years in the company. It was enough to melt even the coldest heart.
6. SHO vs. Shingo Takagi – New Japan Cup – June 22, 2020
As soon as Shingo Takagi and SHO first stepped into the ring with each other for the first time, the rivalry was hot and intense. Ever since Shingo Takagi arrived in New Japan in 2018, SHO had never been able to get the win over The Dragon whether it was in tag or singles matches.
From the moment the bell rang; this match was as dynamic and brutal as any other encounter the two have had. There was a mix of Jr style, submission-based wrestling and even some more martial arts style offence. What was always exciting about these two locking up was the similarities between Shingo and SHO in their style of wrestling. Both are extremely strong and powerful. However, they are also deadly quick and athletic. This meant that there every moment was full of action.
In the end, at just over 15 minutes, SHO managed to hit one more Shock Arrow to get the win. Although making it to the second round of the New Japan Cup by beating a Heavyweight was amazing, it wasn’t the most important thing.
After two years of frustration, SHO was finally able to slay the Dragon.
5. Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL – Dominion – July 12, 2020
After EVIL betrayed Los Ingobernables de Japon and joined Bullet Club after winning this year’s New Japan Cup, the stage was set for Dominion and a battle between two former Parejas.
The match started with EVIL trying to dictate the pace attempting to stall the bell being rung to allow him to inflict more damage on Naito. However, the Ungovernable One wanted to get straight into the fight and get revenge on his former stablemate. For Naito, this wasn’t just for the title; it was for pride and retribution.
In terms of actual wrestling, the styles varied throughout with Naito using his fast-paced and almost wild offence compared to EVIL’s more power-based and methodical move set. What could not be avoided was the number of shortcuts EVIL took which cemented his new allegiance to Bullet Club. As well as the presence of the likes of Taiji Ishimori and Jado, someone came out in a BUSHI mask which was later revealed to be Dick Togo. All of this interference helped EVIL hit Everything is EVIl for the win.
Despite the ending, there was no escaping how good this match was. Some fans thought it was too long, but it worked in the match’s favour focusing on the story it intended on telling. It is far from the end of EVIL and Naito’s story.
4. Zack Sabre Jr vs. Will Ospreay – The New Beginning in Sapporo – February 2, 2020
For the first time in New Japan’s history, two British men were fighting for the Rev Pro British Heavyweight title in a New Japan ring. However, for Will Ospreay and Zack Sabre Jr, they were more focused on the fact that it was a match between two long-time rivals dating back years.
The majority of the match seemed to follow a very British-style wrestling match with a lot of it taking place on the mat and consisting of lock-ups, transitions and submissions. However, it did not take long for the Aerial Assassin within Will Ospreay to come out as he started flying across the ring and adding some flash to the match.
When it seemed as if Ospreay was going to beat Zack, the Vegan Hydra came back to gain the advantage. The history between the two was also evident as ZSJ found a counter to everything that Ospreay had. It almost seemed as if he was two steps ahead of the CHAOS high-flier.
Using his bendy frame to get himself out of some sticky situations, ZSJ managed to trap Ospreay in his submission. However, Ospreay refused to tap out and the match ended in just over 27 minutes via referee stoppage. It was the perfect way for Zack to win and also the way he wanted it to end.
3. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Will Ospreay – Wrestle Kingdom 14
Hiromu Takahashi and Will Ospreay have always had spectacular in-ring chemistry spanning from their lack of fear and willingness to do anything to win. Their match during this year’s Wrestle Kingdom was no exception. Going into the match, there was already a lot of excitement surrounding the bout. Hiromu had returned only a few months earlier after sustaining a career-threatening injury in 2018 and this was his shot to win back the title he had never lost.
But, Ospreay was not going to let the title go that easily. As expected, both men threw caution to the win and went full throttle with no care for possible injuries or consequences. If it was possible, it seemed like both wrestler’s styles were even more reckless and dangerous than ever before. That didn’t even factor in the added power from a bulkier Ospreay.
The match was a perfect showcase of what New Japan’s Jr division could do. There was a starting sequence of reversals that resembled a choreographed dance, standing Spanish fly’s, monkey wall flip kicks and a lot of dives outside of the ring. It was wild and unpredictable with both men managing to kick out of their opponent’s finishers.
In the end, at just under the 25-minute mark, Hiromu managed to hit Ospreay with Ticking Time Bomb II to get the win. It was the perfect way to mark Hiromu’s return to New Japan and was a feel-good moment for Hiromu and his fans across the world.
2. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiromu Takahashi – New Japan Cup Night – July 2, 2020
Despite the two men in this match being as humanly different to each other as possible, Hiromu Takahashi and Tomohiro Ishii managed to put on a potential Match of the Year. If it hadn’t been for the more diverse New Japan Cup line-up, then fans may not have seen this match for a long time.
The match started in the centre of the ring with both men trading heavy forearms and strikes. Even with the size difference between the two, both Hiromu and Ishii held their own in the ring refusing to back down no matter what their opponent threw at them. It was the true battle of Heavyweight vs. Jr Heavyweight.
As expected, Hiromu flew around the ring recklessly with no regard for his safety diving outside of the ring and hitting Reverse-Ranas. However, Ishii always had some sort counter whether it was countering moves with suplexes or throwing even more palm strikes at the Ticking Time Bomb. For most of the match, it seemed as if the Stone Pitbull was on his way to another win and a spot in the New Japan Cup semi-final.
Surprisingly, after a brutal match that lasted just under 20 minutes, Hiromu managed to hit his Time Bomb II to get the win over Ishii. It looked like a battle between David and Goliath with the smaller man coming out on top. It is also a match-up that many fans would gladly watch again.
1. Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada – Wrestle Kingdom 14
Unsurprisingly, considering the build-up to the double belt dash at this Wrestle Kingdom this year, was it any surprise that the main event match between Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito was a MOTY. With both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles on the line, it was all or nothing.
From the second the bell rang, the match was fast-paced and intense to the extent that, if you blinked, you would have miss something. It was a mixture of high flying, high risk and technical wrestling. We got to see aspects of both men’s offence that we had not seen in a long-time including Naito’s Stardust Press.
What was so good about this match was the versatility we saw from the two athletes. With Okada, we saw both the overconfident Rainmaker but also this unchained and slightly crazy Okada many last saw after he’d lost the title to Kenny Omega in 2018. Naito was similar in the sense that he was sometimes calm and Tranquilo but then switched to pure intensity and fire which rivaled the Young Lions.
What made it an even better match was the ending. It was obvious that Naito was a crowd favourite and with one final Destino, Naito fulfilled his potential and got retribution from losing his main event spot at Wrestle Kingdom 8 and the loss to Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 12. Even with KENTA ruining the fairy tale ending, it was a moment that will go down in New Japan history.
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