NJPW Power Struggle Matches Ranked

3. Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL – IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship

Many people had trepidations about another EVIL v Naito match. It was something fans have been getting bored with after seeing it four times this year.

At first, there was some real wrestling from the two where they showcased strength, power and speed. Naito seemed to get the early advantage with his athleticism. However, it quickly resembled their previous bouts. Dick Togo got involved very quickly. EVIL threw all of the rules out of the window.

However, with interference from Bullet Club, Naito had some allies himself. When Yujiro came out, SANADA appeared dressed in white Louboutin’s hitting both Togo and Yujiro with a dropkick. When Jay White came out, Naito was given an angel in the form of Ibushi who had realised what Jay had done in their match.

Finally, with all the distractions gone, both men were back on equal footing. There was even some real wrestling from EVIL. However, when this happens, Naito always has the advantage with his wrestling style that has recently become more técnico. With this in mind, it was not surprising when Naito hit one last Destino to get the win.

There was a lot of interference throughout this match. However, at the core, it was much better than the previous bouts and has set up nicely for Wrestle Kingdom.

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2. KENTA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – IWGP US Heavyweight Right to Challenge Contract

The rivalry between KENTA and Hiroshi Tanahashi has been one of the biggest draws of this tour. It was easy to get invested in the lead up to this match.

Initially, it seemed as if KENTA was going to try and win the match quickly with no regard for the rules. Tanahashi was once again hit in the head with the red briefcase. However, after another attempt at cheating led to KENTA getting hit with the briefcase, fans witnessed a great wrestling match.

It was, in essence, a combination of both men’s wrestling style with both adapting to their opponent. Tanahashi showcased a more mat-based offense, utilizing the Texas Cloverleaf and his patented Dragon Screw. KENTA mixed his submission style with speed and athleticism.

In the end, Tanahashi lost clean as KENTA trapped him in the lethal Game Over submission. Not only did Tanahashi submit, but he did it verbally showcasing the effectiveness of that move.

Even with KENTA’s few attempts at cheating, the match itself was, for the majority, clean. Fans remembered just how dangerous KENTA can be with his submission skills and why he is a veteran of the business. Unless anyone else wants to challenge him, Jon Moxley vs. KENTA might be set for Wrestle Kingdom. The future for The Ace is less certain.

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1. Minoru Suzuki vs. Shingo Takagi – NEVER Openweight Championship

Unlike the case of Naito vs. EVIL, many fans happily welcomed another match between NEVER Openweight champion Minoru Suzuki and Shingo Takagi. The two always create breath-taking matches, and this was no exception.

Unlike their previous meetings, this was a lot slower pace. Throughout the tour, Suzuki had focused on targeting Shingo’s back. This time was no exception. It was a smart move as Takagi’s back has been vital to execute his power moves. From the minute the bell rang, the King of Pro Wrestling kept this in mind using chairs and the barricade to achieve this.

However, as always, it is never wise to count the Dragon out. Somehow, Shingo managed to find energy within to withstand all of the damage Suzuki was inflicting and find a way to counter it. Once again, it seemed as if both men were able to fight through everything their opponent was giving them whether it was chops, slaps or strikes.

For the majority of the match, Suzuki seemed to be firmly in control. Yet, despite the attack on his back, Shingo managed to hit Last of the Dragon for his second NEVER reign.

Takagi will hope to take the title all the way to Wrestle Kingdom and raise the prestige of this unique title.

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• Tetsuya Naito
• Power Struggle
• new japan pro wrestling
• NJPW

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