Top 10 New Japan Pro Wrestling Matches Of 2020

3. Kota Ibushi vs. Minoru Suzuki – G1 Climax Day 13

Kota Ibushi looks like he could be a pop star with his chiseled physique and boyish good looks. However, below his handsome exterior is one of the most brutal strikers in wrestling. This was on full display in his G1 Climax match with Minoru Suzuki.

Everyone knows Suzuki is one of wrestling’s toughest brawlers and with Ibushi he had maybe the best match of his three decade career. They beat the hell out of each other, which shouldn’t be a surprise as Suzuki has often said the only thing he likes more than beating people up is getting beaten up.

This was examplified when Suzuki lay on the mat with a big smile on his demented face having been knocked out by the Kamigoye.

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2. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Will Ospreay – Wrestle Kingdom 14 Day One

Wrestle Kingdom 14 Day One was one of the very best pro wrestling shows of the year. This is due in no small part to the best junior heavyweight match of the year between Will Ospreay and the returning Hiromu Takahashi.

The two have a long history, trading wins in 2018. However, their match at Wrestle Kingdom 14 was by far the best they have had together. On paper, Ospreay was an uber-popular babyface at the time and Hiromu was a member of the tweener group Los Ingobernables de Japon. One would think that would mean Ospreay would be the hero of the match.

However, that would be incorrect. Ospreay showed a much more heelish side in this match, seemingly intent on reinjuring Takahashi. Meanwhile, Hiromu returning was just the more heartwarming thing and fans so badly wanted to see him back.

Sure enough, their match was bananas good and told a surprising yet excellent story. Hiromu was able to withstand Ospreay’s onslaught to hit the Time Bomb 2 for the win. While it was one of the best matches of the whole year, it wasn’t the best match on the show…

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1. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi – Wrestle Kingdom 14 Day One

That honour goes to the main event of the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 14, Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi. Okada churns out all-time classics on a regular basis but this match still stands as one of his best. With Ibushi wrestling his first Tokyo Dome main event, the pressure was on in the biggest way.

In the lead-in to the match, Okada was dismissive of Ibushi, telling him to stop being “a dumbass”. However, we all know that Ibushi will only take so much disrespect before he snaps and that is exactly what happened in this match. The storytelling was superb as when Ibushi loses control of his temper he loses.

While he is able to execute strikes with precision, the lack of focus takes him out of his gameplan and in this case, Okada was able to withstand the assault long enough to capitalize. This was wrestling as art and in my opinion, this was by far the best singles match of the year.

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• new japan pro wrestling
• kota ibushi
• Wrestle Kingdom
• NJPW

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