Top 6 Matches From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16

2. KENTA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – IWGP United States Championship – Night Two

Nobody knew what to expect from KENTA and Hiroshi Tanahashi in the “No Disqualification” match for the IWGP United States title.

On the first night, Tanahashi proved that he was willing to break the rules, making the match even more exciting.

As soon as the match started, KENTA and Tanahashi proved that they were taking this match seriously and for many, it was a standout.

The “No DQ” stipulation was put to work as chairs, kendo sticks, bins, tables, and even ladders were brought into the ring.

No matter how full the ring was, it seemed like both wrestlers just wanted to add more danger.

In particular, the ladders became a massive danger as they got bigger, and the spots became more dangerous.

One moment that had fans hiding was Tanahashi’s high fly flow from a lighting ladder onto KENTA, who was rested on the table.

That final and dangerous spot was enough to give Tanahashi the win against a bloodied KENTA.

It was another match where fans were shocked by the outcome. With the determination and risks both were willing to take, either man would’ve been deserving of the title.

Considering how brutal the match was and the damage inflicted, these matches might not become a norm in the company.

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1. Shingo Takagi vs. Kazuchika Okada – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Night One

After winning the G1 tournament, Kazuchika Okada was on a mission to make it back to the top of New Japan.

However, after cementing himself as the workhorse of New Japan, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi wasn’t going to let his title go so quickly.

Going into the first night’s show, this was the match that everyone was anticipating.

As expected, the match started very quickly, with Okada and Shingo trying to showcase their dominance.

Yet, it wasn’t just a match that stayed at one speed. They could be flying off the barricade. The next, they would be chopping each other.

At one point, Shingo did his Rainmaker pose, which made Okada snap and more determined.

It was the closing sequence that really caught the attention of fans. After a match that changed in pace, the finishing minutes became a sudden flurry of action.

Each wrestler became more determined, with a series of reversals, kick-outs, and finisher attempts.

Yet, in the end, one final Rainmaker by Okada got him the main event win.

As expected, Okada and Shingo put on another possible MOTY candidate even though we are only a few days into 2022.

Two of the toughest wrestlers put their hearts and bodies on the line for the title. The result was a phenomenal match that fans couldn’t stop talking about.

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• Wrestle Kingdom 16
• Kazuchika Okada
• Shingo Takagi
• NJPW

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