Dave Meltzer awards five stars for 12th time this year

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada from New Japan Pro Wrestling‘s Destruction in Kobe became the 12th match to receive the fabled ‘five star’ rating (or higher) from Dave Meltzer in 2018.

Tanahashi managed to defeat Okada for the first time since Wrestle Kingdom 9 in 2015, retaining his Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship Challenge Rights Certificate in the process.

In a year that has produced more five star matches than any other, Tanahashi and Okada have capped off their most recent trilogy of matches with yet another incredible performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM4L-B0_EoU

Terrific trilogy

This is the third time the pair have wrestled each other this year.

Okada managed to defeat Tanahashi at Wrestling Dontaku in May to retain his IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Then the two wrestled to a draw in the G1 Climax, allowing Tanahashi to advance to the finals. Finally, Tanahashi was able to beat Okada at Destruction in Kobe to even their 2018 win/loss record at 1-1-1.

The biggest news of the night took place after the match was over, as Jay White and Gedo turned on Okada. This has left the Chaos faction in a state of disarray and it remains to be seen what will become of New Japan‘s longest running group.

White is likely to end up as the next challenger for Tanahashi’s Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship Challenge Rights Certificate with the match likely taking place at King of Pro Wrestling in October.

What has been your favorite match of 2018 so far? let us know in the comments below, on Twitter or on Discord!

• destruction in kobe
• five star match
• dave meltzer
• NJPW

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