Wrestle Kingdom 13: 5 best matches from the PPV

Wrestle Kingdom 13 was held on January 5, 2019, at the Tokyo Dome. In the most important New Japan Pro Wrestling event of the year, we saw changes in all the matches where there were titles in dispute, which invites us to reflect that this will be a year of changes and surprises in the largest company in Japan.

On this occasion, seven of the company's eight titles were in dispute. The only absence was the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship, currently held by the Bullet Club (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Taiji Ishimori). In addition, the Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship, the most important title of Revolution Pro Wrestling (allied British company of NJPW) was defended for the first time in Wrestle Kingdom.

Los Ingobernables de Japón was the most victorious faction of the night with three titles in total. First, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi became the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Then, EVIL & Sanada won the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the second time. Finally, Tetsuya Naito defeated Chris Jericho and became IWGP Intercontinental Champion for the third time in his career.

In a show of this magnitude, almost all the matches were up to the circumstances, but only a few will be remembered over the months. Here are the five best matches of Wrestle Kingdom 13.

#5 Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

In the fourth match of the night, we saw the victory by submission of Zack Sabre Jr. on Tomohiro Ishii. In this way, the 'Technical Wizard' won for the third time the RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship.

This match was characterized by the great speed of ZSJ when making making each move. Also, the British showed the best of his arsenal with a wide range of submission maneuvers. Ishii used his strength and ingenuity to attack his rival, but was unable to execute Brainbusters due to the agility of his opponent.

Sabre got the victory with a Guillotine followed by a Manjigatame. Finally, he applied an Armbar Jim Break. The pain was unbearable for Ishii, who ended up surrendering.

#4 Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay

In the second match of the night, we saw Will Ospreay win the NEVER Openweight Championship after defeating Kota Ibushi in an impressive match. It was an exciting 18 minute duel where the intensity did not stop increasing every minute.

The key to Ospreay's triumph was due to two factors. In the first place, Ospreay perfectly executed all his aerial maneuvers and did not let his rival do the same. Clear evidence of this was the failed Moonsault from the top of the corner by Ibushi, which was intercepted by a kick from Ospreay.

Secondly, Ospreay carried out a style of combat very characteristic of Strong Style, with numerous kicks, elbows and attacks to the neck. After a failed Kamigoye, Ospreay executed the Stormbreaker, which earned a count of three and victory for the CHAOS member.

This combat was the end of an era and the beginning of another for Ospreay in NJPW. The native British talent of Essex continues to climb positions in the company and still has many goals and titles to achieve.

In addition to his new title, the 'Aerial Assassin' has already won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship twice and the Best of the Super Juniors 2016 tournament.

#3 Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White

Jay White's victory over Kazuchika Okada was the most surprising result of the night. The New Zealander had already defeated the 'Rainmaker' previously, but the victory of a young gaijin against a wrestler like Okada in the company's biggest event was very unlikely. The new leader of the Bullet Club had the help of Gedo during the match, who interfered several times to attack Okada.

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion was not intimidated by the successive attempts of his rival and Gedo to cheat to get the victory. There was a moment where White tried to attack Okada with a chair, but he eluded him and attacked with a Dropkick.

In the end, Okada tried to vanquish his rival with a Rainmaker, but White surprised by performing the Blade Runner and got the pin to take the victory.

From this historical victory of 'Switchblade', we can basically deduce two things. First, White, at age 25, is on track to become the No. 1 gaijin of the company. Second, it is clear that NJPW has big plans for White in 2019.

#2 Chris Jericho vs. Tetsuya Naito

In a No Disqualification match, Tetsuta Naito defeated Chris Jericho and became the new IGWP Intercontinental Champion. The two met again after their previous encounter at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-Jo Hall where Y2J defeated the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japón.

It was a great match from the beginning to the end. The match had not officially begun and Naito was already attacking his rival. The first big moment of this fight was a DDT from Jericho to Naito on the commentators' table.

The action continued with many chairs introduced to the ring by Jericho, who was punished with a Powerbomb on the chairs and then received a surprising Codebreaker from Naito.

Naito executed Destino and was within a second of winning the pin. Then, he grabbed and hit Jericho with the championship. He re-applied Destino and finally got the pin.

With this match, the rivalry between Naito and Jericho has come to an end for now. Was this Jericho's last match at NJPW or will we still see him in 2019 facing other great New Japan superstars.

#1 Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

The main event of Wrestle Kingdom 13 was a duel for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship that ended in Hiroshi Tanahashi's victory over Kenny Omega. Tanahashi has won the most important title of the company for the eighth time and is the wrestler who has won this championship the most times.

In this match we could see again the best of both Kenny Omega and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Omega concentrated his efforts on punishing his rival with knees to the stomach and back. His opponent, meanwhile, concentrated his attacks on Omega's legs, punishing them with numerous Dragon Screws throughout a match that lasted 39 minutes and 13 seconds.

There were three extreme moments to highlight. The first was a perfect Asai Moonsault from the fences of protection by Kenny Omega. Tanahashi received the impact behind the commentator's table.

The second extreme moment was a Slinglablade by Tanahashi on the edge of the ring. The third was a failed High Fly Flow from Tanahashi from the top of the corner to a table at ringside where Omega was. Omega managed to escape at the last moment.

Finally, it seemed that Omega was going to take the victory when he was preparing to make the One Winged Angel after having successfully executed the Avalanche Dragon Suplex. Tanahashi surprised with two Slingblades in a row and the final High Fly Flow to take the victory.

Edited by Gabby Duran