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NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 in the Tokyo Dome was a showcase of the immerse talent that the company has at the moment. New Japan Pro Wrestling is known for having some of the very best professional wrestling in the world, but they were able to achieve another level of greatness on January 4th and 5th this year.
The headline IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship matches on the two-day events came in with many fans anticipating Match of the Year candidates. However, there was plenty more on the offer at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15.
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From heavyweight clashes to the high-risk insanity of the junior heavyweights, there was something for every wrestling fan. With 13 matches televised across two nights, let's take a look at the top five best NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 matches and the star ratings for each.
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#5 Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2)
Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori have set a high bar with their previous meetings. From their phenomenal Best of Super Juniors 25 Finals in 2018 to their underrated gem from Summer Struggle in Jingu, these two men have become a guaranteed great match every time out.
At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15, Takahashi and Ishimori set an incredible pace from the opening bell on Day 2. Going at breakneck speed, the two men put on spellbinding sequences and breathtaking counters to one another's offense. Ishimori's sound attack on the shoulder and injured hand of Hiromu provided the contest with a progressing narrative that added value to his late submission attempts.
Over the course of 25-plus minutes, the two top stars of the junior heavyweight division put in a remarkable effort that consistently produced the high quality standard of their prior encounters. Hiromu Takahashi defeated Taiji Ishimori, using the Time Bomb 2 to win his fourth IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and for the third time in the Tokyo Dome at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15
The restrictions on the Tokyo Dome crowd at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 held this encounter back from hitting the pathos of their BOSJ 26 Finals, but the pacing and terrific closing stretch made for a special bout. Takahashi made a valid case for propelling the Junior title match to the main event of the Tokyo Dome next year.
Star Rating: ****1/2
#4 Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb for the NEVER Openweight Championship (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2)
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 featured plenty of matches that had fans and analysts salivating to watch. One of those bouts had to be the clash between Shingo Takagi and Jeff Cobb for the NEVER Openweight Championship. The history of hard-hitting contests for this title at the Tokyo Dome has seen stars like Tomohiro Ishii, Katsuyori Shibata and Minoru Suzuki nearly steal the show in years past.
At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15, not only did this heavyweight slugfest produced a show-stealing encounter, but it also delivered the greatest match in the career of Jeff Cobb. The former Olympian put on a spectacular performance that showcased his versatile abilities. His agility and power were on display and wowed the Tokyo Dome crowd.
While Shingo Takagi has been a MVP for New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2020, he had yet to produce a Tokyo Dome classic. This more than delivered that and showed why he has long been considered one of the best wrestlers in the world. This was an excellent match that blew away expectations in every way with Shingo Takagi pulling out the win to successfully retain his title.
Star Rating: ****3/4
#3 Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1)
The main event of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 was Tetsuya Naito defending the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships against Kota Ibushi. After Ibushi's loss of his G1 Climax 30 Right To Challenge Contract, there were some fans who did not think that he deserved this opportunity. However, the match quality alone made the destination worth the journey.
Using their established history of dangerous encounters as the platform for a compelling narrative for this bout, the two men put on a superb storytelling-based contest that built and built to an exciting closing sequence. Although some of the bumps once again focused on the two stars almost breaking their necks, the risks were much safer on this occasion at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1.
Fans witnessed a German suplex on the entrance ramp, an eye popping avalanche Poison Rana and a stunning Frankensteiner off the apron to the floor. These moves, sequences and near-falls were deeply engaging and drove this contest to its emotional finish. Ibushi finally hit a second Kamigoye to Naito to finally win the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles after 31 minutes.
This battle was amazing to watch unfold with the two men consistently building drama. Kota Ibushi's quest to become a God at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 passed step one by beating his career rival in Tetsuya Naito. He also gained his respect in the process with the Los Ingobernables de Japon leader handing him the titles and raising his hand after the match.
Star Rating: ****3/4
#2 Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1)
Kazuchika Okada found himself in unfamiliar territory at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15. Not competing for the IWGP Heavyweight Champions and outside the main event, Okada looked to add to his stellar Tokyo Dome legacy in the semi-main event of Day 1 against his former CHAOS stablemate, Will Ospreay.
Ospreay was also looking to prove himself in this NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 contest. This time last year, the Aerial Assassin was the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. With his transition to the heavyweight division, his desire to be a top guy in the promotion led to his betrayal of Okada in the G1 Climax 30. The leader of The Empire wanted to beat his former friend on the biggest stage possible.
This was a simply amazing match that was based in marvelous storytelling and unbelievable in-ring work. The two men have undeniable chemistry that created awe-inspiring sequences and compelling action for over 35 minutes. The Tokyo Dome crowd reacted loudly with claps and stomps to this contest, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
With extraordinary matches in the past against Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kenny Omega on the Tokyo Dome stage, Kazuchika Okada added another astonishing performance at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15. Will Ospreay showed that he could not only be a top heavyweight in the promotion, but also a captivating heel who could work a different style.
This was a bout that will be remembered for years to come. Okada pulling out The Rainmaker to win for the first time in a year was a memorable moment that will live on in NJPW Wrestle Kingdom lore. Okada and Ospreay somehow put on one of the greatest Tokyo Dome matches, yet still left enough in the tank to go back to this match for years to come.
Star Rating: *****
#1 Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2)
With all the previous contests that were just listed taking place before the finale of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15, Kota Ibushi and "Switchblade" Jay White were in unenviable position. Despite going over half an hour the night before, Ibushi would have to put in another Herculean effort to match the quality of his main event against Tetsuya Naito.
On the other hand, Jay White has seen criticism that he has lacked something, stopping him from achieving the plateaus of other NJPW gaijin great such as Kenny Omega and AJ Styles in the past. Although he has done well in the top heel role and being a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, some have questioned if he was worthy of the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom main event.
At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15, all the questions for both men were answered as they produced one of the all-time great Tokyo Dome main events. In a 48-minute epic encounter, Ibushi and White took the fans on a journey that perfectly told their individual stories and concluded their mutual history with one another.
This flawless encounter had everything that fans could ask for. From exceptional drama, deeply emotional storytelling, impeccable selling, superb in-ring action and outstanding character work from both men, Kota Ibushi and Jay White delivered a truly sensational match that set the record for the longest match to ever take place inside the Tokyo Dome at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15.
Switchblade, in particular, put on the match of his lifetime, giving fans the complete package on how to work as a heel on the biggest stage of them all. He hit every move at the right time and delivered engaging facial expressions as well as body language throughout this epic encounter.
Kota Ibushi achieved his goal of becoming a "God" by giving White a third Kamigoye to successfully retain the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. The post-match of the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2 main event only added to the proceedings with Switchblade grasping at the titles and Ibushi not believing that he lost.
These two men's staggering performances have set the bar high for the rest of the year. Not only did Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White give us the best match of both NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 events, it has quite possibly already wrapped up the Match of the Year for 2021 with their miraculous efforts.
Star Rating: *****
