Best Wrestler of the Year
Captain Lou
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi
We all thought he was done. Wrecked by real-life injuries, work-sidelined by Minoru Suzuki, unable to withstand a single Rainmaker from his eternal rival. Shit was bleak and the Ace of the Universe looked about ready to join Manabu and Nagata as a full-time New Japan Dad. Spoiler alert: Tanahashi wouldn’t top this list if he just rode off into the sunset.
The ‘’ACE IS BACK’’ storyline has been the most compelling character arc put forward by New Japan in 2018 and seeing Tana back in the Wrestle Kingdom main event in January is an extremely satisfying conclusion to that story. It also helps that the big matches that moved the story forward throughout the year were all tremendous professional wrestling matches.
A subversive NJPW main event with Suzuki, a submission counter clinic with ZSJ, an epic trilogy of matches with Okada that perfectly encapsulated the Fall and Rise of Tana, a transcending G1 Climax final with Ibushi and finally A Very Good Match with Jay White. Tanahashi’s 2018 was one of these rare cases where the booking and in-ring performances were always in perfect sync. As the Tokyo Dome match with Kenny looms ever closer, I only have two words in mind: GO ACE.
2. Kazuchika Okada
Okada started off 2018 as the most dominant IWGP champion of all time, the Final Boss of New Japan. By the end of the year, the belt and God-like entrance robes were gone and he was now a guy who likes balloons. The journey from superhuman champion to red-haired nerd was a fascinating thing to watch unfold.
Despite my reservations about the new character, the quality of Okada’s output was once again extremely high and his story was just weird enough to keep me hooked. Where is this all going? I have no idea, but the first half of Okada’s year was undeniable – the Tokyo Dome match with Naito and 2/3 falls match with Kenny were some of the most engaging matches I’ve seen all year while the defenses against SANADA and ZSJ are two of the most underrated.
As jarring as Balloon Okada was at first, he did have enough strong matches in the back half of the year to make him an easy pick for Captain Lou’s Second Best New Japan Wrestler Of The Year. There’s also the little matter of his participation in one of my favorite non-NJPW bouts of the year: the RAIN DEATH MATCH with Minoru Suzuki. Can’t wait to see what happens with this man in 2019. See y’all on the Okada Cruise.
3. Kota Ibushi
Ibushi had the tough task of shadowing Kenny Omega for the entire year. This means he spent most of 2018 either trapped in the convoluted Bullet Club civil war or subbing for his man whenever Kenny was off playing videogames/getting into Twitter beefs. Considering his awkward position, it’s a miracle he had such a strong year in the ring.
Ibushi delivered in every big opportunity that was presented to him: the WK match with Cody, his matches in the New Japan Cup, the Golden Lovers tags and a G1 run for the ages. Still one of the most spectacular and fun wrestlers out there, the kind of guy that will turn a random tag match with Yujiro or Chase Owens into a good time.
4. Hirooki Goto
As we’re all accustomed to by now, this old Samurai dad had a supporting role for most of the year, holding or dropping the NEVER belt whenever needed and quietly putting in the work as a throwback Choshu-era Japanese Warrior. Goto is booked in such low-profile fashion that I was legitimately shocked when I looked back at the big matches he had this year and found such a high level of consistency.
I had forgotten about half of these matches, yet they’ve been right there all throughout the year: the barn-burner with Suzuki at the Dome, guiding Juice Robinson through a starmaking performance, having an Actually Good Match with Michael Elgin, that overlooked tag match with Okada against EVIL and SANADA and a rock-solid G1 run that featured that brilliant slug-fest with Ishii.
Things kind of fell off a cliff after the summer as he was stuck working a lifeless feud with Taichi (and I usually love Taichi), but Goto’s 2018 still more than holds up. If we were back in 2001, Hirooki Goto would 100% leave New Japan and start his own vanity promotion to book himself as the Ace. This promotion would rule hard.
5. Kenny Omega
Kenny has made it extremely hard to like him this year. The part-time schedule, the awful worked shoot tweets, the whole fiasco with CEO. Not a good look for an IWGP Heavyweight champion. That being said, he was also involved in a lot of quality wrestling matches and that’s something you can’t take away from Kenny. He might be an insufferable nerd, but he still gets it done in the ring (most of the time).
His title win against Okada and the blitzing murder-fest against Ishii in the G1 were Omega’s peaks for me this year, but he also put together quite an impressive tag run with Ibushi. Considering how flat Kenny’s IWGP reign has been so far, one of my top wishes for 2019 would be more Golden Lovers. One of my other top wishes would be for Kenny to get off Twitter completely.
Honorable Mention: Tomohiro Ishii
It breaks my heart to keep Tommy Ishii out of the top 5 considering the legendary G1 run he’s had this year, but let’s be real, New Japan did literally nothing with him for the first 6 months of the year. The lone highlight of his pre-G1 year was the extremely underrated singles match with Henare at Korakuen Hall. Do yourself a favor and go watch it now.
JasMan
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi
The Ace is back.
Tanahashi has had classic match after classic match in big match scenarios in 2018 – Minoru Suzuki for the IWGP IC Title in February, Zack Sabre Jr. for the New Japan Cup in April, Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Title in May, Kota Ibushi in the G1 Finals in August, and another brilliant Okada match in September.
Even in a weaker block, he was the standout in the G1 too: another great Suzuki match, an actually good Bad Luck Fale match, fun EVIL and Makabe matches, and another epic with Okada.
Plus he had a brilliant arc – the aging, injured former top guy who is so hurt in February that the referee has to stop his match with Suzuki goes on to try and prevent Okada from topping his record-breaking reign, failing and thinking he no longer has it, only to succeed in and win the G1 and make up for everything, defeating Okada and now besting Jay White en route to the main event at Wrestle Kingdom.
But above everything else is this: he had one lone stinker all year, which took place right at the start in January at the Tokyo Dome with the repackaged Jay White. And he not only had a slightly better match with him in the G1 to make up for it, he had a WAY better match with him at King of Pro-Wrestling
New Japan has gone through a transition over the last couple years with the emergence of The Elite, giving the New Japan main event scene more flashy highspots than substance sometimes. Hiroshi Tanahashi, 40 years old and seemingly always injured, saw that atmosphere and said, No. The professional wrestling is here to stay.
2. Kazuchika Okada
He might have spent the latter half of the year going through a midlife crisis as a result of losing the IWGP Heavyweight Title, but Okada is still the king. He spent the first half of the year as The Champ and continued the quality output he brought in 2017 – an epic with Tanahashi in May, epic with Naito at the Tokyo Dome in January, great singles matches with SANADA and Zack Sabre Jr. and Will Ospreay, and of course the 2/3 falls 60+ minute title loss to Omega which was the greatest match I saw all year. Red-haired t-shirt Okada in the G1 was strange, but it’s not like he didn’t have a bunch of quality matches there too.
3. Tomohiro Ishii
Tomohiro Ishii had a very quiet 2018 except for a few weeks in the summer where he was the best wrestler in the world. The guy exudes character like nobody else and is untouchable on credible, jaw-dropping strike-filled crazy near fall type matches. The Goto and Omega matches in the G1 are special.
4. Hirooki Goto
Hirooki Goto is the quiet assassin – not afraid to have a heatless stinker, but a working man type of wrestler who quietly goes about his occupation and is capable of having a classic match with some of the weirdest dance partners from Minoru Suzuki to Juice Robinson. For a guy not always thought of as top-tier, he’s in a lot of top-tier matches, including the Ishii G1 match. The Tag Titles match with Okada vs. EVIL & SANADA in February rocked too.
5. Kota Ibushi
The most spectacular guy in wrestling – great G1 run, great tags with Kenny Omega, and a blast even in meaningless 6-man tags.
Best Junior Heavyweight of the Year
Captain Lou
1. Hiromu Takahashi
The saddest story of 2018 right here. After watching the mind-melting BOSJ finals this year, I declared that NJPW had finally found their new Jushin Thunder Liger with Hiromu. An uber-charismatic, super lovable character that could anchor the entire junior division and comfortably outwork a lot of the heavyweights.
It took a while for him to reach the top of the mountain this year after getting jobbed out in the Wrestle Kingdom 4-way match, but the quality of his input never faltered. Like Ibushi, Hiromu’s the kind of wrestler that will make any match better by his presence alone. The two matches with Ospreay, mini-rivalry with Despy, various team-ups with BUSHI and his life-affirming BOSJ run – enough awesome stuff to warrant a junior MVP award despite Hiromu getting injured in July.
This leads to my next point: can we retire the Phoenix-plex? I don’t want to turn into a finger-wagging old man, but to this day it still irks me that Hiromu almost got crippled on such a stupid spot. Anyway, thoughts and prayers – very much looking forward to seeing more of this little dude.
2. Will Ospreay
This will spoil my pick for Most Improved but here we are. I absolutely could not stand Will Ospreay until this year. Everything about him was cringe-worthy to me. The convoluted videogame parcour flips, awfull overacting, the silly indie-ness of it all – everything. Then something happened in early 2018. Dude started to tone down his shit and began working wrestling matches instead of Cirque du Soleil meets Infinity War exhibitions.
He still has his issues with overselling and just being a cornball in general, but I actually enjoyed a lot of what he did in 2018. He had some rocking matches with Hiromu, Okada and KUSHIDA, but also contributed greatly to the sheer insanity of those Golden Lovers tag matches in the second half of the year. I like the idea of moving him towards the NEVER belt, as I think wrestling with heavyweights will be key to get Will to work smarter and keep improving.
3. SHO
One of the best things that happened this year is when Wrestling Twitter started flipping out for SHO during the BOSJ. I had a feeling about the kid ever since Roppongi 3K came back from excursion, and this tournament is where he finally showed the world what he was all about. Great look, good mind for wrestling, incredible selling and a varied move-set that covers everything from submission grappling to NXT-ready death movez.
With the recent addition of Shingo Takagi to NJPW’s junior ranks, SHO can only get better. R3K have a good thing going right now, but I’d love to eventually see SHO on top of the junior division as co-aces with Hiromu.
4. KUSHIDA
KUSHI had an alarmingly quiet year but still delivered the goods on the rare occasions he was thrown back into the spotlight. His title match with Ospreay in May was one of the first times I thought to myself ‘’Oh shit, I think I might like Will Ospreay now’’ and a lot of that was on KUSHIDA holding the match together and being such a reliable pro-wrestler.
Guy had a good BOSJ run and pulled some enjoyable matches out of lesser guys like Marty Scurll and BUSHI in the second half of the year. I’ll be sad to see him go if the NXT rumors are true, but I can’t say I would blame him for going.
5. El Desperado
Like SHO, Despy’s a guy who got to show his full potential in this year’s BOSJ and the dude just killed it. One of the few guys in New Japan that can effortlessly make crowd brawling segments not only entertaining but often the highlight of a match. I know a lot of people were down on his junior tag reign with Kanemaru, but I dug all of their matches. They’re not the flashiest guys around, but they really get the fundamentals of tag wrestling and how to work as heels. Plus, Despy has one of the best looks in all of NJPW. I’m a sucker for a good mask.
JasMan
1. Hiromu Takahashi
A first half of the year so killer that he’s #1 despite missing the second half due to a heartbreaking neck injury. He had a tremendous Best of the Super Jr. run including an epic finals with Taiji Ishimori and a couple wild matches with Ospreay. Plus he just exudes charisma on top of charisma. Come back soon.
2. SHO
Roppongi 3K was awesome in 2018 in many different situations and between his strength and ability to string crazy athletic moves together perfectly, SHO is a main factor. Plus his BOSJ singles run rocked too. I dig Roppongi 3K, but I want 2019 to be the SHO breakout year.
3. Will Ospreay
He frustrates me and I actively disliked the Marty Scurll matches, but Bill Ospreay is slowly – very slowly – toning down his most distracting tendencies (the screams, the over-selling, the overly goofy flying, the forced seriousness) and any big match he does is a sight to see. I think his heavyweight stuff (vs. Okada, with Tanahashi vs. Golden Lovers) is better than any of his juniors work, but he was doing all kinds of good stuff in 2018.
4. KUSHIDA
Mr. Reliable is still here, recently called upon to carry the Jr. Heavyweight division in Takahashi’s absence. KUSHIDA is a little quieter now but still capable of a banger, from a big match situation with Ospreay to a house show with SHO.
5. El Desperado
El Desperado worked his way into my heart this year, having two awesome brawl/junior match hybrids with Takahashi and quityl holding down the Jr. Tag Titles with Kanemaru. He’s not the most spectacular guy but he’s fun to watch and can go when he needs to.
Match of the Year
Captain Lou
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi (G1 Climax Finals 8/12/2018)
A G1 epic for the ages and the pivotal moment of Tanahashi’s story arc this year. This was Hiroshi Tanahashi transcending age, injuries and adversity to claim his rightful spot in the NJPW pantheon as a god damn legend. It was also about the old trueborn New Japan generation standing up to the rising indie stars and basically telling them ‘’Fuck you, this is our house’’.
The symbolism became crystal clear as soon as Shibata, the ultimate stand-in for Japanese wrestling traditionalism, came out to second his dojo frenemy. Tana surviving Ibushi’s Murder Mode onslaught, taking all of his stiffest blows and then basically turning into a Super Saiyan Hulk Hogan for a minute will be forever engrained in my brain as one of the strongest in-ring moments of the year.
2. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega – IWGP Heavyweight Title – 2/3 Falls No Time Limit (Dominion 6/9/2018)
I actually left a night with friends a little early in order to catch this match live. This is the kind of shameless nerd that I am. I explained to them that I had to watch the biggest match of the year and that this shit was too important to watch the next day. Okada and Kenny pulled it off: this felt like one of the biggest matches ever and definitely the best these two have had together. The last round felt straight out of a Rocky movie and both guys sold the exhaustion masterfully. The G1 finals slightly edges it out for me due to higher rewatchability value, but this is still way up there.
3. Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – IWGP Heavyweight Title (Wrestling Dontaku 5/3/18)
The most emotional wrestling match I’ve seen all year. The culmination of the Broken Tana saga and a story told so well that I truly felt like I was watching the end of Tanahashi as a NJPW main event-level performer. There have been better Okada/Tana matches from a pure workrate standpoint, but as far as story-telling goes, this was one of the best. Key moment: bleached-eyebrows Okada looking like the literal Devil smiling at a collapsed Tanahashi. I made the mistake of watching the backstage promos afterwards and Tana breaking down in tears made me feel like utter shit for days. Devastating.
4. Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 8/4/18)
There was so much content to process in this match that I had to watch it twice in a row to fully grasp what the fuck I had just seen. I’m the kind of wrestling nerd that will always prefer classic story-telling over head-drop heavy spectacle, but as far as ‘’holy shit what am I even witnessing’’ matches go, this truly was something else. It felt like a Kenny Omega version of the Ishii/Shibata slug-fests of the past, with the same frenzied pace and violence but a lot more V-Triggers. That shot of the blood flying off both guys during the last throwdown was when I knew I had just watched something special.
5. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori (BOSJ Finals 6/4/2018)
Total banger of a wrestling match with all the tropes and excitement of a big-time tournament final. Up to this point, it was a rough year for Hiromu fans. Seeing him get jobbed out in the crappy Wrestle Kingdom 4-way match, then losing to Ospreay and getting stuck in multiman match purgatory was not a good time. But this whole tournament and the finish to this match made it all worth it. Hiromu’s ecstatic reaction after finally putting away Taiji was one of the most feel good moments of the year.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (Destruction in Kobe 9/23/18)
The perfect conclusion to the trilogy of matches between Tana and Okada this year. Their first meeting saw Tanahashi get completely outclassed, then he somehow managed to push Okada to a draw during the G1 and here they have a competitive match with Tana coming out on top. Loved the contrast between cocky piece of shit Final Boss Champ Okada from May and the more serious Divorced Balloon Boy Okada in this match trying to methodically pick Tana apart. The mid-air High Fly Flow was both a great callback to the G1 2015 finals and one of the best finishes I’ve seen all year.
7. Golden Lovers vs. The Young Bucks (Strong Style Evolved 3/25/18)
Bad acting be damned, this was one of the wildest spot-fests I’ve seen all year and the perfect match to reintroduce the Golden Lovers as a tag team force in New Japan. An emotionally charged match filled with a constant stream of insanity. This was pretty much Kenny Omega’s unfiltered vision of wrestling, for better and for worse: ridiculously complicated video game spots, table destruction and high theatrics. Once in a while, it definitely does the job.
8. Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 7/21/18)
The kind of no-holds barred slug-fest that’s been missing from New Japan ever since Shibata headbutted himself out of action. It took roughly 10 minutes before anyone hit an actual ‘’wrestling move’’ because both guys were too busy finding new ways to brutalize each other with forearms, kicks and lariats. And it was blissful. The counters and near-falls near the end were incredible, but the heart of the match really was about these two bruisers trying to prove their unflinching toughness in apocalyptic strike-fests. A proper war.
9. Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito – IWGP Heavyweight Title (Wrestle Kingdom 1/4/18)
A dazzling spectacle of high-end NJPW wrestling between two superstars at the top of their game and the official introduction of Okada’s infamous long boys to the world of pro-wrestling. The match felt important and had the kind of surreal big Japanese wrestling match atmosphere that reminded me of a 90’s All Japan epic. Both Okada and Naito came off as fully-realized characters doing battle at crucial point of their story arcs.
10. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki – IWGP Intercontinental Title (1/27/2018 New Beginning)
Still one of my favorite pairings in NJPW history. The ultimate babyface hero taking on the black-hearted monster heel. Two guys that favor old-school story-telling over flashy theatrics and love paying homage to the New Japan legends of the past (in Tanahashi’s case: Fujinami and Muto, in Suzuki’s case: Fujiwara and Gotch). Clever twist on the usual New Japan main event structure + super effective selling and emoting. So much to love.
Honorable Mentions: Suzuki vs. Goto (WK), Roppongi 3K vs. Young Bucks (New Beginning), Tanahashi vs. ZSJ (NJC Finals), Okada vs. ZSJ (Sakura Genesis), Ospreay vs. KUSHIDA (Wrestling Dontaku)
JasMan
1. No Time Limit 2/3 Falls Match – IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada w/ Gedo [c] vs. Kenny Omega w/ Kota Ibushi (Dominion 6/9/18)
When the Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega series of matches in 2017 were quickly called the Greatest Matches Ever in the days after each happened, it raised my expectations to a point that is both unreachable and unfair. Though the matches were great in the moment, when reflecting on them I – try as I might – couldn’t just take them for what they were. Incorrect or not, I had to see them through that fucked-up prism of them being called the best, them being called perfection. And while I thought all three were great, I just didn’t get the hype.
The hype was real with this one though. They blended what made wrestling’s past special with what makes the present special. They took their time, they sold their asses off, they told a story, they made their big moves count, and once in a while they just blew your god damn mind with counters of counters and near falls that made me yell at my computer screen as the sun was just rising.
Their output was what I’d call not just an incredible, fun, dramatic, compelling, intense one-hour plus wrestling match, but a flawless masterpiece of a wrestling match.
I am struggling to recall anything in the last 20 years that touches this build, this aura, this investment in the near falls, this investment in the RESULT. It’s the story. It’s the selling. It’s the fact that neither guy could lift each other up for their big moves. It’s the fact that neither guy could cover right away after they somehow managed those big moves. It’s the fact that referee Red Shoes was an incredible Third Man in this performance, selling everything brilliantly. It’s Gedo on the outside smiling as Okada had control and no-selling it when he didn’t. It’s Ibushi on the outside invested in his man finally succeeding. It’s the shots of the crowd being completely enveloped in this amazing thing, as if they were watching a great circus and Hollywood thriller all at once.
Recency bias be damned, this might be the best wrestling match I have ever seen in my entire life.
2. Hair vs. Hair & No Seconds Death Match – NEVER Openweight Title: Minoru Suzuki [c] vs. Hirooki Goto (Wrestle Kingdom 1/4/18)
First of all, Hair vs. Hair and No Seconds Death Match is an awesome match name. Second of all, this was an incredible wrestling match. Finally, somebody in New Japan decided to stop wasting with limbwork and questionable near falls and instead just told a basic straight-up story. You’ve got a Monster Heel, you’ve got a Babyface Who Tends to Fail, and they’re gonna fight. Minoru Suzuki endlessly kicking Hirooki Goto’s ass is MUCH better than any limb work. And Minoru kicked some ASS. Goto meanwhile has never been my favorite but this was the perfect use of him and he over-delivered on his end – amazing selling for a guy in this spot, where he got his ass kicked but never truly looked like a wuss. He’d fire up and not stay down but he just couldn’t get anything going. So many awesome character moments and crazy strikes, great cut-offs, impactful comebacks. This was a match that did everything wrestling is supposed to do and managed to be memorable and crazy and all that good stuff. It just made my wrestling fan insides glow.
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Wrestling Dontaku 5/3/18)
This is a match I watched live at 5AM and loved, though it felt like it was missing something. I watched it again on AXS and came away thinking it’s a perfect wrestling match. It is such a great example of taking a brilliant built-in setup story for a match and paying it off by telling that the story within the confines of 30+ minutes in a wrestling ring, offering spectacular action but also always giving the viewer something to really chew on. The wrestling, the selling, the faces, the ups and downs – every single movement and every single second was used to take the viewer on a ride and not just tell the story, but but give a satisfying conclusion to it. This match is not as spectacular as many things New Japan did this year, but as a storytelling match it’s as perfect as it gets. The Old Ace just don’t have it anymore to beat The New Ace, but god dammit will he try. Incredible.
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 8/4/18)
Kenny Omega’s spectacular ability is at its best when there’s a reason for it, when there’s a guy opposing him that isn’t just going along with it but saying something opposite it. This was compelling from bell to bell and always telling a story, with Kenny’s rapid-fire athleticism vs. Ishii’s “naw bro, I’m too old to play your games.” Ishii was absorbing strikes and dishing them out, just wrecking Omega any chance he got, and it really felt like Omega was going to have to kill him to end him. I’d say the finish was an all-timer but 75% of the match felt like the finish. Incredible, phenomenal, awesome wrestling match that exemplifies all that can be great about the G1 Climax – it’s late in the tournament, both guys are going all out, the top guy is trying to cement his undefeated streak but he’s up against a midcard guy trying to prove himself and earn a title shot. So so so good.
5. G1 Climax – Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi (G1 Climax 8/12/18)
It is 2018 and Hiroshi Tanahashi is still the master. He is the only man who will take advantage of the G1 Climax’s Big Fight Feel by doing headlocks and headscissors. And you buy into it because it always pays off. It builds and it builds and suddenly – my GOD, you are watching the greatest drama you have ever seen in your life. Ibushi meanwhile brings facial expressions that seem like this is the greatest struggle he has ever endured. This is a simple match with two incredible performances. It doesn’t have a ton of complex sequences or near falls – there’s a couple, but only a couple. Otherwise, it’s strikes and holds and facial expressions. And it’s brilliant.
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii (G1 Climax 7/21/18)
Elbows, chops, slaps, shoulder tackles, lariats, intensity, stiffness, selling, heated crowd, and both guys always going for their opening = magic pro wrestling. These are two wrestlers that exude real wrestling, just throwing endless shots at each other and not budging and saying with their eyes, “BRING IT GOD DAMNIT.” These men are speaking to us through their professional wrestling and it is both savage and beautiful.
7. Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. The Young Bucks (Strong Style Evolved 3/25/18)
These guys were given a 40-minute canvas and painted the shit out of it – jaw-dropping speed, spots, and sequences, legitimately surprising and impressive cut-offs of flying moves, double heat segments, big time finish. It was a match that went from a cautious match between a guy and his lover versus the guys’ friends who don’t like the lover to a classic straight-up tag match to a crazy moves-fest to a FIGHT. The Young Bucks looked like the most confident tag team in the world, Ibushi – between his speed, explosiveness, and selling – continues to be the most fun guy in wrestling, and Kenny is a wrestling superstar who delivers all the insanity the modern wrestling fan demands. Amazing.
8. Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Title Contendership: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (Destruction in Kobe 9/23/18)
This went from respectful headlocks to throwing real quick. I liked it a lot. It’s another excellent and unique entry into their series. Heel Okada ripping up Tanahashi’s leg to get to the Tokyo Dome was a great dynamic, and they brought an epic rollercoaster of a finish with Tanahashi selling his knee like the maestro he is and Okada’s over-confidence resulting in an all-timer finish: the Rainmaker goes for a top rope Tombstone, but Tanahashi pushes him and hits the High Fly Flow as he falls to the floor. Wow.
9. IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title: Jay White [c] vs. Juice Robinson (G1 Special in San Francisco 7/7/18)
Jay White had a weird 2018 – pushed to the moon without much quality work to show for it. This was an incredible match though, as Juice has come into his own as a great babyface and White got legitimate heel heat that he milked like a pro. God forgive me, it gave me Steamboat vs. Jake the Snake vibes. The big guardrail bumps could’ve been silly but were just nasty enough to work and garner some serious heat, which felt like something White was just waiting to take advantage of. Best match I’ve ever seen these guys in, tremendous stuff.
10. New Japan Cup – Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (New Japan Cup 3/21/18)
Here’s one of those professional wrestling matches that hearkens back to a time when professional wrestling was treated as a legitimate competition in which men professionally wrestled each other. This had some help before the bell started with the tournament final atmosphere and built-in drama with Tanahashi’s arm and ZSJ’s push, and they completely delivered on the world they were given. They took their time early but there was a credibility to everything they did – these aren’t two guys killing time with something they saw on tape from 1975; these are two guys fighting for an opening, fighting to be the best. They also pulled off a bunch of epic moments with pure mat-based stuff as well as a hot finish that peaked with a cradle near fall of all things.
Honorable Mentions: Best of the Super. Jr – Final: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori (BOSJ 6/4/18), Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado (5/22/18), NEVER Openweight Title: Hirooki Goto [c] vs. Juice Robinson (Road to Wrestling Dontaku 4/27/18), G1 Climax – Block B: Kenny Omega vs. Tetsuya Naito (G1 Climax 7/15/18), IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: The Young Bucks [c] vs. Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) (The New Beginning in Sapporo 1/28/18), No DQ Match – IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title: Kenny Omega [c] vs. Chris Jericho (Wrestle Kingdom 1/4/18), G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (G1 Climax 8/10/18), Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Will Ospreay (Road to Tokyo Dome 12/15/18), Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: KUSHIDA vs. SHO (5/27/18), IWGP Intercontinental Title: Minoru Suzuki [c] vs. Togi Makabe (46th Anniversary Event 3/6/18)
Story of the Year
Captain Lou
1. The Fall and Rise of Hiroshi Tanahashi
An expertly laid-out character arc spanning the entire year, beginning with a near-crippled Tanahashi getting completely taken out of action only to fight his way back to the top of the card and miraculously end up in the Wrestle Kingdom main event. Pure wrestling magic.
2. Jay White turning on Okada and claiming the Bullet Club
The very definition of a slow burn, and a satisfying one at that. Every part of the story was smartly executed and fun to watch unfold: Jay as an uncooperative brat in CHAOS, the inevitable turn on Okada and finally the new Bullet Club with Switchblade in charge.
3. Golden Lovers Reunion
If I were to judge this angle based on the reunion moment alone, it might be #1, but their story got wasted admist the never-ending Bullet Club Civil War and became just plain confusing by the time the KOPW 3-way rolled around. Great matches across the board though.
Honorable Mention: Tana and Okada uniting at last to fend off the evil Jay White.
JasMan
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Comeback
Considering he already passed the torch to Okada, 2018 began with a Tanahashi who seemed ready to slow down – crappy match with Jay White at the Dome, a referee stoppage loss to Suzuki. Then he couldn’t get anything going against Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in May, not just losing to the champ and having his own title defense record broken, but being almost completely dominated by him. Then the G1 Climax came and he made up for everything – great matches, won the finals, and went on to beat both Okada and White en route to a main event at Wrestle Kingdom to begin 2019. It was the coolest thing I saw develop in wrestling all year.
2. Golden Lovers Reunion
It’s been such a long year that I can’t believe this happened during it. At The New Beginning in Sapporo in late-January, Kenny defended the IWGP US Heavyweight Title against Jay White, then was turned on and attacked by Cody. Cody prepared to lay waste to Kenny with a chair until his former friend, tag partner, and rival, Kota Ibushi, made the save to a massive reaction. The two embraced, and it led to an incredible tag run throughout 2018 as well Kenny gaining the strength needed to finally conquer Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. The whole thing might’ve gone off the rails with the Kenny/Ibushi match happening too quickly during the the G1 Climax, Cody being involved too much, and a lack of an IWGP Tag Team Titles reign which would’ve been awesome. Still though – this was a story in wrestling that alluded to homosexuality that was more about two men caring about each other than a flamboyant guy trotted out for laughs or heat. It was incredible to watch play out, and the initial embrace is a top moment in pro wrestling history.
3. Psychopath Chris Jericho
He might’ve held the IWGP IC Title hostage for the entire last half of the year, but Chris Jericho returning to New Japan not just to wrestle in major matches but to completely re-invent himself as a Stan Hansen-esque uncontrollable gaijin was too much. It brought some “eyeballs” to the product and against all odds all three matches he had delivered. On paper this was all wild, but Jericho’s performance put it over the top.
Feud of the Year
Captain Lou
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
Genius trilogy of matches, all different from one another yet all connected as one uber wrestling story. It’s a cliché to say this by now, but I will never tire of seeing these two wrestle together.
2. Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White
The big blowoff is only happening in 2019 but I’ve been loving the whole build to this thing. The Jay White turn, Pissed Off Okada, the Okada/Tana alliance. Really fun stuff.
3. Roppongi 3K vs. Suzuki-Gun
Like Kanemaru and Despy themselves, this has been a very unflashy feud yet I’ve enjoyed every match between these teams throughout the year. Babyface vs. heels tag-team wrestling done right. Simple but effective.
JasMan
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
New Japan tried out a lot of American-inspired feuds throughout the year that were more about the out-of-the-ring stuff than in the ring – Okada vs. Switchblade, Bullet Club vs. Bullet Club, even Suzuki vs. Naito. But even if they weren’t talking trash, Tanahashi and Okada continued their rivalry in a brilliant way throughout 2018. First Tanahashi tried to prevent Okada from beating his title defense record and failed in an amazing match. Then they went to a draw in the G1 Climax. And finally, in September, Tanahashi was able to conquer Okada to return to the main event spot at Wrestle Kingdom. Three amazing matches, one incredible feud.
2. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega
2017 was defined by Okada vs. Omega’s three classic matches. 2018 was defined by Okada vs. Omega’s only match, albeit one that went over an hour. As said above, there were a lot of linear stories told during New Japan’s 2018, but nothing touched the storytelling in this single match.
3. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Will Ospreay
If Hiromu didn’t hurt his neck, I’m curious where this would’ve gone. As it was, it was a blast to see these two athletic freaks go at it a few times this year and try to prove they’re the top junior heavyweight in the world.
Tag Team of the Year
Captain Lou
1. Golden Lovers
They didn’t wrestle as often as the below two teams, but their 2018 resumé remains untouchable. Even when they were stuck wrestling Cody and Marty Scurll for what seemed like half a year, they managed to have fun matches. They’re the kind of magical tag team that could finally elevate the IWGP tag straps to an entire new level. It has to be said, Kenny Omega is always at his most likeable when wrestling alongside Kota Ibushi.
2. EVIL & SANADA
Watching the single camera house shows from the World Tag League and seeing the massive reactions EVIL and SANADA were getting everywhere confirmed that New Japan were on to something with these two. They didn’t have the same kind of ultra high-caliber matches as the Lovers, but still worked their fair share of solid tag bouts. Dug the matches with KES, the Bucks and Taichi/ZSJ in the tag league.
3. Roppongi 3K
Love these two dudes. Liked everything they did this year: the two matches with the Bucks, the whole feud with Suzuki-Gun, SHO’s eye-opening BOSJ run, their crazy ass match with Shingo and BUSHI in the junior tag league. There’s still room for improvement with both of them (especially YOH) but they played a big part in making the junior division a lot more fun this year.
JasMan
1. Golden Lovers
They should’ve had an IWGP Tag Team Title run, man. Either way, the Golden Lovers were elite this year, delivering classic tags nearly every time they teamed up: vs. the Bucks, vs. Cody & Scurll, vs. Ishii & Ospreay, vs. Tanahashi & Ospreay. They should’ve had an IWGP Tag Team Title run, man.
2. The Young Bucks
The Bucks seemed to bring it all together this year, cementing themselves as superstars in the world of professional wrestling and having great matches with the Lovers, Roppongi 3K, and EVIL & SANADA. They even gave the Guerillas of Destiny their best ever match.
3. Roppongi 3K
Great tag with the Bucks in January, great performances any time they had a Jr. Tag Titles match… I have no idea why New Japan decided Kanemaru & Desperado should lead the depleted junior tag division this year, but it’s clear that these two are The Guys.
Honorable Mention: EVIL & SANADA
Most Improved
Captain Lou
1. Will Ospreay
See Best Junior section.
2. Juice Robinson
Juice was the victim of some truly confounding booking decisions this year, but he still tore it up all the way to the G1 Climax. One of the best pure babyfaces on the whole roster – managed to get the first legit good match out of Jay White this year and then went on to have a bunch of quality wrestling with Tanahashi (NJ Cup), Goto for the NEVER belt and Ibushi during the G1. Him losing the US belt to Cody and then fading into obscurity was an absolute travesty. This will hopefully all be rectified at the Tokyo Dome.
3. Toa Henare
The boy Toa Henare has been quietly rocking the undercard this year, working his ass off and exuding the kind of confidence of a guy ready to move up a level or two. His mini-feud with Big Tom Ishii was a definite midcard highlight of the first half of the year and their blowoff singles match is the definition of a hidden gem.
JasMan
The New Japan gaijin roster has had its ups and downs recently, especially when it comes to The Elite and The Bullet Club being an overwhelming presence. These three acts really found themselves in 2018 and it was very cool to see. Of course, one could also argue that there was so much focus on the non-native guys that most of the native roster was de-emphasized and unable to noticeably improve. Alas.
1. Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay is a polarizing professional wrestler and I have traditionally fallen on the negative side for him. I respect his athleticism and have loved some matches he was a part of, but there were too many distracting tendencies (listed above) and some of his matches felt overhyped, including the Scurll match earlier in the year. REGARDLESS! Bill toned down the annoying stuff in 2018 and continued to be produce great wrestling in New Japan, sometimes with the juniors like Takahashi but mostly with the heavyweights – Bill vs. Okada, his tags with the Golden Lovers, and even his match with Taichi were all good stuff. I;m excited to see where it goes in 2019.
2. The Young Bucks
The Young Bucks were a lot like Bill to me a couple years ago. I’ll chant superkick or suck it live with them any day, but so many of the matches ultimately felt empty. That changed last year, and completely changed this year, as they had a couple junior heavyweight bangers before moving up to the heavyweight division and giving the NJPW tag division a desperately needed kick in the ass. They exude superstardom, confidence, and tag team excellence like nobody out there, and the matches with Roppongi 3K, The Golden Lovers, and EVIL & SANADA are great stuff.
3. Juice Robinson
Juice Robinson in New Japan has always felt like a guy trying to play Strong Style. NO MORE!!! Juice has become the Dusty Rhodes-esque babyface he was always meant to be and it is too good. He used that babyface charm to have Jay White’s best ever match this year, and his match with Hirooki Goto for the NEVER Title is a phenomenal example of Juice figuring out how to work Japanese style while also providing incredible babyface selling.
Most Charismatic
Captain Lou
1. Tetsuya Naito
Welp. It’s been a fucked up year for Tetsuya Naito. I’m actually a big fan of the run of defenses Okada had following Naito’s loss in January, but there’s no arguing Gedo struggled to keep Naito interesting following Wrestle Kingdom. Naito had a bunch of fun matches with Taichi, YOSHI-HASHI, Kenny and Ibushi, but the feuds with Suzuki, ZSJ and a non-existent Jericho didn’t exactly light the world on fire. Despite spending the year in static storylines, he’s still the most over guy on the roster and thus an easy pick for most charismatic.
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi
The fan polls speak for themselves. Possibly the most beloved man in wrestling. Just watch the post-match love-fest following his Korakuen Hall match with Juice Robinson during the New Japan Cup. Completely surreal.
3. Hiromu Takahashi
Stay safe, kid.
JasMan
1. Hiromu Takahashi
Hiromu Takahashi’s charisma is undeniable. It doesn’t matter if some of his matches have iffy middles – the charisma pulls it through. He’s a guy fans and non-fans alike are drawn to, just the coolest most interesting guy in the room.
2. Tetsuya Naito
Conspicuous by his absence in much of this list is Tetsuya Naito, who did some good work in the G1 Climax and with Chris Jericho, but also had some painfully average matches with Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. and even guys he should’ve matched up well with like SANADA and Ibushi. His momentum was hurt by the Okada loss at Wrestle Kingdom and it never felt like it came back. Regardless, his cool factor continued to shine through and he’s one of those guys who is immediately a major star as soon as somebody wants to pull the trigger.
3. Kota Ibushi
The other most interesting guy in the room, Ibushi became even more of a major player in New Japan this year and his dynamic presence made his great matches even greater.
Best Technical Wrestler
Captain Lou
1. Zack Sabre Jr
Zackattack had a hell of a year in 2018, slaying the competition in the New Japan Cup, having an epic with Okada and delivering the goods in the G1 Climax. He brings something totally unique to NJPW and I love watching roster mainstays try to solve his submission wizardry. Perfectly booked throughout the year, the kind of guy that can believably beat anyone now. Also, the addition of TAKA as his hypeman is a stroke of genius. Looking forward to more vegan grappling in 2019.
2. Minoru Suzuki
Minoru was having one of his strongest runs in years until the disappointing feud with Naito and LIJ. Amazing match with Goto at the Dome, more brilliance with Tanahashi at New Beginning and an underrated title defense against Makabe. 3 great matches with 3 of the greatest dropkicks to the face ever thrown.
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi
One of the few guys left in wrestling that is committed to working the god damn leg. Never change, Tana.
JasMan
1. Zack Sabre Jr.
ZSJ brings a dynamic to New Japan that nobody is bringing, a wrestling credibility centered around matwork and limb torture that makes throwaway tags fun and main events with Tanahashi and Okada epic. He is the best technical wrestler in the world. He is also one of the only guys in the world that still wrestles like this. But he is still the best in the world at it.
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi
I wrote above that New Japan has gone through a transition over the last couple years with the emergence of The Elite, giving the New Japan main event scene more flashy highspots than substance. Tanahashi is the antidote, as he will bring a big High Fly Flow or three but he also still treats the wrestling ring like a chess board. He even got crazy-ass Kota Ibushi a technical masterpiece on his resume. Amazing.
3. Minoru Suzuki
He’s older, he’s slower, but the legacy of Karl Gotch continues with this man.
Best Brawler
Captain Lou
1. El Desperado
See Best Junior section for more Despy Love, but dude gets ahead of Jericho because he’s been working the exact same style of match as him, but he’s done it all year long. If you want proof, go through the BOSJ.
2. Chris Jericho
I had a very powerful love/hate relationship with Jericho in New Japan this year. On the one hand, his car crash matches with Kenny, Naito and EVIL were all a lot of fun. On the other hand, him holding the Intercontinental title on an extremely part-time schedule sent that belt into instant oblivion and indirectly caused Naito to drift off into filler feuds with Suzuki-Gun. But yeah, that’s more on management/Gedo than Jericho himself. I dig the man’s newfound fat brawler energy. He can have the #2 spot.
3. EVIL
Kind of a quiet year for EVIL after the big breakout he had in 2017. Had an aggressively average match with Goto early in the year, then a merely okay G1 run save for the obligatory cool matches with Tana and Okada. His bromance with SANADA and wild match with Jericho were the clear highlights of his year. Hopefully things pick up in 2019 for the third best brawler in New Japan.
JasMan
1. Chris Jericho
I can’t deny it. Chris Jericho had three matches in New Japan this year – vs. Omega at the Dome, vs. Naito at Dominion, and vs. EVIL and Power Struggle. He’s fatter, he’s slower, and each one was a brawl for the ages. Face-painted Chris Jericho brings a chaos sorely missing from wrestling today and not really done well since guys like Abby, Brody, and Hansen were running around scaring people.
2. El Desperado
El Desperado arrives here based on two matches, both with Hiromu Takahashi. But in those two matches he brought a crazy violent brawling style that I’d like to see a whole lot more of.
3. EVIL
EVIL is the constant for this category, a big burly guy who likes to fight on the outside.
Most Overrated
Captain Lou
1. Michael Elgin
Everything that annoys me about modern wrestling rolled into one problematic package. A big guy working like a small guy, throwing thigh slaps at every opportunity, with a move-set consisting entirely of Fire Pro Wrestling finishers. Big no.
2. Jay White
Around mid-way through the G1 Climax, I finally came around to Jay White. But before that point, his streak of bad singles matches was truly impressive. Poor guy bombed against Tana, Kenny and managed to have one of my most hated matches of the year against Hangman Page in the US. The big match with Juice definitely helped him turn a corner and he seems to have fully figured out his character now. He works so much better as a full-on bratty heel than as a classic New Japan Main Event Wrestler. I like the dude and I want him to succeed, but it really took a while to get there.
3. Flip Gordon
Flip only worked the BOSJ and some ROH/NJPW shows but I’m still not over it.
JasMan
1. Jay White
I appreciate the thought behind going all in on a guy as the next big star, but it wasn’t until very very late in the year that White showed he belonged in the spot. I’m pretty confident he finds his groove in 2019, but watching him in so many average top matches this year was ROUGH.
2. Tama Tonga
I’m sure he’s a good brother and respected by the office, but whether he’s a midcard tag act or singles guy relying on interference, Tama Tonga is just not good. It’s not like he’s a top guy, but he hovers around upper midcard and nothing he does ever works.
3. Cody
I dug a lot of Cody’s stuff this year but I dug it as a midcard heel act who is always holding the TV Title or something. As guy who found himself in the main event of Sumo Hall… he’s overrated.
Most Underrated
Captain Lou
1. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
That’s right, come and fight me. Everyone on the Internet seems to hate on this man because he’s an admittedly plain heel wrestler, but here’s the cold hard truth: Kanemaru is a total pro. A guy that plays his role to perfection and who’s done a great job putting over the Roppongi 3K kids throughout the year. Go back and watch the BOSJ to watch him carry the shit out of everyone from YOH, to Flip Gordon and William Ospreay (Yes, I went there). I’m not saying Kanemaru should be New Japan’s junior ace or anything crazy, but this guy deserves recognition from the Twitter masses.
2. Taichi
Another super fun wrestler on the receiving end of very undeserved hate from the World Wide Web. Like his boy Kanemaru, Taichi’s a guy who plays his role perfectly and can also work his ass off whenever needed. I dug the hell out of his matches with Naito, YOSHI-HASHI, Tanahashi and Ospreay. The Toshiaki Kawada references are tremendous and I would’ve preferred to see him in this year’s G1 over a lot of the actual entrants. The late-year feud with Goto was kind of a bummer but his tag league with ZSJ balances it out. Praise Taichi.
3. Taiji Ishimori
Taiji wrestled in my fifth favorite match of the year and then spent the rest of the year on the undercard teaming with Yujiro. Seriously, what the fuck.
JasMan
1. SHO
Love YOH, but this man is the breakout and I don’t know why all he does is wrestle Kanemaru and Desperado. The Best of the Super Jr. was just a glimpse of what’s going to be unleashed when somebody decides he should be. For now though, he’s very underrated.
2. EVIL & SANADA
I dig these two a lot. They spent most of 2018 as tag champs and had good runs in the G1, but they always feel so below Naito that it’s hard to buy them in big match situations – nobody bought SANADA beating Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Title early in the year, and nobody bought EVIL beating Jericho for the IWGP IC Title later in the year. The lack of credibility they have is hurting the wrestling, even if it’s all solid and impressive and stuff. Los Ingobernables de Japon is great, but these are two guys hovering around their primes and it should be taken advantage of with something other than Naito’s heaters.
3. Taiji Ishimori
You sign this freak of a junior heavyweight, send him to the finals of the BOSJ, and then… nothing. Why? WHY??
Best Move
Captain Lou
1. Golden Trigger
2. 3-WAY TIE: SHO’s Powerbomb/backbreaker, Hiromu’s D-Driver, Ospreay’s Stormbreaker
3. TIE: High Fly Flow / Rainmaker
JasMan
1. Kazuchika Okada’s Rainmaker
The Rainmaker is still the king of finishers. The wrist control deal remains great.
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi’s High Fly Flow
The High Fly Flow still beautiful and was a part of many great moments in 2018, especially the one on Okada at Destruction in Kobe.
3. Kenny Omega’s V-Trigger
He might throw too many, but this is a spectacular move that always looks great. The one at the end of the Okada match at Dominion with the camera close-up shot was one of the coolest things I have ever seen in professional wrestling.
Best Gimmick
Captain Lou
1. Tomohiro Ishii as the Best Wrestler on Earth during the G1 Climax
2. Midlife Crisis Kazuchika Okada
3. Horny Juice Robinson
JasMan
1. Golden Lovers
They wrestled. They fell in love. They drifted apart. They reunited. And now they jump off the top rope together and knee guys in the face together. It’s beautiful.
2. Chris Jericho
He’s a face-painted out-of-shape freak of nature who pushes anybody who gets in his way around – what’s not to love? The meta-gimmick of Jericho attaching himself to anything hot in the wrestling industry is pretty great too.
3. Zack Sabre Jr. with TAKA Michinoku
JUST… TAP… OUT!
Best BOKOBOKO Figting Spirit Award
Captain Lou
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi
2. Tomohiro Ishii
3. Hiromu Takahashi
JasMan
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi
I started the year thinking Tanahashi was going to take some serious time off, and the Jay White stinker and domination by Suzuki cemented that thought. And here we are ten months later and he’s about to main event Wrestle Kingdom, a result of countless classic matches built around the probably real fact that his body is about to breakdown. The Fighting Spirit inside this man is REAL.
2. Chris Jericho
This late-40s dad came to Japan and had three great main event matches. If that isn’t an example of Fighting Spirit, what is?
3. Hiromu Takahashi
For the first half of the year he brought a passion and danger to his matches like nobody else. Then he spent the last half of the year recovering from a broken neck. Either way, that’s Fighting Spirit. Get well soon, Hiromu.
