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Top 5 NJPW matches to watch at Wrestle Kingdom 14

By Sonal Lad

TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 05: Will Ospreay and Hiromu Takahashi pose for photographs during NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome press Conference on November 05, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 05: Will Ospreay and Hiromu Takahashi pose for photographs during NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome press Conference on November 05, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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Zack Sabre Jr v SANADA (Revolution Pro Heavyweight Championship) – January 5th

This is a match that fans have been anticipating since the G1 in August when Sanada pinned the British Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr in the opening night in America. Since then the company has been constantly teasing us with the match up, then making us think it wouldn’t happen. After pinning Zack, Sanada went on to challenge Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight title and ZSJ seemed forgotten. That was until Cold Skull managed to pin the Vegan Hydra in not one, but two tag team matches and the match was set.

New Japan has been very smart in the lead up to Wrestle Kingdom in the preview matches. In both singles matches the two had in the Road to Tokyo Dome shows, each one scored a pin fall over the other – through a roll up no less. It means that nobody really has any momentum going into the biggest show of the year. As well as the amazing lead-up match wise, the two just seem to have this chemistry out of it. Whether it’s ZSJ complaining about the colour of Sanada’s trousers (whether they’re white or purple) or even the little smirk Sanada has when he pins Zack – it’s just magic.

Fans can expect a wrestling masterclass on the 5th January and it has the potential to be match of the night. Both men are both extremely well versed in traditional wrestling styles whether it’s British catch wrestling or Sanada’s Mexican influences.

On top of that, Sanada is so athletic and can fly as well as any Jr Heavyweight in the company and Zack might be one of the best defensive wrestlers in the company. What also raises the stakes is that, even though Sanada has pinned ZSJ a number of times, he is yet to submit the Submission Master. So, not only is it a fight for the more prestigious British title, but also a proving match that Sanada can’t just beat ZSJ through luck and good timing.

It’s a recipe for success no matter who wins and I think it will be match of the night, or even the whole weekend.

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