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.