NJPW for WWE Fans: 10 Matches You Must Watch First
NJPW is full of all‑time classics, but there are 10 matches that work especially well as an entry point for fans coming from WWE’s style and stars.
Modern epics WWE fans will love
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega – Wrestle Kingdom 11 (2017)
A legendary Dome main event often cited as one of the greatest matches ever, mixing huge drama, long‑form storytelling, and spectacular counters. - Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega – Dominion 2018 (2‑of‑3 Falls)
Their final chapter is a 60‑minute, two‑out‑of‑three falls war that rewards patience and delivers classic “finishing stretch” escalation on par with WrestleMania main events. - Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada – Wrestle Kingdom 9 (2015)
This Tokyo Dome main event is the perfect introduction to Tanahashi as NJPW’s “Ace” and Okada as the rising challenger, with a structure very familiar to big WWE title matches.
Matches featuring future/current WWE stars
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles – Wrestle Kingdom 10 (2016)
A dream match between two future WWE headliners that showcases Nakamura’s swagger and AJ’s big‑match pacing far better than their later WWE encounters. - Prince Devitt (Finn Bálor) vs. Kota Ibushi vs. Low Ki – Wrestle Kingdom 7 (2013)
A frantic junior heavyweight three‑way that shows how Devitt evolved before WWE and how wild NJPW’s junior division can be. - Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii – G1 Climax 29 (2019)
The former Dean Ambrose goes full brawler in a violent, high‑energy tournament match that feels like a more unhinged, stiff version of a top WWE hardcore bout.
Strong‑style showcases and cult favorites
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Katsuyori Shibata – G1 Climax 23 (2013)
Short, brutal, and perfect for understanding NJPW “strong style”; it is often recommended as a go‑to match for new fans. - Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kazuchika Okada – Sakura Genesis 2017
A physically intense, emotional title match that highlights NJPW’s focus on realism and long‑term consequences. - Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi – Best of the Super Juniors 26 Final (2019)
A blisteringly fast, athletic sprint that still tells a clear story, ideal for fans who enjoy modern high‑spot WWE or NXT main events. - Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi – Wrestle Kingdom 9 (2015)
A wild Intercontinental title clash that blends stiff strikes and big character moments, often cited as one of the best IC‑style showcase matches in Dome history.
How to use this list
- Start with the Nakamura vs. Styles and Moxley vs. Ishii bouts if you want familiar faces, then move into Okada vs. Omega and Tanahashi vs. Okada once you’re comfortable with longer main events.
- All of these are available on NJPW World, with many also highlighted on “best NJPW matches” lists and recommendation threads, making them easy to find and queue up.
