Broadcast isn't even over and this is no question the first match I'm adding to my 2026 list. Two of my favorites managed to flawlessly link together more 1 of 1 unique spots that I've never seen before than any match I've seen in years. As creative as the spots where this was not a MOVES match by any stretch. They were wrestling a style and using the ring in a way totally unique to them. It also feels like they have so much more to give any time they want to run this one back.
- Since rewatching this a second time I think it's even more brilliant. There is zero wasted movement. Every little side-eye glance has impact. When this match started breaking out of the TJPW bubble I was a little worried that we were going to get some hot takes polluting the discourse. Miu and Suzume put so much drama into their choice of moves. So far none of those worries have come to pass. For the long time TJPW fan all of that detail is there but the creative use of the power vs speed story was strong enough to carry it without context.

This one is going to require a rewatch but I'm putting this up while the memory is hot. The injury should have killed this match dead. The match was cooking on it's own and was forced to a prolonged doctor's stoppage that looked like they had to panic book flat finish ruining their plans not just for this match but possibly Stardom's entire year and two of their biggest stars. Now where the magic happens is the second they have the all clear there is zero recovery time. The wrestlers, the crowd, the energy back to 110% beyond where they were. The time from when we have to call off one of the biggest main events, sending everyone home unhappy to an insane apron bump to the floor is about 4 seconds. Would this match have been better without the injury? We will never know but with that injury suddenly these two are freaks just for continuing. The stakes for every little bump are massively elevated. Then they processed to have one of the best matches of the year. I know this preview mentions the word injury a lot but it's nothing graphic. Translations aren't out yet but it sounds like a completely dislocated finger that had to be dealt with during an unlucky dropkick landing. The hand injury really didn't play into the match but became the focal part of the human drama. It won't be until I rewatch this one back I'll get a clear picture but without the injury this match belongs here. Saya Kamitani is on an all time run with the red belt. SLK's white belt run was incredible and dropping it was only a formality to move her into red belt territory.
-The rewatch goes here because without a doubt this one get's a rewatch.

If we are including the retirement ceremony this is an all timer. For one match Tanahashi and Okada sent me back to the peak of my New Japan fandom. I have been down on New Japan overall for a few years now to the point where I don't actually trust that opinion any more. I have generally been checked out for long enough even my critiques are out of date. What this match did was bring back every memory of why I was getting up in the middle of the night for every single G1 show. Tanahashi forcing his very destroyed body through the last decade of match references and opponents was wonderful to watch. Okada starting out as AEW's Kazuchika Okada and having to transition back to NJPW's Okada was great. I have a lot of worries about New Japan 2026 but this was a fantastic way to close out an era.

After a long, not fantastic Wrestle Kingdom I had to warm up into this one but they had me locked by the end. I've missed most of Tsuji's main roster career but I've enjoyed what I have seen. I'm much more familiar with Takeshita's DDT career. A very strong match up that kept escalating right until the end. That top rope Blue Thunder Bomb is going to be etched in my mind for a while. What made this one was the closing stretch. Instead of building to the craziest moment they slow it down for a final showdown straight out of film. I would like to rewatch this but I don't know if I'm going to get around to it.

Mei and Hazuki had a match on (2025.11.03) Crimson Nightmare that while very good left me a bit underwhelmed because I know how special these two can be. Particularly in the high speed style. This match more than over deliver on any backdated expectations. I'm on the fence if this belongs in this or the next tier but with only two weeks into the year we have time to calibrate. Super hard hitting and filled with creative bumps only Mei does. There is a powerbomb where Mei bounces off the mat. Hazuki has regained the main event spark that made her so good for so long.

What even is pro wrestling? The 6th edition in January 4th tradition of Shoko and Misao testing the limits of what can even be called a pro wrestling match. This year they dress the rookies up has horse girls à la mobile game/anime Umamusume and have them race laps around Korakuen Hall so that Shoko, Misao & the fans could place bets on the horse girls. My favorite thing about this yearly tradition is how they love throughing in the rookies into the deep end. Uta, Ren & Shion who debuted in the opening match did a wonderful job in the chaos. If you're look for the great pure sport of Karl Gotch look elsewhere. If you're looking for a lovely time check this one out.