Tie for the top in match of the year poll
Fans worldwide once again voted to choose their best matches from NJWP in the US at the end of the year, with the top five bouts as follows- and a surprise tie right at the top! NJPW’s 2024 begins with Battle in the Valley January 13- make sure you’re there!
Battle in the Valley San Jose Civic TICKETS
#5 Eddie Kingston vs Jay White- Battle in the Valley February 19 2023 San Jose Civic
Exiled from Japan by Hikuleo, Switchbalde Jay White tried to reclaim his presence in NJPW in the US. But after testing Eddie Kingston’s pride, he wound up battling the Mad King in a loser leaves NJPW match, and a Northern lights Bomb stopped the Switchblade from being in the cerulean blue again.
#4 Jun Kasai & El Desperado vs Jon Moxley & Homicide- Independence Day night 1 July 4 2023 Korakuen Hall
When El Desperado called out Jon Moxley for a deathmatch in Korakuen Hall, Mox responded by bringing Homicide back to Japan. Needing a partner, Despe called on the Crazy Monkey Jun Kasai, for one of the loudest reactions of the year in the Hall and one of the most gruesome matches in NJPW history.
#3 El Desperado vs Jon Moxley- Independence Day night 2 July 5 2023 Korakuen Hall
Final Death the very next night in the Hall might be the only match to outdo the aforementioned in terms of violence. El Desperado’s quest for strength in all its forms saw him lock horns in a bout that was emotional as it was violent.
=1 NJPW WORLD TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. vs Mike Bailey November 10 2023 Curtis Culwell Center
The last NJPW World TV Championship defence of 2023 for Zack Sabre Jr saw him face Speedball Mike Bailey in an intense encounter that was the highlight of Lonestar Shootout. Bailey would come up just short as he was stretched to breaking point, and with just six sexconds left on the clock, Sabre kept his TV title through to the end of the year.
=1 IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI vs Mercedes Moné- Battle in the Valley February 19 2023 San Jose Civic
Tying for the top of the voting chart is a historic first IWGP Women’s Championship match on US soil, and the in ring debut of Mercedes Moné. Tangling with a familiar opponent in the first title holder KAIRI, the two women battled all over the San Jose Civic and brought the sold out crowd to a rafter shaking reaction, Moné eventually leaving with the IWGP gold.
