KG Serage's Top 100 Pro-Wrestling Matches of All-Time (#86)

Shiozaki's chops > Gunther's chops. Nuff said!

86. Go Shiozaki vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima, at NOAH 20th Anniversary Show

No. 86 on this list, is probably one of the most history-filled matches on the list, because these two have quite the shared history.

In 2005, Go Shiozaki and Katsuhiko Nakajima were both identified as top prospects in the wrestling world. Nakajima made his debut in January 2004, followed by Shiozaki a few months later. During their early years, Shiozaki teamed up with his mentor Kenta Kobashi, while Nakajima partnered with Kensuke Sasaki. Notably, they clashed in an exceptional tag match in 2005 that showcased both the students and their mentors.

Over time, their paths diverged, with Shiozaki remaining loyal to NOAH while Nakajima ventured across various promotions. Shiozaki rose to prominence within NOAH, becoming one of its biggest stars alongside company president Marufuji, capturing the GHC Heavyweight Championship four times during the 2010s. Meanwhile, Nakajima honed his skills in different wrestling circuits and even triumphed over his mentor Sasaki in a retirement match. Eventually, Nakajima found his footing in NOAH, adopting a new persona reminiscent of Shinsuke Nakamura.

Shiozaki and Nakajima stood out as two of the country's finest wrestlers outside of New Japan. With their impressive resumes and track records of delivering stellar performances, fans eagerly anticipated the showdown that took place on November 22nd, 2020 for Shiozaki’s GHC Heavyweight Championship, Yet, in the end, only one could claim the title of the best in NOAH, leaving audiences to speculate on the outcome.

The match begins, and the intensity is palpable right from the start. Nakajima unleashes sharp kicks, met by Shiozaki's clean break on the ropes. They lock eyes in a chilling stare-down. Shiozaki counters an Irish whip, but Nakajima evades, heading to ringside. After a deliberate return, Nakajima resorts to eye raking, but Shiozaki responds with a flying shoulder tackle.

Vicious chops from Shiozaki find their mark until Nakajima turns the tide with a head-kick. A missile dropkick sends Shiozaki to the apron, where Nakajima targets his neck with a foot choke. Attempting an apron Death Valley Bomb, Nakajima faces a counter, leading to a brutal apron landing. Nakajima re-enters the ring at the count of seventeen.

Struggling to stand, Nakajima surprises with a gut kick, sending Shiozaki outside. As Nakajima gains momentum, a running kick and barricade assault follow. Despite Shiozaki's resistance, Nakajima exploits a vulnerable hand and arm, relentlessly assaulting them against hard surfaces. Shiozaki barely makes it back in by nineteen.

Upon re-entry, Shiozaki faces a relentless assault on his injured shoulder. Nakajima goads him, demanding retaliation, but Shiozaki's attempts are feeble. Nakajima capitalizes, transitioning into a cross arm-breaker. Despite Shiozaki's resilience, Nakajima maintains control, exploiting the arm until Shiozaki executes a diving shoulder tackle, signaling a comeback.

With machine gun chops and a fisherman suplex, Shiozaki gains momentum, but Nakajima strikes back with targeted attacks to Shiozaki's arm and knee. Locking Shiozaki in an abdominal stretch, Nakajima applies pressure until Shiozaki reaches the ropes. Another exchange of chops and kicks ensues, each wrestler vying for dominance in this high-stakes encounter.

Shiozaki evades a suplex and delivers a thunderous Kobashi-style rolling chop to Nakajima's neck, followed by a powerful lariat using his uninjured arm. Attempting another suplex, Shiozaki faces a counter from Nakajima, who retaliates with one of his own. Undeterred, Shiozaki quickly rises, delivering another devastating lariat, causing both to collapse, needing substantial recovery time.

After a prolonged spell on the mat, both wrestlers rise, engaging in a grueling exchange of stiff strikes—Shiozaki with chops and Nakajima with kicks. This brutal back-and-forth persists for several minutes until Nakajima executes a Backdrop suplex. However, Shiozaki rebounds with a German suplex, leaving Nakajima dazed.

Despite their exhaustion, both men continue to unleash punishing chops and kicks, each strike resonating throughout the arena. Their resilience fuels the intensity as they demand more punishment from each other. The exchange persists until Shiozaki targets Nakajima's leg with elbows, countered by Nakajima blocking a chop. Despite the punishment, they endure, engaging in another fierce chop and kick exchange, earning admiration from the audience for their toughness as they both collapse.

Shiozaki charges Nakajima but faces three kicks to the head. Attempting a suplex, Nakajima finds himself countered into a go Flasher (a suplex into an elbow drop) for a near fall. Shiozaki, channeling Kobashi once more, aims for a lariat, thwarted by Nakajima's arm kick. Another attempt sees Nakajima countering into a grounded armbar, reminiscent of Becky Lynch's style. Shiozaki inches towards the ropes, only for Nakajima to transition into a cross arm-breaker, applying pressure as he methodically releases the hold.

Nakajima gets booted on a corner charge but lands a jumping wheel kick as Shiozaki jumps onto the top rope. He goes for a top-rope Frankensteiner but both men fall out of the ring instead. Shiozaki gets slammed into the steel barricade but bounces back with a sudden lariat. Both men return to the ring, with Nakajima barely making it back in.

Shiozaki’s in control as he lands a big spinning chop to the neck followed by an arm-trap backdrop suplex for two. He scoop slams Nakajima and goes to the corner. Diving moonsault connects…with Nakajima’s knees. Shiozaki writhes in pain as he clasps his ribs. Nakajima takes advantage and starts kicking Shiozaki right in the torso. Both men dodge big hits from each other but Nakajima has the upper hand as he lands a devastating strike barrage. The referee checks on Shiozaki to see if he has been knocked out. Shiozaki pushes himself up to show he’s still alive. Nakajima answers with a punt to the chest. He continues with stiff forearms to the head, but Shiozaki refuses to give up. He rises slowly, and even uses Nakajima for leverage to lift himself up. Nakajima looks on with pity and mockery in his eyes, before nailing Shiozaki with a Brainbuster by Nakajima. The ref counts, but Shiozaki kicks out.

Nakajima hoists Shiozaki onto his shoulders but Shiozaki counters into a sleeper suplex. Both men stagger around the wing. Shiozaki lands a Misawa-esque three-elbow smash combo. Nakajima somehow stays on his feet so Shiozaki follows with a running lariat, but Nakajima kicks out. Shiozaki nails another, and follows up with a moonsault that connects. He goes for a pin but rolls over from the pain in his arm. He loses a few critical seconds due to that arm which allows Nakajima to kick out of another pin.

Another lariat from Shiozaki. Followed by two more; one of which sends Nakajima inside out. Shiozaki goes for the pin, but somehow Nakajima gets his foot on the ropes. One more short-range Burning Lariat, and Nakajima is out. Shiozaki gets the three-count and retains his title!

There are very few matches in pro wrestling history that benefit from a lack of crowd, but this is one of them. The lack of crowd noise meant that every kick, slap, slam could be heard fully. The history between these two men was all the match needed and the violent intensity made it even more special. One of my absolute favorite matches of the entire pandemic era of pro wrestling!