Tanahashi, Nakamura, or Okada?

[Kash Flagg]

Nakamura, but Ibushi is right up there. He's already on the other threes level IMO.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

People have mentioned in this thread, sometimes with praise and sometimes disparagingly(at least in the case of Okada) , that all 3 guys do no wrestle the same exact style. To me, that's why New Japan is as good as it is. The thing is, since Tanahashi became the star, you've seen a main event scene that doesn't just wrestle the strong style like they had for so many years not just in New Japan, but all over the country's wrestling scene. Okada doesn't wrestle the same style as Tanahashi, who doesn't wrestle the same style as Nakamura. That makes for great styles clashes that bring more intrigue and drama to their matches. In WWE, even though there has been a much bigger variation as of late, everyone wrestles the same style with the same spots. So many matches begins either two ways:


1. Headlock takedown, head scissors.

2. Headlock, irish whip, shoulder block, followed by some sort of leapfrog combination.



Now, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that style. It does work. However, when so many matches in WWE look and feel the same with those same spots, it gets tiring after a while. In New Japan, only one guy does that in their main event scene. In WWE, almost everybody does that. New Japan changes it up with almost every match. That's why I like it personally. So, I don't mind Okada wrestling a style similar to WWE's style where he has to do every signature spot in a specific order because he's the only one who does that, and that's what makes him unique from everyone else. I like variety when watching wrestling. No one can stand out when everyone's the same.

[Raskovnik]

Out of these three, Nakamura. Tanahashi is much better in the ring, or at the very least way more consistent, and has the better catalog of matches as a result, but Nakamura has a more immediate charisma, a fantastic look, and a killer finisher. I like Okada too but he was way too much, way too soon, and not on the level in the ring that he should be. Worse, when he does fulfill his potential, no one's going to give a shit because he's already been there and done that three or four times over. That's the one issue with strapping a f***ing rocket to a guy so young. Okada's going to be around for years to come, God willing, yet I have no idea what he's going to do or what he'll even be able to do and get me invested in. That's going to be an issue in a year or two when Tanahashi and Nakamura are spent, which is an issue we've been creeping up on for a while now. Thankfully we have Ibushi too, and all we can do is pray for them to pull the trigger on Shibata as well. I think Naito and Goto are both damaged goods so I don't see them ever getting on that level, sadly.


But yeah, Nakamura is awesome.

[PL23]

For me:

1. Nakamura
2. Tanahashi
3. Okada

Shinsuke is top for me by a long way. It's not just because of his charisma (which wasn't always obvious), but also because his in-ring style just embodies what New Japan has always been about. Legitimate guys, with largely strike based offence. I didn't really appreciate Shinsuke until his heel turn in 2009 and development into the 'Strong Style Saviour' character, but looking back, he was fantastic as leader of RISE too, when he finally figured out what his style was. He was really held back by his 2005-2007 period where he left for an excursion to America, and came back using a lot of power moves, and he'd bulked up quite a bit, and that wasn't really him. He was also in Chono's 'Black' group, which never really got going much. If Tana had never got over and the company had never built around him, Shinsuke would be the top guy. 2009-2010 Nakamura in particular embodied what Strong Style is. As obviously charismatic as he is now, back then he had that quiet badass charisma (somewhat like Kawada) that isn't quite as obvious as someone like a Mutoh.

Conversely, Tana's never been affected by these things. His character was always well established, and his booking as he rose to becoming the Ace at WrestleKingdom 3 (beating his 'mentor' Mutoh for the IWGP Heavyweight title) was perfect, and he's been booked strongly ever since. Tana's a strange one for me, because he was the New Japan guy I became a fan of first when I saw him in the 2008 G1, but Shinsuke has long surpassed him in my eyes. He's needed to move down the card (away from the title) and turn heel for some time now. At the same time, the best way I can describe it is if Cena had saved WWE from dying (which New Japan wasn't far from), you'd dislike how he's booked etc. but you'd still respect and love him for saving the company. That's Tana in a nutshell.

Okada I can do without, but that's largely because I disagree with how he's been fast tracked to the main event, and I think it will damage him in the long run. I'm also not a big fan of his character. However, as a young lion you could just see that Okada was a main event star, and he's still very good in the ring. I just don't understand why Jado and Gedo haven't booked the CHAOS split yet. It's two years overdue.     

[Evilution E5150]

Hell YeaOH!

[ThereIsNoAbsurdistOnlyZuul]

Apr 23, 2015 23:51:42 GMT -5 chazraps said:

I love them all but have to go with Nakamura because, of the three of them, he's the most Nakamura-ish.

Given half a chance I'd grind him up and smoke him to absorb his power.

[The Ichi]

Apr 24, 2015 0:38:39 GMT -5 Crappler El 0 M said:

My favourite of the three is whoever this guy is.

[Raskovnik]

Apr 25, 2015 5:21:38 GMT -5 PL23 said:

For me:

1. Nakamura
2. Tanahashi
3. Okada

Shinsuke is top for me by a long way. It's not just because of his charisma (which wasn't always obvious), but also because his in-ring style just embodies what New Japan has always been about. Legitimate guys, with largely strike based offence. I didn't really appreciate Shinsuke until his heel turn in 2009 and development into the 'Strong Style Saviour' character, but looking back, he was fantastic as leader of RISE too, when he finally figured out what his style was. He was really held back by his 2005-2007 period where he left for an excursion to America, and came back using a lot of power moves, and he'd bulked up quite a bit, and that wasn't really him. He was also in Chono's 'Black' group, which never really got going much. If Tana had never got over and the company had never built around him, Shinsuke would be the top guy. 2009-2010 Nakamura in particular embodied what Strong Style is. As obviously charismatic as he is now, back then he had that quiet badass charisma (somewhat like Kawada) that isn't quite as obvious as someone like a Mutoh.

Conversely, Tana's never been affected by these things. His character was always well established, and his booking as he rose to becoming the Ace at WrestleKingdom 3 (beating his 'mentor' Mutoh for the IWGP Heavyweight title) was perfect, and he's been booked strongly ever since. Tana's a strange one for me, because he was the New Japan guy I became a fan of first when I saw him in the 2008 G1, but Shinsuke has long surpassed him in my eyes. He's needed to move down the card (away from the title) and turn heel for some time now. At the same time, the best way I can describe it is if Cena had saved WWE from dying (which New Japan wasn't far from), you'd dislike how he's booked etc. but you'd still respect and love him for saving the company. That's Tana in a nutshell.

Okada I can do without, but that's largely because I disagree with how he's been fast tracked to the main event, and I think it will damage him in the long run. I'm also not a big fan of his character. However, as a young lion you could just see that Okada was a main event star, and he's still very good in the ring. I just don't understand why Jado and Gedo haven't booked the CHAOS split yet. It's two years overdue.     

I love that Nakamura too because I've always said he looks identical to my friend Kevin.

[PL23]

Lucky sod.

King of Strong Style current Nakamura is obviously the better all round Nakamura, but when he turned heel to form CHAOS, Shinsuke just embodied everything that was New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His style was perfect once he'd dropped the Landslide and started using the original Boma Ye, and started to incorporate all those knees. His character was a complete contrast to the flashy Mutoh influenced Tana. Shinsuke was perennially grumpy, and wasn't afraid to resort to punching you before the Boma Ye if he had to.

I loved his IWGP run in 2009, and the story with Makabe went on throughout it, with Makabe eventually dethroning him.

As obviously cool as Nakamura is now, Strong Style Saviour Nakamura was just a badass. Grumpy as hell and kneed you to death, before punching you and kneeing you really hard in the face. In the 90's, he'd have been a top guy with that character. 

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

Nakamura is, my opinion, the best wrestler in the world right now. He's just head and shoulders above everyone else. Tanahashi is great, and I'll always be grateful for him basically making NJPW fun to watch again. Okada....I dunno. I WANT to like him, he's a great wrestler, and I love the whole "RAINMAKER" thing, but something just doesn't click the way it should. Personally, my NJPW top five right now is:

1.Nakamura
2.Minoru Suzuki
3.Tomohiro Ishii
4.Kenny Omega
5.Tanahashi.

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

I'm gonna go with Nakamura because like a lot of people says, he has the overall package and that match with Ibushi sealed it.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

There is no doubt that Nakamura and Ibushi had the match of the year so far. Far and away as well.

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

Apr 25, 2015 14:30:39 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

There is no doubt that Nakamura and Ibushi had the match of the year so far. Far and away as well.

And the sad thing is, it probably won't get recognized as such because it happened so early into the year. We've still got 8 months left for other people to get something else lodged into their heads.

[Raskovnik]

Apr 25, 2015 14:32:40 GMT -5 2coldMack is even more baffled said:

Apr 25, 2015 14:30:39 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

There is no doubt that Nakamura and Ibushi had the match of the year so far. Far and away as well.

And the sad thing is, it probably won't get recognized as such because it happened so early into the year. We've still got 8 months left for other people to get something else lodged into their heads.

The G1 tournament, which is like Christmas for wrestling fans as far as I'm concerned, hasn't even happened yet, so I don't want to out and out call Nakamura vs Ibushi the match of the year or get that idea into my head until we're done with that. It was f***ing phenomenal though.

[RedSmile]

I don't think that there is a wrong answer here. All three guys are virtually guaranteed entertainment.

Though, I think personally, I am a Tanahashi fan. I think he exudes everything a top face should be. Dude is a total rockstar.

[evenbroddt]

Tanahashi though the other two are equally as awesome IMO. I think its great though that while Tana is the "face" of NJPW, there is room for other guys to shine. WWE should take notes.

[EyeofTyr]

I like all three, but Nakamura is the top dog in my eyes.