MOTW 119: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shinsuke Nakamura

"M.O.T.W. #119: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura" - ink & digital illustration

The train keeps on rolling as we get to the 119th edition of our Chris Things Art 'Match of the Week' illustration series! This week we travel back to 2014 to celebrate one of the greatest Pro Wrestling rivalries there ever was.

This excellent continuation of an incredible, long-standing series took place on January 4th, 2014 - the main event of the 8th iteration of New Japan Pro Wrestling's big annual 'Wrestle Kingdom' event for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.

So I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit sad that we missed out on the final chapter of this epic rivalry for Tanahashi-San's retirement show this past week. But those feels got me on the rewatch train & had me jumping back in to revel in the nostalgia of those matches that I loved so much. I found myself watching an old AXS TV episode that featured this match, complete with translated pre & post-match interviews, the full in tact amazing entrances (including the Ace being played to the ring by Megadeath's Marty Friedman & Nakamura accompanied by a bevy of pole-dancers!) & the totally fantastic commentary of Mauro Ranallo & Josh Barnett. And my gosh, start to finish this was all just so great!

So this was their first singles match back against one another after a few years off & as an interesting tidbit, fans voted this to officially main event one of the most anticipated Wrestle Kingdom's in years, over Okada's IWGP Heavyweight championship defence. And upon watching, I think the fans most definitely made the right choice!

This whole thing was just tippy top level Professional Wrestling. They told a beautiful story of differing wrestling philosophies & of borrowing from one another's' philosophies. Of knowing one another extremely well but also feeling fresh & exciting with a wonderful level of physicality. Being a bit removed from this rivalry that spanned 2003-2016 between 2 of the 3 new millennium musketeers of New Japan, it just gives a next level appreciation of how great they were together.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

ENJOY!

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