5 Best Wrestling Matches of 2008

#4 Kurt Angle vs. Yuji Nagata – Wrestle Kingdom II

This match took place when TNA had a strong working relationship with New-Japan Pro Wrestling. In it, Kurt Angle took on a man likened to a Japanese Bret Hart: Yuji Nagata, one of the men that carried NJPW on his back during its darkest hour.

Nagata, like Angle, was a technical wrestling master that specialized in submission holds. He also knew how to reverse his way out of almost any situation, and backed up his ring savvy with vicious kicks.

This led to some outstanding chemistry between two men that had never wrestled before. Angle and Nagata were on equal footing throughout the match, with neither man really having complete dominance as it went on.

This was because both of them kept reversing out of moves and hitting their own attacks seemingly out of nowhere. As a result, there was no way to predict what would happen, which left viewers on the edge of their seats.

As a straightforward wrestling match without much story behind it, this is as good as it gets. It showed why both men were considered such huge assets to their respective companies. If you want to see a simple wrestling match without theatrics, this is the match for you.