Top 10 best NJPW matches of 2021 so far

#9 Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (NJPW Dominion 2021)

OFFICIAL for Dominion, Monday June 7!IWGP World Heavyweight ChampionshipKauchika Okada vs Shingo Takagi!IWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipYOH vs El Desperado!Kota Ibushi vs Jeff Cobb!https://t.co/KqyX5qMG9bLIVE, English coverage on @njpwworld!#njpw #njdominion pic.twitter.com/VOIFBhexlY

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) May 29, 2021

No event embodied how badly NJPW was hit by injuries and COVID outbreaks more than Dominion 2021. Heading into the event, Will Ospreay relinquished the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship due to a serious neck injury. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado was also ruled out due to COVID-19 totally changing the card.

The main event of NJPW Dominion 2021 would have to deliver big time to make up for the changes. Kazuchika Okada was scheduled to be the next challenger for the top title, while Shingo Takagi was the last challenger before Ospreay gave up the strap. These two men would go at it in an epic clash.

Shingo Takagi has defeated Kazuchika Okada at #NJPW Dominion to become new #IWGP World Heavyweight Champion pic.twitter.com/6we4Sb2X9F

— JDF Sports (@JDFSports) June 7, 2021

Okada and Shingo had split their first two matches against one another. The two competitors gave everything that fans would expect from them. Shingo Takagi put on an incredible performance in this main event. From selling moves to facial expressions, he was on the money and determined to prove himself as one of the best wrestlers in NJPW.

Okada vs. Shingo built to a tremendous climax. Despite the former's injured back, and just recovering from COVID-19, he was once again the big match performer. Shingo's final Last of the Dragon to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship generated a gasp reaction and felt significant to his career. This felt like the biggest win of Takagi's career.