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The 2021 PWI 500 list was released on Tuesday, 7th September. The top ten positions were heavily dominated by AEW, WWE and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Who were the top five from the most popular premotion in all of Japan? We take a look at who ranked the highest on the 2021 PWI 500 list from NJPW.
5. The Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada is ranked #25 in the 2021 PWI 500 list. It might be surprising to many that Okada isn’t in the top 10 this year, but it'll make sense to those who've watched NJPW over the last year.
Okada racked up wins and had a phenomenal match at this year's Wrestle Kingdom, but with injuries, a global pandemic, and not a single championship win in 2020, it’s been a tough year for The Rainmaker.
4. The Ungovernable One, Tetsuya Naito
Tetsuya Naito is ranked #15 in the PWI 500 list. It's one of the few times he has ranked over Okada. Naito has been a workhorse of NJPW for the last five years. He spent half of 2020 as the IWGP Intercontinental and IWGP Heavyweight Champion before losing the latter to Kota Ibushi in the Tokyo Dome on 4th January 2021.
Is the future still bright for the former Stardust Genius? Will he rank higher next year? Those who love Naito and Los Ingobernables de Japon surely hope so.
3. The Dragon, Shingo Takagi ranks high on the 2021 PWI 500 list
Shingo Takagi is ranked #9 in the 2021 PWI 500 list, and it isn’t that surprising for his long-time fans. With a career spanning over 15-years, Takagi has established himself as one of the most dominant and respected wrestlers in the world. The last six months of 2020 saw Takagi defend and retain the NEVER Openweight Championship, defeating The King, Minoru Suzuki, towards the end of the year.
He lost the championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi before entering the New Japan cup in March 2021. Takagi made it to the final, but lost to Will Ospreay before facing him for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He lost again, but Championship glory came soon enough.
WIth Ospreay out of action and the championship vacated, the two biggest stars of New Japan went head to head. This was Takagi’s crowning moment as he beat Okada for the top belt in the company. Takagi deserves to be higher on the 2021 PWI 500 list, but there is always next year.
2. Will Ospreay couldn't top the 2021 PWI 500 list
Ospreay is ranked #7 on the PWI 500 list. This isn’t surprising considering the year he had. From turning heel on Okada; forming his own stable with Jeff Cobb and the Great-O-Kahn; and winning the top prize in NJPW, Ospreay had a great year.
1. The Golden Star, Kota Ibushi
The highest-ranked NJPW star this year is Kota Ibushi at #5. Ibushi started the year as IWGP Heavyweight Tag-Team Champion alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi, but it wouldn’t last long as they were taken out by Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.
Ibushi spent September and October competing in the G1, winning the A Block, and going on to the final where he defeated SANADA for the opportunity to face the double champion Tatsuya Naito in the Tokyo Dome.
But, just like every good story, our hero came face to face with his biggest challenge, Jay White, who challenged and successfully won the contract for the doubles championship match against Naito. Despite all this, Naito made the bold choice to face Ibushi on night one of the Wrestle Kingdom 15, which was his downfall. Ibushi won the IWGP Intercontinental and IWGP Heavyweight Championship on 4th January 2021.
He then defeated Jay White the following night before declaring a unification of both belts, which took place at NJPW 49th Anniversary Show. Ibusho became the first IWGP World Heavyweight Champion after defeating El Desperado of Suzuki Gun. After 31 days, Ibushi lost the championship to New Japan Cup winner Will Ospreay at Sakura Genesis. Will he reach the top of PWI 500 rankings next year?
