#4.) vs Kota Ibushi – G1 Climax 23
It was 2013 and on the fourth day of G1 Climax, Shinsuke Nakamura would take on heavyweight newcomer Kota Ibushi. Fans were aware of Ibushi’s talent, from his elite striking to his high-flying wonders. However, they saw him in the Junior Heavyweight Division and not the Heavyweight division against the company’s elite.
This was his first major opportunity, and the cocky and arrogant Nakamura tried to shrug off his credibility, not taking him particularly seriously. Ibushi would prove why that was Nakamura’s first major mistake. The match saw strong style striking at its finest and Nakamura tried to destroy Ibushi with constant kicks to the head, despite the referee’s protests.
Ibushi would shockingly kick out of the Boma-Ye (Kinshasa) at one, but a second Boma-Ye proved too much for the new Heavyweight as Nakamura secured the victory.
Next Page: Shinsuke Nakamura’s 5 Greatest Matches
