couldnt agree more. my favorite match of the year.
I still get chills from that stare down before the match. I swear Shibata was one of the reasons why I got into NJPW. Dude personify everything I love about puro wrestling from his basic attire, his don't take no shyt attitude, and his storytelling in the ring. Dude makes you believe that wrestling is real because he would die in the ring to prove it. When I found out breh was on the shelf for probably good, I just can't get back into NJPW like I used to regardless of it's boom period. Sure, Naito, Tana and sighs.....Omega are thriving but they are not Shibata. They don't have the fighting spirit of Shibata, or the aura of Shibata.