10 NJPW Matches Featuring Current AEW Wrestlers Fans Need To See

AEW has been associated with New Japan Pro Wrestling since its inception. A large crop of the early talent that helped become founders of the company all arrived to AEW from NJPW. In 2022, AEW and NJPW put on the very much anticipated Forbidden Door pay-per-view that was still a huge success despite all the injuries to both AEW and NJPW's rosters.

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Many members of the current AEW roster had some great performances in New Japan and this list will examine ten NJPW matches AEW fans should see.

10 Kenny Omega Vs. Kazuchika Okada - Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall

Omega Vs. Okada is one of the greatest rivalries in the history of NJPW. This saga was so good, all four of the matches received six stars or higher on Dave Melzter's FIVE-star scale. The last match between the two is undoubtedly the best of the series.

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Dominion 6.9 featured a "Best Two Out Of Three Falls" match for the IWGP title. The two stars exceeded the insane expectations that were expected for this bout. The match lasts over an hour but is so entertaining it flies by like a great feature film.

9 Bryan Danielson (American Dragon) Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW Tsuyoku-Are Toukon Series 2004

Although Bryan Danielson Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi is often considered a "dream match" in 2022, this bout actually took place in 2004. Danielson was under the ring name "American Dragon" and the Tanahashi was still rising to his current status as one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of NJPW. Although the match is almost two decades old, the potential for both of these superstars is evident throughout this classic match.

8 Chris Jericho Vs. Tetsuya Naito - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 In Tokyo Dome

Chris Jericho's run in the WWE seemed that it could never be surpassed when he left the company in 2017. He wrote a new chapter in his illustrious career in NJPW. He competed in some of the best matches of his entire career in Japan.His match with Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP intercontinental champion stands out in his sea of great bouts. Their no DQ match at Wrestle Kingdom 13 was a great match and one of the best of the entire stacked event. It was one of the best losses of Jericho's career.

7 Adam Page Vs. Kazuchika Okada - NJPW G1 Climax 2018 - Night 5

Adam Page's match with Okada, where he wrestled under the ring name "Hangman Page," is one of the matches that helped launch Page as a future superstar. Having a good match with Okada in 2018 was not difficult since he was already one of the best wrestlers in the world, but this match is special. Page gives Okada his best shot and competes in an absolute masterpiece in his loss at G1.

6 Eddie Kingston Vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW Capital Collision

Kingston and Ishii wrestled with such different styles that their match seemed like a disaster on paper. This near twenty-minute bout is one of the best of Kingston's entire career. Ishii also proved he can adapt to any opponent as he was an absolute force in this match.

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Ishii ended up winning the match, but it adds a new layer to Kingston and hopefully will help him in his inevitably AEW main event push.

5 Jeff Hardy Vs. Tetsuya Naito - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom V In Tokyo Dome

Jeff Hardy's time in AEW has been full of controversy, but every fan hopes he can return and write the last chapter of his wrestling career on top. Hardy has only competed in one NJPW match in his entire career. It was against legendary Japanese wrestler Tetsuya Naito.

The match is full of low points for Hardy who is clearly not at his best, but when this match is good it's great. Hardy was ultimately victorious and will hopefully have another chance to compete in NJPW since his style is built to succeed at the company.

4 Jon Moxley Vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW G1 Climax 2019 - Night 6

A few months after Moxley left the WWE, he won the IWGP United States Heavyweight title and started his great career at NJPW. Arguably the best match of his career was against, NJPW legend, Tomohiro Ishii. This match at the 2019 G1 showed so many sides to Moxley and shattered the "Dean Ambrose" shell. Moxley won the match in what was, ultimately, his best match of the entire tournament.

3 Andrade (La Sombra) Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura - NJPW Kizuna Road 2013 - Night 9

Although the two compete against each other during their time at NXT, it never had the magic of their IWGP Intercontinental title match. This match at Kizuna Road 2013 featured a Nakamura who was on top of his game and Andrade, who wrestled under the name "La Sombra," who was a hungry up-and-comer who showed a ton of potential. This was one of the best matches of Andrade's time in NJPW.

2 Sting & Great Muta Vs. Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner - NJPW Super Warriors In Tokyo Dome

WCW had a few cross promotions with NJPW. The second one, in 1992, is arguably the best and it featured an absolute classic tag team match, Sting & Great Muta Vs. The Steiner Brothers. Although these stars all clashed in the WWE, the Great Muta was an absolute beast in this match. It was one of the best tag team matches of Sting's entire career and his best bout that involved NJPW.

1 Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson Vs. Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi - NJPW Strong Style Evolved

"The Young Bucks Vs. The Golden Lovers" is an NJPW tag team classic. The build-up to this match was years in the making. They only competed one time against one another and the match is a spectacle. It was a masterclass in storytelling featuring two tag team units that were on the same insane stratosphere in terms of talent.

The Golden Lovers were victorious in this match that last 40 minutes but felt like 10. Ibushii is the only member of this match to not appear on AEW, but regardless, this match will always be remembered as one of the best of his career and one of the best tag team matches in the history of NJPW.