| 1 | 14.02.2026 | Kaz | 9.0 | |
| 2 | 12.02.2026 | taabr2 | 9.0 | Coming into this I seriously doubt anyone thought Honma was going to win. I mean this is the Stone Cold Pit-bull versus a lovable jobber we're talking about here. But giving the greatest performance of his career Honma was able to make everyone in the crowd believe he could pull it off. This was pure awesomeness. |
| 3 | 18.01.2026 | ISimon1912 | 9.0 | I'm not the biggest fan of Honma or headbutts (which makes me not a fan of the same) and therefore I can't give this match a perfect score. One of the best things about this match is how passionate the crowd is in their support for Honma, my favorite moment was the chop fest (worthy of Kobashi vs Sasaki), if it weren't for the heavy use of headbutts (which is something I abhor) this would be on my list of 2015 MOTYC [****1/2]. |
| 4 | 14.01.2026 | BW99 | 10.0 | |
| 5 | 12.01.2026 | 704eb | 9.0 | |
| 6 | 02.01.2026 | Cardomillo | 8.0 | |
| 7 | 01.01.2026 | bnummer | 10.0 | |
| 8 | 19.12.2025 | conker8 | 8.0 | |
| 9 | 27.11.2025 | Denis J | 10.0 | Absolutely insane hoss fest. Honma's performance is so spirited and emotional and off the wall that I wanted him to win so desperately despite this being the first match of his I've seen. The crowd believed in him so fully that I became his biggest fan in the space of a few minutes. A rare example of the sheer brutality feeling matched by the emotion. I felt like I was going to cry in it's final stretches. Easily one of my favourite matches ever. |
| 10 | 22.11.2025 | Firebird22 | 8.0 | |
| 11 | 19.11.2025 | ZooWee | 9.0 | This match is so awesome. This takes place during the middle of Honma's HonmaMania run so he's incredibly over here and it's one of the major reasons why this match works as well as it does. Every time Honma is able to take control or even knock Ishii down even for a second, the crowd absolutely lose it and do the same whenever he signals for the Kokeshi or kicks out of one of Ishii's moves in the second half. I love the second half of this match with all of its big bombs but i think the first half of this is also pretty great. I loved the story they told with Honma repeatedly going for the Kokeshi but always missing as Ishii continually avoids it. Ishii works him over for a while until Honma is able to win a strike exchange which floors Ishii and allows him to hit the Kokeshi resulting in a huge pop. This match takes a turn at the midpoint with on of the most insane bumps ive ever seen. Ive seen it clipped numerous times but Honma's diving Kokeshi to the outside never fails to make me gasp. The way his body bounces on impact is fucking brutal and it really makes the way he moves now make a lot more sense. After this is the typical bombfest that you get at the end of every Ishii match with a ton of lariats and suplexes, only this is elevated by the crowd's investment in Honma. He eats a lot of punishment here but somehow always finds himself kicking out and returning the favour to Ishii. Despite his best efforts though, even after two brutal headbutts towards the very end, his efforts are in vain and he ultimately succumbs to an Ishii sliding lariat and a brainbuster. This is a big Ishii hoss fest so i wouldve liked this regardless but i think the crowd's investment in Honma and his performance here really pushed this match into being something special. A ridiculously good match overall. ****1/2 |
| 12 | 17.10.2025 | PEW565 | 9.0 | |
| 13 | 15.10.2025 | Libelula RGB | 10.0 | |
| 14 | 28.09.2025 | ilikewrestling66 | 10.0 | |
| 15 | 31.08.2025 | Brutish Dandy | | |
| 16 | 15.08.2025 | Beastboy9112 | 8.0 | |
| 17 | 30.07.2025 | Mihaawk | 10.0 | |
| 18 | 30.07.2025 | Porzingi | 10.0 | WOW! Ishii is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time and this still exceeded all of the high expectations I had going in. My favorite style of match is a hard hitting slug fest with a fast pace and this was exactly that and more. This is the first Honma match I have ever watched and my god did he impress me. Everything is sold well, but not overly sold to the point where it really slows down and bogs a match down. I found myself constantly thinking and saying "hell yeah" to this match. These two crazy dudes beat the living hell out of each other. This match is something special that I'll never forget. I can't wait to show this to other friends of mine who watch wrestling. 11/10 - 6 stars. Whatever the hell you want to rate it. Phenomenal match and one I'll never forget. Honma is an absolute madman with those headbutts |
| 19 | 28.07.2025 | bayleyclub79 | 10.0 | |
| 20 | 23.07.2025 | MrRollUp | 10.0 | |
| 21 | 17.07.2025 | JLHarman | 10.0 | [5 Stars] They're not wrestlers, they're 2 drunk uncles beating the crap out of each other in a ring, cheered on by a rabid crowd. But I can't get over Honma's leap to the outside, he was completely unconscious. (*****). |
| 22 | 06.07.2025 | Gilensky | 10.0 | |
| 23 | 26.06.2025 | DESPE | 10.0 | My friend below me is right. This match was a fucking OUTSTANDING from start to finish. The crowd was so behind Tomoaki Honma to the point it was making me get behind because wow, he's the coolest wrestler ever, KOKESHI. This match has probably ended up in my top 30 matches of all time. I never expected this match to be that amazing and so entertaining to the point I was almost losing my voice. Excellent match from these two men. KOKESHI FOREVER. |
| 24 | 26.06.2025 | Dweeeab | 10.0 | I expected this match to be pretty good since I watched the power struggle match before this one and I thought this one was great but holy shit this match OVERLY EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS! This match had me and friends going absolutely crazy the entire length of the match. They beat the absolute hell out of each other and the crowd was going crazy. The spots at the end Ishii was landing right on his head and took the craziest brain buster I've seen ever. The will of Honma doing everything to over power Ishii and Ishii's undying will to surrender was such a perfect story. Genuinely might be a top 25 maybe top 15 match ever for me I'm not sure yet, but I have a new found respect for Honma. I used to think he was just a new Japan jobber but after diving into him he has some incredible bangers and is very fun to watch. If you come across this match and see my comment please take time out of your day to watch this match it's worth your time I promise. |
| 25 | 24.06.2025 | somerandommark | 10.0 | one of the greatest matches ive ever seen, seriously it was that good! i expected this to be gritty, but i did not expect the emotion of honma's challenge and how much the crowd got behind him on this night! |
| 26 | 18.05.2025 | Clyde | 8.0 | |
| 27 | 16.05.2025 | Scorsato | 9.0 | |
| 28 | 06.05.2025 | DaPrice1776 | 10.0 | |
| 29 | 31.03.2025 | RedShow | 10.0 | |
| 30 | 14.03.2025 | Gungai36 | 9.0 | |
| 31 | 12.03.2025 | TheVeganBunny | 8.0 | |
| 32 | 19.02.2025 | ElmoLikesToSimp | 10.0 | |
| 33 | 05.02.2025 | Little Stinger | 10.0 | |
| 34 | 08.01.2025 | Geo93 | 9.0 | This wasn't the fastest-paced match ever, but it felt like every move meant something. Super high impact. Ishii was nuts as always, but Honma has impressed me a lot. His diving headbutt is nuts, and his one off the top rope to the outside was especially nasty. The crowd were super behind Honma as well, and they remained hot throughout the match. Fantastic. |
| 35 | 12.11.2024 | Taper1994 | 9.0 | |
| 36 | 13.09.2024 | Mampfer | 8.0 | |
| 37 | 06.09.2024 | ValonFang | 8.0 | |
| 38 | 28.08.2024 | yanis17 | 10.0 | |
| 39 | 19.08.2024 | kaidyark | 10.0 | The fact that Tomoaki Honma can walk after his series of matches with Ishii, is a testament that there is some divine force in the universe looking out. Jumping off the top rope, diving headbutt to Ishii on the outside floor, is the most fucked up spot ever, and he did that shit in TWO MATCHES. Unbelievable match ***** |
| 40 | 29.07.2024 | perconflncns | 10.0 | |
| 41 | 26.07.2024 | SadDoro | 10.0 | |
| 42 | 03.06.2024 | Galdr | 9.0 | |
| 43 | 18.04.2024 | Immortan Scott | 10.0 | |
| 44 | 07.04.2024 | Tarkovsky | 10.0 | |
| 45 | 26.03.2024 | god is a myth | 8.0 | |
| 46 | 19.03.2024 | CLUCK | 9.0 | |
| 47 | 28.02.2024 | BrokenV | 10.0 | |
| 48 | 17.02.2024 | Mariano14 | 9.0 | |
| 49 | 14.02.2024 | Tyler Catalyst | 10.0 | |
| 50 | 01.02.2024 | Ariak | 10.0 | |
| 51 | 21.01.2024 | All Cops Are Bossman | 9.0 | |
| 52 | 19.12.2023 | RyanKras16 | 10.0 | |
| 53 | 29.11.2023 | Burner | 10.0 | |
| 54 | 31.10.2023 | felixshanewestern | 10.0 | |
| 55 | 20.10.2023 | jendenrenlen | 8.0 | |
| 56 | 13.10.2023 | AidanArcher | 10.0 | |
| 57 | 22.08.2023 | ShineyxDiver | 9.0 | This was a great, great match. Perhaps Honma's greatest if I am being real. These NEVER Openweight matches are absurd and insane and memorable. Honma dropping his noggin to the outside was a MOMENT I can't believe it. Perhaps they repeat moments a bit too much in this match but that's a slight quibble. ****1/2 |
| 58 | 12.08.2023 | MorbidAxis | 9.0 | |
| 59 | 04.08.2023 | Hawkeyes1001 | 10.0 | |
| 60 | 27.07.2023 | MJC13 | 9.0 | Stiff, brutal violence, exactly what you would expect from these two. Ishii and Honma beat the cr*p out of each other this match, and the crowd ate it up the entire time. Genuinly the best part of this match for me was the crowd roaring every time Honma got back up after taking a hit, and narrowly kicking out after a big move (he was a huge fan favourite in this one). The diving headbutt to the outside was easily the best spot in this match, as well as the two shoot headbutts towards the end, which were absolutely sickening. Strangely enough my biggest gripe about this match is I think it went too long. At some point the back-to-back-to-back near-falls gave diminishing returns, and I feel that if they shaved 3-4 minutes it would have been better. That and the fact that both men have had performances that I've enjoyed even more than this (Ishii vs Shibata & Ibushi, Honma vs Shibata) slightly lowers the score for me. Still a must watch if you're in to this style of wrestling (****1/2) |
| 61 | 20.07.2023 | xitachi | 10.0 | |
| 62 | 09.06.2023 | No One | 10.0 | |
| 63 | 24.03.2023 | MMGoose | 10.0 | |
| 64 | 10.02.2023 | calivber | 9.0 | |
| 65 | 05.02.2023 | jameswarrington19901 | 10.0 | |
| 66 | 17.01.2023 | YannisPapiss | 9.0 | |
| 67 | 18.12.2022 | dajosc11 | 8.0 | |
| 68 | 27.11.2022 | American Dragon II Jr | 10.0 | |
| 69 | 27.10.2022 | joethom | 10.0 | This is one of those matches that exemplifies what the NEVER Openweight belt has grown to represent. A stiff, intense match. Honma is underrated, people forget how brutal and violent his BJW career was. Ishii and him seem built to destroy each other. Magnificent. |
| 70 | 22.10.2022 | TNBG2381 | 9.0 | |
| 71 | 13.09.2022 | texasyosh | 9.0 | |
| 72 | 20.08.2022 | gnarledoldman | 9.0 | |
| 73 | 21.07.2022 | Iceq | 9.0 | Für die NEVER Division ein wirklich prägendes Match. Honma und Ishii sind sich sehr ähnlich, nicht nur im wrestlerischem Stil, sondern auch von ihrem Stand her in der Promotion. Beide waren jahrelang extrem unterbewertet und durften nie wirklich viele Siege einfahren. Für Ishii kam der Sprung etwas früher und für Honma war das eine Performance, die allen anderen bewies wie gut er ist. Man bekommt den typischen New Japan Hardhitting Stil und das so richtig. Honma ist mit seinen Headbutts kreativer, als jeder andere Wrestler zuvor und danach. Ishii ist mal nicht der Publikumsliebling und die klare Nummer Eins. Viele geniale Sequenzen, sehr hart gehalten, eine tolle Crowd und ein spannendes Ende(****1/2). |
| 74 | 09.07.2022 | njpwawwe | 10.0 | |
| 75 | 03.07.2022 | 2bitterforyou | 8.0 | |
| 76 | 17.06.2022 | CM Brooks 667 | 9.0 | |
| 77 | 13.06.2022 | njpw2014-present | 9.0 | |
| 78 | 04.06.2022 | LG47 | 9.0 | |
| 79 | 20.04.2022 | k9thagod1 | 10.0 | |
| 80 | 03.04.2022 | TheArtOfTheRing | 10.0 | |
| 81 | 30.03.2022 | Okaro143 | 9.0 | Excellent match. This was so much better than expected. Honma was really over with the crowd and gave the performance of a lifetime. Ishii is always great and even though this match was a far cry from his best matches, the chemistry between Honma and Ishii was insane and the match was really special and memorable. It was an insane slugfest of a match that was at times really brutal and at times a bit uncomfortable to watch especially the part where Honma dives off from the top rope to hit an insane diving headbutt on Ishii lying on the floor. The crowd was heavily invested in the match and they were solidly behind Honma who unfortunately couldn't win the match. Amazing match. Great pacing and layout. ****3/4 |
| 82 | 23.02.2022 | UncleGreggles | 10.0 | |
| 83 | 18.02.2022 | Tagir | 10.0 | |
| 84 | 27.01.2022 | WrestleWire | 9.0 | I had to go back and rewatch this one. Dave Meltzer gave it five stars, Tomohiro Ishii is among the greatest wrestlers ever, and I only recently finally understood the appeal of Tomoaki Honma. I am genuinely relieved that I spent the time to try and understand where my rating and that by Meltzer may have differed. This was more of an experience than a wrestling match, with a story built around Honma and a crowd that ranks among the most electric I have ever seen or heard. These two produced a classic at G1 Climax 24, with Honma SPOILER ALERT securing his lone win of the tournament against The Stone Pitbull. In turn, Honma had seemingly earned an opportunity to win his first-ever title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. A title that had become the epitome of Strong Style: The NEVER Openweight Championship. And yet, this match would not have even happened if Togi Makabe had been healthy. Ever the underdog and fan favorite, Honma was getting the opportunity that perhaps no one saw coming. All he had to do was beat Ishii one more time. What unfolded was one of the most physical matches in wrestling history, with my curious self even rewinding to see if there were thigh slaps or if the contact and sound it made were genuine. Somehow, it was genuine. These two beat the tar out of one another, with some of the nastiest strikes I have ever witnessed. That alone would be reason for you to check this match out, but the crowd takes it to an entirely different level. This was a Danielson-Omega level experience from a crowd perspective, for those who are AEW fans, with a live gathering that simply refused to let there be even the slightest moment of silence. They ate up every single thing that Honma did and made this underdog story one of the most compelling of 2015, if not ever. Ishii bandaged heavily, with both his knee and shoulder ailing him, turning from the perpetual underdog into the resilient mountain of a man that he so brilliantly flips the switch to. It if one of the things that makes Ishii the living legend he is, as injuries, size disadvantages, or any other hurdles he may overcome only seem to enhance the immovable nature of this Stone Pitbull. Compounded by the fact that the ultimate underdog in New Japan Pro Wrestling was across the ring, the task at hand made Honma the epitome of a fan favorite in this one. With violent offense, unbelievable selling by both men, and an all-time crowd to tie it all together, I completely understand the Meltzer 5 and am even compelled to agree with it. Yes, Ishii and Honma have wrestled better matches, but a five-star is a combination of many factors and a legendary crowd can play a major part in that. Added bonuses: Young Lion Jay White in shock at what he was watching from ringside and Red Shoes breathing a sigh of relief that the match was finally over. For now, I will go with a rating of 4.75 stars, 9.5 out of 10. But I will certainly be revisiting this one at a later time. |
| 85 | 23.01.2022 | BlakeFR37 | 10.0 | |
| 86 | 15.10.2021 | Wrestling Fan | 9.0 | |
| 87 | 25.08.2021 | Kas | 9.0 | |
| 88 | 25.08.2021 | AZMSZN | 9.0 | |
| 89 | 23.08.2021 | Target | 9.0 | |
| 90 | 02.06.2021 | Judestar | 9.0 | Wow! This was probably Honma's best match ever and close to perfect. Ishii was great as usual but Honma is just so awesome as the underdog babyface ****3/4. |
| 91 | 10.02.2021 | yellowsanchez | 10.0 | |
| 92 | 14.01.2021 | Steini234 | 10.0 | |
| 93 | 08.10.2020 | MagnusD | 10.0 | |
| 94 | 08.10.2020 | comradevanz | 9.0 | |
| 95 | 02.10.2020 | bulO4KA | 10.0 | |
| 96 | 28.09.2020 | Bigdawgwrestlerbaby | 10.0 | |
| 97 | 20.09.2020 | Julyan | 10.0 | |
| 98 | 10.09.2020 | haroldanthony3 | 9.0 | This was a good brutal match however this match seem to go a bit long for me. I believe they had an idea of hold high they could peak the crowd when their was at least 3 or 4 times where they could have gone to the finish and got the same reaction. ****3/4 |
| 99 | 09.05.2020 | RoscoeSantangelo | 9.0 | |
| 100 | 27.04.2020 | SiwyWF | 9.0 | |
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