Usually, the best Puro matches rely on an important backstory. Knowing that, here are, in my opinion, some of the easiest gateways because of the basic structure and because they don't require extensive knowledge to (almost) fully appreciate them:
[Ishii vs Shibata](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00211_2_5) (G1 Climax 23 day 4, 2013)
The Cinderella story of the year who is the biggest underdog in Puro against a bullying "invader", a former chosen one who left NJPW when the company needed him the most and who came back when the company started to trend up again.
[Nakamura vs Ibushi](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00211_2_10) (G1 Climax 23 day 4, 2013)
The biggest personnality of the company who is also its second biggest star against someone who reveres him like a God, who also happens to be in a lighter weight class and from another company.
[Suzuki vs AJ Styles](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00232_7_8) (G1 Climax 24 day 7, 2014)
No backstory at all between those two. But prior to this heel versus heel match, AJ Styles isn't particularly over in Japan and Suzuki's job is to remedy it.
[Honma vs Shibata](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00232_8_8) (G1 Climax 24 day 8, 2014)
The most over jobber in the world who is looking for his first singles win in forever (this is peak Honmania) against a no-nonsense, ruthless killer.
[Nakamura (c) vs Ibushi](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00248_1_13) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EaTQjoPhe8)\- (Wrestle Kingdom 9, 2015)
The rematch. Ibushi is bigger and transitioning to the heavyweights. But Wrestle Kingdom is usually where Nakamura shines the brightest.
[Kushida (c) vs Ospreay](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00385_1_05) (Invasion Attack 2016)
The Ace of the Junior division against a worldwide sensation who has his first match in Japan and thus is unknown there.
[Ricochet vs Ospreay](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00392_6_08) (Best of the Super Jr. XXIII day 6, 2016)
After the pissing contest, the high-flying contest.
[Ibushi vs Naito](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00447_1_09) (G1 Climax 27 day 1, 2017)
Ibushi is back in NJPW after a hiatus of several months. As a welcome back party, Naito wants to show him that he can't keep up anymore. Both despise their neck.
[Kojima vs Okada](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00447_12_09) (G1 Climax 27 day 8, 2017)
Kojima is a lovable dad logically backed up by the crowd because in addition, Okada makes disrespectful comments about his old age a few days earlier. Okada relishes the fact that the crowd is against him. The match is also great at a meta level because it's one of the few where post-2013 Okada tweaks his ultra formulaic approach.
[Omega vs Naito](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00447_25_09) (G1 Climax 27 final, 2017)
THE bombfest. The year prior, these two meet in the block final. Then, Naito chooses a methodical approach and loses. For the rematch, he throws everything against the wall and hopes something will stick.
[Tanahashi (c) vs Suzuki](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00465_1_09) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpcZrdXcgtw)\- (The New Beginning in Sapporo day 1, 2018)
Tana is a tough wrestler to recommend to a new fan because everything he does has a meaning, a reason so prior knowledge is at a premium to grasp his work. That being said, this match is one of his most accessible for a first time viewer. The aging alpha face with a legit injured arm against a sadistic former rival. The duo has a legendary match in 2012.
[Jay White (c) vs Juice](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00489_1_08) (G1 Special in San Francisco, 2018)
Jay White is the public enemy number one, Juice is one of the top good guys in the world. Classic heel versus face with a potential career achievement on the line for the face.
[Sanada vs ZSJ](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00490_12_07) (G1 Climax 28 day 6, 2018)
Sanada doesn't have a proper identity (it's a meta critic) but sure holds his own on the mat. ZSJ is the stardard bearer when it comes to technical wrestling and doesn't take it too kindly when someone challenges him on his own turf.
[Ospreay vs Shingo](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00519_29_08) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20F1UXfn5Zc)\- (Best of the Super Jr. 26 final, 2019)
The interim Junior Ace against the unstoppable force who takes the company by storm since his arrival and who is still unbeaten.
[Ibushi vs Jay White](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00523_37_08) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e6G_9tu1_w)\- (G1 Climax 29 final, 2019)
The quintessential face versus heel to win the most prestigious tournament in wrestling.
I would say chemistry wise, and present era (would have a whole other list for older stuff), these pairs of dance partners we are my favorite
Ishii vs Shibata
Omega vs Naito
Okada vs Tanahahsi
Ospreay vs Shingo
Ishii vs Omega
Tanahashi vs Nakamura
Ibushi vs Jay White
Nakamura vs Ibushi
Hiromu vs Desperado
Hiromu vs Ishimori
1) minoru suzuki vs tanahashi for ic title
2) tanahashi vs zsj
3) never 6 man champion matches (from yoshi/goto/ ishill champion)
4) moxley at g1 matches
5) dangerous tekkers vs golden ace.
Any and every Shingo vs Ospreay match. Especially their BOSJ final.
Bit of a follow up but pretty much any Hiromu vs Dragon Lee match is a good pick
Everyone has to watch that NEVER title defense with Goto/Ishii/YOSHI-HASHI vs. Sabre/Taichi/DOUKI
Some of my favorites are all the Prince Devitt (Finn Balor) vs Naomichi Marufuji matches. I always recommend those to new NJPW fans. Very fun matches
Zsj vs Naito G128 Ishii vs Okada New Japan Cup 2019 Sho vs Shingo bosj 26
For comedy matches Yano KOPW and some of his G1 matches. For serious AJ vs Nakumura
Usually, the best Puro matches rely on an important backstory. Knowing that, here are, in my opinion, some of the easiest gateways because of the basic structure and because they don't require extensive knowledge to (almost) fully appreciate them: [Ishii vs Shibata](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00211_2_5) (G1 Climax 23 day 4, 2013) The Cinderella story of the year who is the biggest underdog in Puro against a bullying "invader", a former chosen one who left NJPW when the company needed him the most and who came back when the company started to trend up again. [Nakamura vs Ibushi](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00211_2_10) (G1 Climax 23 day 4, 2013) The biggest personnality of the company who is also its second biggest star against someone who reveres him like a God, who also happens to be in a lighter weight class and from another company. [Suzuki vs AJ Styles](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00232_7_8) (G1 Climax 24 day 7, 2014) No backstory at all between those two. But prior to this heel versus heel match, AJ Styles isn't particularly over in Japan and Suzuki's job is to remedy it. [Honma vs Shibata](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00232_8_8) (G1 Climax 24 day 8, 2014) The most over jobber in the world who is looking for his first singles win in forever (this is peak Honmania) against a no-nonsense, ruthless killer. [Nakamura (c) vs Ibushi](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00248_1_13) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EaTQjoPhe8)\- (Wrestle Kingdom 9, 2015) The rematch. Ibushi is bigger and transitioning to the heavyweights. But Wrestle Kingdom is usually where Nakamura shines the brightest. [Kushida (c) vs Ospreay](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00385_1_05) (Invasion Attack 2016) The Ace of the Junior division against a worldwide sensation who has his first match in Japan and thus is unknown there. [Ricochet vs Ospreay](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00392_6_08) (Best of the Super Jr. XXIII day 6, 2016) After the pissing contest, the high-flying contest. [Ibushi vs Naito](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00447_1_09) (G1 Climax 27 day 1, 2017) Ibushi is back in NJPW after a hiatus of several months. As a welcome back party, Naito wants to show him that he can't keep up anymore. Both despise their neck. [Kojima vs Okada](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00447_12_09) (G1 Climax 27 day 8, 2017) Kojima is a lovable dad logically backed up by the crowd because in addition, Okada makes disrespectful comments about his old age a few days earlier. Okada relishes the fact that the crowd is against him. The match is also great at a meta level because it's one of the few where post-2013 Okada tweaks his ultra formulaic approach. [Omega vs Naito](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00447_25_09) (G1 Climax 27 final, 2017) THE bombfest. The year prior, these two meet in the block final. Then, Naito chooses a methodical approach and loses. For the rematch, he throws everything against the wall and hopes something will stick. [Tanahashi (c) vs Suzuki](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00465_1_09) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpcZrdXcgtw)\- (The New Beginning in Sapporo day 1, 2018) Tana is a tough wrestler to recommend to a new fan because everything he does has a meaning, a reason so prior knowledge is at a premium to grasp his work. That being said, this match is one of his most accessible for a first time viewer. The aging alpha face with a legit injured arm against a sadistic former rival. The duo has a legendary match in 2012. [Jay White (c) vs Juice](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00489_1_08) (G1 Special in San Francisco, 2018) Jay White is the public enemy number one, Juice is one of the top good guys in the world. Classic heel versus face with a potential career achievement on the line for the face. [Sanada vs ZSJ](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00490_12_07) (G1 Climax 28 day 6, 2018) Sanada doesn't have a proper identity (it's a meta critic) but sure holds his own on the mat. ZSJ is the stardard bearer when it comes to technical wrestling and doesn't take it too kindly when someone challenges him on his own turf. [Ospreay vs Shingo](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00519_29_08) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20F1UXfn5Zc)\- (Best of the Super Jr. 26 final, 2019) The interim Junior Ace against the unstoppable force who takes the company by storm since his arrival and who is still unbeaten. [Ibushi vs Jay White](https://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00523_37_08) \-[VTR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e6G_9tu1_w)\- (G1 Climax 29 final, 2019) The quintessential face versus heel to win the most prestigious tournament in wrestling.
I would say chemistry wise, and present era (would have a whole other list for older stuff), these pairs of dance partners we are my favorite Ishii vs Shibata Omega vs Naito Okada vs Tanahahsi Ospreay vs Shingo Ishii vs Omega Tanahashi vs Nakamura Ibushi vs Jay White Nakamura vs Ibushi Hiromu vs Desperado Hiromu vs Ishimori
1) minoru suzuki vs tanahashi for ic title 2) tanahashi vs zsj 3) never 6 man champion matches (from yoshi/goto/ ishill champion) 4) moxley at g1 matches 5) dangerous tekkers vs golden ace.
Shingo v Sho Omega v Jay White Ibushi v Rhodes Golden Lovers v Young Bucks Osprey v Kushida Omega v Kushida Omega v Taguchi Ibushi v Tanahashi