Worst in the World: EVIL vs Tomohiro Ishii-Wrestle Kingdom 16 (Day 1)

(Special thanks to the anonymous user who suggested this match. If you'd like to see a match covered on the Worst in the World, leave a comment down below.)

The last few years have not been kind to New Japan Pro-Wrestling. While the company hasn't been outright horrible the last few years and still puts on solid shows, the shine that New Japan had as recent as Wrestle Kingdom 14 in January 2020 has dimmed significantly. It's not all their fault obviously. Because of travel restrictions early in the COVID-19 pandemic, wrestlers outside of Japan weren't able to re-enter the country, and for a company like New Japan that uses gaijin talent pretty frequently, that was always going to be a problem. The 2020 New Japan Cup, which had been postponed from March to June, had to be completely re-worked from its original bracket when 14 of the 32 participants were unable to enter the country. This meant no Will Ospreay, no Jay White, and no Juice Robinson, all of whom are big-name players in New Japan, among others. Even as travel restrictions have softened, certain foreign wrestlers have yet to return to the company outside of appearing for its American affiliate New Japan of America.

Another thing that's hurt New Japan; injuries. Early in 2021, Will Ospreay won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He then injured his neck in his one and only title defense and vacated the belt 46 days later. After Shingo Takagi won the vacant title, Kota Ibushi was set to challenge for it...and then caught aspiration pneumonia and couldn't compete. Come the G1 Climax, the company was dealt another gut punch when one of their top stars in Tetsuya Naito injured his knee in his very first match and was forced to withdraw from the rest of the tournament. That G1 came down to Kazuchika Okada and Kota Ibushi, only for it to end in an anti-climactic referee stoppage when the snake-bitten Ibushi suffered a right anterior shoulder dislocation and joint lip damage. But of course, New Japan's booking during this time can't escape scrutiny. and there is one booking decision that the company has gotten plenty of scrutiny for...

Yep...we gotta talk about EVIL...

After spending a year in Ring of Honor as part of his learning excursion in the United States, Takaaki Watanabe returned to NJPW at King of Pro-Wrestling 2015, joining up with Tetsuya Naito under the new name EVIL. Later forming Los Ingobernables de Japón ("The Ungovernables of Japan" in Spanish and an offshoot of the Los Ingobernables stable that Naito was a part of in CMLL) alongside Naito and the returning BUSHI, EVIL became a staple of the New Japan midcard over the next five years, holding the NEVER Openweight Championship once, the IWGP Tag Team Championships with SANADA twice, and the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships a then-record four-times. While he wasn't quite as good as Naito, Kazuchika Okada, or Hiroshi Tanahashi in the ring, EVIL could certainly hold his own in matches with them, and would still put on quality matches with the rest of New Japan's midcard and tag division. That being said, few people probably ever thought EVIL would rise above the midcard. Boy, were we in for a surprise.

Come the 2020 New Japan Cup, and given all the circumstances I had listed earlier, New Japan badly needed a new main eventer. Would it be someone like SANADA or Shingo Takagi? Would it be one of the few gaijins they had available in Zack Sabre Jr.? Or would they finally give Tomohiro Ishii his moment in the sun? Nope...they went with EVIL, who bested Kazuchika Okada in the finals to win the cup, earning a shot at the now combined IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championships held by his stablemate Naito. They wouldn't be stablemates much longer, however, as EVIL turned on Naito right after winning and joined the Bullet Club. The next day at Dominion, with the help of the Bullet Club and the returning Dick Togo, EVIL did the unthinkable and beat Naito for the titles. EVIL was now the top champion in New Japan. And man, was it bad. 

EVIL would only hold the titles for about a month and a half before dropping them back to Naito, but that hasn't stopped New Japan from pushing EVIL to the moon. Because Jay White wasn't able to get into Japan, the Bullet Club needed a leader, so EVIL took on that role. They even gave him his own sub-group in the House of Torture to lead, but none of it made the push any better. EVIL's matches were still pretty good when he got the chance to just wrestle, but the cheating that came with being in the Bullet Club plagued his matches, dragging them down in the process. New Japan kept trying to make Main Event EVIL happen, but like fetch, Main Event EVIL was not going to happen. Fans have soundly rejected EVIL as a main eventer online, so much so that he took home Most Overrated in the 2021 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. Do you know how hard it is to get Wrestling Observer readers to pick something from New Japan for a negative award? It's rarely happened before.

The worst received match that has come out of EVIL's main event push has been his match against Tomohiro Ishii for Ishii's NEVER Openweight Championship during Night 1 of Wrestle Kingdom 16. This match earned just a one-star rating from Dave Meltzer, and holds just a 2.03 rating on Cagematch.net, with over 100 1/10 or lower ratings. To put into perspective how poorly this match was received, Night 1 of Wrestle Kingdom 16 took place on January 4th, and the match was recommended to me...on January 4th. Within 24 hours, I got a request to cover this match. I'm pretty sure that's the quickest I've ever had a match recommended to me. Let's get into this.

EVIL, alongside Dick Togo, is out first, which prompts commentator Chris Charlton to describe him as "the very antithesis of all that's great about New Japan Pro-Wrestling." Couldn't have said it any better myself. The champion Ishii is out next but doesn't even make it into the ring before EVIL attacks him, knocking him off the apron and throwing him into the ring post. EVIL grabs two chairs from under the ring, hitting Ishii with one before wrapping it around his neck. As I mentioned in my last post about New Japan, using a weapon outside the ring doesn't get you DQ'd, from what I understand. Ishii foils EVIL's plan, freeing himself from the chair so the two can have a duel with the chairs. Ishii gets the better of the exchange, but his attempt to use the chair on EVIL is stopped by a kick to the back from Togo. EVIL throws Ishii into the barricade so hard that it knocks over the table that ring announcer Makoto Abe is sitting at. Bet he wishes he was sitting with Josh Barnett. EVIL goes back to his original plan, wrapping Ishii's head in a chair and smashing it with another chair.

EVIL slides back in the ring before Ishii slowly follows him in. EVIL throws him into an exposed turnbuckle, something that we never saw get exposed. EVIL does it again before tossing Ishii out of the ring, where Togo catches him with a right hand. EVIL makes three quick covers, but Ishii kicks out at two each time. After some taunting kicks to the head, Ishii springs to life, no-sells a chop, and levels EVIL with a stiff forearm. Ishii follows up with a shoulder block before putting on a waistlock. EVIL fights out, but Ishii ducks a clothesline and hits a nice spinning back suplex. Ishii goes for a clothesline, but EVIL ducks it. Ishii locks in another waistlock, but EVIL shoves the referee, allowing Togo to hit Ishii in the back with a chair. EVIL follows up with a fisherman suplex, leaving both men laid out on the mat. Ishii blocks a clothesline and goes for a forearm, but EVIL gives him a poke to the eye before whipping him back into the exposed turnbuckle. Ishii, however, powers through the pain and hits a clothesline. Ishii sets EVIL on the top rope and, after a blocked attempt, hits a delayed superplex for a near fall.

Ishii sets up for a sliding lariat, but Togo distracts him. After using the ref as a human shield, EVIl goes for a clothesline, but Ishii blocks it and goes for a German suplex, only for EVIL to block it by holding onto the referee. Ishii headbutts EVIL in the back and goes for another clothesline, but EVIL shoves the referee in the way, causing Ishii to take out the ref. Togo wastes no time jumping Ishii in the ring before, and I shit you not, choking him with a fiber wire like he's Agent 47. That is attempted murder. Although, you've gotta wonder how effective using a garrote is on someone who famously does not have a neck. Suddenly, EVIL's House of Torture stablemate Yujiro Takahashi materializes in the ring and clotheslines Ishii. Takahashi goes for a lifting DDT, but Ishii blocks it and shoves him into Togo. Ishii then sends a charging Takahashi into the exposed turnbuckle before beating down EVIl in the corner, only for another House of Torture member in SHO to show up and German suplex Ishii. SHO sets up for a powerbomb, only for his former Roppongi 3K partner & Ishii's CHAOS stablemate YOH to run in from the crowd, flooring SHO with a forearm and giving EVIL a superkick before taking out SHO & Takahashi with a dive to the outside.

New referee Marty Asami runs in as Ishii fires up. An exchange ends with EVIL German suplexing Ishii, but Ishii powers through and headbutts EVIL. EVIL tries to hit the Everything is Evil STO, but Ishii avoids it, and blocks a follow-up low blow attempt before hitting an enziguri. Dick Togo tries to run in with the NEVER title belt, but YOH stops him as Ishii levels EVIL with a lariat, but EVIL kicks out of the pin attempt. Ishii goes for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster, but SHO distracts the referee, allowing Takahashi to low blow Ishii. Another distraction from Togo allows EVIL to grab the title and clock Ishii. YOH must've gotten taken out because he's nowhere to be seen during this. EVIL finally hits Everything is Evil for the three, the win, and the title. The House of Torture celebrates in the ring as YOH helps Ishii to the back.

The Verdict

Man, if you ever wanted a visual representation of how the booking of EVIL's matches did more to harm him than help him, it's this match. When EVIL & Ishii are allowed to go out and have a wrestling match, it's pretty great. If the whole match had been like the parts with actual in-ring action, it would be the #1 match on the list without a doubt. But alas, this is what we got. There is so much interference & cheating that it seriously takes away from the match. I get that the excessive interference is a big part of the Bullet Club's shtick, but man does it hurt the overall match here. A 2/10 rating on Cagematch might be a bit harsh, but this match is still a disappointing showing, especially for New Japan.

The Rankings (Best to Worst)

1. Tommy Dreamer vs Bully Ray-Victory Road 2011
2. Triple H vs Kevin Nash-TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs 2011
3. Rick Rude vs Jake Roberts-WrestleMania IV
4. Too Much vs Al Snow & Head-King of the Ring 1998
5. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns-Greatest Royal Rumble
6. Ernest Miller vs Norman Smiley-Fall Brawl 1998
7. Shane McMahon vs Eric Bischoff-SummerSlam 2003
8. The Tag Team Gauntlet-Extreme Rules 2010
9. The Gimmick Battle Royal-WrestleMania X-Seven
10. Hernandez vs Matt Morgan-Victory Road 2011
11. Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 33
12. Vampiro vs Sting-Great American Bash 2000
13. T&A vs Head Cheese-WrestleMania 2000
14. David Arquette & Diamond Dallas Page vs Jeff Jarrett & Eric Bischoff
15. The Women's Tag Team Turmoil-WrestleMania 37 (Night 1)
16. Triple H vs Sgt. Slaughter-D-Generation X: In Your House
17. Konnan vs One Man Gang-SuperBrawl VI
18. Ultimate Warrior vs Hercules-WrestleMania IV
19. Rick Rude vs Hawk-Clash of the Champions XXV
20. Shelton Benjamin vs Viscera-New Year's Revolution 2006
21. Steve McMichael vs Reggie White-Slamboree 1997
22. Lars Sullivan vs Lucha House Party-Super Showdown 2019
23. Alexa Bliss vs Bayley-Extreme Rules 2017
24. The Tag Team Fatal 4-Way Match-WrestleMania 13
25. The Barbed Wire Christmas Tree Match-TNA iMPACT (12/20/2007)
26. Tag Team Battle Royal-WrestleMania XIV
27. EVIL vs Tomohiro Ishii-Wrestle Kingdom 16 (Day 1)
28. The Chamber of Horrors-Halloween Havoc 1991
29. The Natural Disasters vs Money Inc.-WrestleMania VIII
30. Ivan Koloff vs Paul Jones-Clash of the Champions IV
31. ODB, Taylor Wilde, and Roxxi vs The Kongtourage-Genesis 2009
32. Kazushi Sakuraba & Yuji Nagata vs Daniel & Rolles Gracie-Wrestle Kingdom 8
33. Ivory vs Tori-SummerSlam 1999
34. Giant Baba vs Bulldog Bob Brown-WrestleRock
35. The Reverse Battle Royal-Impact! (10/26/2006)
36. Savio Vega vs Rocky Maivia-In Your House 14: Revenge of the Taker
37. Jerry Blackwell vs Boris Zhukov-SuperClash II
38. Nikita Koloff vs Bobby Eaton-Bunkhouse Stampede
39. Alex Wright vs Steve McMichael-Halloween Havoc 1997
40. The Great Khali vs Kane-WrestleMania 23
41. Savio Vega vs Crush vs Faarooq-Ground Zero: In Your House
42. The Shockmaster vs Awesome/King Kong-Starrcade 1993
43. Total Divas vs Other Divas-Survivor Series 2013
44. The Intercontinental Championship Elimination Chamber-Elimination Chamber 2015
45. The Oddities vs Kaientai-SummerSlam 1998
46. Team RAW vs Team SmackDown Men's Elimination Match-Survivor Series 2017
47. Hulk Hogan vs Sid Justice-WrestleMania VIII
48. Paul Ellering vs Teddy Long-Capital Combat
49. Dusty Rhodes vs Big Boss Man-Saturday Night's Main Event (10/31/1989)
50. Konnan vs Scott Hall-Fall Brawl 1998
51. Damian Priest vs The Miz-WrestleMania Backlash
52. Tyson Tomko vs Stevie Richards-Unforgiven 2004
53. Kane vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2009
54. Rick Steiner vs Scott Steiner-Fall Brawl 1998
55. The Extreme Elimination Chamber-December to Dismember 2006
56. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Hog Wild
57. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Souled Out 1997
58. Dustin Rhodes & King Kong vs Awesome Kong & The Equalizer-Battlebowl
59. Finlay & Little Bastard vs The Boogeyman & Little Boogeyman-No Way Out 2007
60. Mr. Anderson vs Rob Van Dam-Victory Road 2011
61. Jake Roberts vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania V
62. El Gigante vs Nailz-G1 Climax 1994 (Day 1)
63. Yokozuna vs King Mabel-In Your House 4
64. Dusty Rhodes vs The Honky Tonk Man-SummerSlam 1989
65. Sting & Hawk vs Meng & Kurasawa-Clash of the Champions XXXI
66. The Hurt Business vs RETRIBUTION-WWE Monday Night RAW (10/26/2020)
67. Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage-Uncensored 1998
68. Al Snow vs Big Boss Man-Unforgiven 1999
69. Vince Russo vs Ric Flair-WCW Monday Nitro (6/5/2000)
70. Mickie James vs Ashley-Royal Rumble 2006
71. Antonio Inoki vs The Great Antonio-NJPW Sumo Hall Show (12/8/1977)
72. Christy Hemme vs Big Fat Oily Guy-Against All Odds 2007
73. The Big Show vs Erick Rowan-TLC: Tables, Ladders, Chairs 2014
74. British Bulldog & Jim Neidhart vs The Dancing Fools-Fall Brawl 1998
75. Stevie Ray vs Konnan-World War 3 1998
76. Vampiro vs The KISS Demon-Bash at the Beach 2000
77. Team WCW vs nWo Wolfpac vs nWo Hollywood-Fall Brawl 1998
78. Vampiro vs Oklahoma-Starrcade 1999
79. Big Swole vs Penelope Ford, Rebel, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.-AEW Dynamite (8/27/2020)
80. Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania III
81. Jinder Mahal vs Randy Orton-Battleground 2017
82. Van Hammer vs Terrance Taylor-Clash of the Champions XVI
83. Junkyard Dog vs Moondog Spot-Wrestling Classic
84. The New Blood Gauntlet-WCW Monday Nitro (6/5/2000)
85. Chris Jericho vs "Goldberg"-Fall Brawl 1998
86. Hulk Hogan vs Kevin Nash-WCW Monday Nitro (1/4/1999)
87. Sting vs Hulk Hogan-Halloween Havoc 1999
88. Hulk Hogan vs Jeff Jarrett-Bash at the Beach 2000
89. Roman Reigns vs The Undertaker-WrestleMania 33
90. The Undertaker vs Goldberg-Super ShowDown 2019
91. Hiroshi Wajima vs Tom Magee-All Japan Pro Wrestling 1988
92. Jim Duggan vs Big Boss Man-Royal Rumble 1990
93. Meng vs Jim Duggan-Uncensored 1995
94. Jim Steele vs The Equalizer-SuperBrawl IV
95. The Golden Truth vs Breezango-Money in the Bank 2016
96. The Undertaker vs Giant González-WrestleMania IX
97. Sting vs Tony Palmore-Battle 7
98. D-Generation X vs Brothers of Destruction-Crown Jewel
99. Wendi Richter vs Leilani Kai-WrestleMania
100. Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar-WrestleMania XX
101. Hornswoggle vs Chavo Guerrero-WWE Monday Night Raw (7/20/2009)
102. Edge vs Triple H vs Vladimir Kozlov-Survivor Series 2008
103. Rosita & Sarita vs Angelina Love & Winter-Victory Road 2011
104. Kevin Sullivan vs Dave Sullivan-SuperBrawl V
105. Steve McMichael vs Brian Adams-Road Wild 1998
106. Scott Hall vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl IX
107. Boris Zhukov vs Paul Samson-Beach Brawl
108. Roddy Piper vs Hollywood Hogan-Halloween Havoc 1997
109. Kane vs The Great Khali-Breaking Point
110. Hollywood Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Diamond Dallas Page & Karl Malone-Bash at the Beach 1998
111. PN News & Bobby Eaton vs Steve Austin & Terrance Taylor-Great American Bash 1991
112. Scott Steiner vs Sid Vicious vs Jeff Jarrett vs Road Warrior Animal-Sin
113. Hollywood Hogan vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl 1997
114. The 2015 Royal Rumble Match
115. Kazuchika Okada vs Gedo-New Japan Cup 2020 (Day 2)
116. Batista vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2007
117. Sting vs Hollywood Hogan-Starrcade 1997
118.  Sable vs Tori-WrestleMania XV
119. Super Invader vs Todd Champion-WrestleWar 1992
120. Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez-Crown Jewel 2019
121. King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart vs Yokozuna & Jake Roberts-Heroes of Wrestling
122. Sid Vicious vs The Nightstalker-Clash of the Champions XIII
123. The 8-Divas Tag Match-Survivor Series 1999
124. The Fabulous Freebirds vs The Renegade Warriors-Halloween Havoc 1990
125. The Knockouts Gauntlet-One Night Only: Live! 2016
126. AJ Styles vs Frank Trigg-No Surrender 2008
127. Rick Rude vs Masahiro Chono-Halloween Havoc 1992
128. Mike Awesome vs Vampiro-Halloween Havoc 2000
129. Bray Wyatt vs John Cena-Extreme Rules 2014
130. Brothers of Destruction vs KroniK-Unforgiven 2001
131. The Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal-WrestleMania 25
132. Mabel vs The Undertaker-King of the Ring 1995
133. Wendi Richter vs The Fabulous Moolah-The Brawl to End it All
134. David Flair vs Kimberly Page-Mayhem 1999
135. The Truth Commission vs The Disciples of Apocolypse-Survivor Series 1997
136. Daffney vs Miss Hancock-Bash at the Beach 2000
137. The Bushwhacker vs The Fabulous Rougeaus-WrestleMania V
138. Randy Orton vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 37 (Night 2)
139. The Beverly Brothers vs The Bushwhackers-Royal Rumble 1992
140. Savio Vega vs Rocky Maivia-WWF Monday Night Raw (4/14/1997)
141. Teddy Long vs Eric Bischoff-Survivor Series 2005
142. Savio Vega vs Rocky Maivia-WWF Shotgun Saturday Night (1/25/1997)
143. Greg Valentine vs George Steele-Heroes of Wrestling
144. Abdullah the Butcher vs One Man Gang-Heroes of Wrestling
145. Major Gunns vs Miss Hancock-New Blood Rising
146. Vince Russo vs Booker T-WCW Monday Nitro (9/25/2000)
147. Bradshaw & Trish Stratus vs Christopher Nowinski & Jackie Gayda-WWE Monday Night RAW (7/8/2002)
148. Triple H vs Scott Steiner-Royal Rumble 2003
149. Goldberg vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-Super ShowDown 2020
150. Santina Marella vs Vickie & Chavo Guerrero-Extreme Rules 2009
151. Kevin Nash vs Scott Steiner vs Goldberg-New Blood Rising
152. Hollywood Hogan vs The Warrior-Halloween Havoc 1998
153. Mr. T vs Roddy Piper-WrestleMania 2
154. The Royal Family vs Clowns R' Us-Survivor Series 1994
155. The House of Horrors Match-Payback 2017
156. The Blacktop Bully vs Dustin Rhodes-Uncensored 1995
157. Team Dos Caras vs Team El Canek-Leyendas Mexicanas 2017
158. Pat Patterson vs Gerald Brisco-King of the Ring 2000
159. The Wyatt Swamp Fight-The Horror Show at Extreme Rules
160. The Four Doinks vs Team Bigelow-Survivor Series 1993
161. Sting vs Jeff Hardy-Victory Road 2011 
162. Bret Hart vs Mr. McMahon-WrestleMania XVI
163. WarGames 2000: Russo's Revenge-WCW Monday Nitro (9/4/2000)
164. Oz vs Tim Parker-SuperBrawl
165. Brock Lesnar vs Braun Strowman-Crown Jewel 2018
166. Brock Lesnar vs Ricochet-Super ShowDown 2020
167. The Mighty Maccabee vs The Iron Sheik-Maccabiah Mania II: Shekel Slam
168. Van Hammer vs Doug Somers-Halloween Havoc 1991
169. Ultimate Warrior vs Andre the Giant-Saturday Night's Main Event (11/25/1989)
170. Jeff Jarrett vs Sting-Halloween Havoc 2000
171. The Doomsday Cage Match-Uncensored 1996
172. Kane vs The Undertaker-Judgement Day 1998
173. Toru Yano vs Jado-New Japan Cup 2020 (Day 1)
174. Rebel vs Shelly Martinez-One Night Only: Knockouts Knockdown
175. Kaitlyn vs Maxine-NXT (10/19/2010)
176. Sabu vs The Sandman-November to Remember 1997
177. Seth Rollins vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-Hell in a Cell 2019
178. Michael Cole vs Jerry Lawler-WrestleMania XXVII
179. The Bushwhackers vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff-Heroes of Wrestling
180. James Storm vs Chris Harris-Lockdown 2007
181. John Laurinaitis vs John Cena-Over the Limit 2012
182. Hulk Hogan vs The Giant-Halloween Havoc 1995
183. Ultimate Warrior vs Goldust-In Your House 7
184. Los Villanos vs Los Psycho Circus-Triplemania XXIII
185. Jenna Morasca vs Sharmell-Victory Road 2009
186. Akira Maeda vs Andre the Giant-NJPW Big Fighter Series 1986 (Day 15)

Thanks for reading! Be sure to share if you enjoy and leave any suggestions for matches you'd like to see covered in the Worst in the World in the comments. Next time, I'll be adding a SmackDown match to the list for the first time, as I cover one of the wackier matches WWE has put on TV in the last decade. Until then...