7. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira PRIDE Shockwave 2004
There was a lot at stake in this title unification match at Pride Shockwave 2004. Noguiera is the fighter that Emelianenko originally won the Pride heavyweight title from back at PRIDE 25. They would be the only two fighters ever to hold the championship.
The previous year Fedor opted not to defend his title at the event, and accepted a higher paying event against New Japan Pro Wrestler Yuji Nagata the same night. As a result PRIDE organized an interim heavyweight title match between Nogueira and Cro Crop, which was won by Nogueira.
The next year both Fedor and Nogueira were placed on opposite sides of the heavyweight grand prix bracket. They would each win all of their fights and make it to the finals, but an accidental headbutt would end their fight a no-contest. Their bout at Shockwave 2004 was to unify Fedor’s title and the interim belt, as well as to declare the winner of the 2004 heavyweight grand prix.
In the end if Nogueira couldn’t defeat the Last Emperor either.
