The concept of "Ace" in Japan is a difficult thing to nail down. "Top Star" doesn't seem to do it justice while "Best Fighter" doesn't seem to describe it entirely as well. In Japanese Wrestling, where these things can be managed and maneuvered, the Ace is the figurehead of the company, the absolute top of the pyramid, and because of that, it's usually the biggest star and the best performer, one that can convince people to come in the door while leaving happy. Kazuchika Okada of New Japan Pro Wrestling these days describes that to a T, and going back to PRIDE, nobody described it better than Kazushi Sakuraba. In 2000, Sakuraba was arguably the best fighter pound for pound in the world, besting Royce Gracie and going toe to toe with Top 3 Heavyweight Igor Vovchanchyn in the same night. Sakuraba was PRIDE's top star and had established himself as the best fighter in their promotion, but shortly after that, Sakuraba would begin to accumulate