10 Awesome Ways Wrestling Promotions Made Titles Prestigious

2. Gedo's Mathematical Marvellousness

Kazuchika Okada
NJPW

The best micro illustration of the IWGP's Title immense prestige, in 2018, Gedo used robust mathematics to usher in the next King of Pro Wrestling.

Hiroshi Tanahashi became the Ace of New Japan Pro Wrestling by combining his electrifying household charisma with incredible storytelling craft. Rewarded for saving a company by becoming its most successful act ever in its fiction, his fifth reign with the gold spanned a record 11 defences.

Kazuchika Okada was his successor. To make formal the transfer of power, Gedo plotted an inspired storyline spanning just under two years, across which Okada defeated all comers in matches of unreal quality and range. The gruesome strong style of Katsuyori Shibata; the vining technical wizardry of Zack Sabre, Jr.; the unprecedented stamina and hybrid brilliance of Kenny Omega: Okada had to endure the greatest ever generation of pro wrestling talent to equal Tanahashi's record.

In the sublime apex of an intricate plot, Okada had to defeat Tanahashi to break his record. And he did, in an exceptional match that invoked their classic all-time rivalry, and settled it in almost heartbreaking fashion: by the finish, Tana could only helplessly slap Okada before he ate the Rainmaker.

After two years of audacious and inflexible booking - Gedo resisted strapping Tetsuya Naito because only he could foresee this chef's kiss of a last chapter - he elevated the title to a level beyond prestige.

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Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!