10 Biggest Stories From New Japan's G1 Climax 28 And What They Mean Going Forward
6. Kazuchika Okada Distances Himself From Longtime Manager
Kazuchika Okada came close to making this year's G1 finals but was thwarted by his longtime rival Hiroshi Tanahashi on the final night of A Block competition. The Rainmaker's hopes were dashed when the match ended in a time limit draw - meaning that with each man received one point for the split decision, so Okada couldn't catch the Ace.
The real shock came during the post-match press conference, when Okada stated he would no longer utilize the services of his longtime manager. Gedo - a founding member of CHAOS - has stood in Okada’s corner since 2012, helping lead him to four Heavyweight title reigns. However, the former champ had lost a step since losing his coveted strap to Kenny Omega at Dominion. While the split may have surprised even Gedo, the parting handshake between the two was respectful.
It seems that the former champion is looking to get back on track and perhaps decipher just what has gone so wrong these past few months. Seemingly intent on going it alone for the foreseeable future, maybe a bit of self-imposed exile from friends is what Okada needs to work his way back into the hunt for the IWGP Championship.