10 Secret Genius Details Behind Wrestling Finishers

9. Kazuchika Okada's Rainmaker

Kenny Omega One Winged Angel
New Japan World

It's little wonder that together, Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada crafted the greatest professional wrestling matches of all-time: both men apply a level of their thought to their work that is mostly unparalleled.

The actual execution of the move is invariably superb. The step-through is a gorgeous touch that makes it seem as though he has just taken his opponent's head off, and the wrist control element is so masterful in its simplicity. Fittingly, it's almost like a penny drop moment: why didn't any wrestler think of it before Okada? It portrays him as an in-ring expert with total mastery over his opponent.

The answer is that Okada is a genius.

Similarly to the One-Winged Angel, the ripcord set-up of the Rainmaker also allows Kazuchika Okada and his opponent to create drama in the space between moves.

The last second ducks; the narrowest of distance Omega burst through with his propulsive V-Trigger; Jay White nope-ing it by simply sitting down; Satoshi Kojima flattening Okada with a Rainmaker of his own: the drama, again, is in the all-important space - and how thrillingly acute it is.

In this post: 
Kenny Omega
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential 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 former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!