10 Wrestlers Whose Careers Started In The Worst Way Possible
4. Kazuchika Okada's TNA Excursion Turns To Disaster
Today, you know Kazuchika Okada as one of, if not the, best wrester on the planet, and a man elevated to near-godlike status throughout the course of his soon-to-be-legendary two-year IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign. What he's accomplished aged just 30 is remarkable, but it could (and probably should) have fallen apart years ago.
Okada's TNA excursion was a disaster. Sent to America to refine his skillset and gain experience, he was booked like trash, regularly jobbing on the promotion's B-level Xplosion show. Then, in January 2011, he became "Okato." This Green Hornet-inspired character plunged him even closer to the abyss, and he'd departed by the end of the year, with sources citing his handling as a key reason behind the disintegration of NJPW and TNA's working relationship.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Okada's returned to Japan almost bombed too. Rebranded in his current 'Rainmaker' persona, he left a lame impression by flubbing his new finisher in a return bout with YOSHI-HASHI, then challenged IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi to cricket chirps later that evening.
It looked like a colossal error of judgment from the promotion, but it has more than paid off.