12 Ups & 5 Downs From NJPW The New Beginning In Osaka 2019

8. Fale Vs. Okada Overdelivers... Again

Kazuchika Okada YOSHI-HASHI
NJPW

Bad Luck Fale and Kazuchika Okada always have good matches together. Always.

This pairing won't ever trouble your 'Match of the Year' ballots, but they know what they're doing with each other. Their chemistry is palpable, Okada is a surprisingly effective underdog despite being a 6'4" physical specimen himself, and he and Fale know how to lay out a match that makes the 'Rogue General' look good.

This was the case again at New Beginning, where Okada and Fale overcame a lacklustre build to produce a fun in-ring dynamic. There were smoke and mirrors, but we expect that from Fale bouts, and they didn't hamper the scrap in any way. Appropriately, the big man bullied 'The Rainmaker' for much of it. Working from beneath, fiery babyface Okada looked excellent, and although the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion eventually triumphed with a couple of Rainmakers, Fale lost nothing in defeat.

After failing to win last year's G1 Climax and falling to Jay White at Wrestle Kingdom 13, Okada needed that one. His character arc should now be one of the most interesting to following in all of wrestling in 2019.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.