There's good reason to believe that Kazuchika Okada versus Shinsuke Nakamura could be the Rock vs. Austin that will captivate not just New Japan Pro Wrestling, but also a growing American and global audience again growing familiar with Japanese pro wrestling in general. Add in gaijin like AJ Styles -- aka the man Okada recently defeated for his third run with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship -- Hiroshi Tanahashi and up and comers like Hirooki Goto and Kota Ibushi, and New Japan's future is bright. One of the keys to it shining brightest is the man whose "Rainmaker" clothesline finisher, picture-perfect dropkick and freakish athleticism must be seen to be believed. Okada's definitely one of the best in the world right now.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
