Kazuchika Okada Is A Wrestling Genius
Even during his seminal, record-breaking fourth reign with the IWGP Heavyweight title, when a loss to, say, SANADA was unthinkable, Okada made them believe. That New Beginning in Osaka 2018 match was so incredible that Okada magicked an emotional bond between SANADA and the fandom that simply does not exist elsewhere.
Kazuchika Okada also has the bizarre distinction of being too good.
He is known almost exclusively as a big match wrestler; his output, prior to returning from excursion in 2012, might as well not exist, and he returned as the wrestler who only worked the big, long headline attractions. Of course, his work after the return is as seminal a library of work as any pro wrestler has committed to tape - but the key criticism of Okada is that he is the best one-dimensional wrestler ever.
Okada barely deviates from his character and his spot, because why would he? He has reigned atop New Japan Pro Wrestling, and - pre-pandemic - grew business year-on-year to elevate the resurgence to even greater heights for a decade. He launched his main event career as a wunderkind. 11 years into it, and, still just 35, he's nowhere near the traditional pin-eating role of New Japan "dad". Frighteningly, he has only just entered what is considered the "wrestler's prime".
Only on rare occasions has Okada shown vulnerability or played against type. There was Wrestle Kingdom 9, the night on which he was meant to formally supplant Hiroshi Tanahashi as the Ace of NJPW. When it didn't happen, he collapsed into tears, putting over the enormity of his failure in order to put over the scale of his achievement precisely one year later. Then, after Kenny Omega ended the record-breaking fourth reign in the legendary main event of Dominion 2018, Okada spiralled into madness. Playing with balloons and coining delightfully silly catchphrases, it was a short-lived departure from his customary role as the unbeatable demigod of Japanese pro wrestling. Beyond that, it was thought Okada was incapable of interesting character development. His derided use of the 'Money Clip' submission hold acted as evidence of that.
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