Kazuchika Okada Is A Wrestling Genius
How many times have you seen a rather drab blur of limbs advancing some rivalry or other on AEW or WWE TV? So many brawls just feel like emotionless scenes that exist only as a vehicle to prolong a story. This was the opposite of that. Okada's fury was palpable. When he reached the backstage area, all he could do, his brain fizzing with rage, was unleash a primal roar.
As his 21st century peers drew raves for their superior range - Kenny Omega evolved into a hyper-entertaining megalomaniac on episodic TV in 2021, Bryan Danielson just last week sent American crowds into meltdown by working llave on the mat - Okada spent so much time perfecting his one mode that he almost seemed limited in comparison. No longer; Okada, aloof, arrogant and cold, has used years' worth of patient and consistent character work to play against type to spectacular effect. The idea of Okada Vs. Kiyomiya in a sub-10 minute brawl as is as electrifying as it is unthinkable. Everybody who watched that angle is desperate to see it. With no exposition, no microphone even, Okada and Kiyomiya performed the best angle of the year and told their story in the beautiful, universal language of professional wrestling. How dare that little bastard desecrate the great Okada?
That's the selling point, everybody is buying it, and it only worked because Okada has protected his image for so long. While his character work can scan as dry, even a bit boring, the irony is that he isn't playing it safe. The sheer commitment is actually bold. In this maximalist era of pro wrestling, Okada has the intelligence and the belief within himself to only show hysterical level of emotion when it means something. He put over the role of Tokyo Dome Ace and the IWGP Heavyweight title to unprecedented levels in the 2010s, and now, in 2023, he has done more to put over Kaito Kiyomiya than his entire promotion.
Okada was the best wrestler it was hard to care about on January 4, after yet another 30 minute-plus epic. On January 21, Okada reignited the post-pandemic Japanese scene in 90 seconds.
Gedo could not have booked a better count-out tease.