Kazuchika Okada’s IWGP Title Reign - Every Match Ranked from Worst To Best

10. Vs. Naomichi Marufuji (King Of Pro-Wrestling 2016)

Kazuchika Okada Naomichi Marufuji New Japan
NJPW.co.jp

Unbeaten against Kazuchika Okada before this, Naomichi Marufuji's dominance over 'The Rainmaker' caused great consternation to both Okada and his eternal cornerman and supporter Gedo heading into the titleholder's last defence before January 2011's Wrestle Kingdom 11.

Clocking in at 28 minutes, the battle was another Okada sprint ahead of his year of epic encounters, emphasised in a breathtaking closing stretch featuring endless two-counts from Shiranuis, Rainmakers and a battle over the Mitsuharu Misawa's legendary Emerald Flowsion.

Ultimately, it was Okada that hit the move, earning an overdue victory over Marufuji to put to bed yet another record en route to breaking countless others during a reign that was nearer the start than its (as of press time) inconclusive end.

Quick, slick and deadly, the parade of reversals, kick-outs and nearfalls in the final third were dynamically delivered, whipping up an electric atmosphere that in hindsight was an extra requirement for the post-match stare-down between Okada and his next opponent Kenny Omega.

Marufuji would no longer be of the Champion's concern, but like most of those Okada left behind on his journey to immortality, he was no worse off for the battle.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett