Kazuchika Okada’s IWGP Title Reign - Every Match Ranked from Worst To Best
9. Vs. EVIL (King Of Pro-Wrestling 2017)
Whilst unable to reach the heights of their G1 Climax 2017 clash, Kazuchika Okada and EVIL were no less able to construct a minor classic as another record tumbled at what most assumed to be the tail-end of 'The Rainmaker's run.
EVIL's victory back then had its own significance - Okada had gone nearly a full year without eating defeat, but the pinfall loss on day 364 of that particular streak left behind reason for a rematch shortly before EVIL's Los Ingobernables de Japón partner Tetsuya Naito would at January 2018's Wrestle Kingdom 12.
It was their prior contest that perhaps reduced the chasm between the two when they went into battle. EVIL refused to show anything other than the minimum respect to the highly regarded Champion, despite Okada's arrogance that itself would feed into the eventual feud with LIJ's 'Tranquilo' leader.
Instead of trying to counter Okada's attacks, he instead just stole moments - assaults on the floor as well as a weapons-based Darkness Falls attempt whilst the referee was hurt were smart shortcuts in theory, but the titleholder's parade of Rainmakers were again enough to retain.
Fittingly, defeating EVIL provided additional vindication for Okada beyond the redemption he claimed for losing his almost-year-long unbeaten run. The title match would be his last before sailing past Shinya Hashimoto's 489-day reign two decades earlier.