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

The legitimate global shock of seeing Kazuchika Okada enter Wrestle Kingdom 12 in ostentatious new attire threatened to overwhelm the tangible awe most anticipated feeling when Tetsuya Naito completed his organic journey back to the summit of New Japan Pro Wrestling. Instead, the debut of the divisive duds tacitly ushered in his latest era of untethered domination.

Entering in the type of performance that typified exactly why the IWGP Champion has been entrusted in the role for such a lengthy spell, Okada unlocked brand new layers of arrogance in an effort to undermine and unpick the largely bulletproof 'Tranquilo' practiced expertly by his popular challenger.

The strategy worked. As normal when faced with such fierce opposition, Okada was forced to endure and survive, but in doing so melted the ice cool exterior Naito had employed to work his way back into contention. Determined to win at the Tokyo Dome with his largely abandoned Stardust Press, he lost sight of the end goal and underestimated the incredible preparedness of the champion. As he did minutes later after landing his spinning Destino - a move he'd won the shot against Okada with months earlier in the final of 2017's G1 Climax.

Maintaining control in a nod of both respect and derision to his opponent, Naito attempted to set up a second and fell foul of an Okada tombstone that ultimately left him prone for a match-winning Rainmaker clothesline. The result dazzled an errantly presumptuous audience, sure of Naito's eventual victory. It has since proven the most pivotal moment in an iconic reign.