Kazuchika Okada's 10 Best Wrestling Matches

2. Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - Wrestle Kingdom 10

They may have had another genuine classic since this match, but the Wrestle Kingdom 10 headlining bout between Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi was the true end of their rivalry. To say they knew each other inside at this point is an understatement, as the counters began almost immediately. Too many times in wrestling a match is prefaced with a 'final meeting' feeling, but this is one of the few true doomsday atmospheres in modern wrestling history.

This was the stalemate to end all stalemates, a battle between two men who knew each other better than the knew themselves. Tanahashi eventually eked out an advantage, as the possibility of beating Tanahashi in the Tokyo Dome seemed too big for Okada once again. The Rainmaker came, but the Rainmaker didn't work.

This was professional wrestling at its finest, two men battling to see who is the best and doing everything in their power to make it so, physical condition be damned. That was the point - at its heart wrestling is a battle of guts and desire, and that is exactly what this match and rivalry became.

Okada vs. Tanahashi's classic at Wrestle Kingdom 10 was the story of what comes when there is nothing else left. When intellectualism proves worthless, when the best laid plans still leave you short. This was about the intangible, and the most passionate of pro wrestling fans will know that it is the intangibles of wrestling that make it impossible to give up.