You know what, the fact that for the second year running the main event of Wrestle Kingdom is Kazuchika Okada going up against Hiroshi Tanahashi should invoke eye rolling of gigantic proportions. The two have faced off against each other roughly seven billion times in the last few years, trading wins here and there as they battle over the biggest prize in the promotion. Their dominance of the belt has been interrupted on a couple of occasions by AJ Styles, but once again as the Japanese WrestleMania comes round it is Okada and Tanahashi in the main event. The difference is in the storytelling, and that is why this is a hugely anticipated match. It isn't even as if the result is up in the air, as all logic says Okada should come out on top by retaining his title against the Once in a Century Talent. Okada is the present and the future of professional wrestling outside of the United States, and the time is now for the torch to finally be passed. The real joy is in the story, and how NJPW has managed to put together a repetitive main event match where the champion is the underdog in many ways. Last year's Wrestle Kingdom ended with Okada unsuccessfully challenging Tanahashi for the title, and walking out in tears as the champion mocked him from the ring. This set off a story of redemption for Okada, who would win the title back from AJ Styles at Dominion 7.5 in July. Tanahashi would be confirmed as number one contender after winning the G1 Climax (and defending the briefcase against Naito and Bad Luck Fale), which leads us to this. Okada, the champion, needing to prove himself against Tanahashi, the ace of NJPW for the last forever. It is going to be a special, special match. There you have it, the entire card of what will likely be as strong a show as 2016 can offer previewed. I for one cannot wait for Wrestle Kingdom 10. Roll on January 4th.
Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.
