Ranking Who Was Really The Man In Wrestling Every Year 1990-2020

8. 2013 - Kazuchika Okada

Austin Jericho
NJPW1972.com

2013 saw Kazuchika Okada ascend from prodigy to best in the world calibre.

The Rainmaker reigned with the IWGP Heavyweight Title from April onwards, not losing it all year, in a period of steady business growth. He was a true Champion, having long since evolved from the almost awkward-looking man who had first challenged Tanahashi the previous year. He embodied the superstar aura thrust immediately and very ambitiously onto him.

He was also a true in-ring genius.

A psychological phenomenon with an uncanny ability to drive fans into a meltdown crescendo in the last five minutes of his classic main events, Okada worked two of his best matches with Tanahashi in 2013, the second of which, at King Of Pro Wrestling, was informed by the Red Ink finisher he debuted at the New Japan Cup.

Okada, arm battered, earned a gasp of shock by failing to apply the hold louder than most of his peers drew for a finisher kick-out.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!