{"id":11119,"date":"2017-12-27T14:36:10","date_gmt":"2017-12-27T19:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=11119"},"modified":"2017-12-30T11:35:29","modified_gmt":"2017-12-30T16:35:29","slug":"newjapanweek-the-record-breaker-kazuchika-okada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2017\/12\/27\/newjapanweek-the-record-breaker-kazuchika-okada\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewJapanWeek The Record Breaker Kazuchika Okada"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having overcome big rival\u00a0Hiroshi Tanahashi\u00a0<\/strong>and taken his mantle as NJPW’s Ace, Kazuchika\u00a0Okada dropped the\u00a0IWGP World Heavyweight Championship\u00a0<\/strong>to\u00a0Tetsuya Naito.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Two months later he regained it at\u00a0Dominion 6.19<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>At the time the move was met with apathy as fans wanted the hot, fresh and cool Naito to be champion<\/a>. Little did we know that Okada would go on to have one of the greatest title reigns of all time, cementing himself as one of the best wrestlers of this generation in the process.\u00a0 Here’s a look at\u00a0the record breaking 550+ day fourth title reign of “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada.<\/p>\n

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Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kazuchika Okada: Early Days and the 6-star match<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Okada wouldn’t get the chance to defend his title for four months due to the G1 Climax<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 He had a good showing only missing out on potentially winning because of a draw with Tanahashi.\u00a0 In his first defense at\u00a0King Of Pro<\/strong> Wrestling, <\/strong><\/em>he took on Pro Wrestling <\/strong>NOAH\u00a0<\/strong>legend\u00a0Naomichi Marufuji\u00a0 – <\/strong>they\u00a0had a match that Tokyo Sports voted as their 2016 Match Of The Year.\u00a0 This would set the tone for what was to come.\u00a0 It also confirmed our Wrestle Kingdom 11<\/strong><\/em> Main event as Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>On January 4th 2017, Okada and Omega went to war in the longest Wrestle Kingom match ever.\u00a0 It was the first of many matches this year to get 5+ stars from Dave Meltzer<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 As champion, his matches were an entry point for all new fans putting pressure on his shoulders as Ace.\u00a0 The interest in a sequel was high and for a time was the most talked about match in wrestling. Okada had become a household name to any hardcore wrestling fan and was set to lead NJPW to a whole new level of popularity.<\/p>\n

Kazuchika Okada: Post-WrestleKngdom<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Okada had already proven to be a superhuman challenge for anyone to overcome.\u00a0 In his third defence he faced\u00a0Minoru Suzuki.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>In another grueling match Suzuki beat Okada’s leg and tried to force him to tap.\u00a0 Okada would not back down and proved he would never quit as he overcame Suzuki and continued his reign.\u00a0 Okada continued building steam and looking more and more unstoppable in the process.\u00a0 In a non title exhibition match Okada defeated\u00a0Tiger Mask W (Kota Ibushi).\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Okada once again stole the eyes of the wrestling world in a classic against\u00a0Katsuyori Shibata.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The match which saw Okada outplayed in every department but having to hold on and survive the onslaught of vicious kicks and strikes from the former MMA figher Shibata.\u00a0 Again Okada had a lengthy, draining battle in his fourth defence, the most of any champion since his 8 in 2012-2013.\u00a0 Okada also set the first milestone of his reign as this was the highest attended\u00a0Invasion Attack\/Sakura Genisis.<\/strong>\u00a0 In his fifth defence as he approached a year as champion Okada defeated\u00a0Bullet Club’s\u00a0<\/strong>Underboss\u00a0Bad Luck Fale<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Kazuchika Okada: Dominion, The Rematch and\u00a0The\u00a0N<\/strong>ightmare<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In just the first few months of 2017, Okada was already setting up to have one of the best years any wrestler had ever had.\u00a0 On top of that his title reign was one of the best in history filled with unbelievable matches.\u00a0 Looking to consolidate his reign as one of the greats he challenged fellow six star man Kenny Omega for a rematch at\u00a0Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-Jo Hall<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Okada again proved his drawing powers as this show holds the record for the highest attended Dominion show ever.\u00a0 The 11,756 people and everyone watching on NJPW World\u00a0<\/strong>( NJPW’s streaming service, similar to the WWE Network) were treated to arguably the greatest wrestling match ever.\u00a0 The two fought to a gripping hour long draw that saw Okada retain his title and add another 6 star match to his catalogue.\u00a0 Okada added another feather to his cap as he main evented the first ever sold out NJPW show on US soil against\u00a0“The American Nightmare” Cody.<\/strong> Okada pulled Cody to the best match of his career in front of the very receptive crowd as Okada made defence number 7 of his title.\u00a0 2017 was already set to be the year of Kazuchika Okada entering legendary status<\/p>\n

Kazuchika Okada: G1 Climax 2017<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Okada entered the\u00a02017 G1 Climax\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>as heavy favourite to be the first champion since Puroresu legends Keiji Mutoh and\u00a0Kensuke Sasaki\u00a0<\/strong>in the 1995 and 2000 respectively.\u00a0 There was no reason to bet against Okada,\u00a0 his was reigning champion for over a year and had not been beaten in singles competition since the 2016 G1 Climax.\u00a0 During the G1 Okada lost out on a place in the finals by losing to rival Kenny Omega on the last day in another highly anticipated match between the two.\u00a0 Again the two put on a classic in front of a sell out crowd despite the increased ticket prices over previous years.\u00a0 After a gruelling draw with Suzuki, Okada was beaten and weakened allowing\u00a0EVIL\u00a0<\/strong>to score an upset win and finally allow Omega to defeat Okada.\u00a0 The loss to EVIL led to a title match between the two at\u00a0King Of Pro Wrestling<\/em>,\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>the match was a real test of Okada’s drawing power.\u00a0 One he passed with flying colors as he again sold out Sumo Hall besting EVIL and retaining his title for an 8th successful defence.<\/p>\n

Kazuchika Okada: WrestleKingdom 12 and the Future<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: NJPW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After King of Pro Wrestling<\/em> we confirmed the WrestleKingdom 12<\/em><\/strong> <\/a>event.\u00a0 Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuiya Naito at the Tokyo Dome.\u00a0 The ungovernable against the unstoppable champion.\u00a0 The match has proven hugely popular in Japan selling tickets to Wrestle Kingdom at the fastest rate in over a decade.\u00a0 As of this writing (27\/12\/2017) the show has sold over 30,000 tickets.\u00a0 It is no surprise to see the show selling so well.\u00a0 Okada has established himself as a huge name during his current title reign.\u00a0 He has broken many records,\u00a0 his current reign is the longest in the history of the IWGP Heavyweight championship and he is set to overtake Hiroshi Tanahashi for most combined days as champion.\u00a0 The records that Okada has smashed and the catalogue of matches he has built up is unbelievable for someone who is just turned 30.\u00a0 We may be seeing the greatest title reign ever end on January 4th but Kazuchika Okada will have many more title reigns ahead and he will hold every record possible.\u00a0 Remember the name Kazuchika Okada and watch as he become one of the greatest of all time right in front of our eyes.\u00a0 Wrestle Kingdom 12<\/em> is a big stop in the road of his career and probably the biggest match he has been in to date but it just has the possibility to blow his matches with Kenny Omega away.<\/p>\n

Miss a day of #NewJapanWeek<\/strong>? You can catch up below!<\/h2>\n