NNew Japan Pro Wrestling

Favorite Kazuchika Okada match? Not exactly a ‘deep cut’, but I’d have to go with Dominion 2018: the culmination of his legendary feud with Kenny Omega, and the end of his acclaimed title reign.


Favorite Kazuchika Okada match? Not exactly a ‘deep cut’, but I’d have to go with Dominion 2018: the culmination of his legendary feud with Kenny Omega, and the end of his acclaimed title reign.

42 comments

  1. Okada vs. Shibata remains on top for me, especially now that we know in the end – Shibata got out okay.

  2. Nothing wrong with picking the obvious. I think I’m going to go with the Tanahashi match at Wrestling Dontaku from 2018. It’s a bit more of a sleeper hit but I think that was their last true epic together, and the last time they fought for the title if I’m not mistaken.

  3. It’s not discredit to his other opponents to say it’s probably one of the Omega matches for me as well; which? Depends on the day and when you ask, ’cause all of them were very, very good.

  4. Okada vs Omega I is my fave match all time. But Okada vs Ishii from G1 26 is such a close 2nd.

  5. Has to be Okada vs Shibata for me, but there are like 5 Okada vs Tana matches that could climb to no1 on any given day, a bunch of Kenny matches and others with Naito, Marufuji etc. his catalogue is so stacked.

  6. I’d have to say this match but also the shibata match are the best matches I’ve ever seen. Okada is THE FINAL BOSS. His V4 run was something I never thought I’d see in wrestling from the booking to the storytelling in each match. 

    I will admit Bullet Club made me interested in new japan but Okada made me a full time watcher.

  7. Okada vs AJ Styles Dominion 7.5. It’s arguable that both have had better matches with other opponents, but this is easily the best match of their feud. It helps that Red Shoes ejected BC early, so we get to watch them work their magic in the ring. AJ was Okada’s first rivalry as an actual face (not counting his matches against Devitt and Suzuki, which was Okada being face by default). Plus, I just loved AJ in New Japan.

  8. Okada vs Shibata at Sakura Genesis 2017. It is the greatest pro wrestling match that I have ever seen in my entire life.

  11. Yeah, one of the best matches I’ve ever seen. I’m also partial to okada vs tanahashi at WK 10. For a deeper cut that’s not mentioned often, I like okada vs Suzuki at new beginning in Sapporo 2017.

  12. Marafuji vs Okada at KOPW 2016 and El Desperado vs Okada at the NJ Cup 2022 are some of my unsung favorites.

  13. that match had me in tears by the end because of the years long story that went into it.

  14. I loved Okada vs. ZSJ from Sakura Genesis 2018. For some reason I was absolutely convinced that ZSJ was taking the belt.

  15. Not the most memorable for sure, but his title defense against Marufuji (and preceding G1 match) were both great.

  16. I’ve never seen Okada/Shibata all the way through. Omega/Okada is the objective best but my favorites are his last 2 big ones with Ospreay. Especially after Ospreay betrayed him. The most recent from Battle in the Valley was super emotional.

  17. Might be an unpopular pick, but his WK12 match vs. Naito.

    I know everyone was expecting that match to be Naito’s coronation and sour on the match because it wasn’t, but heading into that show I saw it as an unstoppable force vs. immovable object moment.

    Okada truly felt like a DOMINANT champion in that reign, and while Naito seemed like he may be the man to end it given his Ingobernable momentum had hit a fever pitch, it didn’t feel like a guarantee to me. Okada winning cemented that two-year reign in my mind as the greatest title reign in NJPW history.

  19. The Recent G1 final against Naito was phenomenal.

    Just a wonderful final encounter between 2 career rivals

  22. My favorite has to be WK10 main event vs Tanahashi, it left me stunned. I also love the matches vs Omega and ZSJ. But I love most of his matches

  24. I loved the match he had with AJ Styles from Dominion 2015. The best Okada sequence was in that match where they kept reversing their finishers. Amazing stuff. That’s more so one of AJ Styles best match as opposed to Okada so to answer your question? I’m going to say Okada vs Omega from Dominion 2017. It’s really hard because my guy has had nonstop classics with just about everyone haha!

  26. So many… his first match against Shingo, his third match against Ospreay, his first match against Cobb, his recent matches with Taichi…. Again, too many to list.

  27. How about Okada’s first title defense of this reign vs Naomichi Marufuji at KOPW 2016, just a taste of what was to come in 2017-2018 from The Rainmaker and a really really fun match too

  28. Omega Okada I was the match that made me decide to be a wrestler. I’d seen a lot of great wrestling matches but very few make me feel the way that match did

  30. Mine is not as well remembered, vs Suzuki at New Beginning in ’18. One of the only times Okada is a genuine baby face as he is being tortured by the murder grandpa.

  31. Best entrance was WK14 against Kota Ibushi. Good match too.

    I’m a big fan of the Okada/Omega G1 match at Ryogoku. The whole thing just felt like a breathless sprint.

  32. I’d go with Okada vs Omega II from Dominion 2017, but all four matches were classics.

    I saw Okada vs Omega live at Wrestle Kingdom, but my all-time favourite live match of Okada’s was him versus Suzuki in the G1 Climax 2017. I’ve never witnessed a match so intense.

    It went to a 30-minute draw, but it was engrossing; the time flew by.

  33. Maybe not my all time fav match of his but the Naito WK14 bout was incredible stuff. Watched it recently and forgot how good it was. When Okada plays heel and starts destroying Naito’s leg its *chefs kiss.

    Okada pulling off that and the Ibushi match in a 24 hour span made me realize he truly is one of the greatest.

  34. This one was nice but I’m going with the first at WK. literally started Indy wrestling boom and made people realize there’s more than WWE

  35. Okada has had nothing but absolute bangers with damn near everybody ever since he came back in 2012. It’s very hard to really choose one as an absolute best. It constantly changes for me.

    But right now, I’d say his match with Tanahashi at WK 10. Just narrowly beating out the first Omega match at WK 11.

    The 2012 Dominion match against Tanahashi is also another great match that I feel doesn’t get as much recognition as it probably should

  36. I’ve still yet to see a match I like more than the first Okada/Omega match, everything was perfect. I still get into the near falls at the end despite having seen it loads.

    Okada/ZSJ from 2018 was great too – they had a rematch in England a few months later that was also great. I was lucky enough to be there and the heat for it was incredible even though it was a definite step down from their first one.

  37. Omega/Okada IV might be the greatest match of all time (actually you could make that case for any of the four matches) HOWEVER, in my mind, the Omega/Okada matches are conceptually more about Kenny’s chase than they are about Kazu, if that makes sense. Obviously he is a huge part of why they are amazing but the story that develops through them has Omega as it’s protagonist and Okada as the antagonist (I’m sure you could argue different but that’s how it feels to me at least).

    So, with that in mind, my favourite Okada match is a three-way tie between the Shibata defense, the Marufuji defense and the Suzuki G1 draw with the epic slap battle.

  38. That fucking visual of Okada and Omega laying on the ropes after over an hour is engraved into my skull

  39. I don’t think there are many “deep cut” Okada favourites to be fair. He was pretty unanimously known as a banger factory for his main event matches.

    My top will change depending on mood between Okada Vs Omega 1, Okada Vs Shibata, Okada Vs Tanahashi WK10 (the birth of wrist control), Okada Vs AJ Styles at King of Pro Wrestling, Okada Vs Ishii Okada Vs Ibushi at WK14, Okada Vs Ishii G126 or Okada Vs Ospreay at WK15

    Today I will choose Okada Vs Tanahashi (because I just went back to confirm I was correct about wrist control and watched the last 10 minutes of that glorious match)

  40. My favourite is the WK 12 one against Naito. That’s for emotional reasons as I was the only one supporting Okada whilst all my mates were Pro Naito.

    An underrated gem is the baseball field one against Roddy Strong. ROH Field of Honour I believe it was?

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