Tetsuya Naito vs Kazuchika Okada Wrestlekingdom 14 Highlights

15 comments

1. I’ve said this before, but the time to put the belt on Naito was WK 12, not 14. I know with the goal was Okada vs Omega IV, but Naito was just as hot as Omega was at the time, if not more. You can’t change the past, but never the less, this was a great match with an awesome payoff in the end. I prefer this match a tad bit more than Ibushi vs Okada from night one. It’s a shame Naitos run was cut short with COVID and all. Hopefully he gets a final run.

2. When the Stardust Press finally connected, it was a special moment. What a night that was. Shame about the remainder of the reign.

3. One of the best matches ever, Naito finally coming out on top

4. Still one of my favorite matches of all time. Legitimately burst into tears during the finish.

5. I still don’t think he should have dropped it to EVIL

6. Love how for this match Okada was 100% the heel and worked on the leg that Switchblade had fucked up the night before; also, being one of the biggest Naito marks and following his journey, it was so special to seek him first score the Stardust Press and later get that three count off Destino.

   As crazy as it sounds, I still think their first ever match for the IWGP in 2012 is still their best in-ring match, but this one at WK 14 had the better storytelling.

7. Tied for my favorite match of all time. To see the culmination of a literal SIX YEAR LONG redemption journey for Naito…nothing else compares. The only thing that marred it was KENTA at the end.

   I completely get WHY KENTA showed up when he did…still doesn’t make me happy though lol.

8. I subscribed to NJPW world specifically to watch this show (well, both nights) and it did not disappoint.

9. Still one of the greatest matches in NJPW, the call backs to the past 8 years of them feuding culminating in a storyline 6 years long is just fantastic. NJPW was never the same after Naito completed his arc. However in 2023 it does feel refreshed and energize, but it will take a lot to get NJPW back to this level again.

10. It costed me a small fortune and I had to eat mi goreng noodles and rice for a few weeks, but I was so glad I made the trip to Japan to watch both nights live.

    Japanese crowds may be seen as being quiet, but it was freaking deafening hearing the Naito chants start up once the opening rift of his theme started.

11. loved this moment, once natio connected with the stardust it was game over

12. Nothing happened after this. The show went to black with Naito celebrating.

13. Can’t believe they ended this show with a fucking Kenta run in

14. This is a candidate for my favorite match of all time. Naito’s journey brought me back into wrestling. This match had a uniquely “big match” feel.

15. I love how wrestler pulled off devastating move outside of their arsenal before hitting their finisher.