IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Tetsuya Naito (4/10/16)
30-minutes of beautiful glorious professional wrestling, what with the slow build and the interference and the odds stacked against the champ and the high high drama. Had that infamous Big Fight Feel, Naito and his goons squaring off with The Man. Everything they did had a little EXTRA on it – Okada’s guardrail bump, Naito’s clotheslines, Naito just getting WRECKED by a running dropkick. Even the early stuff had some character – I will always and forever be a mark for ominous clean breaks. Naito’s boys EVIL and BUSHI got involved and Okada them all a big receipt with a big crossbody into the crowd. Okada’s was a total professional selling his ass off for everything, highlighted by almost passing out in what Wikipedia tells me is the Pluma Blanca. Naito’s bump off the dropkick towards the end is seriously an all-timer. Things were cooking here, headed towards a conclusion – and then, SANADA!!! The fans were a little confused as Gedo held his mouth agape. Very, very fun ride. ****1/4
