An excellent video package sets the stage before the match. Nobody touches New Japan when it comes to making their top championship matches and feuds mean something. It’s obviously a different model from WWE and everything being so spaced apart might not work there, but damn if it doesn’t make you want to see them try.
1. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
This is a match I watched live at 5AM and loved, though it felt like it was missing something. I watched it again on AXS and came away thinking it’s a perfect wrestling match. It is such a great example of taking a brilliant built-in setup story for a match and paying it off by
telling that the story within the confines of 30+ minutes in a wrestling ring, offering spectacular action but also always giving the viewer something to really chew on. The wrestling, the selling, the faces, the ups and downs – every single movement and every single second was used to take the viewer on a ride and not just tell the story but give a satisfying conclusion to it.
And here’s the thing – I am just some guy watching wrestling on my couch. I don’t know if the story I saw was necessarily the story they were going for. But I saw what I saw and think they pulled off something special.
In short (ha), the story is this: Tanahashi is the former Ace of New Japan. The top guy. The champ. The guy all the people come to see and the guy relied on to headline the biggest shows and draw the biggest houses. He essentially carried New Japan Pro Wrestling on his back through a tough time for them, filled with a necessary recovery after Antonio Inoki’s MMA fetish ran through the organization like a wrecking ball, management changes, TNA working relationships, and luewarm heavyweight title runs for guys like Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe (sorry guys). Shinsuke Nakamura was right there with him, but was more an enigma, a top guy for sure but more attraction than THE guy.
In January 2010, Tanahashi defeated Okada in Okada’s farewell match as he headed off for a two-year learning excursion in America (sup TNA). Okada returned at the Tokyo Dome in 2012 after a stupid couple years spent in TNA, and Gedo took a look at this returning man and said, “SUP BRO. I THINK YOU’RE GONNA BE MY NEW ACE.”
After an awkward return match vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Okada went on to challenge Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in February and he BEAT HIM, ending a legendary title reign reign that saw Tanahashi defend the IWGP Heavyweight Title a record-breaking 11 times.
This would kick-off a rivalry that along with AJ Styles coming in, gave New Japan the buzz that would lead to all the recent interesting things happening with them. First Tanahashi took his title back a few months later. He then went on to hold it for almost a year before Okada once again dethroned him.
AJ Styles would go on to defeat Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Title, then lose the title to Tanahashi, only to regain it before losing to Okada which really kicked off Okada taking the throne as The Guy in New Japan. He held the title for almost a year (and beat Tanahashi at the Tokyo Dome in between it – whoa) before Tetsuya Naito downed him. This only proved to be a momentarily distraction for Okada, as he’d regain the title Naito less than three months later. It appeared as if New Japan now had a new Ace.
For the past year or so, Tanahashi has been sporting an ominous bandage on his right arm, and rumors abound that he is basically broken down physically. Of course, what I love (and sometimes hate) about pro wrestling is while this makes sense and is completely possible, the word about Tanahashi is that he is a classic worker like all the rest and likes the idea of fans thinking he is legitimately hurt.
Why would the guy keep working and even have a reign with the IWGP Intercontinental Title during all of this? Right? That doesn’t make sense! Or maybe it does! I DON’T KNOW!!!
During all this, Okada was in the midst of his legendary IWGP Title reign, including several infamous matches with Kenny Omega, as well as a unique epic match each and every time, and New Japan’s popularity in the United States skyrocketed (including holding their first singularly promoted shows there).
So for the last couple years, Tanahashi was successful but possibly working through injuries, demanding to go on to carry the company that might just be getting carried by another guy right now. Meanwhile, during Okada’s entire legendary current reign he did not defend against Tanahashi. They DID happen to face off during the 2016 G1 Climax, and that match resulted in – drum roll – a draw.
During this title reign, Okada also ended up tying Tanahashi’s record number of title defenses with 11 when he defeated Zack Sabre Jr. in April.
Ener Tanahashi. If Okada was to break his reign, he’d have to go through him. So here we are.
A recap is the only way I can explain why I was so taken with it, so here we go:
Tanahashi controls with a headlock early, that classic wrestling guy. Okada puts Tanahashi up top and tries to dropkick him to the floor, but Tanahashi catches himself with a skin the cat – but he STRUGGLES. Can he still do it!? The answer is yes, but he takes too much time and Okada grabs him in a tombstone setup. Tanahashi fights out of that, but gets a nasty second-rope DDT for his troubles. Okada follows that up with an even nastier second-rope DDT off the guardrail on the FLOOR.
Okada is feeling it. His assumptions were right – The Ace isn’t The Ace anymore. He is COCKY – he does a ONE-FOOT COVER ON HIROSHI TANAHASHI and poses. Tanahashi gets up all pissed off and throws elbow that Okada basically no-sells and leans in on, and then Tanahashi is taken down with a single uppercut. Okada proceeds to dominate and Tanahashi just can’t get anything going.
Finally, Okada decides to wrap it up – he does the Rainmaker Pose but Tanahashi STANDS UP AND GETS IN HIS FACE, which I think is a first. This popped me HUGE at 5AM but oddly the crowd doesn’t seem to react to it as crazy as you’d think they would. Okada grins back at him and stares him down, but Tanahashi is able to take advantage with a dragon screw. Tanahashi goes up top and drops a High Fly Flow plancha to the floor, trying to relive his past young man glory – it takes out Okada, but damages Tanahashi too.
Tanahashi struggles up and charges at Okada, but runs into a TOMBSTONE ON THE FLOOR and is nearly counted out. The Ace just cannot get it going like he used to. Once Tanahashi rolls in at 19, they trade blows and Tanahashi is just stumbling, eventually collapsing. The Fighting Spirit still dimly lit inside Tanahashi however, he gets up and tries to elbow his way into a comeback, and Okada actually does start to stumble but keeps getting up. Tanahashi desperately throws blow after blow and finally knocks the champ down.
Okada reverses an Irish whip and tries his trusty dropkick, but crafty aging man Tanahashi shows he still has tricks up his sleeves holds onto the ropes, causing Okada to crash to the mat. Tanahashi manages a Crossroads, hits the Sling Blade, and it appears the Fighting Spirit has been completely re-ignited in this man – but Okada kicks out at 2.
The thing that always puts Okada’s matches over for me is his selling. And not just his selling of being exhausted or hurt, but the emotions this man goes through. He has the aura of this invincible champ, but you KNOW when he is taken aback or struggling. His ability to go from confident to “oh shit” is Oscar worthy.
After the kickout, Tanahashi tries to keep the magic alive by climbing to the top and hitting his High Fly Flow, but Okada MOVES and is hurt again. Both guys struggle and Okada appears composed first, so he takes advantage and just dropkicks Tanahashi in the BACK. He is able to finally nail his trusty dropkick, then goes for the finish with the Rainmaker… but Tanahashi manages a Sling Blade!
You didn’t think you were escaping Tanahashi without some unforseen counters, did you Rainmaker man!?
There is an epic struggle where Okada goes for the tombstone but Tanahashi refuses to go up. Taahashi gutwrench lifts Okada, but can’t take advantage. They fight for some kind of lift and nobody is winning, so Tanahashi just hammers Okada away and drops to his knees, wile Okada rests in the corner, seemingly with more gas left in the tank.
Okada hits a running dropkick and crawls over to Tanahashi, SMILING. He HAS him. He goes for the tombstone again but Tanahashi shows seemingly one last gasp of energy and lifts Okada for the tombstone instead! He struggles… bounces against the ropes… struggles… and manages to hit it. He then goes for the High Fly Flow as the crowd buzzes and he HITS IT. He goes for ANOTHER, a two-hit combo that has won him many big matches before, but OKADA PUTS HIS KNEES UP.
HEART. BROKEN.
Okada goes for the Rainmaker, Tanahashi ducks, Okada ducks Tanahashi’s own clothesline and hits a German suplex hold that Tanahashi kicks out at ONE on. The Fighting Spirit fully engaged, Okada goes for another Rainmaker, but Tanahashi ducks and hits a DRAGON SUPLEX. He gets up and charges into Okada’s dropkick, but gets up and hits a SLING BLADE and we are at what appears to be a stalemate. Okada ain’t fuckin’ smiling anymore.
Tanahashi goes for a High Fly Flow with Okada standing but Okada counters with a DROPKICK. He goes for the Rainmaker again, knowing he can put The Ace away wit it, but Tanahashi ducks and hits HIS OWN RAINMAKER. Okada however will NOT be insulted and kicks out at ONE!!!
Okada desperately uses the ropes to try and get up, while Tanahashi is on his knees in the ring, nodding along with the crowd, trying to take in their chants and use their energy like he always does.
Tanahashi SLAPS Okada and the sweat flies off of him. Again. Again. AGAIN. AGAIN!! He tries another and doesn’t even have the energy, just limply swatting at Okada, but throws one more big slap/forearm to take Okada down. He lifts Okada up, who looks him in the eye, ducks a slap, and sets up a Rainmaker, only to be slapped once more by Tanahashi.
Okada holds onto the wrist and both slap each other at the same time, then Tanahashi trows another slap and both guys collapse onto each other – Okada on his knees, Tanahashi draped over him. Tanahashi looks at the crowd, charges all ready to do it just like old times, but Okada holds on to his tights, pulls him back and hits the Rainmaker that KO’s Tanahashi and gets the 3-count!
This match is not as spectacular or epic as Okada/Omega, but as a storytelling match this is as perfect as it gets. The Old Ace just don’t have it anymore to beat The New Ace, but god dammit will he try. Incredible. *****
After the match, Gedo and Okada recount Okada’s record-breaking reign, though Okada pauses: “I guess I had a draw in there, huh?” It is an amazing setup for him calling out Kenny Omega for their big No Time Limit 2/3 Falls Match.
The post-match Tanahashi interview with him laying down, crying and saying that he lost but will get stronger before walking off is wild. Does he even believe what he is saying anymore anymore!?
Okada, meanwhile, calmly calls this just another title defense.
Wow.
