NJPW Spotlight is a series by Walter Yeates that highlights past and present members of the New Japan Pro Wrestling roster. This article highlights Kazuchika Okada. The previous article in the series on Manabu Nakanishi is available here.
“The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada has already established an undeniable legacy in professional wrestling despite only being 32 at the time this article was published. His list of fantastic matches in major drawing positions is as long or longer than nearly any active wrestler on the planet; perhaps only surpassed by Hiroshi Tanahashi and Chris Jericho, who wrestled in a historic match at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
Before Kazuchika Okada was 18, he left Japan to become a student at junior heavyweight legend, Ultimo Dragon’s Toryumon Dojo in Mexico — making his debut on August 29, 2004. During his time in Mexico training with Ultimo Dragon, and taking bookings around Mexico (mainly with Toryumon Mexico), Okada would learn the llave chain wrestling style taught to luchadores training in Mexico.
The llave style is a smoother looking brand of catch wrestling incorporating intricate keys and locks. The United Kingdom style of catch wrestling currently championed by Zack Sabre Jr in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and Jonathan Greshman in Ring Of Honor (ROH) is grittier and more of a grinding style.
On July 22, 2007, at Ultimo Dragon’s 20th-anniversary event in Japan, it was announced, Kazuchika Okada would be joining the NJPW Noge Dojo.
Okada would spend several years in the NJPW Noge Dojo, and wrestling Young Lion matches in undercard matches on NJPW events. In January 2010 he had his final match against Hiroshi Tanahashi before going on an excursion to Total Nonstop Action (TNA, now known as IMPACT Wrestling).
Okada was never a focal point in TNA. Rumors state, Vince Russo — who was head of the creative department said Kazuchika Okada didn’t have ‘It.’ Meaning Russo didn’t believe Okada wasn’t ever going to be able to draw money in professional wrestling.
Okada would officially return to NJPW on January 4, 2012, during Wrestle Kingdom VI to wrestle Yoshi-Hashi who was returning from an excursion in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Okada was now going by the moniker “The Rainmaker.” Just over a month later, Kazuchika Okada would shockingly defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship of February 12th at The New Beginning. His victory would be the unofficial beginning of the ‘Golden International Expansion’ for NJPW, as the ensuing program with Tanahashi would see NJPW business figures take a dramatic leap forward.
Since 2012 Okada has become a box office smash and an international revenue machine for himself and NJPW. His list of accomplishments is lengthy: he’s the second leading merchandise pusher behind IWGP Intercontinental and World ‘Double Champion‘ Tetsuya Naito, he has been in the marquee of many million-dollar gates, set nearly every IWGP Heavyweight Championship record, and many consider him to be the best wrestler in the world currently.
Despite his laundry list of accomplishments, there remains a lot for him to achieve within NJPW, including to help cement the company as a permanent presence within North America. In Japan, Okada is likely to lead NJPW in running major arenas like the Osaka Dome, Fukuoka Dome, Nagoya Dome, and a return to the Seibu Dome (MetLife Dome).
Okada is a 5x IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a 2x New Japan Cup and G1 Climax trophy winner. He’s one of the rare professional wrestlers that never seems to have an off night. Kazuchika Okada is quickly moving up ‘all-time’ lists for best wrestler of all time when taking into consideration live gate draws, in-ring skill, longevity, and his role in increasing business for NJPW. His efforts are aided by the unique charisma of Naito, who has become a superstar since Los Ingobernables de Japon formed on April 25, 2014, and Hiroshi Tanashi, who remains one of the best big match wrestlers in history.
