When Kazuchika Okada faced JONAH in the G1 Climax, fans did not expect him to lose in clean fashion. However, JONAH would do just that – crushing Okada and getting the pinfall victory. Okada would go on to finish the tournament with the victory, but now needs to try and prove that he can defeat JONAH.
The title shot at Wrestle Kingdom is technically not on the line here tonight, but Okada knows that he can’t afford to take losses as he prepares for January 4th. JONAH would love to make it a three way dance all the same. Many compared their first match to when in 1987, Big Van Vader crushed Antonio Inoki in his NJPW debut. But remember Inoki was able to win that rematch.
JONAH Dominates From The Opening Bell
Okada would apply a headlock as this match began, before being shoved down with a shoulder tackle. Instead of trying to match power with JONAH, Okada would hit the drop toehold into an elbow drop. Okada would then try to hit a bodyslam, and was shut down by JONAH.
JONAH would be sent out to the floor and hit with a plancha, but The Top Dog would not stay down. Okada would be whipped hard into the barricade, before JONAH would come off the apron with a shoulder tackle. Black Forest Bomb off the ring post would follow, absolutelty brutalizing the spine of Okada.
He’d be able to roll his way back into the ring, but JONAH was right on him with a stomp right to the chest – putting all his weight on Okada. JONAH would whip Okada into the corner, and got a near fall off this. A backbreaker into the gutbuster would follow, getting another near fall before Okada would be locked in a tight waist lock.
A dropkick in the corner would get Okada a chance, and a DDT would take JONAH to the mat. He’d go after the knee of JONAH, and keep him on the mat with a sliding uppercut. JONAH would be sent to the floor, and Okada would use that barricade to inflict more damage on the knee with a shotgun dropkick as the knee was trapped.
Back in the ring, Okada would once again try for the bodyslam – only for JONAH to block and nail the spear. Okada was cornered for a hip attack, before a twisting vertical suplex would put him down for a two count. JONAH would look for a second rope shoulder block, but was caught in the air with a picture perfect dropkick.
Kazuchika Okada Breaks The Top Dog Down
Money Clip would be applied, but JONAH would find the bottom rope. Elbow drop would be blocked, but Okada would finally hit the bodyslam. The elbow drop would land on this second attempt, before Okada struck the Rainmaker pose. Rainmaker would be avoided, and JONAH hit the big German Suplex.
A massive lariat would nearly take the head off Okada’s shoulders, but he’d manage to get that shoulder up before a three count. Short arm lariat from Okada would land, before the spinning rainmaker. Rainmaker would be avoided again, and JONAH hit the urange. Black Forest Bomb landed,but JONAH was slow to climb for the Torpedo – allowing Okada a chance to roll to safety.
Money Clip was applied, before Okada was driven into the corner and dropped with a body block. Okada would fire back with a German Suplex, before again missing the Rainmaker. JONAH would take the shotgun dropkick, and would stand tall before another dropkick and the Landslide. Rainmaker would land – and JONAH was not getting up. For the first time in his NJPW career, JONAH has been pinned in NJPW. They’d shake hands after this war, no shame in the result.
Will Kazuchika Okada claim the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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