Kazuchika Okada has been the ace of New Japan Pro Wrestling for years now, and in that time he has been consistently tied to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
He has won it 5 times, and broke the record for most days as champion and well as longest single reign. Okada has had somenlf the best matches ever with the likes of Kenny Omega, SANADA, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, and more during his time as champion.
On paper, there is no issue in sight. But in reality, fans need a good break from his constant dominance. With Naito winning the Double Gold Dash, and becoming IWGP Heavyweight Champion for the second time, is now the time to give everyone that break?
Kazuchika Okada Falls To Taichi
In an 8 man tag at New Years Dash, it ended in DQ when Taichi would use the iron glove he inheritied from Takayuki Iizuka in plain sight of the referee. Iizuka retired back in February of 2019, and he would leave the bag he kept his dangerous glove in around the ring for Taichi to claim. It’s a dangeous tool which can drop anyone, but Taichi rarely uses it.
On this night, he wanted to simply send a message Suzuki-Gun style, and simply hurt the former champion. Taichi had a very successful 2019, and trying to further knock down the ace is a good way to start 2020. Okada will likely have to face him somewhere on the New Beginning Tour.
Losing The New Japan Cup
Last year, Okada would win the largest New Japan Cup ever when he bested SANADA in the finals. This was the second time he won the tournament, with the first time being in 2013. He lost in 2015, when he fell to Bad Luck Fale in the first round. He could easily win again and earn a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but I feel like that would be way too soon to bring him back into the title picture, as that would net him a title shot for April. The New Japan Cup should be used to elevate someone else to title success, or give Jay White a chance to knock off Naito and continue tormenting him.
Winning The G1 Climax
The perfect time for Okada to go back to the title picture would be in the G1 Climax this year, which is happening in the fall instead of the summer. This would set up Okada vs. Naito IV in the Tokyo Dome, and let them have them enter with swapped roles, as their previous three meetings have all had Okada enter as champion.
A full year without seeing Okada in a championship match would do a great deal to help make him more interesting once again. He has just been overbearing, it is much like when Roman Reigns was consistently on top of WWE. Some time away from the top of the card made fans more interested in him again, and that could also work for Okada in NJPW.
Would you want to see Okada step away and give the spotlight to other talent in 2020? Or would you like to see him be back in the title scene by Dominion in June? Let us know in the comment section down below.
