When Kazuchika Okada won the G1 Climax to earn his shot against Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, it was originally just Okada looking to regain the belt he lost at Dominion 2022. However, the passing of Antonio Inoki would change the landscape of this match. While the belt remains on the long, it has also become about Okada winning back the belt and carrying the legacy of Inoki & NJPW with honor as the 50th year comes to an end in March. The numbers are against Okada, with a 1-4 record against White, including a loss at Wrestle Kingdom 12 that shocked the world. White simply intends to make history repeat itself, and stand tall in the Tokyo Dome over Okada once again.
Jay White Takes Credit For Cheering Fans In Tokyo Dome
Okada would hit the ring wearing black gear and a red scarf, embodying the very spirit of Antonio Inoki. White hit the ring wearing white from head to toe, an instant contrast between these two men. Gedo was in the corner of White like always, since he stabbed Okada in the back in 2018. Even following an instant classic like Ospreay & Omega, White & Okada had the crowd ready to go for another classic.
White was able to get the crowd chanting tonight, claiming he is the reason that fans can do that again. Okada would stand tall in the middle of the ring as both men locked up, able to force White into the ropes. White would slap Okada in the side of the head from this position, before some clubbing blows to the back.
Okada was able to hit some quick forearm smashes to the face, before setting up a dropkick with a snapmare. Gedo would pull White from the ring, with Okada keeping the pressure on but getting distracted briefly by Gedo on the floor. Okada would be hit with a snap Saito Suplex, a move White usually waits to use in matches
White would lock in the rear chinlock in the middle of the ring, forcing Okada to fight to his feet before taking him to the floor and driving him spine first into the barricade, then the ring apron, and then the barricade again. Back in the ring, White would throw Ospreay ribs first onto the top rope, and followed up with a Switchblade Chop.
White would block the Okada DDT, only to be tossed with a back body drop before the DDT on the second attempt. Okada would get some speed on the ropes, hitting the fast back elbow and the flapjack.
The Rainmaker Pose Is Struck
Okada would set up White on the top rope, and hit that perfect dropkick – White tumbling hard down to the floor. White would look for support from Gedo on the stage, but Okada would take both men down with a double DDT. Back in the ring, Okada hit the Missile Dropkick before looking for the Money Clip.
White was able to break free, hitting the snap flatliner into the deadlift German Suplex, before the Bladebuster for a two count. Okada kicking out had White frustrated, and he’d be able to try for the Tombstone Piledriver. White would hit a quick Fisherman Suplex after avoiding the piledriver, before looking for the Sleeper Suplex.
Okada would drive White into the corner to avoid the suplex, only to be cut down with a chopblack. White signalled for the Tanahashi Tap Out, the leg submission he put together to target bad knees, but Okada kicked White in the face. A trio of Switchblade Chops would just piss Okada off, who sent White off the ropes and into a dropkick.
Tombstone was blocked with a rake to the eye, but Okada would have him in position to set up the Money Clip – and used that to finally set up the Spinning Tombstone. Okada would hit a vicious spinning lariat before slapping on the Money Clip in the middle of the ring. White was able to use the ropes to get free, before rolling out to the floor. Okada would take flight from the top rope with a senton splash, landing on White & Gedo alike. White was rolled into the ring, and hit with the elbow drop – before the Rainmaker Pose.
Jay White Hits The Killshot
White would have his wrist snatched, and would fall to the floor instead of taking the Rainmaker. Okada would just kick him right in his smug face, with Gedo trying to sneak brass knuckles into the ring soon after. White would spit in the face of Okada after a punch to the face, baiting him into the Uranage.
Okada would try to avoid the Sleeper Suplex, before being hit with a Saito Suplex over the top rope. White would shove Okada right back into the ring, and hit that Sleeper Suplex, saying that Okada isn’t going to be allowed to breathe, not with the Switchblade, not with anyone. RegalPlex would land, but Okada was able to kick out.
Cross Arm Bloody Sunday would land, and White would signal the end with Blade Runner. Okada was able to avoid this, and hit the German Suplex. White would be hit with two snap Rainmakers, but when Okada tried the full rotation, White would break free and take the dropkick. Landslide would follow, before Rainmaker was blocked in Blade Runner.
Kazuchika Okada Is The Final Boss Of New Japan Pro Wrestling
Every time this has happened, Okada stayed down – but not tonight. Okada kicked out at 2.9, and White is in uncharted territory. He’d hit a Rainmaker of his own before looking for a ripcord Blade Runner, but instead would be rocked with the Rainmaker for another razor thin near fall. Okada would rise with purpose, throwing forearms to the face of White, with White firing back.
White would win out before trying to convince either Okada or himself that this will not be taken away from him, his voice full of emotion. Okada was in control, winning out on the strike change. Inoki Enziguri would land, but the CobraFlowsion would not – only for Okada to hit the Blade Runner. CobraFlowsion would mix Kings Road & Strong Style, and one last Rainmaker would land.
1-2-3-Okada. For the second time in his career, Okada holds the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. This makes Okada a seven time World Champion, and White wasn’t ready to say quit. In the post match haze, he would crawl to the belt – not wanting to accept he lost. This was not his plan, this was not how this night was supposed to go. He’d weakly give the belt up, and that ends this reign.
The Next Stage…
After the match, Shingo Takagi would hit the ring – and congratulated Okada for his victory. However, after Wrestle Kingdom 16 – Takagi never got his rematch when Okada took the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship from him. In 2022, Shingo put the KOPW trophy on the map with incredible matches, and while he has a chance to win that again tomorrow – he’s looking for more ambition in 2023.
Shingo Takagi would formally challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He intends to take the KOPW 2023 belt into that match with him, and he’d leave the ring. Okada would tell Shingo to go away with the interruption, but he’s not one to turn down the challenge. He’d send the fans home happy, and that was Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Will Shingo Takagi win back the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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