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Post by maddog1981 on Jan 6, 2018 9:50:14 GMT -5
When Okada first won the IWGP Title, I didn't think he was good enough to hold the belt. This match changed my perception of him completely. Star making performance for Okada here and for Naito to a lesser extent.
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Post by twfi on Jan 6, 2018 14:14:00 GMT -5
Second this match. You've the body part work, the pressure on both especially Okada surprisingly beating the Ace, Tanahashi for the title and it's the 40th anniversary of the company. Match nailed it, THE Okada vs. Naito match to see.
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Post by El Mckell on Jan 29, 2018 17:01:17 GMT -5
This probably is the best Naito - Okada match. Terrible hair dye decisions on display here from both men but a spectacular match. There's a whole bunch of wonderful little things in this match that i'm too lazy to type up right now but anyway i'm thirding this and it may just make my list.
****1/2
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 31, 2018 16:21:20 GMT -5
An important performance from Okada to show he wasn't a fluke and could hold the strap with the same class as Tanahashi.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito - NJPW 3/4/12
About 21 months later, these two would have a match at the Tokyo Dome where they would throw a zillion dropkicks and no fucks would be given.
Much to my surprise, this actually a damn good match to the point where I say it was Okada's best match until Invasion Attack 2013 and his best non-Tanahashi match until G1 Climax Finals 2014. This is worked much in the same vein as the Tanahashi matches from 2012, but I think Okada's selling is a lot better in this. Naito uses his speed to set up the leg work. Okada responds with a big time Tombstone piledriver, which hurts his knee, but gives him valuable time and significantly derails Naito's plans. I just feel Okada and Naito's selling are meeting the work better. I like the hope spot of Naito firing up in the corner, beating up Okada trying to rally the fans only to eat a dropkick. Nice roller coaster ride. Another good example of this was Naito missing a dropkick to the knee and Okada immediately following up with a senton. Loved the transition back to Naito's leg work with him sweeping the leg and then a missile dropkick to the knee. I thought he was ferocious on the outside working the knee climaxing with a dropkick to the knee on the railing. Gedo said best when he says "Shit!". Kneecrusher and an inverted figure-4 and looks like the young champion is in serious trouble. Well what's the one thing Okada can always rely on to get him out of trouble. His dropkick and he nails one while Naito is on the top rope. Even after that, there is still plenty of time before Okada finally nails the Rainmaker. He gets all these nearfalls off those suplexes that never finish anyone off. I just feel you don't always have to go through these rituals and there were more organic ways to finish the match. I would say if they edited the ending to keep the focus on the knee vs neck rather than shoehorning in a big Naito finish run this would feel a lot better. I thought the limb work and selling here were totally top notch. Just need to tighten up the finish. ****1/2
What did Okada use to win the title just a month prior to this? A tombstone on the floor and so in desperation that is exactly what he hits even though his knee has gone to shit. Great selling by both. Okada goes for a neck submission and then a big elbow. Looks like Rain is Imminent, but Naito gets a drop toehold into a leg submission, which Okada sells so well. I actually felt like this was a sufficient big time nearfall for Naito and that Okada using the big elbows to Naito's injured neck set up the Rainmaker well. Still they felt the need to do a big Naito finish run before missing the Stardust press. It felt excessive and obligatory.
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