Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito (NJPW - 1/5/2020)
Jan 18, 2020 19:40:00 GMT -5
Post by bossrock on Jan 18, 2020 19:40:00 GMT -5
Probably way too early but screw it, I'm doing it because this match was incredible and already an incredibly tough MOTYC to beat.
I would agree with anyone who says Naito should have won at WK 12. That being said, probably the biggest reason this match was so tremendous was how it built off Naito's past disappointments and his loss two years prior. These two have struggled with chemistry before but here they complimented each other perfectly. Naito pushed the pace whereas most Okada matches start off much slower. Meanwhile, Okada has the stamina and athleticism to make any finishing stretch captivating as well as the ability to make the outcome of any match seem in doubt. But as I mentioned before, this match truly succeeded because of the story it told in Naito overcoming every failure he's endured. Okada attacking the knee was a great wrinkle to the match which saw him fully embrace the heel role. While at first it was used for a count-out tease, Okada repeatedly slamming the knee near the end really drove the whole thing home as Naito the conquering hero and Okada the cocky yet desperate heel. The callbacks to WK 12 were tremendous as well, first with Naito surviving the spinning tombstone/Rainmaker combo which put him away before and then not only attempting Stardust Press, but FINALLY hitting it.
One of the greatest title matches of the 21st century. Bravo. *****
I would agree with anyone who says Naito should have won at WK 12. That being said, probably the biggest reason this match was so tremendous was how it built off Naito's past disappointments and his loss two years prior. These two have struggled with chemistry before but here they complimented each other perfectly. Naito pushed the pace whereas most Okada matches start off much slower. Meanwhile, Okada has the stamina and athleticism to make any finishing stretch captivating as well as the ability to make the outcome of any match seem in doubt. But as I mentioned before, this match truly succeeded because of the story it told in Naito overcoming every failure he's endured. Okada attacking the knee was a great wrinkle to the match which saw him fully embrace the heel role. While at first it was used for a count-out tease, Okada repeatedly slamming the knee near the end really drove the whole thing home as Naito the conquering hero and Okada the cocky yet desperate heel. The callbacks to WK 12 were tremendous as well, first with Naito surviving the spinning tombstone/Rainmaker combo which put him away before and then not only attempting Stardust Press, but FINALLY hitting it.
One of the greatest title matches of the 21st century. Bravo. *****
