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Post by bossrock on Jun 4, 2018 11:48:37 GMT -5
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW Invasion Attack, 4/7/2013)
While I prefer the King of Pro Wrestling match later that year, this is the match most usually point to when discussing the best Okada-Tanahashi match and I totally get it. Okada is more focused this time around than the previous matches he failed in and Tanahashi switches up his tried-and-true gameplan of attacking the leg by instead going for the Rainmaker arm. Okada's selling is fantastic as every time he uses his arm, whether it be for a forearm or Red Ink attempt, he pays the price and allows Tanahashi to regain the advantage. Some fantastic offensive sequences but in the end, it's Tanahashi abandoning his leg strategy that ultimately allows Okada to turn the tide for good.
Easy contender for best match of 2013.
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Post by bossrock on Jul 22, 2018 19:47:32 GMT -5
I'll go a bit more in-depth.
The story here is that following Okada's shocking upset over Tanahashi at New Beginning 2012, he couldn't quite maintain that same level of success. At Dominion and Wrestle Kingdom 7, Tanahashi was far more focused and had a winning strategy of attacking Okada's legs, softening up to the point that he could hit the High Fly Flow without risk of having it countered. Okada on the other hand, hadn't quite adapted the way Tanahashi had. He was still the arrogant young hotshot who believed his natural talent was enough to carry him. And while that was enough to bring him to Tanahashi's level, it wasn't enough for him to surpass the Ace either.
Fast-forward to April 2013 at Invasion Attack. Okada has won the New Japan Cup thanks to the help of his new submission maneuver, the Red Ink. He comes into the match far more focused and less arrogant than he did in their previous matches. Tanahashi on the other hand, has all the confidence in the world. Tanahashi tries to go for the leg early but this time Okada has it scouted. Both men know each other extremely well by this point and have counters for most of their signature moves. Tanahashi decides to try a different approach and instead targets Okada's arm. Even though he's beaten Okada twice in the past, he knows one Rainmaker and it's over. This severely hinders Okada's ability to lock on the Red Ink or hit the tombstone. He's also able to counter the Rainmaker with ease and when Okada finally does hit it, he can't make the cover in time. Okada is finally able to lock in the Red Ink but the damage has been done and Tanahashi is able to escape and again turn the tide.
However, while Tanahashi's work on the arm is able to hinder Okada, his deviation from the leg strategy ultimately proves to be his downfall. While Okada had not been able to counter the High Fly Flow at Dominion and Wrestle Kingdom, he has the leg strength get his knees up and counter the final blow (as he had been able to at New Beginning). Tanahashi's inability to hit the High Fly Flow as well as Okada's stamina and endurance allows the latter to dig down JUST deep enough to hit a final tombstone and Rainmaker for the win.
This match is tremendous for a number of reasons. First, it has masterful selling of the arm by Okada. Every time he hits a forearm or elbow he cringes in pain and cannot properly follow-up on any further offense. He's also initially unable to lock in the Red Ink. Another is the character work of Tanahashi. His desperation to rid himself of Okada sees him attack the arm relentlessly even if it means forgoing his winning strategy. And finally, you have the maturation of Okada from cocky prodigy to potential ace to lead the company into the future.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 31, 2018 16:09:52 GMT -5
To me their best match together and something I will include. Something I am interested is do people have recency cutoffs. Like to me there's no way I'm including anything in the past year because we have no idea how it age. I don't like knee jerk reactions. For me I'm think 5 years from the deadline. So 2013 and before is fair game for me.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada - NJPW 4/7/13
Okada missed his true calling in life as a chiropractor.
Definitely the best match they had together that I have seen so far. I agree with NJPW faboys that this is indeed ***** and the MOTY 2013 (sorry Tanahashi/Ishii). It was superb and the match they needed to have for this feud to ever be considered great. It is no Flair/Steamboat, but this match does launch them up because the previous matches were great, but now they have that big time classic. I liked the character work in the beginning of the match. It adds to the chippiness. Okada has Tanahashi's leg work (dropkick, dragon leg) scouted, but Tanahashi thinking on his feet gets an armbar takedown and wrenches the arm. The refrain of the match is definitely Tanahashi destroying Okada's arm and it is his Rainmaker arm using that to save himself and set up his offense. You see Tanahashi going back to that repeatedly. This adds a new wrinkle because it is usually Tanahashi looking to attack the leg, but he had to adapt because Okada had it scouted. The other major story of the match is that Okada has lost two matches in a row to Tanahashi and he really cant afford to lose a third. I think Okada does wrestle with more urgency because of this.
They end up on the apron and Okada wins the battle with a DDT on the apron. Okada is able to be in his zone working on his body part of choice, the neck. He pulls out some gnarly submissions the coolest one was the seated Crucifix hard to explain need to see. Tanahashi was trying hope spots like a reverse crossbody and body punches, but Okada was going back to the neck. Big time running dropkick to a seated Tanahashi's neck sends him to the floor. Okada wants to finish this with a tombstone. He who hits a tombstone first wins the matches in these series. Tanahashi counters by attacking the arm and then sending into hard metal objects. High Fly Flow to the floor cements his control. Loved the dragon arm screws from Tanahashi and great selling from Okada. An interesting subplot as while this weakens Okada considerably, Tanahashi really does not have much in his arsenal to take this to victory so he still will have to rely on his usual finish sequence, but that is something Okada has scouted.
Okada hits a flapjack, my least favorite Okada move to transition into the long finish stretch that is very well done. The highlights here are Okada switching the elbow pad to the bad elbow so he can hit his elbow drop (and selling the arm during the Rainmaker pose), but he still sells. Debuting a new submission crossface, but not quite getting it due to a bad arm. Of course, the big shot was the use of the dropkick to squelch any Tanahashi's comebacks (normal dropkick and the dropkick to the floor). Okada hits a Hangman's DDT from the railing. I felt like this was taking the place of the Tombstone to the floor as the final turning point in Okada's favor. They milk the count all the way to 19. We do see Tanahashi working the arm to avoid the Rainmaker, but really selling the effects of this DDT as he is very woozy. After much wrangling, Okada hits the Rainmaker, but is in too much pain to cover immediately. His inability to capitalize cost him at this moment. This was a great nearfall to accompany all the strong arm work from Tanahashi and at the same time really puts over how much damage Tanahashi has taken with his deadweight selling. Okada is still in charge, but you really feel in the home stretch.
Okada goes for the coup d'grace, Tombstone, but Tanahashi wiggles out, but Okada puts him in that nasty crossface. The ref makes this spot! You really believe Tanahashi may submit based on his reactions. It is very dramatic, but Tanahashi does make the ropes. Okada wants the dropkick to the top rope, but Tanahashi has it scouted and Okada leaves his arm prone and Tanahashi dives on it. You knew we would get it. Here comes the Tanahashi run! Can Okada survive? Standing HFF, Sling Blade, Dragon Suplex, HFF on the back and High Fly Flow EATS KNEES!!! OH SHIT! Okada has to dig down deep. Dropkick to back of the head, that's Okada's bread and butter. Smart move. Tombstone reversals you can feel the drama whoever hits this will win the match. I LOVE SPOTS LIKE THIS! Tanahashi attacks the arms and he is going to hit it NO Okada reverses TOMBSTONE! BALL GAME! RAINMAKER SEALS THE DEAL! 1-2-3! NEWWWWWWW IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!
Tanahashi changes his game plan because Okada knows what's up. The constant refrain of Tanahashi attacking the arm to save himself and set up his moves is repeated throughout the match right up until the end. We see how Okada uses headrops (DDT on apron, from railing and Tombstone) & his dropkicks to gain control and ultimately win. There are great payoffs like first Rainmaker ending with Okada writhing in pain. There is awesome drama like the Okada submission, Tanahashi's last gasp and of course the Tombstone struggle. It is a cool match where Okada felt in control since the DDT on apron, but had a weak link in his arm that Tanahashi could attack, but Tanahashi never really could gain full control. That dynamic made for a dramatic, high tension match. *****
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Post by jamesap on Sept 28, 2022 23:45:10 GMT -5
On my current list, this sits comfortably at # 4. Completely epic, and to me, the king of all the Okada-Tanahashi matches. Both guys are at their absolute athletic peak here, and really let it all hang out even more than usual.
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Post by elliott on Oct 6, 2023 21:55:23 GMT -5
I gave it a shot. Super boring.
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Post by fxnj on Oct 6, 2023 23:38:24 GMT -5
I gave it a shot. Super boring. Okada matches are best watched by skipping the first 10 minutes. |
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Post by elliott on Oct 7, 2023 0:07:30 GMT -5
That must be why I never make it too far lololololololol
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