Kazuchika Okada Motivates NJPW’s Old Guard

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and current NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion Kazuchika Okada has a message for the old guard.

By: R. Faliani

After losing the G1 Climax 33 final against Tetsuya Naito, “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada is already looking at his next obstacle. As NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii, he must defend those belts with the same amount of passion and fire, therefore, he has already been challenged. Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe and Hiroyoshi Tenzan stand in front of the champions, but Okada has motivated them to bring their best version for that match. The veterans have been pretty vocal about the few matches they get now, with New Japan Pro Wrestling’s new generation of wrestlers taking the spotlight. As Shota Umino, Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji keep being the protagonists of this new breath of fire from the youth, NJPW’s old guard has been put on notice. Time does not stop for anyone, after all.

【新日本】オカダ・カズチカがベテラン勢の〝反乱〟にシビアな見解「若手にレギュラー取られたわけですよ」｜東スポWEBhttps://t.co/W8ddMJUSe9

— 東スポ　プロレス格闘技担当 (@tospo_battle) September 6, 2023

As NJPW’s Ace, Okada is the biggest star in Japan today, and he wants the biggest challenges available. The next title defense for the champions will be at NJPW Road to Destruction, as part of the September 9th card. Tenzan, Makabe and Tiger Mask have a big chance to prove their worth. Are they going to stand against the champions as equal, or will they be victims of Father Time, and be defeated by the New Guard, personified by the biggest Japanese pro-wrestler today, Kazuchika Okada? Whatever happens now is in hands of the old guard, that has been motivated by Okada’s comments and proposal for the Road to Destruction, and it will indeed be a destruction.

Free action Friday starts off a loaded schedule of live events this September on @njpwworld!

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— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) September 5, 2023