Kazuchika Okada Wins Last Singles Bout in NJPW

Almost twelve years to the day after the ‘Rainmaker Shock’, Kazuchika Okada stands tall in Osaka

By: James Carlin

As Kazuchika Okada finishes up his commitments with New Japan, performing as a free agent, his last singles match for the King of Sports was an emotional affair against longtime rival Hiroshi Tanahashi, where the two wrestled in the very venue that the Rainmaker Shock took place twelve years ago.

NJPW’s President entered to his old entranc music, “High Energy”, whilst the crowd showered his opponent  with “O-KA-DA!” chants.

RAIN MAKER @rainmakerXokada

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CeQLGjTmZ5#njnbg #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/7AybC5KYqR

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) February 11, 2024

The match had many callbacks and references to the two’s previous encounters, but “The Ace” wasn’t able to defeat “The Rainmaker” one final time, leaving their head-to-head encounters at 8-6-1 to Okada.

Tanahashi and Okada embraced in the ring one last time, before Okada kneeled down and paid his respects to the Lion’s Mark in the middle of the ring, crying. Okada hit one last “Rainmaker” pose on the entrance ramp before disappearing into the backstage area.

Wherever Okada decides to go from here, whether WWE or AEW, there is no mistaking that his impact on the world of professional wrestling in the last twelve years has given him an unforgettable legacy full of matches at the highest level of the sport.

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