NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada Prediction

For the third time in four years these classic rivals main event at Wrestle Kingdom, which one will be victorious?

In the western world, wrestling’s greatest rivalry’s over the last 15 years have consisted of Stone Cold vs. The Rock, CM Punk vs. John Cena and The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar. However, in Japan, a certain rivalry has helped make New Japan Pro Wrestling into the top company in the world, Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Okada and Tanahashi are slated for another huge match on Jan. 4th at Wrestle Kingdom 10 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The winner of this match will leave the Tokyo Dome as the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

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The history of these two is long and their matches have been considered some of the greatest in the history of New Japan Pro Wrestling. The two men’s last encounter happened last year at Wrestle Kingdom 9 where Okada was unsuccessful in defeating Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

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In fact, Okada has never been able to defeat Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom. When the two met at Wrestle Kingdom 7, Tanahashi again beat Okada. In the western world, this situation could be compared to how The Rock was not able to defeat Stone Cold the first two times they met at Wrestle Mania (XV and X-Seven). The Rock was finally able to defeat Austin the third time they clashed at WrestleMania (XIX) will the same hold true for Okada.

Both Superstars had both high and low moments during 2015. For Kazuchika Okada, his year started rough when he lost the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 9 to Tanahashi. However, Okada would be able to reclaim the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from AJ Styles in July.

After losing the G1 Climax B Block final to fellow Chaos member Shinsuke Nakamura, Okada went on to successfully defend his championship against AJ Styles in the Fall. Heading into the match of his career Okada is coming in with a ton of momentum.

For Tanahashi, his year started off by defeating Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 9 defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. However, Tanahashi would lose the championship to AJ Styles in February. Tanahashi would then enter a feud with Toru Yano, with Yano getting the upper hand in a number of their bouts.

However, Tanahashi would be able to finally defeat Yano at Old Dominion in July. Tanahashi would then enter and win the G1 Climax tournament defeating long time rival Nakamura in the finals in what could be the match of the year. Tanahashi then successfully defended his Wrestle Kingdom contract against Bad Luck Fale and Tetsuya Naito. Just like Okada, Tanahashi is going into Wrestle Kingdom with a ton of momentum.

Prediction: Kazuchika Okada defeats Hiroshi Tanahashi via pinfall.

Okada finally defeats Tanahashi at the Tokyo Dome. Last year when Tanahashi won he claimed that Okada wasn’t ready yet to knock Tanahashi off his place on top of the mountain. This year it all changes. Okada looks primed to finally end his curse of Wrestle Kingdom failures.

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Along with Nakamura vs Styles, this match could be a candidate for match of the year. These two have great chemistry with one another and their matches always live up to the hype. One thing is guaranteed, we will see a great main event, a great pay per view and Wrestle Kingdom is shaping up to be one of the biggest pay per views of all time. We are in for a real treat on Jan. 4th.