NJPW G1 Climax 2017: 3 Reasons Tetsuya Naito Should Win
By Tim Sherry
3. He’s The Perfect Heel for Okada
Kazuchika Okada is unquestionably the top superstar in NJPW. He’s been a star in the making since he debuted with the promotion back in 2007 and in the past five years, he’s won 4 IWGP Heavyweight Championships and 2 G1 Climax’s. He’s clearly the gold standard of what a Japanese superstar should be and when it’s all said and done, he may just go down as the very best that has ever stepped foot in an NJPW ring. His respect for the game and his commitment to his craft has endeared him to the fans and his legend grows with each passing day.
Naito is a different story. Since changing personas in 2015, the 35-year-old has been the polar opposite of Okada as far as fan perception goes. He’s the yin to Okada’s yang. An angry, vitriolic heel, Naito has no problem sharing his disdain for the fans and NJPW as a whole, while blaming the company for his past misfortunes. He’s an absolute heat magnet and the unabashed perfect answer for the ever-popular Okada.
A Naito win Sunday night will set up a match between two guys on totally opposite ends of the spectrum. And although another contender, Kenny Omega operates as one of the top heels in the company as well, Naito is a whole different animal. And yes, these two have already met for the title at a Wrestle Kingdom, but this is a very different Naito and would undoubtedly change the dynamic for that main event.