NJPW 46th Anniversary Show Results, Grades, and Analysis

Kazuchika Okada (CHAOS) w/ Gedo vs. Will Ospreay (CHAOS)

The match opened with Okada and Ospreay shaking hands. A portion of the audience flew in from England and sang Ospreay’s name. The first few minutes of this match consisted of some very good technical wrestling. Both men have not shown this kind of ground based offense frequently, so this was a delight to watch. The extensive exchanged ended with Okada going for the Rainmaker and missing, while Ospreay went for the Os Cutter and missed that as well.

After this, both men turned up the pace. After a series of quick exchanges, Ospreay went for his fake out dive but Okada scouted it and hit a dropkick. Okada hit Ospreay with a big boot on the outside. From here, Okada attempted to keep Ospreay grounded. Ospreay responded by hitting a handspring enziguri. Ospreay hit a springboard forearm, a basement dropkick, and a standing shooting star press before getting a two count.

On the outside of the ring, Ospreay countered Okada’s dive over the guardrail with a flying forearm. Will then followed this with a spectacular Space Flying Tiger Drop. Ospreay brought it back in the ring and went for the Os Cutter. Okada managed to counter with the cobra clutch, but it didn’t last long. Ospreay got out, but was soon hit with a neckbreaker.

Okada and Ospreay then exchanged strikes with Okada getting the better off it with a solid forearm. Ospreay woke up though and added his own strong strikes before hitting a one man Spanish fly. Will hit his own Rainmaker, but Okada kicked out. Ospreay went for an imploding 450 splash, but Okada kicked out. Ospreay hit a decapitating elbow to the back of Okada’s head and went for the Os Cutter. Okada reversed into the tombstone and went for the Rainmaker. Ospreay ducked under and hit a powerbomb. Okada barely kicked out.

Ospreay went for the Os Cutter again, but Okada hit an incredible dropkick sending Ospreay to the mat. Okada picked up Ospreay and hit two Rainmakers. Ospreay went for a handspring moonsault but Okada caught him. Okada hit a tombstone and followed up with another Rainmaker! Okada wins!

Result: Kazuchika Okada (6/7 on my predictions).

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.

Next: Is Nia Jax Turning Babyface?

Show rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

This was an excellent match from start to finish. Okada and Ospreay are two of the best workers in the world, and this match did not disappoint. Kevin Kelly said exactly what NJPW wants us to believe about Okada when he said, “I don’t think there is a wrestler alive that can beat Okada.”

Right now, he is having one of the most legendary runs I have ever seen in all my years of being a wrestling fan. Okada has now been IWGP Heavyweight Champion for almost 2 years, and it doesn’t look like he’s losing the title anytime soon. NJPW has given us a good show worthy of the anniversary name. Things are looking very interesting heading into the NJPW New Japan Cup, Night One on March 9th.