NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018: Predicting Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

This weekend we will see one of the most interesting matches in recent memory when longtime IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada defends his title against Zack Sabre Jr.

Zack Sabre Jr. has been operating on a completely different level as of late. He’s always been ultra talented but has never looked better than he does right now.

ZSJ recently won the New Japan Cup and put on one of the most impressive tournament performances that I’ve ever seen. Sabre not only won, but he was able to win every match in the tourney by submission.

Even more impressive were the list of opponents he submitted on his road to victory: Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi, SANADA, and Hiroshi Tanahashi. You can also add a cherry on top with his submission victory over Tomohiro Ishii at Strong Style Evolved in a tag team contest.

credit: wwe.com

New Japan’s booking of Zack Sabre Jr. has been perfect so far in 2018. The company has done a fantastic job of making me believe that ZSJ has a legitimate chance of dethroning Okada.

On the other hand, we have the champion Okada.

Kazuchika Okada’s current IWGP Heavyweight Title reign is probably the most prestigious I’ve ever seen. It also happens to be the longest consecutive reign in NJPW history.

To run down the list of legendary moments and matches that Okada has had on his current run would take an entire article in itself. His high-profile matches over the last year alone put him on a pedestal that very few have ever reached.

There have been many times that I thought that Okada’s days were numbered. I figured that eventually Kenny Omega would be the one to take down Okada for the belt, but they have both taken very different paths recently.

I also thought that it was a complete lock that Naito was going to defeat Okada to become the champion at Wrestle Kingdom 12. But once again, Okada shocked the world and continued his reign.

Photo Source: njpw1972.com

As for my prediction for Naito vs. ZSJ, I have to pick Okada to retain.

I absolutely love the push that Sabre has gotten, and I hope that a loss to Okada doesn’t hurt his momentum going forward.

If it was up to me, I’d actually prefer to see ZSJ win the match. I just don’t see New Japan pulling the trigger.

Next: NXT TakeOver Predictions

I think that we’ll see an instant classic that will see Sabre come within an inch of winning the title but ultimately Okada will power through all of the pain to deliver multiple Rainmakers for the win.