NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Zack Sabre Jr. (Suzuki-gun) w/ Taka Michinoku vs. Kazuchika Okada (CHAOS) w/ Gedo – IWGP Heavyweight Championship

Taka Michinoku continues in his Gedo like roll, hyping up Zack Sabre Jr. The fans were clearly getting into Taka being the hype man, and they chanted along with the stuff he was saying. The match is much of what you expect from ZSJ with a lot of exchange of technical wrestling. The major question was if Okada could keep up. Okada proved to be no slouch, locking in many lucha style submissions, as Rocky Romero pointed out on commentary. Zack Sabre Jr. clearly had the advantage in the submission game, but Okada proved to be no slouch, working his style of match and keeping up with him.

However, that still proved to be a bit of a mistake for Okada, as ZSJ was able to keep switching submissions quickly enough to keep Okada on his toes. Sabre was able to block Okada’s dropkick and counted into a modified STF! Holy cow! Sabre just started ripping Okada apart with submissions here. The longer the match goes the more and more it looks to be in ZSJ’s favour.

Okada sent ZSJ to the outside with a big boot, and it’s here that he will look to regain the advantage. Okada went for his trademark cross body over the guardrail, and he nailed it. However, the advantage did not last long, as ZSJ went after Okada’s Rainmaker arm to weaken him from using his finisher. Sabre locked in a guillotine choke, but Okada picked him up. Sabre countered into a rear naked choke, spun around, and locked on a kimura. That was crazy.

Okada countered and hit a neckbreaker, dropping ZSJ to the mat. Great spot. Okada went for a flying elbow, but Sabre caught him in an armbar on his Rainmaker arm. That was great. Okada made it to the ropes and both men struggle to their feet in exhaustion. He went for some forearms, and ZSJ responded with uppercuts that Okada just shrugged off. Okada then hit a dropkick sending ZSJ to the mat.

Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Sabre countered with another kimura! Okada managed to hit two dropkicks and hit a tombstone, but before he could hit the Rainmaker, ZSJ countered into an omo plata and wrist lock on the Rainmaker arm. Sabre countered some strikes from Okada, and Okada went for another Rainmaker! Sabre countered it with a flying armbar like Shinsuke Nakamura did in the G1 in 2015! He then transitioned into a triangle choke, which made Okada tap to Nakamura back in 2015! ZSJ did his homework! Okada managed to stand up and hit a Rainmaker! He maintained wrist control and hit a second Rainmaker but was unable to pin Sabre!

Okada went for it a third time, but Sabre countered and locked in Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than The Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness! Okada managed to escape and hit a tombstone before hitting another Rainmaker and finally getting the pinfall! What a match! Okada has now tied Tanahashi’s record.

Result: Kazuchika Okada

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Outstanding technical wrestling match from start to finish. This was a thing of beauty as both men gave it their all in the match. After the match, Hiroshi Tanahashi has come out to challenge Okada! If Okada can beat Tanahashi he will beat Tanahashi’s record for defenses! The Ace vs. The Rainmaker shall continue! The last time these two faced off in a singles match, it went to a 30-minute draw at the 2016 G1! It appears that the shadow of Tanahashi is still hanging over Okada, as he tries to surpass his greatest rival. Tanahashi is still the man, and he made it very clear that while Okada is champion, Tanahashi is still the Ace.