NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018 Night 1: Review, Grades, and Analysis
KUSHIDA & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. CHAOS (Will Ospreay & Kazuchika Okada)
My goodness, this match started fast with Tanahashi going right after Okada and hitting a huge tope to the outside on him. Ospreay and KUSHIDA exchanged a series of quick moves with KUSHIDA focusing on the arm of Ospreay. Okada and Tana are tagged back in and exchange a series of hard hitting offence that ends with Okada hitting a Death Valley Driver on Tanahashi.
KUSHIDA and Ospreay are given the hot tag and exchange a series of fast moves before Ospreay goes for a springboard forearm. KUSHIDA caught Ospreay and locked him in an armbar! That was crazy! KUSHIDA transitions into a triangle choke, but Ospreay picks him up and tries for a powerbomb. KUSHIDA escapes and exchanges strikes with Ospreay that ends with Ospreay hitting the one man Spanish Fly. Okada was tagged back in, and KUSHIDA took it to Okada, almost getting a pinfall after a hurricanrana.
KUSHIDA went for the hoverboard lock on Okada, but Okada stopped him halfway through, and hit a tombstone! Tanahashi tried to make the save, but Okada cut him off. Okada then killed KUSHIDA with a Rainmaker for the pinfall.
Result: CHAOS
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5
This was a very exciting match. All four men shined and had moments that left you wanting more. Okada and Tanahashi faced off in the ring afterwards and honestly, with how they’re booking everything, it is entirely possible that Tanahashi wins. The Ace wants to reclaim his throne.
What has become clear in this feud is that Okada is still living in the shadow of Tanahashi. When Okada defeated Tanahashi at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10, it seemed that The Rainmaker finally topped the Ace. Since then, they have only faced off against each other in tag matches and one singles match. Their one singles match at the G1 in 2016 ended in a draw. Okada has clearly been extremely upset that Tanahashi was able to walk out and challenge him for the title without any big wins lately.
Tanahashi lost the Intercontinental title to Suzuki, and lost in the New Japan Cup to Zack Sabre Jr. What has he done to deserve this title shot? Okada is hoping to surpass Tanahashi’s record of 11 title defenses, having smashed the record for longest title reign ever in NJPW. Outside of number of title wins, this is the only record Okada has to beat to firmly stamp out any idea that The Ace is better than the Rainmaker.
Because of this, the amount of disdain that Okada has been showing for Tanahashi, and how offended he is that Tanahashi is challenging to defend his record. The Ace remains a thorn in the side of Okada, and just won’t go away. Okada has demonstrated in the shows leading to this match a level of insecurity we haven’t seen from him in ages. Tanahashi has so clearly gotten under the skin of Okada, while Tahahashi has just been perfectly calm, despite being constantly left laying by Okada.
Tanahashi has clearly handled the pressure of this match well leading into it. He’s walking in fully confident, and hasn’t needed to trash talk. He’s walking in looking more and more like the champion that NJPW fans have known. The Ace is looking more and more like the top guy again. Meanwhile, Okada, despite putting on an air of confidence, his trash talking and attacking seems to indicate that he is far less confident than the bravado he is putting on. Okada seems afraid of Tanahashi, because he knows that when his back is against the wall, there is no wrestler better than Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Will Tanahashi beat Okada? Time will tell.