DOWN TO THE WIRE:
OKADA VS. SANADA
By Jas Olan
One is the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion. The other is a vital part of one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s most successful factions. During this year’s G1 CLIMAX tournament they went head to head in block competition in a match that can only be described as epic. The Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada and the Cold Skull, Sanada about blew the roof off of the Edion Arena in this match. The two matched each other move for move with the match ending just seconds short of a thirty time limit draw. Twenty-nine minutes, forty-eight seconds to be exact. There was so much to the storytelling in this encounter that made every aspect of it an absolute barn burner from everything that was at stake to the emotional subtext of it all.
Kazuchika Okada was on a big time hot streak as he stepped into the ring to face Los Ingobernables de Japan’s Seiya Sanada at the Edion Arena in Osaka. You could cut sense the buzz in the venue as the two stood face to face before locking up. The Rainmaker was ready and determined to fight for another win in the block competition stage of G1 CLIMAX 29. He was confident as ever as the block leader at the time as well as the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion. This was all despite the fact that historically the IWGP Heavyweight Champion does not win the G1. A reigning champion hasn’t won the G1 since 2000 before the tournament field was expanded to twenty competitors. Standing 6-0 at the time, Okada was not phased by the odds against him. However the stakes were the highest for his opponent in this match.
Sanada stepped into that ring ready to put up the fight of his life. It was up the Cold Skull to play spoiler to the Rainmaker. This match was about so much more though. In this situation, Sanada was the one with the most to prove. In all of their previous encounters, Sanada had yet to beat Okada in singles competition. He looked more focused than ever as he made his way down the entrance. This was the first time the two had faced each other since their match in the finals of this year’s New Japan Cup. Winning this match would also mean a title shot for Sanada at a later date. The Cold Skull had to get the job done in this one.
It was back and forth every step of the way. Each man hit their best moves only to be countered by the other. Both were fighting for something with everything they had. Okada was out to maintain his hot streak in the G1 and continue establishing another dominant reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion. For Sanada it was all about proving that he could finally beat Okada and establish his place within the main event picture in NJPW. When it was all said and done, it was Sanada who emerged victorious.
The crowd was on its feet as there were just ninety seconds left in the thirty minute bout. Sanada and Okada had been going to war all the way through. Sanada had just hit is signature pop up TKO and had his rival down. He then went up to the rope looking to execute the moonsault which he uses in honor of his mentor Keiji Mutoh. With just thirty seconds left, he Sanada successfully hit the moonsault but decided to go for another. He was once again successful, getting the three count with just about twelve seconds left to win. It was a well deserved victory that had definitely been a long time coming.
From the numerous close calls to the amazing in ring chemistry between both wrestlers, this match was a hit all the way though with a satisfying outcome and a beautifully told story. At the heart of it all, it was about Sanada beating the odds and getting a much needed win while playing spoiler to the dominant hot streak of Okada. The stage for Sanada’s win had slowly been set through each of his previous losses against Okada. In each of those losses Sanada pushed the Rainmaker further each time and came closer and closer to winning.
What made him finally winning so satisfying for fans was understanding his journey to that point and knowing how hard he work to get to that point as well as how badly he wanted it. The fans became emotional watching Sanada finally take a new step in his career journey and continue finding his way. Through hard work and tenacity, the Cold Skull finally got the win over the Rainmaker. Even when it looked like he wasn’t going to be able to do it, Sanada pushed through and made it happen. The over all message of the story being told in this match was a very hopeful one that sometimes our greatest victories come when it’s down to the wire.
