Should Okada Recapture The Title?

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

With him winning the NJC, he has a rematch with Jay White upcoming. So far White is 3-0 against him and the story is set that Okada can't beat White and White confidence is now at an all time high

I wouldn't be against Okada winning here as I don't expect Jay to stay champ long but it interesting to see where they go from here

They have kept Naito away from Okada and White so he will get his title match either at Dominion or run the G1 again for a Dome title shot but they have a few options to play with

Either Okada wins and drops the title to Naito at the dome or Naito takes the title off White sometime this year and defeats Okada at the dome in retention of the title

[Deleted]

I'd say he should. It's aborting the story early in a way, but they may as well deliver a big moment for the MSG show and while it's early into his run and all, White doesn't really seem to be particularly captivating people as champion. Feel like it'd probably be a good idea to just have Okada get the belt back and continue pushing White as a major threat without the title for awhile until it feels more natural for him to have it.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Mar 25, 2019 15:27:07 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I'd say he should. It's aborting the story early in a way, but they may as well deliver a big moment for the MSG show and while it's early into his run and all, White doesn't really seem to be particularly captivating people as champion. Feel like it'd probably be a good idea to just have Okada get the belt back and continue pushing White as a major threat without the title for awhile until it feels more natural for him to have it.

Well getting White the title is only for the short term but it is a matter of how short. I figured he get at least a run until Dominion but beating Okada here again might have him hold it through the G1

[BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps]

He should, and I think he will. He’s healthy as of now and in his early 30, they’re betting on many more years of Okada as the face of the company. And it wouldn’t be good for that face to fail at two major shows at a role.

Ideally, the New York market should be introduced to a triumphant Okada, not a struggling one. This reign has already established Jay as a threat. He’s going to keep evolving after he drops it.

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

As super not into the Edgy Knife Pervert being champ as I am, nah. Move forward, not back.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Mar 25, 2019 17:14:20 GMT -5 BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps said:

He should, and I think he will. He’s healthy as of now and in his early 30, they’re betting on many more years of Okada as the face of the company. And it wouldn’t be good for that face to fail at two major shows at a role.

Ideally, the New York market should be introduced to a triumphant Okada, not a struggling one. This reign has already established Jay as a threat. He’s going to keep evolving after he drops it.

Yea, pretty much way I see it

Okada is not going to go on another 3 year reign, but this is MSG and I can't see you having him lose to White there. If this was in Japan, they would have had someone else win the match but you need a star and this has been a good feud.

It doesn't hurt Jay to drop the title here as it was only to showcase him as a star which he is at now. In story line even with a loss you can write it off as Okada going back to his roots and Jay being too cocky

[Starshine]

I don't think it's wise to close MSG with White winning over Okada again. Okada is undoubtedly the bigger star in the US market. Plus following their recent underwhelming stretch of US shows, they probably shouldn't risk ending things on another downer. Also their original plan had AEW not been an issue was for Omega to drop the belt to Okada here. They rarely deviate from their long term plans, and in crisis scenarios they act quick to get their creative ship back on course.

Naito/Okada is probably their dome main event next year. So I'd expect him to hold onto the belt at least until then.

[Deleted]

Okada winning might get me watching IWGP again, so yes.

[HMARK Center]

Personally, I'd rather see Jay hold it a bit longer; him as champion opens the door to more unexpected outcomes, especially with all the talk of this being a "new era" with potential shake-ups still to be settled around the roster. There are still more things that could happen with this reign to drive that idea home, so switching things up at MSG this early on wouldn't feel quite right. A lot of us keep saying it but it does feel like there's a shoe that's due to drop with regards to things like the CHAOS/Sekigun alliance; a big card like the one at MSG would be a hell of a time to toss some bombs on that front, and if Jay's going to beat Okada again I'd wager that this time it'd involve him not doing it mostly clean for the first time.

That said, NJPW likes its rule of threes, so Okada losing again doesn't feel likely, plus there's the aforementioned ideas that they'd want to end the show on a high note with Okada standing tall and that Jay is still young and unestablished enough that this could serve more as a "his ego cut his reign short" moment. Plus, even though I'm more interested in seeing Jay's reign continue and the associated unpredictability that might come with it, I'll still be cheering Okada loud as hell, both because he's friggin' Okada and because Jay is that damn good a heel; I've said it before, but his match with Juice in San Francisco produced one of the hottest crowds I've ever been a part of.

[toodarkmark]

I think it was a mistake to put it on Jay White. I think Okada, Ibushii, Sanada and Naito should be the contenders. Americans dont need a caucausian english speaker anymore, especially the crowd at MSG.

[The Kevstaaa]

Hell to the no.

Jay White is something different and NJPW is in DIRE need of that. Going back to Okada is the boring status quo Gedo loves so much.

And this redemption angle sucked. Okada lost the title, then came out with balloons and still won a bunch in the G1. He showed thigh meat in the Dome and lost, only to win the New Japan Cup.

That being said, I fully expect him to win.

[Starshine]

Mar 25, 2019 21:03:44 GMT -5 toodarkmark said:

I think it was a mistake to put it on Jay White. I think Okada, Ibushii, Sanada and Naito should be the contenders. Americans dont need a caucausian english speaker anymore, especially the crowd at MSG.

I don't think America was really on their minds when they strapped up White. But even if it was, if anyone was going to be the guy Okada eventually toppled, it should be the same one he's had the biggest beef with in the past year.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Mar 25, 2019 21:03:44 GMT -5 toodarkmark said:

I think it was a mistake to put it on Jay White. I think Okada, Ibushii, Sanada and Naito should be the contenders. Americans dont need a caucausian english speaker anymore, especially the crowd at MSG.

They aren't thinking about Americans when booking Jay White. Jay White is the most highly touted prospect since Okada for good reason and he showed why and he's been rewarded for his efforts along with NJPW giving him a strong push. Jay White is part of their main event stage with those mentioned

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Mar 25, 2019 17:56:02 GMT -5 Starshine said:

I don't think it's wise to close MSG with White winning over Okada again. Okada is undoubtedly the bigger star in the US market. Plus following their recent underwhelming stretch of US shows, they probably shouldn't risk ending things on another downer. Also their original plan had AEW not been an issue was for Omega to drop the belt to Okada here. They rarely deviate from their long term plans, and in crisis scenarios they act quick to get their creative ship back on course.

Naito/Okada is probably their dome main event next year. So I'd expect him to hold onto the belt at least until then.

With this show being as MSG, you have to put over your top star

Is it going back to the status quo? Yes, but it's not really a bad thing when Okada makes business happen and looking forward he's not going on another 3 year reign (hopefully)

The end goal is him and Naito at the Dome and one of those guys will hold the belt, it's just a matter of who but Naito will drop the IC title beforehand

[RedSmile]

Okada should win if you're setting up for Okada/Naito.

I also fully expect someone to walk out during the post match to challenge Okada, and I think that someone is going to be Chris Jericho.