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Post by The Kevstaaa on Jan 10, 2020 13:21:07 GMT -5
Everyone else has to wait until their bodies are broken and past their prime to get their first title run but Okada had like 7 during his prime. The only thing Gedo has really done to "slow down" Okada was when he put the title on AJ when he came in Tho keep in mind, Okada was on a year long run at that point so in a sense that wasn't even a stopped push but he kept the title off of him for two years which did help fuel the feud between him and Tana If not for how hot Naito got in 2016 and had that measly 70 day run, Okada would have been champ for nearly 4 f***ing years straight Trust me, I know. I used to bring up his G1s since he returned in 2012. 22 - He won 23 - Was champion 24 - He won 25 - Was champion 26 - Was champion 27 - Was champion 28 - Finally not champion and didn't win 29 - Was champion
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 13:28:47 GMT -5
Okada has delivered again and again. This year, the whole point was to make Naito king and he did it and he did it perfectly. What he’s done in his career, short as it is, is beyond reproach.
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Post by BRAINFADE on Jan 10, 2020 13:31:48 GMT -5
He's the f***ing best. I have thought so for the last two or three years now, but seeing him with my own eyes at Royal Quest last summer confirmed it. Seriously, if you have a chance to see Okada in an IWGP title match live, do not hesitate to go. It is remarkable how good he is.
And the scary thing is, I don't even think he has truly peaked yet. He's right on the cusp of it, but I still think the very best is yet to come from the Rainmaker.
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Post by BRAINFADE on Jan 10, 2020 13:33:39 GMT -5
Okada has delivered again and again. This year, the whole point was to make Naito king and he did it and he did it perfectly. What he’s done in his career, short as it is, is beyond reproach. And it's not just with his in ring performances that he's delivering. His main events continue to crush it at the box office, and has long ago surpassed Tanahashi as a draw.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 10, 2020 13:40:58 GMT -5
The only thing Gedo has really done to "slow down" Okada was when he put the title on AJ when he came in Tho keep in mind, Okada was on a year long run at that point so in a sense that wasn't even a stopped push but he kept the title off of him for two years which did help fuel the feud between him and Tana If not for how hot Naito got in 2016 and had that measly 70 day run, Okada would have been champ for nearly 4 f***ing years straight Trust me, I know. I used to bring up his G1s since he returned in 2012. 22 - He won 23 - Was champion 24 - He won 25 - Was champion 26 - Was champion 27 - Was champion 28 - Finally not champion and didn't win 29 - Was champion This year I do not think he will be holding the title or winning Gedo is a thirsty man tho so you can never really call it
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 10, 2020 13:43:12 GMT -5
He's the f***ing best. I have thought so for the last two or three years now, but seeing him with my own eyes at Royal Quest last summer confirmed it. Seriously, if you have a chance to see Okada in an IWGP title match live, do not hesitate to go. It is remarkable how good he is. And the scary thing is, I don't even think he has truly peaked yet. He's right on the cusp of it, but I still think the very best is yet to come from the Rainmaker. I do think he got bored during that last stretch of his title run 2 years ago and it showed and he's in his physical prime and is still getting even more comfortable in his own skin
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Post by BRAINFADE on Jan 10, 2020 13:49:45 GMT -5
He's the f***ing best. I have thought so for the last two or three years now, but seeing him with my own eyes at Royal Quest last summer confirmed it. Seriously, if you have a chance to see Okada in an IWGP title match live, do not hesitate to go. It is remarkable how good he is. And the scary thing is, I don't even think he has truly peaked yet. He's right on the cusp of it, but I still think the very best is yet to come from the Rainmaker. I do think he got bored during that last stretch of his title run 2 years ago and it showed and he's in his physical prime and is still getting even more comfortable in his own skin I wouldn't say he got bored, you go back and watch those matches and the workrate is still there. I think it may have been a case of he knew the Omega match was coming at Dominion, and he may have been saving himself for that, both from a physical standpoint and a burnout standpoint. Okada is an incredibly smart wrestler, and I wouldn't be surprised if he knew full well he would have to pull out all the stops at Dominion, so maybe he pulled back a little in the few matches leading up to it?
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 10, 2020 14:10:53 GMT -5
I do think he got bored during that last stretch of his title run 2 years ago and it showed and he's in his physical prime and is still getting even more comfortable in his own skin I wouldn't say he got bored, you go back and watch those matches and the workrate is still there. I think it may have been a case of he knew the Omega match was coming at Dominion, and he may have been saving himself for that, both from a physical standpoint and a burnout standpoint. Okada is an incredibly smart wrestler, and I wouldn't be surprised if he knew full well he would have to pull out all the stops at Dominion, so maybe he pulled back a little in the few matches leading up to it? Can call it fatigue or boredom, his matches still ended up good but that's when "formula Okada" really started to kick into play right after the G1 and before the Naito match Probably a mix of both tho. Him and Naito only really had an okay match at WK, then Okada had that good match against ZSJ and then basically had the big blowoff match with Omega at Dominion
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Post by ogreknee on Jan 10, 2020 14:30:15 GMT -5
The only thing Gedo has really done to "slow down" Okada was when he put the title on AJ when he came in Tho keep in mind, Okada was on a year long run at that point so in a sense that wasn't even a stopped push but he kept the title off of him for two years which did help fuel the feud between him and Tana If not for how hot Naito got in 2016 and had that measly 70 day run, Okada would have been champ for nearly 4 f***ing years straight Trust me, I know. I used to bring up his G1s since he returned in 2012. 22 - He won 23 - Was champion 24 - He won 25 - Was champion 26 - Was champion 27 - Was champion 28 - Finally not champion and didn't win 29 - Was champion I mean that is as close to a Hulkster type run in the modern era I am cool with that Okada could take a backseat. But i sort of want him to win the us title for the us expansion
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Jan 10, 2020 14:45:49 GMT -5
Trust me, I know. I used to bring up his G1s since he returned in 2012. 22 - He won 23 - Was champion 24 - He won 25 - Was champion 26 - Was champion 27 - Was champion 28 - Finally not champion and didn't win 29 - Was champion I mean that is as close to a Hulkster type run in the modern era I am cool with that Okada could take a backseat. But i sort of want him to win the us title for the us expansion That's what I'm hoping. Like, I wanted him to go into a huge tailspin after losing the title to Omega. They acted like it crushed and changed him but all he did was walk out with balloons and lose a couple of G1 matches. He still main evented most shows, won most of his G1 run, etc. I wanted them to go all in but they didn't. This time, the loss wasn't as crushing. It didn't end a record reign or anything like that. Have him try something new. Try to win the IC Title (once it's not being double defended) and set records with that one too. Make the US Title his bitch to help expansion. Hell, team with Ishii or something and try to save that awful tag division. There aren't any other stories to tell with Okada and the Heavyweight Title right now.
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Allie Kitsune
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 10, 2020 14:48:25 GMT -5
I mean that is as close to a Hulkster type run in the modern era I am cool with that Okada could take a backseat. But i sort of want him to win the us title for the us expansion That's what I'm hoping. Like, I wanted him to go into a huge tailspin after losing the title to Omega. They acted like it crushed and changed him but all he did was walk out with balloons and lose a couple of G1 matches. He still main evented most shows, won most of his G1 run, etc. I wanted them to go all in but they didn't. This time, the loss wasn't as crushing. It didn't end a record reign or anything like that. Have him try something new. Try to win the IC Title (once it's not being double defended) and set records with that one too. Make the US Title his bitch to help expansion. Hell, team with Ishii or something and try to save that awful tag division. There aren't any other stories to tell with Okada and the Heavyweight Title right now. Have him attempt to forge Tacos into less of a joke.
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Jan 10, 2020 15:40:34 GMT -5
That's what I'm hoping. Like, I wanted him to go into a huge tailspin after losing the title to Omega. They acted like it crushed and changed him but all he did was walk out with balloons and lose a couple of G1 matches. He still main evented most shows, won most of his G1 run, etc. I wanted them to go all in but they didn't. This time, the loss wasn't as crushing. It didn't end a record reign or anything like that. Have him try something new. Try to win the IC Title (once it's not being double defended) and set records with that one too. Make the US Title his bitch to help expansion. Hell, team with Ishii or something and try to save that awful tag division. There aren't any other stories to tell with Okada and the Heavyweight Title right now. Have him attempt to forge Tacos into less of a joke. We can only ask so much of the man.
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Fade
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Post by Fade on Jan 10, 2020 15:52:43 GMT -5
Before WK I was trying to explain the ME IWGP/IC scene to my friend who’s oblivious of NJPW, and when it came to Okada, it was like “This guy’s the best. Probably in the world.” And I know during WK weekend and after it was said by commentators and pundits and fans alike (..and it’s not news!) but he absolutely is. And at his age..smh. He’s absolutely one-of-a-kind.
Being 31, I often think of Okada abd Jay Whites age, and it’s a lil depressing (lol) but more than anything it’s really inspiring.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 10, 2020 15:52:50 GMT -5
I mean that is as close to a Hulkster type run in the modern era I am cool with that Okada could take a backseat. But i sort of want him to win the us title for the us expansion That's what I'm hoping. Like, I wanted him to go into a huge tailspin after losing the title to Omega. They acted like it crushed and changed him but all he did was walk out with balloons and lose a couple of G1 matches. He still main evented most shows, won most of his G1 run, etc. I wanted them to go all in but they didn't. This time, the loss wasn't as crushing. It didn't end a record reign or anything like that. Have him try something new. Try to win the IC Title (once it's not being double defended) and set records with that one too. Make the US Title his bitch to help expansion. Hell, team with Ishii or something and try to save that awful tag division. There aren't any other stories to tell with Okada and the Heavyweight Title right now. Yea I already been pitching they need to put him and Yoshi Hashi as a team Okada in the tag division will automatically put eyes on them for a little and force some teams to step up like Shingo/EVIl or Ishii/Goto
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Post by HMARK Center on Jan 10, 2020 19:43:51 GMT -5
Okada has delivered again and again. This year, the whole point was to make Naito king and he did it and he did it perfectly. What he’s done in his career, short as it is, is beyond reproach. And it's not just with his in ring performances that he's delivering. His main events continue to crush it at the box office, and has long ago surpassed Tanahashi as a draw. In a strange way, Okada embodies both concepts of what holding a title means to a lot of people: that it's supposed to be held by the best, or that it's a prop that's meant to further a story or character. Okada pulls off coming across as the best in large part for the same reason Ric Flair did in his prime: he can wrestle a main event caliber match with nearly anybody. The drawback there is that sometimes it means falling into a formula, but Okada's clearly capable of more than that, shows it often, and the point stands that the guy gets a great match out of nearly any opponent, which is key when your goal is often to make your opponent look good in defeat while also making yourself seem like a "final boss" figure. At the same time, Okada's character kind of needs the title, and he's capable enough to make it work. The belt completes the image he's putting across, solidifies to the crowd what he represents. His most recent reign was underwhelming compared to the epic one that came before, but Naito finally fulfilling his destiny works so much better when the image of "golden god" Okada appears, bright robes, belt, and all. You don't ask a guy like Naito to work the same way: Naito's character is driven by his character's hardships and his gradual development over time. Okada's character, meanwhile, in large part is "I'm the champion, and don't forget it." It's like the distinction between Hashimoto and Chono back in the day; Chono held the title once, sadly breaking down shortly into his reign and having to abdicate, but he was so charismatic and character-driven that he "didn't need" (I know many people don't like that phrase) the title, while Hashimoto's character worked all the better in large part because he was the champ of his era for New Japan.
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Post by AwamoriRock on Jan 10, 2020 20:12:30 GMT -5
I’m not the biggest Okada guy but accept he is destined to always be hovering around the title. I just wish NJPW would do a bit more like AJPW and DDT and throw him into a tag run in one of the interims. Kills two birds with one stone—let’s you main event/draw shows without him being the heavy champ and also puts interest on a dire tag division.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 10, 2020 21:11:58 GMT -5
I’m not the biggest Okada guy but accept he is destined to always be hovering around the title. I just wish NJPW would do a bit more like AJPW and DDT and throw him into a tag run in one of the interims. Kills two birds with one stone—let’s you main event/draw shows without him being the heavy champ and also puts interest on a dire tag division. That more so falls on Gedo shoulders He has a deep infatuation with long term booking and right now the new story arc is Ibushi but Okada basically had his own with his dominant title run Time to switch up the character a bit. The rainmaker is one dripped in gold but that doesn't mean it has to be IWGP title hold
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Post by ogreknee on Jan 10, 2020 21:37:44 GMT -5
I mean that is as close to a Hulkster type run in the modern era I am cool with that Okada could take a backseat. But i sort of want him to win the us title for the us expansion That's what I'm hoping. Like, I wanted him to go into a huge tailspin after losing the title to Omega. They acted like it crushed and changed him but all he did was walk out with balloons and lose a couple of G1 matches. He still main evented most shows, won most of his G1 run, etc. I wanted them to go all in but they didn't. This time, the loss wasn't as crushing. It didn't end a record reign or anything like that. Have him try something new. Try to win the IC Title (once it's not being double defended) and set records with that one too. Make the US Title his bitch to help expansion. Hell, team with Ishii or something and try to save that awful tag division. There aren't any other stories to tell with Okada and the Heavyweight Title right now. I mean reading your reviews it sounds similar to the reviews at the time when the rock was unbeatable. I think a new direction for Okada would mean dude needs a new focus. I sort of want him to win the us title so he will be on tours out here
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Post by BRAINFADE on Jan 11, 2020 0:11:25 GMT -5
I’m not the biggest Okada guy but accept he is destined to always be hovering around the title. I just wish NJPW would do a bit more like AJPW and DDT and throw him into a tag run in one of the interims. Kills two birds with one stone—let’s you main event/draw shows without him being the heavy champ and also puts interest on a dire tag division. As a big fan of Okada, I agree that it is time for him to do something different away from the title for a little bit, especially now that the Naito arc has finally been completed. And yeah, a tag run would help that division immensely. Although, with the tease of Tana and Ibushi wanting to challenge for the belts, it looks like the tag scene may finally be getting a bit of focus now.
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Post by Bub (BLM) on Jan 11, 2020 2:41:44 GMT -5
He's New Japan's Rock. Undeniably your top star any time he enters a room.
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