Should Naito have beaten Okada at WK12?

[chazraps]

All this talk about Cody-Roman and the "long game" reminded me of this hotly debated topic six (!) years ago.

Naito, at his absolute hottest, could have had his crowning moment at Wrestle Kingdom 12 by being the one to dethrone Okada.

That... didn't happen. Great, universally cheered match - but the finish was somewhat controversial at the time. The New Japan booking, if I recall correctly, had enough good will that made people want to wait and see.

Omega dethrones Okada for the best six months later at Dominion, and 18 or so months after that Naito finally beats Okada and then the rest of 2020 happened. Four years later Naito finally has his big feel good crowning moment winning the top title at Wrestle Kingdom this past January beating Sanada.

So, as great as the story the match told in 2020 was - and it for sure wouldn't have the same impact without Naito coming up short in 2018 - is that match worth not having Naito have his big moment at the peak of Los Ingobernables in 2018? And, if you could re-write history and have him win, do you have Omega beat Naito for the title at Dominion or do you have Omega still beat Okada at Dominion and then get the title later that year to still get to Omega-Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom the following January 2019?

[Starshine]

2018 was their most profitable year ever, so while at the time it seemed like a weird decision, in retrospect it was the right one just based on how business moved with keeping Okada on top.

[Lizuka #BLM]

I'm going to say in retrospect probably not, but they really should've just done it the next year instead of waiting two more.

[Convoy]

I disliked Okada retaining at the time, but the story progression with Naito finally (A) looking towards him instead of staying Tranquilo and needing a combination of LIJ/Stardust Genius to win, along with (B) needing to accept the Intercontinental title as a conduit and not a monument to his past failures was done so damn well I've come around. The pop for the Stardust Press in 2020 was insane. KENTA ruining the rollcall is still dumb to me, and I think they'd at least redo that moment if they knew how bad the pandemic was going to be.

Overall, I wouldn't change how things went. I could make an argument for not crowning Omega, but he was super popular with everyone at the time, and even if Gedo knew the AEW exodus was going to be a thing it probably wouldn't change his booking. Plus history would say stuff like "Omega left because he was never made 'the guy' in New Japan."

[AwamoriRock]

200%

[Mozenrath]

Probably, but the way he did finally do it was bigger, so it doesn't bother me. Still, it's kind of interesting to wonder how that alternate universe would have played out.

["Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat]

As someone who was in the dome during WK12, the crowd and myself were definitely deflated. A large portion (at least where I was sitting) left before Okada’s speech began.

I think Naito winning would have done more for growth overall, as the crowd was crazy hot for him, and his body wasn’t AS broken so he could have had a fair few bangers before he lost the belt.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Nothing but a casual at the time, but it felt deflating.

I wonder if a Naito win could have gained momentum in anyway.

[kidkamikaze10]

I go back and forth with it. I like where things went, but it was a clear missed opportunity.

And if we're being real about it... Naito has never been a great champ holder.

[The Kevstaaa]

100000000%

This really soured me on New Japan. They had perfectly built up Naito's story from his return in 2015 to winning the title to losing it quickly to redeeming to beating Tanahashi at WK11 to redeeming himself through the G1. Then he finally gets to the main event again and blows it.

By the time he won in 2020, I genuinely didn't care. He was my favorite New Japan guy for years but Gedo fumbled it and made Naito just another dude.