#160: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, NJPW New Beginning in Osaka (2/11/2024).
In January of 2024, the most stunning development in recent Puroresu history took place: Kazuchika Okada announced that he was soon leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. Truly, for the first time ever, the top guy in a Japanese promotion was leaving to find further success in the United States. It was groundbreaking, and a total shock to the system.
So, naturally, on his farewell tour from the promotion, he would have one final singles match with his all time greatest rival, Hiroshi Tanahashi. In the same city where he originally shocked the world by beating Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Okada would face his long time bitter rival turned ally and friend – and co-holder at the time of the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Championships. This would be a bitter sweet finale to wrestling’s greatest rivalry.
The bell sounds, and Osaka is firmly behind Okada. Tanahashi acknowledges this with a nod of the head. They soon change their tune to chant for Tanahashi, which brings a smile to his face. They lock up, and Okada slowly forces Tana into the ropes. He fakes a shot, and backs away. He kicks Tana in the gut, and takes the side headlock. Shoulder tackle from Okada follows, and a shot to the head. He irish whips Tana into the turnbuckle, and Tana comes off the middle rope with a crossbody.
He follows with a drop kick, and some air guitar. Okada avoids a splash, and dropkicks Tana off the top rope and to the floor. Okada forces Tana’s head into the barricade, and he kicks it against his neck. The crowd does not appreciate this. Back in the ring, Okada gets a snap mare off, and follows with a dropkick to the head. He tries to pin with his boot, but the referee ain’t having that shit! Okada plays it up for the crowd, who are booing his heel tactics.
Tana with a series of elbows to the head. He goes to kick low, but Okada catches him and hits a Dragon Screw Legwhip. He sends Tana into the turnbuckle, and back elbows him repeatedly. He follows with a spike DDT for a 2 count. Okada places his head out, asking for some strikes from Tana, who responds with – you guessed it – strikes. They exchange elbows, until Tana connects with a diving forearm. Powerslam by Tana, and he follows that with his middle rope senton. That gets him a nearfall.
Okada goes to boot Tana, but Tana catches it and gives him his own Dragon Screw Legwhip. On the apron, Tana pulls Okada’s leg through the ropes, and hits another Dragon Screw. Okada is on the floor, while Tana goes to the top rope. He connects with the High Fly Flow to the floor onto a standing Okada! Tana rolls Okada back into the ring, and goes for the Sling Blade, but Okada catches him instead in a flap jack.
Okada with a neckbreaker across his knee for a 2 count. Okada busts out Heavy Rain, and that gets him another nearfall. Powerslam follows, and Okada goes to the top rope. Diving elbow connects, and Okada goes right into the Rainmaker pose. He sets up for the Rainmaker, but Tana counters into the Sling Blade. They exchange forearms on their knees. They slowly make their way back to their feet, continuing to throw shots at the other.
Okada connects with hard uppercuts that drop Tana. He goes for the Tombstone, but Tana counters into Twist & Shout. Tana goes for Sling Blade, and Okada turns it into the Rainmaker. Tana escapes, and Okada goes for it again, and Tana counters again into the Dragon Suplex. Tana fakes a Sling Blade attempt into a sleeper hold for a moment, before hitting the Sling Blade for a 2 count. Tana goes to the top rope, and he attempts the High Fly Flow, but Okada is able to get his knees up to block it.
Okada is back up, and hits the Shotgun Dropkick. Short arm Rainmaker follows, and Okada maintains wrist control. He gets bitch slapped for his troubles by Tana, but Okada won’t let go of the wrist. Another bitch slap, and another! He runs the ropes, but Okada catches him with a beautiful dropkick. Okada with the Tombstone, followed immediately by the Rainmaker – which is countered into a small package by Tana for a close nearfall!
Okada tries for the Tombstone again, and Tana is blocking it. Tana nearly has it for himself, until Okada turns it into a Landslide out of nowhere, ala Shinsuke Nakamura! Okada hits the Rainmaker on Tana, and that gets him the 3 count and the win. Post match, Okada is overcome with emotion, as he and Tana share a moment in the ring together. They hug it out, and Okada is in tears. He addresses the Osaka crowd for one final time.
This was far from a classic, but it was never meant to be. This was pure nostalgia, a greatest hits tribute to the greatest feud in wrestling. They played all the hits – all the key parts of their feud – and it worked well as a trip down memory lane. There was never any doubt as to who would win. Tanahashi, God bless him, is in the twilight of his career, while Okada is arguably at the very peak of his. It’s very fitting that Okada was the same age here, on his way out of the company, as Tanahashi was when a young punk from Aichi stood to him at Wrestle Kingdom 6 and said his time as Ace was finished.
This was a fun final showdown between New Japan’s two biggest stars of the modern era.