#230: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega, NJPW Dominion (6/9/2018).
This is a No Time Limit 2 Out of 3 Falls Match for Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
2017 in New Japan Pro Wrestling belonged to two men: Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega. Their main event showdown on January 4th at Wrestle Kingdom 11 rewrote modern pro wrestling history, delivering a match that broke boundaries about match structure, and got people talking about international wrestling in a way that hadn’t been done in decades. Their 60 minute draw at Dominion in June only added fuel to the fire. And by the time the bell rang on their G1 Climax 27 bout, fans everywhere were convinced that they had seen the greatest series of matches of all time.
Wrestling fans worldwide waited with baited breath to see what these two would do together next, but after the G1, they didn’t interact much with each other. Omega moved on to internal problems in Bullet Club, as his leadership role was being challenged by Cody Rhodes. Elsewhere, he had Chris Jericho to worry about at Wrestle Kingdom 12, in a match that had the entire world watching very early in the morning.
More important than all of that, though, was the return of Kota Ibushi to the life of Omega. Once tag team partners as part of the Golden Lovers, both men went their separate ways, with Ibushi going out on his own as a freelancer, while Omega eventually joined Bullet Club. Ibushi saved Omega from a Cody Rhodes beatdown, and the two reunited formally. Their union caused even more friction in Bullet Club, specifically with the Young Bucks. But, Omega was open and honest about how he felt he was a better and stronger person with his friend by his side.
Meanwhile, Okada continued to shatter records in New Japan, with his 4th reign – having began at Dominion in 2016 – looking to have no end in sight. After the G1, he saw successful defenses against EVIL, SANADA & Zack Sabre, Jr. On top of that, he was controversially the victor at Wrestle Kingdom 12 against Tetsuya Naito – a man many believed was at his absolute peak coming in. And finally, his defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestling Dontaku meant that Okada now held the all time defense record of the championship, at 12.
Following that defense, Okada called out Omega for a match. This surprised the Cleaner, as they had little interaction since the G1, and Omega was focused on things with Ibushi. However, the G1 match – the only victory Omega has over Okada -still ate at the Rainmaker, so he offered a title shot to Omega. He accepted the challenge, but with a twist: It would be contested as a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match, with no time limit.
Many fans believed that if the Dominion 2017 match was longer, Omega would’ve walked out the champion. So a lack of time, along with the possibility of going 3 falls, meant that this legendary feud was about to have finality once and for all. With Ibushi – his Golden Lover – by his side, Omega felt that he had all the tools needed to finally beat Okada in a championship match. Meanwhile, the Rainmaker had to just win this match, and in 15 days, he’d surpass the great Kenta Kobashi’s GHC Heavyweight Championship reign as the longest world title reign in the history of Japanese wrestling.
The stakes were incredibly high. History was on the line, as well as legacy. And fans everywhere anticipated what these two were going to do. After having the greatest trilogy of all time – at least to some fans – how could these two possibly match it, or even top it?
Kenny Omega makes his way out first, and he is in fantastic shape for this match. He is seconded by Kota Ibushi, the man he believes was the missing piece to him getting to this moment.
Kazuchika Okada, entering his monumental 720th day as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, makes his way to the ring next. He looks in no mood to end his run here, either. He’s been unstoppable for two whole years, and appears to continue for as long as he wants.
The bell rings, and the highly anticipated fourth singles meeting between these two is under way. No time limit, and the first to two wins takes the gold. So far, in three singles matches, these two have wrestled for over two hours. They lock up, and Omega takes the back of Okada. Okada quickly transitions, and Omega takes control of the arm. Quick transition to a side headlock takedown, and both men are back up. Noticeable, Omega seems more calm than in any of their other matches.
Okada takes the front face lock, and snap mares Omega into a chin lock. Omega slips out and hammerlocks the arm of Okada. Both men are apart and a stalemate is the story early on. Okada takes control of the arm of Omega, and the challenger kicks up to take the front facelock again. Okada goes to attack the leg now, twisting and turning it all around. Omega crawls to the ropes to break the hold, and a stalemate happens again.
They lock up, and Okada forces Omega into the corner. He fakes him out with a punch, and Omega quickly does the same. Okada has Omega up for the Tombstone, and Omega slips out. He avoids the dropkick, as well as a Rainmaker. Omega goes for One Winged Angel, and Okada uses his momentum to send both men to the outside. They exchange forearms on the floor, with Okada getting the upper hand. Omega starts to rally back, and Okada sends him back first into the barricade, then boots him over. Okada goes for a dive over the barricade, and Omega catches him with a high knee to the face!
Omega positions a piece of the barricade diagonal, and powerslams Okada onto it. Back in the ring, Omega gets a nearfall. He drives his elbow into the chest next. A sliding elbow drop follows. Omega kicks Okada hard on the back, and follows with a kick to the head. Okada eggs him on, and Omega hits a running kick to the face for a 2 count. In the corner, Omega chops at Okada’s chest. He hits a backbreaker across his knee for a 2 count as well.
Now Omega locks in a chin lock on Okada, pulling back on his neck and further injuring the back. He transitions into a Camel Clutch submission. Okada gets to the ropes to break, and Omega slaps his foot off the back of his head. They exchange forearms, and Omega drops Okada with a chop to the chest, followed by one to his back. Okada fires back with a flapjack. More forearms from the Rainmaker, and he hits a diving one for good measure. He whips Omega into the corner and hits a diving back elbow, and a DDT for a 2 count.
Okada with the Cobra Clutch submission – an early variant of the Money Clip! Omega stands up and sends Okada to the outside. He looks for a plancha to the outside, but Okada reenters the ring and quickly hits one of his own, landing right on Omega. Back in the ring, Okada with a big boot to the face, and Omega explodes with a hurricanrana. Okada rolls to the outside, and Omega hits a baseball slide to send him over the barricade.
Omega hits a springboard dive that sends him over the barricade, and onto Okada! He tosses him back into the ring. High leg drop to the back of the neck gets a 2 count for Omega. He quickly goes for a neckbreaker across his knee. Okada avoids a knee and goes for a German Suplex. A V Trigger hits and Omega goes for the Poisonrana, but Okada holds the ropes to avoid it. He hits the German Suplex for a 2 count. Omega uses his body weight to drive Okada into the corner.
He places Okada on the top rope, and attempts a suplex. Okada is fighting, though. Punching Omega back to the mat. He responds by bitch slapping Okada down. He places him back on the top, but Okada fights it off once and is able to bring Omega to the apron. There, he hits a Tombstone, dropping Omega on his head! Back in the ring, Okada hits a vicious shotgun dropkick that sends Omega flying off the apron and landing rib first on the ringside barricade! That looked particularly nasty. Okada goes to the outside, and throws Omega back inside. His confidence is obvious.
He goes to the top rope, and comes down with a hard shotgun dropkick to Omega’s face that gets a 2 count. A powerslam follows, and Okada goes to the top rope. He hits the flying elbow drop, and busts out the Rainmaker pose, but Omega is back up with a Snap Dragon Suplex out of nowhere! Okada rolls to the outside, and the fans clap along to the Terminator theme, as Omega rises up. He hits the flying senton to the outside onto the champion!
Omega sends Okada back into the ring, then hits a beautiful dropkick to the back of the head. That gets a 2 count. Omega goes for the One Winged Angel, and Okada slips out! He goes for the Rainmaker, but Omega hits the V Trigger instead. He goes for One Winged Angel again, but Okada’s struggling causes a transition into a gut wrench German Suplex into a pin, which gets a close 2 count. V Trigger connects now, and Omega goes for One Winged Angel again. Okada slips out and dropkicks Omega in the back of the head. He sends him into the ropes and hits a proper dropkick. He goes for the Rainmaker, but Omega counters into a ripcord V Trigger for a close 2 count.
Omega with a Tiger Driver attempt, but Okada flips out of it and hits a Tombstone. Okada goes for the Rainmaker, and Omega uses the momentum to go for a side slide pin, and Okada counters that into a roll up and that’s enough for 3! Okada takes the first fall!
Kazuchika Okada (1), Kenny Omega (0).
After a rest period, the second fall kicks off. Okada is all smiles, as Omega must now beat Okada two straight falls in order to win the match. Okada rushes Omega in the corner, and dropkicks him off the top, sending him to the floor. Okada ties Omega’s head up in the barricade. He then hits hard liver shots to the challenger. Omega blocks a whip into the barricade and goes to dive off of it, but Okada pushes him over it. He lifts him back over and drops him with a DDT to the floor.
Back in the ring, Omega hits light shots to the ribs of Okada, who just stands there and brushes it off. Chops start to help, but Okada is quick to hit a big boot to the face. Okada with the Cobra Clutch in again. Omega is back to his feet and hits a Stunner to break the submission. He chops Okada in the chest, and hits a nice back suplex. On the outside now, Omega hits another back suplex, dropping Okada right on the apron. Next, he grabs a ringside table and lays it flat onto Okada. He goes to the apron, and flies off with a double foot stomp, sending the table right into Okada’s midsection!
Okada is back up and sends Omega face first into the ring post. Now back in the ring, Okada hits a powerslam and goes for the standing senton, and Omega is able to get his knees up to block it. Omega lifts Okada up for the You Can’t Escape combo, and Okada counters into the Heavy Rain. A shotgun dropkick sends Omega flying into the turnbuckle. Okada goes to the top rope, but Omega is quick to meet him there with punches, and a chop to the chest.
Huge suplex from the top brings Okada falling straight to the mat! Hard forearms from Omega, and he gets him in his You Can’t Escape combo. The moonsault is blocked by the knees of Okada, who then hits a running uppercut. Okada looks to send Omega to the outside onto the table from earlier, but Omega counters with a swinging DDT. On the apron, Omega looks for a German Suplex onto the table, and Okada is able to hold onto the ropes to prevent that. Omega drives his fist into Okada’s back, and attempts a Dragon Suplex now! Okada elbows him down to the floor, and Omega lifts Okada up for the One Winged Angel. Okada slips out and goes for the Rainmaker, and Omega counters into a Poisonrana that drops Okada headfirst! Okada is able to make it back into the ring before getting counted out, but runs into a V Trigger! Omega goes for the One Winged Angel, but slips out and hits a twisting Tombstone!
Okada goes for the Rainmaker, and Omega counters with a high Urinagi! Hard forearm from the challenger, and the champion has one of his own. They exchange forearms in the middle, and Omega quickly hits a Snap Dragon Suplex. Okada is back up with a beautiful dropkick. Not to be out done, Omega hits one of his own! Omega with a powerbomb, and a V Trigger. He goes for the Jay Driller, and Okada counters into the same roll up that won him the first fall! Omega kicks out and hits the V Trigger! Jay Driller connects flush, but Okada kicks out!
Hard V Trigger to the side of the head by Omega, and now he looks for the One Winged Angel. He hits it perfectly, and takes the second fall! We’re all tied up now!
Kenny Omega (1), Kazuchika Okada (1).
One final rest period, and the final fall begins. Whoever takes this takes the match. Omega strikes quickly with the V Trigger right away! He goes for the One Winged Angel, and Okada counters into the Rainmaker! He makes the cover, and Omega is able to kick out. Okada goes for the Tombstone again, and Omega counters for one of his own. Neither man is able to get the other off their feet. Okada hits an axe handle on the back, and Omega slaps him in the face. Okada with an uppercut that drops the challenger. He sends Omega into the ropes for the dropkick, but misses as Omega simply collapses to the ground.
Omega hits several palm strikes to the back of Okada’s head. He then lifts him up for a powerbomb, and Okada is able to avoid it. Omega transitions into a Styles Clash – shades of his old Bullet Club leader AJ Styles – and that gets a close 2 count. Fans break out into an “AJ Styles” chant. Omega unleashes a V Trigger to the back of Okada in the corner, and goes for the One Winged Angel, but his back gives out on him. He uses the corner to try it again, but Okada is able to reverse into a Tombstone, which Omega reverses into a Bastard Driver! Okada somehow kicks out.
Kota Ibushi on the outside is willing his friend on. Omega scales the top rope and goes for the Phoenix Splash, in honor of his friend, but Okada moves out of the way! A dropkick to the back of the head follows. He goes for the Tombstone, and Omega slips out and hits a V Trigger. Another one right to the mug, and another. Okada grabs the knee on the third, then hits a dropkick. He goes for the Tombstone again, but it’s blocked. Another dropkick follows, and Okada hits the Rainmaker – but Omega takes it and stays standing! Okada collapses, and so does Omega.
Both men exchange shots on their knees, both in utter exhaustion. Omega with a headbutt to Okada. He lifts Okada back to his feet, but the champion grabs the wrist and hits the Rainmaker! One more for good measure, and Omega is turned inside out. He goes for the proper Rainmaker, and Omega counters into a German Suplex! Okada counters with a high German Suplex of his own! He grabs the wrist, and goes for the Rainmaker again, and Omega counters again with the German Suplex. Okada elbows Omega, who then hits the Poisonrana!
Okada is laying against the ropes now, as Omega wills himself back up to his feet. He uses Red Shoes to stand up. He goes for the V Trigger, and Okada is back up with a dropkick! He goes for the Rainmaker, but Omega counters into a very quick, but not effective, One Winged Angel! Okada is glassy eyed now. He lays against the bottom rope, and Omega pulls himself back to his feet. Omega runs off the ropes and hits a vicious V Trigger! He lifts Okada up for the One Winged Angel! He hits it in the middle of the ring! Red Shoes counts, and Omega has done it! The reign is over, and Kenny Omega has become only the seventh foreigner to hold the IWGP Heavyweight Championship!
Post match, Omega celebrates with Ibushi, and even the Young Bucks – estranged from Omega at the time – come to celebrate with their former friend. Omega speaks in both English and Japanese to the crowd, and says he’s going to go rest.
Kenny Omega (2), Kazuchika Okada (1).
Before I give my feedback on this match, let me get this out of the way first. This match is the best example I have of why Dave Meltzer’s rating system is a fucking joke. If he thinks a match is great enough to warrant a high rating, fine. Nothing wrong with that. But, 7 stars out of 5 for a match? I don’t care how good a match is – don’t break your own scale in a such a stupid way. Just say it was a really great 5 star match. Don’t be ridiculous and go two full stars higher. The same can be said for six stars matches too. Or going to 5.50 stars. It’s just silly when you could keep it so simple.
Anyway, yeah. What a fantastic match! This is one of the most impressive endurance matches I’ve ever seen. The stamina that Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega have coming into this is downright psychotic. They wrestled a high level New Japan style main event for nearly 65 minutes, and it never got boring. The crowd was hot for the entire match, and they were desperate for Kenny to take the title. Call it an earned victory, or Okada fatigue, but they were on edge whenever Kenny looked to be the victor.
Many people naturally compare this reign from Okada with that of the legendary GHC Heavyweight Title reign from Kenta Kobashi. It’s apples and oranges, but honestly, at least Okada’s reign ended on a higher note. After two years of consistently high quality title defenses, he went out guns blazing with an amazing, superstar performance that proved once again why New Japan put so much effort into building him as their Ace.
Meanwhile, Kenny walked away with the championship in a win that can best be described as one that was earned. He had zero presence in the United States, outside of appearances for Ring of Honor. He dedicated his craft to Japanese wrestling, and in turn, earned the honor and respect of the fans, who saw the effort he put in to immerse himself in their culture. And after so many years of busting his ass, he finally reached the mountain top as IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
This came after an electric match that sizzled for the first two falls, and in my opinion, was just okay for the third fall. Don’t get me wrong, it was good. It had all the ingredients for a closing sequence in a big time main event. But the first two falls were so well laid out, and it was nonstop action. The third fall was the story of exhaustion kicking in, and both men were simply trying their best to get to the next move. I guess it makes sense in the context of the story.
Unfortunately, the win here was the peak of Omega as IWGP Heavyweight Champ. His reign was just kind of there, if I’m honest. He defended it three times, before dropping it to Hiroshi Tanahashi in a barn burner at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Afterwards, he was bound for the new promotion AEW, which would give him his first carbon footprint in the US. Even though his reign as champion paled in comparison to the gain of it, there’s no denying that the moment Kenny Omega finally earned the top heavyweight title in Japan is one of the best moments in modern Japanese wrestling history.