Wrestle Kingdom 10 results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada full highlights

Full highlights and results from Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight title at Wrestle Kingdom 10

There are some matches that need no introduction and, in the context of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Hiroshi Tanahashi challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship is one of those matches. These two men have a rivalry dating back over almost the entire past half-decade that already included some epic encounters, including at Wrestle Kingdom 9 last year where Tanahashi’s victory left the arrogant, calm Okada in tears. However, at NJPW’s biggest show of the year in Wrestle Kingdom 10, the moment felt bigger than ever before.

Despite their familiarity, the match began with the two mean jockeying for control and feeling one another out, with Tanahashi ultimately getting the upper hand early on as he started working the right leg of the Rainmaker Okada. However, Okada fought through the pain in the leg and ultimately swung the momentum with a big step-up dropkick that sent Tana to the floor.

After the champ sent Tanahashi over the barricade, Okada then unleashed a huge crossbody onto the challenger as he cleared the barricade to make contact:

Once back in the ring, Okada maintained his control by hitting a huge Senton Atomico on the challenger:

The champ really began working the back of Tanahashi and only seemed to gain steam with every maneuver and ever strike. However, the more in control he seemed, the more arrogant Okada began to act. When the champ sidestepped a Tana dropkick, he smirked and went for a Senton, but came up empty:

That allowed the challenger to get back in control to a degree and again go after Okada’s leg, hitting a wicked Dragon Screw:

The work on the leg continued, even as the action went onto the apron. That allowed Tanahashi to open up even more offense as he hung the champ up on the ropes and hit a beautiful Slingblade on the apron:

That laid Okada out on the floor and the challenger hit his signature High Fly Flow out onto the floor:

With such a huge move, both men felt the toll of it as Okada was down on the floor and Tana was left down in the middle of the ring. After the champ just beat the 20-count to get back in the ring, Tanahashi hit another High Fly Flow, this one onto the legs. He then tried to lock in a Cloverleaf, but Okada managed to fight the submission and not allow it to get turned over by getting to the ropes. As the challenger tried to continue his assault, Okada was able to fight through for an inverted White Noise:

That maneuver onto the knee that had been worked stifled Okada and left the two men trading blows in the middle of the ring. However, the champ was able to hit his patented dropkick from the top rope on the challenger and then unleashed a flurry of low dropkicks onto his opponent:

Okada then tried to really pour it on after hitting a big elbow as he went for yet another dropkick. Tanahashi was ready for this one, though, as he caught him and hit another Dragon Screw:

Tana then finally turned the champ over in the Cloverleaf, really working that leg:

After looking like he was going to tap, the champ was somehow able to get to the rope. However, Tana was clearly in control and hit a Twist and Shout and then a Slingblade:

The challenger then went for a High Fly Flow and missed, which gave Okada some room and the champ then hit a Tombstone and then his famous Rainmaker Clothesline, but somehow, the challenger kicked out:

Okada then hit a High Fly Flow to add insult to injury, but Tana kicked out again:

The champ went for another Rainmaker, but the challenger ducked it and set up a Rainmaker of his own that landed flush:

The two then jockeyed for control yet again and Okada tried to hit the Rainmaker once more, with Tana ducking it once more and going into a Slingblade into a nasty Dragon Suplex:

Tanahashi then went to the top and hit a High Fly Flow. That wasn’t enough, though, as he went back up and hit another. Even then, the champ wouldn’t die as he kicked out:

Grasping for anything, Tanahashi went back up top for another High Fly Flow and Okada mustered up a counter with a huge dropkick:

As Tanahashi fought off a Rainmaker, he went off the ropes and was caught by another dropkick. Tana then ducked another Rainmaker, but Okada caught him with a German Suplex. After two clotheslines, Okada finally got the Rainmaker that was enough for the pin and the win:

Okada finally overcame his rival and his demons to retain and become the unquestioned top dog of New Japan.