Cody vs. Kazuchika Okada at G1 Special in USA: What to expect
By Jack Crosby
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada and Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion Cody are set to do battle on Saturday in Long Beach.
Beginning on Saturday night in Long Beach, California, an unprecedented professional wrestling event will be take place. As it continues a global expansion, New Japan Pro Wrestling will be bringing its unique style over to the United States for the first time, presenting the G1 Special in USA, airing on AXS TV and New Japan World over the course of July 1 and 2, respectively. And while the card is stacked with some great bouts, including a tournament to crown the first-ever NJPW United States Heavyweight Champion, most everyone is fixated on one match that will happen on Saturday night in the main event: Cody vs. Kazuchika Okada.
A little over 14 months ago, part of the pro wrestling world was stunned to learn Cody — formerly Cody Rhodes, although we all still know who he really is — had asked for and was granted his release from WWE, where he had spent 10 years working. Cody was determined to not be tied down by the pro wrestling monopoly based out of Stamford, Connecticut any longer, and ventured out on a quest through the independent scene to show everyone what he could do with no restrictions. Well, that quest has been successful thus far, as he is a prominent member of Bullet Club, just captured the first world title of his career last weekend by defeating veteran Christopher Daniels for the coveted Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Championship, and is now getting a shot at the belt many consider to be the second-most prestigious in the world. To some, the IWGP title is the most prestigious, depending on how you enjoy your professional wrestling.
Then … well, then we have Kazuchika Okada, the new “Ace” of New Japan Pro Wrestling and the reigning, defending IWGP Heavyweight Champion. There’s so much you can highlight about the rise of Okada throughout the past few years, especially the 2017 this talented performer has had thus far. He just keeps churning out classic after classic, including his two bouts with Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 11 and Dominion, the last of which ended in one of the most exciting 60-minute draws the industry has ever seen. Should you ask anyone who pays attention to the business outside of the WWE bubble, there’s a solid chance they will proclaim Okada the best professional wrestler the world has today.
Saturday night in Long Beach, these two will clash in what is now a Champion vs. Champion match after Cody’s ROH win last weekend, although only Okada’s prestigious IWGP Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in this one. Regardless, it’s one of the most anticipated matches of the year to date. Here are some things we can expect when these two titleholders meet one-on-one.
Cody’s best performance since he left WWE
Cody left WWE last year because he was clearly out to prove something. After a decade with the company, he was out to show everyone that he is more than just a WWE puppet who does whatever he’s told to do, including stay in a Stardust costume for way longer than he had planned on.
Since hitting the independent scene, Cody has been doing just that. While he hasn’t been out there constantly having the 5-star classics that Okada has, he’s been doing a helluva job showing who he can be when dozens of creative writers aren’t telling him how to go out there and perform. For all intents and purposes, he’s taken full advantage of the opportunity that he afforded himself when he made the bold decision to leave Vince McMahon and Co.
While he did recently wrestle inside the Tokyo Dome back in January at Wrestle Kingdom, making his New Japan debut, this is without question the biggest stage he will have been on since his departure. He’s part of the initial New Japan expansion to the United States, and he’s in contention for one of the most coveted belts in all of pro wrestling against maybe the best in the world at the moment in Okada. With his Rhodes lineage, Cody knows when there’s a golden opportunity in front of him, and this main event is exactly that for the former WWE Intercontinental Champion.
With one of the brightest lights shining on him in his career, Cody should step up, put out one of the best performances of his life and have everyone realizing just how truly great he can be in a prominent role.
A long, brutal battle
If you’re someone who’s primarily a WWE-oriented fan that may be checking out this show to see how Cody is doing these days, I’m gonna tell you something plain and simple right now — this main event is not going to be 15-20 minutes. Also, it may look as if these two are legitimately trying to tear each other’s bodies apart, and hell, in some cases they may be.
You see, that’s how New Japan Pro Wrestling works. They provide a hard-hitting style of professional wrestling that at times will make you cringe, and especially when it comes to a main event with a lot at stake, it’s not over quickly, either. As was mentioned earlier, Okada and Omega at Dominion beat the holy hell out of one another at Dominion for an hour — and there wasn’t even a winner in that one!
Cody and Okada will be out there for a good amount of time stiffing each other for the Long Beach fans and everyone watching on AXS TV; probably somewhere around the area of 35-45 minutes would be a healthy estimate here. New Japan prides itself on giving you your money’s worth when it comes to title matches — especially the IWGP Heavyweight Championship — and given all the circumstances surrounding this particular match, this one will be no different.
However, unlike Dominion, there will be a winner in this one …
Okada is walking out of Long Beach with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Some fans out there may take a look at this matchup and perceive it to have all the makings of a feel-good story. Cody leaves WWE on his own accord, kills it on the indies, wins one world title and then adds another to his current collection merely a week later by defeating the top performer on the planet right now during New Japan’s first venture to the United States.
Yeah, well, that’s not happening. When the smoke clears and these two have left it all out there in the ring in California, the United States will be formally introduced to the best in the world, as Okada will emerge victorious to carry the New Japan torch.
On the surface, the Cody story is a fascinating one, but it’s best served for New Japan Pro Wrestling to make its name in the United States this first time around by showcasing its top star. With just his work in Japan, Okada has all the buzz in the world, now you make him look strong over here in the Western part of the globe.
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Plus, Okada is, again, the company ace, while Cody isn’t even signed officially to New Japan. This is a company protective of its titles to begin with, so yeah, there is that as well.
Should this bout go as expected, though, there will really be no losers. Okada’s star will continue to shine brighter and Cody will have his biggest case yet for making the choice he did over one year ago to head out on his own after he battles valiantly with the best.
The G1 Special in USA has all the makings to be a special event this 4th of July weekend, and this main event could be the perfect way to cap the first night of the festivities.