5 reasons why Cody shouldn’t win IWGP Heavyweight Championship at G1 Special
Reason No. 2: Why kill all of Okada’s momentum in 2017 with a loss in this match?
If you haven’t heard the name Kazuchika Okada, there’s two things I need you to do:
- Re-evaluate your entire life.
- Go purchase a subscription to NJPWWorld.com immediately and watch as many matches of his as you need to that will help you understand how ridiculous his 2017 has been.
Okada is seen by some smarks as the new Hiroshi Tanahashi, or as some like to call him, the Japanese John Cena. (He’s held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for a record seven times. Okada is in the midst of his fourth reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion.)
He wins. A lot.
Why does he win a lot? It’s because he’s really, really good at his job.
Here’s a stat for you: there’s been three official matches in 2017 that have gotten the famed “five-star rating” by Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer. Kazuchika Okada has been in two of those matches (and that’s not counting his draw with Kenny Omega at Dominion).
So basically, Okada’s been in three of the four best matches in wrestling this year. He’s on absolute fire. Whether you like him or you don’t, he’s a walking piece of NJPW history. You can’t end a title reign like he’s in the midst of because of where you are on the map.
It makes sense for him to drop the gold to Cody at the G1 Special because of being in America and it would still be seen as a shocking move. That’s how good Okada’s been.
Still, Cody’s resume (or lack thereof) should factor into this decision and until he really earns his stripes (if you will) in New Japan like some other stars have (Japanese or not), he can’t be the one to end Okada’s reign over Japan.