Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada © @ Sakura Genesis 2018
Singles Match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Okada is onto his 11th Title Defense as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, about to tie the all-time record set by Hiroshi Tanahashi, and he’s already broken the record for longest reign at 652 days. Only thing standing in his way to breaking the defense record is New Japan Cup winner Zack Sabre Jr, who wants to bring the submission heavy style back to NJPW, and used that style to tear through the New Japan Cup to get this match. But Okada has survived Minoru Suzuki on a bad leg, ZSJ would need to step it up majorly to make Okada give up. Was a very submission focused match to start off, Okada worked ZSJ’s kinda match, but as time went on he was able to hit his signature spots, eventually hitting the Rainmaker for the win.
No one has proven to be able to stop the ace yet, and ZSJ has been added to the list of people who couldn’t get the job done. Okada has now tied Tanahashis record, but can he beat it?
4.25/5 (**** ¼)
