Current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada has been the number one top babyface in New Japan Pro Wrestling for the better part of a decade.
However, we have recently begun seeing a different side of the Rainmaker, thanks to current Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC Champion Kaito Kiyomiya.
Kiyomiya had been calling out Okada for a cross-promotional dream match for a long time, with Okada not giving Kiyomiya the time of day.
The two then shared the ring during a tag team match at Wrestle Kingdom 17 night two last month, where the two ended up brawling around ringside after Kiyomiya had rocked Okada with stiff kicks to the head.
After the incident, a match between the two was announced for the Great Muta Grand Final Pro Wrestling ‘Last Love’ show in the Tokyo Dome on February 21.
Despite the match being advertised, Okada had still refused to give Kiyomiya the match, saying that he won’t be there and it’s not his fault that NOAH are advertising a match that ‘won’t happen’.
However, Okada made a surprise appearance at the climax of today’s NOAH Grand Voyage in Osaka show, laying Kaito Kiyomiya out with a Rainmaker after his GHC Championship defence against Jack Morris.
Okada then took the microphone and cut a heel promo on Kiyomiya and the NOAH crowd, before finally accepting the match with Kiyomiya at the Tokyo Dome.
Okada wasn’t the only NJPW star to make a surprise appearance on the show, as Tetsuya Naito also appeared to confront Keiji Muto ahead of their match in the Tokyo Dome, which is set to be Muto’s final match.
OFFICIAL – @rainmakerXokada: “I’ll do the Tokyo Dome match!” #noah_ghc #MutoFinal #njpw pic.twitter.com/d6OoaGoycL
— Pro Wrestling NOAH Global (@noahglobal) February 12, 2023
#BREAKING Exclusive ringside footage of IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada attacking GHC Champion Kaito Kiyomiya post main event!!!! #noah_ghc #MutoFinal #njpw @rainmakerXokada @njpwglobal pic.twitter.com/wFjm3lshse
— Pro Wrestling NOAH Global (@noahglobal) February 12, 2023
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