WILW: Cody vs Okada
This Fourth of July weekend sees the official stateside debut of New Japan Pro Wrestling. No longer content to be a one-country company, NJPW is bringing its particular brand of wrestling to the United States. (Long Beach California to be exact). And while there is a lot to be excited about for this weekends show, the most anticipated match on the card is the IWGP World Championship match between the champ, Okada, and the ROH World Champion, Cody. It’s the first time since 1991 that two world champions will be facing each other in a promoted bout on US soil. (no Tazz vs HHH doesn’t count because it wasn’t promoted and no, Pearce vs Nigel doesn’t count because of the over the top rule. It’s stupid.) And look, I have no doubt that the entire event will be awesome. The crowning of NJPW’s first US Champ is a big deal. The start of the G1 tournament is a big deal. Kenny Omega will be there which is a big deal. This match though, this is the make or break for mainstream acceptance in the US of NJPW. This will be the showcase, the moment where they say this right here is why we are different and why we are better. Okada is one of, if not the, best in the world right now. Cody has been having great matches since leaving WWE and becoming an indie guy, but hasn’t had that one moment yet. This could be, and should be, that moment. I am fucking hyped for this special. I am fucking hyped for NJPW to break into the US. And I am fucking hyped for Cody to lose this match but still put on the best match of his career. Make no mistake, Okada walks out champ. There is no way in the bluest of blue hells that Okada is not the champ going into this expansion. The only other guy it could have been was Omega and since that didn’t happen, Cody isn’t either.
Check back next week for another installment of WILW games and maybe some talk about this special. As always follow me on twitter and instagram, @geekadedan, and let me know what you think. Until then…