[2015-08-15-NJPW-G1 Climax] Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kazuchika Okada

[Superstar Sleeze]

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kazuchika Okada - G-1 Climax 25 Semifinals

 

Finally, the New Japan boys weave an amazing story to support their uncanny ability to generate dramatic, hot finish runs with their moves. The result was the best New Japan match of the year. Okada is probably my least favorite wrestler in the world, but I will give him his due, he is a proficient wrestler. I just find him dull. He is like a technically perfect robot devoid of all emotion. In this match, he did show more cockiness than usual and that helped. The big boon to the match was Nakamura was selling for two in this match and this has to go down as one of his most masterful performances.

 

This is a rematch of last year's finals where Okada won his second G-1 Climax. Okada had that air of superiority that was quickly effaced when Nakamura took him to task on the mat. In a pure kayfabe sense, Okada is totally out-gunned in this match as most of Nakamura's opponent are. He is probably the best striker and submission wrestler on the roster. In a lot of ways, this is an excellent Tanahashi match without Tanahashi involved. Tanahashi's strategy against these wrestlers (Nakamura, Nagata etc...) is to break them down usually by attacking the leg. Okada used a combination of luck and his best weapon. Okada having powdered before being choked out early was taking a walk. Nakamura, who clearly came in ripshit to prove that he was better, immediately gave chase. Okada managed to whip him into the railing and this allowed to hit him with BANG! A Dropkick, his beat weapon this sent Nakamura back into the railing. From there, he planted him with a Hangmans DDT from the railing. Nakamura never really recovered from that move. Nakamura did an incredible job selling that move and his neck for the rest of the match. Okada naturally has a lot of moves that work the neck so it worked out well (Tombstone on the outside was awesome). Nakamura was great at his burst of knee-based offense, but failing to capitalize because of his neck while Okada was able to use the neck as a cutoff attack especially during strike exchanges. Nakamura first focused on knees to the abdomen, but then started moving towards head strikes (Boma Ye & Kicks) as counters. These took their toll on Okada, who eventually had a hard time regaining control. Probably my favorite strike exhcnage in New Japan ensued with both wrestlers selling their necks incredibly. I loved Nakamura losing his ability to throw a forearm because his neck was so fucked up only to fire back up and drill Okada. Nakamura won with an axe kick and BOMA YE~! Landslide only gets two! Boma Ye attempt, but DROPKICK! He took his fucking head off. Okada knows when to use that dropkick. That big advantage Okada built early in the match has been lost, but he can avoid choking the match away if he can hit the Rainmaker. He nails it! Goes again, Boma Ye attempt, but catches, German, but Nakamura gets a double wristlock now a Tombston! RAINMAKER NO FLYING CROSSARMBREAKER!!! There is some struggle, but Nakamura maintains the hold for the win.

 

Awesome progression from the G1 Climax finals last year with Nakamura going into to prove he can kick this punk's ass and that punk gets lucky and opens up a big lead. Okada works the neck awesomely and comes off like a huge douche. Nakamura sells huge and his hope spots are awesomely timed. There is a real sense he has to claw his way back into the match. Finally his head shots take their toll and Okada looks like he choked away the match. Then they go into a tremendous fireworks finish run. Nakamura proves why he is the best counterwrestler in the game today. Best NJPW match and now a frontrunner for the match of the year for NJPW and WWE. ****3/4