Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi

New Beginning February 2

Taichi attacked Okada before the bell and immediately went for the iron glove. On the outside, Okada threw Taichi into the barricade and then a running cross body over the barricade. The commentators spend a lot of time on Okada’s taped up neck. Back in the ring, Okada went for a DDT that Taichi evaded and hit a side suplex. Okada rolled to the outside and Taichi followed sending Okada into the barricade and then choking him out with the camera cords.

Taichi rolled Okada back into the ring and hit a series of kicks on Okada’s back. Okada managed to hit a neck breaker on Taichi causing Taichi to roll to the outside. When Okada went for the high cross body, Taichi pulled Miho Abe in front of himself. Taichi would then toss Okada into the barricade and haul him up the ramp. Okada got away from Taichi and hit a shotgun dropkick to send Taichi rolling down the ramp.

Back in the ring, Okada it an elbow drop, but Taichi evaded the Rainmaker hitting Okada next with an enziguri. Running the ropes, Okada caught Taichi with a flapjack and then a shotgun dropkick. Laying in the corner, Taichi slipped on the Iron glove but Okada dodged the punch and hit a dropkick to send Taichi to the outside.

While Red Shoes took care of the glove and spoke to Kanemaru, Taichi broke a chair over Okada’s head, hit an Axe Bomber Lariat, and a buzz saw kick. When Taichi went for a pile driver, Okada reversed into a back body drop. Okada hit a German suplex, missed a Rainmaker, and hit a dropkick. Taichi would evade the next rainmaker attempt and put Okada into a submission. Moments later, Okada would go for another Rainmaker and Taichi would again evade hitting a pair of side suplexes. Taichi suplexed Okada a third time and held it for a bridge.

When Taichi next went for a big kick, Okada moved out of the way and pulled Taichi in for a tombstone. With both men now on their feet, they began exchanging fists, forearms, and kicks before Taichi hit a big dropkick.

Okada hit one rainmaker, but Taichi grabbed the referee on the second attempt, hit a low blow, and got a near fall. Taichi hit an axe bomber, a huge kick, and a last ride for a near fall. Okada countered Black Maphisto for a spinning rainmaker, but Okada again could not get the second clothesline.

Okada hit a tombstone and a rainmaker for the pinfall victory.

The final sequence of this match (last five minutes or so) were very good.

Match Ratings

Six dimensions combine to make up the overall rating. Matches score ratings of 1-10 only if the match lasts for a minimum of 5 minutes.

1. Match Quality– Was the match well wrestled or sloppy?
2. Audience Engagement– Did the live audience care about the match?
3. Competitiveness– Was the match competitive or one-sided?
4. Stakes – Did the match matter?
5. Finish– Did the match end in a satisfying manner?
6. Performance: (1) Poor (2) Below Average (3) Average (4) Above Average (5) Excellent