Who beats Okada?
 

This has become one of the best, most entertaining title reigns of the modern era. The quality of the matches as well as how Okada has been presented and booked, has put this reign on another level.

So the question is, who ends it?

I feel like Sabre has a good chance but he's a hard sell by the picture, if you know what I mean. I think that Okada retains and continues until he falls late this year or early next to Kenny who would've wrapped up the Golden Lovers story by then or Naito. Don't really see any other option. Tanakashi isn't going back up.

Saber? Really? I cant even sort of see that.

To answer Figgy if Naito didnt do it I vote no one. Its the reign that never ends. in 20 years he l retire champion surrounded by loose women and cocaine.

Well he's in the match.

There's been a lot of matches that never stood a chance of going over.

A returning Shibata

I could see Tanahashi beating him eventually but when Im not sure. The more Okada wins the more confident he becomes and eventually could become a cocky champion. Could be good redemption story for Tanahashi with one last reign before a humbled Okada regains the title.

I could see Tanahashi challenging in Dominion as the streak breaker for Okada.

I see no value in Omega losing the US Title unless they were going to have him beat Okada in the Cow Palace. The Golden Lovers stuff is great, but that won't make the same difference.

If that doesn't happen, it'll be Naito at the Dome, if he's still hot by then.

Umm.....

Man someone better let switchblade know it was all a dream:p

Well, Meltzer seemed to think it wasn't out the realm of possibility. Call me a sheep, but he knows his NJPW.

No he doesnt. He fails to predict NJPW just like he does everything else

I would say Omega, but I think this Ibushi thing is going to go on for a while. At least til the next Wrestle Kingdom where they will win or defend the tag titles.

Naito is another obvious choice. Back to back G-1 wins would really put him over and make even more of a contender than he already is.

My darkhorse is Cody. His ring work has gotten better and better, to the point where by the G-1, I could see possibly him taking it. His character work is already top notch imo. He's fully embraced this douchebag persona and he's become a very good heel.

I think what Liam is saying is that the switch doesn't really make sense if it wasn't to free up Omega for other things. Why wouldn't you just keep it on him to keep the belt visible and build that association with Omega and add to his matches? It would be a North American thing to take the belt off Omega because they feel that he "doesn't need it" or because they felt it would help a struggling White. To be honest, I could see the latter being true in Japan too, especially if they re-upped Jay White for a large amount of money and were scared Switchblade wasn't working.

I'm not really plugged into New Japan booking as much as others, but I called Okada going over, so I'm just going to proclaim to be an expert. Gedo has been booking Okada to his salary. He's on 2.2 million for 5 years. The two options I see are:

1. Naito in a match at the Dome, with Okada having shattered all the records and officially the greatest champion in New Japan's history. Naito has always been a step behind, but this becomes must-win for him. Naito does win, he sells a bunch of shirts, and he eventually drops the belt back to Okada and settles back into that #2 position.

2. New Japan finds a young heel that they think is money. I've seen the President of the company, or someone, talking about how he would love to find a 25-year-old domestic monster. If they find someone that fills that role, then Okada dropping the belt in shocking fashion in order to really boost this new person and give Okada a chase is something I can definitely see.

But I think Destor is on the money, even if he was kinda joking: This reign is supposed to go on forever. This is Bruno Sammartino with the WWWF Title. It obviously won't go on that long, but he's the guy. You're supposed to be able to bet the house on him. If he's Hogan he won't drop it until they find an Andre. They might decide that is Naito or do it just to make sure they keep him and justify paying whatever salary he is on for a brief period. But there's no next "guy" in mind right now.

I don't think a gaijin is getting it unless Brock signs.

I was meditating on New Japan yesterday, and I came to a weird point where I tricked myself into thinking that maybe Okada drops the belt to Omega in San Francisco, and that he doesn't actually get it back, but rather gets Hiroshi Tanahashi's blessing to go after Suzuki and the IC Title after Suzuki does more dastardly stuff. Naito then wins the G1 and challenges Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 13. So the top five matches are:

* Kenny Omega (c) vs. G1 Climax Winner Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Title
* Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IC Title
* Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho (in an "Alpha Lions Match!")
* Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Kota Ibushi for the US Title (either guy is champion really)
* Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Title (again, either guy could be champion)

Naito wins the IWGP Title. Okada wins the IC Title and at a press conference says that had to stop Suzuki, it was the most painful match of his life, so this belt means as much to him as anything else, and he will defend it with pride like Tanahashi did before him. Tanahashi beats Jericho and announces that he will be taking some time off to rest and will enter the G1. Okada wants Tanahashi to challenge him for the IC Title if he wins. Ibushi wins/retains the US Title and keeps on being Ibushi. I know Jay White has it now...but come on.

Reason I think Okada may not be in the main event: Gedo probably has his ear to the ground and hears the western rumblings, but he also knows his audience as well. Okada can still be the highest paid guy, franchise player and still draw money in other positions -- you just have to have him take the agency to lead his own story. Losing the IWGP Title to Omega in an environment where Omega has the North American advantage, only for Okada to focus on justice and doing the right thing and stepping to Suzuki sends him off on a different path gets him away from doing the same-same and just knocking back another challenger at Wrestle Kingdom.

HULK HOGAN

Or Undertaker, but this will be the year 2027.

Has Okada faced Hiroshi Tanahashi yet this reign? He's my pick to beat Okada for the belt.

I read they've got a match coming up at Wrestling Dontaku or whatever it is. To be perfectly honest, it's not a bad shout-out if they want to remind people that he's still Tanahashi. I think their next match will determine whether or not Okada breaks the record for the most defenses in a single reign, so Tanahashi would essentially be defending his record.

Scott Norton is the only logical answer

He might win the New Japan Rumble next year.