Adam Priest vs. Kazuchika Okada

[5.0] "I thought this would be a career defining performance for Adam Priest so AEW could finally sign him (after refusing to sign him in the first 3 opportunities they had like that), what I got instead was the funniest match of the month lmao. We didn't even got the belt (and props to them for trying to do a story about it) and the visual of Okada and Priest havin a match is hilarious as well. But because Priest is so good, he can get a feel good things, specially the limb-work and the size disadvantage. Overall, very underwhelming and uninspired, could've skipped if I didn't like them so much."

[6.0] "This wasn't my favorite match on the show, but it was far from bad. The in-ring work was solid overall, and nothing ever felt outright sloppy or poorly executed. Okada, as expected, brought his usual presence and control, giving the match a certain baseline quality almost by default. That said, the match never really clicked into a higher gear for me. The pacing felt a bit too safe, and while the exchanges were correct and well structured, they lacked intensity and urgency. Adam Priest did his part, but the chemistry between the two never fully translated into something memorable or emotionally engaging. In the end, it was a decent, serviceable singles match that fit well on a weekly show but didn't stand out among the rest of the card. Enjoyable enough while it lasted, just not something I'll particularly remember going forward."

[5.0] "That is a funny bout for many different reasons. Priest is way smaller than Okada and that TV wise looked so funny, and Okada coming into the ring without his belt because it was stole only make this shit even more hilarious. Talking about the match itself, Priest did a solid limb work on Okada's leg and Okada probably had the best selling he ever did at AEW."

[6.0] "Them not trusting for a replica belt to be shown on TV is hilarious and stupid at the same time. I thought the match was pretty decent. I like what I've seen from Adam priest and this is really the best you'll get from Okada on collision."

[3.0] "Pretty boring match that failed to draw me in from the beginning. Match lacked genuine purpose. Boring slow action. Okada fanboys and fangirls inflate the score of anything he does. I find that dishonest."

[7.0] "Really good stuff, I don't know how Priest isn't signed by AEW yet, but he should, incredible worker. This match was short and simple, only 10-minutes, but the story they've managed to tell was very captivating. Okada started the match dominating, because of course, he's bigger and the star of the match, so he easily dominated Priest for some time, which was very well sold by his opponent. Priest eventually came back because he targeted Okada's knee, and there was a limb work there, including a figure four near finish, a move that inflicts pain in the knee. Then Okada finally hit his big moves and won the match, a pretty solid one - {***1/4}"

[5.0] "ok that Priest at starpower can't compete on a mark scale with Okada but this was for a 3/4 a squash with a little reaction by Priest with nothing to add, even his spot was so little. they could do better with both wrestlers"

[4.0] "Absolutely no idea why this match is happening, which doesn't exactly bode well for my enjoyment of the contest nor the status of the International Championship. The fact that Okada didn't bother with the robe or the belt was a saving grace here in terms of the booking; the match itself was fine but also completely miss-able."

[7.0] "It went as you imagined it would go when it was announced. A fun match to watch, the pairing of this two worked quite well."

[7.0] "Okada gave priest a lot more than anticipated, made him look good. Surprisingly good, and not a squash match."

[5.0] "(Grade:D/**) Glad to see Adam Priest getting more spotlight and opportunity at the International Championship..just wished the match itself was more engaging. Okada was dealt a bad hand from the moment he made his entrance with with no entrance attire and the championship hidden in a bag (Apparently Okada loss he's luggage at the airport which sucks to hear). Also Okada did feel a bit phony in this match-up which I understand its television so I wasn't expecting a 5-star performance but at least 20% effort."

[3.0] "Okada not bothering to bring his actual belt to this match feels like it summarizes the limpness of his International title reign perfectly. I like Priest ok but he is barely presented above jobber level to this point so why is he getting a title shot? I'd give it a pass if the match was exciting but it was... not. Please lord someone get that belt off Okada so he can phone it in on his own time."

[9.0] "This match kicked ass. Okada coming out with no robe and the title belt in a fucking carrying case to disrespect this young gun, Rocky explaining this on commentary before sneaking in an attack and then getting flattened for it, Priest knowing the exact best way to work face against Okada's style because it's the same dickhead style he employs as a heel himself, and the work over the leg being a super consistent throughline. Priest goes for it, Okada feigns it to give Rocky the opening, and from then on Priest makes it his mission to make sure Okada REALLY feels it by going after it over and over and picking it out for every single reversal he pulls (even the German suplex and the jackknife pin). I also genuinely think this is the best Okada's ever sold somebody working his leg; a lot of his big Tanahashi matches feature him ignoring the leg work come the finishing stretch but with this he kept it going the whole time. Okada only worked two matches in January and he made those COUNT. Also appreciate the DPW chants & sign for Priest, DPW Forever. ****1/4"

[6.0] "Well, this match certainly happened and was better than I expected it to be for an Okada TV match, where I thought he would half-ass it and give Priest nothing, but we got a bit more than that. I thought Priest had a great showing in his biggest match in AEW so far and got a nice amount of offense in, and I like his style, as he makes everything he does feel super impactful, and he feels like a wrestler who is a blast from the past in the best way possible. Okada was decent; you knew he was going to win, but he didn't phone it in completely, which was pretty good from him, although I am convinced he forgot to bring the belt with him, hence Rocky giving him a belt covered in a belt bag, which was funny to me. The finish was, as you expect, a big Rainmaker match over nothing new there. Overall a pretty nice 10-minute TV match that gave Priest some rub, so that was good. (***1/4)"

"(6/10) Okada has had this belt for a long freaking time, & they haven't done terribly much with it. I feel like it is time for him to drop it to somebody like Kyle or Darby or Mark or somebody similar. This was an acceptable TV match, but it felt so low stakes because Okada is facing a guy that I have no idea who he is (& I mean, I know who JD Drake is, FFS...) Priest manages to put in various impressive hard hitting offenses. Okada, as mentioned, seems to be autopiloting a bit. I'd appreciate for there to at least be opponents for him that cast doubt as to whether he will retain. My main criticisms are about the booking, more so than the match. It's a fine match."

[3.0] "Okada and a filler, boring weekly tv match is something that I'm used to but doesn't make it any better. Honestly he should be an exclusive ppv wrestler at this point because him wrestling lile a sloth in these weekly tv matches actively pissing me off."

[4.0] "I have nothing against Adam Priest, who tried a few things, but I don't understand why they gave him a title match at this stage. There was no build-up and no suspense in a match that, on top of everything else, wasn't great despite the allotted time and Priest's offensive attempts. In-ring quality: 1.25/4. Stakes: 1.75/2. Justification: 0/1. Placement on the card: 0.5/1. Suspense: 0/1. Bonus/penalty: none. Total: 4.5/10. Match watched on Triller TV."

[5.0] "Basic TV match and a continually poor use of big Kazu in my opinion. This was basically fine but basically basic"

[7.0] "7.0 - Adam Priest came out to very little reaction, while Kazuchika Okada was treated like a full-blown hero despite being positioned as the heel, drawing loud "Okada, Okada, Okada" chants, with a sign in the crowd even reading "Okada fears Takeshita, " loud boos whenever Rocky Romero got involved, and big "woo" reactions when Priest locked in a figure-four. My favorite moment was Priest blasting Okada with an Alabama Jam off the top rope for a near fall, which was excellent, but the match ultimately ended when Okada connected with the Rainmaker to pick up the win. The biggest problem with the match was that the crowd simply wanted to cheer Okada, which completely undercut the intended story of Priest fighting uphill as a tough underdog who wasn't supposed to be an easy win, and because of that the emotional hook never really landed. There were still some fun highlights, including Okada's clean standing dropkick knocking Priest off the top rope and Priest flying off the top to splash Rocky Romero on the floor, but the crowd dynamic kept this from ever fully clicking the way it was clearly designed to."

[7.0] "This AEW TV bout delivered solid action despite its short length and obvious finish. Okada came in with his title bag, instantly establishing a heelish, guarded mindset, while Priest brought urgency and intensity, trading high-impact strikes and suplexes with the champion. The match was a mix of clever heel tactics; Romero's commentary-and-floor interference, Okada's feigned injury; and legitimate wrestling, with Priest hitting a spinning neckbreaker, German suplexes, and a diving leg drop that had real weight. The pacing worked well, keeping the action moving while giving Priest moments to shine and make the champion look challenged. The finish leaned on Okada's established moveset, including the Blue Thunder and Rainmaker, but Priest's near-falls and counters lent suspense to the closing sequence. Overall, it was a compact showcase of skill and storytelling that elevated Priest without undermining Okada's stature. ***1/2"

[7.0] "Really fun TV match. Great showcase for Adam Priest who got a ton of offense and even a few nearfalls on Okada, who did a good job bumping and selling. That modified Blue Thunder Bomb looked pretty sick."

[5.0] "This was good enough i suppose. Okada cemented as evil. Adam Priest got more in than i expected, Good enoguh for what it needed to be."

[6.0] "I was expecting this to either be a complete mess where Okada gives priest nothing, or a match where priest pushes Okada to have a shockingly great match. We got something in the middle!"

[6.0] "Sort of a nothing match but still a big qtime opportunity for Priest. I was not expecting him to go 50/50 with Okada and while he had some moments thankfully they did not go that route. His chops were impactful and Okada's chest showed no he damage. Okada had the nonchalant schtick going but I wouldn't call it lazy. He was never really in danger though. Romero interfered throughout."

[7.0] "Very good match, this Adam Priest guy is talented, he is a very decided wrestling that makes his moves worth something, I liked his style, and Okada didn't show up in his lazy version here today, nice work for him. Another nice match in a great show!"