[10.0] "Without a doubt is a mainstream celebrity in his home country. Not only does Okada consistently give fans amazing matches, he's also been in ads, commercials, movies, TV shows, and news shows. In fact, last month I saw a Japanese advertisement that had Okada advertising wasabi KitKats. But, his wrestling is where you really see just how amazing he is. His 4 matches against Kenny Omega have been billed as best matches in both of their careers. Okada is even a hero to some non-Japanese fans who treat him almost like a folk hero, because his skill is on another level entirely. And now that he's in AEW along with his hilarious b**** gimmick, just how much MORE can we see? When he retires, he'll be a legend for sure."
[9.0] "One of the best of all time... That's cooled off in his later years. He is still very capable of 5 star matches, but he's settled into being happy putting in less of an effort. Still great! But just not as good as he was."
[9.0] "This would be a 10 but recently he hasn't been as good as he was other than a few matches against pac or Ospreay. But regardless he is still one of the best wrestlers of the past 10-15 years. He has so many 5* matches and him being able to wrestle 60 minutes any damn time he wants and take a beating he has to go up as at minimum a top 5 wrestler of the decade."
[8.0] "I had him at a 10 but i think im dropping my rating down. I like Okada i think he is one of the best but now i look at his matches back then and his character in general, i think i drop my rating. For some reason his matches just feel like you know he is going to win, even if its a big threat wrestler, and Okada in AEW is just not good nor entertaining, he doesnt shine like he did in NJPW, and even in NJPW he wasnt the greatest. His character is this sort of cocky guy who proclaims himself as the rainmaker but somehow in matches when he absorbs everything he still wins a match even if hes outmatched, i dont know i thought he was one of the greatest untill i really looked at his matches."
[10.0] "Even with him "taking it easy" in AEW, he's still better than almost anyone else on the planet. While he isn't going as hard in the ring as often as he used to, he still pulls out the fantastic 5+ star-worthy match when it matters. Him coming to AEW has really allowed for him to showcase a bit of his comedic personality, and I very much appreciate that. Nobody on the planet sells as better as he does, save for maybe Will Ospreay. Selling throughout a match and after a match is such a lost art this day in age, so I appreciate him keeping this in the back of his mind as he works. His closing sequences are always the best, and I can't get enough of this guy. Everything about this guy's stories is told via bell-to-bell. No need for promos or video packages. Just watch the matches, and you'll see he's one of the very best of all-time."
"Overrated. His strikes are so soft. His submission are so loose. He lost a step. He no longer feels unique without that NJPW aura around him. Tanahashi gave him the "NJPW main event" code and he ran with it. I just don't think he is as great as some thing he is. He got one of the best dropkicks in wrestling history tho. Great pose too. But his in-ring skills are way overrated."
[7.0] "Had I done the rating of Okada before now, I would've gone higher than a seven. However, I don't know what it is, maybe it's the age factor kicking in, but it really doesn't feel like he's giving it his all like he used to. Still arguably one of the greatest of his time, but I feel like father time has caught up to him, and now he's just phoning it in."
[9.0] "Okada is undeniably one of the best of his generation whenever he's got something to prove but he's grown rather stale from 2020 onwards. Seems that he's resting on his laurels and is still involved in pro-wrestling out of a sense of obligation rather than any real drive to achieve."
[10.0] "Okada is one of the best wrestler in the world and is on many fans and pundits' list of greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling. There are only a handful of wrestlers that could match his accomplishments. Many of his matches are among my favourite match of all time (Omega Vs Okada is #1). His fourth reign as IWGP Champion is the greatest reign(any championship reign at any promotion) in professional wrestling history. This guy is the G. O. A. T. of wrestling. My favourite wrestler of all time."
[10.0] "Okada is downright one of the best wrestlers of any generation. His skills in wrestling are unreal, which is why he was so protected in New Japan. He should've stayed in New Japan because I guarantee there would be more for him to do there then in AEW due to their stacked roster and mostly over/underbooked storylines."
[10.0] "It's a shame what they're doing with him in AEW, a one word merchant and always involved in the worst storylines possible. Okada is, absolutely, one of the best of all time, and hopefully he can win an important title in AEW, like the international or world ones."
[9.0] "the only complaint I have is that he doesn't give more in regular tv matches, but I understand, he saves his all for big matches, like for his match at world's end against Will Ospreay Kyle Fletcher. all i gotta say is this man is a living legend."
[7.0] "He did better in Japan, and it's clear he went to AEW just for a retirement check, which is licit. He still brings something to the game, but you can actually see the decline. I'm curious if they're gonna take him off the title scene, and still having him on TV."
[10.0] "Simply one of the best of all time, changed the wrestling world with his companions during his time in New Japan, blessed to have been able to watch his career and continue to watch it. Gotta love the rainmaker"
[10.0] "Auch wenn sein AEW Run ihm zum größeren Teil nicht gerecht wurde bisher, er ist einer der besten, wenn nicht sogar der beste Wrestler der Welt. Dazu hat er eine unfassbare Ausstrahlung, sowohl In-Ring, als auch außerhalb. Die Sprachbarriere schadet ihm weniger als Anderen, ein bisschen schwerer ist es für ihn natürlich trotzdem."
[10.0] "The best finishing sequence artist in the history of pro wrestling. The absolute best wrestler of the 2010s, no question. The modern day version of a Lou Thesz, Nick Bockwinkel, or Ric Flair. From the Rainmaker Shock and the following iconic statement match against Naito, to the legendary series against Omega, his final bow in the Tokyo Dome to now in AEW, one of the all time greatest to ever do it. The only real complaint you can give is that he's one of those guys that's so damn good that you sometimes get frustrated that he doesn't do more in lesser matches. Up there in the greatest of all time category for my money."
[9.0] "Okada is one of if not the best wrestler in the world! His time in NJPW cemented his legacy as one of the greats just based off his size, presence, & star power he embodies able to put on any type of match with perfection! Since coming over to AEW, he's impressed me even simply of his personality truly becoming the quote of "born to be a comedian, forced to lock-in as the best pro wrestler" and he does it to a tee!"
[10.0] "Okada could've remained New Japan's Ace if he had chosen to. Yet instead, he's betting on himself to find success on the opposite side of the Pacific. He's got the size, skill, and gifts that any promoter would crave across the world, and he's got the proven track record of a main eventer to deliver high-intensity, high-emotion matches. It would be nice to see him given the same chance in AEW has he had in New Japan, but that's probably an eventuality anyway."
[9.0] "An amazing performer all around. With his heel work being always on point. He has a knack for hitting a nerve on the audience. His in-ring work is just as amazing. Okada is not far from being a synonym to a good match."
"Kazuchika Okada is wrestling excellence defined. His timing, versatility, and ability to elevate any opponent make him elite. Okada blends psychology and athleticism to create pure, unforgettable matches."
"Ich kenne Okada nur von AEW. Da finde ich ihn absolut langweilig. Kein Charisma, die rainmaiker Clotheline ist für einen finisher langweilig und auch sonst beeindruckt mich da fast nichts. Der Dropkick ist gut, das wars aber irgendwie auch schon."
"Ich verfolge kein NJPW und kenne ihn daher bloß von AEW, wo er recht wenig gemacht hat. Er hat zwar den Look und er hat ein gewisses Charisma aber im Ring habe ich bis jetzt nichts gesehen was mich irgendwie beeindruckt hätte. Hoffe das ändert sich noch bei AEW, denn wen so viele 10/10 geben, muss da noch EINIGES kommen."
[10.0] "One of the absolute greatest to ever step foot in New Japan and while this is obviously subjective, in my opinion is responsible for the greatest championship reign of all time, just a big match machine in his prime years and even now has shown he is still fully capable when he locks in, easily a 10/10 in my opinion and an absolute all-time great."
[0.0] "I know Okada is a big part of people's wrestling fandom and maybe my opinion on him is a bit harsh but in all honesty I found The Rainmaker boring and uninspired in many matches I watched from him even when taking that stigma I had of him away from his matches. Watching his matches with people like Tanahashi, Omega, Ibushi, Naito, Ospreay, Shibata, etc. while I found some that I thought were good, some even great, even when touching myself up on the story of the match to better understand the context I never found myself being that emersed in the match. I can usually take away my opinion on a wrestler and try to understand them better to find myself better emersed in their matches like what happened when I first saw people like Eddie Kingston, Moka Miyamoto, Kenny Omega, Mercedes Mone, etc. I wasn't initially a fan of any of them but became a fan after looking at more of their work and better realizing their style. Something about his style never clicked, I don't know if its the pacing, the moves, the flow he goes at but I can never find myself loving his work like the level I loved other people around him at the time. It's the same with people like Misawa and Toyota as well, while I have matches of theirs I love I always found that the names around them did a much better job at making me invested in their matches. Not to say that I hate them either but they never clicked with me like many people around their era clicked with me. I know I had some very choice words about Okada, some harsher than others and maybe I can be a bit harsh on him, but overall I find myself coming off of his big matches feeling like he is missing something."
"One of the best wrestler of the past decade. He is really great in elevating his opponents as well. His recent run in AEW has also been quite fun to watch as his comedic side is being explored more."
[9.0] "I think Okada had a great run in Japan. I first saw him in TNA, and though he had a silly gimmick that was very early in his career. New Japan really caught on fire when he became a top star in the company. I'm not of fan of what they're doing with him in AEW, and I feel like wrestling strong style so long he decided to slow down right when he's getting his biggest exposure to American audiences. Part of my rating is considering a wrestler's longevity, and I don't think Okada is going to reach the heights he did in New Japan."
[7.0] "Ich kann Okada nur nach meinen Gesichtspunkten beurteilen, welche nach den Vorschusslorbeeren durchaus ernüchternd ausfallen. Mit 90er Jahre Skillz, mittelmäßiger Ausstrahlung und einigen geschossenen Böcken hier und da, ist hier kein Legendenstatus für mich erkennbar. Ok, sein Dropkick ist wirklich schön anzusehen aber der Rest haut mich nicht aus den Latschen."
"[9] In my opinion, Okada's greatest strength is his ability to elevate his opponents. On paper, his moveset isn't super flashy, but it gives him the ability to be incredibly adaptable and versatile, and work off anything his opponent's bringing to him. Anyone who fought Okada probably had their best match, or one of their best matches, with him. The downside of this is that I do often go away from those big matches more impressed by Okada's opponent than by Okada himself, but he more than makes up for it with his consistency by comparison. In terms of character work he's one of the best ever; not many people can go from cocky heel to dominant and confident champion to babyface fighting from underneath to goofball, but Okada makes it look easy. Sure, some people are salty that we're not getting the five star bangers in AEW yet, but I think he's more than earned a bit of an easier run away from the very top of the card, especially considering how young he was when he first got into that position."
[10.0] "While so far his American wrestling history has been less inspired, he's had one of the best 10+ year runs of any wrestler ever. He has a smoothness that makes everything feel easy for him, he's capable of some genuinely impressive athletic feats for his size, one of the best dropkicks in the history of the business, and really understands how to build his character within matches."
[9.0] "Kazuchika Okada is a great wrestler, delivering good handful of matches. His comedic side in All Elite Wrestling that can be a double-edged sword especially for those who watched him in New Japan but he's great doing it and I think he loves being that fun heel but behind that facade, everybody knows who he is.A truly great master of the ring."
[10.0] "One of the greatest wrestlers ever. Okada has it ALL. He was THE guy for NJPW in their golden years. His moveset is very good. He's had a lot of legendary matches with Omega, Naito, Tanahashi, and Shibata. His IWGP run was one of the best in modern professional wrestling."
[9.0] "Five or so years ago I would've said there would've been maybe a handful of guys better than Okada. Now not so much, while still a good wrestler it's become increasingly clear he was only doing such good matches because he was and still is being carried to a good match. His moveset is highly repetitive and is becoming less and less impactful as time goes on. At this point in his career, he's relying on his name value alone because let's face it, he's past his prime and has been for a while now. Okada in 2016 through 2019 was the man. Now, he's a somewhat credible comedy character. Could he be bumped up to a 10 again? Possibly. But what ever they're having him do now isn't gonna do it."
[10.0] "Quite simply one of the greatest wrestlers to ever have stepped into a ring. He was The Man in what was the greatest period for NJPW and the number of incredible matches speak for themselves. So far his run in AEW has shown he can adapt to a western TV audience as well, though he will forever be linked to NJPW. A wrestler that is every bit as good as the hype would lead you believe."
[10.0] "Don't let my bias get you through that Kazuchika Okada IMO, is the best wrestler in the world today. A total package of a wrestler that can easily adapt to any styles of wrestling. One of the biggest prototypes and assets of NJPW and rightfully so. I couldn't think what the best matches are to be recommend because he has a lot of them, like the Britannica like of catalogue matches to watch. He had great rivalries with Hiroshi Tanahashi, in which according to fans and critics is the greatest wrestling feud of all time. Who else can't forget his slew of epic matches with Kenny Omega, in which I may considered the bar of all wrestling matches. He has a great in-ring psychology and the master of dramatic selling. His moves are very calculating and most of his hits timed perfectly, hence why most of his matches are visually appealing. His dropkick has the most beautiful visual I've ever witness as a wrestling fan. A true in-ring general that can even make Toru Yano's matches a 5-star like calibre. Sometimes, he can be a POS if he didn't get the things his way, in which is pretty dope for him. His move sets and his wrestling style are widely ranged, he can go Puroresu, Lucha Libre or American wrestling. Knowing that Okada is leaving NJPW, whichever promotion he is after are the luckiest promotion in the world as they acquire one of the biggest signings in wrestling history. A once in a generation talent in pro-wrestling."
[10.0] "[5.00/5.00]: The greatest to ever do it, there's nothing much more to say except that he's the most perfect yet traditionalist pro-wrestler that perfects his craft whenever he's in the ring, seemingly even can make chicken shit to chicken soup (his feud with Bronson Reed). There's a reason NJPW has given him an entire decade dedicated to him with one of the most prestigious reigns in the mid-late 2010s: reliability. Others have probably said more in their in-depth reviews of the man and his rivalry with Omega, Tanahashi, and Naito, and I'd agree. Up there as the Greatest of all Time."
"Generational talent, sad to know most don't understand what we're watching before he retires. I love what he's doing right now as a Global Ambassador with The Elite."
[10.0] "It took me a while to get it. It took me a while to embrace it. Okada is one of the greatest of all time. A pro wrestling machine; smooth, athletic, powerful, technical and the aura of a champion even if he's not holding a title. Best dropkick of all time and some of the greatest Match and rivalries we've ever seen."
[10.0] "[9.8] No ifs, ands, or buts about it, even if I were to just look at his New Japan run, whenever Okada hangs it up, he is going to be firmly in the conversation for greatest of all time. Amazing presence, carries himself like the biggest deal on the planet, beautifully simple yet refined moveset, and is almost guaranteed to have the best match of the card on any event he's on. This dude was able to make the character of "having a mental breakdown and getting really into balloons after losing the heavyweight championship after a 2-year long superchampion reign where you broke most of that belt's records" work."
[10.0] "Will go down as one of the best Japanese wrestlers of all time, a true living legend. That run he had as IWGP Heavyweight Champion from 16-18 was incredible, almost every match was just pure wrestling art. First time I had ever seen Okada was during his TNA days back in 2010 or something like that, honestly just saw him as another Japanese wrestler in the US, didn't think anything of it. Was so surprised to see how much he improved when he returned to NJPW. His first look back was quite... interesting, to say the least. Blonde eyebrows did not suit him, looked really weird, so I was happy to see he changed that very quickly. But man, the guy just grew and grew and grew into something larger than life. Not a fan of his move to AEW, I feel like he should've just stayed in Japan, but obviously he wants to take a different path and we've just gotta sit back and enjoy the ride. His days of being the best wrestler in the world are kind of beyond him now though, which is a little sad to say but I think that 16-18 run really took a lot out of him. He's still one of the best wrestlers alive today, but I don't think he's capable of being number 1 anymore. Looking forward to seeing what he can do in AEW, despite the fact I'm not overly excited about him being there."
[10.0] "There isn't much else to say other than Kazuchika Okada is one of the greatest wrestler to ever step foot in the squared circle. At the rate he is going in he could be known as the greatest wrestler of all time, I only have one problem with him: He's kind of overused, and by that I mean, look how many Wrestle Kingdoms he's been a part of the main for event, I mean he's good I get it but I don't need him shoved down my throat. But besides that I think what he did in NJPW is amazing and I'm ready to see what AEW will have him do with Continental Championship."
[10.0] "I'm unfortunately a little late to the party of Kazuchika Okada, finally starting to watch more wrestling in late 2023/early 2024. My first match of his was against Bryan Danielson at Wrestle Kingdom 18, which was the best match of the night, no argument. Afterwords, I finally watched his matches with Kenny Omega, and the one match with Shibata, and holy fucking shit. There is no wonder he was placed at the top of NJPW for the longest time. No wonder he is considered one of the best world title holders of that promotion. No wonder both WWE and AEW wanted him so badly the moment he was announced to leave NJPW. No wonder he takes up 3 of the top 5 highest rated matches on Cagematch. He is the top of the best wrestlers of the modern era, and one of the most important of all time, and he still has so much gas in the tank."
[10.0] "He was the ace of New Japan for near enough 10 years for a reason. Been part of some of the greatest matches of all times. Carries himself to perfection except when he had a balloon fetish."
[10.0] "Okada is a wrestler that was placed at the top very suddenly and in an abrupt way, basically a gamble by Gedo, but it's also probably the best gamble of all time, he was born to shine. Maybe the biggest case of succeeded industry plant of all time, Okada came back from a somehow failed excursion at TNA with a brand new look, and a gimmick that many people thought it was too "americanized", and that he was all presentation and no ring skills, but immediately he won championships, had big matches, and beat legendary opponents. He also made rivals that he would have some of the most incredible matches of all time, and proved to everybody that he was the deal. His moveset is not incredibly revolutionary or impressive, but he does the simple things in the most amazing way imaginable, and absolutely can tell a good story inside a match, like few others in history. His moves may seem basic, but the way he threats them makes his matches look the most tense ones, and the ones that look the hardest to win. The rainmaker was born to be a top guy, and I'm only thankful for all the incredible moments he proportioned me all those years, he's undeniably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada seems to be the best modern day professional wrestler. Okada is one of the greatest, if not the greatest wrestler of his generation. His matches with Kenny Omega in 2017 made me fall in love with NJPW. 10 out of 10"
[10.0] "It's been a while since I have watched a NJPW match (let alone an Okada match). But this guy lives in my head rent-free, when I think of the greatest wrestlers, he always comes to my mind. Just a top-tier worker, and to think he is only 36 and has the history is does is outstanding."
[10.0] "From everything Ive seen of Okada, hes been absolutely incredible, I am not burned out like some people may be, I love how he carries himself and how he works. A truly incredible main event SuperStar."
[10.0] "My favorite modern day wrestler, he carries himself so damn well and his presentation overall drew me in initially as this final boss or major threat for anyone opposing him. And then there is the matches he is in, which are commonly sone of the best shit i've seen. He has a formula in his matches that can work so well and even when he is not using that and playing someone else's game (For example Shibata) he can still thrive and even elevate the match. He is so damn good at what he does i love watching the Rainmaker."
[10.0] "The greatest in-ring storyteller of this generation. Looking for a guy to sell his ass off and put the other guy over as a huge threat? Okada. Looking for a guy to kick the shit out of a lovable babyface (or young boy)? Okada. Looking for a wrestler with World Champion wrestling skills, look and charisma? Kazuchika fucking Okada. My GOAT"
[9.0] "What can be said about Kazuchika Okada that hasn't been said by everyone and their mum over the past 11 years and counting? Ever since the infamous Rainmaker Shock of 2012, he has been a mainstay of the forefront of professional wrestling, including a two year title reign that many consider the best world title run in modern professional wrestling. And it's hard to argue!"
[10.0] "In my honest opinion, the GOAT of pro wrestling. My love for wrestling was shot dead in 2019, only watched WWE at the time. Decided to branch off into other promotions, and stumbled upon Okada V Omega, WK11. I fell down a rabbithole of Okada matches, I watched every Omega match, Tanahashi, Ibushi, Shibata, and more. Okada reignited my love for pro wrestling, and I cannot give him a rating any less than a perfect 10."
[7.0] "A competent top guy that you want to see lose, and in that role he is stellar. However, enduring his many runs on top, in which he wrestles pretty much the same "methodical" 4/5ths of a match before a semi-exciting yet redundant 5th, is tired. Tanahashi was an Ace that you never wanted to see dethroned. The most exciting Okada has been (outside of his new bullying young boys schtick) was when he was usurping Tana."
[10.0] "Ach Okada kann ich nur mögen. Er ist einfach nur fantastisch im Ring. Absolut sauber geführte Moves, tolle Chemie mit vielen Gegner. Wie Tanahashi ist er bei NJPW auch ein Granat für immer klasse Matches. Auch wenn er bei CHAOS ist, das Publikum liebt ihn. Man hört immer Okada Chants. Ein super Techniker und ein würdiger IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Edit 17.12.2023 2024 wird ein interessantes Kazuchika Jahr denn sein NJPW Vertrag läuft dann aus und er hat noch nicht verlängert. Es wird interessant sein wo geht er dann hin. Ansonst er ist längst eine NJPW Legende und einer erfolgreichsten NJPW Wrestler überhaupt."
[10.0] "The GOAT in my opinion, i stopped watching wrestling for 3 years until i get a look at the Okada vs Omega at WK11, i returned to watch wrestling, this time NJPW, and Okada is just simply a legend of the sport, 90% of his singles matches are classics, everytime the world title is not on him it loses value, he is simply the best."
[9.0] "I cant fully explain why I cant give Okada a perfect 10... he's just.. not always reached me. He's not perfect, his personality can be really lackluster sometimes.. his current "I hate these children gunning for my spot" is easily his best, but sometimes he comes off like he's kind of just tired or bored or doesn't want to be where he is. He's fantastic across the board and yet the idea of calling him a top 10 great doesn't sit right with me.. not sure why, he's not remotely my favorite Japanese wrestler, and neither Tanahashi, Im more in favor of calling Shinuske or Suzuki the GOATS for their eras, and right now my all time fave in New Japan is Shingo Takagi, but Okada is undoubtedly there. Maybe I need to just rewatch some matches. But when he's great he's great, but he still has some low points"
"Never knew what the big deal with this guy was back then. He looks like a star, but his move sets look pretty basic. Then I actually watch his matches and I got to say.... he delivers. Now, I can see why he's not only big in Japan, but in the world. His match against Omega, Shibata, and others made me a fan of his. A tad overrated, sure, but I don't care."
[9.0] "Don't get me wrong, Okada is an incredible wrestler, but I do think that he's just a tad overrated. He can hang with anyone in the world, but usually, in the many classic matches he's had, his opponents seem to come across as the stars just a bit more than him (Omega, Ospreay, Naito, Shibata, Danielson). He also peaked back in 2016-2018 and just hasn't seemed quite as good as he was back then in recent years."
[9.0] "Okada is a strange wrestler.. The Great Catalyst I like to call him, as he's someone that adapts to his opponents style and helps them elevate that to the highest degree possible; workrate epics with Omega, storytelling masterclasses with Tanahashi, being the final boss to plucky wrestlers like Naito and Ishii and more. There's a reason so many have their best matches with him, he's like the perfect canvas for them to paint that picture. That's the thing however, though it may sound strage, without that he's not particularly interesting by himself. As the years have gone by and he's gone up against everyone on the njpw roster, we've pretty much seen everything he can do. There is hope though as his work as a cranky veteran antagonising the younger generation is the most interesting he's been in years. But that will too run its course, and this probably sounds like blasphemy, but I'd love to see what he can do outside njpw full time."
[10.0] "Best wrestler of the last decade, not quite at his peak anymore but still an S-tier performer. His trilogy/quadrilogy with Kenny Omega remains my favourite rivalry of all time, and his legendary two-year reign as IWGP Heavyweight champion from June 2016 to June 2018 helped anchor my interest in NJPW."
[9.0] "One of the best in the history of New Japan Pro Wrestling and Puroresu in general, but in my opinion, he is not the absolute best wrestler in any kind. His matches with Tanahashi, Styles, Omega, Naito and others are the stuff of legend, the second best IWGP Heavyweight Champion in my books."
[10.0] "For me over the past decade few wrestlers have continued to shine at the peak of the wrestling industry as brightly as Kazuchika Okada. If I had to sum up Okada's wrestling style in one word it would be versatile. His in-ring technique seamlessly blends power, agility, and technical prowess which enables him to work great with any wrestlers that he steps into the ring with, with his opponents consistently finding themselves producing some of the best matches of their careers when facing him. His pacing, storytelling and call backs within matches are second to only Kenny Omega in this day and age. Okada's legacy was built off of the back of his iconic feuds against some of the industry's greatest legends. I'd have to specifically call out his longest rivalry against Hiroshi Tanahashi, a feud that symbolized a passing of the torch from the ace of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's past to its future. Their rivalry and matches elevated both wrestlers to new heights, elevated the entire NJPW company bringing it back to prominence and in my opinion elevated professional wrestling as an art form. His other historic rivalry was with Kenny Omega, the fights between these two broke the limits and redefined what wrestling matches can be, pushing the boundaries of physicality and storytelling. All four of their legendary matches have earned universal acclaim which elevated both men on the world stage. While he has had many other incredible matches and rivalries, these two rivalries in particular really put him on the top of the modern wrestling landscape that very few will ever be able to get to."
[10.0] "Although there are many complaints about Okada being a stale headliner in New Japan, I still consider pretty much all his singles matches must watch and think that he carries himself with a level of poise that few wrestlers do. His match style is slower and less flashy than some of his contemporaries, but by and large I enjoy the slow openings as a way to pace yourself as a viewer for these longer matches. He's had as many great matches as anyone, is one of the best champions in wrestling history and in 2023 has been adding new facets to his character as an intolerant veteran fighting back younger, hungrier wrestlers, establishing them through his apparent disinterest as stars to watch."
[7.0] "Yea, maybe I'm being a contrarian, but Meltzer over hyped him to the point where every time I watch a match of his I'm incredibly underwhelmed. The culture and language barrier doesn't help, but I feel like I'm talking to wine snobs whenever he's brought up, like if you don't think his matches are the best you just "don't understand""
[10.0] "Schon einer der besten Wrestler auf diesem Planeten, in den Top 3 wahrscheinlich und auf der östlichen Seite der Erde der Beste. Man kann schon sagen, dass ein Okada das Wrestling maßgeblich prägt und sich, ähnlich wie ein Omega, verewigt hat, auch durch die Schlachten mit eben Selbigem. Ich hoffe, dass er uns als Performer noch ein bisschen im Ring erhalten bleibt und uns weitere Schlachten beschert. In Japan würde ich ihn schon zu meinen Favorites zählen. Vielleicht sehen wir ihn nochmal in Nordamerika. Wer weiß!"
"[10.0] Truly the final boss of professional wrestling. Okadas fighting spirit, selling, charisma, and malleability is unmatched at least in todays era. He can put on a good match with anyone and his matches with Omega, Tanahashi, Ospreay, and the one with Shibata are some of the greatest matches one can view. Hes the GOAT for me."
"Okada for me is quite simply the personification of a wrestling machine. Not watched him loads but seen his bouts with the likes of Kenny Omega & Jay White and everytime he impresses. No reliance on over-the-top spots or cringey gimmicks, the definition of the word wrestler."
[10.0] "The Wrestling God of the 2010's. You think about the best matches in the last decade and this guy has been in at least 90% of them. From his impecable In-Ring work to his stellar presentation and natural big star charisma, Okada is on the very top of the mountain."
[10.0] "Probably the best big match wrestler of all time. Him and Omega probably have 3 of the top 5 matches of all time. He's got a cool gimmick, but I can't speak for his promo ability because I don't speak Japanese, but it hardly matters. His in ring ability is top notch. I really only watch New Japan when he's in the main event."
[10.0] "Okada has been in the game a long time, but is showing new character work and branching out a bit lately, which was very needed and a sign of a top talent that can pivot when his run at the top starts getting stale. Jerk Okada is a glory to see, after years of having him as the top babyface. He is a goofball at heart, and yet a master in the ring."
[7.0] "A absolute athlete but I hate the fact that he's still on top and he really should have dropped the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion to Zack Sabre Jr at Hyper Battle and at the time of writing he's still champion and putting on good matches but the booking is still in 2017 yet it really shouldn't. If he had dropped it to Ospreay or Sabre Jr I would rate him higher but he's getting stale."
[10.0] "What else could be said about this man that hasn't been said. He's one of the greatest stars NJPW has ever had. The company put all their eggs in a basket when they pushed him to the World title in 2012 and they never looked back. He's been the ace of one of their best eras, legendary feuds with Tanahashi & Omega and he's put on classics with just about every major star in the company for the last decade. He could retire tomorrow and go down in history. At age 35 still has so much to give. A true generational talent."
[10.0] "I starting just doing a ranking of the best pro wrestlers in NJPW over the years and as far as performance in the ring, he's better than Hashimoto, Tanahashi or even Nakamura! I strain to think of someone better than him going back a long time, save for Shibata in the last 35 years."
[6.0] "Sorry, aber ich kann die Faszination um ihn nicht verstehen. Ich gestehe ihm zu, ein richtig guter Seller zu sein, daher überhaupt eine mittelmäßige Bewertung. Offensiv kann er mich aber überhaupt nicht abholen, da finde ich ihn stinklangweilig. Kann aufgrund seines starken Sellings durchaus mit den richtigen Gegnern grandiose Matches auf die Beine stellen, aber dafür sind meiner Meinung nach durchgehend größtenteils seine Gegner verantwortlich. Warum ausgerechnet er das absolute Ace bei New Japan ist, ist mir schleierhaft."
[9.0] "Quite frankly, he is not my favorite. But, I know that any list of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all-time would feel empty without Okada being there somewhere. While his formulaic style for the main events can feel quite repetitive, there's a reason why he does it: it works. As a wrestler, Okada is one of the most naturally gifted wrestlers that I have ever seen. An athletic beast with a lot of tools in his arsenal and natural charisma, it's easy to see why he has been at the top of the card for a decade now."
[10.0] "Japanese circuit needed in their 2010s generation a guy who will be continuator of symbol of greatness after golden days of Four Pillars of Heaven from 90s and 2000s. And we got it. I think I don't have to explain why I appreciate his huge talent and influence on wrestling business. All-time great - and he still can show us something iconic."
[10.0] "Easily one of the best, if not the best, in-ring workers of all time. He's been considered that to me since 2014 but was solidified during his 2016-2018 run as champion. Okada has two of the best rivalries in wrestling history against Kenny and Tanahashi and will never fail to bring the best out of someone. My Favorite Match is when he faced Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 11"
[6.0] "Crazy to me how someone with so many all-timers under their belt can also be so underwhelming and dull. His main event style hasn't changed since like 2017, his personality rarely shows any range or dimensions and more often than not, he's an unstoppable champion which becomes tiresome."
[10.0] "quite possibly the best of all time, although he did run through a bit of a dry spell from about 2020-2022 (i blame it on the state of NJPW as a whole tbh) its very hard to deny that this guy is the complete package"
[10.0] "Not much to say about Okada that hasn't already been said. He's an absolute star, one of the greatest of all time. Great look, great storyteller, and his physical gifts speak for themselves."
[10.0] "By far the best wrestler in the world today and maybe even all time! Can't give him any other rathing than a 10/10. Incredible career, too, from his times as as a Young Lion on excursion in TNA getting totally wasted by them to returning and claiming the world title in one of the biggest upsets in a long, long time. And after that he only got stronger and better becoming the personification of his promotion, a promotion that presents him as the topstar he is. Many topstar in the pro wrestling world lack the trust and backing of the higher ups, but not Okada, which gives him the opportunity to not only be the best, but to show it on a regular basis. He also holds so many records and incredible stats. As of today (14.01.2023) it has been 4028 days since Okada returned from excursion on 04.01.2012; he held the top championship of NJPW (IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship respectively) for 1959 of those days! That's ~48% of the time!"
[10.0] "Awesome look/gimmick. Amazing move-set. One of the greatest wrestlers of this or any generation. Involved in many of the best matches of all time."
[10.0] "Pretty much the prototype for the modern wrestler. A great look, decent charisma and an all-round great worker. Sure, there are plenty of others that are far more flashy than he is but he knows how to put together an entire match (or even series) rather than just a sequence. The only issue I have is that he's give birth to the NJPW big match formula that the company now thinks all main events need to adhere to and most others can't pull it off. But all big Okada matches are sure-fire hits."
[10.0] "One of my favorite wrestlers ever, the guy who made me open my eyes outside the American wrestling bubble thanks to the (perfect) series against Omega in 2017, and had probably the best year a wrestler can have, one of the GOATs of our sport"
[10.0] "Crazy that TNA messed up Okada when he was there. Okada today is truly outstanding. He has the crowds eating out of the palm of his hand every night. Charismatic guy. In the ring his psychology and how he structures his matches are second to none."
[10.0] "Only an idiot would give Okada anything less than a 10. I would like to know the brain damage that would cause a WRESTLING fan not to enjoy Okadas best matches. If those matches are among the best ever (and they are) than he's a 10."
[7.0] "Yeah I know my rating for Okada is low. I just can't watch his matchs now because this is so foreseeable that in a match, he will do the same things to win (being destroy but okay just one Rainmaker and bye). I mean if you look at the last G1, his last match of the tournament are foreseeable because NJPW books him like a god who just need one Rainmaker when Lance Archer litterally do all of this special move but just 2."
[9.0] "Just like Tanahashi, I understand that he is one of the all time greats but he is very repetitive. Couple dropkicks from the top rope, couple tombstones, and a couple lariats and rinse and repeat. He has a great look and is an excellent representative for NJPW but I just don't get it."
[10.0] "One of the best Japanese pro-wrestlers of all time. His matches are amazing. His charisma and entrance feel like the Last Boss. 10/10 or 100/100."
[7.0] "Kazuchika Okada is like if some advanced AI developed a perfect wrestler simulation that you could test different opponents against to assess their talent without having the simulation have any possible influence on them in the match. He is like the scientific control for NJPW. For better or worse, Okada does essentially the exact same act in every match and always meets his opponents precisely at *their* level. The clearest example I have of this is how Kaito Kiyomiya, of all people, got Okada to show more hate and fire in 2022 than pretty much any other Okada opponent this year, despite these two having zero history together other than some magazine trash talk. He has good matches with good wrestlers and bad matches with bad wrestlers. The people who love him will point to specific details of how he's changed his match structure or nuances he's added (the "wrist control" spot with Tanahashi being the first big example), but when you step back and look at that tiny detail in the larger scheme of what pro-wrestling can be, it's laughably unimportant. Virtually every big Okada match begins with ~5 minutes of perfunctory chain or mat-wrestling, followed by a few minutes of outside brawling and guardrail collisions, then a control segment where he hits his standard mid-match moves, and concludes with a series of reversals and counters and convoluted wrist-control segments to hit a Rainmaker. The most interesting thing he's done to change this up in the last few years is simply swapping in a new move for another - Landslide for the Tombstone, Emerald Flowsion for the Landslide - like a computer program trying new permutations of the same formula. His big matches (vs. Omega, for example) are the same as his standard formula, just filled in with more stuff in the appropriate spots. I never feel like he has any hatred for his opponents, never feel like he is thrown off his game, never feel like he is panicking, never feel he is trying something new. He just goes out there, runs OkadaWrestlingMatch.exe, gets his nearfalls, hits a Rainmaker and calls it a day. It looks cool as hell and can be fun but I virtually never feel that there is substance underneath it. Each match seems entirely perfunctory until he hits a counter Dropkick, which is precisely when his matches turn into the big move counter trading people love. But when you see it coming, and it keeps coming the same way it always does, what's the point? Maybe the best boring wrestler of all-time, but definitely not an all-time great in my book."
[10.0] "Okada is a once in a generation superstar who elevates anyone who faces him. Making him the megastar he is was one of the best decisions New japan has ever made."
[10.0] "Not sure what to say about Okada that hasn't been said already. He screams top guy. Fantastic mannerisms, great athleticism, and puts on some great matches. There's a reason why there's so much buzz about Okada potentially being on American television. Many people call him one of the best workers of all time, and I think there'll be a defined historiography about how Okada works, and perhaps Gedo's booking as a whole, but I feel it can fall a bit overdone and formulaic at times. Despite that, Okada is a supremely great wrestler."
[10.0] "He is probably the best wrestler of this generation and he absolutely earned that title. Character, matches, storytelling and look are excellent and all speak top star. Okada is at the top and rightfully so."
[6.0] "Overrated matches that are nothing more than 30 minute spotfests. Im still gonna give him a solid rating because of he has had good matches and is a good wrestler with decent charisma. Not much more I have to say about him."
"[10.0] Okada is the pinnacle of modern wrestling personified in one man, even with the accumulating injuries he managed to stay on top and deliver show after show."
[10.0] "The fact that someone recently gave this legend a 2 is hilarious. He's not one of my favorites, but anyone that knows wrestling understands how great he is."
[10.0] "He's regarded as the best wrestler or at least in the top 3, for good reason. His classics with Omega helped NJPW grow worldwide and got me as a die hard fan and going back and watching the promotion. He's someone that has influenced many and everything about him screams star. Lots of charisma as well make him a once in a generation talent."
[2.0] "If you ever want to know the current state of NJPW you just have to look at the Golden boy Okada; he has deteriorated into sludge these past couple of years beginning in 2018 and slowly getting worse year over year. I remember Okada from 2012-to 2017 as this great wrestler with few equals, and then I watch him now and am sadly reminded the years of NJPW main events have taken a toll on this poor guy. He simply can't have any other match than 30+ minutes of contrived kickouts of signature moves, long sequences that mean nothing because the match must reach a certain length, and an opening stanza with no bearing on the middle or end of the match. After a while, it gets tiresome to look at and with each match, Okada gets worse and worse. I look at a guy like Kenny who has moved on to Aew and has the freedom to construct his matches without adhering to the same tired formula and can safely say that since he's left the New Japan bloat I've enjoyed him so much more. Also Okada can't work when he's not on top of the card and I mean that in every sense of the word. He gets so lazy and uncaring and can't seem to bother to try something to get anyone invested, unlike Tanahashi that has worked great in the midcard even without the use of his knees. Okada stinks."
[10.0] "The best wrestler in the world right now, and one of the best wrestlers in the entire televised history of the medium. Okada is the full package; incredible selling, a simple but fantastically honed moveset and a million dollar look with the charisma to match. This man elevates nearly every opponent he faces, getting good matches out of okay wrestlers, and getting the best matches you've ever seen out of the great ones. I firmly believe that by the time Okada hangs up his boots, he will have carved his position in the Mt Rushmore of professional wrestling."
[10.0] "For all the talk about Kazuchika Okada slowing down in recent years (most of it not accurate in the slightest), the truth remains that he's still having some of the best matches in the world during the early years of this fresh decade despite being the recipient of poor booking and opponents. If this is no longer his peak, it's a testament to how otherworldly his career has been. No doubt one of the best wrestlers of the 2010's and he's on a fast track to place among the all time greats."
[10.0] "Okada is very polarizing wrestler to some he is without a doubt a hof for his career however I don't feel like okada's had a standout year since 2018 and while he still shows gasps of greatness here and there okada has been the most overrated wrestler for at least 3 years now his body is is broken down I literally can't even remember a wrestler who broke down faster, but simultaneously I can't remember a wrestler who had more 30 minute matches of getting his shit pushed in. Okada's legacy will be kinder to him than father time is from 2012 to 2018 he was pretty much aj styles turned up to 11 sadly he hasn't (and probably won't) adapt to his physical decline and it's sad. Currently 3.5/10 Overall 9.5/10"
[6.0] "Okada's a tough one to point down. If I were rating him from roughly 2013 to 2017/2018 I would give him a 9 or a 10 even if some of his flaws have always been there. He's been a part of some of the best matches of the modern era. But if I were to only rate his work since then I would probably give him a 2 or a 3. Physically he has slowed down, wrestling so many 30 plus minute matches with the NJPW style will take its toll on someone. But the same has happened to guys like Tanahashi & Suzuki and they have adapted. Nowadays Okada is so lifeless he almost never shows any emotion anymore. The cocky pride and fire of his youth are gone and his matches have become boring slogs that suffer from the over-exposure of the NJPW main event formula. He is not totally without hope, his match with Naito a few years ago shows he can still find greatness but those instances are becoming less and less common."
[8.0] "When he's motivated he's one of the best there is. However the immense strain that's been put on his body by the booking of NJPW is very apparent. He's growing slower and he's only 34."
[9.0] "A return to form for Okada, his Wrestle Kingdom match vs Ospreay was my MOTY for months. Then he developed a case of the EVIL blues. He had a pair of Shingo bouts that were great (NJ Cup and Dominion). He cranked things up in the G1 (vs Tanahashi) and hasn't shown as many signs of back problems. Okada still has the ace role locked down, and 2022 will probably be Okada-heavy. Hopefully the injuries heel up and he doens't get bogged down in EVIL or SANADA feuds."
[10.0] "One of the five best wrestlers of all time. As of 2021, I would only put Tanahashi, Thesz, Kobashi, and Flair on the same pedestal. And Okada is only just about to turn 34! No wrestler, not even Kobashi or Misawa, has had a greater number of legendary matches. I have tracked down and watched almost every incredible bout that was ever filmed, from 1980s Crush Gals AJW to Kiyoshi Tamura's height in RINGS, from Sammartino's feud with Killer Kowalski to the WALTER-Dragunov rivalry, from the American Dragon's peak in ROH to his renaissance in AEW. I have seen literally thousands of awesome matches. Kazuchika Okada was a participant in five of the six that I thought were the best. No wrestler in history comes close to his ability to build a match to a breathtaking climax. Okada is the greatest big match wrestler of all time, and he may become the greatest overall as he continues to build his legacy."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada is an amazing wrestler and could have 5-star matches with anything. He is one of the best workers of all time. His move set is especially good and his dropkicks are some of the best."
[9.0] "In-ring Okada is one of the greatest of all time. His matches with Omega, Shibata, Tanahashi, and many others have been undeniable classics. He holds himself as a star and, having seen him live, I can say that definitely comes across when he's in an arena. My only criticism of Okada is his inability to be interesting without a world title. He doesn't tell any stories aside from pursuing, winning, defending, and losing the title. If he's not champion, he seems directionless. It's Charlotte Flair syndrome. If your gimmick relies on you being the champion at all times, it needs some work."
[7.0] "Kazuchika Okada is an honours pupil, his performance and charisma are his strengths, but he has absolutely no imagination, all his matches follow the same pattern, moreover, this pattern only works in the main matches, outside the main events Okada seems completely mediocre"
[10.0] "This guy is 29 years old, and didn't reach his peak yet, with this age he has three FREAKING 6 stars in 3 GOAT matches in my opinion, he is already one of the greatest of all time, this guy is absolutely great."
[6.0] "There's still nearly as much wrong with him in the ring as there is right if you analyze his actual skillset. Obviously his reputation is very high because of his list of matches that many have enjoyed over the years and it coming at a time when interest in the company was at an all time high. That said, when you dig deeper into his career, when he isn't protected by being the champion and given every opportunity to have great matches, you can see his terrible execution of submissions. You can see his massively repetitive match structures. You can see his various unsuccessful attempts at acclimating himself to different characters and places on the card. You can see all of the wasted time that pad out the beginning of even his "greatest" matches. He is the epitome of the wrestler who has all the tools and no toolbox. He has great physical abilities for the majority of his career, and for argument's sake if you break matches down into a last 5 minutes category he would be among the elite of wrestling history, you could also argue his issues with match structure and his general unwillingness to go beyond the same tired tropes as a consequence of his company moreso than himself, but even when in comparison to Tanahashi, his greatest rival he pales at these things. At the end of the day a 6 feels right for someone who has had his moments, but has largely been an albatross to the main event scene of his company throughout the years. I also look forward to seeing his return to the top for the first time in his career for 2022 as I would like to see what the now veteran version of the Rainmaker can do after a turbulent last two years that has seen his company in the greatest crisis it's been since the Rainmaker was born."
[10.0] "Okada deserves to be looked at as one of the best modern day performers anywhere and by the time he retires should be looked at as one of the best to ever do it. He's absolutely explosive in the ring and has put on too many classics to think of. He knows how to make his opponents look great while also knowing how to look like a super hero. The Rainmaker gimmick is a perfect interpretation of what a babyface should be and he rocks it."
[10.0] "He is the best In ring peformer of this Decade together with AJ Styles. he is amazing in the ring and a big Star in Japan. He is one of the Top guys in NJPW"
[10.0] "Arguably the greatest wrestler of all time. Only Mitsuharu Misawa and Ric Flair can be compared to an athlete of his caliber. He's synonymous with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, having won that title 5 times including his 720 days reign, the best championship reign in the modern era, perhaps second only to Bruno Sammartino's 2803 days reign. Okada has been the protagonist in many, many classics throughout the years, including what I consider the best match of all time against Ibushi (JAN. 4. 2020). Other outstanding matches include Katsuyori Shibata, with the latter ending his career on the highest level of intensity and performance, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and his three title's bouts with Kenny Omega. He wears the symbol of perfection par excellence, a white gear, with a coat that portrays nation's flags from around the world. He is the best in the world, after all."
[10.0] "Okada had the unfortunate task of living up to Tanahashi and yet he's absolutely done it. That alone speaks to how incredible he is. Time will tell if he has the lasting power of quality Tanahashi has but I don't see any signs he won't."
[10.0] "Arguably the best wrestler of his generation, Kazuchika Okada has elevated an entire company. New Japan Pro Wrestling obviously existed and thrived before him, but Okada has made it feel... Different. Even greater. There have been comparisons to countless greats, but I do believe Okada has created his own lane. IMO, the most adaptable wrestler on the planet? and arguably the best storyteller. A living legend who's barely in his prime, if he even is."
[10.0] "(100/10)The man, The myth, The legend, And The Best wrestler on this planet earth. There is nothing much to say about him. He got the BEST charisma since Ric flair retired, The best IN RING psychology since Kenta kobashi Retired and Misawa passing away, And the best wrestler that ever held a HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP belt . and NO ONE is even close. I could argue that Ishii and Hangman Page is my personal favorite wrestler. But they are not okada. He built to wrestle and he is better than any "Wrestling Genius" or any "Genetic Freak". He is the only man that already hit the GOAT status before he hit 30."
[10.0] "One of the GOAT's in the business. He is amazing in the ring and should always be mentioned when people are talking about the legends of wrestling. It's probably too late for it now, but I do wish he would wrestle outside of Japan as I believe he can pull off a 3. 5* match MINIMUM with anybody if it's 1 vs 1 - as a lot of matches have been tag team recently."
[10.0] "He's up there for the GOAT. What I wouldn't give to see him wrestle dream matches in North America. He's quite literally a god of wrestling and if any of you reading this haven't seen it, then go watch Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega at Dominion 2018. Very widely considered to be the greatest wrestling match ever. Period."
[10.0] "One of the best wrestler in the world if not the best. He is perfect in Ring and literally can give a good match with any wrestler in this world."
[10.0] "One of the all-time greats who accomplished so much at a young age. His record-setting pace has definitely caught up to him, and he has really struggled against his body the past couple years, but will occasionally remind why he's so highly regarded. Hopefully he recovers since he's still relatively young for a top level wrestler, and can continue to put on classics for the next decade plus."
[10.0] "When it is all said and done, I sincerely believe that Kazuchika Okada will be remembered as the greatest wrestler of all time. We can probably excuse him for having a fairly weak 2019 and 2020, but when he's honed in, he's really unbeatable."
[10.0] "While 2020 wasn't his greatest year (after his absolutely stellar Wrestle Kingdom performances), Okada in my mind is still far and away the best modern wrestler there is and I believe will go down as perhaps THE best wrestler of all time if his body holds up. At 31 he's already had an amazing career, his quest for being the GOAT will now rely on his motivation and health."
[10.0] "A top 5 wrestler in the world. His 2020 may not have been the best, but he still had bangers with the likes of Naito, Ibushi, and Takagi. His WK match this year was fantastic with Ospreay. He also took part in some of the best matches ever against Omega."
[10.0] "2020 was a not so good year for him. But he's still one of the best. Not only right now, but in history. He'll eventually come back at his max level, but he needs to get rid of the Money Clip lock. It just kills the momentum of the match most of the times he makes it."
[8.0] "Okada Kazuchika is a man of two tales. On the one hand, he is a tremendous athlete with seemingly Olympian stamina, an incredible catalog of matches, has had 2 of the best years a wrestler has ever had (Dominion 2016 - Dominion 2018), and holds one of the most impressive list of accomplishments a professional wrestler could ever hope for. On the other hand, the first half of his (re-debuted) career was largely carried by both excellent opponents and Gedo as a top-of-the-line mouthpiece promoting him to the stars, and he often needs a passionate, vital opponent to bring out his best; he regularly leans on a frustratingly stale, repetitious, drawn-out match formula of outlasting his opponents (swelling his matches to irritating lengths), and has (with a couple exceptions) largely been coasting, post-Omega title loss. The company seems to want their golden goose to work conservatively. It all leaves an odd taste in the mouth, like some pop idol who's been constructed by an industry. Naturally, that's an unfair comparison, as--when Okada is at his best--there are few in the world that can keep up with him, and he's such a cardio-machine and an effective obstacle that he forces his opponents to work harder in the aim to overcome him. When Okada is 'on' he can be incredible. Unfortunately, post-2018, he is often churning out 30+ minute mind-numbing matches, and the company seems stubbornly against him pursuing other titles. I'm not merely arguing that he's a man with a high ceiling who's growing stale, I'm in the minority in asserting that his 2012-2016 stretch was largely overrated, and primarily carried by Tanahashi. Doing the math on this website alone, [as of the time of this post] 29 of his highest rated matches include Tanahashi. A world without Tanahashi or Omega is one in which Okada being spoken of in the "greatest" conversation is alot harder for me to stomach. If work-rate and 'match-potential', was the sole basis of a rating, Okada is a 9. 5 or 10, but Okada doesn't have the natural radiance, high levels of passion, and engaging, sympathetic magnetism I associate with the top-caliber names like Tanahashi and Kobashi (and statistically has half the popularity of the former, as a matter of record). He's no longer young or unproven enough to garner underdog sympathy. Spending a year or two in the mid-card, perhaps chasing the IC Title and helping develop other wrestlers would humanize him more. The problem with being Superman is that you become something unrelatable, and your victories lose catharsis. Okada is the most excellent, over-pushed, over-utilized, company-made champion I have ever seen, which is simultaneously an impressive feat and something that holds me back, personally. That said, he is a responsible company representative, has more than earned his spot, seems like a wonderful human being, and--on the best of days--is an absolute marvel of his craft."
[10.0] "Admittedly his characterizations can be goofy and almost some sort of in-joke that only he gets when he's not in the title scene, but even so Okada is a once-a-generation talent, a worker with off-the-charts charisma and so great and innovative in the ring that New Japan reconfigured its entire approach to match booking around him. The latter causes some to call him overrated or limited, but that ignores how consistently he has pushed himself against a variety of opponents, especially during his IWGP reign which played like Big Match John Cena doing Bryan Danielson's 2006 ROH title run. He worked with fliers, brawlers, technical masters, juniors, and fellow all-rounder visionaries like Omega, to say nothing of how he and Tanahashi turned a multi-year feud into a consistently surprising series of five-star classics. The best big match worker since Flair, maybe of all time, and to think he's done all of this by 33 and has, barring catastrophic injury, so many years left in the tank only makes the case that he will go down as THE wrestler of his era."
[10.0] "If you ask me, Okada is either the best or second-best wrestler of the 2010s. His run with the IWGP Heavyweight Title from 2016 to 2018 was the stuff of legends."
[7.0] "The difference between Okada and let say Tanahashi is that that Tana could make a great match with anyone else on the planet, from Suwama to Wataru Inoue, while Okada only in main events and with those who are skilled with in-ring psychology and who could carry a whole match. In some of his fights Okada looks like he is lost in the fog and needs to repeat the same move couple of times which is very frustrating. Lenght of the match is not an excuse because he is considered as one of the best in the world. In my opinion he is at least one level below workers like Naito, Ibushi, Tanahashi, not to mention Kobashi or Kawada. He reached superstardom level way to soon and year 2020 showed that he is not outstanding anymore."
[10.0] "Seeing Okada, I can't think of anything other than "the best wrestler of this generation". Totally flawless in practically every aspect, he is a prodigy, it is amazing how good he is, even today his fourth reign remains in everyone's memory, and it is not surprising that they refer to it when they think of him, it is really something spectacular, this year he is not doing so many things, much because of some injuries that he is still recovering, and I really hope they'll give him a break after Wrestle Kingdom, but without a doubt he is the best wrestler in the world, and will continue to be for a long time. A genius in the matter of storytelling and skills given directly by the gods, I can't look at him and not see the big star that he is printed on his forehead."
[9.0] "With all respect, I think he is one of the most overrated wrestlers of the generation. Don't get me wrong. I think he is incredible wrestler, hard worker, great skillset, phenomenal gimmick, awesome promo cutter and I respect all of his accomplishments. However, during his IWGP championship title reign, he wrestled so many great wrestlers who in fact were better than him and he beat them all. His winning streak was starting to get ridiculous and that's what really made my think the way I think of him right now. Anyways, not the greatest wrestler on the planet, but definitely a great one."
[10.0] "He is extremely good at what he does, which is being a star. And right now he is THE star of NJPW. He has perfect in ring skills and the it factor. To have this guy ever be lower than main event would be a diservice to the guy."
[10.0] "He's been a top-level performer since 2012 and has had more great matches in these 8 years than most people manage in their whole career, and will in all likelihood continue to have great matches for about ten more years. He definitely has his problems. Pacing issues sometimes crop up in his title matches, stretching out matches longer than they perhaps should go on. His leg selling leaves a lot to be desired. He's not the best mat wrestler, in a company with workers like Ishii and Goto his strikes look bad in comparison, and his liberal use of the wrist-clutch lariat gets ridiculous sometimes. But that's where his issues stop. His general selling is incredible, whether that be exhaustion, bumping, neck selling, or arm selling. His move-set is fantastic, completely focusing on the head and neck of opponents with a finisher that has so many opportunities for counters and story-telling purposes. Above all else, his psychology and story-telling ability is excellent, showcased by his rivalries with Naito, Tanahashi, Omega, and even lesser rivals like Sanada and Suzuki. When all is said and done, Okada will likely be a candidate for the best wrestler of all time in many people's eyes."
[10.0] "One of the best wrestlers I have ever seen. He had the IWGP championship for a long time. But when I'd watch New Japan on AXS TV, he was always my favorite to watch. So much charisma, great on the mic, technically skilled, and a good brawler and high flyer. A complete wrestler and one of the best of all-time. Also, he has the best dropkick in wrestling."
[10.0] "The greatest pro wrestler in history, this guy is just too damn good, countless 5 star matches with a variation of opponents, not many people can take a prestigious title like the IWGP, the GOAT title, and elevate it the way he did, he elevated the title more than the title elevated him, and in his 2 year reign he had the greatest matches in history, he carried himself better than anybody I've ever seen and backed it up in the ring and still does big time, it's common for Okada to have the match of the year"
[8.0] "He's damn great, but since last year I have been wondering how much Okada would be worth had he not main-evented against AJ Styles, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito etc but more modest opponents. Probably as much as Kento Mihara, meaning an 8 out of 10. With the NJPW roster becoming thinner and thinner he's been feuding with folks like Sanada, meaning not the huge talents he faced previously, and the problems started right away. That Sanada series was for me a true eye-opener about Okada, and not in a good way. This year he's been pretty lackluster but perhaps he's just taking it easy to slow down tear and wear on his body and fully recover from old injuries. Hopefully new big talent will come and we'll get the Okada of old back."
[10.0] "Definitely the best wrestler in the world today. He is just 33 years old and has accomplished a lot . He most likely will accomplish much more accolades to his name in the years to come hopefully. Vey charismatic and a matchmaker . He steps in the ring and you know you are going to get a quality match . I am guessing he will at the very least that Okada will be tying the record for most IWGP heavyweight title reigns with Tanahashi. Wishing him nothing but luck for his remaining career for he has solidified himself as one of the best wrestlers in the world."
[7.0] "Okada is obviously good, but his accomplishments and skills as a wrestler have been vastly exaggerated for a long time now. If he's considered one of the greatest of all time nowadays, that's more of a legacy of Gedo's smart booking (to the upper card, that is) than Okada's individual merit. Add to that the fact that certain journalist, whose word is gospel to the fanbase, doesn't hide his favouritism over Okada, going as far as constantly breaking the rules of his own rating system in order to keep praising him (remember when getting 6 stars actually meant something? ), and there, a GOAT is made. To be fair, neither of those things would be enough to make Okada as well regarded as he is if he didn't have at least some substance to back it up. Okada strongest suit is his in-ring psychology: he is great at dictating the pacing of the match, adding manerisms and little touches that make it feel unique and, ultimately, he can have a good match with pretty much everybody. That said, I don't think he's off-the-charts in any of those individual things. Also, his moveset is nothing to write home about and neither is the way he applies those moves (except for that admittedly awesome dropkick he does). And while the way he can connect to the audience shouldn't be underestimated, I don't see him doing anything the true GOATs from the past didn't do much better. Maybe I've been spoiled by watching too many matches from 90s' All Japan and early NOAH. Maybe New Japan has already set the bar too high when it comes to "aces". But the so called passing of the torch to Okada, making the latter the "face" of the company, seems like a downgrade after what Tanahashi has brought to the table (in all fairness, I don't think there's anybody in the current NJPW roster who is up to the task). All in all, Okada is already regarded as one of the greatest to many fans worldwide and he continues to deliver good-to-great matches every time he enters the ring."
[10.0] "He is in my top 3 GOATs list no doubt. He probably has the highest star power that I have ever seen and his matches are just from another world. Even when you see him wrestle in the multi man tag team matches it makes them look special and important. He has a great promo work and he is one of the main reasons the IWGP HW Championship is as prestigious as it is."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada ist einer der weniger Wrestler auf der Welt, bei denen jeder Gegner im Ring besser wird, wenn sie gemeinsam antreten. Benötigt ein Omega z. B. immer diese Klasse als Gegner, um richtig zu funktionieren, ist es bei Okada seine Präsenz, Ausstrahlung und oft überragende In-Ring-Arbeit, die das Match in höhere Sphären bringt. Sein Selling und Timing sind so gut, dass ich mich kaum an 4, 5 Momente erinnere, wo Sequenzen in seinen (großen) Matches konstruiert oder fake aussahen. Wäre ich des Japanischen mächtig und könnte seine Mikro-Arbeit beurteilen, wäre ich wohl endgültig ein Fanboy, aber auch so ist es er einfach Weltklasse und wohl noch lange nicht am Ende seiner Leistungsfähigkeit. Qualitätsgarantie und zurecht immer wieder ein Ankerpunkt in den NJPW-Stories. Dass das nah am Overpushing ist, mag man ihm aber nicht anlasten."
[10.0] "My favorite pro-wrestler of all time! There's not much that I could say that hasn't otherwise been said here regarding this man. All I could say is that while wrestlers like Tanahashi were what made me get interested in New Japan, Okada is who made me stay."
[10.0] "Even before he hit 30, Kazuchika Okada had already made a case for the greatest of all time. A key factor is NJPW's drastic increase in popularity over the last decade, Okada almost always delivers high-quality matches every time he steps foot in the ring. From 2015-2017, it was almost undeniable that he was the best in the world, bringing the best out of so many opponents. His psychology, selling and in-ring ability are all top-notch and has only grown in experience and confidence on the mic. His nonchalant and arrogance on the surface only conceal his deep passion and almost inhuman will to be New Japan's top star. He's not perfect and in the last couple years holds some recurring flaws in his craft, but as a character desiring to symbolise perfection, there might be none better. He holds the greatest world title reign, the most combined days as IWGP Champion and has been in the main event scene more than any of his contemporaries. Will very likely surpass the best ever of Japan (Kobashi, Tanahashi, Misawa, etc. ) if he hasn't already."
[10.0] "He is one of the guys I can call GOAT. Amazing worker you can put him in any type of big match. He will not disappoint you. When he walks down to ring I see a god entering that squared circle."
[10.0] "Okada ist ein unvergleichbarer Wrestler. Er hat alles was man braucht. Charismabolzen durch und durch. Und was seine Matches angeht steht keiner vor ihm. Er hat bewiesen das er eine Promotion halten kann. In der heutigen Zeit einen World Title für fast zwei Jahre zu halten ist an sich für mich undenkbar, Okada hat es aber möglich gemacht. Ich bin voll mit Lobeshymnen für ihn und kann gar nicht in Worte fassen wie Großartig er ist. Es gibt nur eine Hand voll Wrestler die ihm auf gleicher Ebene begegnen können. Ich hoffe das er diese Leistungen noch ein paar Jahre zeigen kann."
[10.0] "Einer der besten Wrestler der je gelebt hat. Kann ein gutes Match mit jedem, aber auch wirklich jedem worken. Seine Dropkicks sind legendär, mit dem Rainmaker einen super Finisher. Einen Wrestler der mehr Starpower mitbringt habe ich noch nie gesehen, er ist der geborene ACE von NJPW."
[10.0] "The wrestler of the decade and considering his age, if he can stay healthy, quite possibly the greatest of all time by the time he is done. Ever since Okada was brought back from excursion, NJPW's popularity, not only in Japan, but elsewhere, has increased drastically and Okada is a key factor in that. His feud with Tanahashi is for me the best in-ring rivalry since Kobashi/Misawa, whereas his matches with Omega and Shibata are also widely considered all time greats, with his match against Shibata personally being my favourite of all time. Okada is now also comfortable on the mic, which wasn't always the case and he has shown a lot more personality recently, which was the only real criticism people had of him early on."
[10.0] "Ever since I saw this guy in 2015, I KNEW he was the best wrestler in the world, and year after year he vindicates that opinion more and more. What I love most about Okada is the passion he injects into his performances. His facial expressions are second to absolutely none. He can communicate a story perfectly with such simple visual acts. The arrogance and determination that this guy displays makes him so enthralling, and I can't help but cheer him on and even cry when he succeeds or fails. To claim that Okada "doesn't sell" reveals that you've only ever seen maybe 2 of his matches. His long-term limb selling has dramatically improved these last few year to the point that it is 'good' at worst, and his real-time general selling has been absolutely world-class going all the way back to his redebut in 2012. People often mistake his nonchalance for a lack of actual character, but that is actually PART of his character. He's a rich boy -- covered in gold, cash flying around as he enters, escorted everywhere by young boys to protect him, hand picked by Gedo, always posing and pulling off impressive moves easily, etc. But Okada is not apathetic, because when he is pushed by someone who is a real threat, he becomes scared and shocked, because his illusion is then broken. Then we see the real Okada -- eyes sharpened, nostrils flaring, teeth clenched, as if he takes on the facial structure of the devil himself. The truth is that Okada cares deeply about wrestling, and it is clear that winning is his greatest goal, so when he is made to display this secret of his, he turns into a monster that is determined to survive everything and destroy anyone. His pure wrestling skill is 10/10, second only to his story-telling. I have never felt so emotionally invested in a wrestler or any other character before, and so I truly believe him to be the greatest wrestler of all time."
[10.0] "Der Beste Wrestler der Welt. Zudem ist er völlig verdient das ACE von NJ. Sein Entrance fühlt sich schon groß an und bei seinem Matches merkt man einfach, das er der Top Guy der Company ist. Er ist völlig zurecht IWGP Heavyweight Champion."
[10.0] "Gerade der beste Wrestler der Welt. Schon seit 2012 Weltklasse und erst 31 Jahre alt. Wenn er so weiter macht, dann kann er sicherlich zu den besten Wrestler aller Zeiten gehören, wenn er das um ehrlich zu sein nicht schon bereits ist. Besonders seine Rivalitäten mit Tanahashi und Omega haben unzählige Klassiker produziert. Dazu ist er nicht nur In-Ring technisch Weltklasse sondern auch unfassbar charismatisch und sein Theme gehört auch zu meinen absoluten Lieblingen."
[10.0] "Okada ist für mich ohne Frage der zurzeit beste Wrestler der Welt. Im Gegensatz zu anderen sehr guten Wrestlern wie Johnny Gagarno, Adam Cole oder auch einen Will Ospreay fehlt aber beim nie die Substanz in den Matches. Der schmale Grad zwischen einer epischen Schlacht und einem reinen Spotfest gelingt ihm halt viel öfters."
[7.0] "I would consider a higher rating if his work looked more realistic and less spotty. He is severely overrated, although I do have a high opinion of him regardless. If the best in the world were grouped into one category, he would be just under that."
[10.0] "One of the very best Japanese wrestlers of all time. Is no the NJPW Champion! He was blessed and trained by some of the best Japanese wrestlers like Ultimo Dragon, Jushin Liger, Yuji Nagata and others."
[10.0] "The best in-ring wrestler in the world today. Kazuchika Okada, much like Ric Flair back in his day, has the ability to work with pretty much every style of wrestling out there. His formula is pretty smart for a top guy as it can work as both heel or babyface and it even suits his character. If Okada needs to be the heel, he adds little subtleties to be more cocky in the ring, if Okada has to be the face he adjusts to give his opponent more shine to work on top to draw sympathy and yet it never fells out of place for Okada to switch. Also in an age where everyone does complex impressive moves, Okada is the opposite he performs simple moves impressively and yet still gets his moveset over, a true legend right there. As Ace Okada is currently leading NJPW to their most profitable period ever, so you can't deny that his push is working. Also thanks to the internet Okada is probably the most well known Japanese Ace outside of Japan. We have yet to see the end result of NJPW's push into America but Okada being on the forefront might make him one of the most important figures in wrestling histroy, we'll see about that though."
[10.0] "Actually, Kazuchika Okada is the best champion of all time and maybe the best wrestler in the world today. His rivalry with Tanahashi is like Steamboat-Flair or Austin-Rock, he always manage to have good matches. The NJPW was right to rely on him as the face of the company. Oh, and one of the best things about him is his presentation, the best announcement in the world."
[10.0] "Greatest wrestler of all time. He always deliver great to fantastic one on one matches. Despite having a restricted moveset, he has impactful moves and he has the greatest dropkick in the buisness."
[10.0] "There's very little to be said about Okada that isn't already being said constantly, but perhaps the most overlooked aspect of his brilliance is that, barring a good handful of crazier-than-normal bumps he's taken over the past year or two, his style is remarkably safe and consistent, especially for a top face in New Japan. The most essential parts of his moveset are barely taxing for his body, or the bodies of his opponents, at all; there's nothing to say he can't keep wrestling pretty much this exact style for another 10, 15, even 20 years at a push, with only very minor adjustments. Getting so over in NJPW with a style so geared towards longevity is perhaps his greatest accomplishment of all, and a testament to just how special of a wrestler he really is."
[8.0] "The most overrated wrestler in the world right now. Don't get me wrong, I think he's good... but when talking about the best in the world right now? I don't think he should even be in that conversation. I think people see him through rose tinted glasses because he's constantly booked to have these epic "finisher-counter-kickout" type matches. I feel like he often looks like he's moving in molasses. I like his presentation & think he's good & appreciate him being a top guy in NJPW, but don't believe all the hype."
[10.0] "While he's maybe not the most athletic guy, the stiffest, the most technical or the absolute best in psychology or storytelling he's still definitely one of the best in all of these areas. Charismatic and goofy/funny, he learned to cut good promos and doesn't need Gedo anymore. To me his greatest quality is that he's simply the best major champion that you can have because he can work with everyone, still maintains his presence but makes sure that his opponent stays THE star of the match. He elevated the status of many wrestlers, wether they lost or not, and that's what makes a great champion. He can play many roles but he is perfect at being the final boss, the cocky and dominant champion. He's already a legend."
[10.0] "He works great as both a heel and face. His in ring skills are tremendous. He will certainly rank as one of the greatest to step into the ring."
[9.0] "Is Kazuchika Okada the greatest wrestler in the world right now? You ask everyone who regularly watches him, and an overwhelming majority would with sincerity say yes. It's hard to disagree with that sentiment because why shouldn't I agree? He's had many all time classics, can pull out great matches with zero effort and can even give shitty wrestlers probably their best match ever.. So why am I so inclined to still disagree? Mostly because of how much he rests on his laurels. There used to be a time where Okada matches were enjoyable from start to finish, but nowadays he has no problem with wasting your time in the first 10 minutes of his matches. It would be excusable if he knew how to actually grapple or even legitimately wrestle, but instead he's fine with headlocks and pointless tumbling around in the first half as long as the second half are full of counters and dramatic moves. I hate him so much for that because the second half of his matches tend to be incredible, AND he can bring out the best of his opponents. It doesn't help that he's gone through virtually the entire roster before 30 which also means his bump card is slowing down, but there still isn't an excuse in the context of just his matches. tl;dr I wish Okada would stop being such a lazy bastard."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada is the very best in the world, he will be the Ace of NJPW for years! He has a complete package to be the GOAT, he has a good looking, a lot of charisma, great mic-skills, excellent in-ring skills, knows how to play a good babyface and a great heel. God, this guy's just amazing!"
[10.0] "The wrestling god. Okada in his own right is a once in a century talent. When you're the longest reigning champion in the history of NJPW and has had some of the greatest matches in the history of pro wrestling with Omega and Tanahashi you can see why he is considered the greatest of all time."
[10.0] "The absolute greatest wrestler in the world right now, perhaps with the exceptions of AJ Styles and Kenny Omega. Every move he delivers feels so precise and crisp and the man oozes style and charisma. A master between the ropes and will go down one day as one of the greats of his generation, and of all time"
[10.0] "Okada is, in my opinion, the embodiment of what it means to be a wrestling star. In my years of watching him I haven't seen him make so much as a single mistake. He exudes confidence and arrogance but does it in a way that makes him credible both as a face or a heel. Gonna go down in history as one of the all time greats."
[10.0] "Ever since that fateful day on February 12th 2012, the legend of the Rainmaker has continued to grow and reach astronomical heights. Boasting unbelievable feuds and matches with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito, AJ Styles and so many more, Kazuchika Okada's star shines brighter than any other in Professional Wrestling today and it's due to Okada's dedication in his performances. Okada has shrouded himself in both the glory of gold and competition, becoming the longest ever reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion at over 1, 700 days as champion as well as having the most title defences in a single reign, a reign which many atest to being the Greatest Championship reign in professional wrestling history. All of this has proven why he is without a singular doubt the greatest wrestler in the world and also perhaps going to become the greatest of all-time. He proved all this before his 30th birthday. We have a bright future with the shining Rainmaker at the forefront and I am looking forward to every single moment. COME ON RAINMAKER!"
[10.0] "Okada is an extremely talented wrestler. He really embodies New Japan. Not only has he put on many 5 star matches but he also really helped raise the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to the level its regarded with today."
[8.0] "Okada is a very good wrestler. I've very much enjoyed watching him over the past few years. This dude will one day be in every Hall of Fame he's eligible for."
[10.0] "Okada hat sich in den letzten Jahren stark verbessert und durch seine epische 4-Matches-Serie gegen Kenny Omega bewiesen dass er zu den besten In-Ring Performern der Welt gehört."
[7.0] "Okada has improved over the years, he is solid in the ring (terrible selling), although I have never seen him as that amazing wrestler that many say he is. The favoritism that exists towards New Japan has benefited him because his matches in general are the same, with a lot of pose and very boring initial minutes but exciting endings (even epic). In general he is very similar to Randy Orton but without so much hatred for the company in which he works."
[10.0] "Like a Randy Orton who improved instead of getting lazy, Okada's push to the moon paid off as New Japan discovered one of the most talented and charismatic performers of history, Okada is probably the guy with most classic matches in this decade, he always looks great with everyone, he also represents what NJPW wants as top guy, talented, good looking, charismatic, traditional but modern at the same time, every Japanese who would want to be a wrestler should look up to him, he's the best right now."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada is the best in the business. The only guy on his level, and they are both different enough that who you put ahead comes down to personal preference, is Hiroshi Tanahashi."
[10.0] "Meiner Meinung nach zurecht an der Spitze. Ich verstehe, dass manche auf Dauer leicht gelangweilt sind von ihm, allerdings trifft das bei mir gar nicht zu. Er ist ein wahrer Champion, der sich auf jeden Gegner einstellt und bei den großen Titelverteidigungen immer abliefert. Das gleiche gilt fürs G1. Er kann einfach alles im Ring, worked so sauber wie kaum einer und hat dazu schöne Trademark-Manöver(Rainmaker, Dropkick, Elbow-Drop). Im Selling für mich der weltweit beste und auch in Sachen Storytelling in der Weltelite. Außerdem schreit sein Look einfach nach Superstar. Er wird zusammen mit Naito, Omega usw. NJPW noch ganz groß machen. Ich bin echt froh seine Karriere miterleben zu können."
[9.0] "One of the best workers out there, he's capable of having great matches with just about anybody and his rainmaker gimmick was one of the best around. While you may argue that his title rain went on too long you can't deny that it really legitimized him as a wrestler and made it feel all the more serious when he finally dropped the belt. Overall, a great wrestler that's great at working a crowd with an awesome finisher. What more can you ask for?"
[10.0] "The current ACE of NJPW doesn't fuck around. Tons of personality away from the ring and his interactions with other wrestlers over social media are hilarious. That's probably not what you want to see though. Okada has been bringing out the best in his opponents for years, even Fale has had a good match with him. This new unhinged Okada is goofy and I feel it's a much deserved break for the longest reigning IWGP champ ever."
[10.0] "What can you say about Kazuchika Okada that hasn't already been said? The only negative thing I can say about him is that he is so talented that he makes great wrestling seem effortless. You forget how amazing he is because of how consistently amazing he is. He's absolutely incredible and and easily one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time."
[10.0] "Es gibt nicht so viele, die mit so vielen Gegnern immer wieder unterschiedliche Matches haben können. Okada ist aktuell so derjenige, dessen Matches ich jemandem zeigen könnte, der kein Wrestlingfan ist, ohne mir Sorgen machen zu müssen, seine Matches wären irgendwie "albern"."
[10.0] "It almost is unfair how good Okada is and that he is my age.. I can not even begin to imagine what Okada will be like in say 5 years. Already a record shatterer, a rain maker, and deserving of every accolade he has thus achieved. He paid his dues, working his way through the Young Lion's system. Go ahead and check out some footage of Okada's excursion in TNA, which was at the time partners with NJPW. It was right around that point in time when TNA was at its all time lowest, and right before the perception of professional wrestling outside of the WWE began to change. Already considered to be one of the all time greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time, considered by all who KNOW to be at least one of the top 5 wrestlers active today. Okada will be the kind of guy we tell our grandchildren about, and they just won't get it. will they?"
[10.0] "When you think of the complete package, I think Okada. Wrestling, charisma, look, gimmick, ability to turn the crowd against him at anytime, both hateable and likable a switch of the light. Okada is no doubt one of the best wrestlers in the past 50 years. No one has gone on the run he has had, for the amount of time it took and not be a GOAT. His wrestling ability is impeccable. His entire moveset is set up to make the rainmaker, which can be considered weak, a killer move. Fantastic psychology. His crowd interactions are great, he can get the crowd marking out with a simple hand movement. His versatility it is great. His selling is fine, not great but bad either. Does have a tendency to no sell everything at the end though. He is truly on another level."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada is the most complete wrestler we've seen in the 21st century. He does not require flashy moves to entertain the audience. His moveset is well rounded and his in ring psychology is insanely good. His 4th title reign was one of the best in the history of pro wrestling, and we expect more from him in the years."
[8.0] "Okada is one of the best pro wrestlers today, he brings an aura of a big match, and has one of the best tittle reigns today, but he lacks in some aspects, first of all, he looks clumsy sometimes, his offensive (not all) doesn't look strong, his short term selling is very good, but further in the match is bad, so when he receives limb work, it doesn't matter for the match, I can rate his promo skills, but he has a good character, and he tends to be very very formulaic in his matches, almost all of them show the same patron, but, he can make those matches very very entertaiment, although they are the same, which is a very interesting characteristic, and can make look good any opponent, I only remember one boring Okada's match. He has in ring skills to improve, but he is young and have a lot of time to get better"
[10.0] "Okada is one of the best wrestlers in the world today, if not the best. From 2013 onwards to today, he's excelled at every category, from storytelling, to pacing, to his ring-work, emoting, selling, and popping the crowd. His ring-work in particular is impressive, but even more so because none of it is particularly 'high-risk'; he's 30 as of this writing, and yet he could probably go another 15-20 years working his style. He'll adapt to his opponents and compliment their work while providing slight variations of his own so as not to become stale. And that's another one of his greatest traits: he's anything but greedy. It'd be so easy for him to showboat, yet people tend to talk a lot about how great his opponent was in most of his highest-rated matches. In the years he's been on top of NJPW, he's had plenty of memorable feuds and matches that should stand the test of time. Excellence in Okada matches are expected, and essentially always deliver. In my two decades of watching wrestling, he's currently my only five-star wrestler. There are only two slight complaints I have against him; one is that he's not always consistent about selling damage to his limbs done by his opponents. The other is that he hasn't quite connected with the crowd in the same way that certain aces or legends have. I have yet to hear a crowd chant 'O-ka-da' with the same extravagance as Misawa or Kobashi have had in their careers, although there's still plenty of time left to receive that honor."
[10.0] "No wrestler in his generation deserves a 10 more than Kazuchika Okada, who has been the ace of NJPW not only during their resurgence in Japan but their expansion into the rest of the world. He is a wrestling chameleon, a fantastic champion that can highlight an opponent's strengths and get them over despite losing just by being in a match with him. His feuds with Omega, Tanahashi, & Naito are among the greatest of all time and are guaranteed bangers whenever they fight. Just a note, I consider Mitsuharu Misawa to be the greatest wrestler, ever. Okada hasn't surpassed him at all in my eyes, but when I compare a 30 year old Misawa to Okada now, it's clear to see how ridiculously far ahead Okada is. He will almost certainly retire as the greatest wrestler of all time"
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Already, he is de facto the best in all parameters, and only the presence of such guys as Styles, Omega and Naito somehow make him a competition. The greatness of Okada in the ring is a combination, an amazing hybrid of phenomenal talent, of enormous enthusiasm and a lot of experience. He is charismatic in his own way, he knows how to work with the public and cameras. The bright and unique texture of the gimmick gives all of us an incredible image, cutting into memory quickly and permanently. His advancement fully justified. He not only puts his best on the ring every time, but also creates a remarkable media personality, speaking at various shows (not only Japanese, but also foreign ones). Love, or at least respect him and consider it equal to any of your favorite - the wrestlers like the Rainmaker are born only once in a hundred years."
[10.0] "Ich war anfangs (12/13) kein Riesen Okada Fan und fand ihn sogar etwas Overrated! Inzwischen ist Okada auf Papier und rein Sachlich der beste Wrestler der Welt. Ich Persönlich mag Omega mehr, aber die Gott Matches am Laufenden Band sprechen einfach für Okada. Mit seinem Momentanen Title Run und mit Verteidigungen gegen Shibata, Suzuki, Naito, Marufuji, Sabre oder Tanahashi reiht er sich mit seinen 30 Jahren unter den besten Performern aller Zeiten ein. Unglaublicher Smarter Worker welcher Matches so gut Paced, aufbaut und jeden seiner Gegner wie Gold aussehen lässt. Es ist kein Zufall dass Okada in 2 meiner Liebsten Matches aller Zeiten steht (vs Shibata/ vs Omega)."
[10.0] "Okada is still on his way without losing his excitement in the ring despite his full time work. He is very young and charismatic. Super talented and healthy. It may sound absurd to some people, but the only complaint i have about him is his unconcerned attitude in his matches. His facial expressions do not care much. I think he needs some more acting skills. He is able to flow like water in the ring but his characteristic features are very level. He seems a little nervous and shy to me. He has to develop himself in the direction of acting. My only wish about him also i hope that he will not suffer a injury that will harm his career. He is a man who is very serious about wrestling. Shibata was also getting serious but now he retired from wrestling for a little time."
[10.0] "(Review from 2014) YOUNG as HELL, works like someone with twice his experience, and has INSANE potential for the future. He has a great presence about him and has proven already to be a capable champion. Look to this guy to carry NJPW once he's ready for the next decade, even."
[10.0] "Was soll man Okada anderes als 10 Punkte geben? Im Ring ist er wie Omega auch eigentlich mehr als 10 von 10. Dieser Mann liefert seit Jahren ein Weltklassematch nach dem Anderen ab und kann auch irgendwie aus jedem ein gutes Match rausholen. Er beherrscht die ganze Palette sowohl im Ring ( Technik, Strong Style, High Flying, Characterwork, Psychologie, Selling) als auch was die Rollenübernahme angeht (Face, Heel. Tweener). Zudem spielt beides bei ihm zusammen, was die Dynamik von Matches beeinflussen kann. In jeder Rolle ist er unglaublich charismatisch und fesselt die Leute vom Entrance an über teilweise ein stündige Matches hinweg. Auch hier glatte 10 von 10. Micwork kann und will ich bei einem japanischen Wrestler nicht miteinfließen lassen aber wie er die Dinge sagt wirkt auch sehr intensiv und authentisch und auch wenn ich nicht verstehen was er sagt, bringt er mit seinen ganzen Art und Weise etwas rüber. Insgesamt wie sein Nemesis Omega einer der besten Wrestler aller Zeiten."
[10.0] "Excellent wrestler. One of the very best. Uses his moves very well, his selling is amazing, an unselfish bumper. More importantly, he works on his gimmick and carries himself like a champion. Not just a great wrestler but a star."
[10.0] "Denke, zu Okada braucht man keine großen Worte verlieren. Der Kerl ist aktuell einer der besten Performer im ganzen Business und weltweit in der Spitzenriege angekommen. Allein sein Matchguide spricht für sich. Großartiger Worker in allen Belangen."
[10.0] "At 30 it is easy to see Okada becoming one of, if not the greatest to ever step foot in a ring. Already set to smash every record for the IWGP title we are blessed to see this mans legendary career evolve in front of our eyes. Once in a generation talent that has a mix of psychology, ability and charisma that we may never see again"
[10.0] "Okada has proven himself to be the best wrestler in the world today with countless great matches throughout his over 500 day IWGP title reign. He can wrestle any style asked of him to perfection. Look at the difference between his Omega matches, his Shibaga match, and his Fale match."
[10.0] "Okada has already proven himself a top-shelf talent for NJPW, with a technical ring style and firm grasp of wrestling psychology and selling, as well as a confidence and swagger to match his "Rainmaker" gimmick. And with three reigns as IWGP Heavyweight Champion under his belt, he's still young, and can only get better from here. He's certainly come a long way since being cast as "Okato" in TNA."
[9.0] "K. Okada besitzt eine Aura, die nur wenige haben. Auch wenn sein Wrestling teilweise langsam und unspektakulär aussieht, so ist jede Aktion von ihm sauber und nahezu perfekt getimt ausgeführt. Ich finde das Herr Okada immer wieder zeigt was dieser "Sport" ausmacht und wie schön er sein kann. Ich denke er wird noch lange im engsten Kreise an der Spitze von NJPW sein. Verdient einer der besten der Welt."
[10.0] "The comment below me is laughable to take seriously. Okada without a doubt is one of the best, if not the best wrestler in the world. Countless classics since coming back to new japan in 2011. Great in-ring performances, solid mic work, have charisma. Moreover, he is already a proven big draw. His weakest point- selling- is also improved greatly. It is scaring that he is barely 30 now. I am so happy to see what happens next to him and a potential GOAT career."
[10.0] "It's hard to explain the transformation, but a man that was once a job boy and a joke character on excursion, unleashed a mountain of charisma and of savant move arsenal, and The Rainmaker is an elite worker in japanese wrestling history. Truly inspiring perseverance."
[10.0] "His matches speak for themselves. He is not only one of the greatest wrestlers working in the world right now, but one of the great of all time."
[10.0] "Subjektiv betrachtet bin ich kein Riesenfan von Okada, aber objektiv gesehen führt kein Weg an der Höchstwertung für den Rainmaker vorbei. Sein Moveset mag zwar vielleicht etwas "casual" wirken und die etwas langgezogenen Anfangsphasen in vielen seiner Matches sind auch nicht jedermanns Sache. Aber was der Mann einem im Match mit Mimik, Gestik und Selling für eine Story erzählt ist ein ums andere Mal grandios. Das Ergebnis sind diese großartigen Matches, die er vor allem in diesem Jahr, aber auch schon davor oft geworked hat. Zurecht an der Spitze von New Japan derzeit."
[8.0] "Ich kann ehrlich gesagt nicht begründen was ich gegen denn Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada hab, seine Matches sprechen mich nicht wirklich an, weil er oft langsame Anfangsphasen hat, sein Charisma ist auch nicht meins und das Gimmick des Young, Cocky, Champions wurde leider durch 08/15 Ace Face getauscht, der anfängt zu heulen, wenn er verliert Großes update Seit dem G1 wieder gefällt so gut wie 2013! Die Story im G1 das er sich immer sicherer wurde war grandios umgesetzt, was an großen Teilen an Okada lag. Seine Mimik und seine Gestik waren so gut wie lange nicht mehr und er war wieder das Cocky A-Loch in dem ich mich damals verliebt hab. Momentan gefällt er mir wieder und ich hoffe das bleibt so!"
[10.0] "Without a doubt, the best wrestler in the world at the moment. He could put on a 5-star match even with a doll. No matter who his opponent will be, if Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale, Tomohiro Ishii or Prince Devitt, he will be able to steal the show. But aside from his storytelling skills and his terrific athletic abilities, Okada is also incredibly charismatic: he can easily get the audience to like or dislike him, and can catalyze the attention like no one."
[10.0] "Well, what can I say about Okada? I think is safe to say that he is one of the best wrestlers on the planet right now, seriously. His matches against guys like Tanahashi, Suzuki, Shibata, Nakamura, Naito and (of course) Omega, are awesome! Great in-ring work, great charisma (he really looks like a star), just a perfect Superstar. The true Ace of Universe."
[10.0] "Okada is so damn good at pro wrestling. Easily my favourite wrestler currently working, and already high on my Top 10 Overall. He has everything, fantastic storytelling and psychology, a versatile and seemingly neverending move set, great look, gimmick and manager. Okada has such a presence that he truely does feel like the 'Final Boss of New Japan'. It's incredible how much talent the guy has at just 29 years old. He is very comfortably holding the reigns as the Ace of New Japan whilst Tanahashi has transitioned into the upper midcard spot, and still has many more years of fanstastic matches and moments to look forward to."
[10.0] "This is the third time Ive done a review on this guy, and after being hard nosed on giving the guy his due respect and finding excuses to not 10 him I'll finally submit that he is indeed one of the greatest of all time. To say he is the Ric Flair of this generation would be a disservice to him, hate as I do to admit it Okada might be more of a total package then even The Man. Hes not as flashy as Omega or as charismatic as Naito, he doesn't hit as heavy as Ishii or Shibata but he outclasses them all. He has phenomenal booking behind him and he hasn't had a single match during his most recent IWGP Heavyweight Title reign that hasn't been a classic. I once scoffed at those who've compared him to Misawa in terms of quality, now I'm starting to think he might actually be a little better. I don't like him more then Misawa mind you, but hes just got everything. Great character, great work mentality, an absolutely stunning dropkick and durability. I highly anticipate what this mans future holds."
[10.0] "One of the greatest wrestlers in today, he looks like he could make a 4* match with everyone, I dont know why people dont like him, normally them are just on American style (which is bringing some things from there)."
[10.0] "Liebe CM-Admins. Kann man mal die letzten 4 Bewertungen rauslöschen, denn diese stammen zu 99, 9% von der selben Person. Hab gerade mal geguckt, alle 4 Members haben 2 Wrestler bewertet, jeweils Okada 0 und AJ Styles 10 Punkte. Das stinkt zum Himmel und schwächt die Durchschnittsbewertung enorm. Man muss Okada ja nicht leiden können, von mir aus kann man auch eine 0 geben (persönliche Meinungen muss man akzeptieren), aber sowas das geht gar nicht. Danke"
[10.0] "Ich verstehe wenn man kein Fan ist aber hinsichtlich von Okadas Leistung zeugt alles unter 8 von extremen Unwissen. Schön dass es Leute wie Rasslin Rules gibt, die noch was mit Selling und Match Story anfangen können bzw. überhaupt wissen was das ist. Okada ist zurzeit der beste Wrestler der Welt. Er bringt mit jedem Wrestler min. 4* auf die Matte aber kratzt dieses Jahr mit fast jedem Match an den 5* wenn er sie nicht sogar erreicht oder übertrifft. Dieser Mann ist Weltklasse obwohl er so jung ist. Er hat das Selling auf ein neues Niveau gehoben und ist der sauberste Worker der Welt. Die so kritisierten Standard Moves führt er unfassbar gekonnt und glaubwürdig aus! In ein paar Jahren wird er der größte Wrestler sein den NJPW je hervorgebracht hat. Ab und zu nervt jedoch das Overbooking von Gedo. Dennoch wäre im Moment wohl eher 20 Punkte für ihn angebracht, obwohl er nicht einmal mein Lieblingswrestler ist. Seine Klasse und Genialität im Ring sind jedoch nicht von dieser Welt! P. S. Headlock saugt sich mal wieder x-beliebige subjektive Pseudo Argumente aus den Fingern heraus."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada ist mit Abstand der Aktuell beste Wrestler den es gibt . Die Entwicklung die er bei NJPW gemacht ist einfach nur krass und vor allem der Moment als er Tanahashi als Ace ablöste . Noch dazu hat er ein unglaublich gutes Storytelling und kann einfach mit jedem Gegner Klassiker abliefern . Noch dazu hat er eigentlich so fast jeden Wrestling Stil drauf einfach TOP. Was man bei ihm dazu bedenken muss ist das er auch erst 29 ist wenn er so weiter macht wird er sicherlich irgendwann neben Misawa und Kobashi zu den besten Allerzeiten gehören 10/10"
[10.0] "Das Aushängeschild von NJPW, ein wahnsinnig starkes Babyface, das nicht nur in seiner Heimat perfekt mit der Crowd connected. Und seine Matches sind nicht von dieser Welt. Was er alleine 2017 schon gewrestlet hat... F*ck yeah, er ist der beste der Welt!"
[10.0] "Der wohl mit beste Wrestler den ich kenne! Nicht nur hat er ein 6 Sterne Match bestritten gegen Kenny Omega, seine Moves sind grandios und seine Titelregentschaft ist eine der besten die ich je gesehen habe. Seine Matches sind sehr sehenswürdig."
[10.0] "This guy is soo good and he's not even reached 30's yet. Easily the best wrestler in the world. Can get a 4 star match even with a guy like Fale. His singles matches this year have all been incredible and his matches with Tanahashi are some of the all time classics. If he stays for 10 more years i believe he will go down as the greatest wrestler of all time."
[10.0] "Momentan der beste Wrestler auf dem Planeten. Okada liefert mehrere 5 Sterne Classics. Zweifellos der beste Performer im Pro Wrestling. Seine Matches gegen Naito, Shibata, Tanahashi und Omega sind einfach weltklasse."
[10.0] "Dieser Typ hat sich einfach zum besten der Welt entwickelt, er zeigt ganz normale Standart Moves, wie z. B nen "Droppkick", die er einfach nochmal perfektioniert. Zusätzlich ist er für seine größe extrem beweglich. K. a warum TNA sein Talent nicht erkannten und ihn zurück nach Japan haben ziehen lassen, aber für Okada hätte es anders nich laufen können. Ohne frage ist er mein Favourite in der Wrestlingworld Rainmakeeeeer! ;-)"
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada is untouchable currently for me in professional wrestling. Not a bad singles match this year and I can't remember the last time I didn't enjoy a match from him, even the Fale match at Dontaku. Okada is my standard currently in wrestling. Simple as that."
[10.0] "Okada is currently the best champion in the world of wrestling, with every match for the title in his reign being amazing, and having multiple 5 star matches during said reign. He's only 29 and already the best in Japan, if not the world."
[10.0] "Okada is the best wrestler in the world right now. His ability to perform at this level at such a young age is incredible. Can't wait to see where his career goes."
[10.0] "One of the best in ring wrestlers i ever seen. Probably he can carry a good match with almost every decent wrestler. I saw some of his matches in NJPW and he is remarcable inside the ring and he is only 29 years old. The future is bright for him if he won't suffer a a serious injury."
[3.0] "Okada from 2012 up until the end of 2013 I would have given okada 9. After that however I think he has been good to terrible. He has fallen into a routine that sucks and is just sooo boring. Same opening to every match followed by 25 mins of nothing with okada not looking like he cares about anything that is happening like it does not matter. This is not in a good way like he is a cocky ace who is not taking his opponents seriously instead he just looks like he does not care and that he is doing stuff in order to make the match go long because main event matches have to go long in njpw. The absolute worst thing about him though is that his selling it is awful. After that tana match at kopw he gave up selling a limb in any match. The opponent will work a limb like the leg or the arm during that 25 mins of nothing and then when it was time for a comeback he hits all his trademark spots without any trouble and they they go into the very silly clichéd finish sequence where they dance around each other for he rainmaker not looking in any way tired or like they have just been fighting for 35 minutes. Nothing looks like a fight it just looks like a silly exabition with a wrestler trying to do epics but sucking at them. Not the worst wrestler in the world but along with omega easily the most overated."
[10.0] "The best wrestler in the world today. In the middle of a legendary IWGP championship title reign he's managed to make his opponents look better than ever even in defeat and make fans want to see a rematch everytime the bell rings. At only 29 years of age Kazuchika Okada is on his way to being considered one of the best of all time."
[9.0] "Okada is a one of a kind. He seems to be the perfect blend of charisma, in-ring ability and promo skills. But he's not quite the phenomenon that Nakamura and AJ Styles were in Japan, so that stops him from being a 10/10."
[10.0] "The best in the world right now, and he's only 29. He could quit tomorrow and I think he'd rank in the top 5 of all time, so many classics already, and it's scary to think of how many more are to come. Why is he the best? Watch any of his 5* matches and you'll see plenty of reasons, he works any style perfectly, he tells some of the best stories I've ever seen in a ring, his ability to move a crowd is currently unparalleled, and he has proven time and time again that he can work with anyone. The Rainmaker is one of the best finishers in the game right now, and the fact that it's sometimes preluded by a Tombstone Piledriver is just a testament to how strong he makes it look. The best in the world right now, and when he's done, probably the best of all time."
[10.0] "Absolutely the greatest wrestler in the world at this moment. The fact that he is only 29 makes the idea that he might not have hit his peak yet kind of amazing."
[10.0] "Okada was one of my favorite wrestlers of all-time, but after his performance against Omega and Shibata, he became the number one in my list. At the age of 29 years-old he already have a hall of fame career, with a catologue of classic matches and as one of the main responsables for New Japan getting in their feet again. Aside from that, he is a full-package wrestler, as he got the look, the charisma, the drawing abilty, a amazing in-ring work and psychology, being able to adapt and fit his style in any type of match, and he does such little things that are important to structure a match, as his amazing facial expressions and his facility to work and play his character with perfection as heel or a babyface. For a man that established him self as one the best already in his age, I have no doubt that he is going to be on the books as one the greatest wrestlers of all-time. Fantastic is the word to describe Kazuchika Okada."
[10.0] "It's scary to think Okada is only 29 years old and is considered to be one of the best in the world. A big match wrestler, who adapts to any style. His rivalry with Tanahashi is legendary and the match quality are spectacular. he is only going to get better and will probably eclipse Tanahashi as the Ace of New japan. Go watch any match with Tanahashi, Omega and most recently with Shibata and see for yourself how good he is."
[10.0] "Hat sich vor kurzem zu meinem Absoluten Lieblingswrestler entwickelt. Okada's aktueller Titelrun ist einfach bravourös. Jedes Match ist ein absolutes MustSee und Okada zeigt immer Topleistung und varriert seinen Style immens. Sei es die psychische Schlacht mit Suzuki, das HighFlying mit Tiger Mask W, der Strong Style Krieg mit Shibata oder einfache Klassiker mit Marufuji oder Omega man kann von Okada nur Storytelling, Matchpsychologie und Selling erwarten. Mal die ganzen 5* Matches und die beste Fehde aller Zeiten mit Tanahashi außer Acht lassen. Genau wie Tanahashi überzeugt er nicht unbedingt durch das übertriebenste MoveSet sondern viel eher durch die Fähigkeit ein geiles Match auf die Beine zu stellen. Aktuell der Beste Wrestler der Welt"
[10.0] "I didn't think that Okada had it in him, but he proved me wrong big time in the past year, and he's still doing so by having one of the greatest world title runs in the history of the business, what a talent!"
[10.0] "The new Ace of New Japan. He's capable of delivering great matches after great matches against any talent. He oozes charisma and has marketable look that will bring New Japan's value into new heights. New Japan better doesn't let their true face of company leaving anytime soon."
[9.0] "Okada is a very great wrestler to the age he is. He is young, athletic, great technician and charismatc in the ring as well. His bouts with Karl Anderson, Tanahashi, AJ Styles and Nakamura are recommended to watch"
[10.0] "Was für ein Wrestler. Technisch begabt, Charisma ohne Ende, liefert grandiose Matches ab und verbreitet Freude. Ich liebe seinen harten, aber dennoch eleganten Stil und könnte mir stundenlang Matches angucken. Er ist absolut zurecht der amtierende IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Besser geht nicht."
[10.0] "The funny thing about Okada for me is, I know his shtick and routine. He'll rarely surprise you-- you basically know what you're getting yourself into when you watch a match of his. In some ways he's like the Japanese Randy Orton, because he doesn't necessarily have to leave his comfort zone but what he does do he does super flawlessly and smooth. The difference in him and Orton though is Okada's greater ability to work more styles and tempos. He's a prototype in the ring, as long as his opponent keeps up their end of the bargain and spices things up a little bit, Okada will help you get the absolute best out of each other. And that damn dropkick."
[10.0] "This guy is only 29 years old and can be considered one of the best in the world currently. The amount of classics he's had is just incredible and even racking up 3 ***** matches with arch rival Hiroshi Tanahashi too. The guy can adapt to any style and get the crowd invested too. Have to give this guy a 10 as I have rarely seen a match of his that I didn't enjoy and honestly the guy can do it all and he's not even reached his prime yet."
[10.0] "Junge Junge.. Okada erfährt mit 29 Jahren ein unglaubliches Hoch im Wrestling Biz und er hat es zu 100% verdient. Unglaublicher Worker, charismatisch ohne Ende und viele Matches sind Mainevent tauglich. Jeder Move sieht einfach perfektioniert aus und er zählt ohnehin zu den besten Top 5 In-Ring-Performer der Welt."
[9.0] "He's been so consistently good that Okada will get my ten the moment I see him step up his game. Even after his WK11 main event, Okada has a whole lot more to offer as a performer, once he is made the 100% star that he's made to be."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada was arguably given the world a bit too soon, but he soon became worthy of all of it. Okada is capable of having a great match with anyone, he has a great heel vibe, and I hope the only reason people are talking a lot more about Kenny right now is because it was his time to shine, while Okada... well, we all knew already Okada is excellent."
[9.0] "Im Ring zur Zeit einer der besten Wrestler der Welt und der einzige, der einen Lariat als wirklich effiziente Aktion verkaufen kann. Was er gegen/mit Tanahashi und zuletzt Omega auf die Beine gestellt hat, gehört jetzt schon zu den ganz großen Klassikern. Seine Promos kann ich nicht bewerten und vom Charisma her steht er leicht hinter Tetsuya Naito oder Kenny Omega , so dass ich nur 9 Punkte vergebe."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada is already one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of NJPW and yet, he is only 29 years of age. A truly special performer and somebody that an entire company can be built around with his superstar look and aura, as well as top-notch in-ring skills and a brilliant character that he plays to absolute perfection. Not only this, but it is scary to think that as good as Okada is, he can only get better over the next decade and perhaps can grow into the greatest overall performer pro wrestling has ever seen as his catalogue of classic matches continues to grow and success as Ace of NJPW becomes more and more beneficial to the entire pro wrestling landscape."
[10.0] "Okada will go down in history as one of the greatest ever. Only 29 years of age and has already so many classics on his name and already a 4 time IWGP Champion. I only expect bigger and better things for Okada in the future, as he carries New Japan on his back."
[10.0] "Der Rainmaker! Ich habe ihn ja bisher immer schon als einen der besten der Welt angesehen, in meinen Top 5 war er immer sicher drin. Aber nach seiner Performance und dem Match gegen Kenny bei WK11 hat er mich endgültig überzeugt und in seinen Bann gezogen! Nun gibt es überhaupt keinen Zweifel mehr: Kazuchika Okada ist der aktuell beste Wrestler der Welt und wird es noch für viele Jahre bleiben! Im Ring 1+ mit Sternchen, Charisma in anderer Form auf demselben Level wie Nakamura, Gimmick wird perfekt ohne Makel dargestellt und die dazugehörige Ausstrahlung sucht ihresgleichen. Noch dazu ist der Jung erst 29 Jahre alt! Lass ihn noch 10-15 Jahre in dieser Form weiter machen, er wird ganz oben im Olymp des Wrestlings an der Seite von Kobashi und Misawa stehen! Am Ende seiner Karriere wird man ohne jeden Zweifel sagen können: Dieser Mann war einer der, wenn nicht vielleicht sogar der beste Wrestler, der jemals in einen Ring gestiegen ist!"
[9.0] "People always say how TNA wasted Okada, but I don't think that's the case - he just didn't showcase that level of greatness he is now at while he was there. Right now he is definitely one helluva wrestler, one of the best in the world. He has been a part of some truly great matches vs. the likes of Minoru Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura & many others - and I am sure that his great match catalog will once grow as years go on, as he is only 29 years old."
[10.0] "Okada ist einer derjenigen, dessen Wertung hier im Board sicher nicht seine Leistung wiederspiegelt. Kazuchika Okada in 2012 ist absolut großartig, er bietet tolle Matches, beweist Charisma und wird immer sicherer in seiner Interaktion mit den anderen Größen von New Japan. Irgendwo in Orlando sollte jemand seinen Kopf gegen die Wand knallen, weil man dieses Talent so sträflich vernachlässigt hat."
[7.0] "Okada is a great worker but overrated as f*** and he can´t be compared to Tanahashi as ace. He is not the star NJ needs despite 4 years of megapush."
[10.0] "Rainmaker! OKADA KAZUCHIKA! This guy is so good inside the ring it's unbelievable. I am not a big fan of NJPW, but currently, he is the only reason that I tune into their PPVs (he and Kenny Omega, tbh). I watched all of his matches with Tanahashi, and every time they delivered. Kinda reminds me of Flair vs Steamboat with Okada being Flair and Tanahashi being Steamboat. Okada is just one of the best wrestlers out there."
[9.0] "Charismatic af, great in-ring worker and one of the simpliest, but coolest finisher in the buisness make Gedo's pupil what he is today. While I think he's a star and he can improve a lot being only 28, I also think that his matches have all the same build. He is not very versatile as Tanahashi and he doesn't bring something really special in the ring aside from the Rainmaker. He's also capable of doing good promos and to always entertain the crowd. Probably three years from now we'll be talking about him as THE best wrestler in the world, but right now he just need a lil bit more time and experience. However, his series of matches with Tanahashi will be forever remembered as one of the best feud ever on pair with Flair/Steambot, Kobashi/Misawa and so on."
[10.0] "Okada hat in den letzten 4-5 Jahren eine Entwicklung vollzogen, die ihresgleichen sucht. Vom durchaus ambitionierten, aber doch eher unauffälligen Rookie zum neuen Ace von New Japan. Tanahashi scheint nun endgültig die Fackel an ihn übergeben zu haben - und womit? Mit Recht! Okada ist einer der charismatischten Worker der Welt, haut einen MOTY-Kandidaten nach dem anderen heraus und hat sich absolut im Wrestling-Olymp etabliert."
[10.0] "Wird mal Zeit für eine Aufwertung auf die 10. Er hat mittlerweile über einige Jahre bewiesen, dass er zur absoluten Leistungsspitze bei New Japan und im Wrestlinggeschäft allgemein gehört. Zahlreiche Klassiker und sehr starke Matches hat er gezeigt und zurecht hat er den IWGP Heavyweight Title bereits mehrere Male gehalten. // 13. 01. 2013: Unglaublich, was dieser Mann in einem Jahr für einen Aufstieg erlebt hat. Es spricht für seine Qualität, dass er daran nicht zerbrochen ist, sondern sich durchgesetzt hat. Das Rainmaker-Gimmick passt perfekt zu ihm und im Ring eine Bombe, wie man dieses Jahr sehen konnte. Ich hoffe in Orlando beißt sich jemand täglich in den Hintern, dass man ihn nicht richtig eingesetzt hat. Wenn er das Niveau von 2012 weiterhin halten kann, gibt es auch eine höhere Wertung."
[4.0] "I already don't think he's that kind of a big deal, and NJPW is making me dislike him even more, just like a guy down here said, Okada is the Randy Orton of New Japan, and the way NJPW Book him is horrible, winning the IWGP Heavyweight Title EVERY SINGLE FUCKING TIME!"
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada ist unglaublich gut, hat sich mittlerweile zu einem der 3 besten Wrestler der Welt entwickelt. Der Rainmaker ist einfach einmalig. Großartiges Gimmick, göttlich im Ring, göttliche Ausstrahlung und so viel Charisma, dass bei seinem Auftreten fast die Halle einstürzt. Wenn man dazu bedenkt, dass der Kerl erst 28 ist. Der Rainmaker gehört mittlerweile zu meinen absoluten Favoriten! Volle 10 für das beste, was NJPW derzeit zu bieten hat!"
[10.0] "Das neue Ace von New Japan und einer, wenn nicht sogar der beste Wrestler der Welt im Moment. Seine Matches sind durchgehend richtig stark, dazu kann er auch komplett verschiedene Matches zeigen (z. b. vs. Tenryu) und an Charisma mangelt es ihm ganz sicher auch nicht. Hat für mich dazu auch noch das Beste Match was ich je gesehen habe gegen Tanahashi bei WK 10 gehabt. Mit einer großartigen Leistung von ihm wo er am Ende zurecht das Zepter in die Hand bekam."
"Jetzt überzeuge er mich der Rainmaker! Nach dem er seine dauer und Erzrivale bei WK10 besiegte. Umfassbar, diese Entwicklung und ein Unglaubliches Bereicherung für NJPW. Jetzt liegen die Zügeln an ihm, was er aus seiner Zukunft macht. Er ist an der Spitze angekommen."
[10.0] "A three time IWGP champion at the young age of 28, Okada really is the new ACE of new japan. Okada is so good for his age and he'll only get better as the years go by. Excited to see how good he gets in 5 to 10 years."
[9.0] "Verdient (in meinen Augen nicht nur von mir) eine Aufwertung. Mit dem WK10-Sieg hat sich Okada endgültig emanzipiert und hat sich aller Kritik zum trotz, die ich ihm und seinem Stil gegenüber noch äußern könnte, doch zu einem liebgewonnenen Teil des Pro-Wrestling der Gegenwart entwickelt. 9 Punkte für jemanden, bei dem ich NOCH IMMER Luft nach oben sehe, obwohl er bereits einer der prägendsten Akteure seiner Ära ist."
[9.0] "Kazuchika Okada is a man who shows how time and improvement can cultivate a talent. His transformation to the Rain Maker, was his gel moment. And from that point on he's had the right road to success. His reigns at the top of NJPW's mountain have been well deserved. He has also added to his presence by being a nice attraction to other promotions he has appeared in. With his time put in, Okada has transformed himself into a highly deserving wrestler."
[10.0] "From Ultimo Dragon's protegee to TNA jobber... to the ACE of the New Era, he is truly one of the Best in the World. It was a big risk putting the title on him back in 2012, as the Japanese audiences didn't truly know what he was capable of. But it payed off... now the Rainmaker stands in the elite of puroresu: brutal, uncompromising, electrifying. His feud with Tanahashi can't be seen anywhere else in the world. And he's just getting started!"
[10.0] "Dieser Typ ist mit 27 in meinen Top 5 momentan, absolut fantastischer Wrestler. Sein Gimmick ist großartig, man nimmt ihm einfach ab, dass er der King ist, dazu diese Dropkicks zum dahinschmelzen. Er kann mit wirklich jedem ein gutes Match worken, was er beispielsweise aus Fale Anfang dieses Jahres herausgeholt hat, war unglaublich. Und das beste: Wenn alles normal läuft, hat er noch mindestens 10 Jahre auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Leistungsfähigkeit vor sich! Ich kann es kaum erwarten, mit was für Matches mich Okada in Zukunft erfreuen wird."
[10.0] "Der für mich zurzeit sechstbeste Wrestler der Welt, ich gebe 10 Punkte, weil der wirklich einfach mit JEDEM ein gutes Match herbeizaubern kann, was für ein guter und realistischer Wrestler, und er steht zurecht jetzt schon an der Spitze New Japans. Was soll man noch groß sagen, fantastischer Worker, erfüllt alles was man als guter Wrestler in Japan braucht."
[10.0] "My favorite wrestler in the world today. With just 27 years, is one of the greatest wrestlers in the world. His moveset focused on the neck, the rainmaker, the way he sells his arm, his classics against Tanahashi... He has got the IT Factor and in a few years, we could be talking about the next japanese legend."
[10.0] "Kazuchika Okada really has come a long way since I first watched him wrestle in TNA as nothing more than a jobber in 2010 and 2011 and even called himself Okato at one point and aligned himself with Samoa Joe for a bit for a feud with Joe and The Pope. Ever since Okada came back to New Japan after leaving TNA, he really reinvented himself, changed his look and everything, improved his wrestling a whole lot, gave himself a moniker which is The Rainmaker, and he became one of THE top 2 stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling today!"
[9.0] "Look up "It Factor" in the dictionary and you will likely see a picture of Okada. The one Japanese star who has a legitimate chance to reach main event status in WWE, if he ever decides to jump ship. Vince McMahon and WWE see dollar signs everytime they see this guy wrestle. Dixie Carter is kicking herself right now for the way she misused him during his time in TNA. Excellent look, tall for a Japanese wrestler, and elaborate costumes. Reinvented himself with his Rainmaker gimmick of a bleach blonde rich playboy. Good showmanship and charisma, which is sometimes missing in Japanese wrestlers. Almost like a more youthful, Japanese version of Ric Flair. He plays a cock and arrogant pretty boy and you would think that he would be the most hated heel in the company, and he started out that way, but quickly became a beloved anti-hero. One of the top workers in the business, super smooth in the ring with freakish athleticism. Excellent seller, ring psychologist and a variety of cool moves. He took a simple short arm clothesline and made it into the most feared finisher in wrestling. Still a few years away from 30, his upside is scary. Physique is a little on the lanky side. I'd like to see him build some more muscle. Some have criticized his promos but he has Gedo as his pitch man and the crowd eats up everything he says. Also speaks relatively good English. As long as he stays healthy, will be a top draw for years to come."
[10.0] "Diese Entwicklung bei ihm ist phänomenal. Während er noch vor drei Jahren für seine Kindlichkeit belächelt wurde, gibt er jetzt einen erfahrenen, zuverlässigen, energischen, unterhaltsamen und talentierten Wrestler der Extraklasse ab. So viele 4- oder mehr Sterne-Matches hat wohl niemand zuvor in diesem jungen Alter zu verzeichnen, Respekt für diesen Jungspund."
[9.0] "Der neue Topstar Japans! Einfach rundum ein Klasse Wrestler mit Austrahlung, Charisma, Sicherheit und Selbstvertrauen, Promo technisch wirkt er sehr sicher (natürlich schwer zu beurteilen wenn man kein japanisch spricht). Nur 9 weil er halt (noch) nicht das die Klasse von Nakamura und Tanahashi hat."
[6.0] "Ich kritisiere kaum etwas am fantastischen NJPW-Produkt, aber Okada ist definitiv überpusht. Er hat ein ganz nettes Gimmick, kann gut wrestlen, aber in Sachen Star-Power ist er kein Tanahashi, Nakamura, Liger oder Suzuki."
[10.0] "Okada can wrestle with anyone. That much is clear and I point to a string of **** or better matches by the age of 26 that testify to his in-ring ability - including the greatest wrestled feud of this decade against Hiroshi Tanahashi, which contains six matches of such absolute brilliance that it's unfair. Smooth but powerful. Convincing and sells generously. You couldn't ask for more of his ring work, really. Some people have a problem with his charisma and think that he has none; on the surface this seems true. His press conferences and post-match mic work is REALLY awkward. But the more I watch, I am convinced that this is part of his 'cocky young champion' character: that he both wants to let his wrestling speak for itself and refuse to get drawn into pithy speech feuds."
[10.0] "The rainmaker has really impressed me these last two years. I love the production value of his entrances, I love his consistently very good ring work almost never having a bad match anymore and the stories he's able to tell in them. He has helped reel me in to NJPW."
[10.0] "Okada has evolved into one of the best wrestlers in the world today. Going from a nobody jobber to a great great main eventer. He has excellent in-ring ability and can also have a great story in the ring (the man can sell) and is now the face of Japanese Wrestling."
[6.0] "Okada is a decent worker with a good look, though strangely it doesn't translate well as far as in-ring presence goes. His selling can be iffy and the middle of his matches can get boring but he does have a knack for finishing stretches; though I think that's slightly negated due to having a stupid dance looking finisher."
[9.0] "Okada ist jemand, bei dem man einfach alle richtig gemacht hat und auch nicht gleich einen Push abbrach, wenn etwas mal nicht perfekt klappte. Der Mann ist jetzt 26 und hat bereits alles relevante bei NJPW gewonnen, was es dort zu gewinnen gibt. Okada ist einfach ein starker Wrestler, hat ein tolles Moveset, eine Wahnsinnsaustrahlung, einen starken Manager als Sprachrohr und ist bei den Fans trotz Heel Status dermassen over, dass man nur den Hut ziehen kann. Trotzdem gebe ich erst einmal noch starke 9 Punkte und bewahre mir den einen Punkt noch auf. Denn wenn Okada nicht als Headliner im Main Event antritt, dann ist er für mich noch nicht fähig genug, Showstealer zu produzieren. Dies hat man beim diesjährigen Climax oft gesehen. Okadas Matches waren alle gut, doch im Endeffekt waren es auch nie DIE Begegnungen des jeweiligen Tages. Er konnte aus seinen Gegnern nie den ganz grossen Kracher herausbringen. Ich denke aber, dass der noch so junge Okada sich auch da noch steigert und früher oder später der beste Wrestler des Planeten sein wird und von mir die 10 Punkte erhalten wird."
[10.0] "RAINMAKAH! Okada is, purely and simply, one of the best wrestlers in the world today. And with him only being 26, he'll have many years of being one of the best to come."
[10.0] "One of the finest wrestler's Japan has to offer and only 25 years old. The fact is for the next twenty years Kazuchika Okada will be one of the biggest names in wrestling. Also he has the best lariat finisher since JBL himself."
[10.0] "He has best talent, and he makes the best of his all matches. ( he makes 5 star matches in twice ) he is young and he will be greatest wrestler in the future."
[10.0] "From being a jobber in TNA to the IWGP heavyweight champion within 2 years, shows several possibilities - either Okada became 1 of the best improved wrestlers over the last few years, or TNA didn't know what to do with him, or they thought he wouldn't get over with the crowd in America. I think all possibilities are correct, as Okada eventually got an extreme makeover, became the Rainmaker, and became 1 of the strongest heels in Japan right now. His in-ring storytelling is incredibly good, he has very good athletic ability to back it up, and his matches against Hiroshi Tanahashi are a must-watch."
[10.0] "Was ein Superstar. Auf dem Weg zum Ace in New Japan und mit 25 Jahren den Climax, den NJ Cup und 2-mal den Heavyweight Title gewonnen. Er war Anfang 2012 so gut wie abgeschrieben, vorallem nach dem Kingdom Auftritt, aber trotzdem hat er es geschafft allen zu zeigen. Er hat auch noch so viele Jahre vor sich."
[10.0] "I was initially skeptical in NJPW putting the title on Okada. He didn't have very much experience at the time, and he didn't quite show that he was main event material. Now though, Okada is one of the best heels in Japan today, and is jone of the best wrestlers in the world today. I really cannot wait to see what the future has in store for him."
[8.0] "Wurde trotz solider Leistung bei TNA nie richtig gepusht, aber dafür nach seiner Rückkehr nach Japan umso mehr. Ich steh auf sein "Rainmaker"-Gimmick und er fängt an, sich als Champion zu beweisen. Aufwertung: kratzt schon an einer 9, der Mann ist die Zukunft von NJPW!"
[8.0] "From Zero to Hero! " Nachdem Excursiondesaster bei TNA hat niemand Okada auf der Rechnung, der neue Lock war zuerst befremdlich, das Wrestle Kingdom Rückkehr Match schwach und die Begründung das er nun Tanahashi um den höchsten Titel herausfordert lächerlich. Daraus resultiert zu Recht große Skepsis, doch der Junge hat die Chance zu hundert Prozent genutzt und steht nun bombastisch da und überholt mal so einfach das halbe NJPW Roster in allen Belangen. Das nächste Jahr wird diesen herausragenden Wrestler gehören, der wahrlich das heißeste neue Eisen im Puro Land ist."
[8.0] "Also Okada am 04. 01. 2012 zu New Japan zurückckehrte, war er ein veränderter Mann. Ich hätte aber niemals gedacht, dass die Veränderung so weitreichend sein würde. Aus einem ambitionierten und hochveranlagten jungen Wrestler war ein Mann mit einer unvergleichlichen Ausstrahlung geworden, der 2012 ein Blockbuster Match nach dem anderen wrestelte. Das Rainmaker Gimmick sitzt perfekt und wurde vom Publikum so schnell angenommen, dass man sich fragen musste, was eigentlich gerade passiert. Ich hoffe, Okada bleibt dem Puroresu noch lange erhalten, denn er ist in der Kürze der Zeit zu einem der wertvollsten Wrestler New Japans herangereift."
[8.0] "Gefühlt könnte ich ihm schon jetzt mehr als 8 Punkte geben. Allerdings habe ich noch nicht so viel von ihm gesehen. Als Nachfolger im Geiste von Masa Chono gefällt mir Okada aber bereits jetzt verdammt gut."
[10.0] "Seit seinem Re-Debüt als Rainmaker ist er total beeindruckend. Er hat tolles Gimmick und überragende Technik - sogar in Liga, die so viele ungewöhnlich talentiert Wrestler hat. Ich meine, dass er ein der erfolgleichsten Wrestlern derzeitigen Jahrhunderts werden kann."
[10.0] "Großartiger Rookie und möglicherweise der Newcomer 2012 in Japan. Hat seit seiner Japanrückkehr eine unglaubliche Präsenz im Ring und nachdem er zum wiederholten mal auch seine Klasse im Ring gezeigt hat verdient er unbedingt eine Aufwertung."
"So er ist zurückt von TNA und sieht einfach nur Gay aus mit den blonden Haaren ! Man sieht es ja an, das er was draufhat aber bei TNA war es einfach nur ein verlorenes Jahr ! Wenn ich NJPW wäre, würde ich es wie Dragon Gate machen, einfach ein Rookie nach Amerika schicken, in die Indi-Ligen z. B ROH, PWG etc. da lern man was siehe Tozawa ! TNA suck einfach und ich hoffe diese Liga stirb einfach nur ab"
[5.0] "Okada needs a good deal of work to truly become great, however I do definitely a lot of potential. I hope that he develops in TNA, and actually gets a chance to wrestle on impact"
[5.0] "Die Suicide-Sache hätte nicht unbedingt sein müssen - allgemein stellt TNA aktuell sehr wenig mit Okada an, obwohl dieser an sich ein großes Talent ist. Die Vergangenheit hat uns leider gelehrt, dass sich Japaner in großen amerikanischen Ligen nur schwerlich beweisen können. Insofern hoffe ich auch, dass er nach Ablauf seines Vertrages entweder in den Indyligen auftritt oder gleich nach Japan zurückkehrt - so oder so ist Okada bestimmt eine der künftigen Leistungsspitzen von New Japan."
