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Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada: The Reckoning

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The news has broken, Kenny Omega versus Kazuchika Okada, the fourth installment. No time limit. The Internet Wrestling Community rejoices, the New Japan fans change their pants, and finally we get a storyline with tangible weight. However, my good buddy (and publisher of this very website) Greg DeMarco posed a question to me a few days ago along the lines of:

“Why would Okada pick a fight with Omega, when he’s been the closest to dethroning him?”

This question, I found to be wholly baffling since the answer should be obvious. Alas, since most are still WWE fans first and merely intrigued by Japanese wrestling, I figured an article could be necessary to explain the dynamic.

The Beginnings

G1 2016 Winner Kenny Omega, challenges IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11. The match puts New Japan on the collective map, as it goes down as a Meltzer scale breaking 6 Star bout (I also gave it 6 Snowflakes for anyone keeping count), as Okada retains over the Gaijin sensation. But it was from that point forward, that the internet found a company to champion since the match quality and production values were something not seen since the early years of TNA.

This brings us to Wrestling Dontaku 2017, after dispatching the New Japan Cup runner-up Bad Luck Fale, Kazuchika Okada’s pride gets the best of him and he challenges Kenny Omega to a rematch. Claiming that since the Wrestle Kingdom bout, the buzz has been more about Kenny, and somehow the dominant champion was overshadowed, even though he won the match. When the rematch happens, we get a 60 minute Broadway (a draw for those unaware) and still Omega’s star continues to rise.

Since the outcome was a draw, this shows the first wrinkle in this storyline, where Okada went out of his way to make the challenge…and failed. Sure he retained his title, but a draw proves nothing.

Fast forward to the 2017 G1 tournament, and a very banged up Kazuchika Okada, started off 6-0, then gets injured by EVIL, which also gives him his first loss of the tournament. After EVIL, he fights Minoru Suzuki to a draw, which just further injures the champion since Suzuki’s main goal in matches is to cripple, not to win. Setting up Kenny Omega, who needs the win to make the finals, to finally get the win in this long standing rivalry. Yes, it can be argued that Okada wasn’t at 100 percent, but that doesn’t change the scorecard.

Now, most people know that, since Okada and Omega are two of the more visible stars from outside of the United States, but people may not have noticed the significance.

Since the 6 Star Trilogy

Starting with his defense against Cody, Gedo and Okada started to make reference to this “Okada Level”, which plays into super human booking and his historic reign. However, it’s also bringing out more of the old arrogant Rainmaker. He resorts to more demeaning tactics and mannerisms in and out of the ring, as well as having less desire to placate the crowd.

As the crowd grows more hungry for a new champion, Okada grows more malicious and prideful that he’s so much better than everyone else, as he wins against all hopes and desires. Naito is easily the most popular wrestler in Japan, and he dispatched him and his entire stable with ease. Zack Sabre rose to prominence with a great New Japan Cup run, and Okada changed his style and fought off the Submission Master.

Tanahashi, the former Ace, is the most recent challenger to try and stop the rampaging Rainmaker. Historically, Tanahashi and Okada are very even. In 10 previous matches, they were 4-4-2, so breaking the 11 defenses record, would also come with the win to tip the scales in the favor of Okada. And as the Ace falls, Okada proves to have completed his ascent beyond everyone and everything…except one person.

1-1-1, three matches, three different results and nothing that makes Okada exactly happy. To go back to the initial question of “Why would he want this”, because why the hell not? When you are proving that you are better than the entire company, you need to definitively prove this fact. There can be no asterisks, and when there’s one man in your way from completely lapping the field, you run the risk, because pride is a dangerous thing. Also as an addition to pride, since Okada lost to Omega in the G1, it’s usually a point of pride for any champions who lost during the tournament, try to reconcile that loss at a future date.

 

The Weight of Reckoning Day

If Kenny Omega can defeat Kazuchika Okada in a best 2 out of 3 falls match, this year at Dominion, the 1 year anniversary of their epic Broadway, then the arrogance of the Rainmaker is for naught. Unlike the way writing is in many American companies, where the champion would try to avoid the biggest threat, Japan is a different animal. The concepts of Strong Style and Fighting Spirit are to never relent and give as good as you get.

To expunge any and all doubt, Okada needs to defeat Omega. A nearly two year reign as a champion would feel invalidated to him, if Omega pulls the upset. Two years as being the champion, overshadowed by everything the Bullet Club was doing, who Chris Jericho wanted to fight, and the Golden Lovers joining back together.

Okada needs this more than Omega, and if he fails, the spiral could take some time for Okada to bounce back from.

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Opinion

Chris King: The Wyatt Sicks’ Wasted Potential By WWE

Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.

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Wyatt Sicks WWE

Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.

It’s that time of the year again, folks; it’s unfortunate and downright awful that so many WWE superstars got released today. I’m not going to list all of them, but I am going to talk about one of my favorite factions, 

The Wyatt Sicks. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) were something special. After Bo’s brother Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, WWE felt like there was a hole that needed to be filled. Wyatt was one of the most creative and brilliant characters, and Bo would be taking over his brother’s concept and bringing it to life. In 2024, at the end of an incredible documentary highlighting Wyatt’s career and struggles, Bo appeared on the screen portrayed as Uncle Howdy. The last time Uncle Howdy was seen on-screen was at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Pitch Black Match. Howdy jumped off a structure onto Knight. 

This post-credit scene sparked so much speculation and excitement that Wyatt’s brother would carry on his legacy and possibly debut the faction that was Wyatt’s concept. On the June 17th episode of Monday Night Raw, The Wyatt Sicks made their dramatic debut ,destroying the backstage area as well as “murdering” Chad Gable. It was such an iconic arrival for Howdy as he made his menacing walk from the back into the audience who were chanting “Holy Shit.” The Sicks and American Made (Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers) battled for months, with The Sicks being victorious. On the September 9th episode of Raw, The Sicks defeated them, with Howdy getting the win with Sister Abigail. 

The following year, The Sicks would move over to Friday Night SmackDown, and it seemed like WWE had a plan in place. They would win the tag team championships from The Street Profits and start to look dominant. Now, what should have happened next is Howdy should have won the United States title. The Sicks could have held all the gold over on the blue brand, but it never happened. The Sicks entered into a never-ending feud with The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga.) It started off exciting, and the WWE Universe was red-hot for their interactions. 

After months of repetitive matches and The MFT’s stealing their lantern, the feud grew tiresome and boring. Even Tama asked Solo why they are still holding onto the lantern, as it was destroying them as a whole. Finally on the SmackDown before Mania, Tama

gave the lantern back to Howdy against Solo’s wishes. Please explain to me why both factions fought almost every single week instead of just having one final blowoff match at WrestleMania. 

It should have been either a massive street fight or a falls count anywhere match on the grandest stage of them all. Instead, it turned into a meaningless week-after-week extravaganza that benefited no one. The MFTs won the rivalry, and The Sicks don’t even work for WWE anymore. This was the same criminalized creative process that Wyatt dealt with during his first run in the company. 

We’ll never know how much of a dangerous force The Wyatt Sicks could have been in the WWE. For all their careers’ sake, I hope they stay far away from the company for as long as possible. Every superstar that was cut deserves better!

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Opinion

Chris King: Bloodline Saga: Is This the Right Call For WWE?

Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns 

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WWE Jacob Fatu Roman Reigns Backlash

Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is once again World Heavyweight Champion after his dominant win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42. On the following night on Monday Night Raw, The OG Bloodline came back together as a well-oiled machine as The Usos stood side by side with Roman. With the WWE Universe asking who would be the first to challenge “The Tribal Chief,” Jacob Fatu shocked the world by answering the call. 

Fatu is running hot after his impressive win over Drew McIntyre and feels like he is ready to become the new world champion. This bloodline segment ended Raw, and it picked right back up on SmackDown with even Solo Sikoa and the MFTs involved. This is now two shows that have been centered around The Bloodline saga, and it’s made me question whether or not WWE should be retelling this story. 

The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) ran WWE for over four years as Reigns’ henchmen, doing his dirty work to retain his title. Even though Roman has declared he doesn’t want Jey and Jimmy to serve him, it sure seems like WWE are spinning their wheels. Fatu could add a whole new chapter into the story, even if he’s not able to beat Roman at Backlash. “The Samoan Werewolf” could be forced to do the same thing as Jey did all those years ago and fall in line. 

 In my opinion, I feel like Fatu should be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship because that’s a title I feel like he should win. I understand standing up to your blood and trying to prove you’re the best, but I don’t think this is the right move. It feels like 2022 all over again, as The Bloodline is the central focus on both shows. If Fatu doesn’t win, what happens to all his momentum he’s been building over the last two years? 

Why did WWE make this the best choice for storyline purposes? Why couldn’t creative have come up with a different challenger for Roman? There are so many other superstars that could challenge The Tribal Chief, such as Rusev, Bron Breakker, Gunther, or even a returning Sheamus. 

I just can’t help but question WWE’s logic here, and it kind of reminds me of all the times The Shield reunited. Could WWE be pushing the same storyline too many times here? Could the WWE Universe get tired of this rinse and repeat cycle of The Bloodline Saga?

Are we about to see all the weekly episodes solely focused on The Bloodline again? Will it be cinema… Yes. Is there still money in The Bloodline… Yes. Was it the right call? That’s to be determined!

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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)


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