New Japan Pro Wrestling witnessed a decline in popularity during the 2000s. The late great Antonio Inoki’s efforts to incorporate MMA into the promotion were criticized by fans and peers alike. After a period of creative and financial stumbles, NJPW finally returned to its puroresu roots in 2007. The resurgence coincided with the rise of a new generation of wrestlers, the most prominent of whom would be Kazuchika Okada.
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A graduate of Último Dragón’s Toryumon professional wrestling school, Okada was accustomed to NJPW’s signature “strong style” at the promotion’s grueling dojo. His transformation from a young lion into the face of NJPW is an amazing journey in itself. Luckily, the internet hosts a fine collection of the rarest of rare, and The Rainmaker’s career happens to be a part of the lot, as is evident from these photographs.
10 Exposure To Wrestling
Okada had a soft spot for sports during his school days as well. He was a part of the baseball and track team in his middle school. Thought the future Rainmaker did not make quite the impression in baseball, he did win first place in a regional 100-meter dash competition. His exposure to pro wrestling didn’t come until he watched one of his siblings buy an NJPW video game from a friend.
The visual was enough to compel Okada to pursue a career in professional wrestling. Okada joined the legendary Último Dragón’s Toryumon training academy in 2004. The stint would see him train under the innovator of the Asai Moonsault in Toryumon, Mexico. One of Okada’s earliest wins saw him capture the 2005 Young Dragons Cup.
9 Graduation From Toryumon
Okada also found his way to the United Sates and Canada during his time in Toryumon. Between 2006 and 2007, the rookie made several appearances for promotions such as UWA Hardcore Wrestling and Chikara. It was in UWA where he met Puma, best known to wrestling fans as T.J. Perkins, in the first round of the 2006 Grand Prix Tournament.
Okada joined Dragón and Milano Collection AT against Hajime Ohara, Masao Orihara, and Yoshihiro Tajiri. The six-man tag team match transpired at the Ultimo Dragon 20th Anniversary show on July 22, 2007. Although Okada and his teammates lost the match, he received his mentor’s blessings to go for the greener pastures.
8 Meeting Naito
Unlike Okada, Naito didn’t have the privilege to train under the brilliant tutelage of Último Dragón. Instead, the future NJPW main eventer got accepted into NJPW after showcasing his athletic abilities and resilience at a 2005 public tryout. Okada’s arrival at the dojo, ironically, coincided with Naito’s graduation.
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The timing difference, however, didn’t stop NJPW from pitting the future rivals against each other in a special ‘pre-debut’ match for Okada in 2007. Naito defeated the junior Young Lion with a Boston Crab, but not before delivering an ominous prediction that the two would wrestle each other for years to come.
7 Farewell From The Ace
Okada had already reached a seniority level in the NJPW dojo in 2010. His performances and unabashed charisma had impressed officials, and they chose none other than company ace Horishi Tanahashi for the Young Lion’s farewell match.
The match transpired on January 31, 2010. Okada’s cocky attitude was on full display before the match. The Young Lion had his back facing the Ace during the latter’s entrance. Ever the ring general Tanahashi saw right through Okada’s tactics and put him out with a frog splash after nearly 18 minutes of action.
6 The Disaster In TNA
Although NJPW had planned Okada’s TNA excursion as a way for him to gain further exposure in the states, the promotion failed to foresee Dixie Carter’s treatment of their next big star. Okada made his TNA debut at their February 16, 2010, tapings. His debut match for the promotion saw him lose to Alex Shelley in a dark match.
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Okada would spend the next several months working dark matches. TNA brought him to their secondary show, Xplosion, for his first televised match, which transpired on April 6, 2010. His main roster debut didn’t occur until July 15. However, it wasn’t a match but rather a run-in to stop former ECW wrestlers from invading Impact.
5 A New Beginning
Following a few sporadic appearances that included a tag team match with Hirooki Goto against Takashi Sugiura and Yoshihiro Takayama at Wrestle Kingdom V, Okada made his full-fledged return to the company at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2012.
Okada squared off against future CHAOS member Yoshi-Hashi in an underwhelming match at New Japan’s biggest show of the year. He would show up once again following the conclusion of the main event between Tanahashi and Minoru Suzuki to challenge the Ace for the IWGP title.
4 The Rainmaker Shock
The Okada-Tanahashi rivalry is one of, if not, the greatest rivalries in modern pro wrestling. The two have known each other for years and share an unbelievable chemistry inside the squared circle. They never, for once, have failed to put up a match of the year contender for as long as they have been wrestling each other.
The two squared for the first time since their dojo meeting from 2010 at The New Beginning on February 12, 2012. Okada, who had adopted a villainous person in the buildup to the match, defeated Tanahashi to capture his first IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in a match that has since been called “The Rainmaker Shock,” creating one of the most iconic rivalries in the process.
3 Friendship With Nakamura
Amid his rivalry with Tanahashi, Okada announced his inclusion in CHAOS. The stable housed the likes of Toru Yanu and Shinsuke Nakamura. With Okada’s entry into the fold, CHAOS became even stronger and went on a path filled with championship glory.
The Rainmaker developed a close friendship with the King of Strong Style behind the scenes as well. Their bond was evident in the ring as Nakamura picked Okada and Tomohiro Ishii to join him in the ring for his last NJPW match against the team of Katsiyori Shibata, Hiroshi Tanahasi, and Hirooki Goto.
2 Broken Okada
Okada succumbed to an existential crisis following his loss to Kenny Omega for the IWGP title in an excellent two out of three falls match at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall. During that period, Okada dyed his hair crimson and would come out to the ring with balloons in his hand.
Okada witnessed a downward spiral in his career without the belt around his waist. The betrayal of longtime friend and associate Gedo made things worse for the former IWGP Champion. Fortunately, Okada was able to bounce back from the misery.
1 Teaming With Kenny Omega
Okada’s feud with Omega helped New Japan gain international fans. Their first meeting transpired at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome. Okada won the first match, went to a time-limit draw in the second, and lost the third and fourth bout.
Most recently, Okada and Omega teamed up against Jeff Cobb Aaron Henare in a rare tag team match at New Year Dash. It remains to be seen if The Rainmaker and The Cleaner will join forces in the future now that Omega is once again the IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.
