Okada victorious in Castle Attack night one main
The main event of Castle Attack night one saw Kazuchika Okada triumph over EVIL in a match that reaffirmed belief in the Rainmaker’s vision of professional wrestling and set a promising precedent as his attention shifts to the New Japan Cup.
Quickly setting the tone of the match to come, EVIL relied on Dick Togo’s distraction to get early licks on Okada, but the effort didn’t pay off for long, with Okada battling quickly back with a slam and giro before a neckbreaker put him in firm control. When Okada tried to negate Dick Togo outside however, he walked right in the path of EVIL who rocked his opponent with a lariat and then set to work on the floor.
EVIL used signature offense on the outside of the ring, forcing Okada into the timekeeper’s table, and then using his patented double chair swing. With Togo making the bout a de facto handicap one, EVIL grew frustrated with repeated pinfall attempts, before Okada got back on his gameplan with a back elbow, and a signature DDT to EVIL.
More trademark offense followed as a beautiful dropkick sent EVIL tumbling off the top turnbuckle to the floor. This time, Okada was able to effectively defuse Dick Togo for a while at least, taking EVIL’s pareja up the ramp before dealing a double DDT to both men, the match firmly in his grasp.
EVIL showed his own ability with a lariat in the corner to stop Okada, but was planted with an Okada flapjack and the reverse neckbreaker. A shotgun off the top rope got Okada two, but EVIL used the turnbuckle, exposed by Togo, to get back in the game. A superplex was followed by the Darkness Scorpion. Darkness Falls would get Okada two, and when Okada sent EVIL into the exposed steel to sink in Money Clip, Togo got involved.
Interference from Togo was quickly repelled by Okada, who booted the Spoiler and dropkicked EVIL. The King of Darkness had to grab the referee to resist the Money Clip, but the hold couldn’t be resisted long after a tombstone from the Rainmaker.
Increasingly desperate, EVIL sent Okada into the referee, opening the door wide for Togo and the Spoiler’s Choke. Okada would use the Tombstone to lay out Togo, and EVIL went further into his bag of tricks. A low blow connected to Okada, but the Rainmaker responded with a low kick of his own.
All dirty tactics spent, EVIL had to rely on his own significant wrestling acumen. EVIL dug deep to find the ropes and break up the Money Clip, and powered up a head and arm suplex to dump Okada before an incredible lariat shook the CHAOS leader. Unshakable, however Okada hit a Landslide and then scored the Rainmaker to secure victory.
Post match, Okada promised to return to the front lines of the IWGP Heavyweight title scene, and that he would do so properly with a New Japan Cup win. The tournament starts Friday March 5, one day after the 49th Anniversary Event.
