IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10 In Tokyo Dome - 04/01/2016
While the story doesn't end here, one arc of it does. Okada, the champion, finally beats his long rival for the Ace spot in the Tokyo Dome, redeeming a devastating setback in the year prior and setting a new path for himself in the process. The build to the finish was great. It had very smart work by Tanahashi on Okada's legs, utilising the Dragon Screws and all of their variations perfectly. Okada reveled in each moment, smiling in confidence when he outsmart Tanahashi on a counter, does a Rainmaker pose often and uses his charm and charisma to raise the crowd noise. Both bring great things individually to the match, like both can. The back end of the match had my heart racing like I was finishing up a marathon. It was one of the most nerve-wracking, and most importantly, exciting closing stretches that most people will ever see. The result didn't change that one bit. Okada seemingly had the match in hand, stealing the High Fly Flow and ready to hit the Rainmaker, but no, Tanahashi counted and hit one of his own, payback for the stolen HFF and made Okada almost rue his audacity and Okada fought and struggled to regain back the advantage with Tanahashi fighting against him along the way until Okada hit one Rainmaker and then another and then another to secure his crowd in a definitive and awe-inspiring way. This was a big finish to a big match. ****3/4
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