Okada seals second defence in a one week span
NJPW Battle in the Valley
The main event of Battle in the Valley saw Kazuchika Okada putting the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line against his biggest rival in Hiroshi Tanahashi.
NJPW Battle in the Valley
A cagey start for the two men would see a clean break from Okada, before a shoulder knockdown from the champion; Tanahashi’s familiarity with Okada saw the veteran keep pace, but he didn’t read a trademark dropkick that sent the challenger tumbling to the floor. There Okada would deliver a DDT to Tanahashi on the entrance ramp before bringing his opponent back inside in the plus position at five minutes elapsed.
NJPW Battle in the Valley
Another DDT and Okada remained cocky, confident and controlled, but was shut down by a Tanahashi forearm, and dropped with a Dragon Screw. Going for broke, Tanahashi shot and scored with the High Fly attack, but the persistent champion would find a flapjack to stop a Slingblade from the Ace. At every flurry of offence from Tanahashi, Okada’s physical advantage was evident, and despite pain in the knee from the earlier Dragon Screw, a reverse neckbreaker and huge elbow drop connected, the World heavyweight Champion indicating that it was nearly time to go home.
NJPW Battle in the Valley
Okada’s Money Clip further punished the Ace, who struggled to find an answer until a straightjacket German led to a break. Tanahashi capitalised with a Slingblade for two and went up for High Fly Flow, scoring across the back, but being denied on a second try to the front by a pair of knees to the sternum. Both athletes battled to their feet, and traded high impact elbows, but again it would be Okada with more in the tank, a dropkick scoring emphatically and followed with a Landslide.
NJPW Battle in the Valley
A Rainmaker from Okada would be stopped with a shot to the knee from the Ace and then a second open hand slap. Tanahashi pulled Okada back in with a Slingblade and looked for the High Fly Attack off the top, but was countered with a dropkick; another Rainmaker was countered with an inside cradle, but on the third attempt, a Cobra Flowsion and then the Rainmaker would lead to three.
Post match, a celebratory Okada offered to reform his dream tag team with Tanahashi to chase the IWGP Tag Team Chamipionships, but was interrupted by Mercedes Mon?. The freshly crowned IWGP Women’s Champion would say that the best dream team would be the Rainmaker and the CEO, some intriguing possibilities afoot for future events on either side of the Pacific.
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