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Kazuchika Okada vs Katsuyori Shibata - Sakura Genesis 2017 - IWGP Heavyweight Championship

🕑 Added 2025-04-15 16:00:19 +0000 UTC

Comments

flighhyer

I think I can help out with the pronounciation, based on pure fan wisdom.... It is pronounced Kazuchka without the i. Just as f.e. Miyu Yamash(i)ta. But... when even Japanese announcers are focussing on English speakers hearing it, like in this match (because of its international presentation) or Yamashita just this weekend at a TJPW (Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling) event in the US(!) [I hope you were able to check out one of their 3 shows in Dallas during All In] where she was called by their own ring announcer as "Yamashita" with the i, they will use the "English pronounciation". Same happened at Forbidden Door I think, the NJPW announcer guest announcing at the AEW show said Konosuke "Takeshita" instead of "Takeshta". When 'lost in translation' gets a whole new meaning. ;)

Paul Watson

In the bigger picture I'm glad he didn't Had he done so Okada's very important and necessary long Reign would've ended and Shibata would've just had to vacate

Varits Vq

The match is amazing but Shibata should have definitely won!

Lucas Biersack

And here is my 2nd favorite match of all time lol Don Callis was solely a commentator for New Japan at this time though he was also partial to Omega during his matches as they’ve had a long connection.

D’Angelo Dinero7150

Great submission man and can’t wait for them to see the next part of his story in my first submission ever later this batch… this match was amazing.

Noct

OH BOY

City and Local

I'm just glad we didn't get another "fuck Red Shoes" debacle 😆. This match was incredible.

Harjiv Singh

First off, one of the greatest matches to ever take place ever. Every single thing in this match means something, nothing is wasted. You’re so lost in the story told between each hold and little thing happening in the ring, you don’t realize how much time has gone by. We didn’t even get a strike between the two until like 10 minutes into the match and you immediately noticed it and it made it mean so much more. It is so bittersweet because we never got to see this Shibata again in New Japan because of his injury, but this match is legitimately all timer. These kind of main event performances are why standards for American wrestling got so high in the late 2010s, because people were being compared to this while putting on bad matches and bad stories.

ContriteSnake7

The Headbutt heard around the World…

lolstone

To me, one of the greatest matches I've ever watched. The beginnings of the match may be very slow and stuff you've seen in other matches already. But what it did was set the tone and theme of the entire match. Okada's the champion with all the glory, however he's technically not the most proficient wrestler in this match. He gets outclassed by Shibata and as the match went on, you start to realize that even if Shibata is the underdog, challenger, and the crowd is desperately cheering for him, this match moreso is about Okada trying to overcome a stronger opponent in Shibata. It builds up to one of the most defiant, emotional, and passionate performance of tbh both wrestlers. Shibata especially comes off like the final boss in the closing stretch where he completely eats the first rainmaker (Which psychological makes sense because of who Shibata is as a wrestler but also because he kicked the shit out of Okada's arm quite a bit before this to weaken it). It all comes down to Okada having to hit 3 half rainmakers and 1 full rainmaker to convincingly finally take down Shibata. There may not be a lot of nearfalls that would've made you jump out of your seat, but not every match needs that. This was a beautiful display of storytelling with a heavily invested crowd and I'm glad you guys got to watch it. (The Shibata situation definitely sucks a whole bunch, but thankfully he's okay now).

Charlie

Glad you guys enjoyed the match, it's one of my favourite ever matches in spite of (but also sort of because of) the crazy story behind what happened after it.

Tallywags

How did he even finish the match??

Michael Hay

So glad Shibata is ok now otherwise I don't think I'd be able to watch this again. I'm conflicted with shoot headbuts because they are cool as fuck but also so dangerous. Match as a whole was phenominal.

Charlie

Holy shit Kidd kingpin what's up my fellow hogdipper

Courtney コートニー

I believe Shibata collapsed backstage after the match due to the subdural hematoma. Was paralyzed on his right side for a bit. I heard he had to relearn how to walk again, but im not sure if thats confirmed.

Diruroru

What a frickin battle

Michael Hay

Shit, THE headbut match lol. Can't wait to watch.

Kidd Kingpin

Shibata eating the Rainmaker and then giving Okada the headbutt (ironically) gives me so much life

Paul Watson

One of the greatest matches of all time and I truly believe that Okada seems to have a few of those in 2017

Nathan Morningstarz

OH BOYY BANGER ALERT!!! Have some thought the other day that someone should bring this match here, but i did not expect we get to this so early. Will watch this later & provide some commentary/notes if necessary.