SANADA’s Time Is Now
By Ross W Berman IV
On February 10th, SANADA will do what only Kazuchika Okada and AJ Styles have done before him. He will shake off the stigma of his terrible tenure in TNA and challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. To say he is the underdog in his match with Kazuchika Okada is an understatement. Like Okada and Styles before him, SANADA should win the title.
In TNA, he was labeled a “disappointment” by Revolution leader James Storm. In NJPW, he has been a pillar of one of wrestling’s strangest and strongest found families, Los Ingobernables de Japon. As a former 6-Man Tag Champ and a current Heavyweight Tag Champ, SANADA has been a soft-spoken, hard-hitting member of LIJ since 2016.
The reigning champ has walked a similar path as SANADA. In TNA, he was saddled with a racist parody of Kato from The Green Lantern. The future Rainmaker’s handling was the reason NJPW severed their relationship with TNA. Okada went on to become the most successful IWGP Heavyweight Champion in the company’s history and will enter the match at 600+ days as champion. It should end there.
Okada has not much left to accomplish as champion. Outside of winning the G1 as champion, Okada is simply killing time with the belt. As his reign increases monotony will threaten to rear it’s ugly head. Okada will never be able to be as dominant as he was in 2017. His IWGP Heavyweight Title match with Cody was considered underwhelming by many, so NJPW is going to want to bring a big bang main event to the now sold-out Strong Style: Evolved. SANADA is that big bang.
Much like Kenny Omega in 2016, SANADA is a star on the rise, and like Bullet Club in 2016, LIJ is moving merchandise like there’s no tomorrow. By pulling the trigger on SANADA they will make a lifetime main evener. He is a tall, imposing figure that is frighteningly agile. His strikes and submissions are devastating. Female fans absolutely love his silent, chiseled jaw and deadpan stare. Everything about SANADA says “marquee star.”
His G1 performances have been stellar and lately he’s been on the microphone more, proving he can still throw a threat or two at an opponent. He’s set to defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Titles with EVIL against Okada & Goto, ahead of New Beginning in Osaka. In an ideal world, Okada and SANADA will trade belts. SANADA will get to finally be the singles star that he has been all along, and Okada can show off his impressive tag team abilities, a treat that’s usually reserved for World Tag League. This swap would give both men a fresh coat of paint ahead of an inevitable rematch.
Can SANADA replace Okada? Never. But if SANADA actually beats Okada, it will truly be a New Beginning for NJPW.
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