It’s already raining in WWE. Raining talent, raining momentum, and raining zeros in the form of billions for a brand spanking new, state of the art streaming agreement with Netflix. Things are good for Triple H, Nick Khan, and The Rock up in Stamford, but a storm is coming. A rain storm. A rain storm of excitement.
The Rainmaker.
Last week, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that Kazuchika Okada would be leaving their company when his contract ends this month. Okada is a New Japan legend, multiple time heavyweight champion, and the man partly responsible for the company’s rebirth a decade ago.
This week, Monthly Puroresu reported that Okada was headed to WWE, a move that would shock the system in pro wrestling given Okada’s relationship with AEW and WWE’s poor history of booking top tier Japanese talent.
A different WWE
WWE deserves all the criticism in the world for that ineptitude, but they are a different company today than they were a year ago. International expansion is a key maneuver to growth and has manifested itself in major PLE shows taking place around the world in places like Germany, the UK, and annual blood money extravaganzas in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, WWE is expanding that slate of shows to include major events in Australia and France. Japan is surely a smart play in that grand plan for WWE global dominance and Kazuchika Okada is the biggest Japanese star on earth to carry the WWE flag into the market.
So, Okada makes perfect business sense for an expanding global company. The excitement doesn’t just reside in a corporate board room, though. Okada in a WWE ring and on WWE Raw or Smackdown weekly should jolt excitement for wrestling fans too. What would a Kazuchika Okada run look like in WWE? Let’s take a look.
The first thing that stands out for an Okada run in WWE is all the fresh matches he can have with top talent on the roster. That reality is the key reason why Okada to WWE is more exciting than Okada to AEW. There’s a lot of “been there, done that” for him in AEW — not so in WWE.
Dream matches galore
Roman Reigns is the first stand out opponent that comes to mind when making a Cody Rhodes-esque list of matches of Okada in WWE. Reigns is and has been the top dog in WWE and Okada was his equal in New Japan. A clash between those titans would generate global interest and would be an excellent in-ring showcase, too. Stylistically, Reigns and Okada are capable of having a classic.
Okada vs. CM Punk? There’s a match that nobody thought would ever happen. Even when Punk was surviving in AEW, he was disconnected from Okada and behind guys in AEW like Bryan Danielson for the big Okada crossover match. WWE certainly would have been the last company predicted to showcase the match, but now it’s more than a possibility. Okada and Punk is a match for the diehards. A true pro wrestling dream match that those who understand the history of both guys, understand why it’s as big as it is.
How about Okada against Cody Rhodes? The world saw this match at the NJPW G1 USA Special in July of 2017 when Cody was free on the independent circuit. Okada won the match and retained his IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Was it a taste of things to come? Not really. In 2017, there wasn’t a reason to believe the match would happen again in a major capacity for a big company, so it was what it was then. In 2024, Cody Rhodes is premiere level star for the biggest wrestling company in the world. Running the match back at a top WWE level has dollar signs all around it.
What else? Oh, Brock Lesnar. You could plaster “The Beast vs. “The Rainmaker” on billboards everywhere and it would pop as much as anything else WWE could book. My body hurts just thinking about this one. Brock Lesnar is the bigger man, but Okada can deliver his stuff as stiff as anyone. The two would beat the tar out of one another much like Gunther and Sheamus did at Clash at the Castle in 2022. What wrestling fan wouldn’t want to see that?
Hmm, speaking of Gunther? Gunther vs. Okada sounds like a dream match to me. Gunther has been the most well booked new act in the last five years in WWE and stands heads above the rest of the current, everyday roster because of it. He’s been treated as something special and a program with Okada would certainly reemphasize that point. The match would go a lot like a Lesnar vs. Okada match would go in terms of the tar being beaten out of both men. I’d be looking out for the chop battle. Okada can bring em. Gunther can too. WWE medical team, get the bandages ready.
Seth Rollins is a strong opponent for Okada. Rollins is a prototypical WWE wrestler and would be a good person for Okada to work with early in his run to adapt to the WWE style ring-wise, but production-wise too. Rollins is a pro and their names on a marquee could sell an event nicely for the company.
That’s enough matches for two years of Kazuchika Okada programs in WWE, but I’ll keep going because it’s fun to dream big. John Cena, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, AJ Styles again, Finn Balor, LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura, Logan Paul, Rey Mysterio, and heck even Dominik Mysterio all provide Okada with top level opponents. Up and coming NXT talent work opposite Okada too. Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, and Trick Williams are future members of the WWE roster with whom Okada can work with.
Honestly, it’s an embarrassment of riches. WWE legends, current top stars, future top stars? It’s all there for Okada on one rainy gold freaking platter.
Okada WWE moments
It’s not all about the matches. WWE has built it’s brand on moments and Okada has a plethora of those waiting for him if he shows up.
Okada’s first WrestleMania appearance will be huge. First, the notion of that happening was unfathomable six months ago, so the unbelievable turning into reality is a moment in and of itself. The spectacle of WrestleMania is enormous, though. Okada will get the shine in front of 80,000 plus and will check a bucket list item, while collecting a thick, thick check at the same time.
This next moment likely won’t happen this year barring some kind of unforeseen circumstance, but Okada in the Royal Rumble will be forever a lasting memory. The pageantry of surprise Royal Rumble appearances is deeply rooted within WWE lore. John Cena had a big return at the event. AJ Styles had his moment in the sun thanks to the surprise of the Royal Rumble. Same thing with Edge and others. Okada would join those ranks and that’s some great company.
Further down the road, Okada joining the WWE Hall of Fame is a moment. Again, unthinkable just a few months ago, but if he joins the company, why not? Okada will certainly get his New Japan flowers at some point, but proper recognition in the United States is essential. The WWE Hall of Fame has it’s issues, of course, but remains a strong way to solidify a mark on the wrestling business. It would be fun to see someone with ties to Okada’s Japanese history like Shinsuke Nakamura or AJ Styles do the induction, wouldn’t it?
Gaze into the crystal ball
That’s how the crystal ball looks to me when gazing deep into Kazuchika Okada as a member of the WWE roster. Excited? You should be.
Now, WWE has a history of completely botching international stars. If you’re worried about how Okada would be treated, you should be. WWE has to prove itself from that perspective, but Okada is the perfect star to do it with.
Okada joining WWE is one of those rare “it works for everyone” moments in pro wrestling. As a company, WWE wins with him signing. They’d have access to an international megastar that lines up perfectly with thei
r global business strategy. Okada wins. He gets to expand his star power to the biggest wrestling company in the world and will do so while earning top dollar for his services. The fans win too. See above. The matches and the moments Okada can have in WWE speak for themselves.
It’s pouring ladies and gentleman. Okada in WWE? Let’s sing in the rain.