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IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada vs. ROH champion Cody Rhodes
They did a big entrance for Cody where a bunch of guys were dressed in masks of former American Presidents were in the entrance. His wife Brandi came out and lit a cigar for him to smoke as he came to the ring. He was wearing the ROH championship to the ring.
They had Okada dollars raining down for Okada's entrance.
Cody played old school villain early, stalling when Okada would get the better of their exchanges. He nailed a big fist and went for the Disaster Kick but Okada ducked. Okada teased the Rainmaker but Cody avoided the attempt. Okada put togerh some nice offensive maneuvers and again, Cody went to the floor. Okada followed and slammed him head into the apron. Cody went into the crowd in an attempt to shake off the damage.
When Rhodes returned to the ringside area, they battled and again he went into the crowd. Okada sprinted and dove over the guard rail, hitting a bodypress on Cody. Cody was brought back into the ringside area and tossed into the ring. Rhodes nailed a big knee as Okada returned to the ring and scored a two count. Rhodes worked over Okada and scored several two counts.
Rhodes stomped on Okada and drilled his boot into Okada's face. Okada was picked up for a suplex and slammed down face-first. Rhodes nailed a springboard kick for a two count. Cody got angry at referee Red Shoes for the count and spit on him, then gave the booing fans the double bird. Rhodes locked on a full nelson and worked over Okada. Okada fought back and drilled Cody with a kick, then fired up with a series of big elbows off the ropes.
They battled back and forth until Okada muscled Cody to the top and dropkicked him off the top with Rhodes crashing down to the floor. Okada followed him to the floor but was backdropped onto the floor. Okada draped Cody on the apron and nailed a DDT to the floor. Okada continued working over Cody and tossed him into the ring. Okada ascended to the top but Rhodes snapped him off with an shoulder throw takeover into the ring below Rhodes railed away with punches. He went for the Disaster Kick but was caught with a Flapjack of sorts.
Okada was the first to his feet and nailed an elbow then set up the Rainmaker. Rhodes was able to take him down and lock in a Deathlock submission. Okada's facial expressions here were great as he teased submitting and tried to fight his way out of the maneuver. Okada finally made it to the ropes, saving his championship reign.
Rhodes began slapping away at the back of Okada's head, disrespecting him. Okada got to his feet and Cody slapped him in the face. Okada fired up with kicks and began stomping the hell out of him in the corner as the referee tried to stop it. Brandi Rhodes came to ringside and began screaming at Okada. Okada continued to lose his temper, kicking Rhodes in the head, then snapped off with the best dropkick since the days of the Rock N' Roll Express. Okada nailed a tombstone piledriver and pulled up Rhodes. Rhodes spit in his face but Okada nailed his short arm lariat. Okada pulled Rhodes into another.
Kenny Omega began walking to the ring, carrying a white towel. Omega began arguing with Brandi that Cody couldn't continue and "was dying out there" with the idea he was going to toss in the towel, as Cody teased doing to him during Omega vs. Okada II - the idea here is that each of them wanted to stop the other from beating Okada.
Rhodes and Okada went through a series of reversals until Okada nailed the dropkick. He set up the Rainmaker but Cody turned it into Cross Rhodes for a CLOSE two count. The Young Bucks were also at ringside by now. Cody got pissed at Omega and I think spit at Omega. The fans chanted "You f***ed up." He went for Cross Rhodes but Okada reversed it and nailed it on Rhodes instead and scored a two count.
They met in the center of the ring, exchanging punches. Cody went for the Cross Rhodes but Okada nailed a series of knees. Cody still snapped it and scored a two count. Rhodes dropped down and nailed an uppercut. Rhodes picked up Okada to try and do Omega's finisher, the One-Winged Angel but Okada slipped out and went for a German suplex. They went through a series of reverses and Okada nailed the That's Incredible spinning tombstone for a two count. Okada hit the Rainmaker and scored the pin.
Your winner and still IWGP champion, Kazuchika Okada!
Really strong match to close the show with some seeds of the issues with Kenny Omega also being played up. Okada really is a hell of a performer, just so smooth and so well versed at everything he does. Rhodes really let it all hang out there.
Omega came down and told Okada he was jealous of him for main evening this special show in front of all these people. He said he wasn't going to take anything away from him. He said they have a rematch in the G1 but tonight, it's Okada's night and handed the mic to him and walked off.
Gedo said tonight was on fire. He said New Japan was here to entertain you and NJPW was "Strong Style Evolved." He said Okada was the future of "Strong Style" and put over Okada.
The crowd chanted Okada's name.
Okada said he had one question and then asked the fans how the show was. They popped. The crowd chanted, "New Japan!" He thanked the fans and said he will continue to make it rain "Strong Style" all over the world.
Jim Ross and Josh Barnett discussed the evening, before they sent the cameras backstage. Okada was giving the media comments in Japanese. A translator said that Okada said he may have underestimated Cody going into the match and praised him as a competitor.
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