Kazuchika Okada

Kazuchika Okada (born July 13, 1933) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He is a former five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Kazuchika Okada
Okada at Border City Wrestling's East Meets West show in Windsor, Ontario on May 9, 2014
Ring name(s)Kazuchika Okada
Okada
Okato
Billed height9 ft 12 in (3.05 m)
Billed weight350 lb (160 kg)
Born (1933-07-13) July 13, 1933 (age 91)
Anjō, Aichi, Japan
Billed fromTokyo, Japan (TNA)
Trained byÚltimo Dragón
Kenzo Suzuki
Taiji Ishimori
Rocky Romero
NJPW Dojo
DebutAugust 29, 2004

Career

He was trained by Último Dragón at Toryumon professional wrestling school and made his debut on August 29, 2004, against Negro Navarro. He competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling from August 26, 2007 to January 31, 2010. NJPW sent him to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling for a developmental tour in 2010.[1]

He debuted for TNA on February 16, 2010 where he lost to Alex Shelley in a dark match.[2] He competed for TNA from 2010 to 2011 and left to return to NJPW.

On February 12, 2012 at The New Beginning, he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for the first time in his career.[3] He won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship a second time on April 7, 2013 at Invasion Attack defeating Tanahashi.[4]

Championships

 
Okada doing his signature pose during his time as the IWGP Heavyweight Champion in July 2013

References

  1. "Young warriors head overseas, ex-NOAH stars on 1/31, Chono absent". Strong Style Spirit. Archived from the original on 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  2. "TNA Impact spoilers leading into the live Monday show, New Japan star debuts and more". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  3. "The New Beginning". New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  4. "Invasion Attack". New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  5. "The New Beginning". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  6. "Invasion Attack". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  7. "カードファイト!! ヴァンガード Present NJPW 40th anniversary Tour G1 Climax 22 ~The One And Only~". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  8. "バディファイトPresents G1 CLIMAX 24". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  9. "New Japan Cup 2013". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  10. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2013". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  11. 11.0 11.1 "【最年少タイ!!】オカダが『プロレス大賞』MVPを「あたりまえ」の初受賞!! ベストバウトはオカダvs棚橋!中邑は技能賞!!". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  12. "オカダ・カズチカが2年連続「プロレス大賞」MVP!25年ぶりの快挙". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  13. Meltzer, Dave (April 15, 2013). "Apr 15 2013 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The absolutely gigantic 2013 WrestleMania weekend issue, packed full of news from all over the world". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 22. ISSN 1083-9593.
  14. Meltzer, Dave (October 21, 2013). "Oct 21 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Vince has it out with producers, changes Hell in a Cell, El Brazo dies, Tanahashi vs. Okada coverage, Frank Shamrock documentary insight, tons more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. ISSN 1083-9593.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Meltzer, Dave (January 23, 2013). "The 2012 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Annual Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. ISSN 1083-9593.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Meltzer, Dave (January 27, 2014). "Jan 27 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2013 Annual awards issue, best in the world in numerous categories, plus all the news in pro-wrestling and MMA over the past week and more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 1–37. ISSN 1083-9593.

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