Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada (born November 8, 1987) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently working for All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
| Kazuchika Okada | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ring name(s) | Kazuchika Okada Okada Okato |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Billed weight | 236 lb (107 kg) |
| Born | 8 November 1987
(aged 38) Anjō, Aichi, Japan |
| Billed from | Tokyo, Japan (TNA) |
| Trained by | Último Dragón Kenzo Suzuki Taiji Ishimori Rocky Romero NJPW Dojo |
| Debut | August 29, 2004 |
He is also known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In New Japan, Okada was a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
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
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- He was ranked #5 of the top 500 singles wrestlers by the PWI in the PWI 500 in 2013.[10]
- Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
- Best Bout Award (2012) (vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi on June 16)[11]
- MVP Award (2012–2013)[11][12]
- Toryumon Mexico
- Young Dragons Cup (2005)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 5 Star Match (2013) (vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi on April 7)[13]
- 5 Star Match (2013) (vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi on October 14)[14]
- Best Wrestling Maneuver (2012–2013) (Rainmaker)[15][16]
- Feud of the Year (2012–2013) (vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi)[15][16]
- Match of the Year (2013) (vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi on April 7)[16]
- Most Improved (2012)[15]
Kazuchika Okada Media
Okada as the IWGP Heavyweight Champion in February 2016
『カードファイト!! ヴァンガード overDress Presents WRESTLE GRAND SLAM in MetLife Dome』2021年9月4日 オカダ・カズチカ
Okada as one-third of the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions in November 2023
Professional wrestler Okada at a TNA Impact! taping
Okada (left) facing off against Bryan Danielson (right) at Forbidden Door in June 2023
Okada as the AEW Unified Champion in September 2025
References
- ↑ Young warriors head overseas, ex-NOAH stars on 1/31, Chono absentStrong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ TNA Impact spoilers leading into the live Monday show, New Japan star debuts and morePro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ The New BeginningNew Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ Invasion AttackNew Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ The New BeginningNew Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
- ↑ Invasion AttackNew Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ バディファイトPresents G1 CLIMAX 24New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-08-10.
- ↑ New Japan Cup 2013New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-05-07.
- ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2013The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Meltzer, Dave. 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 (April 15, 2013). Campbell, California. p. 22.[dead link]
- ↑ Meltzer, Dave. 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 (October 21, 2013). Campbell, California.[dead link]
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Meltzer, Dave. The 2012 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Annual Awards Issue. Wrestling Observer Newsletter (January 23, 2013). Campbell, California. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Meltzer, Dave. 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 (January 27, 2014). Campbell, California. p. 1–37. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
Other websites
- Kazuchika Okada on New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Kazuchika Okada on Twitter