Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the Year: #6 (Okada vs. Ospreay – January)

The first of two Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada matches in our Top 10 as the two cap off Wrestle Kingdom with one of the year’s best matches.

Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the Year Archives

• Introduction & Honorable Mentions
• Matches #100-76
• Matches #75-51
• Matches #50-26
• Matches #25-11
• Early-Access Top 10 Reveal
• #10: FTR vs. The Briscoes – July
• #9: CM Punk vs. MJF
• #8: Jun Kasai vs. El Desperado
• #7: Syuri vs. Giulia
• #6: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay – January

#6
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
01/05
NJPW

Overall Points: 479
Total Votes: 69
% of Ballots: 33.01%
7 First Place Votes

“This was the first of two incredible matches that Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada produced in 2022. These guys did so many amazing things. Ospreay’s lighting rig moonsault. Okada catching Ospreay out of a Sasuke Special into a Tombstone piledriver. Okada hitting a Stormbreaker. Ospreay catching Okada out of a dropkick into a powerbomb. I could go on and on with the fantastic spots and moves performed in this match. If you haven’t seen this yet, you need to go out of your way to watch it.” -Jeremy Donovan

“These two again. Can you just imagine what this match would have looked like if there was no clap crowds? Even with this crowd, this match should be on everyone top 10 list. Beautiful.” -Enzo FADELLI

“This is the match that I feel likely deserves a much higher place on my ballot. However, it is not the performance of Will Ospreay or Kazuchika Okada that deflates this match’s impact – instead it is the noise restrictions placed on Japanese wrestling fans. The crowd at the Tokyo Dome was subdued in their responses to what was a wrestling clinic par excellence – and that subdued response weighs down this performance of two of the world’s best pro wrestlers.

It doesn’t help that the match length of this contest is set against a backdrop of fans who are only allowed to clap in response. In normal circumstances this match would feel like a back and forth epic, with oohs and ahhs from an excited Tokyo Dome. But absent that reaction, there are points in the match that feel arduous. This wasn’t the Nippon Budokan crowds from later in the year’s G1, who were in somewhat open revolt about restrictions on cheering. This Tokyo Dome played by the rules, which ultimately hurt Ospreay and Okada.

However, one still can’t deny the sheer skill and talent that we see manifest in this match. However, it’s missing that special secret ingredient, which is a shame. Because in any other circumstance, we’d see this match be lauded for so much more.” -Reuel Castillo

“Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada take both the 1 and the 2 spot in my top ten. They owned the ring, stage and screen when it was time for them to be in the big match mode. Their climactic meeting on Night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom 16 not only closed the door on the previous year’s worth of drama and combat with each other, but it still set forth the blueprint for an expanded role for new Japan that was established in 2022 and growing in 2023. Ospreay bounced back from a tumultuous 2022 personally to restablish himself as a force inside the ring unnmatched physically. Okada, with whats akin to Trout in baseball as a 5 tool player is still in his prime and inexplicably getting better. An amazing match that set the tone for Okada and Ospreay in 2022.” -Jeremy Finestone

“The counter after counter, Will’s aerial plan becoming unglued (that Okada catch of the Sasuke Special into a Tombstone) this match is such captivating viewing. It’s what you expect from a Wrestle Kingdom main event and on a rewatch 12 months later you realise that maybe, just maybe Ospreay is the guy that saves Okada from being meh” -Peter Edge

“Despite the limited attendance and clap crowd, this felt like a Wrestle Kingdom main event. Ospreay was coming off of beating Okada for the first time, but this match took their rivalry to the next level. They wowed you with their incredible action in the ring and kept you salivating for that moment when Ospreay pins Okada to win the title at the Tokyo Dome.” -Tyler Forness

“The story leading up to this match goes a long way, Ospreay was forced to relinquish the title due to a neck injury and Shingo Takagi would later defeat Kazuchika Okada for the then vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Title. During this time Ospreay came back from injury with a replica version of the World Title declaring himself as the “Real World Champion’ because he never actually lost the title. Shingo and Okada did battle on Wrestle Kingdom night 1 and Will would face the winner of that match on night two. Okada beat Shingo for the title on night 1 which set up this match the next night. At the start of the match Red Shoes would hold up both World title belts and the ring the bell to start the match. The match was slow to start the two would make their way to the outside of the ring and Will would climb a steel truss to do a moonsault off of it onto Okada in a very impressive spot. At this point with covid and everything fans still couldn’t cheer (that has been changed recently) but even though this match was great it would have been so much better had fans been able to cheer audibly but it was still a phenomenal match from two pros. Will would frequently mock Okada throughout the match even going as far as to do his signature Rainmaker pose complete with camera zoom outs but at the end of the match and through many near falls Kazuchika Okada would hit a Rainmaker to secure the win and retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Title and still remain the best professional wrestler in the entire world!” -Nathan Neumann

“Ospreay’s rice from junior heavyweight juggernaut to NEVER Champion and then finally ascending to the heights of facing a generational talent in Okada in a Tokyo Dome main event cemented him as a main event star for his generation in one of his career-best matches in terms of both athleticism and drama.” -Jeremy Peeples

“We already watched these two in WK 15. So I wasn’t excited a lot about it. WK 15 match was more stiff and in some parts slower. I really liked it more , compared to this one. But that shouldn’t mean , it was a disappointment. Fast paced action with big spots. Ospreay , pushing Okada to the limit more and more. He eventually kicked out of Rainmaker in this match. But that didn’t made him beat Okada. I really like how they  build this rivalry. Everytime Will gets closer to beat Okada who is the final boss of NJPW. When the right day comes and Will beats him , it will feel so big. See thats a long term storytelling and making something feel big and important.” -Kaan Ünverdi

“The first match Ospreay and Okada had in 2022, and it was a great one. They had one more, with the G1 being my match of the year, but this one sits nicely right here.” -Josiah MacDonald

“It’s hardly a shock that the Wrestle Kingdom main event was one of the best matches of the year, but Ospreay and Okada earned all their plaudits. These days I see a lot of fans getting sick of the “epic” New Japan main event model, and with good reason. Then again, it’s worth remembering why this structure became so omnipresent in the first place. When it’s done well, there’s nothing quite as good – and this was 2022’s best example. Even in front of a clap crowd, Ospreay and Okada delivered on perhaps the highest “workrate” platform in all of wrestling. Some will prefer their (excellent) G1 Climax final, but I found it a little too much like a pair of superheroes blasting away. As fun as that can be, Wrestle Kingdom was the more compelling effort – a story of two wrestlers who know each other’s style inside-out, trying everything to gain even the slightest advantage.” -Jack G. King

“These two men don’t miss. Even when this match was the second main event of a second long Wrestle Kingdom show. Even when Okada wrestled Shingo the night before. You just can’t bet against Ospreay or Okada, and even less when they are together. This is Okada and Ospreay on the Tokyo Dome main event, so of course it is great, I don’t have to tell you that. I thought that after losing here Ospreay was going to get the G1 against Okada, but the booking had other, even better plans. Memorable match.” -Abraham Delgado

“A sweeping epic of a match that at the same time re-asserted Okada’s status as the kingpin of NJPW, but also prepped Ospreay for one of the most incredible in-ring years in history.” -Jesse Collings

“Even though Okada and Ospreay would go on to have an even better encounter several months later in the finals of the G1 Climax, the match between the two at the Tokyo Dome on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 16 (the culmination of the “who is the real IWGP World Heavyweight Champion?” story) was pretty awesome as well. Of course, there was never any doubt that they’d be able to put on a classic in the Tokyo Dome (even with the limited attendance and clap crowds). Another amazing match in the Okada/Ospreay series.” -Sean Sedor

“I’m not sure a match between the same two competitors has ever garnered two of the top three Match of the Year votes for me, but here we are. Choosing between this and their G1 Climax finals match is like splitting hairs. Neither show any signs of slowing down heading into 2023.” -Greg Parks

“Absolutely fantastic main event. It’s hard to say whether a match can be too much or not. This had a lot packed in at an intense pace for a fairly long period of time but the balance was there for me to make it a classic match. Okada and Ospreay have immense chemistry that always delivers. It did last year at Wrestle Kingdom 15 and they did again, this time in the main event. Ospreay’s presentation is rather obnoxious and off putting but his performances are top class and full of energetic, innovative wrestling that Okada thrives on. Not only were they cleverly done, their work was on a level where you could enjoy the work as a spectacle, too. This followed a formula of the two trying to outdo each other – Ospreay hits a Rainmaker, Okada does a Stormbreaker, reversals and counters galore, a meaningful elbow exchange with great selling. I would think that a moonsault of a scaffolding structure would be one of the best spots of the match but Okada, for me, bested it by countering a Sasuke Special into a Tombstone. This has many moments of compelling action that’s hard to top. It did come at the expense of the selling within the moment where, for example, Ospreay would be hit with a Tombstone only to counter a rainmaker attempt immediately after. These moments prevent it from being among the great, great matches in history. However, this was an elite contest that truly felt special to the wrestlers and the fans in attendance. Furthermore, it felt like this was Okada returning to his best. Him as champion is truly a special match within itself.” -MC

“Will Ospreay had a really good year (duh). So good that he’s probably on this list representing more than one company multiple times. He made my list for a second time because of the first match he had this year with Kazuchika Okada. Wrestle Kingdom 16 was a show that would have been mostly forgotten if it wasn’t for the back-to-back greatness in the main events with Okada vs. Ospreay taking the cake as the match of Wrestle Kingdom in 2022. It’ll be long forgotten after what Ospreay did with Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 17 but this was an excellent New Japan main event.” -Scott Edwards

“A phenomenal match! Okada comes in hurt and beat up from last night’s war with Shingo so Ospreay plays it smart and looks to wear down Okada over time. He works at a slower pace while working the back and neck of Okada. Meanwhile, Okada makes a target of the previously hurt neck of Ospreay to set up for the Rainmaker. The chemistry between these two was unreal! They knew everything that the other could throw and had an answer and counter for it. Both men used their opponent’s finishing move to try and put the other away. In the end, Okada is able to weather the storm and out-wrestle Ospreay and finally hits the Rainmaker clean to put him away. Fantastic wrestling match!” -Alexander Charles Kalil

“I didn’t know how this match could have been toped this year. I thought this was an absolute classic. But not only did two matches imo top it, they blew this match out of the water themselves. I really enjoyed this though. Both guys absolutely toped what they did in the Dome prior. This feud and Shingo/Ospreay have been the best things New Japan has done during the clap crowd era.” -Christopher Duarte

“A match that felt like you’re witnessing the perfect marriage of the two men’s styles. The cutting edge of what pro wrestling can be in the modern era.” -Liam Renner

“I hate to point out the obvious, but the fact this match was so great despite the maligned clap-crowds speaks volumes. It was a wonderful story told perfectly. Ospreay is now desperate to be an Okada; he spent years in his tutelage but now he’s ready to take the lead. Or at least he thinks he is, because he’s a massive prick and this match was positioned as a test of how good he really is. Wonderful work, chewy story and a great, great match.” -Neil David

“This match was not just the best way to kickoff NJPW’s 50th anniversary year, but it turned out to be an omen. A preamble to a year where NJPW started to feel like NJPW again. Showcasing two of their most valuable players in a high stakes match that delivered on everything this company does best. Truly, it banged the drum which became the beat of the entire year.” -Warren Hayes

“This was the end of the first chapter of this rivalry. Okada came in having finally embraced the new World Championship but needing to put away one more demon from his past to finally make it rain on January 5th. Ospreay came in with an axe to grind, not only facing his former mentor, but also staking his claim to officially win back the title that had been stripped from him in the summer. Then, two of the best wrestlers in the world had a main event World Title match on one of the biggest shows of the year. Ospreay and Okada at the Dome are stone-cold locks on their own. Putting them together leads to a no-brainer Match of the Year vote.” -Suit Williams

Voices of Wrestling 2022 Match of the Year
(Full List)