New Japan Pro Wrestling stars Minoru Suzuki and Kazuchika Okada did battle in the pouring rain yesterday in front of an estimated crowd of 18,000 fans outside of Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse as part of the Great Pirate Festival.
This match was also a celebration of Suzuki's 30th year in the professional wrestling business.
After a hard-fought contest, the match ended in a draw.
Also featured was a special Tag Team Match, which saw Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeat the team of Hikaru Sato and Rocky Kawamura.
The following comes from NJPW1972.com:
June 23 saw the first day of the Great Pirate Festival outside Yokohamaās Red Brick Warehouse; a celebration of Yokohama native Minoru Suzukiās 30 year career, with wrestlers joining artists, athletes and more besides.
The main attraction of the first day was Suzukiās career 30th anniversary match: a singles exhibition between Suzuki and Kazuchika Okada. The Rainmaker lived up to his name, as rain began falling from around midday and intensified into a torrent by match time. Yet this did not deter a massive crowd (estimated by event staff at 18,000) in the open air to see one of the most unique matches and cards in memory.
Suzuki and Okada have met several times in the past. Yet the freshest encounter in fansā minds as they huddled in raincoats was on August 8 2017, again in Yokohama at the Cultural Gymnasium; a thirty minute draw at a critical point of the G1 Climax.
Suzuki pulls out all the stops in his home town, and especially here on his 30th anniversary. As Okada brought the rain, Suzuki sought to become the wind, accompanied by a live rendition by Ayumi Nakamura of a new arrangement for his Kaze ni Nare theme, and clad in white as a throwback to his UWF days.
Yet Okada wasnāt to be outdone, and we saw in his entrance a hint of the brash Rainmaker that hasnāt come out since his defeat at the hands of Kenny Omega at Dominion. Okada Dollars shot into the grey skies, and money rained thicker than water, at least for a moment.
The two, perhaps sensing the rain would be an impairment later on, went full tilt in the early going, attacking each other with blows, and brawling outside. Suzuki would eventually target Okadaās arm, and while the Rainmaker would come back with a neckbreaker, he would try to charge at Suzuki to follow up. A slight slip on the flooded canvas allowed Suzuki to dip in and clinch a sleeper, though the follow up Gotch Piledriver attempt was turned into a reverse neckbreaker.
Weād see the rain come into play at different points in the match. Okada would attempt his signature diving elbow drop on one occasion, but stopping to wipe water off the ropes gave Suzuki enough time to avoid contact. Later, Okada would hit a short range lariat, and though he couldnāt convert with a Rainmaker, Okada showed amazing balance to hit his explosive dropkick in the rain; something Suzuki attempted to match and raise with kicks of his own.
At the 25 minute mark, Suzuki attempted a Gotch Piledriver, but Okada countered, and hit a thunderous Gotch Style Tombstone.
Again though, Okada couldnāt score with a Rainmaker. Countered into an attempt at the Octopus stretch, Okada would struggle, and both lost some footing in the wet. That, perhaps, was enough to save a second big loss coming in three weeks for the former IWGP Champion. Suzuki would negotiate into a grounded Octopus, but couldnāt apply enough pressure to submit Okada before the 30 minutes elapsed.
It was a phenomenal match in an unforgettable setting. Applause and chants for local folk hero Suzuki turned into respectful calls of āOkadaā as Minoru took the mic.
āIt doesnāt matter that I was close, or that I did my best. I didnāt win. (To the kids in the front rows of the crowd) When you go out into the world, you have to win and keep winning. The world isnāt going to cut you a break. Oi, all you dispirited middle aged guys too, I just turned 50! A 30 year old couldnāt beat me today, nobody can! Iām taking everything I want. The IWGP title? Iāve already booked my place. You SOBs thinking of leaving now? That this is done? Thereās awesome people to come! This festivalās still got way more in store! And Iām not going to close with that, but with this: Thank you!ā