G1 Climax 29: 10 Biggest Storylines of the tournament

#4 The Real Rainmaker Rises

Rainmaker puts the final nail in his epic rivalry with Tanahashi

A year ago, Kazuchika Okada was staring down the barrel of the gun in his depressing slide to obscurity after losing the championship. A slow build to confidence has seen his large ego broken and a new refined Okada, as the champion of champions.

This year's G1 Climax a game Okada entered with zen-like confidence to win the tournament, that hadn't been won by a champion since 2000.

For a moment Okada had the world believing he could do it, an impressive 6-0 run came to a startling halt against SANADA.

Yet Okada finds himself with an old essence of his renewed to match the matured game he found in the past year in his exodus from championship glory. Facing a slew of performers better liked than him, particularly Sanada and Will Ospreay; Okada returned to form as the real Rainmaker.

Though this ego is now tempered, Okada is at his best when woefully superior and arrogant against lesser opponents. Both men took it to him as did others, despite some losses Okada, has walked out the better man.

Finding his ego shattered then piecing it back together was the bigger ask, but balancing between the new Ace of New Japan and the confident upstart of old; New Japan might finally have a Rainmaker that could break beyond this universe. Considering what he has already accomplished, now imagine this!