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#5 Okada challenges himself
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Ever since returning from NJPW's lockdown, Kazuchika Okada just hasn't seemed the same. The Okada of old was a match of the year machine and usually finished his opponents in a similar fashion. The Rainmaker had become one of the most insurmountable finishers in professional wrestling, but it was not something we had seen from Okada since Wrestle Kingdom 14. Coming into the G1 Climax 30, most New Japan fans thought it was only a matter of time before we saw the finishing moves' return.
For Okada, this tournament would be defined by his attempt to win matches in new ways. Whether it was through his Cobra Clutch dubbed the Money Clip or various cradles, Okada didn't win one match in the G1 Climax 30 with The Rainmaker. It resulted in various degrees of success when it came to in-ring work. While his encounters with Shingo and Ishii were thrilling, other matches didn't share the same flare of the past.
Whatever side of the ledger you fall on the quality of Okada's work, one thing is for certain coming out of the G1 Climax 30. Whenever Kazuchika Okada does finally go into his bag of tricks to use the Rainmaker once again, it will result in one of the most visceral reactions from an NJPW crowd in ages.
